IGN AU: Obviously the game is based on the upcoming film, but did you also draw on the book for inspiration? Dax Berg: Specific gameplay areas are intended to be extensions of the Screenplay adaptation while other areas expand upon interaction in environments that are only in the book. The attempt to do this task and still be true to the universe is even more challenging but extremely necessary in providing the content that a game set in a world such as this deserves. The quest for questions and symbol meanings to create answers about the people, places and secrets of the world and the ability to use those answers to further Lyra's goals is a considerable challenging design task. Once the Alethiometer is acquired we wanted the player to grasp that feeling that they now have this power at Lyra's disposal.
It is in a sense just a tool, a very special and rare tool mind you, but it is Lyra that holds the mystery and the power of unlocking what this tool can help provide for her and her allies. The Alethiometer is just a piece of pretty machinery without the diviner. We think the design key here is in first focusing on the empowerment of Lyra not the compass itself. The more meanings they match correctly the easier it is to divine a correct answer which in turn unlocks more areas/aspects/lore in the game. The player can pull meanings from these questions and attach them to appropriate compass symbols depending on their current knowledge and scope of the world. Throughout the game Lyra can find or come across dozens upon dozens of questions about the world. We like to think of the Alethiometer as the direct bridge from the game to the hard core fans.
IGN AU: How will the Alethiometer be used? Dax Berg: Well it wouldn't really be " The Golden Compass" if we didn't give Lyra access (for the most part) to her Alethiometer at all times. Our focus test showed that people really enjoyed this even as a stand alone. However, we use this same mechanic in a multitude of NPC approaches where Lyra can both outwit her enemies and "embellish" explanations to her allies.
#The meaning behind the golden compass 2 series
We have devised an entire deception mechanic within the game which is played out in a series of flowing conversation rounds where Lyra attempts to win over her opponent by means of persuasion. I'm sure the correlation between the name "Lyra" and the word "liar" was intentional and the game owes it to its fans to represent this. Lyra uses her skills in subterfuge to gain access to key locations, learns valuable information and even uses rhetoric to further her owns goals in side quests and non-critical path scenarios. As I had mentioned to IGN America early on we felt that Deception was a key theme throughout the universe so its impact in the game was critical.
Dax Berg: Don't forget shape-shifting souls in the form of creatures and a big giant fire-hurler! IGN AU: The source material is obviously fantastic, but how - in gameplay terms - will this game be different from other action adventures? Are there any particularly inventive mechanics that you'd like to highlight? Dax Berg: One Mechanic in particular that went through several iterations was Lyra's Deception ability. IGN AU: Is this the ultimate world to bring to life in a videogame? I mean, it's got airships, witches and armoured bears! Throw in some ninjas and you'd have yourself a par-tay.
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