Photo credit: venturebeat.com
Longdue Productions has announced the launch date for its upcoming role-playing game, Hopetown, which is framed as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. The atmospheric debut teaser offers a glimpse into the unique world and narrative structure that players can expect.
The Kickstarter campaign for Hopetown is set to kick off on March 17. Potential backers can currently access a pre-launch page that includes a selection of rewards for early supporters.
One of the standout elements of Hopetown is the involvement of Lenval Brown, the notable voice actor known for his role as the narrator in Disco Elysium. His distinctive voice will once again contribute to a key character in this new project, as highlighted in the recent teaser.
“It feels exciting to return and embark on an entirely new venture,” Brown commented. “There’s something magical about bringing a world to life and crafting a story yearning to be expressed.”
Adding credibility to the development team, Piotr Sobolewski, who played an integral role in the creation of Disco Elysium, is also part of Longdue. He was influential in guiding a 15-member team in creating the unique atmosphere that defined the earlier game.
Martin Luiga, a founding member of the ZA/UM Cultural Association who contributed to the Disco Elysium lore, joins Longdue as well. He expressed enthusiasm for collaborating on Hopetown, emphasizing a desire to enhance the narrative systems within the RPG genre while crafting an engaging story rooted in history, current events, and potential futures.
Longdue aims to unveil more details about the game and its development team, which has thus far included contributions from nine individuals who worked on Disco Elysium. Riaz Moola, CEO of CoGrammar & HyperionDev, praised the collaborative talent present at Longdue, noting that the team is composed of both experienced professionals from major studios and creative indie developers eager to showcase their skills.
Moola’s company is also supporting aspiring developers through scholarships for video game development courses, which could lead to internships at Longdue.
More insights will be shared when the Kickstarter launches on March 17, including exploration of the game’s themes, mechanics focused on psychogeography and journalism, and the mining town backdrop that serves as the setting for the narrative.
What Is Hopetown?
Hopetown places players in the role of a rogue journalist navigating a mining town on the brink of change. The character embodies a self-destructive, chaotic figure with a cynical worldview, driven to expose the darker aspects of humanity. Choices made in the game are impactful, with decisions reverberating throughout the story and its environment.
A Town of Contrasts
The town itself presents stark contrasts, where the shadowy depths of the mines uphold buried truths, while above ground, glimmers of progress hide under layers of corruption. Control of the narrative dictates survival in this world, leading to complex relationships that evolve with each decision made.
Inspired by the narrative exploration of Disco Elysium and Planescape: Torment, Hopetown introduces innovative mechanics that redefine player interaction. Instead of conventional gameplay elements, emotions and memories serve as keys to unlocking experiences within the game. Progression hinges on understanding the protagonist’s psyche and its influence on the social fabric.
A new journalism-focused RPG system offers tools for creating narratives that not only affect the game’s world but also portray the player’s choices. Players can decide whether to create sensational stories for notoriety, manipulate facts for personal agendas, or uncover hidden truths that could instigate change.
A Crucible of Choices
In Hopetown, every choice is significant. The environment provokes questions of morality and truth, as actions can lead to varied outcomes—hope or devastation, change or compliance. This intricately woven narrative compels players to deliberate on the repercussions of their words and actions within the game world.
Why Back Hopetown?
Supporting Hopetown extends beyond mere financial backing; it is an investment in a vision and community. Longdue aims to carve out a niche for narrative-driven RPGs that challenge conventions, offering experiences that embrace complexity and articulate emotional depth.
Interested individuals can opt to receive notifications when the Hopetown Kickstarter goes live by visiting the pre-launch page. Additionally, prospective backers can engage with the burgeoning community on Discord.
Source
venturebeat.com