Spotlight: Jake Evans’ Fort Borealis

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Spotlight - Fort BorealisAt ROBLOX, we continue to take notice of those who are tackling new and different challenges within our platform. On this edition of “Spotlight”, we’re checking out Jake Evans’ Fort Borealis, an ambitious, popular and innovative shooter.

Jake Evans spent a lot of his time on ROBLOX forums when he first started out–he undertook small projects here and there, mostly minor tasks for the forum community. He didn’t know that he’d eventually end up working as the lead scripter for one of ROBLOX’s most popular titles, Fort Borealis.

The recently turned 18-year-old, tired from a day of moving into his college dorm room at Kent State, wearily recalls the beginnings of the game and the challenges that he, and his team of programmers (users rulzalot, CJ10127 and xsixx), had to go through to create the game.

“The biggest challenge was organization,” says Evans. “Getting all these people coordinated and making sure we could plan things within a reasonable time frame was a huge challenge.”

Fort Borealis

Like many teams of game developers on ROBLOX, this particular team had never met each other in person, and some of them lived as far as the UK, over three thousand miles from Ohio, where Evans was working on the game. Balancing conflicting time zones, and synching daily habits proved to be a tricky task.

“Basically I’d wake up early in the morning and say ‘hi’ to dev one, then work throughout the morning,” recalls Evans. “Then I’d sleep all day. Wake up in the evening, say ‘hi’ to the European dev, and work all night.”

Evans claims that Fort Borealis was an effort on his team’s part to take lots of unique facets from other games, and mix them into one. The end result is a first-person shooter with an in-depth currency system that is much different than what you’d be used to today.

For example, Fort Borealis rewards your gaming skill based on performance–basically, the more kills you get, the more money you make. The more money you make, the more powerful weapons you can buy. Nothing new here, right?

Here’s what’s different: You can rent weapons too, for up to fifteen minutes at a time. The cost is cheaper, and because you’re using a more powerful weapon, you could potentially earn enough in those fifteen minutes to buy more advanced weapons, or even the weapon you rented. Multipliers are added for kill streaks as well, so you could potentially make a ton of currency in a short period of time, simply by renting a powerful firearm.

The money system isn’t the only facet that Evans and team wanted to spin on its head. The map in the game is also extremely varied by ways of approach and general architecture. It features a series of islands that have multiple points of access–you can assault the islands by land, or by sea, utilizing speed boats that have mounted automatic machine guns. It’s all pretty frantic, but a ton of fun nonetheless.

As it stands now, Fort Borealis has been favorited over 18,000 times, and the numbers continue to rise. Evans attributes the popularity of the game to its focus on replayability.

“It’s all about keeping the game fresh and exciting,” says Evans. “Don’t ever be afraid to put a spin on things, because seeing the results of your innovation is a crazy-fun feeling.”

UPDATE from Jake Evans: Please remember the game is in beta and we are still updating and balancing it. If you have any issues please report them to our joint developer account, “SparrowCorps”, and we shall answer it and work on it if we find it to be a problem.

152 thoughts on “Spotlight: Jake Evans’ Fort Borealis”

  1. Fort Borealis is a truly amazing example of how one can master and take advantage of the tools and resources on ROBLOX, and make a fantastically well scripted game. I lift my hat to you, good sirs.

  3. I’m a Retired RAT Admiral from several years ago, I can remember when CT was named Donkey04. Its amazing to see how much he’s done for RAT, it really shows why so many people have stayed and why it’s one of the biggest groups on ROBLOX. And to see that he’s taken it from Forts, to even FPS Games such as this, really shows how much RAT means to Jake.

  5. Borealis is a nice fort, however I think there are some things that need to be taken care of such as spawn camping helicopters and wall-shooting before the game can become completely balanced.

  8. Love Fort Borealis. Got Level 37 with 17K Aurem. Trying out for Sparrow Corporations aswell.

  13. Best fort I have seen so far. I got to admit, but one thing I would like to see. Is that there should be jeeps. :D So far, I remember 09′s RAT like yesterday and now where it got so far, it’s like watching a baby grow in a day. ^_^. Good job CT and good luck in college!

