Welcome to the pulp world of SPORTAL, where we mix our favorite pop culture nuggets into a giant, bubbling cauldron of fun! Picture a stew so rich and flavorful, it’s practically bursting with nostalgia and excitement. We can’t spill all the beans just yet, but just you wait!
Akron, Ohio:
Why Akron, you ask? Well, we needed a place that felt like Hawkins, Indiana from Stranger Things - a small, unassuming town that could be anywhere. Sure, it’s the birthplace of LeBron James and The Black Keys (two of my personal faves), but it still has that “everytown” charm. This makes it the perfect backdrop for our story, letting more players see themselves in the wild, unexpected events that unfold.
(image by Google Maps)
Stuff that we don't like:
By the way, right after the trailer and Steam page were published, we learned about a certain Cyraxx from Akron. There were even suggestions to create one of the monsters in the game based on him. We didn't know his story before that. Due to our sense of taste and other important reasons, we decided that he won't appear in the game...
An Unusual Incident:
In our reveal trailer, we take you to a shopping mall just moments after a mysterious rift in space-time has opened. From this tear, terrifying monsters from the depths of cinematic nightmares pour into our world! It’s a scene straight out of the most cliche B-movies or tv shows and that’s why we love it! SPORTAL is not meant to be 100% serious - expect a heavy dose of pastiche and humor.
Fun fact you can't see them in the trailer due to the pixelation effect but we prepared 4 movie posters from the movie hits from that setting.
The Halloween:
Why November 6, you ask? Well, it’s right around Halloween, and who doesn’t love those crisp autumn days? The falling leaves, the ripening pumpkins, and that eerie feeling that the afterlife is just a whisper away… It’s a magical time that millions around the world cherish. Plus, fun fact: this exact date (though in a different year) was featured in Stranger Things! Here’s a frame from the very first episode to jog your memory. 🎃🍂👻
(image from Stranger Things episode 1)
The year 1959:
Picture Akron in 1959, bustling at the height of its glory. Back then, the city was alive with tire factories running around the clock, and the streets were filled with hardworking folks making a good living. It’s almost eerie to think that right after this boom, the city began its slow decline, as if a mysterious crack in reality had opened up… This fascinating tidbit fits so perfectly with our plot that I just had to share it.
(image from Wikipedia)
The real reason we chose this year, though, was the vibe that naturally emerged from the style we were going for. Just take a look at our player model. Initially, we were all about the '80s, like so many other games and movies. But once this model came to life (and others followed), it was clear that our story had to be set in the '50s or '60s.
The levels:
And now, the grand finale – the levels where our game will unfold! We’re aiming for a 4 to 6 different environments, each one straight out of a 1950s B-class horror flick. Imagine monsters and locations magically leaping off the silver screen into our world. So far, we’ve conjured up three settings:
Medieval Village:
Ruins in an Ash-Burned World:
Mushroom-People Caves:
Thanks!
Ok, that’s a wrap for today! If these sneak peeks into the SPORTAL game world have piqued your interest, drop a comment and give this devlog a thumbs up. Got any wicked ideas or suggestions for our twisted universe? Share them with us – you might just see your creation come to life and your name will appear in the game credits! 🎮👾