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Mozart Requiem dev team shares insight on the game's creation
A musical affair
Back in September, GS2 Games brought the Baroque murder mystery “Mozart Requiem” to the Switch. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: famous Baroque composer, integral figure in the history of music – and murderer? That’s the question on everyone’s mind after the renowned musician becomes entangled in a deadly plot in Mozart Requiem.
Following the game’s release, the dev team has answered a number of questions about the experience. Hear from Jean Martial LeFranc, Creator, Nicolas Bonvalet, Art Director and Manny Granillo, Executive Producer as they speak on what it took to create Mozart Requiem in the internal interview below.
How did you come up with the idea of combining a fictional murder mystery with a real life historical figure and setting?
JM:-Building a murder mystery around a historical character is a pretty classic mechanism. “Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown seems to be the most successful example. In a way, “Amadeus”, the Milos Forman movie which won 8 Oscars, is also a murder mystery: “Who killed Mozart ?” So the inspiration for “Mozart’s Requiem” were multiple.
And why Mozart? (What makes you think he’s an interesting and appealing character for modern audiences?)
JM:-From Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot, most detectives are obsessive geniuses. Mozart certainly was one. On top of this, his music is revered throughout the world and is as popular as it ever was, actually much more than it ever was even during his lifetime. Historical drama also tends to appeal to a wide female audience-think Outlander-and we wanted to build a game that can reach that specific public.
You used real life historical figures and locations and placed them in fictional events. Are there any settings and occurrences that are inspired by real life events?
JM:-The events are indeed inspired by real life events which took place in Prague at the time. Nationalists were trying to shake up the emperor’s rule and some may have had some dark plans to achieve this goal. Freemasonry also play an important role in the story of the game and Mozart was indeed a Freemason. The game also shows how Mozart, pretty much like modern acts, has to travel throughout Europe to make a living as a musician.
It appears that the game was initially released in 2008-2009 on PC, is this true and if so what was the driving force to bring it out again?
MG:-Back at that time, the game was released to a very limited market in France only on the PC. With very little marketing and almost no online presence at launch, it did not get good distribution at the time. With so much effort put into recreating Mozart’s world with actual locations, a deep storyline showing his genius and his music, I wanted for the rest of the world to discover it outside of France and on consoles.
Was it an easy task to re-invent the experience?
MG:-As we wanted to target a global audience and bring the experience to Console, we had to re-engineer the game with a new engine and design the game to work with the next-gen platforms of Playstation, XBOX ONE and Nintendo Switch. As Mozart is a global phenomenon, we expanded the languages covered to six instead of the original 2. With over 100,000 words of dialog and interactions, it was a monumental task. Fans of traditional story adventure games along the lines of Myst & King’s Quest will really enjoy the game. As an INDIE Developer, we encountered many obstacles to getting the game completed on Consoles and PC from engineering quagmires to re-design issues. But we stayed the course and managed to get it out to a global audience.
How did you recreate the backgrounds of Prague? Where they real locations?
NB:- Yes; we had the Art lead and lead game designer go to Prague to make a photo session, to capture the primary real areas. After that we mixed the images with historical references
It looks like there were Film Matte techniques used? can you talk about that?
NB:-its a technique close to the film matte + parallax + front and intermediate matte elements.
Of course with Mozart as the protagonist you have plenty of music for a soundtrack. How did you use the music in a way that it complements the on screen action? (what pieces did you use? Did you compose additional ‘game music’?)
JM:-The music in the game is all of Mozart’s. Actually, music is pretty much math and as such we used it to create puzzles in the game. Also, the music of Mozart can be at the same time quite easy to fall for and quite intricate and we wanted to explore that mystery.
What were some of the challenges creating the Art for Mozart?
NB:- Interweaving the 3D characters with 2D backgrounds and 3D elements.
How hard was the art to do for the puzzles? What inspiration was used for them?
NB:-We used a lot of historical references, based on music or existing puzzle objects or mechanisms, there wasn’t any real difficulties in putting them together except for the big challenge was working on harmonization.
MG:-As Jean Martial mentions, the music is a key part of the MOZART REQUIEM experience and justifiably so. Mozart’s music is sort of an additional character that joins the player in his journey to discover the twisted tale within the halls of the Masons. We remastered the music along with the thousands of sounds to reproduce an amazing audio experience.
