Disco Elysium And The Rise Of Disco-Like Games

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Disco Elysium And The Rise Of Disco-Like Games

As a seasoned gamer and critic who has witnessed the evolution of countless gaming franchises over the years, I find myself captivated by the unique narrative tapestry that is Disco Elysium. The intricate web of ideas, characters, and themes woven within its world has undeniably left an indelible mark on the industry, and I firmly believe that the spirit of this game will continue to thrive in the hands of innovative creators.

Approximately a year ago on the Disco Elysium subreddit, a user named rTacoDaddy speculated that the sequel to Disco Elysium would involve countless narratives crafted by numerous creators.

In gaming lore of the future, this particular development will be referred to as the “ascendancy of Disco-like”: a fresh subgenre that artfully combines role-playing game (RPG) and adventure elements using an exceptional and inventive dialogue system. This innovative system was developed by ex-ZA/UM team members, who introduced it in their trailblazing detective RPG, which launched on October 15, 2019. We are now celebrating its fifth anniversary.

So far, what was once known as the Disco-like has evolved into something beyond a growing indie niche. A group of former ZA/UM developers, who were let go by the studio’s corrupt upper management, have banded together to create not just two, but three independent studios, each working on their own spiritual successors to the original game.

Among these game studios, Dark Math Games has unveiled an announcement trailer for their inaugural game titled XXX Nightshift. In this exciting venture, you assume the role of Dinorah Katz, a character known as “Patrol Op,” who unexpectedly ends up at a ski resort in Antarctica from the year 2086.

Disco Antarctica: XXX Nightshift is Like New Wave Science Fiction

Disco Elysium And The Rise Of Disco-Like Games

In a fictional Antarctic resort that’s supposedly impossible, Dark Math Games presents an unique science-fiction environment filled with individuals you wouldn’t normally encounter, living under an eternal polar night that conceals numerous secrets. This eerie landscape echoes the bleak futuristic landscapes popularized by J.G. Ballard during the Science Fiction New Wave era of the 1970s. It seems like a tale or novel that Ballard himself might have crafted, offering a satirical take on the wealthy and influential tech-elites, much like a modern-day Ballardian Disco.

The trailer feels like a surreal dialogue rendition of how we wake up from sleep. It’s a universal animal process where we are to some degree always half-aware of our environment as we drift from sleep to wakefulness. We postpone the moment to get up and get to work, knowing we’ll have to face our problems and the ever-increasing difficulties of life in a “world devoured in its pain,” as the Smashing Pumpkins song goes. But in XXX Nightshift, instead of waking up to the foul hangover odors of Harrier Du Bois, you wake up wrapped in chinchilla fur blankets to a delicious aroma in the biggest bed you’ve ever woke up in. Color me intrigued.

In this rephrased version, the developers assure a “rich, immersive single-player role-playing adventure” structured around multiple layers that appear to mimic the design philosophy of Disco, as suggested by the initial trailer. They additionally emphasize an “unusual interaction between companions,” yet it remains to be seen if they can surpass the charm and depth of Kim Kitsuragi, a beloved companion character in video game history. However, let’s maintain an unbiased perspective, despite our reservations about whether any new characters could measure up to her iconic status.

Disco Elysium And The Rise Of Disco-Like Games

Disco Elysium Studios: Longdue and Summer Eternal

Two additional studios, Longdue Games and Summer Eternal, were unveiled today in the world of Disco development. As of now, neither studio has disclosed their upcoming games, but you can subscribe to their newsletters for instant updates when they do. Both studios share similar philosophies: Longdue Games emphasizes “agency-driven storytelling” and plans to create RPGs with a strong narrative, deep psychological aspects, and complex moral dilemmas. The focus is on depth across all levels: characters, environments, and storylines. Reactivity, or choices-and-consequences (C&C), forms the foundation of Disco Elysium’s innovative approach to speech checks, where failure can be as significant as success—often proving more engaging to watch.

In simpler terms, Longdue and Summer Eternal aim to honor the traditional narrative-focused role-playing game (RPG) legacy, as they follow in the footsteps of ZA/UM after its disbandment. The fervent message on Summer Eternal’s website is powerful and passionate, though the bright red background can make it a bit challenging to read. It’s impressive to see these developers preserving the artistic and cultural project that was central to ZA/UM.

Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere, key members from the original ZA/UM team, are not affiliated with any current projects or studios. Last year, there was news about ZA/UM resolving its legal dispute with producer Kaur Kender, a matter that prompted statements from Kurvitz and Rostov (known as Taal, as per ZA/UM). The current ZA/UM management responded to their statement, challenging them to settle the dispute in court and accusing them of various misconducts such as neglecting duties, fostering a hostile work environment, disrespecting colleagues, and attempting to misuse Studio IP. However, since then, no further developments regarding this dispute have been made public.

The Legacy of Disco Elysium and The Promise of a Thousand Discos

Disco Elysium And The Rise Of Disco-Like Games

Since its debut, Disco Elysium has drawn comparisons to numerous well-known and highly praised games due to its exceptional writing and distinctive dialogues. Its impact on creators across various fields is likely to endure, even if a subsequent game is made without the original developers. Unfortunately, this could be unavoidable, as many IPs have fallen into the wrong hands, while some franchises may never surpass their initial game. As Alan Moore stated in “V for Vendetta”, “ideas are bulletproof”. Disco Elysium transcends being just a game franchise or IP; it embodies an idea and a blueprint for storytelling that harmoniously combines art, music, and narrative.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but get excited about the growing number of indie studios creating games that are reminiscent of ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium, yet offering unique twists of their own. For instance, Clam Man 2 has caught my eye as a side-splitting and imaginative indie title where you embody a clam man dabbling in stand-up comedy. I was fortunate enough to review the steampunk-themed Sovereign Syndicate last January, and it’s clear that this Disco-like has plenty of room for future installments. And let’s not forget about Esoteric Ebb, a hilarious D&D RPG with some zany skill checks that could very well be another hidden gem among the unannounced Disco-likes in development.

I fully believe that right at this moment, Disco-likes are being conceived by hundreds of idea-guys who would be thrown out of pitch meetings for threatening to shoot themselves in the head if the executives didn’t agree to publish their games. But I pray most of all for a cryptozoologist Disco-like where we’ll be able to communicate with other species such as the Insulindian Phasmid, so we can witness once more the “violent and and irrepressible miracle” of such encounters with cryptids and the dialogue with other characters who seek them. I still tear up when I remember my first encounter with the Phasmid, and I don’t think anything will ever top that feeling.

The realm of Disco-inspired RPGs and adventures brims with possibilities, akin to a new genre emerging from the fusion of existing ones. While this potential could lead to prosperity, there’s also a risk of oversaturation. Independent developers will continue to push boundaries with innovation. Despite our hopes for ZA/UM to thrive and produce numerous sequels, their success might have been their undoing. They expanded too rapidly, became overly mainstream, and commercially viable (with an Amazon Prime deal), which reinforced their own biases about capital’s ability to assimilate all criticisms. However, what it can’t absorb are the creators themselves.

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2024-10-16 01:39