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The video game 'outsiders' creating VR art that makes you think
When Tale of Tales announced its departure from the gaming industry after 12 years of creating eccentric, cult-hit experiences, Twitter lit up with messages extolling the studio's impact on the industry. However, for Tale of Tales co-founders Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn, it was a hollow farewell. Their latest (and last) game, Sunset, had debuted just a month before to poor sales and lagging interest, despite a successful Kickstarter campaign and positive critical reception. Harvey and Samyn were already contemplating an exit from the world of video games and Sunset's situation pushed them to make it official. "It often didn't feel like games were worth the sacrifice," Samyn says. Now, Harvey and Samyn have returned to their pure, artistic roots -- and to Kickstarter -- with Cathedral-in-the-Clouds, a virtual reality exhibition of Christian art in the Gothic and Renaissance periods. We spoke with Samyn about following his passion and Tale of Tales' lofty goals, and came away with a clear message: If you're going to leave games behind for a project that resides firmly in the art realm, you might as well shoot for the clouds.
Tale of Tales' Sunset rises with first screens
Tale of Tales' upcoming narrative-driven game Sunset received its first official set of screenshots today. Announced in March 2014, the exploration game stars Angela Burnes, a housekeeper of a secluded philanthropist, set in a lone 1970's apartment. The Path and Fatale developer noted that the screens are "still work in progress and even though they do not represent the final beauty of the game, they say a lot about what is going to make the penthouse a spectacular environment to explore." Players will scope out the apartment to learn more about Burnes' employer when the game arrives this spring on PC, Mac and Linux. As seen in the gallery below, Tale of Tales said it "pushed the colour scheme to its saturation point with the tones of the evening sky, chic lighting from designer lamps and dramatic shadows" to make the game "feel real," yet stylized. Sunset earned $67,636 on Kickstarter in July and will feature a soundtrack from Journey's Grammy-nominated composer, Austin Wintory. The developer discussed the ways it is "trying something different" with Joystiq following its funding campaign. [Image: Tale of Tales]
Something new under the Sunset at Tale of Tales
The past releases of developer Tales of Tales have often defied recognizable genres, and even avoided conventional principles of what a game is defined to be. Experiences like The Endless Forest, Fatale, and The Path have brushed up against familiar gaming mechanics but never really fully embraced them. In the process, they've been met with critical praise, but more than a little bewilderment from players. Now the team behind the studio, developers Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn, are trying something different. "With Sunset we want to explore the possibility of creating an entertaining interactive experience that is not a game (in the very narrow sense of the word). We have tried to do this before but I feel we always failed and we made art instead," Harvey and Samyn tell Joystiq. "But with Sunset we're a lot more purposeful about it. We really want this to work. We believe it is possible to create entertainment in video games that is as accessible as film, books and music. We feel that the traditional competition-based designs of most games are holding this medium back. But because of the relatively esoteric nature of our previous work, I feel we have failed at making a strong case for this. With Sunset we will! Or die trying." Last week, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, Sunset will have an opportunity to leave its mark on gamers when it launches in 2015.
The sun sets on Tale of Tales' funding for next game
Sunset has been funded on Kickstarter with $67,636 raised of a requested $25,000, allowing developer Tale of Tales to conquer a stretch goal aimed at creating a richer, bigger game through the addition of an animator, programmer and concept artist. Sunset is a narrative-driven exploration game about Angela Burnes, an American tourist trapped in the fictional South American city of Anchuria after a military coup in 1972 prevents her from returning home. Angela becomes a housekeeper, and once a week, an hour before sunset, she cleans the high-rise apartment of Dr. Gabriel Ortega. As Angela cleans, she uncovers secrets about Gabriel's life and his involvement in the revolution against the new dictator, Generalísimo Ricardo Miraflores. Sunset includes music by Austin Wintory – as heard in the new story trailer (below), it's a mellow, Latin guitar kind of vibe. Sunset is due out in 2015 for PC, Mac and Linux on Steam.
