Nightingaleis a survival crafting game where players seek to discover the last surviving city of humanity by adventuring through the Fae Realms.Nightingaleis also a PvE, live-service experienceat its core, where players can team up with friends through online co-op or play solo as their Realmwalker. On top of all that,Nightingaleboasts an exciting and diverse cast of characters from fiction and reality due to its alternative historical timeline. Many players are likely to be familiar with Shakespeare’s Puck, Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and many more, with plenty of room forNightingale’s NPCs to expand in the future.
Game Rant recently spoke with several developments at Inflexion Games, including CEO Aaryn Flynn, aboutNightingale’s various fictional and historical characters, as well as how they were integrated into its world. The developers also revealed ’s expansion plans during its Early Access period, including its plans to add more additions to its diverse NPCs roster.The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Nightingale’s Fictional And Real-World Characters
Q: Could you detail Inflexion’s process in deciding which real-world and fictional characters would appear inNightingale? Were there any requirements or throughlines for the selected characters?
Flynn:There are a few things we considered when selectingNPCs forNightingale. The NPC always needed to make sense from a gameplay and lore perspective. They needed to fit into the world while also serving a clear purpose for the player to interact with them. Of course, we also considered the diversity of our NPCs across a variety of criteria, including race, gender, sexual orientation, background, and source material (i.e. fictional vs historical).
Q: Can you explain how you integrate fictional characters like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
Flynn:When it comes to implementing a fictional character, we start by familiarizing ourselves with the source material. Once we have a good sense of the characters, we start to mold and shape them to fit in our world. One important thing to consider is that, if this fictional character is no longer fictional in our world, how true is their portrayal in the piece of fiction published about them? This gives us the freedom to add unique elements to the character. For instance, our depiction of Hyde is less that of a murderer and more that of someone who is unafraid to indulge in the many pleasures of life despite howVictorian societywould have him behave.
Nellie Bly, Ada Lovelace, and Allan Quatermain in Nightingale
Q: How does implementing real-world figures like Nellie Bly and Ada Lovelace differ from fictional characters?
Flynn:In a lot of ways, it’s actually a similar process. We familiarize ourselves with the historical figures and what they did or represented. We also read any publications or letters of theirs that are available to get a sense of their voice. But then we also consider how this person may have changed if the Fae were an important part of their world. Nellie Bly is a great example. While she is still a journalist first and foremost, her brave spirit sees her join the ranks of the Explorers faction. Ada Lovelace should have died in 1852, but with the advancements Fae magick would have granted, she is still alive and inventing.
Q: For characters likeAllan Quatermain from the 1885 novelKing Solomon’s Mines, how heavily did Inflexion rely on the original text versus modern actor portrayals such as Patrick Swayze or Sean Connery (at least as far as Quatermain is concerned)?
Flynn:For Quatermain specifically, we drew inspiration much more heavily from the original texts than any actor’s portrayal (though it is hard to forget about Sean Connery). For his voice and personal philosophies, we would often refer back toKing Solomon’s Minesas well as other books written by H. Rider Haggard, such asThe Ivory ChildandShe and Allan.
Nightingale’s Characters from Shakespeare, Frankenstein, and Real Life
Q: How did the team settle on Puck as a sort of untrustworthy guide to the realms?
Flynn:WithJonathan Strange & Mr Norrellinfluencing so much ofNightingale’s original conception, Puck had to play a big part in the game. But beyond that, having a guide who players would normally trust who is instead recognized as a trickster adds a new dynamic to that relationship and helps create interesting player stories that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Q: BeyondA Midsummer Night’s Dream, how else might Shakespeare’s writing influence the characters ofNightingale?
Flynn:Aside fromA Midsummer Night’s Dream, we’ve yet to explore the fullimpact of Shakespeareon other areas of the world and the characters ofNightingale. But he’s a rich pool of content we could certainly look to pull from as future narrative arcs and seasonal content develop.
Q: What are your favorite real-world or fictional characters brought intoNightingale?
Flynn:It’s hard not to fall in love with Nellie Bly the more you research her. I challenge anyone to read her investigative journalism on the mistreatment of women in asylums and not fall in love. Bass Reeves is another real-world character with such a rich history who also brings a very interesting outlook on the Fae and their influence on humanity.
As for fiction, we were able to do some complex things withVictor Frankenstein, particularly around the topics of guilt and redemption that I think players will really connect with and love.
Many of our other favorites are still to come as patches get released during Early Access, so our cast will keep growing with time.
Nightingale Early Access Launch Plans And Priorities
Q: Were there any characters you really wanted to see appear in the game that just didn’t fit in?
Flynn:As with any project, there are always ideas that never make it past the cutting room floor. But the beauty of a live service game means that most ideas are never fully cut, just tabled for a later release. So if a beloved historical figure,mythological creature, or fictional character hasn’t yet made it into the game, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t later.
Q: What are Inflexion’s immediate priorities following the Early Access launch?
Flynn:Our biggest priority at launch is listening to the feedback from our community. It’s what we’ve been doing throughout our closed alpha playtests and what we plan on continuing to do.
Q: How long isNightingale’s Early Access period estimated to last? What are the primary improvements Inflexion is looking to make over the entire course of Early Access?
Flynn:We don’t have an exact date on when we will end early access. We’re committed to listening to the players' feedback and adjusting our plans as necessary. So, we will only leave early access when we’re ready.
[END]
Nightingale
WHERE TO PLAY
Nightingale is a PVE open-world survival crafting game played solo (offline or online), or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms.You are stranded beyond our world, cut off by the collapse of the arcane portalnetwork. This catastrophe has left you fighting to survive in a labyrinth of beautiful and dangerous Fae realms.Your goal: become a skilled Realmwalker, and navigate the web of transdimensional portals. Only then can you discover your way to the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, and shimmering deserts as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.
