Dark Moon Devlog #8
In the desolate and mysterious landscape of the Moon, where the thin line between survival and oblivion sharpens every day, a group of extraordinary individuals carve out their living. Welcome to the somber world of Dark Moon, where every step on the lunar surface is fraught with danger, secrets, and stories untold. Meet the key figures who will accompany you on this harrowing journey, each bringing their unique talents, histories, and burdens with them.
In Dark Moon, the narrative layer plays a pivotal role in immersing players into a rich, atmospheric experience. Our development team has gone to a great length to craft each character's backstory, motivations, unique needs and skills—all to ensure that they feel like real, complex individuals. Every character is there not only to enhance the game's atmosphere but also influence the unfolding of the plot. Players will find that each of these lunar inhabitants can offer special quests, uniquely impactful to the primary narrative arc. These missions allow for a deeper exploration of the characters' psyches within the overarching story, offering different perspectives and outcomes based on the player's choices. As you engage with these people, their personal journeys will intertwine with your own, ultimately shaping the destiny of the Moon colony and humanity's future among the stars.
Lou. The AI assistant, Eternal Companion Lou, has been serving faithfully since 2072 and the early days of the Moon Shell Corporation. Though outdated by modern standards, Lou's relationship with the player has grown into a deep bond, rendering the very idea of decommissioning him unthinkable. This AI, inherited from one of the very first astropilots, offers a complex array of functions, from scouting the lunar plains for resources to providing vital information about Mechaplex systems. Lou's existence raises poignant questions about robots' emotional capabilities and loyalty, as the player grapples with the notion that this machine may indeed harbor feelings of its own. Lou's role in this lunar saga is indispensable—a bridge between humanity's ambition and the cold, merciless vacuum of space.
Liu Weijun. The Grim Optimizer—or simply "Grim"—Liu Weijun is a 39-year-old Chinese genius, a master of pushing the ceiling of what food production systems can do under the harsh conditions of lunar life. His calm and often detached demeanor masks a mind of unparalleled sharpness, capable of turning barren lunar soil into a bountiful garden. Despite his brilliance, Liu's withdrawn nature and uncompromising standards often alienate the man from his peers. Found amidst the wreckage of a malfunctioning Mechaplex, Liu's encounter with the player reveals a man tormented by his own perceived failures and the short-sightedness of Earth's leaders. His journey on the Moon is not just about survival but redemption, as he seeks to rectify past mistakes and, perhaps, even reunite with his estranged daughter, Hina—a symbol of hope and continuity in Liu's fragmented personal world.
Aiko Saito. The Timid Flower Known as "Hana," Aiko Saito is a 42-year-old ecologist with a gentle soul, whose additional IT skills made her an unlikely candidate for the harsh realities of lunar colonization. Despite initial doubts regarding her suitability for the Moon Rush Project, Aiko's empathy and quick thinking have proven invaluable to the mission. Her idealism is both a strength and a weakness, as she constantly strives to find common ground and protect those around her, even when pragmatism would dictate otherwise. Aiko's journey is one of resilience and hope, driven by her belief in the inherent goodness of people and a deep connection to the lunar landscape she now calls home.
Hina Tsuki. The First Lunarian Hina Tsuki, at just 17, is already a figure of legend—a human born on the Moon, the first of her kind. The girl's very existence is a new milestone for humanity, yet it is shrouded in controversy and intrigue. Born to parents belonging to feuding nations, Hina's life has been a battleground of conflicting ambitions and ideologies. Her father, Liu Weijun, opposed her being born on the Moon, fearing for her well-being, while her mother, Aiko Saito, saw this as a beacon of possibility. Hina's exceptional intelligence and rumored supernatural influence make her a pivotal character in this lunar drama. As the player navigates the treacherous terrain of Dark Moon, Hina becomes both a symbol of humanity's potential and a reminder of its disunion.
Moritz Jung. The Iron Wolf Moritz Jung, or "Hund," is a 44-year-old German entrepreneur with a reputation as cold and relentless as the lunar night. A survivor of a failed assassination attempt, which left him dependent on robotic prosthetics, Jung is a man driven by an insatiable need to conquer new frontiers, both in the realms of commerce and space exploration. His enigmatic past, suspected ties to illegal activities during the Resource Wars, and ruthless business acumen make him a controversial figure. And yet beneath a steely exterior lies a father desperately searching for his daughter, lost amidst the chaos following a powerful solar flare. Jung's story is one of pushing forward against all odds—a man willing to risk everything to protect his legacy and those he holds dear.
In Dark Moon, these characters are more than your colleagues—they are the lifeblood of a narrative steeped in the unknown and the extraordinary. As you, the player, step into this lunar odyssey, remember that every choice shapes not only the fate of these pioneers but also the future of humanity's presence on the Moon. Will you uncover the secrets hidden below the lunar soil and bridge the divides that separate these souls? Or will the endless darkness of space consume them all?
Join our Discord server today!
In Dark Moon, the narrative layer plays a pivotal role in immersing players into a rich, atmospheric experience. Our development team has gone to a great length to craft each character's backstory, motivations, unique needs and skills—all to ensure that they feel like real, complex individuals. Every character is there not only to enhance the game's atmosphere but also influence the unfolding of the plot. Players will find that each of these lunar inhabitants can offer special quests, uniquely impactful to the primary narrative arc. These missions allow for a deeper exploration of the characters' psyches within the overarching story, offering different perspectives and outcomes based on the player's choices. As you engage with these people, their personal journeys will intertwine with your own, ultimately shaping the destiny of the Moon colony and humanity's future among the stars.