Secrets in a South American rebellion in Tale of Tales' Sunset
Tale of Tales tells high-brow, intellectual and emotional stories with its games, including The Path and The Graveyard, and its latest project is Sunset, a first-person thriller set in the loft of a fictional South American city. It's 1972, and there's a revolution in the city – you play as a housekeeper, and each week you head to Gabriel Ortega's penthouse an hour before sunset to clean and, of course, rifle through his things. You discover he's involved with the rebellion against the dictator Generalísimo Ricardo Miraflores, and you'll be able to influence your place in the revolution. "These decisions will not radically alter the story itself, but they will affect your role in the events, your responsibility and the emotional impact of the experience." Tale of Tales founders Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn compare Sunset to other first-person exploration games Gone Home and Dear Esther, as well as military action games. Development includes music from Journey composer Austin Wintory and a crack team of architects, actors, sound designers and consultants. Sunset is due out in March 2015 for PC, Mac and Linux. To expedite this goal, Tale of Tales is asking for $25,000 on Kickstarter by July 17. In its first day, it's raised more than $10,000. [Image: Tale of Tales]
Website builds the fiction for Tale of Tales' new game, Sunset
Developer Tale of Tales wants you to get acquainted with the world of their upcoming game, Sunset. One small, tiny, teensy-weensy problem though: unlike the developer's previous games, which took place in or were inspired by established universes, Sunset's land of Anchuria doesn't exist yet. So, Tale of Tales is building up the fiction of Sunset, starting with a website aimed at attracting tourists to the city of San Bavon. Even though we in the real world already know that Sunset will feature an oppressive regime, the website also contains little hints that not all is well in the land of Anchuria. One section reads: "The museums and theaters have been closed to make room for state of the art factories and well equiped consumption centers. Work and freedom for the people of Anchuria!" Because closing down museums is always a good sign. Tale of Tales noted on their Tumblr that they will share the story behind Anchuria and Sunset as they invent it. [Image: Tale of Tales]
Co-star in Tales of Tales' first-person exploration, Sunset
The Path developer Tale of Tales' next adventure is called Sunset, and it's due to launch in 2015 on PC, Mac and Linux. Described as a first-person exploration game, Sunset is set in a "fictional tropical republic suffering under an oppressive regime" in the early 1970s. In it, players control the housekeeper of a secluded, former philanthropist, and awaken "a new love for his country and his people" in the troubled occupant. The housekeeper investigates the man's belongings and learns of his role in the civil war, strengthening or weakening their relationship along the way. Tale of Tales founders Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn liken Sunset to "a shooter game where you are not the hero but one of the people in the background." While deemed the second largest project by Tale of Tales, the game is being developed by Harvey and Samyn, sound designer Kris Force, is penned by an anonymous author and will receive music from Journey composer Austin Wintory. "The game contains both empathy and apathy. But also a feeling of being caught up in a struggle bigger than your day to day life," the founders added in the announcement. [Image: Tale of Tales]
Tale of Tales celebrates 10 years with Experiments and Prototypes bundle
The Path and The Graveyard developer Tale of Tales is now ten years old, and is celebrating its anniversary with a special games bundle. Dubbed the "Experiments and Prototypes" bundle, the package contains just that: a collection of 18 prototype projects from the developer's decade-long existence. Many of the projects include multiple PC and Mac downloads for various renditions and experiments, from an experimental early first-person wind control tool for Fatale to special "Adam and Eve" character models for Quake. The bundle even features multiple demos and alpha versions of the unreleased game that started Tale of Tales, 8. Those looking to acquire the Experiments and Prototypes bundle can set their own price for it, though the whole pack carries a minimum price of $5 and a suggested price of $15. Tale of Tales stresses that the bundle is in limited order, as the offer is available until December 25 and "contains many items that have never been released before and will not be available later."
Tale of Tales to populate An Empty World in 2015
The Graveyard and Bientôt l'été developer Tale of Tales gives a first look at its next project An Empty World in the newly launched trailer above, ahead of a planned release in 2015. While little is known about the game in its current state, An Empty World boasts an impressive talent pool. An Empty World is composed by Dear Esther soundtrack creator Jessica Curry, and artist Vicki Wong is drafting the game's concept art. Tale of Tales' current iOS and Android project Luxuria Superbia is on track for a release later this year.
