The Impact of 'Scavengers Reign' Endures in the Realm of Video Gaming
In the realm of science fiction, stories often intertwine and inspire one another, creating a rich tapestry of ideas and concepts. This is evident in the recent surge of open-world survival horror games, such as "Dandelion Void" and "Ambrosia Sky," which have been making waves in the gaming industry. However, it's important to note that the cancellation of the animated sci-fi series, "Scavengers Reign," does not appear to have had a direct impact on the creation of these games, according to available information.
Set in the 23rd century, "Ambrosia Sky" introduces us to Dalia, a deep space disaster specialist, who is dispatched to investigate an unknown disaster that has struck an agricultural colony in the rings of Saturn. The game is set in a clandestine sect of field scientists, known as the Scarabs, who are pursuing a "cure" for death, colloquially referred to as the "Ambrosia" project. The Scarabs in "Ambrosia Sky" blend real-world death cleaners with a fantastical sci-fi element, pursuing immortality and understanding death in the cosmos.
Soft Rains, the studio behind "Ambrosia Sky," based in Toronto, began working on the game as early as 2022. The name of the studio is inspired by Sara Teasdale's 1918 poem "There Will Come Soft Rains," which in turn inspired Ray Bradbury's 1950 short story of the same name. The studio's narrative director, Kaitlin Tremblay, cites Grim Wilkins' "Prophet" reboot and Robert MacFarlane's "Underland: A Deep Time Journey" as additional influences.
Meanwhile, "Dandelion Void" is an open-world survival horror sim set aboard a derelict generation ship drifting through outer space. The game's premise and mechanics were inspired by several science fiction novels and books, including "Non-Stop" by Brian Aldiss, "Codex Seraphinianus," "Paradises Lost," the "Mars" trilogy, and "The Snouters."
While "Scavengers Reign" may not have directly influenced "Ambrosia Sky" or "Dandelion Void," it has left its mark on the adjacent medium of video games. The series, created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, follows survivors of a damaged interstellar cargo ship stranded on an alien world named Vesta. The survivors must navigate and live in communion with the alien ecosystem to rescue crewmembers preserved in cryostasis. The dark tone and survival narrative of "Scavengers Reign," including intense and gory visuals, align well with survival horror themes generally.
"Scavengers Reign" earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program and garnered a passionate fanbase and resonated with audiences and critics. Despite being canceled by HBO Max after its first season, the series found a new streaming home on Netflix, which was considering a second season after the streaming release.
In a separate corner of the gaming world, "Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate" takes players to Kepler, a planetoid suspended in the orbit of a black hole on the rim of Earth's solar system. The game was inspired by various sources, including games like "Metroid 2" and "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night," progressive rock, psychedelic jazz, the paintings of Mark Rothko, and the "New Weird" subgenre of literature, film, and television.
As the lines between media continue to blur, it's fascinating to see how stories from different mediums influence and inspire one another. While the cancellation of "Scavengers Reign" may not have had a direct impact on the creation of "Ambrosia Sky" or "Dandelion Void," it's clear that the series has left a lasting legacy in the world of science fiction and video games.
- Io9, Gizmodo, and Movies-and-TV have highlighted the influence of the cancelled animated series "Scavengers Reign" on the science fiction and video game industries, noting its impact on the dark tone and survival narrative found in many recent open-world games.
- Although "Scavengers Reign" did not directly influence the development of games like "Ambrosia Sky" and "Dandelion Void," those titles demonstrate a shared enthusiasm for intricate stories and blend elements of real-world concepts with fantastical sci-fi themes.
- Gaming platforms like Gizmodo and IGN have also recognized the impact of "Scavengers Reign" in the realm of entertainment and pop-culture, citing its thematic alignment with survival horror games and broader influence on the broader sci-fi and fantasy genre.
- As part of the prevalent cross-pollination of ideas between different forms of media, some game developers like Soft Rains (creators of "Ambrosia Sky") have drawn inspiration from a diverse range of sources, including literature, poetry, movies, and other games, demonstrating a shared passion for creating immersive and thought-provoking narratives in the gaming industry.
