After a few days of ARISEN Early Access release, we will deploy today a first hotfix. Thanks to the community for reporting issues, we are of course listening to your feedback through the F8 button or on our Discord server.
Seeing more and more of you talking and enjoying the game makes us incredibly proud of our achievements: we can only be grateful to you.
Again thank you very much for playing! Emoji for community suggestions: 🃏
Bug fixes:
Correction of the cursor when switching screens
Correction of the pronouns (variable incorrectly initialized)
Modification of the main menu visuals
Modification of the Travel system title
Quality of life:
🃏Automatic saves deactivated
🃏Save button added
🃏Added more names to the random list in Character Creation
ARISEN Early Access is now available!
Hello! ❤️
After years of development and support from the community, we are excited to announce that ARISEN is finally AVAILABLE right now in early access!
[previewyoutube="Un7PjRhx40U;full"]
We can’t thank you enough for supporting us. For the release, we offer a discount so if you don’t have the game right now, it’s the best time to buy it!
As you get our game, your feedback and support will allow us to improve and offer you more content for ARISEN. Seeing more and more of you talking and enjoying the game makes us incredibly proud of our progress: we can’t be more grateful! 💖🃏
In the following weeks, we will communicate with you the next addition of content. and updates, so stay tuned.
And don’t forget to review the game and give us feedback about the first act!
Thanks, the ARISEN Team ❤️
Release date reveal + beta info
Once again, we’re here to give you thrilling news: ARISEN will be released on Early Access on 21st September! We can’t wait to be finally here and have your feedback about the game. If you want to support us again, feel free to share the news!
Also for every backer who had pledged for the game reward, you will be able to play the beta tomorrow (yes, you read that well), 4 days before the big day. So the whole first act, excluding the epilogue for now, shall be available for you to play this week-end!
It’s a gift from us for the release in early access and the game being delayed several times.
Below you will find more information about the beta and some various facts about the project.
[previewyoutube="lzZtCsW6nYk;full"]
📜 About the beta:
Tomorrow you will receive a Steam key by mail from us!
If you think you don't receive it, wait a couple of hours or please check your spam folder. If you still don't have it, contact us at support@maratusgames.com or on Discord if you struggle to get your key. Please remember to write to us with the same email you used during the Kickstarter or the late pledge!
You will have access to almost all the first act the same way as Early Access. The missing part, the epilogue, shall be added a few weeks after the early access release.
You may have some bugs! To help us with them, you can signal any problem to us thanks to the F8 button directly in-game. You can also join our Discord server to give us detailed feedback in the dedicated channels.
📜 The physical awards?
If you're a backer, you've probably already noticed that COVID has made things very complicated. So we are taking much more time than expected on this aspect! There is still time to change your address or complete CrowdOx if you haven't already done so.
📜 Internal changes?
We have two departures to announce in the core team: Elene, our Art Director, and Sylvain, our Game Designer, left Maratus. We also have to thank My-Loan that will end this trainee period at Maratus in a few weeks. We wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their work in ARISEN!
See you soon in Var'Nagal!
The ARISEN Team. 💖
ARISEN Cinematic Trailer & new Key Art 💖
Hello everyone!
Today we have a big surprise for you: we’re excited to show you the ARISEN’s cinematic trailer!
[previewyoutube="lzZtCsW6nYk;full"]
Here you can have an overview of the journey you’re going to live when the game is released! Deep relationships, meaningful choices, beautiful landscapes… We can’t wait to allow you to begin your own story.
It’s also what you will have as a cinematic introduction when you launch the game.
As things always come in pairs, please enjoy our new game key art made by the great Lowenael, the artist that worked on the in game cards:
We hope you like all these new things and feel free to give us your feedback, we would be pleased to hear from you!
See you soon for the Early Access release date (this September yes!). ;)
The ARISEN Team.
ARISEN roadmap update
Hello everyone!
💖
It’s been a while since we last wrote something to you, and for a good reason: a lot of things are happening on our side! We have a lot of topics, bad as well as good, on the agenda today!
