The original concept for Lords of Hell is derived from Voytek Nowakowski’s digital painting carrying the name “Lord of the Hell”. What is immediately evident in the painting is the amount of chaos.
The image depicts Hell – the internals of Satan himself – the most unimaginable, inhospitable location one can imagine, and the first step into the Lords of Hell universe.
The image to the left represents one of millions of potential gamers around the world. When our player, “John”, signed in to play the game he gave his “real world” details in order to set up a “payment account” . The account included all of John’s personal information. Even his profession. John is a 50 year old bearded fisherman working off the Atlantic Coast of Spain.
When “John” completes his sign on, he hits the Enter key and his journey into Hell begins. John is first seen being buried and then from high above, John can see himself falling through the earth until John finds himself in Hell. John, along with every other player is incarnated in Hell as the antithesis of what he was on earth. Because John was a fisherman on Earth, John is a “fish demon” in Hell. When John’s soul emerges from one of the millions of vats of boiling blood that populate the 9th Level of Hell, it emerges as the character we see on the right. (see next slide)
Here we see a larger view of our character’s introduction to Level 9, which is the Tutorial Level of Hell.
The player has been dropped from the earth into a vast pool of boiling blood seen at the bottom of the image. In the centre of the lake of blood is a giant furnace which causes the blood to perpetually boil.
Surrounding the furnace is a circular staircase containing bodies of burnt non-player characters as they scream in pain.
As the player floats in the blood, he sees an illuminated figure on the stairs amongst the charred bodies, and is instructed to approach it.
This turns out to be a White Angel – the first of many the player will encounter. The angel becomes the players guide throughout the rest of the tutorial Level. The guide instructs the player to climb into the furnace and make his/her way to the top.
Reaching the top, the player looks out and sees that the giant cauldron in which he/she has just finished escaping is just one of many in an endless field of pain and suffering.
This is the point at which the angel tells the player where he/she is, the situation, and of the possibility of escaping Hell, Level by Level.
Our character’s soul, in an effort to reach the furnace, climbs onto the detached wing of a long dead demon. He navigates toward the centre of the vat of boiling blood and ultimately toward the white angel. When he reaches the furnace, he climbs into the stone labyrinth and begins his journey from the 9th Level of Hell.
This image depicts a possible location in the 8th Level of Hell. The bridge suggests a connection between the outside “plane” and an outpost or town where players can meet.
The uses of atmospherics such as smoke and fog is crucial to successfully create the atmosphere necessary in these environments.
A mix of organic and geometric architecture also plays an important role in portraying the required style.
Displayed here is an example of the location of a major city residing within one of the Levels of Hell. This particular scene depicts a city in the chaotic style of Level 8. Entering the dome shaped structure, the player would find merchants, inns, other players and side quests that he/she could acquire.
Keeping all major cities within a protective structure rather than out in the open suggests that the constant destruction and chaos within the Levels of Hell is a threat even to established locations such as cities and towns. This particular dome acts as a shield.
Scale is of utmost importance within the game. The tiny characters shown in the image are overshadowed by the immense structure, adding to the atmosphere of the setting.
When the player is ready to accept the Primary Quest objective, he must seek out the White Angel for the particular Level the player is in. Finding the White Angel is not always an easy task, and requires the player to complete certain Secondary Quests before he/she is able to receive the Primary Quest.
Accepting the Primary Quest to find the Level’s Gate Keeper comes at a price. The journey to the Gate is a challenge even for elite players.
Players can expect beautifully dark visuals that get more chaotic and spectacular the closer they get to the Gate.
The path will be riddled with monsters and the occasional Dark Angel to make the journey challenging.
A possible scene as viewed by the player on the way to the Gate.
Like all Levels, Level 8 holds many interesting sights to behold. A crowd of tortured souls carries a giant concrete block filled with charred bodies of Hell’s prisoners.
Finally, the player reaches the Den of the Gate Keeper.
Inside the Den, the player encounters the Gate Keeper. The design for each Level’s Gate Keeper is unique. This image depicts the Gate Keeper in Level 8.
Defeating the Gate Keeper (or bypassing it through the use of the Artifact) allows the player to pass through the Gate to the next Level.
In this case, Level 7.
Exiting a Gate and arriving on the other side allows you to meet up with players who have also just passed through it.
Arriving at the next Level presents the player with a new environment to explore, filled with new quests, towns, cities and monsters. It is evident that transitioning from Level 8 to 7, the environment is becoming slightly less intense, certain colours becoming cooler, and the atmosphere calmer.
A split in the ground of Level 7. Peering down, the player can see traces of the previous Level.
The entrance to the capital city in Level 7. Merchants, players, and new quests are to be found inside.
Areas around Level 7. The spiral structure is constantly spinning into the ground.
The area surrounding an outpost in Level 7 where players can meet and trade.
A closer look at the outpost. Figures can be seen at the base.
Acquiring the Primary Quest in Level 7 will send you along this path, eventually to the Den of the Gate Keeper.
Stairs at the end of the path lead you to the Den of the Gate Keeper.
The Gate Keeper of Level 7.
Players continue their adventures through the 9 Levels of Hell and the Lords of Hell universe, collecting, fighting, questing, and taking risks as they make their way towards Eden. Arriving in Eden, players regain their human forms, and the first five players to reach Eden are awarded a 1 million dollar prize.
Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye.
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
-Dante Alighieri