Indie Royale 'Evolved' bundle offers The Path, Krater and more
Indie Royale has armed a new bundle of five games, headlined by Talawa Games' side-scrolling puzzler, Unmechanical. The "Evolved" bundle, which throws in a few soundtracks and some additional DLC if you pay a few bucks more, also contains The Path, a horror game for PC and Mac inspired by the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood.Fatshark's Krater, a post-apocalyptic dungeon crawler in which Swedish adventurers scavenge for goods from the lost world, is sandwiched in the middle of this group. You'll also get Sugar Cube: Bittersweet Factory, a 2D platformer about a sentient sugar cube escaping a cookie-bound fate, OIO, a platform-puzzler starring a wooden boy who must save his kind from a frozen state.Indie Royale's "Evolved" bundle will be around for the next week and, as of the time of this writing, has already moved 10,000 bundles.
Tale of Tales' Bientôt l'été launches on PC
Tale of Tales is known for developing obscure, sometimes creepy games such as The Path and The Graveyard. Its latest game, Bientôt l'été fits with the developer's track record, though it appears to be much more subdued and thoughtful in its tone compared to the aforementioned games. From what we gather, players walk around a beach while gathering chess pieces and phrases to make use of in the nearby café. It appears there's even a button for closing your player's eyes in the game, which leads to some interesting visual effects that are apparently more mechanical in nature.Bientôt l'été is now available for PC and Mac for $10, with an "Extravagant" version available for $40 that includes the game's soundtrack and an eventual "special build" with higher res textures and uncompressed sound.Tale of Tales drew inspiration for the game from novels by Marguerite Duras, specifically Moderato Cantabile, which provides the basic setting for Bientôt l'été: "a man and a woman meet in a seaside café." As for everything else going on in the trailer, we're as lost as you likely are. %Gallery-173500%
Tale of Tales' The Graveyard begins life on a new platform, Android
Some games are so different, deep and beautiful that they just won't die -- Tale of Tales' The Graveyard is one of those games, as it has just been ported to Android, available for download right now through the Android Market. It's nigh impossible to think about the finite nature of human existence too much -- it's been pondered for millions of years and no one's yet come up with a better answer than "42" -- and now you can guide an old European woman through such questions in a gorgeous graveyard whenever you'd like. The Graveyard comes in two flavors, the free trial version, or the full game for $1.99. There's only one difference between the two types: You can't die in the trial, while every time you play the full game, there's a distinct possibility you will die. Much like life, which makes the trial more like the great-great grandmother to Limbo. Literally.
'Notgames Fest' to fill IGF-sized hole at GDC Europe [update]
Between GDC Europe and Gamescom in August, you've got more than enough gaming news to read about in the coming months. But Germany's Notgames Fest organizers clearly disagree, with the Cologne Game Lab creating an indie (or "Notgames") festival during the first two days of GDC Europe (August 15 and 16). Like the Independent Game Festival at GDC's main annual gathering in San Francisco, NGF at GDC Europe will feature indie developers showing off their wares, talking to other devs, and giving demonstrations to attendees. Also like the IGF, developers who hope to bring their games must apply ahead of time, only rather than a panel of IGF judges, Tale of Tales' Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn will be "curating" the event. If all that weren't enough for you, the event's organizers promise "BBQ and beer in an open air atmosphere." Sold! Head to the NGF main page for all the pertinent details (like ... uh ... where it is in Cologne). Update: To be clear, the Indie Games Summit takes place at GDC Europe, and the Notgames Fest is not associated with GDC Europe, it just takes place during the event. Head over to the official GDC Europe page for more info.
Get sad on the cheap with Tale of Tales' pay-what-you-want sale
Tale of Tales is celebrating the Day of the Dead this weekend with a sale on its three games, which are all sober, quiet meditations on -- what else -- sugar skulls death. Through November 2, you can pay any price you want, from $3 up, for The Path, The Graveyard and Fatale bundled together. There is some motivation to pay more than the minimum (beyond it being pretty crass to lowball an indie like that) -- there's a "special surprise" in store for anyone who pays more than $50 for the bundle (which is regularly priced at $22). You'll also be motivating Tale of Tales to complete its latest ... tale, The Book of 8, as earnings from this sale will go toward the game's development.
