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Angkor: The Holy City is a unique village-building game where players are challenged to develop a thriving city under the watchful eyes of the gods. The main goal is to construct intricate temples to honor the deities and research technologies to mitigate their wrath while expanding the village and managing a growing population. Developed by William Parsons, the game is still without a release date but has already garnered significant interest in the indie gaming scene.

In an interview with the studio, Parsons shared the inspiration behind Angkor and how the idea of combining village-building with elements of divine wrath and temple construction came about. "The project started as a way for me to try out things I learned while studying computer science at university, but over time, it morphed into a more serious effort. Initially, I wanted the game to be multiplayer, where players would compete for the gods' favor, but I quickly realized that making a multiplayer game was more trouble than it was worth. From there, things slowly evolved, and the temple mechanics were inspired by the game Islanders, where placing certain buildings near one another gives you different types of bonuses. I thought building and optimizing your own temples would be much more interesting than just constructing a static 'Temple' building like in every other city builder game."

The mechanics of temple construction and technology research play a crucial role in balancing the needs of the growing village with the expectations of the gods. Parsons explains, "Temple construction requires a lot of resources to maintain, and as the game progresses, the gods will demand more and more lavish temples. So, the player needs to balance the village's needs (food, housing, etc.) with the gods' needs (the temples)." This complex dynamic adds a strategic layer to the game, challenging players to manage their resources effectively.

Despite being a solo project, Parsons faced significant challenges during its development. He shared, "Angkor is a solo project, which is a challenge in itself! It's also my first serious attempt at making a video game, so there's a lot of trial and error involved. But I would say the biggest challenge is managing my time—trying to work on it a bit each day is a difficult task. I also have a busy personal life and work full-time as a software engineer in Christchurch, NZ."

The initial visual impressions of "Angkor: The Holy City" are very promising, making it a simulator worth adding to your Steam wishlist. For those seeking a game that combines strategy, construction, and mystical elements, this title promises to be a unique and captivating experience.