The developers of Avatar: Rites of Passage dive into the making of the Minecraft DLC!
With the release of the new Minecraft DLC, Avatar: Rites of Passage, Avatar and Minecraft fans alike have been able to explore Pandora in an all-new way. Avatar.com partnered with the developers of Rites of Passage, Gamemode One, to answer some questions and open up about the exciting development process.
From Gamemode One, Avatar.com is joined by Executive Producer, Tian Figg, who oversaw the development of the Rites of Passage DLC from conception to launch, creating quite a successful vision for the Avatar DLC, a first of its kind!
We are also joined by Studio Creative Director, Sean Davidson, who worked on crafting the authentic Pandoran and Na'vi survival experience in Minecraft through new player mechanics, system designs and an incredibly interactive story.
Finally, we are here with Art Director, Wilson Viegas, who worked on the environment, creature, and character designs to create the intricate world of Pandora you’ll experience!
Pandora, the world of AVATAR, is massive and quite breathtaking! It has everything from larger-than-life trees to floating islands and at night, there are incredible views of luminous plants. What was the decision and inspiration behind choosing Avatar to bring into Minecraft?
Tian: We are BIG fans of the world of Avatar!
We were eager to experiment with transforming Minecraft’s survival into something both intuitively familiar and awe-strikingly unique The challenge of transforming the cinematic feast of Pandora into blocky form, and showcasing how far we can push Minecraft, was one we were excited to take on.
This project was a rare, and thrilling, opportunity to create a canonical story entry in a franchise packed with lore and history!
How did you choose what to include in this pack? A vision board or something else?
Sean: After many rewatches, it was clear that we wanted to explore the Omatikaya Clan in the time period before the RDA. Pandora in its primal paradise state felt like the perfect playground for Minecraft survival and a cool opportunity to explore the rich culture of the Na’vi.
Plentiful rewatches and in-depth research into Avatar informed various mood boards. We chose the plants and animals that we could best translate into Minecraft’s style and that would contribute to a playful, iconic, and unique experience.
What were some of the key processes behind ensuring the accuracy of the atmosphere, sound, and creature/plant life portrayed in the Pandora we know from the films was translated into Minecraft?
Wilson: The sense of scale was pivotal our process, even though the blockyness of Minecraft leads a degree of distortion, we wanted the Na’vi, the creatures, and plants to feel as if they are themselves exploring the world of Pandora in its full larger-than-life glory. From the smallest plant to the largest floating mountain, it was important to us that they felt in accordance with their depictions in the films.
The details were also core to our adaptation, be it the complex pattern on an animal’s skin - simplified into pixel art of course - to the specific way an animal reacts and moves, we were committed to carrying them accurately through the filter of adaptation.
As we walk through Pandora, we come across iconic places surrounded with the stunning bioluminescent rainforest, what were some of the challenges and favorite pieces to work on while making Pandora come to life in Minecraft?
Wilson: While building the Hallelujah Mountains and Hometree was an epic feat, they fit very naturally into the block-form of Minecraft. The greatest challenges were bringing the lushness of the rainforest to life in its deeply organic and layered complexity. We had to design complex workflows to build and incorporate countless 3D geometry plants in a believably organic and meaningfully varied way.
Notably, the sheer scale of Hometree was a devious challenge, the intricacy of its interior and the layout of the roots were difficult to get right and we went through many iterations before we arrived at the final design which we are very happy with.
In the DLC, we play as a Na’vi and get to meet the Omatikaya Clan, can you tell us a bit about who we will be meeting? Maybe who your favorite was to see come to life?
Tian: I’m excited for everyone to meet our varied cast of clan members who are crucial to guiding the player along their rites of passage.
A particular favorite of mine is Kotso, who accompanies the player along their riding rite of passage. I appreciate that despite being coddled by his overprotective parents due to missing an arm, Kotso is incredibly determined to prove himself and become the best direhorse rider in the clan.
He also has a fascination with direhorses, which I can relate to!
What are some of the challenges players will have to face as they proceed on their journey?
Sean: You start the game in the midst of your rites of passage, learning the ways of your clan. Master Na’vi survival and learn how to thrive in the dangerous and labyrinthian jungle. In your trials, you will form bonds with magnificent creatures like the direhorse and banshee and learn from the best hunters how to wield your bow. You will have to gather your wits and courage to survive the nights and face down great beasts.
