Recently the GNU/Linux friendly visual novel developer Winter Wolves Games, posted their plans for the future :
Role Playing Games
Beside Planet Stronghold, which will be finished at end of January 2011, I plan to start 2-3 more RPGs.
I love RPGs and I always wanted to make them, but in the past I was lacking proper funds and/or technical knowledge to make decent ones.
Now, using Planet Stronghold RPG framework I can expand it and create new RPGs.
Most of them will be in fantasy setting though, since it’s the most common/popular one (unless Planet Stronghold is so successful that convinces me to make add-on/sequels).
I have already a good collaborator of mine who is starting creating the main game plot, character sketches, and so on. Another one should start hopefully in next months, and I want to do another myself as well.
So the 2011 will be surely full of RPGs!
Adventure Games
I am still in love with my character of Vera Blanc, despite the first two episodes not being really topsellers.
As I posted several times if I make a third episode, it will be an adventure (first person) and not a visual novel, since the adventure style integrates better with that kind of game.
I have already a plot for the story, but since it requires lot of money, it’s still a risky decision, so if I make it, won’t be before next summer, or even later during Fall/Winter of 2011.
Visual Novels / Dating Sims
Of course I’ll keep making them! Flower Shop 2 release is really close, is just a matter of few months. But since is tied to external factors (artists finishing some pieces) I won’t dare to name a date for it.
Instead I can already say that very likely the otome game “Remember Me” will be ready around February/March 2011, since the plot is completely written and need only to code the “simulation part” of it and do testing/balancing.
Depending how my other projects go, I could make more VN/Dating Sims, but they’ll be mixed with simulation games.
Strategy / Simulation Games
In 2011 perhaps I will finally release the sequel of Spirited Heart. I have yet to start coding it though, so is probably more accurate to say that in 2011 I’ll begin coding it, which is a bit different. It won’t be ready probably before 2012, also because I have in mind some online-features (probably optional) that could improve the gameplay a lot, so I am not sure yet I’ll use Ren’Py to code this one.
There will be for sure more strategy/simulation games coming in 2011 though. A remake of my game Universal Boxing Manager, this time with the fights completely in 3d realtime, is under production! Is made in partnership with a good 3d coder who is going to use Unity3d to power the 3d simulation. It’s probably my biggest/most ambitious game to date and the 2011 will be mainly focused on it. I hope will do well since I’d like to port more of my old games into 3d or start new ones.
As I said I might also find the time to do a sort of light-strategy/time management game based on Heileen settings. In particular, Heileen 2 settings (pirates, the caribbean).
The game could be played as normal strategy game or with visual novel cut-scenes (they’ll be optional). This will be a sort of experiment since I am not sure if/when I’ll finish it. Let’s say I’ll work on it on my spare time and when it’s done, is done 🙂
Online Games
Almost every year I say “next year I’ll make one”. So, this time I won’t say it! But, I would like to try making one, even if I am not sure I’ll find the time…or better, if I’ll find the right person, since I’m probably going to outsource the coding (will be most likely done in Flash or HTML5). Or if the new interesting BRL:monkey project from Mark Sibly (creator of Blitzmax) gets released, I might use that and do everything myself.
So in conclusion, looks like the 2011 will be a year full of new releases! Happy New Year again!!
I’ve asked for an explanation about his decision to use Unity3D which doesn’t support GNU/Linux for a Universal Boxing Manager remake :
LGN : I’m sad to hear that you will use Unity for the Boxing game, as Unity doesn’t support Linux.
Also, when you talk about cRPG’s, you mean the “visual story” cRPG’s – right ? or the other kinds (isometric, 3D, 1st person…the usual…).
I mean there is a HUGE difference between visual story cRPG’s and games like Fallout, Realms of Arkania, Eschelon books, NWN etc…).
WWG :Yes it’s sad that unity still doesn’t support linux 🙁 unfortunately I had to go with the tool my coder knows better… (don’t know honestly if there are any linux 3d engines comparable to unity). I hope unity adds linux support somewhere in near future!
About cRPG, yes mainly using Planet Stronghold system so more visual story, even if one of them has also some basic map2d system. I won’t dare yet to try an isomap because is rather complex for my standards, but maybe in future… and there is also a dungeon master style game that is still in stand-by (have to wait for the coder to finish another game first) but that could still be started next year (and that would be a true cRPG!).
I could off course suggest the more then comparable Unigine engine, but then I would be passing the MacOS users.
There are many FOSS tools like Ogre3D, but I’m not a programmer to say what suites for their game.
Yet, there is a lot to expect this year from Winter Wolves Games, I wish them a fruitful year with lots of new titles !
Links
Winter Wolves Games
Blogpost
Ren’Py
Planet Stronghold
Vera Blanc
Flower Shop
Spirited Heart
Universal Boxing Manager
Heileen
If you want him to try a Linux supported game engine instead of Unity, you could suggest that he tries Shiva3D ( http://www.stonetrip.com ). It’s comparable to Unity in a lot of ways, targets a similar market, has a web player and supports Linux.
Have fancied buying Vera Blanc for a while but have always ended up buying something else latest close call was VB and BOH. The demo is pretty fun to play but i think what stops me is the price probably a touch too high.