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- Batyr's Silushka: a game based on Bashkir myths is being created in Russia
Batyr's Silushka: a game based on Bashkir myths is being created in Russia
A team of enthusiasts from the Republic of Bashkortostan is creating a computer game called Heart of Ural. The project is at an early stage of development and is a story-oriented interactive ethno-game, the main task of which is to familiarize gamers with Bashkir mythology and natural monuments of the republic. The game mechanics, according to the authors, involve music, dance and epic tales of the Bashkir people.
What are the objectives of the Bashkir game
The "Heart of the Urals" game is designed in the "pixel-art" style and introduces players to Bashkir costume and ornaments. According to the plot, the main character - a Bashkir girl - travels through the myths and legends of the country. The main reference point is the stories about the adventures of Ural-batyr, one of the key figures in Bashkir culture, Svyatoslav Pegov, game director and director of the Center for Sports Programming, Algorithmic Robotics, Cybersecurity and Cybersport at the Ufa University of Science and Technology, told Izvestia.
A still from the game "Heart of the Urals"
- The control in the game is realized using the keyboard. We have provided commands-"arrows" for movement and several interaction buttons. Using a mouse in this case makes no sense. During the battle, the player will need to press certain buttons in the beat of the music in the order of appearance of their symbols. During battles with bosses, the classic scheme can change (for example, the spirit of deception will shuffle the order of pressing in front of the player's eyes). The player will be able to obtain items that help him in passing the rhythm games: it will be a small number of artifacts, also related to Bashkir folklore, - added Svyatoslav Pegov.
Outside of combat, "Heart of the Urals" is a traditional role-playing game, where there is room for a large number of dialogs and interlocutors. Gamers will have to perform special tasks, quests, and in the course of their fulfillment make difficult moral choices.
According to the developers, an important part of the game will be music. It reflects the state of both characters and the surrounding world. Bosses (characters to be defeated) form their attitude to the player depending on his actions, which changes the rhythm and tone of the music. The soundtrack will be based on Bashkir folk melodies in a modern arrangement.
A still from the game "Heart of the Urals"
- The project reveals the peculiarities of centuries-old Bashkir culture and national identity. A modern reading of ancient Bashkir tales and legends together with modern arrangements of folk music will help to raise interest and inspire young people to study the national culture," said Svyatoslav Pegov, head of the development.
According to him, each location in the game represents a "living" place of power for the Bashkir people, influencing the protagonist in accordance with history and mythology. The author said that the game will feature both real locations in Bashkortostan, such as the Shulgan-Tash reserve, and mythical ones, such as the magical palace of Samrau, ruled by the bird of the same name.
By the time of the game's release in 2026, the authors plan to make three game locations, each including four levels. The first location will be in the underground world, the second - in the terrestrial world, the third in the celestial world. In the process of passing the player is waiting for battles with divas and evil spirits. To get all the endings will need to pass the "Heart of the Urals" several times.
What assessment is given by experts
The project is realized on the basis of UUNIT (Ufa University of Science and Technology) with the involvement of students, which is important for the development of the industry, according to the developers. It is necessary not just to produce interesting games, but to train qualified personnel for mass production of competitive products, says Roman Alymov, Dean of the Faculty of Game Industry and Cybersport at Synergy University.
A still from the game "Heart of the Urals"
- The authors have successfully chosen the style of the popular game Undertale, which remains relevant after ten years due to the variability of passing and character development. Success does not require photorealistic graphics, but rather the "soul" of the game," said Alexander Gorbachenko, Director of the Intercontinental Cybersports League and a leading Russian expert in the field of computer sports.
The "Heart of the Urals" project is aimed at promoting Bashkir culture and attracting young people through interactive products. It will help to interest young people in studying their native land and its monuments, as well as convey an important educational narrative about the need to connect with the roots, charity and helping your neighbor, according to Kamil Buzykayev, Honored Artist of Bashkortostan, Vice-President of the Creative Union of Artists of Bashkortostan at UNESCO.
- The 21st century is the era of numbers and content, which means that digital products, among other things, should be used to preserve culture and attract young people to study it," Kamil Buzykayev added.
A still from the game "Heart of the Urals"
However, as game critic Alexander Smirnov noted, educational projects rarely become exciting in terms of gameplay, and there are no assumptions that the novelty from Bashkortostan will be able to change this trend. According to the specialist, they can only sit on two chairs in very rare cases - for example, like the authors of the game "Black Book", about which the editorial told in January 2025.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