From a technical perspective, what are some new challenges this pack adds for players? Any suggestions on how to overcome these challenges?
Sean: Food and stamina have a close relationship and are at the center of everything in Avatar: Rites of Passage. When starting the game, you will immediately notice a green circle near your player-character: this is your stamina wheel and many of your actions require it. Forage, cook, and consume tasty food to temporarily upgrade your stamina. Use your newly upgraded stamina to overcome exploration and survival obstacles. Climb higher heights, draw bigger bows, and forage better food!
What are some of the key moment’s players will get to really feel part of the Omatikaya Clan? Is there something you are most excited for players to experience as they complete their rites of passage?
Tian: Throughout the rites of passage, players will learn how to survive in this vast and untamed world. I’m excited for players to hone all of their survival skills, from hunting for food to navigating the forest.
The pinnacle of the game is the Iknimaya, where players must skillfully navigate up the thundering rocks to the ikran rookery. This is where the player braves their final rite - bonding with an Ikran. The players can then take to the sky with their new companion, and soar over the beauty of Pandora.
Na’vi are much taller than humans. Could you share with us how you were able to accommodate this knowing character size needed to be consistent for the rest of the game?
Wilson: This feature of the Na’vi was one of the most enticing factors for adapting the Avatar franchise, getting their size and physicality right would then allow us to scale the world around them accurately.
I heard there were new camera angles never before seen in Minecraft. How do these stretch the boundaries of the game and help with the storytelling in the DLC?
Sean: Yes, there are, and they’re a big deal for Minecraft!
New camera tech has been a big part of elevating the game to new heights. The game features a dynamic 3rd person orbital camera. This means that you can orbit around your character and that your camera will adapt to your actions- zooming in or out, panning, or shifting focus!
You’ll get to see your character and the environment from a more immersive and fluid perspective as you run through the forest, interact with plants, and draw your bow. We also use cameras for cinematic cutscenes during special gameplay moments to show off the world, and while talking to NPCs to make dialogue more impactful and personal.
In the DLC, the player will be able to experience bonding with an Ikran which we understand is very sacred. Can you explain why this bond is so special and why it was important to capture in the DLC?
Sean: The Ikinimaya is a journey up into the Hallelujah Mountains to bond with an Ikran, and it is a fundamental rite of passage to be considered an adult in the Omitakaya Clan. This is one of the most important moments in the story as you put to use all that you have learned and ascend the extremely treacherous heights alongside your peers. We wanted this experience to feel as authentic as possible as the Ikran are so highly revered to the Omitakaya and integral to their way of life. The Ikran are not just creatures, they are partners, friends, and an extension of their rider.
When you meet the Ikran, approach them with the respect and reverence they deserve, and you will surely find a lifelong companion.
It was a lot of fun for us seeing all the new Avatar skins come to life in the Minecraft style. One that stood out to us was the inclusion of Jake Sully using his wheelchair, what was the process behind making this possible in Minecraft?
Wilson: The accuracy of all the Avatar skins was very important to us and specifically Jake Sully - the protagonist of the films - using his wheelchair which is so important to his journey as a character presented itself as a great opportunity to redefine and expand representation in Minecraft.
We brought this idea forth to Mojang for its importance and discussed it at length in order to implement it in a mindful and respectful way. While we are delighted to have made it happen, we are happier for the doors that achieving it has opened for the future of the game at large.
Last question, what are some tips that you would share with players? Maybe how to escape the viperwolves, we heard they were quite difficult to outrun!
Sean: The game features many hidden vantage points to help you get a lay of the land, find rare food, and stealthily plan your attack. You can overcome many dangerous obstacles by exploring the world mindfully and learn to use the terrain to your advantage.
Viperwolves prowl the forest floor near their nests and can be avoided by climbing into the canopy above! If you do find yourself surrounded you can fend them off using your knife’s melee swing, or nimbly evade by sliding down a hill.
It was wonderful chatting with the developing team at Gamemode One about the interesting and complex processes behind making the world of Avatar available in Minecraft with the Avatar: Rites of Passage DLC.
To learn more about the DLC, check out the link here.