Only thing is, these aren’t just “more clothes.” Oh no. If my instincts are right, the boys at Bigyama are aiming for something much bigger.

One thing HomeStation has been clamoring more for – pretty much since day one –  are more story-based elements in Home. Lockwood, nDreams and Hellfire have all touched on it with Sodium, Aurora, and Novus Prime respectively. Bigyama it seems has been doing their homework on what works and what Home wants more of, and is doing the same thing. From their press release, courtesy of Dan and Adam of Bigyama:

Forthstar is a world set in the future; we’ve traveled to the stars but in the last few decades things have started to unravel. Central government exists in name only and feudal states are at constant war. The rim of explored space is where only the hardiest can survive such as Gunslingers and Dropship pilots. Gunslinger are outlaws and warriors who sell their skills to the highest bidder. Dropship pilots help get goods and people into and out of the danger zones as war spreads.

For our items and clothing we want to ground them in a consistent universe, so each item has a backstory and place. Our concept for these Dropship and Gunslinger outfits is they’re the type of characters you’d find on the edge of space the only ones strong / clever enough to survive. The general Forthstar theme is sci-fi / western.

The release is four full clothing sets from the Forthstar Universe

Gunslinger Male
Gunslinger Female
Dropship Pilot Male
Dropship Pilot Female

So why is this important? It’s quite simple, really. For starters, they’re laying the groundwork for the development of their own universe, and in Home, having a recognizable universe with which to associate your products is key for customers to remember you. This is no small feat for any brand new, fresh-out-of-the-box developer to pull off. A lot of planning went into this, and – if one was to base their judgement on the detail that’s gone into the clothing items – it shows. It’s one thing to design a virtual garment like a poncho; it’s entirely another thing to make it drape the way it should and move with the avatar’s body and gestures as it should.

Another key factor with any new virtual items is how it compliments existing elements already in Home, as can be seen in the following video created by the Home Community Volunteers promoting Bigyama:

This is extremely important with clothing items. How well an item can mix and match with other clothing items a user already owns is often an important part of the decision-making process behind a virtual clothing purchase. This is something both Bigyama outfits do very well. Not only do items from each outfit mix well with each other, but they also mix well with other items you can find in Home. Items that probably already exist in your wardrobe.

I’ve had quite a few days with which to play around with both outfits, and for a freshman attempt, the devil is certainly in the details. Each item is beautifully rendered, and it’s fascinating how – with just a small change – you can create looks that people have been asking for. For example, the ladies’ Dropship goggles and torso lend themselves well to creating a futuristic steampunk look.

This is not to say that the outfits don’t make a statement all on their own. Take the Gunslinger outfit for one. Maybe it’s because I was raised on what would be considered by today’s standards an unhealthy amount of Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, but the idea of dressing up as the iconic “(Wo)Man with No Name” has huge appeal for me; the poncho immediately calls that character to mind. Not to mention that there has been a demand for classic looking Western clothing ever since Red Dead Redemption came out.

And then there’s the larger potential. By providing their items with a backstory, Bigyama has kept the door open for themselves to flesh out the Forthstar universe further, and to reveal to the community where they intend to take it. This can come in the form of a standalone mini-game or an entire in-Home universe, complete with spaces to explore and jobs one can role-play for rewards.

Perhaps as they grow, we could see Bigyama doing what we’ve been asking SCEA to attempt for some time – to create their own proprietary space, based on this one universe, complete with games and tasks which can be performed in exchange for a currency unique to that universe. In short, someone who is willing to replicate the Sodium model with their own unique twist and make Home a game itself. We’ve seen Mass Media is attempting to do just that with last week’s Midway 3 debut, so why not?

That’s the beauty of a brand new business: the possibilities are wide open. If you have the dedication it takes to stay the course and the commitment to bringing the best product you can to the market – a product that simultaneously stands out and compliments others – then you have a great chance at making at lasting impression in Home.

Welcome, Bigyama. We hope you enjoy your stay.

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