Medieval zombie survival sport God Save Birmingham exploded onto the scene in April with an 8-minute “gameplay” trailer that sparked as a lot skepticism because it did pleasure. Amongst jokes about its Birmingham setting, some stated it appeared too good to be true, with animations that prompt what we had been seeing in the trailer wasn’t a lot gameplay, extra pre-rendered footage designed to hoodwink the gaming public.
Maybe most damning of all, some in contrast God Save Birmingham to the notorious The Day Before, calling it a “faux sport” and even a “rip-off.” For the uninitiated, The Day Before was considered one of the most controversial and catastrophic sport launches in current reminiscence, as what was touted as the “subsequent technology of post-apocalyptic MMO open-world survival video games” was launched as a barebones and damaged extraction shooter. The Day Before acquired an nearly impossibly uncommon 1/10 in IGN’s evaluate, and its shutdown was introduced simply 4 days after it launched in Early Entry.
After God Save Birmingham’s April video went viral, Korean writer Kakao Video games and its developer Ocean Drive introduced a demo to PAX East and launched an up to date gameplay video that supplied maybe a extra real looking view of the place the sport is at present at when it comes to growth. This newest video has gone a way to addressing the narrative established by God Save Birmingham’s explosive April promo. However nonetheless, these The Day Before “rip-off sport” feedback stay.
It was with this in thoughts that I interviewed Ocean Drive CEO and founder Jae Kim and head of publishing Jungsoo Lee to discover out if God Save Birmingham can ever shake off The Day Before. What stunned me is that each appeared completely proud of the comparability. Learn on to discover out why.
IGN: Are you able to give us some background on Ocean Drive?
Jungsoo Lee: We based our studio again in 2020 and it is our fifth yr. We at present have about 80 builders in Korea and about 12 folks in the States engaged on enterprise, narrative design, and localization. As Ocean Drive Studio, our first sport was Misplaced Eidolons. It was developed utilizing Unity, which was considered one of our errors truly on decision-making. However we tried to have a top quality of Unreal, and that was story-driven, Hearth Emblem type turn-based tactical RPG. That was our first challenge.
Presently internally we now have 4 completely different groups. Two of these initiatives are fairly small-scale, extra like an indie type. Considered one of the initiatives is positioned as extra like AA scale. It’s unannounced, nevertheless it’s an motion RPG challenge based mostly on considered one of the respected IPs in Korea. Our final ultimate challenge is God Save Birmingham. We began small, however as of final month we had about 28 folks engaged on the challenge.
IGN: So how did God Save Birmingham come about? How did that challenge begin? The place did the thought come from?
Jungsoo Lee: Total our firm’s imaginative and prescient is mainly, we solely work on the sport that the inventive director is aware of the style as a hardcore participant, as a result of we consider understanding the group wants, what sort of sport ought to be there for the style, is the most necessary issue making a profitable sport there. And Hyeonseong Cha [creative director] actually loves Undertaking Zomboid.
We additionally had a check challenge from Mr. Cha, considered one of the prototypes — it is on the Steam market proper now — it is known as Dropkick Navvy. It is a puzzle sport utilizing physics. So he was actually into utilizing the physics in his sport design. So we truly combined these two. And on high of that we had a Misplaced Eidolons medieval artwork type manufacturing expertise. So all these ideas got here collectively after one yr of prototyping, and our previous challenge grew to become God Save Birmingham.
IGN: The shock for me is Birmingham. Even British builders do not make video games set in Birmingham. However a Korean developer deciding to do it in Birmingham may be very shocking. So I would love to know why you determined to go there.
Jungsoo Lee: Final yr at gamescom, we had loads of interviews at the present, and the most-asked query was, why Birmingham? So I do know the reply fairly nicely! What occurred was, we’re a small workforce and so they had been actually into engaged on medieval, particularly the artwork director who used to work on our first sport and he loves medieval artwork type. So we had been taking a look at medieval, and so they had been looking for a medieval metropolis. We’re based mostly in Korea, proper? We’re not actually acquainted with any of the cities in medieval occasions in Europe. So that they had been simply taking a look at the checklist of cities, and so they had a situation which was, it should not be large as a result of we’re not a giant workforce, so we are able to’t create an enormous city. In order that was the first situation. The second situation was, we needed to have some range in the metropolis, that means that metropolis should have some commerce, loads of commerce and issues occurring at the time.
