Welcome to the first dev diary of February. We always enjoy stepping out of our hellish galaxy for a moment to share the concepts and creative process behind every little detail of Neterun. Today, we want to dive into one of the most important structures in the Guild Area of the Galaxy of Neterun: the Harvest Pyramids.
When designing the two guilds of Hell Galaxy, the Gold Guild and the Iron Guild, which we talked about in a previous dev diary, we decided to give them an exclusive area of the galaxy. These guilds emerged shortly after the raiders began colonizing the galaxy, playing a key role in its expansion.
One of the first tasks for raiders is to gather resources to unlock more powerful upgrades. Anticipating this need, the guilds developed the pyramids, a special technology to harvest Neterun’s valuable resources, which you can see here in an early concept.
We wanted to associate resource gathering with a symbol of power, which is why we chose the pyramid shape. Each pyramid is stabilized by thrusters that keep it in place. Its smooth surface features a series of collection pockets designed to intercept and store resources. The material used to build these pyramids allows them to withstand the extreme conditions of the Guild Area, while the thrusters ensure they remain in optimal positions for resource gathering. The collection pockets have been a core element of the design since the very first concepts, featuring an interlocking structure that creates a striking, faceted surface.
We spent a lot of time refining the placement of the pockets, exploring various concepts to find the most efficient and visually compelling arrangement. Initially, we experimented with pyramids that resembled real-world monuments, featuring intricate reliefs and heavy ornamentation. Our original idea was to make these structures feel more like ancient monuments, as you can see from these early concepts.
Later on, we decided to return to our initial vision, opting for a more layered design that gives the pyramids a distinct, uneven surface. Our goal was not to create a traditional monument but rather something that exists in between a space-age landmark and a functional harvesting structure. This led us to strip away excessive ornamentation, striking a balance between the collection pockets and the other design elements that define the pyramid.
And with that, we've reached the end of this dev diary. Time to dive back into Neterun, see you next time when we resurface.
Farewell, raiders!
