Join us for an exclusive interview with Michał Ciastoń, CEO and game designer at Mehuman Games, as he shares insights from the team behind Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. Discover their creative vision, character design process, innovative castle-building mechanics, and how they’re harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5 to bring this thrilling vampire-themed experience to life.
A: Many works place vampires in modern times. We wanted to return to the roots, portraying a world reminiscent of the one where vampire legends were born. The clearest inspiration, of course, is the story of Dracula—or rather, the history of Vlad the Impaler. Interestingly, director Robert Eggers took a very similar and masterfully executed approach in his latest Nosferatu. While Eggers focuses on the horror aspect, we focus on the perspective of a ruler.
Q: Creating a detailed and immersive world is no easy feat. What were some significant challenges your team encountered, and how did you come together to overcome them?
A: The theme of vampires is incredibly multifaceted, and the biggest challenge was meeting the expectations of vampire fans…
Q: Sangavia stands out with its rich and mysterious environment. Can you share your creative process for building this world and how you balance realism with fantasy?
A: The foundation of the world is realism, enriched with fantastical elements…
Q: Vampire abilities are core to the player experience. How did you approach designing these powers to keep gameplay thrilling yet balanced?
A: A key guiding principle for us was the idea that a single human, even a trained warrior, shouldn’t pose a challenge to the player…
Q: Unreal Engine 5 is known for its cutting-edge capabilities. How did leveraging this engine enhance your storytelling and gameplay design in ways that surprised even your team?
A: A significant part of our team previously worked on much simpler games in Unity…
Q: The castle-building mechanic seems like a standout feature. How did you design this aspect to encourage player creativity while still connecting meaningfully with the game’s narrative and strategic elements?
A: Following the game’s narrative and strategy unlocks new elements for castle construction…
Q: Playing with friends can transform the gaming experience. What unique features did you incorporate into the co-op multiplayer mode to deepen immersion in this dark fantasy setting?
A: We made sure the game is packed with a ton of activities…
Q: Sound and music deeply impact player immersion. Can you discuss your approach to sound design and music composition and how you created the atmospheric depth of Vampires: Bloodlord Rising?
A: In both sound design and music, we aim for organic sound…
Early Demo Gameplay:
Q: Game development can be both rewarding and demanding. What moments stand out as most fulfilling for your team, and how do you all unwind during intense development phases?
A: It’s hard for me to speak for the entire team…
Q: The gaming industry is continually evolving. How do you foresee its progression in the coming years, and are there any trends you’re particularly excited about or cautious of?
A: People love bringing their relationships into the virtual world…
Q: Could you introduce some of the key members of your team, highlighting their backgrounds, previous projects, and specific contributions to Vampires: Bloodlord Rising?
A: Michał Ciastoń, CEO, game designer, writer with over 7 years of experience…
Q: Originally announced as Vampire Dynasty, your game underwent a major rebranding to Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. Could you explain the reason behind this change? With many players being loyal fans of the ‘Dynasty’ series, are there concerns about how this might affect your established fanbase, and how are you addressing those?
A: The new title better represents our game…
Q: Share a Secret: Before we wrap up, is there a hidden secret, exciting teaser, or insider detail about Vampires: Bloodlord Rising you’d like to exclusively share with our readers at Fix Gaming Channel?
A: Players can use the power of hypnosis, which causes the victim to start following us mindlessly…
Q: Vampire Survival Tips: Hypothetically speaking, if your team woke up tomorrow as vampires in Sangavia, who would survive the longest, and why? Any funny predictions or reasons?
A: I’m convinced it will be our sound designer, Ian Giedrojć, as he’s known for working through the night…
As we wrap up our look at Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, one thing’s clear — this game is shaping up to be something truly special. Huge thanks to Michał Ciastoń and the whole team at Mehuman Games, along with Toplitz Productions, for putting so much heart into bringing this dark, immersive world to life. Stick with us here at Fix Gaming Channel — we’ll have more updates and behind-the-scenes stories as we get closer to launch day.
Check out our review of V Rising for more vampire action.
Written by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor of Fix Gaming Channel.
