Gaming

Meet SteeleRising’s Automaton Dancer Aegis

May 23, 2022

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We’re back with more insider information about SteelRising coming to the PS5 on September 8th. Last time, we talked about our quest to develop an action-oriented RPG. This time we will look at the source of our hero. In Steelrising, you play as Aegis, a unique automatic device that must face the army of machines built for the clockwork King Louis XVI.

All about Aegis

Let’s start with some top-level statistics:

Status: Automaton
Date of creation: 1789. Exact date unknown
Height: 175 cm
Weapon type: 9
Creator: Eugene D. Vacanson
Former occupation: Dancer for the court
Current occupation: Warriors in the service of the queen and the last hope of the revolution

Before we decided it would be steelrising in the 18th century, we had already imagined an automated hero. Indeed, the possibilities offered by having a machine, capable of arbitrarily reconstructing itself or mechanically improving it, seem appropriate for an action-oriented “soul-like” game, where death is an integral part of the learning curve.

Originally, our automaton was called Ada, double reference not only to the idea of creation, Ada being our Adam, but also to Ada Loveless, the first programmer in history. Over time and as our universe evolved and anchored in the French Revolution, Ada became Aegis, this time in reference to Aegis, using the shield that Athena used to protect Zeus.

Made her look

Meanwhile, the industry team was thinking about what this machine would look like. There were many influences, but two stood out in particular: from “La petite géante” (small monster) to “Les Machines de l’ile (an installation in Nantes) and” La Joueuse de tympanon “(dulcimer player), a later 18th century product. Is going to be.

On the left, La Petit Gente, and on the right, the Dulcemer player, two sources of inspiration that helped Aegis come to life.

Outside of the mechanical aspect, which reflects the ability to upgrade and rebuild, we wanted to blend the character gracefully because of the gameplay: we wanted to include fast-paced, aerial gameplay elements and verticality. So, it was clear to us that Aegis had to be a nimble and elegant character.

Aegis is setting the blades of his armored fans. Inspired by so many ardent fans by the aristocracy, they provide lightning-fast barrage cutting attacks.

By association, we thought about music boxes and their little mechanical ballerinas. Consistent with the character’s story – who was originally an auto-dancer – we found this reference interesting because it added a sense of apparent weakness and striking subtlety to our view of the character, creating a contrast that was even greater. Injured when he sprays a weapon from his body, Petit Ballerina becomes a tragic instrument of death.