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[Coven]

Another quick update... A demo previewing the first chapter of Coven has been added to Steam, and I've added a trailer to the game's front page here. The game's still on track to be completed for a full release by late 2021, I'll be more specific when I can. Thanks for looking, I hope more people will want to try it out than not. For those that do, I've added a spoiler-free hint guide in the Community Hub on Steam if you need a little help.

[Coven]

Quick update, Steam page for Coven with some new artwork and screenshots is up and hope to have an updated demo available later this month. Much more to come. Still planning for release late 2021!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1464180/Witchcraft/

FYI, the first round of testing for testing the demo is completed I don't need anymore testers for that version - however, I'm making some fixes and improvements so if anyone's interested in trying it out when I have it up again PM me and I'll notify you when it's available. Thanks!

I played the demo for your game and i really enjoyed it. I look forward to playing the full game in the future.

Thanks so much, great to hear!

After a lull in the development over the past year I'm updating some artwork and working on my game again, and will have a demo ready to play-test soon. PM me if this looks like the kind of game you'd like to try out.

Hi there, my name's Chris I'm a solo dev here looking for a few people who aren't afraid of playing around with some Witchcraft. This is my first AGS game and I'm working on a demo that I can release through Steam, prior to finishing up the game. It would probably take about an hour to complete the demo, which is comprised of the first few rooms, and some cutscenes and a prologue which probably take up 10 minutes or so.

This is not meant to be put out to public at this point, if you're interested in trying it out and offering some feedback I'd prefer we communicate via email or PM.

You can check out the website here, there's also a page with some screenshots over in the Games in Production thread: https://hauntedlanterngames.com/

Help found, will post again when more testing becomes needed.

Another WIP screenshot for Coven.

[imgzoom]https://i.imgur.com/4yq9inG.png[/imgzoom]

 A couple of new screenshots as I work out the details for a demo. The first image is concept art, but a scene like that will be in the game.





Open up a portal to another world.

Maybe everyone's been cooped up for too long and have gone outdoors, the end of summer's fleeting especially given the past few months quarantined. I think the forum will come back in time but for now I'd like to believe everyone's out somewhere enjoying themselves before the long, dark days of winter arrive again.

Are the Californian fires dying down yet?

Must be devastating for the animals...

It will probably be awhile before they get it under control, they're saying it's the second worst fire California has ever had, and resources are stretched thin. I was outdoors during the lightning storm that started all of these fires, but it poured rain at the time, so none were started in the area I live. Everywhere else down lower was set on fire though. One of the many, many hazards of living in California...

I normally don't mind the heat so much because I live in the mountains and can get outdoors to a lake or river, but nearly half of my state is on fire and covered with smoke, and the town is crowded with tourists escaping the heat and flames, many who think the virus is a hoax and have no interest in wearing masks or socially distancing. These are weird times...

This game looks fantastic. I love the dark theme.
Look forward to seeing more screenshots.

Thanks, and done, updated with new in-game screenshots and some video. Was going to make a GIF but thought I'd put up a glimpse of the game first in video.

I believe that once a work becomes so huge it can outgrow the artist's original vision.

I totally agree with Mandle here. I watched it the other night, but wasn't expecting much so I honestly can't say I'm disappointed. I'll probably watch a couple more episodes just to see if it gets more interesting. I think the first HBO True Detective (I forget the name, but had something to do with Yellow King/Carcosa) came much closer to authentically portraying a Lovecraft vibe and atmosphere than this does. This felt more like Lovecraft in-name-only done by Disneyland/Lucasfilm, that's the impression it gave me.

I think in terms of atmosphere movies like the Witch, The Lighthouse, and some others in the folk-horror genre come much closer to giving me the kind of impression of dread that Lovecraft's stories inspired in me when I first read them.

[happy]

Everyone I know who's done boxed / collector editions (including me) has regretted it. If you've made a game that's enough of a smash hit to warrant merchandise, then I imagine it would be fine. But on an indie scale, physical products end up costing way too much in terms of time and money. Also, don't underestimate Kickstarter's value in terms of marketing. It's a good way of finding people who (if you treat them well) will be loyal fans and advocates for the game.

Yeah you're probably right, it's hard enough to sell a game these days. Best to focus on trying to get the word out. I still wonder if anybody ever buys soundtracks because I tend to see a lot of them offered here and there.

