User:LeKagou/Opticale

Opticale is an exploration mobile video game developed by Furinkazan studio. The objective for the player is to explore the Astral world and to discover his creatures with Augmented reality and geopositioning. The game is available on iOS and Android in France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg since 29 August 2019 and was available through a soft launch in the same countries until December 2017. The release of the international version in English was scheduled for early 2020.

Plot
Scientists have recently discovered that there is a universe parallel to ours, the Astral World. This World populated by extraordinary creatures would have, through the rare contacts between our two Worlds, inspired our tales, legends and mythologies since the dawn of time.

This would explain why there are so many representations of fabulous but similar creatures across all civilizations in our world. Dragons from medieval Europe, Chinese dynasties or those depicted by the Aztecs would therefore actually have the same source. The Phoenix and the Feng Huang would in fact be the same species of creature living in the Astral World. This would also be the case for the Nepalese Yeti and the Sasquatch of North America.

These same scientists have discovered a way to cross the border separating our two worlds and to synthesize this technology in a device: the Opticale

Synopsis
As an explorer, the player’s goal is to discover the different zones and creatures of the Astral World and to progress through the hierarchy of explorers by using the capacities of his Opticale, a detection device symbolized by his smartphone. For the sake of immersion and screenplay consistency, Opticale gives the role of hero to the player without having to go through the control of a pixelated avatar.

Astral World
The universe is divided into two: the Physical World, the Earth where humans and their environment are located, and the Astral World, a parallel universe with different ecosystems which welcomes creatures of all types and sizes. Because the two Worlds are not on the same dimensional plane, they are not moving at the same speed. It is therefore possible for an explorer to reach different areas of the Astral World without having to move.

The Opticale
The Opticale is the device making it possible to create a relay point between the Physical World and the Astral World. It makes it possible to pierce the veil separating the two Worlds and to detect the creatures therein. The explorers record information on the areas and creatures they have discovered. The device then lists and displays the data acquired during their quest. This detection device is personified by the player's smartphone and allows anyone to identify creatures and territories of the Astral World.

Area
Like the Physical World, the Astral World has distinct and varied territories, each with its own ecosystem and characteristics. Each zone has its own environment, natural conditions and bestiary. The Astral World splits into 11 distinct known areas, two of which are secret, each with their own creatures. The basics areas are Rives Saphir, l' Abyssale, les Cascades Célestes, l' Impénétrable, les Dunes d'Opales, les Falaises Brumeuses, les Mangroves Tachetées, les Terres Glacées et les Fournaises. The two secret areas are Vanahem and the Temple Secret.

Other undiscovered areas are present on the Astral World map. It is therefore possible that new zones will be added later, as was the case for Mangroves Tachetées.

Creatures
Creatures of the Astral World live on land, in the sea, or in the air, can be of all kinds and sizes, and are classified according to two distinct criteria: their order and their rarity. The Astral World currently has 85 registered creatures. Depending on the storyline of the game, it is possible to find traces of these creatures in mythologies, tales, and legends of ancient civilizations across the globe. Even though the descriptions of the creatures do not explicitly specify their connections to distinctive mythological creatures, the characteristics of their description, morphology, or name provide clues to link them with mythical creatures. Thus, the same creature may have influenced several different mythologies and be identified in several legends around the world. A second level of play is therefore to find their traces in the writings of different human civilizations around the world.

Half-Astrales Creatures
Although inhabiting the Astral World, some creatures are attached to a specific place in the Physical World and can only be detected there. They are attracted by the powerful aura that permeates these places and it will therefore be necessary to physically move there to detect them.

These Semi-Astral creatures are detectable in several locations, including Venice, Loch Ness, San Francisco, New York, Mexico, The Noct at Paris as well as the Grifftilon at Lac Léman.

Order of Creatures
In order to study them and list them more effectively, the creatures of the Astral World have been classified into different families: Orders. There are 6 in total: les Métammifères, les Aérales, les Réptiloïdes, les Dragonites, les Phydrosopes et les Soctoriens.

Rarities of Creatures
The rarity of creatures is classified into 7 categories: E, D, C, B, A, S and SS. Creatures of lower ranks, such as E or D, are common and basic and are relatively easy to find. Creatures of higher ranks, such as A, S, or SS, are very rare, even legendary. In order to be able to detect creatures of different rarities, it is necessary to unlock Artificiums Order relative to the rarity level of each creature.

Aesthetic
The Opticale user interface uses codes unique to science fiction. The visual universe of the game, through the illustrations of creatures and zones of the Astral World, is meant to be realistic and colorful. The animals, as they are represented, have been thought out in such a way that their characteristics are biologically credible, depending on the ecosystem in which they live.

The game world implicitly refers to visual notions linked to the fantastic and explains them in a scientific way. Opticale uses known codes, especially in the characterizations of Semi-Astral creatures. For example, the Noct in Paris borrows its aspect from the gargoyles that populate Notre-Dame, yet another way of resonating with the game’s scenario explaining that the Astral World is the source of inspiration for human mythologies.

