Neyyah News

Hello Neyyah adventurers! Another scene has begun its development ... Another step forward to powering up that grand portal, which will eventually open up the entire world of Neyyah to you!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

I have previously touched upon the term 'blocking' in this dev log: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1289720?emclan=103582791467052962&emgid=3291580955675052130. It's a great opportunity for myself to lay out the basic foundations of the Neyyah world. A lot of sets have started out this way: no textures, just primitive shapes, which will then become layered and clustered with details along the way!

Render test / featuring Neyyah's resident 3D human guide model, Evliya (named by patron, Nazim Kemal Ure)

It was during this phase of modelling - where there aren't any textures added to my models - that gave me the lightbulb moment that THIS was the software I needed to use to create Neyyah. Cycles rendering engine provides a fantastic photorealistic look, using pathtraced rendering. This is one of the many reasons why I decided to create a prerendered game!

The scene taking more shape - textures being added, etc

It was in one of my first ever moments of seeing Blender's render preview come to life on the computer screen that made me think, 'Wow! This really reminds me of the fidelity scene in Riven' - (despite its low resolution graphics now, it still stands up as incredibly compelling, and continues to provide much inspiration for Neyyah!)

I will share some of my earliest Blender works on here soon! Works which would later lead to much more fleshed out worlds for Neyyah!

Thanks for stopping by! As this portal begins to deminish, another is being prepared for the next delivery of Neyyah's dev news, so stay tuned!

- Aaron Gwynaire / Defy Reality Entertainment

Hello Neyyah adventurers, far and wide! I usually post Steam updates on Sundays, but thought I'd through in this extra one - feeling reminiscent of Neyyah's journey thus far after seeing these 2019 photos pop up on my computer ...

Myself with a printed screen from Neyyah - The Spore Docks / 2019 - in the studio where Neyyah was born

It was a very cool moment seeing some art from my game, printed out and hoisted up at a local art gallery, when I was living in Mandurah, Western Australia. It was a very different time, and Neyyah was still revelling in its infancy, compared to where it stands now and how far along it has come along. But it's very important to appreciate this journey!

Standing beside the printed Spore Docks scene at the Mandjar Arts Awards 2019

You can see this scene in action in my 2019 playthrough of the Spore Docks test build:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Part of this scene featured in the recent announcement trailer for Neyyah through Microprose - the cool portal scene at the end, when the portal explodes and shows NEYYAH.

The Spore Docks will be having a make over sometime in the next couple or so months. This is due to how the game evolved and the asethetic changes and evolutions made since the time I created this particular set. However, it still stood up well as a lovely piece to be presented at the Mandjar Arts Awards gallery!

Thanks to my wonderful wife and family in Australia, and the Mandurah community for supporting Neyyah!

- Aaron Gwynaire / Defy Reality Entertainment

Hello Neyyah adventurers, far and wide! Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

I have just released a new devlog on the 'blocking phase' of creating new scenes for Neyyah in Blender. Feel free to have a watch here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
It's great being able to share the inner workings of what goes into creating a world like Neyyah, and being able to discuss the process with the Neyyah community! :)

In this update, here in the world of Steam, I want to discuss something a bit different ... Something I suppose, after nearly four years of having worked on the game, I have taken for ... well, somewhat granted. However, this particular something plays a vital role in how Neyyah is delivered to you, the player, the adventurer, the explorer ...

Cameras!

Open GL solid state view of one of the current scenes being rendered out in Blender for Neyyah

Cameras are the windows to Neyyah. Due to Neyyah's prerendered nature, the player is only able to traverse through the Neyyah world through clicking to prerendered screenshots, which display the world. It's quite an interesting journey of analysing and challenges when implementing this navigation style into the engine, and making it work, so that when the player does click around the world, they have the smoothest experience possible.