So in my case (I'm 40/male btw), I like to get invested in the developer's story. I love games where there is accompanying media that let's you peek behind the curtain and see how the game was actually made. I like learning about the tools and meeting the passionate founder/writers and hearing the about struggles and triumphs. I like seeing the blood, sweat, tears build up to the climatic moment of release and then I like being a part of that release through playing the product and celebrating it online. The movie Indie Game captures the community groundswell that develops around a game very well (I bought all three of those games, btw), and these AGS forums are amazing for churning this sort of vibe, too. In these sorts of projects, $50 to play the game or pick up a T-shirt, hat, maybe soundtrack (although I could probably find the soundtrack on YouTube) is money I'm happy to spend. And I mean that quite literally: I feel rewarded to help a developer that allowed me to take the journey with them.

Thanks that's excellent advice, I've seen the documentary movie you mentioned it's great although I haven't played any of those games, I mostly stick to adventure-type games because I'm not very good at the arcade platforms. I'm making some behind-the-scenes stuff which I plan to release as soon as I get all my social media accounts up and running. For a while I was thinking maybe I'd finish the game in its entirety before ever saying anything about it, but recently I thought maybe it would be better to get out ahead of it and begin building up some awareness as I finish the last few chapters.

I kind of wish I would have discovered AGS 10+ years ago, because this is what I've always wanted to do, and I would be so much further ahead! But I know sometimes these types of games have a long tail and it can take some time to get noticed, which is fine because I've got enough resources to stay in the game and make at least a couple of more before I'd have to worry about anything. But I can definitely say the next game won't be as big, I think I took on way more than I ever imagined when I first got started on this.

Personally, no. I have enough boxes in my life/cupboards/attic. To even want (much less pay for) a physical collector's edition of a game, it would have to be something I was extremely passionate about. If your game is the best adventure game produced in the last 15 years, then maybe.

Yeah, I hear you thanks. I actually wish I still had all of my old game boxes from the 1980s and 90s (at least the Infocom and graphic adventures). The only one I ever retained was Loom, which I'll never part with because it was such a fantastic game and inspiration.

Hi All,

So I'm a new solo developer whose made their first adventure game with AGS, and I'm really trying to figure out how to make the most of my time in deciding how to promote it. As I'm just beginning to navigate this space, I'd love to hear any advice or suggestions from both players and other developers about their preferences if you care to share anything.

Some of the things I wonder about is do players really buy game soundtracks, posters, T-shirts, mugs, etc. is it worth considering offering any of this stuff? Somehow I doubt it.

I'm beginning to understand that Twitter is probably the best platform for getting the word out, along with YouTube and perhaps Facebook, but I'm not that familiar with the other platforms. Are there any other social media platforms I should prioritize for showing my game?

I don't plan on doing a Kickstarter, but as a fan of adventure games would you consider buying a collector's boxed edition for about $20 USD (with artwork/booklet and map) if quality were on par with LucasArts classic era boxes? This would be in addition to the cost of the game itself. I know this depends on whether or not you're interested in the game to begin with, but if some of your favorite modern adventure games offered this, do you think it would be something you'd probably buy for your shelf?

Thanks for any advice!

Thanks BarbWire, I actually have no idea what I'm doing yet I'm trying to sort out all of the social media so I start showing some of the game. When I get my head around it I'll try to post some more content and keep it updated. Thanks to those who PM'd me. I'll be looking for a couple of people to help test the game before long, but it is a horror-themed game made for adults (not pornographic) but definitely R-Rated and controversial.

[Coven]

Coven  is a dark-fantasy adventure game set in the medieval era.



The Story:

As a young orphan girl, you've always had a gift. An occult power which you've kept a secret for all of your life. After being falsely accused of Witchcraft and sentenced to death, an unforeseen twist of fate sets you free again, but your life as you knew it is over. Hunted by the King's henchmen, your only chance of survival is to learn to embrace your supernatural gifts, and set off on a harrowing journey to discover the occult mysteries surrounding your hidden past.

Demo Now Available on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1464180/Witchcraft/

Coven is a dark-fantasy adventure game set in a medieval past.

Features:
- A mature dark fantasy tale rooted in classic horror themes.
- Detailed animations and cinematic visual effects, with 640x360 graphics resolution.
- An epic musical score and thrilling sound effects.
- Characters fully voiced by professional actors.
- Over 100 different locations to discover, illustrated and brought to life with animated effects.
- Traditional adventure game play with a twist, based on Witchcraft and folklore.

Website: www.hauntedlanterngames.com

Estimated Release: 2021

First Look Trailer:

Screenshots: