Chapter 144: Players Will Eventually Understand Your Feelings
After completing the conceptual art for It Takes Two, the entire team began working efficiently. The art assets for the characters and related actions had already been produced before the end of the year. Currently, the team's main focus is on the scene levels and story development.
A storage room at home, a large tree in the yard, a corroded garden, a snowball representing first love, a medieval castle built of Lego toys... Alex, Lisa, and Jane explained the unique characteristics of each of the game's themed scenes. These themed scenes are not just scenes within the game; they symbolize the evolving emotional journeys of the two protagonists, May and Cody.
"The cuckoo clock level needed a crisp, metallic feel, and all the special props in this level had time-related functions, suggesting that Cody and May could start from scratch."
"The snowball is a metaphor for the relationship between Cody and May. Their love was once a burning flame, but now, like the snowball scene, it is completely frozen."
"But the cracking glacier at the end of the snowball level is also a metaphor, indicating that the ice that has frozen the relationship between May and Cody is now beginning to break."
"Likewise, the magnet in this level shows that the relationship between Cody and May has been drawn closer, moving from initial repulsion to mutual attraction."
Alex meticulously explained each scene, ensuring that Lisa and Jane understood the intended effect. Once the scene requirements and the underlying meaning of the plot were defined, there was no need to overthink it. They simply followed the existing requirements and made minor adjustments based on Alex's draft.
There was no need to make a second or third version and then put off the previous work.
Although it's not the first time they've felt this, and they already experienced it during the development of Dark Souls, the employees on the art team are very excited. With such a workflow, and since the salary at Nebula Games is not low, even if it's below average, people don't find excuses to leave.
While the development of It Takes Two is progressing little by little, many players in the main forums and communities after the winter holidays are a little confused and cannot overcome the game drought.
Although some companies have released new works during this period, Dark Souls, released before the end of the year, and the two virtual reality masterpieces from Aether Games and NetDragon have already whetted their appetites.
"Boring! What new games do you recommend?"
"No, the ones that came out recently don't look very good!"
"It's a shame. Although some studios from Aether Games and NetDragon have new games, I don't think the quality is very good."
"Yeah, this time last year, at least there was Overcooked, but this year there's nothing."
"Forget about Overcooked, because I've been washing dishes all year!"
"It's already the end of the year, why hasn't Alex given any news?"
"Yeah, all the companies at the annual video game events have announced new games, but Alex hasn't said anything. Apart from the new Dark Souls mode, he still hasn't said anything."
"I guess he's waiting for the big reveal. There might be a Dark Souls sequel!"
"Dark Souls is too difficult. I prefer to play family-friendly games, like Fall Guys."
Not only are there discussions in various communities; Alex's official blog is also tagged daily with questions about Nebula Games' future projects. Many players are eagerly awaiting a Dark Souls sequel. Seeing all the players tagging him, Alex thought for a moment and decided to reveal some news. He immediately posted an official blog entry with the following content.
"We are already developing a new game. It is a cooperative game for couples that will allow you to experience the warmth and friendship of love. There will be updates on Valentine's Day, so don't miss it."
Alex then added an image of a clay doll and a wooden one floating in the air, holding a dandelion. The post went viral as soon as it was published, attracting countless responses from players who followed Alex's progress.
"Oh my God, look what I found! A new game is coming!"
"Wait! A cooperative game for couples? Valentine's Day! What the heck! Alex, did you know I just got a girlfriend and I'm looking forward to being single?"
"From the images, the cartoon style looks very friendly, but the blood and tears of Overcooked prove that it's a huge trap!" "Once a year, you're here again on Valentine's Day, aren't you?"
"It's that time of year to revive the old memes. Fill in the blanks. What's Alex's nickname? Last year's Overcooked made me eat all the dishes in the house. This year, you want me to eat all the clothes, right?"
Players were enthusiastic. It was because, around this time last year, a game with a similar theme had left an indelible mark on them. But despite all the talk, the buzz about Alex's new game continued to grow on video game websites.
And within the industry, the news spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Alex's new game is another cooperative two-player game."
"Isn't it a Dark Souls sequel?"
"It should be like last year's Overcooked, a transitional mini-game, right?"
"What do you think? The cooperative two-player game is just a different theme and mode, like last year's Overcooked. What else can it do?"
Alex's new game was being debated in the industry and in the gaming community, but the focus was mainly on last year's Overcooked. After all, the timing and rhetoric made it hard not to think about it.
However, Alex remained unfazed. He believed that, once the game was officially released, all their "complaints" would be resolved. Then, players would finally understand his feelings and why he was called: Love Warrior!
Amidst the heated discussions, Valentine's Day, February 14th, quickly arrived.
At noon on that day, Alex and Nebula Games' official blog simultaneously posted a message. The content of the message was simple: a trailer. Three words, followed by a video.
After a brief black moment, a wooden door appeared. When it opened, a book with facial features appeared before the camera. "The Book of Love" was written at the top.
"This is a story about a magical kingdom."
The Book of Love extended its hands, seemingly welcoming the viewer, as the camera quickly zoomed out. The lighthouse, the clock tower, and the cartoon style gave the scene a dreamlike quality.
"There are many wizards and warriors."
The camera moved to a room where two miniature figures, one a clay doll and the other a wooden one, each dressed in wizard and warrior attire, wielding a flaming sword, fought a cartoon monster in a gladiator-like arena.
"This epic saga unfolds on the sea."
A small sailboat, like a toy block, dodged open-mouthed sharks and monstrous octopuses with huge tentacles.
"And it is also a journey through time and space."
A path of countless gears looked like the inside of a wall clock.
"Biubiubiu!" It even included winter dreams, like sleighs.
A bobsled slides down a snowy track.
The next instant, countless fragments flash by: train tracks snaking through tunnels, dodging spiders in a forest, and facing bats on a platform.
"Wait... did I mention there will be a massive explosion?"
A platform that looks like copper pipes explodes with a roar, and a huge explosion of flames erupts, sending two miniature dolls flying into the air in the powerful shockwave.
"Wait a minute, look at these dolls... I almost forgot they were once human."
The camera freezes on the two shattered dolls, and a photo appears. A man and a woman in wedding dresses and suits are smiling in front of a cake. But the photo splits in two, separating them.
"Well, well... do you want to know what this story is about?"
"This is the story of Cody and May."
The camera focuses on the two panicking dolls.
"Do you want to go back to normal? Then you first have to mend your relationship..." "This is a story of passion..."
"This is a story of charm..."
"This is a story of cooperation..."
Several game screens passed by, and finally the Nebula Games logo appeared.
The game's title is online: It Takes Two.
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