Gareth Damian Martin Unveils 'Signet City' Fungalpunk RPG
Gareth Damian Martin, lead developer of the acclaimed game "Citizen Sleeper," has announced his next project, "Signet City." This upcoming first-person fungalpunk RPG presents a departure from his previous work, casting players as a sentient spore. The core gameplay revolves around secretly infecting individuals within a city and influencing their emotions and actions to shape unfolding events. The game utilizes an emotion-based skill system where players must manipulate their hosts' feelings to achieve objectives, with choices subject to six-sided dice rolls. Development for "Signet City" is reportedly midway, with no release expected this year.
Gareth Damian Martin, known for leading the development of "Citizen Sleeper" and its sequel, is working on a new game titled "Signet City." This upcoming title is described as a first-person fungalpunk RPG where players assume the role of a sentient spore. The objective is to spread throughout a city by secretly infecting individuals.
As the spore, players act as a guiding psyche, influencing the emotions and actions of their hosts to direct the narrative. Each day, players choose a host to inhabit, with access to a limited number of actions within that host's specific area or "hub" of the city. Martin noted that the city layout is more akin to "Dishonored," featuring distinct chunks rather than an open world.
A central mechanic in "Signet City" is the parasite's ability to feed on emotion, with the game's RPG skill system directly tied to emotional states. For instance, a player might need their host to be angry to successfully kick down a door, which could involve leading the host into an argument at a pub. The game incorporates a dice-roll system, similar to "Citizen Sleeper," meaning player choices can fail and potentially injure the infected host, prompting players to find alternative solutions with different hosts.
Martin highlighted the game's unique narrative perspective, which incorporates first-, second-, and third-person viewpoints. The camera is first-person, the parasite is referred to as "you," and hosts are described in the third-person. This design aims to explore the dynamic relationship between player and character, drawing inspiration from tabletop role-playing games where players often shift perspectives when talking about themselves and their characters.
The developer also stated that "Signet City" delves into themes of authoritarianism and revolution, allowing players to explore how a parasite can embody both control and radical change. Players will determine whether they act as a shepherd or a master, instigator or controller, within the city.
The game is currently midway through development, with an announcement trailer released. No release is anticipated for the current year. (Source: GameSpot)
