A blissful, exloratory experience, Hollow Tree Games' upcoming PS4 title launches in early 2018.
You may remember, as I do, that feeling of getting lost as a child. Never perturbed, I invented stories to go with my feelings of bewilderment. I was an explorer delving into the secrets of a strange forest, on the hunt for hidden treasures, urged forward by the unknown.
My name is Stu Maxwell and I’m an FX artist with some experience working on big AAA games. I’m super stoked to let you know that I’ve partnered with Plug In Digital and Seaven Studio to bring my very first indie title, Shape of The World, a first-person explorer, to PlayStation 4 early 2018!
For me, exploring new surroundings is the rush of a new adventure. That’s probably why I’ve always been attracted to the exploration mechanics of some games and, no doubt, why I’ve always wanted to make my own game with exploration at the heart of the experience.
To quickly introduce my work, I would say that Shape of the World is about being on a visually and musically stunning journey as an outsider in a surreal world that reacts to your presence. You won’t only be lost because you’re not certain of your location… you will be lost because this world does not feel or behave as you expect it to. You won’t just be walking on this journey, you will drift, swim, and even fly with the whales if you’re lucky.
Each step you take leaves a mark on the world you’re exploring. Your choices alter the world in vibrant and unanticipated ways, leaving you wondering what will happen with each path you take and every hollow you stumble upon.
When I started work on this game, my professional and family life were becoming quite busy, so I wanted to make a place where anyone could have fun, relax and enjoy their time. For that reason, nothing is urging you forward in Shape of The World, no score is involved, no bloodthirsty beast is hunting you, no clock ticking to make you rush… The world is designed to let you experience it the way you want.
Last but not least, Shape of the World features integrated audio that responds to the player’s travels. The ambient soundtrack of my good friend and experienced sound designer Brent Silk blends seamlessly with the burgeoning nature of the game, and I have no doubt that it will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for anything tomorrow might have in store for you.
I really hope that you’ll be interested in playing my first little game! I’ll be answering any questions that you have about it here in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you’ve seen so far.
Take care and see you soon,
Stu.
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