Gameplay
In Opticale the player is invited to discover the creatures of the Astral World through his smartphone: with the exception of the Semi-Astral creatures, attached to a specific place, they are all accessible on the entire terrestrial globe. First, the user uses his smartphone to locate the creatures around him. After selecting one, it appears in augmented reality in the form of an “astral body” of different colors, which must be followed with his Opticale. Once the detection is successful, the player then discovers the creature he has analyzed; three scans are needed to unblock all the related information (the data packs) to the latter.

The player can also add other players as Companions, inviting them using their Explorer ID in order to be able to exchange creature information via QR Code.

Detecting creatures allows the user to earn explorer points, game XP, which he can then use to unlock Artificiums, Opticale improvement modules allowing him to continue his progression. Experience points are obtained for each creature detection. If he wants, the user can make micropayments in order to progress more quickly.

Explorers
In Opticale, the player is called an explorer. When creating an account, several choices of explorer classes are offered, each with a particular advantage. Explorers stand out for their rank. The more experience they gain and detect new areas and creatures, the more they will achieve a high Explorer Rank and progress through the Explorer Hierarchy. There are 8 different ranks of explorers, which are in order: Néophyte, Apprenti, Confirmé, Émérite, Expert, Élite, Maître et Légendaire.

Explorer Categories
At start-up, the choice of a class gives the explorer access to defined skills characterized by obtaining an Artificium of its own class. There are four different explorer classes : Hunter, Scientist, Traveler and Watcher.

Artificiums
Artificiums are modules for improving the capabilities of the Opticale. They are therefore used to detect new creatures more easily. There are three types: Class, Improvement, and Order Artificiums. With the exception of Class Artificiums, it is possible to obtain them with Explorer Points, in-game XP.

Artificiums Category
Class Artificiums are obtained during the player’s class selection, when creating an explorer profile. Each class has its own Artificium. Class Artificiums of other classes can be obtained with a micropayment. This is the only paid feature of the game. • ''Traveler’s Artificium: The Traveler’s Artificium gives the possibility of knowing when the Opticale enters a secret area. The Travelers receive a notification telling them that they are in one of these rare and mythical areas.

• ''Hunter’s Artificium: The Hunters class Artificium grants a stun button, which sends an electromagnetic blast and immobilizes the creature for a few seconds in detection mode. This makes it easier for Hunters to lock a creature when they try to detect one.

• ''Scientist’s Artificium: The Energy Meter on the Scientist’s Opticale contains more energy. They therefore have the possibility of making an additional check-in before the gauge is empty.

• ''Watcher’s Artificium: The Watchers have an Artificium allowing them to determine which order a creature belongs to in the localization mode. They therefore have more information about the creatures they are tracking and will be able to choose which to detect first.

Artificiums Improvement
Improvement Artificiums make it easier to detect creatures; whether in terms of stabilization, speed, or strategy, these Artificiums are a way to make the capture of a creature easier.

Artificiums of Order
Order Artificiums allow the detection of rarer creatures. They are necessary if the user wishes to complete all the information of the game.

Conception
The first idea of Opticale began in 2009, but the project started in 2014. The Beta version first released in September 2016 in Switzerland on iOS and then on Android in 2017. The final version of the game was released on 29 August 2019 in France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The international version in English was planned for the beginning of 2020.

French-Speaking Launch
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, accompanied by Vaud State Councilor Nuria Gorrite, officially launched Opticale’s soft launch in Switzerland at the Annual Swiss Fair (Le Comptoir suisse) on September 22, 2017. On this occasion, a giant creature exploration operation was organized on the 40’000 m2 event. Opticale has since been released in France, Belgium and Luxembourg as well.

Opticale receives considerable media coverage related on one point to the similar characteristics that it shares with Pokemon Go (use of augmented reality of geolocation) and on another point, thanks to the immersive context that the game offers to the player especially through its wide range of illustrations and the development of its universe. Opticale obtains a rating of 12 on Jeuxvideo.com, 4.4 out of 5 on iphon.fr , 4 out of 5 on iphoneaddict and 4 out of 5 on 01net.com.

Economic Model
Opticale is available for free on the Android and iOS download platforms. It is possible to access all the features of the game without spending any money, except when purchasing a new class Artificium. Players have the option to perform microtransactions to make their progress easier.

Awards & Distinctions

 * Finalists, International Create Challenge, Martigny, 2014
 * Official selection, Ludicious Business Accelerator, Ludicious Zürich Game Festival, Zurich, 2017
 * Finalists, «GDC Pitch» de la Game Developers Conference, San Francisco, 2018, ,
 * Price «Best Industry Artistic Talent», DreamHack Austin, Texas, 2018
 * Finalists, «DreamHack Pitch Championship» à la DreamHack Austin, Texas, 2018
 * Finalists, Indie Award, Reboot Develop, Dubrovnik, 2019
 * Official selection, «Art Gallery», DreamHack Summer, Sweden, 2019
 * Official selection «Art Gallery», DreamHack Houston, Texas, 2019

Références


Liens externes
Site officiel d'Opticale

Site de Furinkazan

Opticale sur jeuxvideo.com