We hope you're safe in these strange times. We're still working from our homes, and it's hard sometimes, but when you start to make your game, you never expect a global pandemic to happen.
Regarding the game, it's already complete, and now we're still waiting on some process to be completed. Last week we thought we would get approval from Nintendo, but a couple of minor fixes were needed, and now we have to keep waiting for at least another week. We committed to deliver a release date just at the moment we get this approval, and we're going to do so. Remember that the game will come out for Nintendo Switch and PC & Mac at the same time.
While we're waiting, we thought that we could spice some things up and give you the first glances to the game. So we're prepared a couple of things that we hope you like it:
First, we want to do a one-hour Twitch streaming of the game with some Q&A this Friday, at 5 pm (CEST, that's Madrid, Spain, timezone currently). Diego (Hi, that's me, the one who writes these updates!) will play the game and answer all your questions. You can check what time would that be in your time zone here, just put Madrid and your city and you'll get what time it would be for you. (You will have to bear with my very bad English.)
Of course, we will also have a Q&A in Spanish. This message is for our Spanish friends: el mismo viernes, a las 6 pm, hora española, estaremos en Twitch respondiendo a todas vuestras preguntas y charlando con vosotros sobre lo que queráis.
Now, for the second thing. We want to share a little bit of the game with everyone. We made a demo for PC for free, with only the beginning of this adventure. We don't forget that Summer in Mara wouldn't be a real and complete game. We want to give everyone the option to join and discover this adventure, as many of you did a year ago.
You can already check the Steam page for this demo, called Summer in Mara -Prologue-, and share it with whomever you want. This demo will be live next Friday, the 29th. We would love to have it before, but Steam needs ten days to let you publish anything. Now you know that making videogames, most of the time, is just waiting for things to happen.
See you in Mara!
Cinematics!
Dear traveler in Mara,
In Summer in Mara, you will meet a lot of unique characters and discover a world full of secrets. To convey all of this, we prepared an opening and an ending for the game, with traditional 2D animation, so we can show you this lovely and colorful world in a different way.
We've been working with Ciervo Alto on the cinematics for the game. They're close to finishing these animations, so we want to share with you the process.
First, Miriam, one of our artist, made the color script. It's like a visual screenplay for the animators. Here you can see Napopo, just rolling on the ocean.
Then, Ciervo Alto started animating the sequence. You can see here two stages of this process.
[previewyoutube="Cf-4zQajRw8;full"]
[previewyoutube="Z-G2FZibKxY;full"]
And, finally, an almost finished frame of the opening for the game. It still needs some small things (and maybe a surprise), but this is how it will look.
By the way, we have been nominated to a bunch of awards in the Indie Developers Awards of Game Connection in Paris (will be there if you want to try Summer in Mara!). They also have a People's Choice Award and we're going to need your support. Just follow this link or click in the image below and give us a like on Facebook. That will help us a lot!
Koa's Skins + Tourists in Mara
You may choose between different outfits for Koa during your time in Mara. There’s one from the Navy, other from the Elit and another from the Pirates. You will be able to choose between these three outfits in the game so every adventure will be unique!
Take a look:
Pirate Koa -> Regular Koa
Of course, in Mara lives all kind of qüidos. There is one special type that sometimes appears in Qälis and other nearby islands. They are called “tourist.” These “tourists” wear strange clothes, take pictures with something called cameras and even buy ridiculous stuff at really high prices.
Other qüidos are just regular people living on the island, with their unique style. They aren’t that interesting, but it’s nice to see new faces.
We needed some icons for the game because we have so many items that we can do everything on our own. So we contact an expert on icons, among many other things. Danalyn Reyes is a fantastic artist, and you can check Dana’s twitter here.
See you in Mara!
Qälis - The main island in Mara
We want to show you a little bit more about the main island in the game. Qälis is a small town with different qüidos, humans, cat-children and maybe even an elit or two. In this city, you can see the mixture of cultures scattered all through Mara. Old exotic qüido structures and symbols combine with more new and modern buildings.
A view of Qälis from your boat. This is the main island in the game, where you will meet people, trade with them and discover lots of secrets from Mara.
The market in the island. Three twins run this place, but be careful with them, since they can be really tricky.
In Qälis Temple you can meet Blu, a strange individual that doesn't talk much. But when Blu talks... Nobody knows what he meants.
Taka's Restaurant is famous in all Mara. He's a great chef, but very traditionalist. Brram, his nephew, wants to be like his uncle... But also wants to explore the galaxy.
Akaji is the blacksmith in Qälis. In her forge, you can see her latest work. Like, well, can you see what emerge from the ground?
Onzo is a cat-child, but also the adventurer like you! He kepts all kind of stories in his diary!
Awan's Tabern is a great place to enjoy a different meal. But a lot of qüidos don't like this kind of cuisine.
Another view of Qälis.
Remember you can support us through Indiegogo and you will get a pre-launch copy of the game and other great goodies!
