{"id":10579,"date":"2022-11-24T15:15:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T15:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/2022\/11\/24\/unearthing-below-striking-distance-studios-detail-the-callisto-protocols-new-area\/"},"modified":"2022-11-24T15:15:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T15:15:42","slug":"unearthing-below-striking-distance-studios-detail-the-callisto-protocols-new-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/2022\/11\/24\/unearthing-below-striking-distance-studios-detail-the-callisto-protocols-new-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Unearthing Below: Striking Distance Studios detail The Callisto Protocol\u2019s new area"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\">Welcome to Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on the desolate surface of Jupiter\u2019s moon, Callisto. Let\u2019s dive into how The Callisto Protocol\u2019s atmospheric environments, compelling characters and monstrous creatures make the fight to survive the horrors of Jupiter\u2019s dead moon a terrifyingly immersive experience.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">A Futuristic that feels familiar<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">One of the most important aspects of any survival horror game is the setting \u2013 the place or places players either survive or die. The Callisto Protocol is full of fear-inducing locales, like Below, a series of long abandoned tunnels \u2018below\u2019 the prison that once serviced Arcas, the Callisto\u2019s first human colony. For Aasim Zubair, director of environment art, the core concept started with a straightforward design philosophy: \u201cmake it dark, wet, and creepy.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"TCP Enviro Below 1080\" src='https:\/\/gfycat.com\/ifr\/aggressivewhimsicalgadwall#?secret=CWIQ4OPgHp' data-secret='CWIQ4OPgHp' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\"><em>Below is an incredible showcase of our lighting and gave our environment\u00a0 team a fun challenge to design a unique location that was still thematically similar to the Prison above, and offered environmental clues to its creation and the original Callisto colony.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">And it certainly is. However, Below\u2019s environment stands out in the sci-fi survival horror game thanks to its grounded inspiration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201c[Below is unique] because the majority of it is based off real-world materials and shapes,\u201d says Zubair. \u201cInstead of the rugged sci-fi design cues that dominate many of the game\u2019s other environments, Below allows the player to feel grounded in something familiar and relatable while also letting them look into the past of humanity\u2019s first attempt to colonize the dead moon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">In addition to grounding players in a recognizable environment, Zubair\u2019s favorite part of the environment is the mood and storytelling. \u201cBelow provides a great opportunity for exploration, hidden areas, creepiness and a chance to use the space for compelling environmental storytelling,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">If you dare to explore the dark recesses of Below there\u2019s plenty of secrets to discover and maybe even a glimpse of the original colony\u2019s dark past.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">A terrifying human story in a pioneering future<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Like Below\u2019s environmental storytelling, Lead Writer R. Eric Lieb crafted a compelling story and complex characters to heighten players\u2019 sense of dread and fear in The Callisto Protocol. \u201cComplex characters are important because their actions and choices they make are what ultimately drive the plot,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cHowever, the horror genre serves as a unique crucible for characters where their actions and choices are often literally a matter of life and death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The connection between the game\u2019s protagonist, Jacob Lee, and his jailer, Captain Leon Ferris, is another compelling narrative hook. \u201cIn developing Leon we often described him as the \u2018dark mirror\u2019 of Jacob,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cThematically both begin in a similar place, either oblivious about (or willingly blind to) the consequences of their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cTheir meeting shatters both of their comfortable worlds,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cHow each reacts to what is happening within Black Iron \u2013 as well as who, exactly, is to blame \u2013 forms the core of their relationship [as well as] the player\u2019s understanding of the world that is presented to them throughout the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Sam Witwer\u2019s voicework and acting brings the compelling character of Captain Farris to life. One of the things that made him stand out during auditions was his approach to the character. From the start, he imbued Leon with a subtle menace, like a coiled snake that may or may not strike, that just keeps you on edge. Sam is an actor who wants to understand everything about the character and their role in the story, so once we cast him as Leon it was very much a collaboration as we continued to develop the character.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">During read-throughs, for example, Witwer was always asking insightful questions or offering suggestions that resonated with either the logical or emotional motivations of that scene. And he was always spot-on. No spoilers, but there\u2019s one specific scene where Sam offered a suggestion during shooting that Striking Distance Studios folded into the flow. Sam Witwer has incredible instincts and a fantastic understanding of what makes a story work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52517282532_f62b531cde_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52518307198_0b86576f6d_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52518306278_a75a0b5d0c_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">Biophages and the descent into monstrosity<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Character Director Glauco Longhi and the creature designers at Striking Distance Studios also recognize the importance of heightening fear by creating creatures that are relatable and grounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe started with the idea of infected humans so that part of the fear is what happened to them could also happen to you,\u201d says Longhi. But it\u2019s not simply that biophages have humanoid shapes, they have postures based on distinctly human emotions resembling pain, fear, and fury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The Callisto Protocol contains plenty of enemies to intimidate and terrify players, but Grunts are the most human-looking. \u201c[Grunts] bridge the gap between humans and more monstrous creatures, [their] silhouettes, proportions and anatomy is somewhat close to humans,\u201d says Longhi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The Rusher is another warped enemy that walks on walls, sprints, and leaps at players. \u201c[Rushers] have this contortionist, crooked sort of motion with twisted joints and limbs,\u201d says Longhi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Discover more terrifying monsters, compelling characters, exciting plot points, horrific environments when The Callisto Protocol releases on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on December 2, 2022.