Mozart may not be a figure of attention for most of modern day gamers. What do you expect from the title? (In what age group and territory do you expect the game to perform well?)
JM:-The definition of a modern day gamer is pretty wide now. In fact, everybody plays. So our target audience will encompass several groups: the history buffs, the lovers of music, people who like to learn as they play, fans of narrative games, fans of murder mysteries…We expect the community for “Mozart’s Requiem” to be large enough to make it a success.
MG:-As fans of classical music and that of Mozart, we really wanted to share Mozart’s musical genius with a new generation of gamers and users everywhere. Many have heard his music, but do not know it was Mozart’s work. We felt that we needed to try share who the genius was behind this amazing music. MOZART REQUIEM is a great way to introduce kids, teenagers and adults to Mozart.
The Mario Bros. Movie hits the EU, AUS and South America before North America
Time for me to move!
Today brought us the second trailer for the upcoming Mario Bros. animated movie from Nintendo and Illumination. It gave us a great look at what to expect from the film, fleshing out the story and cast considerably. Those of us here in North America will be able to flood cinemas on April 7th, 2023 to check the movie out, but many other places in the world will be able to enjoy the film sooner.
As reported by Videogames Chronicle, multiple regions will get the Super Mario Bros. movie considerably earlier than North America. You can see the complete rundown of release dates in order by timing below.
- Belgium – March 22
- Switzerland – March 23
- Austria – March 24
- Sweden – March 24
- France – March 29
- Australia – March 30
- Bolivia – March 30
- Brazil – March 30
- Central America – March 30
- Chile – March 30
- Colombia – March 30
- Mexico – March 30
- New Zealand – March 30
- Paraguay – March 30
- United Kingdom – March 30
- Uruguay – March 30
- Argentina – April 6
- Ecuador – April 6
- Italy – April 6
- Peru – April 6
- Venezuela – April 6
- USA – April 7
- Japan – April 27
Dordogne heads to Switch Spring 2023
Keep your precious memories alive
Today’s Indie World Showcase revealed that Dordogne is heading to Switch
Dordogne is a narrative adventure game in which you play as Mimi, a young woman visiting the house of her recently deceased grandmother who left her letters and puzzles to solve. To do so, Mimi will revisit her childhood memories and reconnect with the little girl who marveled at everything.
Dordogne from Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, Umanimation and Focus Entertainment: In this immersive narrative experience, you’ll play as Mimi, a girl who spent all her childhood summers in the Dordogne region of France. Now Mimi returns to the home of her late grandmother, who has left behind a series of letters and lost family secrets to be uncovered. Play in both the past and the present – skip through the French countryside as 10-year-old Mimi, while exploring her grandmother’s house in the present. Discover the close relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, as you collect photos, objects and words to fill Mimi’s journal and keep her precious memories alive. Dordogne launches on Nintendo Switch in spring 2023.
Today, Nintendo released a new Indie World showcase, revealing a diverse lineup of more than 20 upcoming indie games headed to the Nintendo Switch system in 2022 and beyond. The presentation included the announcement that the much-anticipated sports RPG Sports Story will touchdown on Nintendo Switch this December. It also revealed the news that Rogue Legacy 2, the acclaimed sequel to the beloved genealogical roguelite, will bequeath its legacy onto Nintendo Switch later today!
Other games featured included the beautifully handcrafted adventure Aka, in which players take on the role of a retired warrior aiming to find inner peace on an isolated island paradise, launching for Nintendo Switch on Dec. 15; the wholesome puzzler A Little to the Left, which launches later today, and challenges players to sort, stack and organize household objects into just the right spot – despite the disruptive influence of a mischievous cat; and Venba, a narrative cooking game, where food, music and family all come together to create a delicate symphony on Nintendo Switch in spring 2023.
Rogue Legacy 2 from Cellar Door Games: Anyone can be a hero in this sequel to the beloved roguelite game where the adventure changes with every playthrough. Whether you’re a lute-playing bard with vertigo, or a colorblind knight, your goals are the same – gather countless riches, build up your castle and ensure your legacy. All your upgrades carry over to your heirs and each new successor wields their own personal traits and abilities. The Nintendo Switch version also includes the Fabled Heroes update, adding a ton of new content, including dozens of new sub-classes and items. Rogue Legacy 2 launches on Nintendo Switch later today.
