Summary
The gradual influx of new titles into the life simulator genre, both from indie and AAA developers, means each upcoming title has to do something different to stand apart from the crowd. The recently launchedMidsummer Studiosis sewing story-driven gameplay into its life sim’s fabric, and this stance should logically translate into a landscape that is smaller relative to most competitors - which should presumably culminate in an increased intimate feel to its meta. For instance, Maxis has expanded the reaches of its universe throughThe Sims' various worlds. In contrast, rudimentary information about Midsummer Studios hints at a more compact approach to its virtual simulation. This peculiar lens separates the developer from the likes ofLife By Youand the life sim giant that is Maxis, which may well be to Midsummer’s advantage.
The grinding gear behind the life simulator genre’s engine is creativity, and each title in the category has a distinct spin on how it gives individual players the reins to paint on their own canvas. However, somewhat antithetically, these are usually boxed into defined presets.Crusader Kings 3focuses on building dynasties in the volatile medieval era, andThe Simsoutfits its characters with predefined traits, for example. Such restrictions are imperative thanks to their gameplay’s vast scope, where gamers come across several differently programmed personas. In the case ofMidsummer Studios' prospective sim, the developer is attempting to break these boundaries, narrowing its world size instead.
Midsummer Studios' Upcoming Life Sim’s Magnified Lens Could Be a Good Thing
In light of the growing competition in the category, Midsummer Studios has to break some glass ceilings to thrive. Although there are still gray areas regarding the developer’s plans (the project is still without a title), founder Jake Solomons has teased a few ideas that would uniquely shape the game. For starters, Midsummer Studios intends for itslife simto be narrative-driven, and for the time being, the game’s environment is slated to be in a small town. The reason for this isn’t hard to fathom; it’s easier for players to control most facets of their experiences within a compact landscape.
The idea of a confined environment isn’t synonymous with the life simulator genre, but that’s where Midsummer seems to be forging its identity. The trade-off of a smaller map lies in the potential for increased degrees of personalization in character relationships. Choices will seemingly play a fundamental role in the upcoming title, since everybody knows everybody in the small town, and interactions with one character will impact the perception of another. Art imitates life, as the axiom goes, and regular conversations impacting other relationships align with the simulator premise - achoice mechanismBaldur’s Gate 3successfully harped on despite not being a life sim.
Midsummer Studios' Story-Driven Narrative Lines Up With a Smaller Map
Additionally, autonomous story progression has become part and parcel of the genre’s experience, but Midsummer has a few twists up its sleeve that should give its project a unique flavor. According to Solomons, player-created drama would take precedence in the game - in a manner that doesn’t diverge too much fromThe Sims 4’s Scenarios. The primary difference is that Midsummer’s project seeks to generate characters based on the story that each gamer wants to play out, instead of trying to meet predefined goals as seen in Maxis' brainchild.
Taking things a step further, it’s also been teased that the upcoming title will incorporate a “creative mode” feature that permits tweaking just about any character. This proposed mechanism is geared toward removing the constraints that typically come with playthroughs of a specific scenario, putting the power of narration firmly in the hands of the player. In the face of expandingopen-world options fromLife By Youand Project Rene embracing multiplayer, the close-knit relationships ofMidsummer Studios' small town could provide the distinct identity it needs to thrive.
