As the year winds down, the team at Visionary Realms reflects on a rollercoaster year for “Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen”. The small, yet exceptionally talented and driven team, has experienced both highs and lows, making 2023 the most eventful year in the game’s development.
Alpha Launch: A New Beginning
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the launch of the Alpha phase. For the first time, players got their hands on Pantheon, and the feedback has been significantly positive. Chris Rowan, CEO of Visionary Realms, shared his firsthand experience of delving into the Korecera Realm, describing the immersive night environment, the dangers lurking in the dark, and the excitement of live gameplay.
The Evolution of Pantheon
2023 saw major advancements for Pantheon. The introduction of the gamebuilding toolset, ViRGE, marked a significant leap in development efficiency. However, the journey was not without challenges. The game’s art style, initially a point of contention for its blandness, underwent a transformation. The new stylized, yet realistic, approach with an added ‘grit’ factor aims to bring a more compelling visual identity to the game.
Community and Development
The community’s reaction to the new art style was mixed, but playing the game seems to change many minds. Rowan emphasizes the importance of experiential feedback, indicating that in-game experience often outweighs impressions from stills and videos. In response to the community’s feedback, a controversial 247 Test Mode was introduced and quickly retracted, reaffirming the team’s commitment to the MMO aspect of Pantheon.
Looking Ahead to 2024
As the sun rises in the game world, signaling the start of a new day, Rowan outlines the goals for 2024. These include improved communication, more efficient goal accomplishment, faster content creation, increased resources, and expanding the player base. A sense of excitement is palpable as he mentions the upcoming challenges and adventures, including a raid with a group of LVL 5’s in the Gloom Fracture.
Conclusion
Chris Rowan ends his year in review with an invitation to join him in the game, showcasing a genuine passion and commitment to the Pantheon community. The year 2023 was a definitive one for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, setting the stage for a promising and ambitious 2024.