Genre: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, IndieOperencia: The Stolen Sun
RPG Immersion in Ultima Underworld and Final Fantasy VII
This time, we would like to show how Ultime Underworld and Final Fantasy led the way technologically, achieving breakthroughs in the immersiveness of games.
[previewyoutube="AhDi-B7XZyY;full"]
“Immersion” can be a problematic term in game design because several factors contribute to the abstract feeling of immersion, but as RPGs become more graphically complex and start to venture into virtual reality, we can look back at early RPGs to better understand what factors and technologies bring a world to life.
As a side note, we recognize that Final Fantasy VII may not be a CRPG in the purest definition of the genre, but its impact was significant.
Sit back and enjoy the nostalgic feeling!
Injecting Action into RPGs with Eye of the Beholder and Dragon Slayer II
In the first episode of the series, we showed you how Bard’s Tale beat the limitations of PCs from the ’80s and adapted the tabletop RPG, Dungeons and Dragons into the computer platform. If somehow you missed that, go ahead and check it out here first.
As CRPGs began to mature, early designers experimented with various approaches to capture the action of the combat that we saw in our minds. Even today, we see designers taking very different approaches when bringing RPGs to life in new, vivid ways, and we can see the earliest forms of these modern ideas in classic games.
[previewyoutube="WavDuH52Uqo;full"]
In this video, Pat Holleman presents us how Eye of the Beholder and Dragon Slayer II implemented real-time battles to their games in different ways, which was a completely unique innovation at that time. Crazy, isn’t it?
Join us on our retro journey to the roots of RPG games, it is quite unbelievable how the innovations, which we take for granted nowadays, directed the genre to its today’s form.
Dread Nautical Sails to Steam on October 27!
Dread Nautical, the creepiest tactical RPG you'll ever play arrives on Steam on October 27 - just in time for Halloween!
Please wishlist today!
[previewyoutube="K4r_kWqyfFY;full"]
Hey Adventurers! This is not strictly Operencia, or the world of classic RPGs, but we thought you might enjoy some more turn-based combat in a different setting!
Get into the spirit as one of four unlikely survivors:
Miraje, a lounge singer who’s not going down with this ship
Hatano, a katana-wielding badass with a troubled past
Vi, a young gamer who will need to grow up fast
Fargo, a personal investigator who’s too old for this ****
A tactical turn-based RPG with roguelike elements, Dread Nautical combines immersive gameplay with a colorful, but deeply eldritch tone. Supernatural forces have overwhelmed a cruise liner called Hope whisking away the entire clientele and crew to a different dimension.
Manage your scarce resources effectively, and convince scattered survivors to fight alongside you. You’ll need them for any hope of escaping this “vacation” alive.
Traverse all 20 decks of the to unlock the mysteries of the Hope. Think several steps ahead during each battle, plotting the optimal use of each character’s action points. Your weapons, bandages, and other items deteriorate, and your resources are very limited. Make sure your companions rest, or panic may overtake them.
Be sure to keep up with us on our different channels for updates, jokes and more in-depth info:
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZenIndies
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/KPJupxP
The Bard’s Tale: Roots of Modern RPG Design
As RPG players ourselves, we have played many classic games - a lot of which Operencia takes its inspiration from. So we entrusted Pat Holleman to educate us, and hopefully other RPG fans about where it all began. We’ll be sharing these videos here as well, starting today - please enjoy!
[previewyoutube="iO04y9WvRMg;full"]
The historical evolution of RPGs is a fascinating look at how tabletop RPGs made way for console and computer role-playing games.
Early computers didn’t have the processing power to capture the sprawling, open worlds that we explored in our tabletop Dungeons & Dragons adventures, so designers had to be very deliberate about what parts of the experience captured their focus. In practice, the limitations of PC hardware quickly turned into catalysts for innovation.
The Bard’s Tale which originally came out in 1985, tried to adapt the tabletop RPG, Dungeons and Dragons into the computer platform. In this video, you can see how the developers tried to create an amazing game 35 years ago, with new features like unique monsters and spells.
Patrick Holleman dives into how technological limitations drove the evolution of their design.
We hope that you will enjoy this little video as much as we did!
A demonic creature has arrived to your DnD session as an IRL extra VR update!