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unearthing Below: Striking Distance Studios detail The Callisto Protocol\u2019s new area<!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Welcome to Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on the desolate surface of Jupiter\u2019s moon, Callisto. Let\u2019s dive into how The Callisto Protocol\u2019s atmospheric environments, compelling characters and monstrous creatures make the fight to survive the horrors of Jupiter\u2019s dead moon a terrifyingly immersive experience.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">A Futuristic that feels familiar<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">One of the most important aspects of any survival horror game is the setting \u2013 the place or places players either survive or die. The Callisto Protocol is full of fear-inducing locales, like Below, a series of long abandoned tunnels \u2018below\u2019 the prison that once serviced Arcas, the Callisto\u2019s first human colony. For Aasim Zubair, director of environment art, the core concept started with a straightforward design philosophy: \u201cmake it dark, wet, and creepy.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/gfycat.com\/aggressivewhimsicalgadwall\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\"><em>Below is an incredible showcase of our lighting and gave our environment\u00a0 team a fun challenge to design a unique location that was still thematically similar to the Prison above, and offered environmental clues to its creation and the original Callisto colony.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">And it certainly is. However, Below\u2019s environment stands out in the sci-fi survival horror game thanks to its grounded inspiration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201c[Below is unique] because the majority of it is based off real-world materials and shapes,\u201d says Zubair. \u201cInstead of the rugged sci-fi design cues that dominate many of the game\u2019s other environments, Below allows the player to feel grounded in something familiar and relatable while also letting them look into the past of humanity\u2019s first attempt to colonize the dead moon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">In addition to grounding players in a recognizable environment, Zubair\u2019s favorite part of the environment is the mood and storytelling. \u201cBelow provides a great opportunity for exploration, hidden areas, creepiness and a chance to use the space for compelling environmental storytelling,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">If you dare to explore the dark recesses of Below there\u2019s plenty of secrets to discover and maybe even a glimpse of the original colony\u2019s dark past.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">A terrifying human story in a pioneering future<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Like Below\u2019s environmental storytelling, Lead Writer R. Eric Lieb crafted a compelling story and complex characters to heighten players\u2019 sense of dread and fear in The Callisto Protocol. \u201cComplex characters are important because their actions and choices they make are what ultimately drive the plot,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cHowever, the horror genre serves as a unique crucible for characters where their actions and choices are often literally a matter of life and death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The connection between the game\u2019s protagonist, Jacob Lee, and his jailer, Captain Leon Ferris, is another compelling narrative hook. \u201cIn developing Leon we often described him as the \u2018dark mirror\u2019 of Jacob,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cThematically both begin in a similar place, either oblivious about (or willingly blind to) the consequences of their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cTheir meeting shatters both of their comfortable worlds,\u201d says Lieb. \u201cHow each reacts to what is happening within Black Iron \u2013 as well as who, exactly, is to blame \u2013 forms the core of their relationship [as well as] the player\u2019s understanding of the world that is presented to them throughout the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Sam Witwer\u2019s voicework and acting brings the compelling character of Captain Farris to life. One of the things that made him stand out during auditions was his approach to the character. From the start, he imbued Leon with a subtle menace, like a coiled snake that may or may not strike, that just keeps you on edge. Sam is an actor who wants to understand everything about the character and their role in the story, so once we cast him as Leon it was very much a collaboration as we continued to develop the character.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">During read-throughs, for example, Witwer was always asking insightful questions or offering suggestions that resonated with either the logical or emotional motivations of that scene. And he was always spot-on. No spoilers, but there\u2019s one specific scene where Sam offered a suggestion during shooting that Striking Distance Studios folded into the flow. Sam Witwer has incredible instincts and a fantastic understanding of what makes a story work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52517282532_f62b531cde_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52518307198_0b86576f6d_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52518306278_a75a0b5d0c_h.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\">Biophages and the descent into monstrosity<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Character Director Glauco Longhi and the creature designers at Striking Distance Studios also recognize the importance of heightening fear by creating creatures that are relatable and grounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe started with the idea of infected humans so that part of the fear is what happened to them could also happen to you,\u201d says Longhi. But it\u2019s not simply that biophages have humanoid shapes, they have postures based on distinctly human emotions resembling pain, fear, and fury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The Callisto Protocol contains plenty of enemies to intimidate and terrify players, but Grunts are the most human-looking. \u201c[Grunts] bridge the gap between humans and more monstrous creatures, [their] silhouettes, proportions and anatomy is somewhat close to humans,\u201d says Longhi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The Rusher is another warped enemy that walks on walls, sprints, and leaps at players. \u201c[Rushers] have this contortionist, crooked sort of motion with twisted joints and limbs,\u201d says Longhi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Discover more terrifying monsters, compelling characters, exciting plot points, horrific environments when The Callisto Protocol releases on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on December 2, 2022.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:html --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":10580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10579"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10579\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.bwgamespot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}