Experienced solo VR software developer, John Thornewill, was captivated by Half-Life: Alyx but grew frustrated with the lack of similar experiences once he completed it. With no apparent sequel in sight, he took matters into his own hands and embarked on creating his own immersive VR adventure.
The challenge, however, was the limited budget at his disposal. Undeterred, John pioneered a groundbreaking development method known as “The Infinity Engine,” designed to empower small teams to craft high-quality games at a fraction of the traditional cost.
His inaugural project, “The Time Plague,” seamlessly blends the narrative excellence of games like Uncharted with the visually striking steampunk aesthetics of Bioshock. To enhance the game’s immersion, John incorporated procedurally generated elements, elevating the player’s experience.
“The Time Plague” was brought to life by Red Nought Limited, a company founded in August 2022 to harness John Thornewill’s innovative technology, previously untapped in other endeavors. Red Nought Games serves as the publishing arm, responsible for distributing games developed using the team’s groundbreaking engines.
John’s pioneering techniques have significantly shortened the development timeline for intricate VR adventure games. These methods streamline repetitive content generation, such as visual landscapes, and automate the training of non-player characters, enabling John to channel his efforts into the most critical design elements, including the core storyline and script.
The game’s narrative serves as a continuation of H.G. Wells’ timeless novel, “The Time Machine.” While John held a deep appreciation for the original work, he sensed an untapped potential for further storytelling, especially considering the abrupt conclusion of the classic. This new chapter introduces characters inspired by the literary works of other Victorian-era authors.
Anticipated for Early Access release in late 2023, “The Time Plague” aims to cultivate a community of users who will contribute to refining the game’s storyline and gameplay elements. The full release is slated for early 2024.
For more information about “The Time Plague” and to stay updated on developments, visit https://thetimeplague.com.
