Discover how My Time at Sandrock developers crafted a vibrant post-apocalyptic world with practical insights
From Portia to Sandrock: The Sequel Development Journey
Dexerto recently conducted an exclusive interview with the development team behind My Time at Sandrock, exploring how the studio transformed their successful Portia formula into an even more engaging sequel experience.
Our conversation with Pathea Vice President Aaron Deng and lead writer David Peck revealed the creative process behind expanding the “My Time” universe and establishing Sandrock’s unique identity.
The farming simulation genre continues to grow in popularity, with numerous titles capturing player attention. However, the “My Time” series distinguishes itself through its unique post-apocalyptic setting combined with heartwarming slice-of-life storytelling. Pathea’s original title, My Time at Portia, presented a refreshing take on rebuilding civilization, while Sandrock elevates this concept with enhanced mechanics and deeper narrative elements.
Set in a desert community with western influences, My Time at Sandrock immerses players in managing their workshop, constructing essential equipment, and developing relationships with memorable townspeople. The game blends resource management with character-driven storytelling for a comprehensive life simulation experience.
Even during its early access phase, Sandrock offers substantial content that easily engages players for extended sessions. Our discussion with the developers focused on their approach to world-building and transforming a simple concept into an expansive gaming universe.
We began by exploring the challenges of developing a sequel to a beloved game. David Peck shared his perspective on the initial uncertainties:
“The success of Portia caught us somewhat by surprise, creating both opportunity and pressure. Suddenly we had established expectations to meet while wanting to expand our creative vision beyond the original game’s scope.
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“We aimed to significantly enhance character development and story arcs beyond what we accomplished in Portia. Originally considering Sandrock as downloadable content, the project evolved organically into a full sequel. This improvisational approach brought creative freedom but also required careful planning to maintain quality standards.”
Aaron Deng provided additional insights about expanding an established game world, explaining:
“Sequels present unique design challenges, particularly when maintaining core gameplay systems. We preserved the fundamental workshop management mechanics that defined Portia’s identity while introducing fresh elements. Players still engage in production chains and community development, but within a completely reimagined environment.
Location selection became crucial for establishing Sandrock’s distinct personality. Unlike Portia’s coastal greenery and abundant resources, Sandrock’s desert setting immediately communicates scarcity and different survival challenges. The visual contrast between lush Portia and arid Sandrock creates immediate atmospheric differentiation that players notice upon arrival.”
Creating Distinct Environments and Atmosphere
My Time at Sandrock continues exploring the post-apocalyptic narrative established in Portia, focusing on civilization rebuilding after global catastrophe. This unique approach to world-building distinguishes the series from typical dystopian stories.
Rather than depicting grim, collapsed societies, the game world radiates optimism and hope. Wildlife thrives in restored ecosystems, skies remain clear and vibrant, and communities work collaboratively toward brighter futures. This positive perspective on post-apocalyptic life creates an uplifting gaming experience that resonates with players seeking hopeful narratives.
We inquired about the decision to approach post-apocalyptic themes with optimism rather than despair. David Peck explained their creative rationale:
“Our narrative explores redemption and renewal rather than focusing on destruction. What if humanity learned from past mistakes and committed to building better societies? This perspective allows players to experience meaningful progression as they contribute to community restoration.
“Gameplay mechanics centered around construction and crafting naturally align with themes of rebuilding. Players don’t just survive – they actively improve their environment and strengthen community bonds. This connection between narrative and mechanics creates more immersive and satisfying player experiences.”
Practical Tip: When exploring Sandrock’s environment, pay attention to environmental storytelling elements like repaired infrastructure and community gathering spaces that visually represent narrative progress.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t rush through main story quests – take time to appreciate how your workshop contributions transform the town’s appearance and functionality throughout the game.
Character Creation and Customization Deep Dive
My Time at Sandrock features extensive character customization systems allowing players to create unique avatars reflecting their personal style. The development team invested significant effort in designing diverse appearance options and memorable non-player characters.
We explored the design philosophy behind Sandrock’s character creation with the development team. Aaron Deng detailed their approach to NPC development:
“Romantic relationships form significant gameplay elements, requiring carefully designed characters that resonate emotionally with players. Our character creation process involves establishing distinct personality archetypes that align with the game’s narrative context. We consider factors like age background, social roles, and visual distinctiveness when crafting each towns-person.
David Peck added insights about the creative freedom afforded to the art team during character development:
“We encouraged artistic experimentation during the character design phase. The art team received creative license to explore diverse visual concepts, resulting in unexpected features like exotic eye variations. While initially questioning some unconventional choices, we learned to trust player preferences for unique customization options.
Optimization Tip: Experiment with character creation early and save multiple preset designs – this allows you to quickly restart with different appearances without repeating extensive customization sessions.
Advanced Strategy: Coordinate your character’s appearance with their workshop specialization – certain clothing options provide gameplay bonuses for specific crafting professions.
Collaborative Writing Process and Team Dynamics
Developing Sandrock’s narrative required careful coordination among multiple writers with different creative perspectives. We discussed the collaborative writing process with David Peck, who shared valuable insights about team-based storytelling.
“My journey into game writing began unexpectedly – initially applying for music composition before transitioning into narrative design. As the project expanded, we assembled a dedicated writing team to handle the game’s extensive dialogue and story content.
“Collaborative writing requires balancing creative visions while maintaining narrative consistency. We established feedback protocols that emphasize mutual respect and constructive criticism. The ability to both give and receive feedback productively proved essential for refining character arcs and story progression.
“For aspiring writing teams, I recommend prioritizing psychological safety in creative discussions. When team members feel comfortable sharing unconventional ideas and raising concerns about narrative elements, the final story benefits from diverse perspectives and thorough review processes.”
The perspectives shared by Aaron Deng and David Peck provide fascinating glimpses into the development philosophy behind the “My Time” series. Understanding their creative process enhances appreciation for the careful craftsmanship evident throughout Sandrock’s world and storytelling.
Team Collaboration Tip: Establish clear feedback guidelines early in development – define what constitutes constructive criticism and create safe spaces for creative disagreement.
Writing Process Insight: Implement multiple revision passes with different team members focusing on specific elements like character consistency, plot coherence, and dialogue authenticity.
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