Lou. The AI assistant, Eternal Companion Lou, has been serving faithfully since 2072 and the early days of the Moon Shell Corporation. Though outdated by modern standards, Lou's relationship with the player has grown into a deep bond, rendering the very idea of decommissioning him unthinkable. This AI, inherited from one of the very first astropilots, offers a complex array of functions, from scouting the lunar plains for resources to providing vital information about Mechaplex systems. Lou's existence raises poignant questions about robots' emotional capabilities and loyalty, as the player grapples with the notion that this machine may indeed harbor feelings of its own. Lou's role in this lunar saga is indispensable—a bridge between humanity's ambition and the cold, merciless vacuum of space.
Liu Weijun. The Grim Optimizer—or simply "Grim"—Liu Weijun is a 39-year-old Chinese genius, a master of pushing the ceiling of what food production systems can do under the harsh conditions of lunar life. His calm and often detached demeanor masks a mind of unparalleled sharpness, capable of turning barren lunar soil into a bountiful garden. Despite his brilliance, Liu's withdrawn nature and uncompromising standards often alienate the man from his peers. Found amidst the wreckage of a malfunctioning Mechaplex, Liu's encounter with the player reveals a man tormented by his own perceived failures and the short-sightedness of Earth's leaders. His journey on the Moon is not just about survival but redemption, as he seeks to rectify past mistakes and, perhaps, even reunite with his estranged daughter, Hina—a symbol of hope and continuity in Liu's fragmented personal world.
Aiko Saito. The Timid Flower Known as "Hana," Aiko Saito is a 42-year-old ecologist with a gentle soul, whose additional IT skills made her an unlikely candidate for the harsh realities of lunar colonization. Despite initial doubts regarding her suitability for the Moon Rush Project, Aiko's empathy and quick thinking have proven invaluable to the mission. Her idealism is both a strength and a weakness, as she constantly strives to find common ground and protect those around her, even when pragmatism would dictate otherwise. Aiko's journey is one of resilience and hope, driven by her belief in the inherent goodness of people and a deep connection to the lunar landscape she now calls home.
Hina Tsuki. The First Lunarian Hina Tsuki, at just 17, is already a figure of legend—a human born on the Moon, the first of her kind. The girl's very existence is a new milestone for humanity, yet it is shrouded in controversy and intrigue. Born to parents belonging to feuding nations, Hina's life has been a battleground of conflicting ambitions and ideologies. Her father, Liu Weijun, opposed her being born on the Moon, fearing for her well-being, while her mother, Aiko Saito, saw this as a beacon of possibility. Hina's exceptional intelligence and rumored supernatural influence make her a pivotal character in this lunar drama. As the player navigates the treacherous terrain of Dark Moon, Hina becomes both a symbol of humanity's potential and a reminder of its disunion.
Moritz Jung. The Iron Wolf Moritz Jung, or "Hund," is a 44-year-old German entrepreneur with a reputation as cold and relentless as the lunar night. A survivor of a failed assassination attempt, which left him dependent on robotic prosthetics, Jung is a man driven by an insatiable need to conquer new frontiers, both in the realms of commerce and space exploration. His enigmatic past, suspected ties to illegal activities during the Resource Wars, and ruthless business acumen make him a controversial figure. And yet beneath a steely exterior lies a father desperately searching for his daughter, lost amidst the chaos following a powerful solar flare. Jung's story is one of pushing forward against all odds—a man willing to risk everything to protect his legacy and those he holds dear.
In Dark Moon, these characters are more than your colleagues—they are the lifeblood of a narrative steeped in the unknown and the extraordinary. As you, the player, step into this lunar odyssey, remember that every choice shapes not only the fate of these pioneers but also the future of humanity's presence on the Moon. Will you uncover the secrets hidden below the lunar soil and bridge the divides that separate these souls? Or will the endless darkness of space consume them all?
Join our Discord server today!
Valley Town is located between two mountain ranges at the entrance of Ocean of Storms. Multiple routes converge at this point on the way to Copernicus Starport, which led to a natural growth of a settlement. It became an industrial centre processing raw resources for the export.
An old research facility that was established to study the topological structure of the southern parts of the Moon. Now rather forgotten, although it continues to function on a limited basis
Kepler crater hosts one of the seven original colonization sites on the Moon. A couple of decades ago, the management of it was given solely to Europen Union Space Agency, which is currently dominated mostly by German staff.
Moon Shell Starport is a gateway to the Moon's far side. The port is still in its development phase, but it is predicted that it may reach a size comparable to the Copernicus Starport in roughly twenty years. For now, it serves as a home to Moon Shell pilots, where they learn and master their craft, and as a base of operation for squads establishing new mining sites and lunar bases
Closed from the outside world, Schickard is a place where Moon Shell projects and tests new spider-vessels that are supposed to help in the expansion and colonization of the far side of the Moon. Only Moon Shell commanders may enter this area. Thankfully, looking at your badge, you should be ok.
Regions of the Archytas Crater serve as one of the oldest mining sites of the northern hemisphere. For a time it was a major source of lunar dust, which was easy to collect from the crater's smooth surface. However, once all the loose material was gathegerd, digging in the crater became increasingly difficult which eventually rendered the site obsolete. Now it lies on the outskirts of the modern Moon world and is mostly forgotten.