James Wragg, lead developer at Lovely Hellplace, has stated that the upcoming RPG Entropy is seeing its word count expand significantly because the team enjoys crafting detailed side quests. This emphasis on optional content mirrors the development philosophy behind their previous title, Dread Delusion.
Wragg explained that side quests are a primary motivation for making video games, drawing inspiration from his own experiences playing Elder Scrolls titles and getting lost in their supplementary content. He believes that these side stories are crucial for RPGs, offering a space for strangeness and providing a thematic contrast to the main narrative. Wragg mentioned that he personally contributed approximately one-third of the writing for Entropy, often providing outlines for other writers to flesh out. He highlighted the contributions of writers Harry Tuffs, who expanded on the concept of vegetarian vampires, and Io Brindle, who helmed the popular "Missing Persons" quest in Dread Delusion.
Despite an initial intention to keep Entropy's script more concise than Dread Delusion, which Wragg described as being "the length of a novel," the development team found themselves deeply engaged in character development and thematic exploration, which naturally led to an increase in written content. Wragg expressed excitement about this expansion, anticipating that Entropy's side content will resonate with players as effectively as Dread Delusion's did.
The game will feature a sizable party system, including both hireable mercenaries and story-driven companions. All party members, regardless of their origin, will be subject to permadeath. Wragg emphasized the unique interactive nature of characters in video games, allowing players to engage with them through dialogue and uncover their beliefs and backstories. "Just being able to meet a strange character and ask them some stupid questions is incredibly rewarding as a player," he noted.
Entropy is currently available in early access on Steam for $12/£8.99, with a demo also available. The game's development is expected to see significant growth throughout its early access period, building upon the foundation established by its initial release.