Venba from Visai Games: Get a taste of this wholesome narrative cooking game set in the 1980s, in which you’ll help an Indian mother, who has recently immigrated to Canada, reconnect with her heritage by cooking a variety of mouth-watering South Indian dishes. Experience a story of love and loss through branching conversations, try to restore lost family recipes and bop along to a soundtrack inspired by Indian musicals. Venba comes to Nintendo Switch in spring 2023.
A Little to the Left from MAX INFERNO and SECRET MODE: A Little to the Left is a cozy puzzle game in which players organize household objects into satisfying arrangements. A mischievous cat who likes to shake things up will appear from time to time to make a mess of any beautifully organized objects. There are more than 75 delightful puzzles to discover, many of which have multiple solutions. A Little to the Left launches on Nintendo Switch later today.
Blanc from Casus Ludi and Gearbox Publishing: In the spectacular, monochrome world of Blanc, a fawn and a wolf cub must learn to rely on each other to find their way home. Throughout this co-op adventure, the unlikely friends must coordinate and use their individual strengths to navigate obstacles among the frosty terrain. Blanc is a completely text-free story with local* and online co-op play**, making it inviting for everyone to enjoy. Blanc launches as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch on Feb. 14, 2023. Pre-orders begin in Nintendo eShop and the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com later today.
Have a Nice Death from Magic Design Studios and Gearbox Publishing: Don the robes of Death Incorporated’s CEO – Death himself – in this hand-drawn 2D action roguelike game. Explore the darkly charming, procedurally generated departments of the corporation’s headquarters, and use an arsenal of weapons, spells and special curses in your mission to round up the rogue employees who have been snatching up too many souls on Earth. Have a Nice Death launches for Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2023. Pre-orders go live later today in Nintendo eShop and the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.
Once Upon a Jester from Bonte Avond and Crunching Koalas: Best friends Sok and Jester have devised a mischievous scheme to steal a Royal Diamond. But their plan hinges on receiving an invitation to join the famous Royal Theatrical Spectacle. They’ll have to improvise their way to fame and outperform every other act they encounter on the road. Their wacky, whimsical journey leads them across a fantasy kingdom full of silly characters and even sillier spectacles. Once Upon a Jester jingles onto Nintendo Switch later today.
Aka from Cosmo Gatto and Neowiz: Take on the role of the retired warrior Aka in this top-down, small open-world game and aim to find inner peace on an isolated island paradise. In handcrafted islands covered in majestic mountains, dense tropical forests and inviting hot springs, Aka can nurture flora and fauna, build a shelter, craft items or even feed baby dragons. Different quests await to ultimately meet the ghosts of Aka’s past. Aka washes up on Nintendo Switch on Dec. 15.
Sports Story from Sidebar Games: In this all-out sporting RPG, you’ll rise through the ranks of the sports world and prove your prowess on the golf course, tennis court and football pitch. By raising your sporting rank you’ll unlock even more disciplines, including BMX, volleyball, cricket and more. But the game isn’t just about sports – hop on a train or helicopter to explore dungeons, abandoned ruins and the mysterious Wildlands, or kick back at the mall with its daily attractions, specialty sports stores and minigames. Sports Story launches on Nintendo Switch this December.
Botany Manor from Balloon Studios and Whitethorn Games: Take on the role of Arabella Green, a retired botanist who owns a historical manor in the 19th century. Arabella takes care of the manor’s magnificent gardens by solving plant-based puzzles and preserving a collection of forgotten flora. Inspecting the manor will show clues, newspaper clippings, letters and more to help Arabella’s gardening skills blossom while you’re learning more about her. Botany Manor blooms on Nintendo Switch next year.
GOODBYE WORLD from ISOLATION STUDIO and PM Studios, Inc.: GOODBYE WORLD follows the story of Kanii and Kumade, two friends and indie game developers striving to find the perfect idea for their next game. Watch their story develop as you play through stages of a retro-inspired puzzle-platformer while following their day-to-day struggles. Will their friendship be able to take the strain of these challenges? GOODBYE WORLD launches on Nintendo Switch later this month.
