A return to The City in this stealth game driven by dark conspiracy and a lust for loot.
My Work
- Building the Narrative Landscape: Implemented dialogue and supporting narrative systems, demonstrating a keen eye for pacing and reactivity throughout the story campaign.
- Guiding Gameplay: Consulted on game design and direction to ensure game content is delivered on time and of high quality, bringing years of VR experience to the table.
- Respecting the legacy: Worked closely with the client studio to further develop and support the project’s IP, carefully balancing creative, technical, and business requirements.
Gameplay
As a new entry into the iconic stealth series, the core game loop was already well established. A series of narratively connected levels that encourage patience and exploration through layers of gameplay systems such as guards, navigational challenges, and – most importantly of all – loot.
Joining the project in its final months before release, my role focused on implementing narrative and level content so that each supported the other, delivering the deeply immersive, mechanically engaging experience the series is known for.
Should a coin purse be placed as its owner would naturally? Perhaps hidden in a nightstand or conveniently left by the door? Does that placement encourage the player forward? Require a risk to acquire? Would gameplay be better served by placing it elsewhere? Is a coin purse even the appropriate value for items in this room? These questions were simple to answer individually, but over the course of an entire campaign, with each level often holding over a hundred individual loot items, they became quite the challenge to answer in the short time available.
The answer, as it often is, was iteration. Studying playthroughs and understanding player psychology in any given moment became critical steps of the process. A jewelled ring hidden behind a false painting, a coinroll long lost under a desk, the world of Thief VR holds many secrets, each telling their own story.
The Narrative Landscape
At the time I joined the team, most audio assets had been recorded with no opportunity for change, but had not yet been implemented in the game. As such, my task was deceptively simple: fill the world with conversation.
The catch? Games evolve through their development cycle with every iteration, and not every line lands as intended when the context around them leaves them behind.
I worked quickly to break down and understand the resources available. Which lines were still relevant? Which performances still fit the context and mood of the moment? Could we still tell our story, despite level and content cuts? While drastic changes were required to meet our critical launch deadlines, ultimately, we delivered.
From guard barks and conversations that offer hints and clues for the level ahead to full cutscenes that deliver dramatic stakes, Mapgie’s story of resistance resonated with players as they returned once more to The City.
Owen Bass 