Thank you for pre-ordering, playing the Demo and talking about Card Shark! We can't wait for you to cheat your way to the top of 18th century France and dig into the mystery behind the 12 Bottles of Milk. I think you can tell that we've tried to create a unique artistic game. It's really tough to do well as a game like this, so if you want to see more, spread the word about Card Shark.
Demo - May Update
We have released a small update to the Card Shark Demo based on player feedback.
Resolved some issues that result in players getting stuck during scenes.
Some save files that were stuck should be loadable again.
Altered joystick deadzone to improve the experience for players with drifting controllers.
Please continue to report any issues you encounter so that we can investigate them and make the game as good as it can be.
Card Shark Memes
We post loads of fun memes, developer insights and helpful tips on social media! For example, if you were wondering if there were any sharks in this game, I can promise you that there are no sharks!
Please give us a follow because it helps spread the word about our game!
Who says that cheaters never prosper? Card Shark launches on June 2nd.
The time is finally upon us, my dear colleague. You have stacked the deck, rigged the hand, but are you ready to uncover the truth?
You gather we're not travelling together by chance? You've seen but a glimpse of the tricks I have in store. You've seen an elementary introduction to the dastardly world where I honed my arts. Despite your better judgement, you have tasted secrets that were never meant for human lips.
At this juncture, only one option remains. You and I must persevere with this investigation we have started. I suspect this conspiracy may take us to the very top of the monarchy or to the bottom of the criminal underbelly. We may even see both of them at the same table.
If you choose to accept this invitation, you will be risking your fame, status, and what little possessions you may have. The stakes are rising every round so we can add your life to that wager.
On the 2nd day of June, I will meet you here again. It will be a new beginning as you search for the truth, but the end of your time as a truthful person.
LudoNarraCon - We're hosting a panel about historical games!
Games let us experience people and places beyond what we can see in real life. We're speaking to developers who use that power to take us back in time! Making a game in a historical setting has unique challenges to balance accuracy with gameplay for a modern audience. Our panel will discuss various questions about narrative games that take inspiration from the past.
You can watch our panel here on our Steam broadcast and at this event page: https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/33025617/view/3210513624465774753 LudoNarraCon is full of amazing games that push the boundaries of how we can use our interactive medium to tell stories. This year's schedule is outstanding, featuring developers behind some of our favourite games. You can watch all the panels and check out the awesome stories at the event page!
Please check out the games by our lovely panelists as well!
In Inua - A Story In Ice and Time, you'll investigate the mystery of the Franklin Expedition through three different time periods. While Western academics and explorers took over 150 yeras to find these lost shipwrecks in the Northern Passage, the Inuit have passed down stories about their whereabouts this entire time. Florent Maurin and his team spoke with Inuit elders to ensure they were telling a story that goes beyond what the European history books missed for all these years.
Windrush Tales will take you to the lives and struggles of the Windrush Generation. Rebuilding after WWII, the UK invited people from British Colonies in the Caribbean to fill a labour shortage, only to treat them with harsh discrimination. This is a personal story for Chella Ramaman, whose father came to England during this era.
We released an updated version of the Card Shark Demo yesterday!
It resolves control issues so if you were having problems with controls before, you can try the Demo again to see if they persist. As always, please let us know if you do encounter any bugs or issues.
PAX East
We will also be at PAX East today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday)! Come find our Card Shark Show to receive a special gift.
We love talking with our players on our Discord server and on social media:
Tricksters! Let me teach you a classic cheating technique.
Our lead artist, Nicolai Troshinsky, studied card cheating to accurately depict techniques used by real life scammers. Every trick in Card Shark is grounded in reality. You can try them for yourself although we are not responsible for the consequences!
This gameplay walkthrough shows a scene after the end of the demo. In it, Nicolai explains each step of a new set of tricks. As you progress in the game, you'll need to perform a wider variety of techniques which will test your memory, execution, and ability to handle pressure.
Cheating often involves gaining more information than your opponent. There are many ways to mark cards but to be effective, it should be readable yet subtle. I can't wait to see the creative patterns you'll paint on your marked decks.
Card Shark News
More Card Shark news is coming very soon! Join our other communities where we share real cheating techniques, magic tricks, and game info.
We will be at PAX East! If you are coming to the event or you're in the Boston area, we'd love to meet you at the Devolver booth. Come try many awesome titles by the most serious publisher in games. If you can't make it, our Demo is on Steam for anyone around the world to play!
International Women's Day Stream!
We are lucky that amazing women lead, make, and play our games!
To celebrate International Women's Day, Daisy Fernandez, designer and writer on Card Shark, and Nicole He, game designer and Nerial collaborator, will be streaming the Card Shark Demo from 4-6pm ET on Tuesday, March 8th!
At Nerial, we strive to make games that bring surprising ideas to the table. Those ideas often come from people with diverse backgrounds; people who had to fight against biases, stigma and stereotypes to carve their paths in this industry. Diversity makes us better.
To showcase this, the WINGS Women’s Day Steam Event is highlighting many awesome indie games made by studios with women and people of marginalized genders in key positions.
Here are a few of my favourites!
Haven is a narrative-driven, 3D action-adventure game with stylish combat and striking visuals. They’ve just released a free update that lets you play as same-gender couples!
Hitchhike through a modern adventure in Road 96. It blends emotive storytelling with procedural generation to give every player a story that is entirely their own.
If you followed Steam Next Fest you may have played the Demo of The Wandering Village. Grow your farming community on the back of a giant animal as you co-exist in a hostile, yet beautiful world.
Climb to the top of a haunted hotel with deck-building combat in The Spirit Lift! While the game is early in development, you can follow their veteran team’s progress on Twitch.
Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Nerial!
Card Shark Demo and Next Fest Stream
Experience the first hour of the Card Shark demonstration version accompanied by notorious raconteur Jean-Michel du Specht, Marquis de Volver.
Card Shark is an adventure game full of cunning, intrigue, and deceit. Cheat your way to the top of 18th century French society with false shuffles, deck switching and more. One thing’s for certain: You’ll need to play your opponents’ better than you play your cards.
We’d love to hear what you think about the Demo. You can join the discussion in our new Discord Server or follow our progress on social media.
Card Shark is an adventure game full of cunning, intrigue, and deceit. Cheat your way to the top of 18th century French society with false shuffles, deck switching and more. One thing’s for certain: You’ll need to play your opponents’ better than you play your cards.
I would say more but… it’s better if you find out for yourself.
We’d love to hear what you think about the Demo. You can join the discussion in our new Discord Server or follow our progress on social media.
My sources tell me that new developments about the dastardly Card Shark game are forthcoming. The Server will be a great place to find the latest clues for your next big heist.
There will be opportunities to share your tricks, talk to devs, and discuss games that share meaningful stories in surprising ways. Those are the games that the Nerial team loves to make and play, so they want to hear about them from you.
I can’t share all of it right now, but more Card Shark news is on the horizon. I hope you’ll be there for it.
J
The secret of being a bore... is to tell everything. - Voltaire
