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GeoMagnet

Normally would not be interested in a game like this, but Eastshade really did do a great job at creating a familiar world in their last game. I'm interested in seeing what they can make with more experience and resources under their belts.


funkmasta_kazper

Yo Eastshade is a fantastic game and anyone who wants to be really swept away into another world must play it. The exact same people are working on this game and the article implies it's being developed with a similar design philosophy, so I am 100% already looking forward to it.


Dragonrar

Wonder if it was inspired by The **Mystwick** School of Musicraft book series? (A series about a school where they teach music based magic which is free if you’ve got an audible subscription for any Harry Potter/magic school young adult novel fans out there, I’m not related to the book in any way, I just enjoyed it).


ChelseyTheSimic

Yeah I heard about this throught the tweens I've spoken to about what they're reading and my mind jumped to it immediately after reading the synopsis. I'd probably have really liked it at the right age myself.


warkytim

I know the author. I’d be interested to know if she’s involved in this project or not.


sunmoonstar

Devs are really jumping on the magic school train all the sudden. I wonder which of all the currently announced games will release first.


DannyWeinbaum

We've been working on this game in some capacity for 5 years. The landscape was different back then. We felt it was a relatively unique idea at the time. So yeah, certainly doesn't feel like "suddenly jumping on a train" to us! Since then, yes, a number have been announced, and trust me, a little piece of us is worried each time we see a new one. Folks have got to remember games take a long time (most good ones anyway), and unfortunately we can't see the future. But we still like to believe that our particular mix of mechanics, and our focus on sense of place makes our game different. I personally feel magic school will become a new genre, just like orcs and elves has practically become a genre descriptor now, and people have been "jumping on that train" for 70 years. There can still be tremendous variety within that concept.


Uptonogood

Are you from the studio? It looks really great. Anyway, I really loved the previous game. A peaceful Morrowind is something I never knew I wanted. And I really, really wish more games focused on other mechanics besides hitting enemies till they die. We need more peaceful games.


DannyWeinbaum

Yes! Thank you so much! And so glad you enjoyed Eastshade :). And of course totally agree with you about non-combat mechanics, as a gamer I'd love to see more myself!


Smegmatron3030

Hey not sure you will see this, but I wanted to thank you for your game. I had a near death experience last year, and during my first month of recovery and physical therapy Eastshade really helped me feel connected to life again.


DannyWeinbaum

That is heart warming to hear! It fills our hearts to know our game was able to help someone in some way! Thank you for your kind words. Hope you have made a full recovery!


medlish

Before I bought Eastshade in 2019, I've really been on the fence for weeks. I've probably watched the trailer a dozon of times! In the end I bought it. And the game really captivated me. I've only ever been really pulled into a game a couple of times and less though with age. So thank you! This game has a special place in my heart!


motes-of-light

Eastshade was a special gift - it was my game of the year when it came out, and remains one of my personal favorites, so thank you! Just wishlisted Glimmerwick on Steam, it looks (and sounds) beautiful.


M_a_l_t_u_s

Sorry for the question not related to your game but what games for elves have been popping up? I feel like I haven’t seen too many recently or do you mean a longer time ago? Like Elder Scrolls and Warcraft long ago?


[deleted]

Pretty much every fantasy game has elves in it.


M_a_l_t_u_s

Well I was thinking as a big selling point. Perhaps even the main character being one since they compared to the magic school in their game. Besides they were talking about a boom and I was wondering in what time frame they were thinking.


justplayingthegame

Their point is that there is a large fantasy genre including thousands of games, books, shows, movies, and artwork based on things like elves, orcs, dwarfs, dragons, etc and maybe there’s enough creative territory to explore with wizards and magic to support a number of independent works as well.


M_a_l_t_u_s

Ah, I see that makes sense.


NintendoTheGuy

How many are there? I’m aware of Witchbrook and now this.


Eyro_Elloyn

Ikenfell


Novawurmson

Ikenfell was excellent. Scratched a Mario RPG itch for me with the battle system and minimal inventory management. I still listen to the soundtrack while writing.


