Ex-Fallout developer Nate Purkeypile has had an interesting and bountiful journey from his time at Bethesda to his career as an indie developer. Currently immersed in his new project, The Axis Unseen, Purkeypile has had to come up with innovative solutions that are doable within his current workflow, where he’s the sole developer.
One of these creative solutions came up when he realized he needed a reference for a certain model in the game. And who else came to the rescue other than his supportive wife?
Solo Developer Nate Purkeypile Brings a Piece of Him From Fallout
The Axis Unseen is an ambitious solo project that Purkeypile took up following his departure from Bethesda. From its Steam page:
Hunt nightmarish monsters from ancient folklore in a mysterious open world, collecting their enhanced sense powers and discovering elemental arrows. Beware, the hunter is also the hunted.
Hunters are a big part of this game, and of course, sprinkling in a dead hunter here and there would add to the game’s ambiance and immersion.
So, that’s what Purkeypile set out to do. Being a solo indie developer, however, he doesn’t have the same resources he did at Bethesda, so he had to think of an alternative. He eventually came up with the perfect idea for the job.
So I'm a solo indie dev and I needed a dead Hunter for my game The Axis Unseen…
What to do?
3d scan my wife with my phone of course!
This is the second time my wife has been in a game I've worked on.😆
She was also in Fallout 3's Point Lookout DLC that I was a lead on. pic.twitter.com/K1rPly3WPr
— Nate Purkeypile – The Axis Unseen 🤘🏹🔥 (@NPurkeypile) May 10, 2024
3D scanning his wife as the dead hunter, he was able to seamlessly add the model into the game. And, surprisingly enough, this isn’t the first time she’s made a cameo in a game that he’s worked on.
In the Fallout 3 Point Lookout DLC, she was the model for one of the skeletons in the morgue lockers. It’s a funny and wholesome Easter egg that you can look for next time you revisit the game.
The Axis Unseen Is a One-Of-A-Kind Horror Game
While Purkeypile’s wife’s cameo in the game is quite wholesome, the rest of it doesn’t have the same energy. You’ll be pushed to your limits trying to hunt creatures from various folklore as you learn their unique behaviors and strategize the best way to take them down.
The game won’t be your typical release either; as we discussed with Purkeypile in an interview, he revealed that the game won’t have your standard level system where you gain XP from killing things and level up to increase your power.
Instead, the system is designed in such a way that you won’t be left trying to min-max your stats and fiddle with menus all day, looking at guides to see if you’ve got the ‘best‘ build. The entire game is designed with intention and precision.
Keeping a minimal UI was the priority. So, instead of giving you a map, Purkeypile focused on improving the level design, making it easier to navigate the world by looking at your surroundings.
These are the kinds of decisions made in Purkeypile’s upcoming release, and we can’t wait for it to come out.
What are you most excited about in The Axis Unseen? Let us know in the comments below!