Dordogne from Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, Umanimation and Focus Entertainment: In this immersive narrative experience, you’ll play as Mimi, a girl who spent all her childhood summers in the Dordogne region of France. Now Mimi returns to the home of her late grandmother, who has left behind a series of letters and lost family secrets to be uncovered. Play in both the past and the present – skip through the French countryside as 10-year-old Mimi, while exploring her grandmother’s house in the present. Discover the close relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, as you collect photos, objects and words to fill Mimi’s journal and keep her precious memories alive. Dordogne launches on Nintendo Switch in spring 2023.
A Space for the Unbound from Mojiken, Toge Productions and Chorus Worldwide Games: A slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in late ’90s rural Indonesia, A Space for the Unbound tells a story about the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers. When a mysterious power threatens their existence, they must explore their town to uncover hidden secrets, face the end of the world and perhaps learn more about each other. A Space for the Unbound launches on Nintendo Switch on Jan. 19, 2023.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly from Toge Productions and Chorus Worldwide Games: The coffee-brewing, narrative-driven visual novel is back for a second episode! As the barista of your own late-night coffee shop, you’ll meet quirky characters – not all of them human – listen to their stories and get to know them. There’s the right brew for each customer, latte art to dazzle them and even secret recipes to warm their hearts. Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly pours onto Nintendo Switch next spring.
ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni from KENEI DESIGN and Clouded Leopard Entertainment: Take on the role of a vengeful demon warrior in this spirited 3D action-adventure game. After his defeat at the hands of a Japanese folktale hero, Kuuta travels to a small island where he joins forces with the spirit Kazemaru. Ancient demons lurk within vast meadows and lush forests. To defeat them, you’ll control both characters simultaneously using a single Joy-Con controller. Wield Kuuta’s club to attack demons, then summon Kazemaru to draw out their spirits. ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni launches for Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2023.
Desta: The Memories Between from ustwo games: From the creators of Monument Valley comes a character-driven roguelike, featuring an immersive story, strategic turn-based tactics, as well as dodgeball action. Every night, when Desta falls asleep, they enter a mysterious dreamworld filled with scattered memories of long-forgotten locations and faces from days gone by. During their slumber, Desta uses powerful orbs to play a surreal turn-based ball game which can change the course of conversations. Desta: The Memories Between launches on Nintendo Switch early next year.
Pepper Grinder from Ahr Ech and Devolver Digital: Shipwrecked and robbed, treasure hunter Pepper must spin up her trusty drill, Grinder, to reclaim what was stolen from her in this spicy action-adventure game. Cruise through a colorfully animated world with fluid drilling and thrilling leaps. Chew through the terrain with Grinder and unlock new drill bits to ramp up the chaos and solve clever puzzles. Collect treasure and other riches, then cash them in to pep up Pepper, open up new paths on the world map and snag collectible figures for your gallery. Pepper Grinder launches for Nintendo Switch in 2023.
This Indie World presentation also included a montage of even more indie games on the horizon for Nintendo Switch, including the critically-acclaimed Inscryption, which blends the deckbuilding and roguelike genres with escape-room-style puzzles and psychological horror all into an inky black odyssey, launching on Dec. 1; Wobbledogs Console Edition, a casual 3D pet-simulation sandbox, in which players care for their own personal collection of wobbly, mutating dogs – launching on Nov. 17, with pre-orders available later today in Nintendo eShop and the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com; WrestleQuest, the ultimate pro wrestling adventure in which RPG and pro wrestling combine for the very first time, launching in May 2023; Storyteller, an award-winning reactive puzzler in which players must use their wits to retell iconic tales, releasing on March 23, 2023 as a console-launch exclusive; Curse of the Sea Rats, an epic hand-animated, story-rich action adventure featuring swashbuckling pirate rats, launching in early 2023; and, last but not least, WORLD OF HORROR, a 1-bit roguelite horror RPG that pits players against eldritch mysteries and malevolent legends of Japanese folklore, creeping up in summer 2023.
Nintendo of Europe to merge Nintendo France, Benelux and Ibérica
All hail Nintendo Europe, the corporate overlord
Nintendo has announced a considerable shift in how they handle their business in Europe. Starting off next year, Nintendo of Europe will bring Nintendo France, Nintendo Benelux and Nintendo Ibérica together under the same umbrella.