So that they had been doing analysis and one way or the other they got here to this YouTube video from the Museum of Birmingham, and so they had recreated 14th century Birmingham there. They had been taking a look at that and so they liked how the city appeared. They did some analysis on Google and so they discovered, oh, this background is ideal, let’s simply do Birmingham. And our complete workforce was truly stunned after our trailer launched at gamescom, as a result of there have been so many British folks making enjoyable of Birmingham, and we began to surprise, what is going on on with Birmingham? As a result of we had zero thought what was actually occurring at the modern-day Birmingham.
So it was a coincidence how we picked Birmingham and the scenario at Birmingham received combined up collectively. It helped us acquire extra views there as a result of on Reddit, like Birmingham Reddit and UK Reddit, the trailer was there and so they had been making enjoyable of Birmingham, prefer it’s higher than modern-day Birmingham. So initially we requested Gary [PR] and the workforce, ‘Is it okay? Did we do one thing incorrect?’ And Gary informed us, ‘No, it is a part of the joke.’
IGN: Did any of the builders truly go to Birmingham to get a way of what it is like? I am interested by a few of the analysis that went on to attempt to nail the setting.
Jungsoo Lee: When it comes to how the city seems, we referred to the video from the Museum of Birmingham. That video gave them loads of inspiration, particularly how the city was taking a look at the time and what was the greatest landmark at the time, like Moor Road. And one other analysis they did, our workforce in Korea, they bought all the books associated to medieval Birmingham.
There was a case of, they’d a potato as considered one of the meals, and so they checked out the e book, what was the foremost meals there, and potato wasn’t there. So they really took out the potato. We’ve got a carrot now, however we discovered the coloration of the carrot was completely different at the time. It wasn’t orange, like carrot-ish coloration. So we’re in the course of of fixing that.
So for now, we are literally referring to all these supplies that we may get from the books or on-line. Additionally we’re working with Gary to see if they’ll discover any individual who can truly seek the advice of us about medieval occasions. Considered one of the key pillars we now have is recreating 14th century Birmingham as precisely as doable. So we are attempting to discover methods to truly make that occur proper now.
IGN: I do know the sport is about the final survivor, so it isn’t such as you’re going to have numerous voice appearing for characters that you’re going to meet alongside the approach. They’re zombies. Will the character have a Brummie accent?
Jungsoo Lee: Sure. We are attempting to have that for the ultimate product. The present voice appearing for the trailer and the sport demo, we couldn’t truly discover the proper individual in the brief time frame. However we’re planning to discover any individual who can recreate that medieval accent, the Brummie accent. In order that’s in the plan. And we now have a number of completely different courses and we’ll attempt to have completely different voice appearing for these.
IGN: The April gameplay reveal trailer had an enormous quantity of curiosity and feedback. Some folks had been saying the animations had been too good to be true, a few of it appeared scripted, it wasn’t true gameplay. You may have seen all of those feedback your self. Was that one thing you anticipated from that video? Or did it take you without warning?
Jungsoo Lee: I say half and half. Which means we did not assume the impression of The Day Before… as a result of numerous persons are referencing The Day Before and saying it’s one other rip-off, proper? I imply we learn all the pieces! Even internally, Jae and particularly myself had been considering some folks would possibly say one thing comparable, it is likely to be too good to be true. As a result of we acknowledge we by no means say it is from the construct, however the title is right, that means this trailer is there to present folks that is what we’re aiming to create when it comes to gameplay expertise that individuals may have at the ultimate product.
So reception, we had been slightly bit stunned. There was one other video from a YouTuber with nearly 1 million views, ‘One other faux rip-off’ was the title. So in that sense we’re slightly bit stunned, nevertheless it wasn’t one thing we weren’t anticipating.
