Solo Developer Sunarius: AI Didn't Make the RPG for Him, but Lowered the Entry Barrier
A solo developer has been working on a large post-apocalyptic RPG called Sunarius for the third year — with a global map, tactical battles, factions, trading, and caravans, similar to Fallout 2. According to him, AI didn't build the game for him, but it lowered the entry barrier so much that it became possible for one person to even attempt a project of this scale and not abandon it halfway through.
AI-processed from Habr AI; edited by Hamidun News
Developer Sunarius has been working alone for the third year on a large post-apocalyptic RPG — comparable in scale to Fallout 2 — and claims that neural networks did not make the game for him, but lowered the barrier to entry to the point that a project of such magnitude has become possible for one person to undertake.
What kind of game is Sunarius
Sunarius is a post-apocalyptic RPG with a global map, tactical turn-based battles, dialogues, quests, factions, trading, caravans, loot, inventory, squad development, and a save system. The author emphasizes that all these systems must not just exist side by side, but work together — this is the main difficulty of developing a project of this scale alone.
- The game has been in development for the third year
- Genre — post-apocalyptic RPG, inspiration — Fallout 2
- Announced systems: global map, tactical battles, quests, factions, trading, caravans, loot, inventory, squad development, saves
- Development is led by one person
How the author relates to two extreme views on AI in game development
According to the author's observations, the conversation about neural networks in game development almost always falls into one of two extremes: either "this is all nonsense, a toy for the lazy," or "now one person can press a couple of buttons and make the new Fallout." Both positions seem convenient to him, but far from the reality of his own experience.
What this means
The Sunarius experience is a concrete counterexample to both extremes: neural networks do not replace the developer and do not make the game for him, but noticeably reduce the entry cost for projects of such systemic scale — not so much in time, as in the volume of solutions that need to be held in the head simultaneously. For solo developers, this could mean that genres previously inaccessible due to their complexity become realistic goals.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sunarius?
Sunarius is a post-apocalyptic RPG that one developer has been working on for the third year; in scale and spirit it is comparable to Fallout 2 — with a global map, tactical battles, factions, caravans, and a save system.
Did neural networks make the game for the developer?
No — according to the author, neural networks did not do the work for him, but reduced the barrier to entry for a project of such magnitude to the point where it is possible to undertake it alone and not abandon it halfway.
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