The Busó warriors were devoted soldiers of King Attila, and this fact hasn’t changed with the death of the lord, as these silly fighters still can be found near the tomb of Attila after decades of his passing. Their crazy masks are enough to frighten away most of their enemies, however, if you would choose to battle with them, get ready for a fight till death as they don’t know the phrase “give up”. Here you can find, what makes these fanatics such a good fighter:
https://i.imgur.com/TsJnazl.png
This very unique enemy can be part of your tabletop RPG collection, join us in the battle of saving Operencia now in VR also!
The VR Update is here! + 50% discount!
Exploring the dark dungeon corridors and the mysterious forest corners of Operencia just became one step closer to reality. The FREE VR update to Operencia: The Stolen Sun is here!
This update means that if you own the game on Steam you will be able to make a choice to play either the base game or the VR version. If you are just jumping in the adventure now, you will have access to both VR and base version after purchase. Cool isn’t it?
Celebrating Operencia’s VR release, we’ve even discounted our Steam version by 50%!! If you ever wanted to lose yourself in a mystical land now is the best time to do it.
Make sure to join us on Discord for lots of Operencia talk:
https://discord.gg/zTTHe6V
Follow us on our socials to get the latest updates, also Jeno (CM) is stepping up his meme game!
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ZenIndiesFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/zenstudiosInstagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zen_studios Operencia: The Stolen Sun VR Update Arrives September 15
Announcing that the FREE VR update for Operencia: The Stolen Sun will arrive September 15!
What does this mean?
A) For those of you who own the game already, you will get the VR compatibility for free. The game will ask at startup which mode you want to jump in.
B) Anyone who purchases the game starting September 15, will get both versions with the purchase.
We also have a DEMO going on until September 20! And to top it all off, we discounted the game 50%!
With stunning VR environments, Operencia: The Stolen Sun modernizes everything you love about classic first-person dungeon-crawlers. Gather your team of memorable heroes, and guide them through an immersive world inspired by Central European mythology, where history meets legend.
Harkening back to the dawn of RPGs, Operencia’s grid-based movement and turn-based combat feel right at home on your device – friendly to play sessions lasting hours.
See you on the 15th - next Tuesday!
Follow us on our socials to get the latest updates:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZenIndies
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenstudios
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zen_studios
New monsters from Operencia to terrorize your DnD session!
[previewyoutube="xwl3EEUEB9U;full"]
Speaking of enemies, soon new demonic creatures will appear on the horizon, so get prepared, as you will need all your tricks and wiles to beat them!
The first challenge will be the Zöldek warriors. They were faithful soldiers of King Brek, but when his castle sank beneath the waters of the Lake of Anna, they became a victim of a terrible curse that made them frog like humanoids. Their human side stayed in the past and most of them are amphibian beasts, however, it doesn’t mean that they don’t provide an excellent defense to the sunken castle. Their strength is in their numbers, a group of Zöldek can easily make your day hard with their rusty maces, so we highly recommend you come prepared!
For a more detailed description, check out their characteristics here, which were researched by our bravest explorers:
https://i.imgur.com/9gFAEvv.png
That’s all from us now, DMs your welcome, players - we’re sorry. Also remember, the free VR update arrives soon!
Linne
Summer Sale hits the lands of Operencia with 25% off!
[previewyoutube="kq2JJPRUzoA;full"]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/985950/Operencia_The_Stolen_Sun/
Get the Explorer’s pack for the perfect gaming experience, which gives you the full soundtrack so you can get into the vibe any time, along with the 13 detailed maps of the game (all secrets - perfect for 100%-ers!) and three beautiful wallpapers.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1250830/Operencia_The_Stolen_Sun__Explorers_Pack/
Operencia awaits!
Check out our developer page for more sweet deals on our other games like Pinball FX3, CastleStorm, Infinite Minigolf, or KickBeat!
Operencia: The Stolen Sun Coming Soon to Steam VR!
[previewyoutube="xwl3EEUEB9U;full"]
Operencia: The Stolen Sun was acclaimed for modernizing the old-school dungeon crawler RPG. We take that modernization one step further when the game arrives on Steam VR soon!
The VR compatibility will be a FREE ADD-ON to anyone who has the game already, and new purchases will receive both versions once VR releases.
Harkening back to classics from the early days of RPGs, Operencia’s grid-based movement and turn-based combat feel right at home on your VR device – friendly to play sessions lasting mere minutes or several hours.
Move your head to look all around you, as you guide a team of memorable heroes through an immersive world inspired by Central European mythology. Breathtaking scenery awaits — from an enchanted sunken castle to a forest made of copper – even the Tomb of Attila himself.
We hope to welcome you to the magical lands of Operencia, now with unmatched immersion!
Akos & the Zen Team