Springloaded Software, the developer of 2021’s animal-breeding game Let’s Build a Zoo, has unveiled Let’s Build a Dungeon, a new “multi-layered” management simulator in which players attempt to run a game development studio while creating their own MMORPG.
The first level of Let's Build a Dungeon comes in the form of studio management, with players having to recruit staff (including artists, programmers, planners, and testers); manage project deadlines, advertising campaigns, and press relations; negotiate with shareholders; and pitch their proposals to publishers, all in the hopes of growing from an independent start-up into a highly successful studio.
But beyond the business part, players also have to get creative and build their own fantasy MMO, which could be anything from a creature-catching RPG to a cozy farming simulator, filling it with towns, monsters, dungeons, and quests, all designed to satisfy their virtual player base and broaden their audience. And you can even jump into your creation at any time to experience it through the eyes of your players.
“Place every tree, build every mission, and decide on job classes for visiting virtual players as you watch them explore in real time,” Springloaded explains. “Increase drop rates if they’re struggling, or buff enemies’ stats to keep them grinding for XP. The more time you spend in your world, the happier your investors will be!”
“Will you risk financial ruin by delaying your game until it’s perfect, or will you push your staff to the limit with crunch times and pay cuts?” the studio adds. “Will you bow to the community’s demands, or will you stay true to your creative vision?”
Let's Build a Dungeon features a campaign where players can develop new items, environments, and mechanics for their MMO, but there's also a sandbox-style creative mode where they can write their own stories and dialogue, design characters, create cutscenes, and tinker with game mechanics. The final result can then be shared online or uploaded to an in-game browser.
This all sounds a lot more ambitious than Springloaded's enjoyable but rather lightweight Let's Build a Zoo, and it'll be fascinating to see how the studio plans to pull these disparate elements together into something with a manageable focus. All will be revealed when Let's Build a Dungeon launches for Xbox and Steam at some currently undisclosed time in the future, and there'll be an opportunity to get an even earlier look via an open beta, with sign-ups now open.