In July 2023, Nintendo France and Nintendo Benelux will merge. Over a year later in August 2024, Nintendo Ibérica will join that collective. All of these branches of Nintendo will operate under Nintendo of Europe SE moving forward.
Nintendo says they are making this change to improve business efficiency and accelerate decision-making. NOE’s corporate form will be changed to Nintendo of Europe SE as the new central regional headquarters in Europe.
Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition seeing digital/physical Switch release in Asia this year
Everybody's heard about the bird!
Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition, which has been available on the Switch in NA/EU since January 2020, is finally going to see release in Asia. While we don’t have an exact release date, we do know the game is launching in Asia sometime this year, and there will be both a physical and digital release. This marks the first time Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition will be released in Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition takes place in 19th century France, where players play the role of Monsieur Jayjay Falcon, a bird lawyer who, together with his witty apprentice, Sparrowson, will take on clients, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and deliver justice to the guilty. Enjoy a memorable and intense lawyering adventure in this peculiar world with art by 19th-century caricaturist J. J. Grandville and music by legendary romantic-era composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
For those wondering, this physical release of Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition will still retain the English translation, making it perfect for importing. Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition is set to launch digitally in Japan and Hong Kong on Nintendo eShop in 2022, and the physical edition is set to launch at the same time in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Southeast Asia markets.
Many retailers around the world have already begun taking pre-orders for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, some of which are offering pre-order bonuses that will be bundled alongside the game. Two retailers in France specifically have revealed exactly what they’re offering to entice you into giving them your hard-earned cash.
Micromania’s pre-order bonus is a 7cm mini statue featuring Scarlet and Violet’s starter Pokémon, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Purchasing either Scarlet, Violet, or the dual-pack, will render you eligible to receive the adorable little figure that would go perfect on any desk or tabletop. If you happened to have already placed your order with Micromania, don’t worry, you’re already set.
Fnac’s pre-order bonus on the other hand, is something a bit more traditional; steelbook cases featuring designs of Scarlet and Violet’s legendary Pokémon, Koraidon or Miraidon, dependent on which version of the game you decide on ordering. If you’re interested in the dual-pack however, no special retailer bonus is necessary, since some regions, including France, are offering a “Steelbook Edition” that already directly includes a golden steelbook with two cartridge slots that features both legendary designs on the front and back.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, a fully open-world 9th generation of the Pokémon series, launches for Nintendo Switch on Nov. 18th, 2022.
Europe in first-half 2022: Switch #1 console, Pokémon Legends: Arceus the #1 physical game
Nintendo can't be stopped!
Half of 2022 is over, which gives us a ton of videogame sales data to dig into. The results for game sales in Europe for the first-half of 2022 have come in, and Nintendo is once again the big winner. You can see the top 20 games in Europe for first-half 2022 below, along with a big breakdown of other sales stats.
- 76.1 million games were sold across Europe during the first six months of the year
- this is a rise of 13.5% over the same period in 2021
- 32 million of these games were physical titles, while 44 million were sold via digital stores
- the biggest European market for game sales was Germany, with nearly 15.4 million games sold
- in Germany, sales were up 13.6% compared with the same period in 2021
- the UK was second, with 14.3 million sales (up 2%), then France with 10.2 million (up 12.1%)
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus was #3 overall, but digital sales were not included
- in terms of physical sales only, Pokémon Legends was the #1 game
- in particular, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was #1 in Germany and in France
- over 68% of games sold during the first half of the year across Europe were downloaded
- in the UK, 76% of game sales were digital
- in Germany, 67% of games were downloaded
- in France, 63% of sales were downloads
- just over 2 million consoles were sold across European countries (excluding UK and Germany)
- this is a drop of over 21% year-on-year
- Switch was the biggest seller, which enjoyed a sales rise of 7% over the same period the year before
- over 8.6 million add-on items were sold across Europe, a drop of 4.2% from the same period in 2021
- 10.2 million points and subscription cards were sold across Europe, which is the same as last year
PlatinumGames entering a "new era" as Nintendo veteran is hired as vice president
"Significant" changes are coming
PlatinumGames has been close with Nintendo for many years, developing Nintendo Switch exclusives such as Astral Chain and Bayonetta 3. It seems that their relationship is about to grow even closer, at least by association, as PlatinumGames has announced that they’ll be appointing Takao Yamane as their new vice president and chief business officer. According to a tweet from the company, this hiring will create a “new era” for PlatinumGames, “significantly” changing its future outlook. More details will be shared this week.
