Entertainment

3D Printed Bone Runes for Dishonored 2 IRL

Dishonored 2 is a videogame created by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda, it will be released later this week.

The plot sees the player immersed in a world of assassins, supernatural Outsiders and intrigue. According to game mythology, the Outsider is “a mysterious supernatural being said to be part-devil, part-angel, neither good nor evil” and the player can acquire some of these abilities by collecting hidden bone runes.

Arkane creative director Harvey Smith says the new game takes place in a, “crazy non-linear world” where players are faced with many, “choices about which pathway to take.”

Investigating a peculiar library filled with stuffed owls. Image via Bethesda.
Investigating a peculiar library filled with stuffed owls. Image via Bethesda.

Bethesda, the publisher behind Dishonored 2, clearly wanted to bring some of this magic into the real world, and chose a scavenger hunt for some real world bone runes as the way to go about it. Through the release of subtle hints fans were guided through the streets of London to claim a prize. Or “take back what’s yours,” as the tagline would put it.

Many of the locations featured iconic London buildings.
Many of the locations featured iconic London buildings.
Dishonored 2. Image via Bethesda.
Dishonored 2. Image via Bethesda.

A number of those taking part in the hunt for the bone runes had travelled from across the UK to take part in the search. At one of the drops, the finder was from Manchester and working with a group who had spent 4 days following the trail. 

Can you spot the Bone Rune?
Can you spot the Bone Rune?
How about now?
How about now?
Here it is...
Here it is…

3DPI tracked down some of the bone runes, which were 3D printed for the launch event and can now be downloaded here.

A big old pile of them Bone Runes. Photo via MyMiniFactory.
A big old pile of dem Bone Runes. Photo via MyMiniFactory.
The 3D printed Dishonored 2 Bone Rune and invite to the Karnaca Supper Club. Photo via MyMiniFactory.
The 3D printed Dishonored 2 Bone Rune and invite to the Karnaca Supper Club. Photo via MyMiniFactory.
The Karnaca Supper Club. Photo via Twitter user @HollieB
The Karnaca Supper Club. Photo via Twitter user @HollieB

The Dishonored universe has a very much steam-punk aesthetic, mirrored by one of the locations on the scavenger hunt next to the River Thames, which featured a familiar looking sea vessel.

A steam punk inspired location for one of the Bone Runes.
A steam punk inspired location for one of the Bone Runes.
Sea-punk? Image via Bethesda.
Sea-punk? Image via Bethesda.
Bone Rune lurking in the undergrowth.
Bone Rune lurking in the undergrowth.

Those who blinked fast enough were invited to a special dinner, appropriately called the Karnaca Supper Club. Apparently the quality of food (and fig wine) was sufficiently high to prompt one guest to propose marriage.

The fastest to blink.
The fastest to blink.
A lucky winner.
A lucky winner.
A gentleman and his Bone Rune.
A gentleman and his Bone Rune.

3D printing and 3D scanning are increasing blurring the lines between the digital and physical, for example another recent video game release, Battlefield 1 makes extensive use of photogrammetry and texture mapping while the forthcoming wave of VR and AR products including the Google Daydream, Microsoft HoloLens, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift all take elements of the real world blended with the digital to create a new experience.

Dishonored 2 will be released on 11.11.16. All photos, unless otherwise stated, by the author.