Welcome back, Survivors!
In our previous dev log, we talked a little bit about why we chose Birmingham, England, as the setting for God Save Birmingham. Our goal has always been to create a medieval world that feels as authentic as possible, and through extensive research, we found that 14th-century Birmingham was the perfect backdrop for our survival game.
The 1300s were a historical time, shaped by the Black Death, and Birmingham at the time was a growing market town. We’ve spent time digging into historical records, old maps, and academic sources to understand how people lived, what they ate, and how the city was structured. We even found a model of medieval Birmingham to help visualize the layout!
(Courtesy Birmingham Museums Trust's YouTube video)
All this research isn’t just for show—it actively influences how we design the game world. Here are a few ways historical accuracy is making its way into God Save Birmingham:
- Landmarks & Architecture – We are recreating notable locations like St. Martin’s Church, Moor Hall, and the Marketplace, ensuring they are as close to their historical equivalents as possible.
- Population Realism – The number of survivors (and zombies) in the game isn’t infinite—we’re basing it on the estimated 14th-century population of Birmingham. Every infected person you encounter was once part of that medieval town.
- Food & Animals – Within the game, you’ll only find food that would have actually been available in medieval Birmingham. That means bread, cheese, eggs, turnips, and more! You’ll also come across animals like chickens, which were commonly kept for their eggs and meat.
- Everyday Items – From bedding and tables to tools and cookware, we’ve researched the everyday objects people used in 14th-century Birmingham to make the world feel authentic. You’ll also find historically accurate lighting sources, like rushlights, an inexpensive type of lamp made from animal fat and reeds.
We’re committed to making this world feel as realistic as possible, but we know there’s always more to learn. If you have any knowledge of medieval Birmingham—whether it’s historical sources, family research, or just cool facts—please share it with us within our Steam discussion board! Your input could help shape the game even further.
Let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned for more updates!
Thank you,
God Save Birmingham Team