The survival roguelike design fundamentals that fuel Pacific Drive
Ironwood Studios' Pacific Drive is revving up for its 2023 release, and the Pacific Northwest-themed driving survival game continues to look like one of the most intriguing games we'll see this year.
In late 2022 we spoke with creative director and studio founder Alex Dracott about the game's creative roots—and last week, we got to hear from more of the Ironwood team about about some of the design fundamentals that have fueled the game's development.
During a 30-minute demo, Ironwood took the time to show press what an individual run out into "The Zone" might look like. Players first gassed up a beat-up old station wagon, then set out to an area to search for scraps and other necessary gear, while dodging and battling with strange anomalies.
What stood out during the run was how Pacific Drive's modular systems made for a number of unique, interesting encounters. Not many games are that concerned with the little interactions you have in your car, and the breadth of unusual anomaly events made for a different kind of survival experience.
Where most survival games would make players worry about food, water, and stamina, Pacific Drive was more concerned with visibility, road slickness, the location of your car, and what parts or loot could be removed by outside elements.
While showing off these systems, the Ironwood team took questions and explained some key design fundamentals of the game that might help other developers with their own survival or roguelike experiences.
Last time we talked to Tracott, he mentioned how Ironwood's push for interconnected design helps the team identify and create unique experiences. So if a designer comes up with an interesting anomaly behavior, its core function can influence how the art and
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