With the final version of Steamweavers getting closer and closer to completion we've decided to celebrate by giving you some exclusive insight into the work and thoughts behind the game and its design!

This feature will be ongoing until we've covered all the characters in the game (and maybe a few that didn't make it to the final cut!) upon which we'll be updating about something completely different, new and exciting!

We're going to kick this off this week by taking a look at the main characters of the game - the Daedalus twins themselves, Gauge and Gear.

Origins

I interviewed Jim, the writer on Steamweavers, about how and why he came up with the characters for the twins, and this is what he told me:

"When I began writing for Steamweavers, we (MediaTonic) already knew how the game was going to work and its basic design. We knew that it would be a tactical combat game set in a Steam Punk universe, in which you could travel across a world and combine units to defeat enemies you encountered, all of whom would be made playable as characters later in the game.

"We needed to weave a tight story around the game design, based around a few strongly built characters that would provide a compelling reason for the player to engage in our world. We wanted the player to care about their character, and understand why they were fighting.

"The player takes the role of Gauge who is searching for her twin brother, Gear, who is abducted at the start of the game. When the twins are separated, it seems only natural that one would wish to chase after the other to find them. We also wanted to try to do something just a little different, so it's the girl who sets out to rescue the guy in this story, rather than the slightly more 'traditional' other way round.

"From this idea, the twin's personalities and the overall story began to evolve."

Gareth, the artist for the game, proposed these sketches that he had created for a personal project as the initial base for the characters:

These early sketches provided the basis for the twin's look and feel, but they still had a way to go before being the Gauge and Gear that we now know in the game! After some more elaborate character descriptions were written, the character sketches started to look more complete, and really started to come to life, as you'll see below.

Gear is male version of Gauge. His attire is largely similar to hers, though he is more solidly built. Rather than wearing a vest-top, his over-shirt is short sleeved, and instead of shorts he is wearing full cargo trousers - loose and baggy. Gear wears a huge and heavy brass collar around his neck which extends across to his shoulder completely covering the upper right hand section of his body. There's a definite sense of mischief and teasing in his face. He spends a lot of time being slightly annoying to his sister, although the bond between them is very strong.

Gauge is wearing a set of sturdy dark red military bottoms - the faded burgundy of the Brasslands. Above this she is wearing a mechanic-style tank top, with a thick, chunky leather belt slung low across one hip. This features a large brass cog in the centre, and also acts as her tool belt and is studded with phials of grease and tools. She's wearing a thick leather glove with the bottoms of the fingers cut out (not the tips - just the underneath exposing her fingerprint, so that she can feel her way around the machines at all times. There is the hint of a scar across the middle of her chest, over her heart.

Background and Story

Behind every good game narrative lies a strong back story and solid reason for the characters to be. Steamweavers is no exception to this, with a well thought out character history and a story that closely binds them within the Steamweavers universe.

"Gauge and Gear are the adopted grandchildren of Abuelo. As small children they were found by Abuelo and taken into his care. When the outsider twins were discovered and Abuelo offered to take them in, the move met with very little resistance. No-one else from the village was prepared to shoulder the burden of two orphans, so he was pretty much left to his own devices. Gauge is a mechanic's apprentice through and through. Under Abuelo's tuition and care, she and her brother have grown up with an instinctive understanding of machinery and steam that borders on the uncanny."

Next up, a bit of a surprise - a time-lapse video of Gear being rendered!

Click here to go to Youtube to see the Video!

In the game, each of the characters have a unique set of Commander Powers relevant to them, their personality or their interests. Gauge's powers are are focused on the units receiving maximum steam, due to her uncanny affinity with steam. Gear's powers are all focused on defence or upgrading his units, as he is an expert welder.

To find out more about Steamweavers or to try out the Facebook version, check out the Steamweavers website or Facebook app:

Facebook App

Steamweavers Homepage

Next week, we'll be updating with a new set of Steamweavers characters to tell you more about their creation, background and development!

Stay tuned!

-Vicki T.