Heavy Prototyping in Full Motion
Starting this November, Project Escher officially enters its most intense development sprint yet: a structured Heavy Prototyping Cycle designed to shape the core playable identity of the game.
To keep the process focused and accountable, the team at Rare Castle has divided this cycle into six development phases, each lasting two weeks. Every phase functions as a milestone and ends with a public video update showcasing what we’ve accomplished.
These updates may reveal:
- A newly implemented narrative mechanic
- A fresh slice of gameplay
- A story moment entering the build for the first time
- A technical breakthrough that pushes the atmosphere and immersion further
- Or any major milestone that helps solidify the vertical slice
Our first major feature in this cycle is the Inner Monologue Mechanic — a system that brings players directly into the protagonist’s mind, allowing thoughts, memories, and emotional cues to guide the narrative in subtle and psychological ways. This mechanic plays an essential role in Project Escher’s identity as a first-person healer / psychological thriller, deepening player connection and driving both story and exploration.
By the end of these six phases, our goal is clear:
deliver a polished, atmospheric, and story-rich vertical slice ready to present to the Sony PlayStation Hero Project.
As a solo indie studio growing its creative footprint, we’re excited to share every step of this journey. Thank you for being part of the road toward Off The Grid: Bad Dream — and stay tuned for the first milestone video soon.
Resources:
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/mena-hero-project
https://sonyinteractive.com/en/news/blog/mena-hero-project-vibrant-dynamic-unstoppable/
https://youtu.be/02ikyMQpYxM?si=guCRDf50ca9F2VsW
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