  14. I was really impressed when the new Borealis came out. The only thing I was disappointing on was that the map was so similar to the older one.

  16. I like this fort but im in fear and raiding them i like it but i have no idea how to control the flag join my group its called the amazing eagles!

  18. Though I’m FEAr, I’m glad that all these random people are helping us raid c: CT actually did pretty good on this one. I still miss Celeste though…

  21. Roblox is becoming like some kind of war game like there is too much FPS and war where are the good games I like war games too but there hast too be more interesting games

  22. Great job. I don’t get how you can get noticed by doing small things at first.. it just seems unreal to me.

  27. O-o this is a Group Fort NOT a random game for you to play with friends if the devs wanted to they could make a version of this game for FPS,but for now if your not going to help the Raiding force or join RAT please don’t play this game.
    I am not in RAT or a enemy group you can search me and check my groups.

      • I disagree. You can play this like it’s FPS. You just have to be an enemy UNLESS you join R.A.T. Can be used as FPS, but is made for a clan. Like my RPG will be, a normal RPG but I will host trainings for R.A.G (ROBLOX Assault Generation) *Which has nothing to do with R.A.T* at the RPG.

  28. Hey guys, Jake Evans here. I’d like to let you all know I sent in the dev names. They are informed that they were not mentioned but we have worked out compensation. Please remember the game is in beta and we are still updating and balancing it. If you have any issues please report them to our joint developer account, “SparrowCorps”, and we shall answer it and work on it if we find it to be a problem.

  32. the game is awesome, but i keep getting spawnkilled cuz u dont get a stupid forcefield! plz fix this.

  33. i think that the story of how the 4 people met and all became popular over roblox and becoming lead scripters just from tiny little projects is very unique ~ dingo43908

  34. Becuase this fort is 20x better than paintball,And it doesn’t matter what you dislike or like….

  36. The only reason these Shooting games are popular is the fact that most people who play Roblox are boys. Maybe pick a game that everyone likes to play instead of these stupid shooting games next time, kthxbai. ~SuperFantageFan, bestie of Android600/Starheart700. <3

    • lol ik the shooting games on roblox are NOT the best but i wouldint get rid of them cuz some of them are really fun like “paintball” and “laser tag” but i would settle for some more normal games like “build and race” one of my all time favs or like “destroy the wall” a nother all time fav and also like “sword fight tournament” wich is ALSO a all time fav, thoose games are the best.

    • What ROBLOX and ColourTheory says is actually true.

      And Glory to RAT.

  37. Spotlight smaller groups please. Like mine, 13th Sword Infantry. We need help getting members.

  38. Even though my group is at war with RAT. Fort Borealis is a really modern and developed base. It might be a little unfair advantage to Raiders, but it is still a very nicely built fort. Nice work CT or Jake! Now, Roblox interview TD and Orion please :3.

      • The raiders have an advantage in Borealis actually, since they have easier mountain access allowing RAT to be sniped from they’re spawns or while walking towards they’re base.

  40. I’m not sure how much Jake actually did. I mean, Cj10127 fixed pretty much the whole game at some point.

  44. My god, Jake is the owner of RAT. And this more-a-less explains it all. Though have to say, not much of a mention for RAT, the PREVIOUSLY biggest group on ROBLOX. Now 3rd in the ranking system.

  47. Truly amazing, i always raid there and the game start is awesome. You’ve really outdone yourself CT

    • Great job, CT. My only complaint is that people who are not in RAT should be able to help RAT in defending this fort WITHOUT HAVING to join the raiders team. Thanks.

  48. Well, it is a very nice, easy to spawn kill raiders tho, I suggest you do something it get’s annoying when You respawn having a Helicopter shooting at you. And you should add a RPG and Gernades.

    Thank you
    Ex-Colonel Lightmall-VS

  49. I actually like that game. I just wish the guns were a bit better, in my opinion they are too simple.