![]() This is all part, seemingly, of this type of connection between developer and player. It is a testament to Unknown Worlds that there is very little of the typically-pervasive online toxicity on Subnautica and Below Zero's community pages, despite the tremendous changes the game has gone through. The challenge Kalina noted is that certain players get attached to very specific parts of the game that need to be cut for the good of the overall project. Below Zero has changed voice actors several times, as well as significantly reworking the narrative to make it less linear than it was in early drafts. The responsibility to respect fans' desires while focusing on a polished final product weighs heavily on the team, leading to some difficult creative decisions. ![]() This is what Kalina said when asked about the impact open development has had on Below Zero. "We are nothing without our fans, but sometimes we choose to go in a different direction." The former is set on a freezing world that is strongly reminiscent of Below Zero's new, arctic overland areas, while Solaris details explorers' attempts to communicate with an oceanic entity spanning an entire planet. Kalina cited both The Left Hand of Darkness, and Solaris, and their influence is immediately evident to those familiar with these classic novels. When asked about influences, Kalina said that the narrative was inspired by classic books, specifically science-fiction that seriously grapples with alien entities. A few hours into the game, players will encounter another entity who also acts as a companion to Sam, though saying more would spoil the surprise. However, the primary stakes here are interpersonal and emotional, as well as conceptual and existential. The evil Alterra Corporation is a common link between both titles, and it's greed-blind, profit-at-any-cost characterization is more pronounced with the voiced cast of characters weighing in. Players assume the role of Robin Ayou a xenobiologist on a quest to investigate the disappearance of her older sister, Sam Ayou. In Below Zero, relationships are front and center from the start. The original game features an intrepid, mute protagonist with a simple goal: survive and escape the ocean planet of 4546B. Other characters exist in the world, fellow passengers from the wreck of the Aurora space craft and prior researchers from the evil Alterra Corporation, but the narrative is not really character-driven. The most pronounced difference between Subnautica and Below Zero is the way the game handles narrative. Subnautica: Below Zero - A Game About Connections Below Zero's Project Lead, David Kalina, opened up about what it is like to develop hand-in-hand with fans while being far apart from their teammates. ![]() ![]() With Below Zero scheduled to exit early access in spring 2021, the title serves as an interesting mirror for an era where everyone's voice can be heard, but essential work practices and strategies, like meeting with colleagues in-person, can no longer be taken for granted. RELATED: Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero Coming to Switch in 2021 Below Zero promises more of the same, albeit with fresh, frigid challenges, based on a recent press conference that Game Rant attended (virtually). Originally nicknamed "Don't Drown" by the community, Subnuatica stranded players on an alien-rich ocean planet where thorough investigation and clever crafting are the keys to survival. While the original Subnautica did not achieve the same sensational success as other indie darlings like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Hades, it established a dedicated following that encompasses fans of sci-fi, base building, and survival games. Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment is a tremendous proponent of open development, incorporating feedback from fans in real-time, and this already-challenging approach to making a game was further complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced team members to collaborate from home. Subnautica: Below Zero has changed a lot since it first became available via Steam early access in January 2019. Initially conceived as DLC for the original Subnautica, Below Zero has since grown into a fully-voiced sequel with a greater emphasis on character-driven narrative than its predecessor, inspired by sci-fi like Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness and Stainslaw Lern's Solaris. ![]()
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