IGN: Simply to clear up for our viewers precisely what’s going on in that trailer, what are we seeing in that video when it comes to gameplay versus issues that you’ve got created to give the impression of the expertise you’re going for?
Jungsoo Lee: So the map, setting, props, all the pieces is precisely as what we’re working in direction of. So it is already there in the construct, the map and the objects, buildings, they’re all there. However as you will have identified, a few of the animations will not be there but. Some are a piece in progress, and in the close to future it’s going to be applied as a demo construct. Some will take an extended time frame to truly get there.
However in the end what we are able to inform you is we are literally working in direction of that route, and nothing is absolutely exaggerated there. This is one caveat although: when you play a sandbox sport, you are not going to transfer the digicam like that. Yeah, we acknowledge that. However what we meant with the trailer was mainly we wish to present the setting, what sort of options might be there. That was the main intention. If the participant needs to create a video like that, our ultimate construct will allow you to truly make the video appear like that.
There might be digicam choices, particularly for console controller gamers, it is sort of widespread. So if you would like to transfer the digicam like that, you may truly try this. If you would like to seize props like in the video, the place the hand precisely grabs the objects, you are able to do it. However in sandbox gameplay, real-world gamers, what they are going to do is open up the tab in the menu and drag all the pieces into your stock. You don’t need to decide one-by-one. So there might be that distinction. However endgame, the animation the place you stroll and seize the apple, these are already in the works. So that they’re truly working in direction of that proper now.
IGN: So what you are saying is that all the pieces we see in that video might be achievable in the ultimate sport as soon as it is completed?
Jungsoo Lee: Appropriate.
IGN: This is not a scenario the place persons are going to really feel like the ultimate product would not have a few of the issues prompt by the video? You are saying all the pieces we see there finally you will have the option to do in the sport?
Jungsoo Lee: Appropriate.
IGN: You had a follow-up video and took the sport to PAX. From what I can see on-line, the response to that has been higher, with folks saying this seems a bit extra real looking and never the identical factor as the earlier trailer. What’s your evaluation of the response and the sentiment now that that video has come out, and the way completely different it’s in contrast to the sentiment after the first video?
Jungsoo Lee: We undoubtedly had far more constructive feedback there, however at the identical time in fact these individuals who talked about one other The Day Before scenario, some gamers are nonetheless saying, see, have a look at the distinction between it. Our plan was mainly, let’s share this, our finish purpose, after which we’ll usually share how we’re making progress in direction of that.
One factor we did not actually count on was, we actually underestimated how folks perceived The Day Before scenario, how damage they had been, as a result of they had been so excited. As a result of they had been actually excited, they received a lot greater disappointment in direction of the challenge. And one other factor was, we’re not that respected but, so folks do not actually perceive what sort of pedigree we now have, what sort of folks we now have right here, how many individuals we now have right here working in direction of the sport.
We had loads of supporters, a few of them stated, ‘Why did not you simply launch this video first?’ And that half, we take the suggestions significantly. However one fascinating story there, Jae and I truly informed the dev workforce not to make a pre-rendered video. We mainly stated, ‘Let’s simply use our construct after which share our present construct video based mostly on that.’ However our workforce, they’re so into the challenge that they had been the ones mainly insisting, ‘No, we’re very assured we are able to do it and we now have to present them how formidable we’re.’
In order that was considered one of the fascinating components, as a result of numerous folks had been considering vice versa, the place advertising and marketing and enterprise people had been pushing them to create this advertising and marketing video to appeal to loads of gamers into our group. However it was truly vice versa. They had been very assured, ‘We will do it.’ Each week we saved asking them, ‘So that is our finish purpose, you will have to ship this, you are making a promise to our gamers.’ They usually stated, ‘Yeah, we perceive, and we’re very assured.’ That is how this video happened truly.
IGN: There have been a number of events on this interview the place you have referenced The Day Before. It appears to me that what occurred with that sport has created a tough scenario for you. How damaging do you assume The Day Before has been for you particularly? Are you assured you will have the option to get to a spot the place folks cease mentioning it along with your sport? Or do you assume that it is simply one thing you’re going to have to dwell with for the remainder of the growth and till the sport comes out?