First of all, let’s check the roadmap first: we had previously announced a playtesting session in May/June (with the Steam Next Fest demo to end this session). To be honest, we haven’t launched a first playtest session yet. Still, we got plenty of useful feedback on the June demo, so many thanks for your comments! Of course, we’re still planning to do some playtests sessions: the first sessions should start by the end of summer. More than a hundred of you have signed up for them, which makes us very happy!
You may think, “that’s great but we want to be able to play the full game, not the playtest version. So when will we be able to play ARISEN?”
We made an important decision for the future of the game, and it was not an easy one. A while back, we asked you on Discord what would you prefer for the release. We finally decided to release the game in Early Access on Steam in the coming weeks (yes, weeks!). Even if we would have preferred to let you play the whole game from start to the end, the financial realities caught up with us. So we’ve decided to release the game into 3 pieces, Act by Act. It’s allowing us to improve the game step by step between these big releases.
Why will you release the game in Early Access?
There are several reasons behind why. Financial reasons on one hand (more than 2 years without any income) and on the other hand, the impact of the covid both on our providers and partners. Of course, our organisation itself suffered from it (almost everyone is working remotely now). There are also internal changes that had to be considered, which we will discuss in a later update.
What does this mean for backers?
As promised, for those who have a pledge with the beta reward, we will give you access to a beta version of the game (on Steam) during these next weeks. It will include the entire First Act playable, in English and French. This version will evolve through different patches to become the Early Access version. Then, we will add Act 2 or 3 later on, at no extra cost for all those who already have a key to the game (from Kickstarter or purchase on Steam).
For those who have a pledge with the game, we’ll send you a Steam key as soon as Early Access will be released.
What is the current state of the game’s development?
All the textual and visual content for the Act 1 is done. Concerning the Act 2, the script is currently being translated and the art content is almost completed. About the Act 3, the story script is almost finished while the art team is about to finish the last backgrounds and remaining characters.
The team is busy focusing on testing and integrating all the systems in ARISEN. Since we want the game to be like a gamebook, we want it to be as non-linear as possible. These game’s systems are crucial in providing the sense of freedom we want. It’s where we still have so much work to do, and that’s what we will focus on during the early access.
What’s next?
We’ll keep you updated on the next big steps (such as the early access release date). Meanwhile, please remember to fill your crowdox information, especially as we will need your emails to send your Steam keys soon! Of course if you have to change your address, it should be possible to change it.
Of course, thank you for your support and patience!
Before leaving you, here’s a little preview, a first image of the launch trailer we’re working on!
The Maratus team.
It's time to play the new demo!
Hello everyone! 💖
Here it’s, our new demo is now available! We’re very happy to allow you to play more of our game and get a glimpse of what’s ahead.
📜 But before you play, some words about the demo:
Your progress in this demo won’t be kept for the full game (so maybe try something different that you want for your story)
Your progress is automatically saved, so feel free to quit and come back later if needed
The game is still in an early alpha state, so if you notice something weird, press F8 to send feedback, a bug or something else. Make sure to give us as much information as you can and if you can join us on Discord or on the Steam forum to discuss it!
Please enjoy this new content!
And if you want to stream this new demo, you can! Just let us know when, so we can come in the chat or share your live on our social media!
📜Check out our new gameplay trailer:
[previewyoutube="99wmdqwiwuc;full"]
And that’s it! We hope you will like this new demo!
Have a nice Steam Next Fest! Maratus Team. 💖
New demo for the Steam Next Fest!
Hello everyone! 💖
Surprise! For the June Steam Next Fest, we will release a limited time demo! During the event, you will have an opportunity to go further in the story. Isn’t it terrific? Let us know what you think about it!
📜 So what will you discover?
We will release around 15 to 30 minutes (and more) of a new gameplay sequence, continuing the story right after the Prologue. So right after your first meeting with Baeli & Igweneil, you’ll be chosen by one of them to begin your journey. And we won’t tell you more at the moment! Discover it in game, and remember to keep other spoiler-free!
📜Check out our new gameplay trailer if you can’t wait any longer!
[previewyoutube="99wmdqwiwuc;full"]
Be ready and see you at the Next Fest June from 16 to 22!
State of production: ARISEN playtest schedule & roadmap
Hello everyone!
It’s been a while since we didn’t talk here. But it’s because we have a lot coming in the next few weeks! So let’s see together what’s on the menu in today's update? A piece of big news to share and more info about our playtest & release schedule.
