Moon Studios' No Rest For The Wicked: Game Development Insights

The founders of "No Rest For The Wicked" aim to revitalize the erpg genre with unique gameplay and a commitment to player feedback and community involvement.

### Moon Studios' "No Rest For The Wicked" Interview Highlights
* 🎮  Moon Studios, known for Ori games, is now developing a new ARPG, "**No Rest For The Wicked**," blending **Dark Souls** and **ARPG elements**.
* 🎨  The game features a **unique art style**, focusing on painted aesthetics to **differentiate from high-polygonal trends**.
* 🎮  The camera system was a key design challenge, aiming for **immersion** without Dark Souls' **low angle** or **static isometric views**.
* 🔄  The recent Crucible update revamped the roguelike mode, adding **depth and variety** to runs.
* 👥  Multiplayer is a **major upcoming feature**, with a **unique shared realm system** for a **persistent world experience**.
* 📈  The team plans to continuously update and expand the game, with potential for **new seasons and wipes** to keep the experience fresh.
* 🏠  The game aims to offer **diverse gameplay experiences**, including **farming, housing, and role-playing elements**.
* 🔄  The developers emphasize **risk-taking and genre revitalization**, questioning **traditional ARPG design choices**.

### " No Rest for the Wicked" - A Deep Dive into Game Design and Development
* 🎮  The developers aim to create a **highly replayable game** with **hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of content**.
* 🌐  The game's unique PvP mode is inspired by fighting games and aims to provide a **fresh experience** in the ARPG genre.
* 💰  The developers plan to monetize the game through **paid expansions** rather than microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics.
* ⏳  Time-gating mechanics are used to create a believable world and introduce delayed gratification, but the team is open to **refining this system based on player feedback**.
* 🌟  The game's strengths lie in its **immersive world-building** and **distinct feel** compared to other ARPGs.
* 🔧  Areas for improvement include enhancing the **fading system** and expanding the world with **more NPCs and side quests**.
* 📅  The team is planning exciting future updates, including **multiplayer, new areas**, and a "**big Sacrament update**" with **more NPCs and projects**.
* 🎯  The developers are focused on **connecting different game modes and systems** to create a **cohesive and addictive gameplay experience**.

Interviewing Moon Studios - Devs of No Rest for the Wicked & Ori!

I'm Zizaran, Path of Exile & ARPG content creator since October 2015.
I stream daily on www.twitch.tv/zizaran



Zizaran

Interview with the Founders of "No Rest For The Wicked"

The founders of "No Rest For The Wicked" discuss their new game, which is a unique blend of Dark Souls and RPGs, with a focus on innovative design and direction.

The game's art style and direction swim against the tide of high polygonal graphics, aiming for a painted, unique look.

The decision to create a new style of game was inspired by a desire to push the boundaries of the ARPG genre, taking inspiration from Diablo and aiming to improve and innovate the genre.

The Unique Multiplayer and Camera System in the Game

The game aims to have a highly strategic and reactive combat system, different from traditional Diablo-style games.

The multiplayer update is expected to offer a completely different experience from other games in the same genre.

The game's camera system is designed to provide an immersive and readable experience, framing the action intelligently without the need for constant player control.

Update on The Crucible in "No Rest for the Wicked" Game

The latest update of the game has introduced significant changes to the Roguelike mechanics, allowing players to discover powerful combos and enhance their characters' abilities.

The update also includes a new end game mode inspired by Diablo 1, offering a different and challenging experience for players.

The development team hints at even more content and features to come in the future, making it a dynamic and evolving game environment.

The Appeal of "The Crucible" Game for Steam Deck Users

The game offers a quick and unpredictable experience, allowing for short sessions and different challenges every time.

The developers value community feedback and aim to perfect the game based on the players' input.

In the upcoming multiplayer mode, the game will focus on communication, first-come-first-serve loot, and free trading to enhance the value of items.

The game's multiplayer is the primary focus, designed to create a cohesive and immersive experience of sharing a realm with other players, similar to a mini MMO RPG.

