The VR gaming industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation, both behind the scenes and in the titles themselves. One of this year's standout indie successes is Singer Studios’ multi-award-winning VR debut, The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend. Featuring the iconic Hollywood actress Lucy Liu and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Eloise Singer, this game is a testament to the studio’s commitment to making diversity and inclusion the norm rather than the exception.
The Pirate Queen narrates the enthralling story of Cheng Shih, the most powerful pirate in history—a tale largely forgotten until now. Praised for its cinematic quality, thanks to Singer Studios’ unique blend of film and VR, the game reflects hundreds of hours of meticulous research to ensure historical accuracy. Android Central raves that the game “focuses entirely on the female lead character and her struggles, creating a 'whole new genre' for pirates in the entertainment space.”
Here’s how Singer Studios and The Pirate Queen are revolutionising the VR industry.
Breaking Barriers with Female-Led Innovation
Women in Tech reports that only 16% of leadership positions in the gaming industry are held by women, with less than 10% of the workforce coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. Singer Studios is challenging this norm with a diverse, female-led team under the leadership of award-winning director and filmmaker Eloise Singer and producer Siobhan McDonnell.
Nearly half of The Pirate Queen development team have East Asian heritage, driving a passion to create an inclusive and representative story. This commitment underscores Singer Studios' dedication to championing narratives of leaders who have paved the way for change. Their efforts aim to rectify the significant gender imbalance in the industry workforce and narratives. FandomWire praised the game, noting, "the message the game leaves is one of empowerment, bravery, and women’s rights."
Lucy Liu’s Game-Changing VR Debut
Hollywood star Lucy Liu, known for her roles in Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels, voices Cheng Shih in The Pirate Queen. This marks Liu’s first venture into VR, which she describes as "so immersive. There's no experience like that. It's almost like it's a dream, but you're awake."
Liu was drawn to the project by the story of a nearly forgotten female protagonist. Reflecting on the importance of characters like Cheng Shih in popular culture, Liu stated, “I think it would've been very different if there were more female characters as the leads or as heroines when I was growing up.”
Revolutionising Female Representation in VR
During the development of The Pirate Queen, Singer Studios discovered that no female hands had ever been modelled for XR experiences. This lack of representation meant there was no baseline for creating Cheng Shih’s—and by extension, the player’s—hands.
This oversight highlighted a significant gap in the industry. By creating The Pirate Queen, Singer Studios aimed to address this issue and support the broader XR industry by developing resources and knowledge bases that promote more inclusive and diverse character creation.
Filmmaking Meets VR: A Winning Combination
Singer Studios, a multi-award-winning transmedia company, specialises in film, podcast, documentary, and television in addition to XR. This breadth of expertise allows the team to bring a uniquely cinematic storytelling experience to VR.
Lead writer and narrative designer Maja Bodenstein participated in a Writers’ Room with director Eloise Singer before developing the game’s wider mechanics. This ensured that Cheng Shih’s story was fully explored and crafted first, providing an almost filmic quality to the immersive experience.
Eloise Singer notes, "You have to go through this journey that she went through and face the adversity that she did. As a player, you really connect with that, stepping back in history and experiencing the world that she did."
Setting New Standards in Historical Storytelling
The Pirate Queen aims to create a historical immersive experience that is both entertaining and educational. The team conducted extensive research on the historical context, language, in-game environments, and intricate hand-painted cutscenes, ensuring the game's authenticity.
The commitment to historical accuracy has been praised as ‘the future of education,’ setting a new standard for historical storytelling in VR.
Turning Gaming into a Powerful Educational Tool
Due to its historical accuracy, The Pirate Queen is a fantastic resource for learning about early 19th century China, British-Chinese relations, and the lead-up to the Opium Wars. Singer Studios has pledged to donate 50 copies of The Pirate Queen to academic institutions, aiming to inspire a new generation of creators in XR and highlight the importance of depicting female protagonists in media.
"We believe in the power of storytelling to educate and inspire. By donating these copies, we hope to provide students with a unique learning experience that combines history, culture, and cutting-edge technology," said Eloise Singer.
Android Central emphasised the importance of virtual reality storytelling in education, praising The Pirate Queen for its immersive narrative, stating, "experiencing history from a first-person perspective makes all the difference."
The Pirate Queen VR game is not just a groundbreaking entertainment experience but also a powerful tool for education and inclusivity, setting new standards in the VR gaming industry.
Content Source: Daily Posts.