While you might not have heard the name, Takao Yamane is one of the former higher-ups of multiple Nintendo divisions. In the past, he’s held the positions of general licensing manager for Nintendo in Kyoto, the managing director of sales planning and strategy for Nintendo of Europe, and vice president of Nintendo of France.
My Nintendo Store in select EU regions undergoing extended technical maintenance lasting weeks
Down and out for a few weeks
Seemingly out of nowhere, Nintendo has announced that the My Nintendo Store is undergoing extended technical maintenance in select European regions. The My Nintendo Store in France, Germany, and Spain are all down, and Nintendo has stated that the shops won’t be coming back for weeks.
While new orders can’t be made during this time, Nintendo has stated that orders placed recently will be processed and shipped as planned. In other words, if you just picked up some merch or a game as late as yesterday, you’ll still get your item as confirmed via email. Outside of that, My Nintendo users will have to wait for maintenance to end before new orders can be placed.
Nintendo hasn’t elaborated on why the extended maintenance is needed, or what users can expect from the My Nintendo Store once this extended period is over.
European game sales for June 2022 (software, hardware, and more)
Mario scores a goal in Europe
The game industry numbers for Europe in June 2022 have come in, and Nintendo had yet another excellent month. There’s a lot to break down, but let’s start with the best-selling games of the month.
European GSD June 2022 Top 20 Games (Digital + Physical)
There’s also a ton of stats on hardware sales, accessories, and much more. You can see a complete rundown of all the details below.
- just over 377,000 consoles were sold across tracked European markets, 11% down from June 2021
- Switch saw a sales increase of 21% compared with May, and a nearly 35% increase over June last year
- overall console sales are down 21% year-to-date
- 12.8 million games were sold across European markets, a rise of nearly 30% over June 2021
- 4.73 million of those games were physical boxed editions, up 24% year-on-year
- 8.1 million of those games were digital, up 33% year-on-year
- Mario Strikers: Battle League was #2 overall for the month
- Mario Strikers was a big hit in France, with sales there representing over 40% of the game’s EU sales
- in 3 weeks, Strikers has outsold Mario Golf: Super Rush
- 1.37 million accessories were sold, up 24.3% compared with the same period in 2021
- over 1.24 million points & online subscription cards were sold during the month, up 9.9% year-on-year
Japan Expo will start in just a couple of days on July 14th, 2022, in Paris, and Nintendo will have its own booth there. Nintendo France announced via Twitter that they will be holding a special presentation for Xenoblade Chronicles 3, where they dive deep into the combat system and give a glimpse of the vast world that awaits.
Visit the official website of Japan Expo here for more information about the event or if you’re interested in attending. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will launch on July 29th, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are open now on the eShop.
“A special presentation of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 awaits you on Thursday July 14 at our stand #NintendoJapanExpo ! On the program, an in-depth discovery of the combat system and a taste of the vast world that awaits you on July 29.” (translated using Google Translate).
2D action-adventure RPG 'Dreamed Away' inspired by Spirited Away and Earthbound announced for Switch
Indie developer Pineapple Works has announced their next project, Dreamed Away, and it’s something that fans of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away and Nintendo’s Earthbound ought to be be excited about, as it’s heavily inspired by both. Coming to Nintendo Switch in Q4 2023, Dreamed Away is an emotional 2D action-adventure RPG that takes place in the country of France during the 1990s. Check out the reveal teaser trailer above, more details on the game below, and visit the Steam page here for a batch of screenshots.
You play as Théo, a boy lost in a dark, mysterious world, trying hard to find his sister. The game focuses on the bond between siblings, fear of death and questioning reality. The immersive storytelling, diverse setting with a vibrant color palette and varied environment, altogether with detailed, aesthetic pixel art, aims to give the player a new perspective on the action-adventure RPG genre.