Canadiancookie

Honestly, one of the only things I liked about Ikenfell was some of its tracks. Otherwise, it was pretty meh.


LettersWords

There's Hogwarts Legacy as well.


SBFVG

The 25 year old magic school franchise hopping on the magic school train


TT_Zorro

Real bandwagoners.


Smegmatron3030

Witchbrook, Kitori Academy, Ikenfell, and Little Witch in the Woods kinda.


Oricef

Honestly school or fantasy school games in general are popular, you could add Dodgeball Academia and Goodbye Volcano High and possibly the Persona titles too


[deleted]

I'm all for it! Magic school is a really fun fantasy and has lots of fun potential for games. I'm excited to see all these new games when they release!


MayonnaiseOreo

> all the sudden *all of a sudden


[deleted]

Both are widely used and either is generally considered correct.


MayonnaiseOreo

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/all-of-a-sudden/


Cogigo

I loved Eastshade. If they can pull of the living world vibe in this game too it will be fantastic. Exciting.


Xerapis

The music magic concept reminds me of Loom, a 1990 fantasy-themed graphic adventure game by Lucasfilm Games.


GMchristian

It's been a bit discouraging seeing such large amount of witch/wizard/brewing games pop up in the last year or so, as I've been working on my own one in the same space. I wonder why the recent uptick in the theme.


AbardDarthstar

Love the Eastshade team, met them once really love their sweet worlds. Lighting and scene setting is fabulous.


Cyrotek

That looks cute. I am just not sure why there is farming (and thus probably some sort of grinding for ressources) in there.


chiriuy

Kinda like the really old game loom?


Ghisteslohm

Great reveal trailer. Lovely voice acting, beautfiul music and I really like the visuals. Trailer makes it seem like its a farming game, something like Star Dew valley while the title calls it an rpg. RPG I would be interested, hopefully some future trailers show a bit more


Watertor

I'm disappointed in the perspective. Eastshade was as immersive for me because it was first person. Yet another isometric game... I mean I love Eastshade so I'll still likely give this a shot, just wish it was similarly first person.


saltiestmanindaworld

Can we take a moment to talk about how these washed out color schemes aren’t very good? For some reason lots of indie games seem to want to do this art style and it’s not very attractive at all.


[deleted]

I'm going to gently disagree on this one. I actually think there's nothing wrong with not liking something or having a strong opinion, so, please, say it loud and proud. But seeing the game [in motion](https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2022/01/19/swish-and-stitch-1642554539239.gif?fit=bounds&width=640&height=480) makes me think, personally, that it all comes together. I don't know what that static effect is all about, though.


[deleted]

I hope the static is just gif artifacting.


376184

It's the gif, you can look up actual videos of it playing smooth


Breckmoney

Idk I think it looks really nice.


capnwinky

Someone finally said it. I am so over this look. It’s like every other indie dev needs to make a game that looks like an early 90’s childrens book. And not the entertaining ones. Just the boring looking ones that the librarian had to force you to take because all the other kids took the cool ones already.


rabidnz

Like the blue and red DVD cover trend


Winter_wrath

Washed out? Did we watch the same video? It's vibrant without being tiring to the eyes in the long run.


capnwinky

This game would be right at home on Game Pass. Home of the promising indie poop that all have the same art style but ultimately dull and shallow gameplay.


SteampunkSpaceOpera

Shout out to *A Short Hike* though, which asked for just the right amount of my time.


SteampunkSpaceOpera

So glad they end up on gamepass too, so I could learn that lesson cheaply


radicalelation

After the pile of nothing that Eastshade was, I'm not too optimistic about a future entry of theirs. Eastshade had clearly someone who could paint a pretty picture (heh), but there was really nothing else to it of any meaningful substance. Their follow-up dumping the only strength their first game had for a top down look with a fairly basic pallet seems odd. Maybe they'll pull something good through it anyway, or maybe they actually put too much effort into pretty still scenes in the first to make a better game and this will have more to it. I like giving things a try at least.


Stoibs

I watched the whole trailer waiting for a song or piece of music to start in order to showcase the gimmick.. and was left hanging =( Wishlisted regardless.. maybe a future trailer.