How Amazon's Secret Level Distills Your Favorite Games Into Short TV Show Episodes

As a seasoned gamer with decades of immersion in the digital realms of fantasy and adventure, I must say that Amazon Games’ MMO, New World: Aeternum, has piqued my interest like no other game has in recent memory. The idea of an island where death is but a temporary setback, and immortality can lead to madness or soul loss, is dark and intriguing – a far cry from the usual heroic quests we’re accustomed to.


In a New World: Aeternum, the MMO created by Amazon Games, takes place during the Era of Exploration, on an island where death is unheard-of, yet immortality isn’t necessarily a blessing. For some, eternal life brings madness, while others lose their spiritual essence. Corpses that have long since decayed continue to live, unable to find tranquility.

In the animated anthology series Secret Level, inspired by New World, the narrative veers into a unique interpretation of the subject matter, shedding light on a different aspect more gradually.

During a discussion after a screening of Secret Level’s first episode, the narrative director of New World: Aeternum, Rob Chestney, mentioned that the game isn’t as light-hearted as it may seem. He described it more as grimdark and supernatural, rather than traditional fantasy.

In the fictional world of New World: Aeternum, the concept of player characters dying and resurrecting is an integral part of its storyline. This allows for frequent deaths and rebirths within the game’s narrative. Chestney explained this serious approach in the game’s lore. However, The Secret Level episode adopts a comical and darkly humorous tone to explore these themes of death and its impact on characters. Instead of a grim fantasy, it turns out to be a comedic take on New World: Aeternum, using similar concepts but with a very different outcome compared to the game itself.

“The ‘New World’ episode could serve as an illustration of how Blur Studios created the ‘Secret Level’, which consists of episodes inspired by 15 diverse games from 11 distinct developers. This specific episode zeroes in on a significant aspect of the game it mirrors, offering something that appeals to spectators irrespective of their familiarity with that gaming universe. However, this also involves compressing an entire game world, like ‘New World’, which could require players many hours to explore, into a compact storyline featuring just a few characters and minutes of narrative.

Dave Wilson, executive producer at Secret Level, explained that when dealing with a game as expansive as theirs, it’s crucial to present a relatable and personal narrative for the audience. In other words, instead of showcasing everything available, they focus on a select few characters to create an emotional connection within a short timeframe (10 minutes). Wilson emphasized that people tend to remember emotions evoked rather than visual elements seen.

As a gamer, diving into the process of creating Secret Level episodes felt like an exhilarating challenge. To capture the essence of a specific game concept or feature, Blur Studios, the masterminds behind the series, first needed to absorb the games thoroughly. They did this by spending quality time with the developers, essentially living and breathing the games themselves.

According to the account of Tim Miller, who is both the inventor and top producer of Secret Level, they compiled extensive documentation, referred to as “decks,” for each project they undertook.

In simpler terms, Miller explained that they delve extensively into the game’s background information with the developers, constructing a substantial manual or guidebook about the game. This manual is quite extensive, often stretching across 70 pages, detailing rules, tips, and intriguing aspects of the game.

In simpler terms, Blur provided the creative team with details about the games they had developed, and these details were handed over to various writers, as per Miller’s statement. These writers then came up with different narrative concepts, such as the comical aspects of eternal life, which they proposed.

Due to the large number of diverse writers, each originating from different walks of life, offering numerous perspectives, we encounter an immense array of tales. This is far more engaging and expansive than just Dave and I brainstorming in a room, as two white men might do. The multitude of perspectives brings about a much richer and broader spectrum of stories, which I find captivating. It also introduces us to many unanticipated ideas that we wouldn’t have thought of on our own.

This week, Aeternum from Secret Level was launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it’s also playable on PC. Although our take on Aeternum won’t be out until December, you can start exploring this grimdark fantasy MMO right away! For more details about the game, check out the Amazon Games blog.

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2024-10-16 23:09