As virtual reality headset sales have skyrocketed in the past year alone, the immersive nature of virtual reality marks a glimpse into what future gaming experiences will offer: a chance to escape into a man-made, curiosity-inducing world. Local company Unlit Games, founded by Michael Lepard and wife Taylor Lepard, along with close friend Derek Adams, is in the process of developing a landmark in the gaming industry. Lepard spoke in the D.H. Hill auditorium on Wednesday evening about his experience with virtual reality game development and what potential videogame developers can expect in the future of game design.
The team’s one-of-a-kind creation, “Redemption’s Guild,” is a lucrative online videogame full of monsters and treasures brought to life through both virtual reality and role-play. The launch marks one of the first among online multiplayer role-playing games, also known as “MORPG.”
Among the overflowing pool of online games that flood the internet, Lepard and Adams’ pivotal game, “Redemption’s Guild” shines as it encompasses multiple elements that prove hot among the truest of gamers: an online presence, role-playing and virtual reality compatible with HTC Vive, PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift. The online game featuring both virtual reality and role-play is a feat the company will be the first to achieve.
“We have an awesome market right now, since we’re some of the first people to do this,” Lepard said. “It feels real. You can talk to people and interact with them, which makes it feel like real life.”
“Redemption’s Guild” will permit up to four gamers to dive headfirst into a fascinatingly realistic world filled with mazes, shiny armor and monsters. The game will premiere with three game modes (adventure, labyrinth and arena) for players to choose from.
In middle school, Lepard and close friend Derek Adams bonded over their mutual desire to build something of their very own. The two worked on manga together at the time and held a desire to one day be their own bosses.
“I’m a big nerd, I’ve been playing MMOs [Massively Multiplayer Online Games] for over 13 years now — Evercrest, World of Warcraft, fun things that steal your life away,” Lepard said.
Lepard eventually revisited the idea of creating his own game years later, when Lepard reached out to Adams after being inspired by a co-worker’s success in the videogame industry. Virtual reality quickly became a guilty pleasure for Lepard, who received a HTC Vive headset from his wife as a birthday present.
“Redemption’s Guild” gained support across the nation after the idea was pitched to the gaming community.
“The online community, especially Reddit, blew up,” Lepard said. “We got hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people contacting us through our websites, [like on] our YouTube to where we were going from five to 10 views, to 5,000 views in one day. It took me some balancing with progression, and that’s when I knew I had something that was going to stick.”
Lepard advises potential videogame developers to remain motivated in their ability to design a successful game, regardless of status or financial standing. He also emphasizes the importance of reaching out to people in the industry.
“It really just starts with contacting people,” Lepard said. “Don’t think someone won’t help you or work with you just because you don’t have money or experience. I pushed and had a motivation to succeed.”
The 25-year-old business owner adds that he is most proud of the community he helped create, where fans interact with each other throughout the world.
“I want to create a game that I want to play, and that other people want to play,” Lepard said.
Co-founder and head writer Adams, like Lepard, has always been fascinated by videogames. Since Lepard proposed the idea of creating their own game, Adams worked closely with Lepard on creating a game that would be their very own creation among the endless pool of videogames that exist.
Unlit Games has now successfully published over 15 games and applications since their startup. “Redemption’s Guild” proves particularly unique in these feats due to its originality, which has sparked interest in gamers.
“The coolest part about it is seeing everyone’s reaction to what we’re creating, and seeing just how much they want to play this game,” Adams said.
As a pioneer in role-playing virtual reality (RPVR), Unlit Games is working to create a game that will encompass all that fans are asking for.
“We’re trying to bring the rest of the gaming community in as far as having their opinions heard, so they can have that moment of awe where they feel their ideas were heard,” Adams said.
Unlit Games’ “Redemption’s Guild” is set to launch by December of this year.
A version of this article appeared in print on March 16, 2017 on page 11 with the headline: “Taking VR to a new level.”
Michael Lepard, the owner and founder of Unlit Games, leads a party of adventurers for a demo through his Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-play Games (VRMMORPGs) “Redemption's Guild,” on Wednesday in D.H. Hill. The game features a typical fantasy MMORPG setting, which so far, no company has managed to do successfully in VR.
