PlayStation.Blog |
- More to explore: Outer Wilds “Echoes of the Eye” expansion lands September 28
- An in-depth look into the mysterious, futuristic world of Stray
- A Memoir Blue tells a moving story completely without words
| More to explore: Outer Wilds “Echoes of the Eye” expansion lands September 28 Posted: 29 Jul 2021 12:32 PM PDT Mobius Games is very excited to finally talk about our first (and only) expansion to Outer Wilds! Echoes of the Eye adds a mysterious new location to the solar system, packed with secrets to uncover. We designed the expansion as if it was always lurking within the world of Outer Wilds but hadn't been discovered yet. When Echoes of the Eye launches, check out the new museum exhibit on Timber Hearth which marks the trailhead for one last journey into the deepest, darkest part of the solar system.  You might be wondering why we chose to add content when Outer Wilds is already a complete experience. As a relatively small and un-established studio we needed a project to immediately follow Outer Wilds that wasn't too big or crazy, while still allowing us to grow as developers and hopefully deliver something that would appeal to fans of Outer Wilds. Internally we had been tossing around various, more conventional, ideas for Outer Wilds DLC. Ultimately we realized that we wouldn't be comfortable expanding on the existing game unless it gave players something new and substantial to explore while also adding something meaningful to the narrative. While Echoes of the Eye doesn't match the breadth of the base game by itself, it does have more depth than any existing location in the solar system. Our playtesters have been pleasantly surprised by how deep the rabbit hole goes! As you might guess, adding something substantial to the existing game was a rabbit hole of its own. Making Outer Wilds content is an involved process, and it wasn't long before the DLC became an expansion. Because it needed to work equally well for both new and returning players, the structure of Echoes of the Eye wound up resembling a microcosm of the original game as a whole. That being said, don't expect Echoes of the Eye to be the base game in miniature. We took some risks with the method of storytelling and added plenty of new mechanics. Outer Wilds has always had light horror elements to it, but this expansion really leans into the spooky side of things (don't worry, we've added a "reduced frights" option to the menu if you find it too intense!) As with Outer Wilds, Echoes of the Eye will play best the less you know about it, so we're trying to avoid spoiling too much before you get the chance to play it for yourself. Much like the original game, we've taken many science fiction staples and used them as inspiration for both the narrative and dynamic systems at play. We're looking forward to seeing how fans react to the new revelations we have in store, and as usual we've done our best to include plenty of extra details for those who seek answers to their questions. Be wary however; although Echoes of the Eye may contain the answers you seek, is there some knowledge better left in the dark?   |
| An in-depth look into the mysterious, futuristic world of Stray Posted: 29 Jul 2021 12:27 PM PDT Hello, everyone! After a long period of intense work with the team, we are delighted to finally be able to show more about our game Stray with this just-released gameplay trailer. But we wanted to add a bit more context to what you’ve hopefully just enjoyed.  At its core, Stray is an adventure game. It tells the story of a cat who accidentally falls into a weird, mysterious city and his journey to return to his family. Exploration is a key element and as we love to add lots of details to our environments, we hope players will enjoy looking for all the little bits of hidden lore that we’ve added across each level. There’s quite a lot to find and learn about this forgotten city and the surprising characters who live in it! Not everything will be explained clearly, so it will be up to the most attentive and insightful players to figure out what exactly this place is, who these inhabitants and creatures are, and the story and purpose of this beguiling world in which we are immersed. The cat is definitely the star of the show in the game though, and it was important for us to show a glimpse of all the playful interactions that he can have with his environment. Some of them are useful and will help solve puzzles as you progress, and some are just here because cats will be cats — and as most cat owners know painfully well, no sofa can be left unscratched. The unique perspective of playing as a cat also creates interesting opportunities in terms of level design. Some of the usual tropes of videogames can be twisted in funny and interesting ways: a grid blocking the way for humans? Not for a cat! A decorative rain pipe spiraling along a building? Perfect platforming sequence for a feline! But even though cats can do lots of amazing things, they don't usually interact with technology that well. The small drone, B12, that you’ll encounter has lots of helpful features like translating the language of the machines inhabiting the world, or storing precious items that you find during your journey. But above all, he is a friendly being with a mysterious story — learning about his past as his relationship with the cat evolves is a key element to this adventure. Their journey will not be a calm river, though — action and fast-paced sequences are a strong component of Stray, too. Some areas of the game are way more dangerous and unwelcoming for the little duo, and our hero’s agility and quick moves will be put to the test to survive vicious enemies like the swarm of "Zurks" as seen in the trailer. The Zurks have a big impact on the lives of the inhabitants of the city, but they are not the only type of foe that you may encounter. And while being quick and agile is required, being stealthy and sneaky will be just as important to find the exit of this strange and futuristic maze. Hopefully this gives you a more detailed and in-depth look at the world of Stray, but we still have a lot more to show! There's a whole other part of the city waiting to be discovered that we shared a glimpse of in our very first teaser. The whole team is working full speed to deliver the most polished experience possible, and we look forward to seeing players explore our world early next year. Until then, like Oscar, our Office Manager, always says: PrrrMEeow!   |
| A Memoir Blue tells a moving story completely without words Posted: 29 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT A Memoir Blue is an atmospheric journey featuring a champion swimmer named Miriam who, on the day of her greatest achievement, begins to reflect on long forgotten memories. 
Some of the scenes depicted are taken directly from my memories as a six year old. One of the things I remember vividly was the train my mom and I took during the beginning of our trip. We also visited a scenic lake where my mom rented a boat for just the two of us to enjoy the views as the breeze swept through our hair. Eventually, after our fateful day trip, we moved into a small apartment that was so small we could only fit a single reading chair in it. But as a child I had fond memories of that place and was happy to call it home. Another interesting aspect of A Memoir Blue is that its narrative is told entirely without words. Unlike other popular narrative games, A Memoir Blue uses expressive character animations and songs as a standin for dialogue. We took great care crafting each movement and melody to communicate a visual story to players. The song featured in our reveal trailer is an example of how we specifically use music to convey feelings the mother has for our main character. The use of mixed media is another special trait we use to show the separation of time. 2D animations represent recollections from Miriam's past while 3D represents the present as our main character reexamines past events. We created these traditional 2D animations through multiple passes, first sketching out a rough pass, then cleaning up the linework, and finally by assigning the colors. The end of the trailer features a breakdown of each of these steps. A Memoir Blue is our studio’s first project. Our mission is not only to tell stories, but to share experiences that will also appeal to a player’s heart. I hope you enjoy sinking into Miriam's uncovered past by letting go of the ordinary and immersing yourself into a world of deep blue.   |
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