Hello, and welcome to the first deep dive into the development of A Dragons Dawn!
In this game, you play as a dragon hatchling. You find yourself alone in a surreal world, filled with oddities and mystery, and a dark, twisted undercurrent.
I'm Niall Mc, and I'm excited to be able to share this journey with you!
A Dragons Dawn uses procedural animation and some unique traversal mechanics to bring the dragon, and the game to life. So today, I want to explain what the game is, and also talk about some of the development journey so far.
What is A Dragons Dawn?
At its heart, A Dragons Dawn is an adventure game, set in a semi-open world.
You play as a baby dragon, hatching alone in a surreal landscape with no memory or guidance. As you explore this mysterious world, you’ll uncover fragments of your story, growing from a fragile hatchling into a young dragon. Along the way, you gain abilities like fire breath, gliding, and eventually flight, opening up new possibilities and areas in the game.
The gameplay revolves around traversal, exploration, hunting, and puzzle-solving. I’ve worked hard to create unique traversal mechanics that encourage creativity, as you navigate challenging terrain, swim through vast waters, and eventually take to the skies.
Why is Movement So Important?
I've decided to design many of the game systems around movement and traversal.
In the early game, your dragon can only walk, run, climb, and jump short distances. Steeper slopes will drain stamina, slowing you down and forcing you to strategize how to traverse the environment.
I’m designing the movement system to make you feel the physicality of the character. Whether it’s the weight of climbing a steep hill, sliding down loose gravel, or moving across icy surfaces.
What is the Goal?
When you first hatch, the world feels like something out of a storybook, peaceful and serene. But as you venture further, a darker truth emerges: the magic that binds reality together is unraveling, and the world is descending into chaos.
You are the first dragon to hatch in hundreds of years, and your kind has become little more than myth. Your awakening may hold the key to restoring balance and saving the world.
A World of Strange and Wonderful Characters
The world you explore is filled with life, home to creatures as strange as they are wonderful. Chief among these are the Watchers, sentient beings resembling mushrooms, who have existed for millennia. These creatures have made their homes in the ruins and villages scattered across the land.
Some watchers still worship the Dragons, their priests standing vigil over ancient temples, awaiting the hatching of a new dragon.
What’s Next?
That wraps up this first devlog, where I’ve introduced the broader vision for A Dragon’s Dawn.
Next time, I’ll dive deeper into the technical aspects of movement and the procedural animation systems that make the dragon come alive.
Thank you for checking out the game, and I’m looking forward to hearing your questions, thoughts, and ideas in the comments below. Don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam and stay tuned for the next update!
Until next time, happy adventuring!
