Stygian Sentinel 22
Issue #22, April 4th 2016
Dear Esteemed Backers,
Welcome to the latest The Stygian Sentinel, where we cover everything cool, shiny, and new here at OtherSide Entertainment. This time? There’s lots!
Underworld Ascendant's New "Authored Look" Revealed[edit]
As you may’ve already seen, we revealed Underworld Ascendant’s new “authored look” to the public today. Again, the art style is the brainchild of our art director Nate Wells, who joined the team last fall and worked previously on the BioShock series, The Last of Us, and System Shock 2.
- Return to The Stygian Abyss
In Nate’s own words: “I want to recapture a retro sense of fantasy, fantasy the way our inner child remembers it. For Underworld Ascendant, I thought, ‘What if the world bore the authorship of a tabletop game?’ Think of the old lead figures, the miniature play fields. What if the game used that philosophy of everything looking and being hand-crafted? Natural, man-made. All of it looks like it was sculpted by an artist."
We gave backers an early glimpse before, but these latest shots show the first look at creatures in this style. Specifically, some of Underworld Ascendant’s bony undead.
- Underworld Ascendant’s undead have a parasitic relationship with the world’s magic supply.
- The player is ready to explore, but first… combat!
Here’s a bonus just for backers: the original concept art by Robb (SHODAN, Garrett) Waters.
They’ve come a bit since Ultima Underworld 2, don’t you think?
Like what you see? Discuss with our developers and fans on Underworld Ascendant‘s forums.
Underworld Ascendant Stretch Goal Reached![edit]
Many thanks! Because of your efforts, we’ve reached the $925,000 stretch goal and unlocked THE WAILING HAUNT -- the shrieking, spectral undead being seen here.
- Concept art by Robb Waters
Next up at the $950,000 Reward Tier is The Necropolis of the Ancients, the intended home of many of the most powerful undead in Underworld Ascendant.
If you’re considering raising your backing or spreading word about our game to friends, here are two things worth not forgetting:
- Those who back at PIONEER’S PROGENY tiers and above receive a digital copy of Underworld Ascendant for a discounted rate below the game’s final retail cost. (And crowdfunding won’t continue forever.)
- Backers with PROTOTYPE ACCESS will soon be able to explore the world seen in today’s screenshots when we release our new “Beautiful Corner” update later this month.
Your help could allow us to add THE NECROPOLIS OF THE ANCIENTS to the Underworld Ascendant.
Notes from the Underworld[edit]
In case you missed it, OtherSide had a few notable birthdays recently…
- Ultima Underworld – Released March 27th, 1992.
- System Shock – Released March 21st, 1994.
Please join us in saying happy birthday to both SHODAN and The Stygian Abyss! (They’re 22 and 24 years old now, respectively.) Here’s to many more.
That’s it for this edition of The Stygian Sentinel. For more on OtherSide, be sure to add us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to the System Shock 3 newsletter!
Until next time…
Best,
The Team at OtherSide