summary
- Discover the inspirations behind the world of Buses with this curated list of books recommended by Game Director Josh Sawyer.
- Buses immerses you in an illustrated world inspired by late medieval manuscripts, at a time when Europe is in the midst of political and religious turmoil.
- Buses will be released on November 15 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC and Steam for $19.99. It will also be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
If it arrives on November 15th, Buses allows you to explore one of the most unique and inspired game worlds this year. As Andreas Maler, artist in the Kiersau monastery near Tassing in Upper Bavaria, you spend your life in this 16th centuryth Century in the early modern period over the course of 25 years. The plot of this narrative adventure begins with the murder of a nobleman accused by your friend, Brother Piero. It’s up to you to prove his innocence.
As you embark on this adventure, you will have the opportunity to select a number of educational and lifestyle-inspired traits that help define Andreas and impact the many options presented to you through in-game dialogue interactions . From hedonist to occultist, medicine or theology, and even where he traveled for his “Wanderjahre” or Wanderjahre, you have a wide range of options to discover Andrea’s background and knowledge to help you delve even deeper into the world of the game.
BusesThe setting of is inspired and shaped by a mix of fiction and non-fiction that we’re sharing with you here today, personally endorsed by Game Director Josh Sawyer. Each of these books can give you a better sense of how states and religious beliefs clashed at the time Buseshow people can change over time, the lives of late medieval peasants and how education and literacy can bring one into conflict with the Church – many of these elements and issues will impact you in different aspects throughout your time Buses
You can learn more about each of these recommended works below.
“Dürer’s Travels: Travels of a Renaissance Artist” by Susan Foister and Peter van den Brink
“Wonderful compilation of essays on the travels of the 16th century artist Albrecht Dürer and the impact they had on his life. Dürer has kept a number of travel journals over the years, providing incredible insights into his thinking about art, his contemporaries, other cultures and the many changes that were taking place in his own homeland. This hardcover also contains many illustrations, both by Dürer and other European artists of the time.”
“The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent 16th Century” by Joel F. Harrington
“This fascinating piece of microhistory deals with the life of a single executioner, Franz Schmidt, who died in the second half of the 16th centuryth century in Bavaria. Schmidt’s father was forced into the executioner’s business by a shocking and gruesome twist of fate. Once the family was in business, it was almost impossible for them to get out again due to the heavy shame associated with the profession. Franz kept a meticulous journal – rare if not unique among executioners – that reveals an unusual level of professionalism and piety, as well as a lifelong desire to restore his family’s honor. The book also gives an interesting insight into the consolidation of the power to administer justice under the state – the burgeoning belief that the state had the power to avenge injustices against the people through their maligned agent, the executioner.”
“The Return of Martin Guerre” by Natalie Zemon Davis
“Zemon Davis wrote this book after consulting for a film based on the same 16th Century historical case, Le Retour de Martin Guerre. It’s the wild but true story of a young man from the Basque town of Hendaye who went missing for eight years and came back a changed man – a very changed man. After resuming life with his wife, son and extended family, details emerged that cast doubt on the man’s identity. It led to a unique trial that Toulouse jurist Jean Coras chronicled for posterity. It is a quick read and the film is also worth seeing.”
“Peasant fires: The drummer from Niklashausen” by Richard Wunderli
“Although before the better known Peasants’ Revolt in the early 16thth Century Swabia, the small peasant uprising of 1476 in Niklashausen is no less interesting. A farmer named Hans Böhm said he received visions of the Virgin Mary. Among other things, Hans said that Mary told him that people needed to overthrow their corrupt clergy. The festive atmosphere of the carnival encouraged the peasants who gave up their jobs to travel to Niklashausen and listen to the visionary. You might have guessed it didn’t end well for them, but it’s an interesting look at a community turned upside down by a single charismatic farmer.”
“The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a 16th Century Miller” by Carlo Ginzburg
“Ginzburg was one of the first historians to begin popularizing microhistorical studies of what might today be considered odd little guys. The guy in question, a Friulian miller named Domenico Scandella (aka Menocchio), was certainly very odd. He learned to read at a school set up in his region for the purpose of free public education. He used his education to read a variety of books which contributed to his formulation of a highly unorthodox cosmology – so unorthodox that some (e.g. inquisitors) thought (did) it to be heretical. Central to this was his belief that all elements coalesced into a cheesy mass from which worms emerged. The worms ate their way through the cheese, one of them became a god, and the rest is history. Much like Hans Böhm, it didn’t work out for Menocchio in the end, mostly because, like Hans, Menocchio just couldn’t shut up. Fantastic book.”
“The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco
“Eco, already an established medievalist and semiotician, decided to write fiction at the age of 48, at a time when he said you could either escape with a Cuban ballerina and give up [your] family or you write a novel.’ He began with a list of names – names of monks. By the time he was done, he had “created a crime thriller set in a 14th Century during a tense debate between the Roman Curia and the Franciscans over apostolic poverty. The Name of the Rose manages to be a gripping thriller, populated with colorful characters while also illuminating the historical context of the setting in incredible detail. Despite his extensive use of historical research, Eco chose to set his story in an unnamed fictional abbey, giving him freedom to create the labyrinthine Aedificium, which contains “more books than any other Christian library.” It’s a fantastic novel (my favourite), a huge inspiration for Pentiment and I highly recommend it.”
We hope this list has piqued your interest in the upcoming world of Buses and late medieval history and literature. Buses will be released on November 15 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC and Steam for $19.99. It will also be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Pre-orders for the game are available today, as are pre-installs with Game Pass.
Buses
Xbox Game Studios
$19.99
Art Imitates Death Step into a vibrant illustrated world inspired by illuminated manuscripts and printed woodcuts at a time when Europe stands at a crossroads of major religious and political changes. Follow in the footsteps of Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself amidst murder, scandal and intrigue in the Bavarian Alps. Illustrated World Experience 16th-century Europe as seen by the master artists of the time. Art inspired by the magnificent illuminated manuscripts and the earliest printed books becomes a living, breathing world in Pentiment. Uncover Mysteries Choose from a variety of academic and social backgrounds and meet a colorful cast of characters as you uncover the stories and mysteries that lie within the small Bavarian town of Tassing and nearby Keirsau Abbey. Influence a Changing World In an era of great religious and political change, every decision you make can have a profound impact on the future of the community. Find your own way through this turbulent time and see how your decisions affect generations.