• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides
  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Journey’s Desert Setting was Selected so Players Could Connect on a ‘Human Level’

March 29, 2013 by Stephen Daly

ThatGameCompany give insights on why they

Journey's vast, open deserts were chosen as the game's setting in a bid to make players connect with each other on a "human level" the title's lead engineer has revealed.

ThatGameCompany's John Edwards, speaking at a Games Developer Conference panel entitled 'Sand Rendering in Journey', explained how the developers wanted to create a game which invoked the experience of finding someone of a hiking trail. 

"There's this desire to connect with them in some way," Edwards commented. "To say hello. You want to acknowledge them on a human level, which is somehow strangely uncommon in a lot of online videogames… We thought the best environment for this would be a vast and barren desert."

In order to examine the look and feel of sand before recreating it in Journey the entire ThatGameCompany team visited Pismo Beach in California and this outing formed the basis of the team's references for making replicating sand in the game though photos were later used.

The most obvious influences of this trip can be seen near Journey's end when the desert shimmers in the light, "When you go to the dunes [you'll notice] just how sparkly it is. Pictures do not do it justice," Edwards finished. 

At the Game Developers Choice Awards this week Journey picked up six awards – every one it had been nominated for – including the awards for Best Downloadable Game, Best Game Design and the Innovation Award. 

Last year ThatGameCompany announced they would no longer be making games exclusively for PlayStation platforms saying they wanted to bring their games "to a bigger audience". 

Source: Polygon

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

10 Things Developers REGRETTED Adding To BIG GAMES

10 Things Developers REGRETTED Adding To BIG GAMES

20 Games That HUMILIATE You For Playing BADLY

20 Games That HUMILIATE You For Playing BADLY

EA SETS INSANE TARGET FOR BATTLEFIELD 6, SUBNAUTICA 2 IN TROUBLE & MORE

EA SETS INSANE TARGET FOR BATTLEFIELD 6, SUBNAUTICA 2 IN TROUBLE & MORE

10 Best Games Where The STORY SUCKS

10 Best Games Where The STORY SUCKS

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 - Before You Buy

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 - Before You Buy

10 Recent UNLOCKABLES That Pushed Players To Their LIMITS

10 Recent UNLOCKABLES That Pushed Players To Their LIMITS

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

Category: Updates

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Rematch: How to Play Offline
  • Rematch: How to Dribble and Enter Dribble Stance
  • Rematch: How to Perform a Rainbow Flick
  • Rematch: How to Access Freeplay Mode
  • Rematch: Best Camera Settings | Beginner and Advanced

Copyright © 2025 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme