Dev Log: Texture Trickery

The Tartarus Key

There’s no way out for Alex Young who wakes up to find herself locked in a strange mansion filled with puzzles, traps, and cameras following her every move. Whether she and her companions live or die, and find the truth behind their abduction, is up to you in this first-person mystery thriller.

We wanted to take a moment to talk further about some of the design choices we made in The Tartarus Key that we think adds to the game's charm and appeal, such as the deliberately low resolution of the game's graphics and textures. We made a conscious decision to embrace an aesthetic inspired by PlayStation 1 visuals for the game, both allowing us to more quickly and effectively create assets as a small team, as well as create a unique and memorable atmosphere. On top of that, we love the gritty, low-fi look that this style provides! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/40813934/d9ba48e8028be57cebde78001fb9a7d6f2e9bdaa.jpg[/img] One of the unexpected benefits of working with low-resolution textures is the artistic freedom it gives us. Because players would be unable to read small text on assets, we've had a lot of fun filling the game world with silly and absurd labels and designs. For example, you might find food cans with labels like "Brand - It's food probably, wow!" and "Sardines - Food Food Food". While we typically take our game design very seriously, we also believe that a little bit of humour can go a long way in making a game more enjoyable. We hope that these little touches add to the overall experience of The Tartarus Key and bring a smile to your face. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/40813934/17c0c4f2409bcd9cbf8a10ae39b2c6e7b1466b69.jpg[/img] We want to thank all of our fans for their support as we continue to refine and improve the game. We're excited to see what you think of the low-res aesthetic and the quirky humour it allows us to incorporate into the game world. Thank you for your support, and we'll see you in the game! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/40813934/4592a78bec2817a16c918e0738b72b7411ef027f.gif[/img]