From Dust

From Dust is a computer game by Ubisoft Genre gods from the simulation. The game was developed by Eric Chahi, who described it as a spiritual successor to Populous.

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of the deity breath which has different abilities to change the landscape. The objective of the game is to pave a primitive people by changes in the landscape a passable way to a totem pole. For this, the player can move amongst sand, water and lava to build dams or divert lava flows. The game uses a physics engine to simulate a dynamic natural landscape, as amended by the player's actions and by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions or tsunamis quickly the landscape is changed.

Development

Eric Chahi claimed to have been inspired by a visit of the active volcano Yasur in Vanuatu to the game. As a further source of inspiration he gave to the game Populous and Rez. End of 2006, Chahi presented the game idea Ubisoft. The development began in 2008 in the Ubisoft development studio in Montpellier.