The Double-Edged Sword

Embracing creative possibilities and consequences

The Double-Edged Sword

Embracing creative possibilities and consequences 

Hello!

This week we reflect on some of the challenges of creating a brand new fantasy universe.

The Double-edged Sword of Creative Freedom

Creative freedom empowers game designers to explore unique ideas and construct immersive fantasy worlds. However, it also presents challenges, such as maintaining focus and consistency. At Ascendant, developing a new IP also means building a brand new fantasy universe and everything within it. Associate Art Director, Julia Lichtblau, reflects on boundless possibilities and responsibilities that comes with creative freedom:

“It’s very refreshing to not have to conform to [the constraints of an established IP]. There's just so much creativity that I think blossoms from that. At the same time, you really have to live by those consequences. You need to think things through and hold yourself to that high standard because no one is telling you ‘you can’t do that.’ [...] You have to create your own rule book and come up with that baseline of what this world is going to be. How is the ecology going to work, how do the characters talk, what are the political struggles of the world, etc.? It was really fun early on to be able to brainstorm at the company.”

Julia Lichtblau, Associate Art Director at Ascendant Studios

So how do you create a clear vision for an original game's world, narrative, and gameplay mechanics? Looking back at his experience designing and developing games in the episode, How Game Designers Tell Great Stories, Ascendant’s CEO and Game Director, Bret Robbins, offers this advice:

“As the Game Director, I might have certain pillars that I really want to be strong in the game and direction I really want to go. But every single time, the game just gets better when more and more people add to it. We iterate on it and it gets stronger.”

Bret Robbins, CEO, Founder, and Game Director of Ascendant Studios

Recognizing the double-edged nature of creative freedom is key to harnessing its power and achieving success in the world of game design. By embracing its potential for artistic experimentation and maintaining focus on a core vision, game designers can create unique and captivating fantasy worlds. And soon, we hope to captivate and delight players with the world of Aveum.

Insights from the Industry

Creative freedom is just one of many challenges in making a game. Glean insights into game development from industry-leading devs who’ve worked on franchises like Dead Space, Bioshock, Borderlands, Star Wars, Mafia, The Walking Dead, and Spider-Man, in our podcast series, RIse Above.

Season 1 arrives in just a few short weeks! Find Rise Above on your favorite audio platform and subscribe to be alerted when the next episode drops.

From Daydream to In Development

Time flies when you’re making a game, and it seems to go by faster and faster the closer you get to each milestone. Back in December 2022, we announced our debut game, Immortals of Aveum™ at The Game Awards. For us, that special moment was nothing short of breathtaking. The excitement, the nerves - all captured in this TikTok vlog.

But here's the really exciting part: Immortals of Aveum has been a long time in the making. It all started with our CEO and Founder, Bret Robbins, daydreaming about a magical world filled with incredible characters, fast-paced action, and spellbinding FPS combat. And now, here we are, with a game that's nearing its next milestone. We can't wait to share more about Immortals of Aveum very soon. In the meantime, take a peek at the teaser trailer.

Stay tuned!