Welcome to our first dev blog!
We're all currently hard at work making this game a reality, and we want to share this journey with you. We’re planning to post devlogs biweekly, so you’re always up to date on what we’re cooking.
Above: Colonies of the Mist is something we've been looking at making for a long time. There are a lot of pieces that have come together, and it wouldn't be right to start on this journey without acknowledging the things we love; the things that have inspired us to come together and build our own world.
The Spark of Inspiration
Whenever we talk about the theme and feel of the game, there's one title that's always on our lips, and that's Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind. It's one of those movies that sticks with you for years after you see it, and for good reason. I don't think we're making a controversial claim when we call it a true masterpiece. For us, there's something in a seamless way the world mixes swordfights with airships with biomechanical titans and coats the whole thing with so much heart. It's that world of endless possibility, where there's dangerous wilds but also the comforts of home, that inspires us.
I’m mentioning LOST anyway, deal with it, editor! Our teaser shows the core vibe: an airship crash on a mysterious continent with no hope of rescue. While we’re skipping the polar bears and 108-minute buttons, there’s a deep, purposeful history to discover here. No mystery boxes here as everything we add builds toward a complete, coherent picture of the world.
Moving into games, there are so many titles in the genre that we love. Counting up our shared hours in these games is truly terrifying… Anyway. In no particular order:
Against the Storm. When you’re building a colony game, there’s this strange balance you need to hit. Early gameplay, where you’re establishing everything, feels completely different from the endgame. Placing that first house, drawing up grand plans for the manufacturing district… And then looking back at your plans and wondering where it all went wrong. We love that feeling, and Against the Storm is a masterclass in taking you through that loop time after time.
Farthest Frontier - this game is a modern classic, period. It handles so many systems so well and offers such a smooth experience. It really feels like we’re back, as children, playing the original SimCity (1989) on our parents’ computers and discovering the genre for the first time.
Frostpunk - No desperate survival game is complete without a nod to this masterpiece. It offers invaluable lessons in balancing resource scarcity with narrative weight, showing us just how high the stakes should feel when the world is against you.
I’m very excited to talk about how we’re handling that in Above: Colonies of the Mist, but that’s a post all its own. For now, let’s use that to segue into…
Current State Of Development
We currently have a large chunk of the game working. Our colonists can build shelters, logging camps, and storage facilities. They can even convert raw resources into planks and bricks to build better homes.
The Zipline System
Our zipline system is taking shape! It allows survivors to traverse the land in relative safety, but it won't be easy. You’ll need to brave dangerous, mist-filled regions to build the connections yourself.
The "Deadly Red Cubes"
Our explorers currently live in fear of... untextured red oblongs. While our artists finish the building models, these "Lovecraftian" monstrosities are standing in for our enemies. We can’t wait to show you what they actually look like soon.
Unexpected Thieves
We recently discovered a bug where colonists were raiding their neighbors' pantries instead of communal stockpiles. Watching people perpetually steal berries from each other was hilarious, but we’re currently teaching them that stealing is wrong!
Crime Scene Reconstruction:
The Art of the ABOVE: From Sketch to Structure
You’ve likely all seen our logo by now and noticed its focus on one of our signature buildings: the Windmill. Its design took us quite some time to develop, and we are incredibly proud of the final version.
Exploration from rough silhouettes to the final designs is repeated for every building in the game. We'll be sharing more of these behind-the-scenes "blueprints" with you from time to time! Let us know what you think about our architecture style in the comments below ;)
If you made it through this massive wall of text without getting lost in the mist, thank you! We’re just getting started ;)
Stay tuned for more and join the expedition today!
Best,
The Docklight Games Team
Looking for more?
Check out the Forklift Interactive publisher page and follow it to see new games and updates as they arrive.