Open GL solid state view of one of the current scenes being rendered out in Blender for Neyyah

The many cameras that have been set up for the current scene being rendered out in Blender for Neyyah

Cameras are usually set up to show four views from every position the player is in. The best way to annotate this is through a simple node label of 1, for example, and each corresponding view being: a, b, c and d. Or, occasionally, you might be able to look down, or look up, or zoom in, etc. So, this would be 1a look up, 1a zoom in, etc. Here is a visual example of a basic four node position within the game:

1a: 1b: 1c: 1c look up: 1d:

Interestingly, after analysing games such as Riven, and how the player is seeing the game at any set point, certain camera angles need to be positioned in a particular way to convey an effectiveness in how the player is moving, or might move if they click forward, etc. For example, the cameras are never completely set to a 90 degree straight angle, looking ahead. I tilt the camera slightly forward so that the path they are on is a bit more visible, so the feeling of 'moving' forward is exaggerated.

This also goes for moments where you might walk up a staircase.

The camera is position just so that you really feel like you are able to move up the stairs. This works in nicely with Neyyah's Journey Mode option, which plays more FMV sequences during the game, at certain points of traversal such as climbing ladders or walking up stairs.

Feel free to have a watch of my devlog, which delves into the creation of Journey Modes in Neyyah:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The following screenshot I took just coz it looked cool!
Screenshot of all cameras selected

Thanks for taking a sneak peek into the world of Neyyah's cameras!

Looking forward to sharing the thousands of camera views which will be your windows into Neyyah! :)

- Aaron Gwynaire / Defy Reality Entertainment

Hello everyone! Hope you're all keeping well!

Today, I've been busy with setting up some new camera angles for an interior set I am very excited to start rendering out and putting into the engine!

Open GL solid state workflow view within Blender

The set was developed back in November last year, and was finished surprisingly fast! A few extra details were added today, in fact. Elements which were designed later on after the set was finalised, and I finally added them today, since the renders are going to be taking place very soon!

I have also been working on some dialogue and character interaction scenerio drafts for Neyyah, which is also very exciting ... These developments were a step forward from the set I have only just started blocking out.

Blocking out stages of a new scene for Neyyah

Sometimes the ideas come for Neyyah unexpectedly, from elements / models I've created in a scene, or in this case, planning a scene with one of the characters you'll encounter in Neyyah! In the screenshot above, you can see I'm using a 3D model of a human being. I have been using this character for a good while now - since 2020! One of my patrons, Nazım Kemal Üre, named him after he won a Patreon special I was running. He named him Evliya!

3D scan man 1 by RUSTtm88 on Turbosquid (free download)

I had spoken to Nazim previously about his choice of name, and he explained that this is the name of a very famous Turkish traveller, who lived around 400 years ago. You can find out more about Evliya Celebi on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evliya_%C3%87elebi.
Evliya Celebi

Nazim told me also that the word 'Seyyah' means traveller in ancient Turkish. This reminded him of Neyyah and hence thought it was an appropriate name! I also find this connection really amazing! Neyyah is all about travelling, in so many ways. It will be a world to explore and discover, and you, the player, will be the traveller, the adventurer.

Since then, Evliya has been used in a variety of environments, and is also the asset I use in which to keep a regular height level to the camera when I render scenes and animations for the game! This is great to keep consistant shots and a fluid movement when clicking through the environment (screen to screen). Occasionaly, it's a trial and error situation, and some of Neyyah's present rendered scenes need to be redone in order that movement flows more organically and realistically.

Evliya investigating a new scene that was being developed in 2020 - however, didn't make the cut and won't appear in the final game. But Evliya enjoyed the walk abouts none the less!

Evliya looking through a rather ... broken ... telescope ... He might be a bit confused as to why he can't see much

The above screenshot was taken during the making of a set which features in the new Neyyah announcement trailer. If you haven't already seen it, check it out here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Here is the telescope in all its rusted aged telescopic goodness

It's been amazing announcing Neyyah's partnership with publisher, Microprose! I'm very excited for our future together, and I know Neyyah is in fantastic hands and I cannot wait this exciting new adventure game to your screens!

