Attention lovers of Cyberpunk and high fantasy! Republic of Gamers (ROG), the gaming-focus division of Asus, is entering the next phase of its expansive, narrative-driven cinematic metaverse, ROG SAGA. ROG SAGA is set in a dark dystopia where superpowered individuals known as G.A.M.E.R.s fight for freedom. We spoke to some of the folks behind ROGA SAGA to learn more about what went on behind the scenes. How and why did they build this complex world, its dynamic environments, and rich lore? And what were the real-world influences that inspired its unique cinematic universe?
What is ROG SAGA?
ROG SAGA is a brand new IP from the people behind ROG. At its core, it’s a cyber-fantasy metaverse built as a bold way of showcasing ROG’s gaming-focused laptops, hardware, and peripherals. The competitive nature of E-Sports along with the rebellious heart of the gaming community is what ROG aims to capture. This player-centric approach to building a cinematic universe with a deep narrative, rich lore, and diverse characters, helps players fully immerse themselves into the ROG SAGA experience. Part of immersing yourself in a fictional world is likeable, relatable characters, and ROG SAGA has plenty of them.
According to the ROG SAGA Studio,
“ROG SAGA brings to life seven heroes with distinct personalities, allowing every gamer to find a reflection of themselves in our fictional world. the ROG brand embodies three core values: vanguard, fusion, and rebellion. G.A.M.E.R.s never give up, despite the challenges they are facing. They’re rebellious: standing up for their beliefs. These values are infused in everything we do, which is why we aim to create this fictional universe that reflects our voice in the real world”
Rather than simply showing off the ROG line of gaming-focused products, the products instead become part of a larger story. One that better projects ROG’s determination to build not just high-quality gaming equipment but also a sense of community for gamers.
Building a Cinematic Narrative
So why choose a narrative-driven cinematic approach to align with top-of-the-line hardware?
“We believe that gaming is a way of life. We wanted to make a universe of the “Republic of Gamers” that reflects our core values in the real world. The story inside the ROG SAGA can illustrate our story in a more engaging way, such as the lore, origin stories of each character, and the maps. They are made to resonate with people who share the same values and stories as us.”
ROG SAGA is set in the backdrop of a futuristic world where cybernetic argumentation has become the norm. A select group of humanity, known as G.A.M.E.R.s, are born with unique and powerful abilities. Once hailed as heroes after saving the world during a great war, G.A.M.E.R.s now face persecution from a society that fears their immense power. G.A.M.E.R.s must now fight for freedom as they are hunted by the same powers they once fought alongside.
The world of ROG SAGA is oozing with that unmistakable Cybernpunk look and feel. It’s the classic juxtaposition of clean, chrome-laden cityscapes and the rough, colourful underbelly of the city streets. Connecting both of these is the cybernetically augmented populace, which ROG SAGA has in abundance. It’s all heavily reminiscent of classic Cyberpunk staples like Blade Runner, Tron, and Neuromancer.
It’s a genre that’s perfect to represent the ideals of high-tech and finesse with the ideals and embodiment of ‘punk’ that forms the DNA of ROG SAGA.
However, while aesthetically inspired by the Cyberpunk genre, from a narrative perspective, ROG SAGA takes influence from Akira Kurosawa. As the ROG SAGA Studio behind the campaign explained:
“The idea of the 7 G.A.M.E.R.s originated from the 1954 film, Seven Samurai, where the titular samurai lead some villagers in a fight against bandits. Each samurai has their own persona so we wanted to use this idea to portray the G.A.M.E.R.s from the ROG SAGA with the gamers in the real world.”
Defining the Characters
Beyond the Cyberpunk aesthetic and Kurosawa narrative, ROG SAGA draws from the gaming world as well with its similarities to high-fantasy gaming franchises like Star Ocean and Final Fantasy. This can be best seen in the seven larger-than-life, superpowered protagonists of the story:
- HORSEM4N: a former mercenary turned street racer, HORSEM4N’s prowess at Multitasking means he’s able to use his cybernetic arms to simultaneously control his four powerful guns: Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.
- SE7EN: an amnesiac cyborg assassin. Thanks to her Hyperclocking ability, SE7EN can camouflage herself and move at high speeds to attack with her cybernetic chain whip and deadly Damascus steel daggers.
- AKIRA: a revered samurai whose Overdriving ability allows him to vastly enhance the robustness of his weapon. AKIRA now roams the land as a Ronin, using his cybernetic enhancements to wield his powerful blades with deadly speed and precision.
- AchT: a talented hacker and modern-day Robin Hood, with the power to create fully digital avatars from her imagination. AchT uses her gifts of Compiling and Networking to rob the rich and give back to the poor.
- GO: the stalwart shield and tech expert of the team who dons a massive cybernetic exoskeleton. Kind and patient, GO is the glue that holds the team together, proving support whenever they need it.
- OMNI: a foul-mouthed and hot-headed android with a personality many times larger than his tiny stature. OMNI, created by AchT and GO, provides tactical assistance in the field and – perhaps just as important – embodies the team spirit and serves as a morale booster.
- PKD: a nobleman burdened with a destructive power known as ‘Forging’ – the ability to transform objects containing silicon into any shape. However, it’s a power that requires immense willpower to control.
By blending high fantasy with more grounded cyberpunk elements, all seven characters work to embody different core character archetypes, making it easier for gamers to find the character that they feel best represents them.
Worlds High and Low
ROG SAGA is divided into different environments each with diverse biomes. Some are more akin to the likes of Blade Runner, with its dark dystopian cityscapes bursting with technology. LAPUNTU, a former fortress liberated by the G.A.M.E.R.s serves as their HQ, while K.A.M.A. is a fleet of sea-faring ships that joined together, becoming one moving land mass and a politically independent sovereign territory.
These are just two dense worlds that inhabit the universe of ROG SAGA. Each has unique customs and backstories with incredible attention to detail. Fortunately, ROG SAGA looks set on exploring and breaking down these worlds as the narrative of the ROG universe advances into its next phase.
What’s Next?
ROG SAGA recently launched their latest cinematic film, RE:SET, which focuses on AchT and OMNI as they evade the forces of G.U.N. RE:SET marks the first fully voice-acted and character-focused cinematic. It’s a big step forward for the IP, or as the ROG SAGA Studio puts it:
“We started producing a series of brand videos in 2017 as supporting materials for marketing purposes, but as we officially established ROG SAGA as an independent intellectual property, it has evolved into a gaming ecosystem, a culture, and a way of life.”
A new character-focused cinematic short is scheduled for 2024, though fans won’t have to wait long for new lore drops thanks to the introduction of a new set of short videos called ‘Voice of the Rebels’ (VotR). VotR is hosted by AchT and OMNI with each episode tackling a different topic of the world of ROG, such as the many various factions and locations. The first three episodes of VotR are available already, with more on the way. Check out those episodes plus more on this ROG SAGA YouTube playlist.
With ROG continuing its robust line of gaming hardware you can rest assured that there will be a lot to look forward to in the world of ROG SAGA. So stay tuned as we head straight into the next phase of the story.