Jungsoo Lee: Jae and I had this dialog after the video. I do not assume it was simply solely giving us the injury. As a result of it went viral, though it wasn’t all constructive, I feel we received extra views on the video as a result of numerous folks had been truly saying, ‘One other rip-off right here, there’s The Day Before.’ Getting extra curiosity in direction of a small studio like us, each sort of curiosity helps. So we do not actually assume it is giving us that injury.
A part of that’s as a result of we’re fairly assured. The Day Before, they by no means had a check. They stated they are going to have a beta check, however they immediately say just for volunteers. Everybody was confused at the time. And we’re not doing pre-orders; we have by no means accomplished pre-orders on any of our video games. So whereas we’re internally assured that by exhibiting the progress that we’re making usually — for instance we’re going to be at gamescom and we’re going to share one other demo on-site, then folks will see how we progressed from the PAX East demo to the gamescom demo.
So due to that stage of confidence internally, I feel we’re positive with folks truly evaluating us to The Day Before, as a result of if we are able to flip this round with precise gameplay and the demo, these people who find themselves disenchanted can truly be big robust supporters of ours, and that is the way you even have to construct a sport with the group.
IGN: Do you will have a goal yr in thoughts for when folks would possibly have the option to play it by way of Steam both in early entry or in any other case? Or is it too early to say at this level?
Jungsoo Lee: Our official communication about timeline is early entry someday subsequent yr. What we’re internally debating is what quantity of content material do we wish to have for early entry? We do not need to monetize the sport too early with a really empty sport, proper? So we now have been assessing what might be our optimum quantity of the content material the place gamers can truly take pleasure in the sport to present us significant suggestions about how we should always evolve the sport.
Undertaking Zomboid is doing a terrific job. They began small and with the Construct 41 replace, they really achieved business success from that replace. And ever since they have been working with their group to truly create a function that their group is asking. So we wish to take an analogous strategy the place we should always have adequate of a sport to… and particularly with the video, we raised our inner customary bar for early entry. So as soon as we now have that, I feel we are able to get into early entry. However Jae and we’re focusing on someday subsequent yr. I do not assume it’s going to be early subsequent yr, however in all probability between summer season and the finish of 2026.
Jae Kim: Really, we’re very impressed by the viewer depend of our sport reveal trailer on IGN. Our studio is the baby firm of Kakao Video games in Korea, the large listed firm. So possibly we are able to make the workforce greater after discussing with Kakao Video games, as a result of this sport has loads of buzz proper now. So possibly we are able to make investments extra into this challenge to make it higher after we launch this sport. The schedule is kind of open, however personally I actually need to do the early entry inside the subsequent yr.
IGN: For somebody who has seen the April video and the response and dismissed it as a rip-off sport or a faux sport, or one other The Day Before, what’s your message to that gamer proper now to persuade them in any other case?
Jungsoo Lee: Actions converse louder than phrases. The solely factor we are able to inform them is, we perceive, we’ll attempt to show it with our actions, particularly with testing. Regardless that we now have a trailer, there’s a chance folks would possibly assume it is scripted, though it is truly the construct taking place. So I feel hopefully they’ll at the least anticipate our future alpha, our beta checks, in order that they’ll truly expertise the sport, and likewise observe us in order that they’ll see what sort of progress we’re making. Actions converse louder than phrases, so we’ll give attention to our actions going ahead.
Jae Kim: Our workforce is kind of succesful to ship this high quality of the sport. We’re not a beginner workforce. We’ve got loads of expertise. It was principally the free-to-play video games, however the core members in my firm, they actually hate to make free-to-play video games proper now, as a result of they’re all hardcore players, and so they actually need to make story based mostly or a sport with core play. So I am fairly assured to ship this high quality of the sport.
My solely fear is that the sport ought to be enjoyable, proper? That is the foremost concern I at present have. The high quality, we are able to present the high quality. However I actually need to present a enjoyable sport. So please control us, and I actually admire all the feedback on the video. Even when it is good or dangerous.
God Save Birmingham is due out on PC by way of Steam in early entry type in 2026.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.