Dreamed Away is more than just a game. It’s an intense reflection of the developer’s own story,born at the same time as his second child. The game’s world is built around the main character’s - Theo’s - bond with his sister Louise as well as his desire to find and reconnect with her. The story takes place in a cozy little village in Brittany, where the surroundings tell you a story about a safe, calm, and happy place. But mystery steps in. A darkness is encroaching. It’s unsettled, shady. It’s a game about a young boy questioning his sense of reality and sanity. While trapped alone in a world where he constantly faces his fears. Such an experience of internalizing doubts and fears is how the game was born.
Some facts about Dreamed Away:
- Cozy and safe atmosphere mixed up with unsettling and dark mood full of doubts
- Externally introspective: Dive deep into Theo’s fears while exploring the game’s story and world
- Alternative way to battle: pre-equip varied abilities that can affect the stats of the player or enemy and/or impact gameplay. Each ability has a side-effect
- Engaging turn-based combat system with real-time enemy attacks
Developer Joy Manufacturing and publisher Iceberg Interactive has announced the release date for their romance visual-novel, Ambition: A Minuet in Power. It’s set for a digital launch via the Nintendo eShop on July 14th, 2022. A physical copy has not been announced. Check out the latest trailer above and details below.
A revolutionary, romantic, visual novel where your choices change the course of history!
It’s March 19th, 1789 and King Louis XVI rules over France from the gilded halls of Versailles. France is a country of elegance and poverty, of ancient tradition and unstoppable change. It is a country on the brink of revolution.
Attend parties, mingle with the rich and powerful, learn their secrets, and use this to get the wealth and power you deserve. Find true love in an opulent world of ever-shifting alliances, that grows more dangerous by the day.
Still, you must always keep your eye on the coming revolution. After all, it’s better to be on the right side of history, than the wrong side of the guillotine.
FEATURES:
- Explore A Living, Scheming World
Use your calendar to plan your commitments each week in Paris, and more importantly, who you do them with. In a city marching towards revolution, time is of the essence, and your enemies have agendas of their own!
- Love Is Power
Ensnare the hearts of Parisian nobles and use their influence to your advantage. Change the outcome of political events, snub your rivals, and be lavished with expensive gifts.
- Everything Has A Price
Turn gossip into profit by selling the secrets you learn, but be careful! Your own credibility and security are also at stake. The choices you make can yield great rewards and change the course of the story, but dire consequences could arise if you’re caught!
- A Cast Of Unforgettable Characters
Fall in love with a sprawling cast of fully realized characters. Enjoy the company and learn the secret histories of mysterious priests, wronged soldiers, wealthy widows, and more! Don’t worry, if you’re discreet, you won’t have to pick just one.
- An Exquisite Work Of Art
Experience a gorgeously illustrated, and lovingly researched rendition of 18th century Paris. It is a time of fashion, and a time of secrecy. It is a world of staggering beauty, and unspeakable danger.
- The Sound Of Another Time
Be entranced by the authentic, original score crafted by award-winning composer John Robert Matz! Enjoy a sweeping musical journey that will take you from the class and sophistication of fashionable string quartets, to the grandeur of the orchestra of the late baroque.
As we’ve covered a few times now, Gary Bowser, a hacker who headed up Team Xecuter, was taken to court by Nintendo. Bowser was given 40 months in prison, and has to pay $4.5 million in restitution to Nintendo of America.
Nintendo hacker Max Louarn is the is the boss of Team Xecuter, and he has shared following Bowser’s arrest in an interview with TorrentFreak. It’s safe to say Louarn shows no remorse for what he’s involved with, nor does he plan on stopping.
“I wasn’t going to end up as an engineer earning €5k a month when I realized, at 18, that hacking was not just fun, but that there was a way to make a lot of money. Stealing from companies that make billions, what do I care?
They hate me. I bet that in Tokyo, they posted my picture in an office. We’ve always been pro-liberty, that’s our mindset: to do what we want with the machines and for everyone to have access to them.”
While Louarn isn’t currently incarcerated, he has served time for previous legal issues. Louarn was arrested in 1993 for a Nintendo piracy case. Louarn also face 40 years in jail for reselling stolen phone cards, but pled guilty and served five years. Now he’s living in France, and is clearly continuing his piracy efforts.