Making a Virtual Villain
Meet Grand Master Alwyn, the lovechild of nostalgia and innovation
Do you remember that guy from the arcade who was always just a little too old to be there? The one who whooped all the kids at Mortal Kombat, The Simpsons, and Virtua Cop 2. The younger gamers secretly wanted to be him, until they grew up and moved on, leaving him behind with his pocket full of quarters and his head full of secret joystick maneuvers.
Whatever happened to that guy?
A little over a year ago, Secret Location’s Technical Director Josh Manricks and his team started kicking around the same questions. They decided “that guy” probably ended up uploading his consciousness into virtual reality and constructing a vast virtual universe in his own likeness. This idea became the basis for Grand Master Alwyn, Virtual Space Lord of SL’s VR bullet hell game Blasters of the Universe. He just might be the most nostalgic and irritating VR villain you’ll ever face.
“We started talking about growing up with kids in the neighbourhood, kids at school, and hanging out at the arcade in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” says Josh Manricks. “Alwyn evolved out of those conversations.”
Wanting to challenge the villain archetype, the team carefully crafted a character who is full of insecurities that you love to hate. Classic villains are typically larger-than-life, confident, and powerful. “Alwyn thinks he’s a god,” says Josh Manricks, “but in actual fact, he’s just a whiney teenager. He’s like an only child who’s used to getting whatever he wants, but he still believes people should bow down to his power.”
Those insecurities manifest in different ways. Alwyn is mouthy. He’s constantly taunting the player, giving attitude and undermining their abilities. However, his insults are corny and dated. “His gloating comes from a place of insecurity. He builds himself up by breaking others down,” says Josh Manricks. Although he may sound like a childhood bully, try as he might, Alwyn is not very intimidating.
When it came time to bring Alwyn to life, the process kicked off with a brief written description, including movie references and images that spoke to the neo-synth aesthetic the team was envisioning. A writer took a pass at some lines of dialogue (“You’re in my universe now, Blaster. Prepare to get your ass whipped!”), and an artist took those materials and put together the first round of concept art.
The team members were adamant about certain details. In the VR world, Alwyn would need “a big cape, and a phaser gun — for a while, he also had a keytar — and since he’s super nerdy, he needs coke bottle glasses,” says Josh Manricks.
The team created a quirky, nostalgic, and hilarious VR villain for their new-age, shoot-’em-up adventure, which you can check out in early access on Steam. “Just don’t be surprised if Alwyn surrenders,” says Josh Manricks, “And, as credits roll, he shouts ‘just kidding!’ and insults you as he runs away. He always has to have the last laugh.”
UPDATE — August 30, 2017: Blasters of the Universe is arriving on the Oculus Store and Steam (HTC Vive) as a full title on Thursday, August 31, 2017.
UPDATE — June 12, 2017: Grand Master Alwyn hacked the @BlastersVR Twitter Account at E3 and we need Blasters to help us take back VR and (Twitter). Alwyn is out of control: If you send him a tweet during E3, you just might get a snarky #AlwynFTW response. For the latest game updates and events follow Blasters of the Universe on Facebook.
