Ao : The Light Of Day (In Development)

Introduction

An atmospheric open-world fantasy adventure, interwoven with Māori myth and lore.

An atmospheric open-world fantasy adventure, interwoven with Māori myth and lore.

Details

Year :

Year :

2025

2025

Credits

Studio :

Studio :

Small Idea

Small Idea

Created By :

Created By :

James Brooks (Development, Audio)

James Brooks (Development, Audio)

Cultural Guidance :

Cultural Guidance :

Taumata Consultation Established

Taumata Consultation Established

Developed In :

Developed In :

Unity Engine

Unity Engine

The Challenge

To Prototype An Open-World Fantasy Adventure Rooted In Te Ao Māori, That Balances Cultural Integrity With Universal Playability

To Prototype An Open-World Fantasy Adventure Rooted In Te Ao Māori, That Balances Cultural Integrity With Universal Playability

To balance cultural integrity with modern gameplay: a stylized world, myth-infused narrative, and exploration that welcomes newcomers without reducing the depth of the source kaupapa.

The Approach

Seed First, Then World

Seed First, Then World

Development started with concept art and narrative pillars to establish the world's foundation. From there, gameplay emerged through prototyping exploration mechanics, environmental storytelling, and atmospheric encounters.

The Outcome

A Living Prototype And A Direction Of Travel

A Living Prototype And A Direction Of Travel

The current focus is working toward building a playable vertical slice for community playtests and preparing funding applications through CODE and other Aotearoa-based programs to support full development.

Early concept visuals were developed using AI-assisted tools to rapidly explore mood, atmosphere, and visual direction. All final game assets, including 3D models, environments, and character designs, will be hand-crafted using professional game development tools.

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