What is Starweave?
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[/p][p]STARWEAVE is a Narrative RPG, with all the typical conventions you’d expect from a game with those labels, and a dash of turn-based tactics gameplay.[/p][p][/p][p]The game follows Dreamer, a girl who wakes up in an ethereal dreamscape and meets the mysterious Bird, a guide who informs her that she was destined to join a team of fated companions on an all-important quest to save the world. Each has been assigned the tools and designations of their role upon the quest: to fight through the treacherous land in search of Beacons that must be lit to keep the world from ending.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Now you might be wondering... where is this game set?[/p][p][/p][p]Would you believe me if I said it literally came to be in a dream? When I was eight or nine, I had an incredibly vivid dream about the place that would come to be Lucid, the otherworldly setting of STARWEAVE. [/p][p][/p][p]You can think of it as an abstract, primordial place that this cyclical journey has seen many, many previous parties through, ever-existing as a reality parallel and important to the waking world. What exists in Lucid is storied and significant, etched deep into the history of life itself, yet too far away to easily understand what those who last tread it were feeling and thinking. [/p][p][/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]In STARWEAVE, you play as Dreamer. The first character you meet on your journey is Bird. Don't worry about Bird for now.[/p][p][/p][p]Dreamer and Bird are joined by a colorful cast of three other party members: Troubadour, Lighthouse, and Blackguard. In a surface-level summary: Troubadour is the naively eager healer, Lighthouse is the orderly and pragmatic supporter, and Blackguard rounds out the crew as the sardonic rogue. [/p][p]
First impressions aren’t everything, and STARWEAVE’s journey intentionally plays with initial conceptions one might have of these characters. Learning to see things from their perspectives and understand where they’re coming from might be the key to overcoming the cruel circumstances before you.[/p][p][/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]STARWEAVE’s characters, setting, and hook have been with me for a long time. The game, its primary theme, mechanics, and plot came to be as part of my 2023 Master’s Thesis at the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media & Games Division. I’ve always wanted to tell stories about hope in impossible circumstances, about forging compassion for those who share the world with you, and about changing the world for the better. [/p][p][/p][p]For STARWEAVE, the keyword is ‘empathy’, of embracing the theory of the mind and what it means to understand others’ perspectives as they react to a difficult situation, and meet them in the middle.
[/p][p]I had the honor of reaching out to past collaborators that I worked with on previous games and projects, along with friends and acquaintances with skills I admired, and accepted the assistance of others who lent their talents along the way. Teamwork is absolutely what made this thesis game a reality.[/p][p][/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]Sixty developers across ten team disciplines came together to work on this game in some small part. From the technical wizards that comprise the Engineering team and tackled a complex tactical game where your units can refuse your commands, to the marvelous Art team that ideated and breathed life into every corner of Lucid, all the way to our star-studded Voice Cast that added real aching passion to the script our Narrative team worked tirelessly to punch up and refine. [/p][p][/p][p]I could sing the praises of each individual who worked on this game, from those who were fellow students at the time, or freelance collaborators who lent their specialized talents to develop this game.
[/p][p]It was a great logistical challenge and an even greater privilege to act as the Creative Director for this team, and we’ve gone on many other journeys since the time when STARWEAVE was in active development. Please do pay attention to the names in our credits and follow each contributor along to their next quest![/p][p][/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]STARWEAVE is a story near and dear to my heart, fueled by the passions of every developer who instilled a little piece of themselves in its development because they, too, believed in the experience we wanted to share. We are heartened to have finally reached the release day we’ve strived for, and we want more than anything for others to embark on the journey we’ve created for you. [/p][p][/p][p]Please play through STARWEAVE with an open heart, share your thoughts on it, and share it with loved ones if you feel so compelled. [/p][p][/p][h3]On behalf of all of us: thank you![/h3][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][c]Rachel Geng is a UI/UX and Game Systems Designer currently based in Seattle, WA working at Wizards of the Coast on Magic the Gathering: Arena. [/c][/p][p][c]Previously, she worked on Teamfight Tactics and Marvel Snap, and studied at the NYU Game Center for her BFA and the USC Interactive Media & Games Division for her MFA, where STARWEAVE was developed as her thesis project. |
Beyond crafting mechanics and interfaces that compel life into the games she has the honor to work on, Rachel thrives in collaborative settings where she and her teammates can come together to create something greater than the sum of their individual skills. More than anything, she believes in the power of stories and lived experiences—be they grand inspirations that alter the course of one’s life or humble lights in times of great darkness—and hopes her personal work can serve as those kinds of stories for her players. When not engaging in game development, Rachel enjoys all things related to sampling and collecting tea, exploring the world of ceramics and building up her own drinkware throwing skills, and taking afternoon walks to find all the most interesting nooks and crannies around the city.[/c]![]()
[/p][p]Keep an eye out today for a personality quiz that will let you know which role the stars have in store for you, and come back all week as we'll be sharing even more devlogs from the team![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]
First impressions aren’t everything, and STARWEAVE’s journey intentionally plays with initial conceptions one might have of these characters. Learning to see things from their perspectives and understand where they’re coming from might be the key to overcoming the cruel circumstances before you.[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]I had the honor of reaching out to past collaborators that I worked with on previous games and projects, along with friends and acquaintances with skills I admired, and accepted the assistance of others who lent their talents along the way. Teamwork is absolutely what made this thesis game a reality.[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]It was a great logistical challenge and an even greater privilege to act as the Creative Director for this team, and we’ve gone on many other journeys since the time when STARWEAVE was in active development. Please do pay attention to the names in our credits and follow each contributor along to their next quest![/p][p][/p][p]
Beyond crafting mechanics and interfaces that compel life into the games she has the honor to work on, Rachel thrives in collaborative settings where she and her teammates can come together to create something greater than the sum of their individual skills. More than anything, she believes in the power of stories and lived experiences—be they grand inspirations that alter the course of one’s life or humble lights in times of great darkness—and hopes her personal work can serve as those kinds of stories for her players. When not engaging in game development, Rachel enjoys all things related to sampling and collecting tea, exploring the world of ceramics and building up her own drinkware throwing skills, and taking afternoon walks to find all the most interesting nooks and crannies around the city.[/c]