Behind the scenes: Creating the setting for a futuristic gladiator

[p]Hi![/p][p]We’re excited to see you here on Steam, it’s an important milestone in NCORE’s journey. A long way is still ahead but let’s take a look back and see the hard work that’s already been done. And we’ll start by looking at…[/p][p][/p][h2]The Setting[/h2][p]Setting is the foundation that immerses players in the era and atmosphere of a game’s world. Nowadays even the simplest games have well-thought-out worlds, which means large-scale projects must approach this aspect of development with extra care.[/p][p]Understanding where and by what rules the game’s events unfold is important not only for players but also for developers. When the world’s state is clear — its characters, their interactions, creatures inhabiting locations, gravity, fashion, and colors — it becomes easier to create a cohesive universe. The more details are defined, the easier it is for the team to work within the same paradigm.[/p][p]When creating NCORE’s setting, we drew inspiration from films like Blade Runner, The Running Man, Escape from New York, the novel Tunnel Under the World, and The Hunger Games series. However, these sources were deemed too brutal and dark — the team needed to shift the focus slightly. Thus, we adapted elements of the setting to better suit the 16+ age rating and appeal to a broader audience.[/p][p]What makes NCORE unique is that it incorporates multiple settings at once, allowing instant travel between different worlds. For example, after finishing a battle in the swamps of a medieval village, a player can find themselves in a luxurious castle complex at the end of World War I just four seconds later, then suddenly move to the streets of a post-apocalyptic American town overrun by zombies — all within a single match.[/p][p][/p][p]This approach not only adds dynamics and variety to gameplay but also enhances the overall experience, letting players explore different eras and styles in one adventure. They have to constantly adapt to survive, as the mechanics of each hex differ drastically. In the medieval setting, combat revolves around melee clashes with knights, while the WWI-themed zone forces players to face riflemen and flamethrower troops.[/p][hr][/hr][p]When starting development, our team thought a lot about possible themes for the hexes. At first, there were many suggestions and ideas about the distant past like Ancient Egypt, but after carefully analyzing these options, we concluded that despite completely different visuals, the combat mechanics in all locations would turn out rather monotonous. Therefore, for the game's launch, we chose settings that were as distant from each other as possible, allowing for more unique experiences.[/p][p]At launch, the game will have three hex themes: medieval times, World War I, and a zombie apocalypse in conditionally modern America. In the future, we plan to add locations with other themes. We already have plenty of ideas, but players can also influence the team's choice by suggesting their own options.[/p][p][/p][p]How to convey the setting? The most obvious method is in-game texts, but let’s be honest — long lore dumps in an action shooter won’t engage everyone. The delivery has to match the game’s pace, so NCORE opts for simpler, more dynamic methods.[/p][p]Therefore, the developers are constantly searching for ideas on how to introduce players to the game world. In projects of different genres, this can be done through: character dialogues hinting at key events, cutscenes and trailers, letters, audio and video recordings, environmental storytelling, as well as articles about the world on official channels. Obviously, not all gamers are interested in deep-diving into the lore, but those who do will appreciate the well-developed setting, find Easter eggs and references, and gladly share them with the community.[/p][p][/p][p]We chose not to overwhelm players with lore at the start of the game but to deliver information in portions. The first details about the world will come through character backstories, revealing their experiences and goals while subtly explaining how Earth reached its current state. So far, it's known that the action takes place in a distant future on Earth where world wars have ceased, and all conflicts, whether disputes between corporations or enmity between states, are resolved in the arena.[/p][p]Gladiators selected for the show unite into teams and begin their path to victory. The key to success isn't clearing the arena of enemies but collecting and depositing tokens. Players choose their strategy: stealthily gathering tokens or ambushing rivals at drop-off points.[/p][p][/p][p]Random hexes spawn bosses guarding rare loot. Defeating them requires mastering mechanics learned in regular battles — for example, the witch boss can only be killed using tactics from medieval-themed zones, while other bosses demand different approaches. Each setting will feature its unique boss, with more to come as new themes are added.[/p][p]We believe that seamlessly interconnected worlds with instant transitions will captivate players. We eagerly await feedback to see if our vision resonates with you![/p][hr][/hr][p]Have you got an idea for a cool setting? Comment under this publication and let us know![/p]