Project Maiko

Yes I know, once again I apologize for such a long absence. I hoped to get more work done but, sadly, the Spring semester ate up a lot of my time and energy. While I did get over my writer's block, I still didn't have much time or energy, as already stated, to dedicate to working on this game, and with something like this I want to do it when I have the energy because I want this to really turn out well. I'm learning a lot of things along the way, and no doubt will still have a lot to learn even when I'm done. But, it's all a learning experience. I knew this was an ambitious project (no pun intended) from the start, and maybe I was in over my head a bit, but, I decided what the hell and give it a shot anyway!

I thank everyone who has been following this game and has been patient with me. I can only hope it lives up to your expectations when it finally comes out!

In the mean time, here is a little teaser! :D

Making a blog to assure people that I still am doing work on Maiko. Though, suffice to say, it won't be released as soon as I'd originally hoped. Since my semester started I haven't had much time or mental capacity to really do serious work on the game, the later of which I need because I want to do the story right, as well as the puzzles.

No idea when it will be done, but I wanted to assure people I still intend to see it through. Thanks to everyone who is still interested in the game!

Just letting the (few) people who are following this game know that I am still working on it! I still have a fair bit to do, though the biggest obstacle is of course the occasional walls of writers block I keep running into. I do have the general story all planned out, there's just some bits in between that I still have to work out. Never the less, I still plan to make this game finished at the very latest before the summers out!

Stay tuned.

To give a taste of the atmosphere I'm looking to create, here is a few audio samples from the game. The actual volume and even picture will likely vary in the game, but I guess you could call these the "raw" audio x) Though they won't be this loud in the actual game.

http://soundcloud.com/buccura/maiko-sound-sample-1

http://soundcloud.com/buccura/maiko-sound-sample-2

http://soundcloud.com/buccura/maiko-sound-sample-3

Okay so I figured I would actually divulge some information as to what the game is actually about. I emphasize some because I do not want to reveal a lot about the story to people before they play it, but here is the basic synopsis.

In the game, you play as a woman in her early 20s named Maiko. The entire game takes place within her mind, and as you play through it you are going through her memories. As you piece her memories together, you slowly learn just how troubled this young woman really is.

And that is all I will reveal about the story. The story itself will be fairly ambiguous and open to interpretation. It won't be super vague, and there is going to be a correct interpretation of all that happens, but I likely won't ever reveal it.

The game, as the genre listing suggests, is a puzzle adventure with elements of survival horror. It is aiming to be scary, though not quite in the traditional sense so to speak. That is to say, no zombies running at you. Instead it's trying for a more surreal kind of horror. This is also a game that puts a major emphasis on note taking. There will be journals read that contain major clues hidden within them, so pay close attention to what is read. I am trying to avoid, however, making puzzles overly difficult. Trying to avoid moon logic (or Sierra logic, for all the old school adventure gamers out there) as much as possible.

As for my progress, I've spent a fair bit of the past week getting the first part done and finished, adding just a few last touches before moving onto the next. I've gotten several people who are willing to help me beta test (Which is good because I want to beta test the hell out of this game. I'm going to be like Valve with beta testing), as well as some help with art and story.

Stay tuned for more information on the game as it's made! The projected release time is still sometime in July, but it's too early still to make any promises. Who knows though, maybe it will be released before July. We shall see!