The Path honored with awards in Spain, goes half price to celebrate
Surreal horror/exploration indie title The Path was one of the finalists at last year's Indiecade festival, and it's been honored again with two awards at Bilbao, Spain's hóPLAY International Video Game Festival. The game won Best Sound and Best Design, and its creator, Tale of Tales, picked up a tidy sum of €12,000 ($16,000) in prize money. To celebrate, the company is putting the game on sale, and you can pick up a digital copy right now for just $4.99, half of the usual price. Careful, though -- it's a creepy experience, combining a strange retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood tale with dynamically generated music and environments. Congratulations to Tale of Tales on the awards, which it says is the first actually won in its eight-year history. Always a finalist, finally a winner.
One Shots: It goes on and on
You may or may not recall a little series we ran briefly here on Massively that was called Turpstervision. Why do we bring this up? Well, imagine our surprise when we opened up our One Shots mailbox and saw the above image from a game Turspter covered long ago -- The Endless Forest! Yes indeed, it appears that Massively reader KidsNeedToSwear stumbled across this one, and has been checking it out. KNTS sent in the above screenshot along with this note: "Here's a screenshot of my fawn in The Endless Forest, talking to some of the older deer. TEF is an MMO that almost no one has heard of, and is definitely one of the most unique MMOs I've ever played. Given that there's no language, no combat, no quests, no storyline and no humans, TEF really is an aquired taste. Players are required to make up their own plot, lore and legends, and the forums are abuzz with people doing just that! Ok, it's a bit strange, but I just cant bring myself to uninstall it!" We love to see screenshots from interesting off-the-beaten-path MMOs and VWs. If you find one in your MMO travels that you'd like to tell us about, then grab a screenshot and email it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a brief description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit. %Gallery-85937%
Tale of Tales' The Graveyard now on iPhone
Apple's platform has lately become the premiere place to find Tale of Tales' unique brand of art games. Just recently, the studio released its meditation on morality, Veritas, to the App Store, and it's following that up today with a port of its debut game, The Graveyard, for $1.99. If you're unfamiliar with the two-year old title, it's a small black-and-white piece in which you control an old lady walking through a graveyard. The only difference between the full game and the free version that will also be released soon is that, in the full version, the little old lady can die. We can't tell you how many times we've been waiting for a bus or elevator and thought, "Boy, we wish we could meditate on our inevitable death, like, on the go." Thank goodness technology has finally made that possible. The Graveyard ($1.99):
Silent Hill character designer working on Tale of Tales' Fatale
Oh good. We weren't creeped out enough by Tale of Tales' The Path, so it's just great to hear that Takayoshi Sato of Silent Hill fame is creating character designs for the company's follow-up, Fatale. At this rate, we won't even be able to download the thing with the lights off. Fatale, you may remember, is a 3D vignette based on Oscar Wilde's interpretation of the story of Salome (seen above), who performed the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for the head of John the Baptist. ... Yeah, fun for the whole family coming to PC on October 5th.
Tale of Tales' next project, Fatale, based on Salome
We've had kind of a weird relationship with indie dev Tale of Tales. On the one hand, we love how unconventional its avant-garde games, like Graveyard and The Path, are, but on the other, we equated the latter to "getting punched in the nose by a centaur." So, we don't quite know what to think about the news that the company's next project, Fatale, will be based on the story of Salome, who, of course, asked for the head of John the Baptist in exchange for doing the Dance of the Seven Veils. Rather than a game, the company describes Fatale as "an interactive vignette in realtime 3D."Though maybe not a "game" per se, as you can see in the above picture, it does does provide an opportunity for one of the best hidden collectibles ever. Look for it on PC on October 5.
Mac users can now walk The Path
Attention Mac users, if you were bummed that the latest game from Tale of Tales, The Path, was restricted to PCs, it's time to rejoice, for the promised Mac version is finally out. Yes, you too can experience the game that's so freaky and different that it's like being punched in the face by a centaur. The game can be had either as a download ($10) or in a special USB edition (€25) that includes a custom USB flash drive containing the game and plenty of extras.If you're unfamiliar with the game, check out a new story trailer after the break.
