Hello Claymates!
We're so excited to have you join us on the road to Kiln! So much so, that we want to bring you content from our newsletter, Double Fine Action News (if you're already subscribed, this may seem familiar).
We announced this very game, Kiln, during the most recent Xbox Developer Direct!
In it, you learned all about our brand new game Kiln, an online, multiplayer pottery party brawler. It's a game that celebrates both creation AND destruction: you'll spend time sculpting and decorating pots that are as unique as you are... and then you'll wear those pots as armor, head into battle, and smash the enemy (or be smashed) into smithereens!
We also posted information about how YOU can play Kiln before just about anyone else. We're accepting signups for our Kiln Beta Testing Program, because we need your help to test out different features and capabilities to make sure the game is as polished as a shiny glazed vessel at launch! Get in there, and add your name to the list!
Wondering how this wacky, wild direct came together? Wow, do we have the perfect video for you! Catch a look behind the scenes at the making of Kiln's Developer Direct segment. A smashing watch!
If this game sounds a little familiar, it's because Kiln was pitched all the way back at Amnesia Fortnight 2017 and selected as a finalist!
We can't wait to share more of how Kiln has evolved since its first inception, shaped like a finely crafted pot. Speaking of crafting pots...
Please join us in introducing some of the team with an intro to Jeremy French! He's Lead Environment Artist and also a Designer on Kiln here at Double Fine... but he's also a real-life pottery enthusiast! We hope his answers help you glean some insider insights on crafting the best pot possible when you finally get your hands on Kiln, and we'll add some pictures of his IRL creations to inspire you too.
Q: Jeremy, thank you for letting us demand some answers about your hobbies. How long have you been a potter?
A: Joining the Kiln team here at Double Fine is my pottery origin story. I took my first pottery class in January of ‘22 with Josie Rovegno at The Potter’s Studio in Berkeley.
Q: What's your favorite thing about making pots?
A: I enjoy so much about pottery - It has really become a significant part of my life. I've never been someone who can draw or paint, so finding that I can build with my hands in clay has really expanded artistic opportunities for me.
Q: How did you feel about your creations getting destroyed in our Developer Direct segment?
A: Watching my pieces shatter in the Dev Direct was actually really cool. I made a piece of art, then it transcended mediums to become part of an entirely different piece of art enjoyed in a totally different space. I'd happily do it again!
Q: What's your favorite pot size/type combo in Kiln? Why?
A: In Kiln, I really enjoy sculpting a vessel that looks like two discreet pieces stacked on top of each other. We really do have a very capable platform for sculpting and decorating pots.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to sign up to Double Fine Action News for more behind-the-scenes goodness.
If you want even more Double Fine, follow us on social media. We’ll be sharing all kinds of information and fun Kiln-related content pretty regularly from now until launch, so make sure you’re following us on YouTube, BlueSky, TikTok, and Instagram. You can also join our Discord channel if you want to talk with fellow Double Fine fans!
Until next time, Claymates <3