First of all, we want to wish to congratulate Anaïs, our narrative designer and her husband Davy. They just started a new book to write. Can't wait to see what kind of cards he will play! Much love from all the team!
Playtesting ARISEN and game roadmap
As promised it’s now the time to talk about our plan to release the game.
For now, the production is going well. As we said before, our partners are working on the English version of the first Act and we have completed the integration of the second Act in the game. About the second Act, the proofread is almost complete for the french version and we are getting ready to send it to the translation team.
But as we progress through the production we feel that we were way too optimistic for the release date previously announced. As you know the covid crisis impacted many things: our partners, the rising fees to ship goodies in Europe and it also affected us and the new way we had to work together.
But if everything continues at this rhythm, well, the game should be ready for a release Q3 2021. Apologies for the wait!
So basically, here is our new roadmap:
In May we will start playtesting the first act of the game with the two main languages, French & English, we will unveil more just below!
Depending on how everything goes, we believe that we could start the first beta version during Q2/summer (July or August).
If everything checks the green box, we will launch the game Q3 2021.
Please keep in mind that our roadmap is subject to change. You may believe that's bad news, but remember that may be more time for us to add & polish more content in the game. Of course, we hope that you will love what we have in store for the game.
So let’s see what we plan for the playtest:
About our playtest plans
If you're interested in being involved in the alpha playtest, fill in the form here:
Please note you won’t be given a beta version or demo of the game with this survey at this stage. Its purpose is to run a playtest in order to gather specific information such as bugs, proofreading, missing choices or branch, etc. Registration does not guarantee a slot in the playtest group. For backers with beta pledge, rest assured we will give you access to the beta when it will be available, as promised.
For the first playtest, you will test a quest with Igweneil as master. So the build will contain heavy spoilers, some bugs (hopefully not too much), a blocked path and more weird things. To experience a better and clean version, wait for the beta or the release! ; )
If you’re selected for the playtest you will receive an email with more details and info. You will need a Steam account.
To support us you can wishlist the game here!
Thank you! See you soon! The Maratus team
110% FUNDED!!! First Stretch Goal announced! 🙏🎉🎉🎉
YOU DID IT :D 🎉🥳
ARISEN is now 110% funded!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH. 🙏
You’re all awesome, breathtaking, amazing, stunning, … ! We love you!
And thanks to your help we will work and achieve a best vision for our game. We aim to give you a better game.
And now? The campaign will continue for a few hours and it’s time for… the stretch goals. DUN-DUN-DUUUUN!!!
Let’s reach even higher with the stretch goals we prepared for you, with onions and fines herbs!
About the first one:
The backgrounds as you saw them in the Prologue were animated to give you a taste of what they could all be like. If we reach this goal, we'll be able to do the same for ALL the 50+ backgrounds in the full game! We will unveil more about our process soon.
And there is more to come! The Higher, the Better!
(For Twitter there is a small mistake, we will pick someone at the end of the Kickstarter, so the 15/10 (not in november, oopsie).
Thank you again! You’re awesome! The Maratus Team
Woo hoo 50%! Half the Kickstarter campaign done! 🥳🎉🎉
Hello travelers,
We just wanted to share an update about our Kickstarter campaign: we reached the 50% goal!🎉 It’s awesome and we want to thank you all for your support. 🙏
We still have more than 2 weeks to go, so we hope we can count on your support for the next 50% or less to succeed in the campaign.
If you miss the latest update on the Kickstarter page, we revealed more about our Cards mechanics. As you know ARISEN is a narrative card game with a strong focus on Emotions.💖
Soon in the development, we had the idea to use 5 “family” of emotions and we were thinking about ways to do it in-game.
That’s at this moment while brainstorming we thought about cards; it seemed a good way to represent emotions and add some cool gameplay twists with the possibility to unlock and collect a new one. Plus, we love how some games used this idea, such as in Dragon Age: Inquisition from BioWare.
So while playing you will unlock 3 kinds of cards: first, the Emotion cards, then the Character cards and last but not least the Feeling cards. Every kind of card will serve a specific use.
You will find more about the topic on our 3 Kickstarter updates here:
