Local 16-year-old launches new video game

BY JARRED SPANOS, Alachua Chronicle Contributor

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the video game industry continues to expand, Noah Hunter, a Gainesville 16-year-old, launched an inclusive personal computer game on Thursday, August 4, to put a better quality game on the market that does not require players to pay.

Game developer Noah Hunter ensured the game would be free-to-play to allow as many people as possible, who are looking for something new to do, to play without any type of microtransactions. The game is “unique in the sense that there is a lot of content,” said Hunter. “There is a dungeon that is randomly generated, so you can play it infinitely many times.” Players can choose how they play and the game mode that they play.

Gamers who download “Sanguine Heir” have the chance to level up quickly and play a game that never ends. When Noah was 12 years old, he started to think about game design while playing “Eldest Scrolls IV,” and at that point, he knew he could see himself in the video game design industry. He noticed there aren’t too many free-action role-playing games on the market with high-quality designs. “The niche of that game is underserved,” said Hunter. “[Sanguine Heir] makes an introductory game to the genre while still being free.”

Without a paid aspect, he took advantage of crowdsourcing to give gamers a high-quality free game in a pay-to-play industry. Hunter said his lack of experience was the main reason why he did not want people to buy Sanguine Heir right now. He learned how to create games and find the right apps on YouTube. To understand more complexities, he read the online tutorial, which taught him “a certain way to think,” said Hunter. “There’s a lot of gameplay.”

The video game has more to it than just its cheap price. Sanguine Heir allows players to choose a class and beat as many dungeon levels as they can. With old loot piling up from killing monsters, Hunter added a feature that allows gamers to trade in the old loot in exchange for new items.

The uniqueness of his game also comes from the individuality of the characters and their abilities. He crafted three characters that have 15 different upgrades to unlock. Each one has its strength, allowing the users to find which one best suits them.

Also, Hunter said video games give people more freedom than flipping through pages in books or kicking back while watching a film. “Video games provide a lot of immersion,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun to see the freedom that my game provides.” Sanguine Heir is fun to play for all ages, but he expects players to drop off around their mid to late 30s. People in the age range of 20 to 30 should get the most out of it, according to him.

With all different types of games, choosing the right one is a matter of choice. “Indy games and games from smart developers can be just as good as professional games,” said Hunter. “Independent games are also usually much cheaper.” From his personal experiences as a player, he knows about a lot of different games and developers. Hunter said, “Large corporate games are an amalgamation of different people’s ideas.”

The most exciting parts of the game, leveling up and swapping items, are the most sought-after experiences. Beating different levels is the fastest way to do both, he said. As the player levels up, the monsters will also level up with the character.

Creating games is something that Hunter will continue down the road. He said he has multiple ideas about what is next for him and Raptor Gaming Studios, and it will come in time. After gaining more experience in the Buchholz High School finance academy, then graduating high school, Hunter plans on pursuing a degree in business somewhere in the United States. He plans to use his degree to make a difference.

Having fun creating games was just the start for Hunter. He wants people to play his game and follow him online at https://raptorstudio.itch.io/sanguine-heir.