Great Houses of Calderia News

What is a key art in video games?
Key art, also known as key visual is the artwork which is repeated across media such as posters, print, television and digital advertisements, streaming or download thumbnails, and game or film DVD/Blu-Ray box covers.


Resistance Games, the development studio of Great Houses of Calderia, did a brainstorming to determine the scene that would represent the game. During this reflexion session, many words came out: Power, Wealth, Generations, Nobility... The team started to do some research to create a visual that would embody these strong elements.

Resistance Games presented a first idea that Firesquid, the publisher, really liked. You probably have guessed by then...

As you may have recognized, there is a huge reference in the Great Houses of Calderia key art. You might know the original painting, or have seen the same disposition in ads or reinterpretations.

[h3]The main reference is indeed: The Last Supper (1495-1498) by Leonardo Da Vinci[/h3]


The idea was validated and we looked for an artist to help us creating the key art. After some research, we found the perfect match for our game: Scott Pellico.

His principal goal was to rethink The Last Supper to make it medieval and Renaissance style. We wanted less characters to enable fluidity in the reading.

[h3]Scott created this first background with silhouettes.[/h3]


A Steam event serie will be shared soon to also show you the characters creation process.

Then, we had to think about a background that would fit the spirit of the game. We made a few tries before selecting the official one.

[h3]A first iteration was made with opened windows to show the colorful lands of Calderia.[/h3]


We felt that the front scene was overshadowed by the background. It was a bit too bright for our Renaissance-themed game. Plus, if we added the logo, it would have been faded by the light colors of the sky. Scott made another iteration but indoors.
[h3]
After a few retakes, here is the final asset you all know:[/h3]


How do you like the final key art? Have you guessed the references used for the characters?


To be part of the development process of Great Houses of Calderia, join us on Discord!
Great Houses of Calderia Discord: https://discord.gg/vsxD6n8P8J

- Great Houses of Calderia Team -

This name will stay for years, can impact the communication and marketing strategy, describe what the game is about, etc. It needs to be selected carefully.

Every video game project has a "code name". It is important to have one to refer to the project easily before the selection of the official name. It is often short to facilitate the exchanges. Our project name was: Pro Domo.

After 6 months of production, we started the official name selection.

We used the pitch of the game we had back then to find the first options: "Pro-Domo is an accessible grand strategy game taking place in a fantastic world where you’re taking the lead of one of the Family/Houses of the realm and building its legacy. You’ll have to make sure your fiefdom is well administered and that you're on good terms with your rivals (or not...). You’ll embody leaders over generations: expand and protect your domain, define your traditions, values and goals, and make sure all your family is aligned with it. You have plenty of choices: traders/warlords/lawmakers... But remember every action you’re taking will have consequences and each generation will have to carry the family’s legacy."

[h2]Our objective was to find a name that feels medieval, have Renaissance sounds, and tell people it's a strategy game.[/h2]

First, we brainstormed about potential names for the game. Then, we came up with a dozen of names and asked the community to add their ideas to our list. After that, we all voted on Discord. Here is the name list:

🇦 Houses of the New Dawn
🇧 Legacy of Power
🇨 Bloodbound Legacy / Bound by Traditions
🇩 Great Houses: Tradition / Legacy / Royal Legacy
🇪 Royal Houses
🇫 Houses of legacy / trades
🇬 Trades of power
🇭 Atlantium / Houses of Atlantium
🇮 The Sprouting
🇯 Citadel Rising
🇰 Royal path: Eternity
🇱 The Land of Hundred Kingdoms
🇲 Legacy of Royals/Nobles
🇳 Ballads of the Old/Ancient Houses
🇴 Power's peak

After one week, we collected the three names that had the most votes.

Another important step is to check the availability of this name and be sure that it was never used before (in a game or anything else).

Then, we decided internally which one would be "the one".

[h2]We ended up with the name you all know: Great Houses of Calderia[/h2]


To be part of the development process of Great Houses of Calderia and help us make these kind of decisions, join us on Discord!
Great Houses of Calderia Discord: https://discord.gg/vsxD6n8P8J

- Great Houses of Calderia Team -

In the lands of Calderia, you cannot build your realm with your bare hands. You will need people to master the art of building and infrastructure. That's why we introduce you to this new set of companions.

What is a companion?

Companions are units used in social conflicts, much like soldiers are used in battles. They also give players a glimpse of the culture and everyday life of Calderia. Their appearances are based on Renaissance clothes mixed with classical antiquity and a splash of fantasy elements.

This new set of companions will help you build your realm.

[h2]These new companions are named Draughtsmen / Draughtswomen.[/h2]

• Architect
  Any major constructions or public buildings need an Architect. Their designs are based on the guidelines of the Old Continent, with inspirations drawn from the architectural marvels of Calderia.
  
  
• Master Builder
  A building made by a Master Builder can stand for centuries and still look like it was built yesterday. Master Builders oversee everything from soil to the quality of building materials to the construction of treadwheel cranes.
  
  
• Cartographer
  There are two places one can find a Cartographer from. Either at their desk drawing maps with meticulous precision, or climbing a high vantage point somewhere in the wilderness, carrying along with their various measuring instruments.
  

See these elements in preview in our Discord! Join us there to chat with the team and get involved in the development of Great Houses of Calderia: https://discord.gg/vsxD6n8P8J

- Great Houses of Calderia Team -

This summer, coming to all platforms, our new telenovela set in the lands of Calderia. Drama, Politics, and betrayals...

[h3]Will Giuseppe conquer Valentina or Julia's heart in the courtroom? You will have to wait this summer to know![/h3]



Not that it's an April fools... but it could actually be really cool!

Would you like to see a telenovela set in the Great Houses of Calderia lands?


Join our Discord to chat and fool around with the team and get involved in the development of Great Houses of Calderia: https://discord.gg/vsxD6n8P8J

- Great Houses of Calderia Team -

[h2]First of all, thank you![/h2]
You've been a total of 136 playtesters to try the game for our first public playtest.
We were not expecting such a result!


During two weeks, you could play an early version of Great Houses of Calderia. You shared your feedbacks and suggestions in our official Discord.. We collected all of them carefully. We received really interesting points and sometimes even with a lot of details.
[h3]We could feel your enthusiasm and are glad you're supporting us in the development of the game.[/h3]

Now, we now what to improve, modify, remove, etc.

As you all know, our main objective is to provide you an enjoyable experience playing Great Houses of Calderia. Your help is precious and we hope you will be as excited as us for our next public playtest!

You can join us on Discord to talk about the game and strategy stuff! We'd be more than happy to chat with you players :)
Great Houses of Calderia Discord: https://discord.gg/vsxD6n8P8J

- Great Houses of Calderia Team -