The multiplayer design allows players to contribute to the shared world and progress even when the host is offline, aiming to create a sense of community and collaboration.

The game also aims to offer diverse role-playing opportunities, such as being a merchant or a monster slayer, and allows players to customize their houses into shops, fostering a unique and exciting gameplay experience.

Multiplayer Access and Game Development Plans

The game developers are still discussing whether all content will be accessible in multiplayer or if there will be some solo-only activities.

The possibility of having new seasons or wipes after the game is out of Early Access is actively being discussed, taking into consideration the community's feedback and the game's potential for fun and improvement.

The developers aim to build trust with the community in their decision-making process, which may include potentially disruptive actions like wipes, in order to create a special and fulfilling gaming experience for the players.

Revitalizing the RPG Genre: Taking Risks and Challenging the Norms

The speaker emphasizes the need to revitalize the RPG genre by taking risks and introducing new, exciting elements.

They praise Grinding Gear for their innovative approach in Path of Exile and express a desire to see a similar fresh take in Diablo 5.

The discussion also revolves around the concept of wipes in games, questioning their purpose and exploring alternative ways to provide a fresh gaming experience.

Creating Replay Value and Variety in a Game

The PVP in the game is designed to be fun and engaging, taking inspiration from fighting games and classic titles like Smash Brothers.

The goal is to create a game with hundreds to thousands of hours of replay value, offering different experiences for different types of players, whether they are into Roguelites, PVP, or immersive world-building.

The game's replayability is also enhanced through enjoyable moment-to-moment gameplay, offering a mix of intense combat and relaxing activities within the same game world, similar to the concept used in classic games like Zelda.

Designing Game Systems for Player Engagement

The game aims to create a balanced interplay between different systems, allowing players to switch between activities and avoid monotony.

The developers intend to keep the early access period relatively short, aiming to provide a goal-oriented timeline for the game's development.

The monetization strategy focuses on avoiding pay-to-win mechanics, with a plan to offer paid expansions as a fair approach to additional content.

The Impact of Microtransactions on Gaming

Microtransactions in games can lead to a problematic reliance on big spenders, disrupting the immersive experience and making the game feel financially demanding.

The gaming industry's focus on monetization has shifted towards alternative methods, but the pressure to support large development teams remains.

The introduction of time gating as a way to encourage in-game purchases is a notable alternative to the traditional pay-to-speed-up model.

The Importance of Building a Believable Gaming World

Developers need to focus on creating a believable and immersive gaming world to provide a truly enjoyable experience for players, even if it means using timers and delayed gratification.

Feedback from the community is valuable, but it's essential for developers to analyze it holistically and understand the underlying reasons behind the feedback, rather than just making immediate changes based on surface-level comments.

Introducing timers and time-related elements can add value to the gaming experience, encouraging speculation, changing the way players approach the game, and adding an extra layer of complexity and engagement.

Developing a game with a unique feel in the ARPG genre sets "No Rest for the Wicked" apart, with a distinct combat experience.

The immersive world-building and the weight of the game's combat create a strong connection for players, setting it apart from other video game experiences.

The game's fading system and technical aspects of occlusion need improvement to match the quality of its beautiful art style and create a more seamless experience.

The Future of Gaming: Expanding the World and Storytelling

The speaker emphasizes the importance of expanding the gaming world with more side quests and non-playable characters to create a deeper and more immersive experience.

They also highlight the significance of prioritizing storytelling and character development to create emotional connections with the game's NPCs.

The upcoming updates that the speaker is most excited about include multiplayer features, a big Sacrament update, PVP, and the expansion of game areas like the Marin woods and lowland Meadows.

The Importance of Connecting Different Gaming Modes

The game aims to seamlessly integrate various modes, allowing players to move between activities like Roguelite, survivor mode, multiplayer, and NPC interactions.

The key focus is on creating a cohesive experience where different elements of the game interact and complement each other, ultimately providing a deep level of engagement for the players.

The development approach involves releasing the game, gathering feedback, and making iterative changes to ensure that all the different modes effectively come together.