Why We Rebuilt The Methuen Home Basement
At first glance, the Methuen Home basement may seem a strange place to stage epic games of chess. Fans of the series, however, will know that it is here that Beth Harmon is introduced to the game, honing her skills against her reluctant tutor, the janitor – Mr Shaibel.
To make our love letter to the show, we decided it would be the perfect place to introduce players to the game.
“Our team recreated Mr Shaibel’s Basement with great attention to detail. We knew wanted to capture that lived-in feel, so almost all aspects of the space have been textured with minute details. Things such as the cracked tiles, the weathered chessboard, and the grubby janitorial sinks are intended to work together to create the impression that this is a real space.
Those who have played the game will know that the location is used as the setting for the game’s beginner lessons – as a homage to Beth’s discovery of chess here. We felt that it was the perfect place to introduce players to the game; by taking the same formative steps as Beth.”
The Details: The Methuen Home Basement
Beyond the instant impact of the environment, here are some of the deeper details that make our recreation feel authentic to the show.
The Chess Board
“We’ve tried to do this throughout the game. Wherever we could, we used reference shots from the show to recreate its chess boards using as much detail as possible. When playing the game we want players to experience chess through the same lens as Beth – so what better way is there to do that than having players use the exact same boards?”
The 2D Chess Board
When choosing to play from the 2D perspective, Mr Shaibel’s chalkboard becomes the animated, playable chess board! This small touch is intended to keep players entwined with the location – no matter how they want to play the game.s.
“When creating art for the game we wanted to ensure that players were immersed in the game’s world at all times. The chalkboard in the Methuen Home basement is a great example of this. Even players who want to play a stripped-back, 2D game of chess can have that immersive experience.”
The Queen’s Gambit Easter Eggs
Let’s take an even closer look! Here are some of the deeper details and easter eggs that we put in to reward those eagle-eyed fans.
Mr Shaibel’s Chalkboard
Beth’s Seat
Had fun with your peak behind the scenes into the making of The Methuen Home Basement? What location from the game would you like us to give the deep dive treatment next? Let us know on the official The Queen’s Gambit Chess Twitter.