Lucy Liu Interview | Pirate Queen: The Forgotten Legend

Just lately, I had the chance to go hands-on with the brand new VR recreation from Singer Studios, The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend, and interview Director and Govt Producer Eloise Singer, in addition to Govt Producer and Voice Artist Lucy Liu.

The Pirate Queen relies on a real story and places you instantly within the boots of Cheng Shih, a pirate who took over her husband’s fleet after his loss of life and led tens of 1000’s of males throughout the ocean.

Take a look at what we realized discussing The Pirate Queen with this duo.

The Pirate Queen Is the Story of the Most Profitable Pirate In Historical past

When Eloise Singer first acquired the concept for this recreation, it is as a result of a buddy had approached her to ask if she knew about Cheng Shih. 

“A buddy of mine stated, ‘do you know probably the most highly effective pirate in historical past was a girl?'” – Eloise Singer

And so she began to analysis and found the story that not many individuals know, making it the proper alternative to carry it to gentle within the type of a VR recreation. When Lucy Liu joined the venture, she instructed me about a number of the challenges she skilled.

“For me it was a studying curve,” Liu stated. “Usually while you go into animation, typically by the tip of the session your voice is sort of strained. And so they often attempt to maintain all of the screaming to the final quarter-hour. However on this one it was so intimate and private.” 

Whereas taking part in, Liu’s voice is in your ear all through the expertise, serving to to steer the narrative and take you from one scene to the following. Whereas not action-oriented, The Pirate Queen’s gameplay focuses far more on puzzle fixing and environmental subtlety. 

The Gameplay in The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend

Previous to our interview with Liu and Singer, I went hands-on with The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend and had the chance to play by these puzzles and study extra about Cheng Shih’s story. 

The artwork route fantastically units the scene and ambiance as you climb up the rigging on these gigantic nineteenth century ships and discover dusty scrolls in moonlit cabins. There may be an assistant mechanic that may make a number of the more difficult puzzles a bit simpler, and there are additionally two problem modes to select from.

Whereas there isn’t any motion or fight, The Pirate Queen’s attract as an alternative depends on immersing you in a selected cut-off date and discovering the secrets and techniques that await you. 

“It is not a taking pictures recreation,” Liu stated. “It is a recreation of studying by expertise. Via mind.”

Although it is a comparatively brief expertise by modern-day gaming requirements, Singer and her group managed to suit a whole lot of element into this small vignette of Cheng Shih’s life. 

Lucy Liu & Gender Equality in The Pirate Queen 

One thing that each Singer and Liu talked about throughout our interview was the truth that the pirate Cheng Shih was one of many earliest individuals to essentially push for gender equality by her ranks. 

“She paved the way in which for gender equality,” Singer stated. “Women and men needed to be handled equally on her ship. Not solely did she change into probably the most highly effective pirate. However she actually was on the forefront of constructing certain women and men have been being handled equally.” 

With a lot media targeted on male-led tales, significantly in video video games, The Pirate Queen was a wonderful alternative to carry a forgotten pirate into the modern-day dialogue.

“It is good to have anyone who’s not a made-up character who’s a feminine lead,” Liu stated.

The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend is playable on Meta Quest 2 and obtainable by the Meta Retailer and Steam.