Owlcat Talks Publishing Indie RPGs Rue Valley and Shadow of the Road

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Owlcat Talks Publishing Indie RPGs Rue Valley and Shadow of the Road

Key Takeaways

  • Owlcat is branching into indie publishing, starting with unique narrative games Rue Valley and Shadow of the Road.
  • Shadow of the Road blends feudal Japan with steampunk and magic, focusing on deep character development.
  • Rue Valley, akin to Disco Elysium, explores themes of mental health and offers personality-driven character creation.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the news that Owlcat Games is venturing into indie publishing. With their proven track record in creating immersive and narrative-rich games like Pathfinder and Warhammer 40k, it’s refreshing to see them supporting other developers who share their passion for storytelling.

Known primarily for their popular role-playing games “Pathfinder” and “Warhammer 40k”, game developer Owlcat is now branching out into publishing for other independent studios with a focus on narrative-driven titles. The initial two games in this new venture are “Rue Valley” by Emotion Spark Studios and “Shadow of the Road” by Another Angle Games.

As a dedicated gamer, I’d like to share some insights I recently picked up from Andrey Tsvetkov, the big boss at Owlcat Studios, during his chat with Game Rant. He shed light on what initially attracted them to these particular games and how they align with the unique flavor of Owlcat’s portfolio. In essence, Owlcat is all about immersive storytelling games that resonate with the kind of titles they would have created themselves.

The Shadow of the Road

In “Shadow of the Road,” a captivating title crafted by Polish studio Another Angle, there’s been a significant amount of interest due to its unique backdrop. This game is set in feudal Japan, but with an intriguing blend of steampunk and magical aspects. Interestingly, these elements weren’t yet apparent during the demo that initially won Owlcat’s affection for the project, as Tsvetkov shared.

The main emphasis of “Shadow of the Road” centers around its characters. Essentially, it follows the character development of two samurai companions who initially find themselves as ronin after losing their master. Throughout their journey, they meet various other characters. Interestingly, during our review process, we played a demo which barely hinted at magic and steampunk elements – these were intended for later stages of the game. Instead, the demo primarily showcased a

From a fan’s perspective, “Shadow of the Road” would have been an exceptional title if it were a historical Japanese narrative focusing on samurai and the intriguing characters they encounter during their journey. The story takes an interesting turn when the Shogun entrusts these samurai with the protection of a gifted individual, introducing the magical and steampunk elements of the game. The fusion of mystical powers from the Shogun and the industrial ingenuity of the English, as depicted in the game, adds depth and complexity to the overall experience.

For Tsvetkov, the aspects that truly captivated him were the character interactions. These elements made the game feel akin to an Owlcat production, as Owlcat’s first-party games are renowned for their rich and distinct characters. Essentially, embodying the characteristics of an Owlcat game is one of the qualities that the studio values in its independent collaborators.

Descending into Rue Valley

The game titled “Rue Valley,” created by Serbian developer Emotion Spark, has drawn parallels to the critically acclaimed indie RPG, “Disco Elysium.” This game delves into topics of depression and mental health, set within a time loop narrative filled with vibrant characters, moving narratives, and hidden surprises. Although the comparison may seem evident, Tsvetkov found the portrayal of dealing with depression particularly resonant, and he anticipates many players will share this sentiment.

Upon encountering it, the idea was simply captivating – we previewed a brief sample before committing to the project, and it was superbly crafted. They were in the process of determining the art style and visual aesthetic, which added to its intrigue. For quite some time, it had been thought among RPG enthusiasts that an RPG should primarily focus on stats, advancement, classes, and so forth. We were thrilled to learn, I think our colleagues at Emotion Spark shared this joy, as Disco Elysium represented a unique, large-scale case where such conventions were challenged.

One way to rephrase the given text in a natural and easy-to-read manner is: “Rue Valley stands out from typical RPGs through its unique character creation process. Rather than assigning stats, players shape their character’s personality, with options ranging from cold, detached individuals to boisterous dramatists. In Rue Valley, personality traits can even be influenced by status effects such as becoming more outgoing when intoxicated.

In a fresh approach, Owlcat initiated an open alpha test for the game titled Rue Valley. At this point in time, subscribers to Humble Choice are granted access to the alpha version of the game. This was one of the initial instances where Humble provided early access to its subscribers, a possibility made feasible by the lengthy partnership between Owlcat and Humble.

What Owlcat Looks For in an Indie

Owlcat Talks Publishing Indie RPGs Rue Valley and Shadow of the Road

Besides these two titles, Owlcat also intends to publish more independent narrative-driven games. In fact, they are aiming to establish themselves as a significant player in the indie gaming market and have numerous proposals from August’s Gamescom event to review.

Initially, what Owlcat scrutinizes isn’t strictly the game itself, but rather the individuals behind it – the teams. Teams like Emotion Spark and Another Angle stood out to Owlcat as those who had a defined vision, skilled core developers, and the independence to execute their plans. Unlike co-developing, Owlcat prefers to act more as a mentor for emerging studios in their field.

Those teams were clearly focused on their goals for the projects they were undertaking. This is crucial, as every team needs dedicated members who understand their roles and responsibilities, and are passionate about the work they’re doing. In these teams, we noticed a shared enthusiasm for creating innovative games, demonstrating their ability to execute their vision effectively.

For Owlcat, it’s crucial not just to start projects but also to successfully complete them within a reasonable timeframe. Tsvetkov doubts the approach of “releasing a game when it’s done” works in today’s industry, as games like “Beyond Good and Evil 2” have shown. Therefore, Owlcat prioritizes collaborating with teams that can efficiently bring projects to their conclusion. Recognizing the hurdles faced by independent developers, Owlcat is more than willing to offer guidance and knowledge.

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2024-09-24 22:13