Ashen
Developer: A44 | Publisher: Annapurna Interactive | Tools: Unreal Engine | Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows 10 | Released: 2018Role:
I began working at A44 as a Game Designer in May 2017. During my time on Ashen, I contributed to many different aspects of the game’s design. The dynamic nature of this position required me to adapt, learn how to effectively communicate with diffident disciplines, and learn new skills often.
Traversal Systems: Co-OP Climbing and Treading Water systems.
Player UI: Player Inventory, Character Creator, Character Stats, and Messaging System.
Open-World Level Design: White-boxing on several critical areas of the game, Cave systems, and dungeons.
Encounter Design: Encounter pacing and placement, Enemy behavior design, Boss fight design.
Quest and Narrative Design: Implementation of Quests and the design of each quests flow.
Achievement Design: The creation of some of the game's achievements, deciding on the goals and triggers, along with the amount of Gamerscore awarded for each one (Xbox Live Only).
Diversity/Accessibility
As a designer on Ashen, I advocated for the game to accommodate a diverse range of players. I created documentation and initiatives within the teams to add accessibility options. These included color-blind settings and fully remappable controls on both Console and PC. Along with accessibility, I also championed the representation of various identities of our players through the titles character creator. As a trans person being able to express my identity in games is important and I wanted Ashen to be a safe space where players could feel free to do so.
About the Game:
Ashen is an Action RPG about forging relationships and finding a place to call home. Inspired by games like Dark Souls and Journey, Ashen takes the player through a harsh world where not all is as it seems.
Through the use of a seamless matchmaking system players will stumble upon other real players exploring the world. Player's must learn to trust these strangers they cross, building relationships and overcome the difficult challenges presented to them. Ashen was produced by a dedicated and creative team based in Wellington, New Zealand.
Press:
“At its heart, it wants to be a game of friendship as much as it does a game of weathering the storm.“ - Rock Paper Shotgun
“I was taken by its divergences: the openness of many of its areas, its optimistic attitude, the ease and joy of its… platforming?” - Waypoint
"Ashen’s handful of new ideas make it a stellar Souls-like with solid combat, a great art style, and an interesting world." - ign