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, and giving an insight into how things are measured in Neyyah, the blocking stages of a scene (which I will like to run through in more detail in a later post) and introducing Evliya, too!

Night guys! I'm going to bed in a bit. Up fresh and early to get back into modelling a new set for Neyyah!

- Aaron Gwynaire / Defy Reality Entertainment

Hello MicroProse fans!
We are back at announcing new games that join our line-up. This time it's all about stories, atmosphere, exploration, but also intrigue and even sport!

Let's take a look at each one of them.


Neyyah is a first-person point-and-click adventure game from solo developer, Aaron Gwynaire.
You are thrown into a strange secretive world called Neyyah. Use careful observation and logic to uncover the mysteries entwined within Neyyah's peculiar landscapes and bizarre cultures.





Neyyah is set within a collection of remote almost abandoned islands, separated by a series of complex portal machinery and laced with the fingerprints of two very intriguing cultures.
Upon waking up from a strange dream, you find yourself transported to a place called Olujay, where you meet Vamir, who sends you to Neyyah in the hope you will be safe there. For reasons you will discover upon your many explorations, Vamir needs you for a matter of great urgency.

A wrong must be righted. A civilization avenged. A secret revealed.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1289720/

"Welcome to the planet Terrahive. A planet that never should have existed. Completely encrusted in a disease called humanity. Corporate arcologies and space elevators shadow the layers of polluted man-made edifices. Overseen by ancient brains on apparatuses and driven by greed, corruption, progress, and immortality." - John Cooper

Let Bions be Bygones is an atmospheric narrative future-noir thriller.





A new take on the classic genre, Let Bions be Bygones, lets the players focus on the story, narrative, and detective work.  Players will be able to choose their own path and grow their characters through different playstyles.
All this and more, in a gritty world captivated by an original, unique soundtrack and a professional voice-over that will immerse the player in a thrilling tale with multiple endings.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1347560/



CrossOver is a tabletop RPG strategy game.
Defend your tabletop RPG paper character sheet from invading pixel enemies! Find matches in your tray of dice to power attacks to clear the evil from your shelf full of campaign books. Hardcore match-3 RPG puzzle meets action-strategy tower defence.



CrossOver takes some classic concepts from traditionally “casual” genres (Match 3 and Tower Defence) and crosses them into a new and eccentric hardcore challenge with Strategy, RPG and Puzzle elements.

The main campaigns include RPG progression, dozens of spells and weapons to find, mercenaries to hire, and shops to buy armor and items. Random encounters appear between stages with Fighting Fantasy book style choices. Earn persistent gems to unlock more classes/races (15 of each in the game) or trade in for extra gold during any campaign.
Try your hand at the Solo and Co-Op Endless Modes to challenge the Online Leaderboards!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1713080/


DROP is a rogue-like hacking simulator set in a fragmented future.
You are a freelancer, trying to gain fame in DROP, an anonymous system for hackers. You break into digital enclaves and leave without a trace, but you find yourself in a conflict between various agencies that could change the world.



Enter a disconnected cyberpunk world – the unique visuals, exclusive soundtrack, and electronic soundscapes evoke the feel and the thrill of hacking in a potential future. Play an unfolding story campaign through unique missions.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1902300/



Tackle, Pass and Shoot your way to the back of the net.
On the Couch or Online. Settle old scores!

Tiny Football is a throwback to old top-down retro soccer games of the 90s. Master the art of passing and shooting, tackles, crosses, throw balls, overhead kicks, free kicks, and more. Compete with 64 national and club teams in a variety of tournaments.



Rich gameplay and real challenge is achieved by sharing user control with AI assistance to produce passing and shooting based on individual player ability.
Each squad member has their own skill levels and players can be pre-selected before a match and substituted during a match when they are tired.
In-match injuries will force substitutions. Sent off players and player suspensions will force players to shuffle team selection adding a managerial feel to tournaments.

Additional features include goal celebrations, player protests, extra time and penalties. Play with a friend (controller and keyboard) or the computer.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887010/