Monthly Archives: November 2018

The Reddit Roundup

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Now that our game has launched on Google Play, I’m making the rounds on Reddit showing it off to as many communities as possible. Do you have a Reddit account? Would you mind giving these posts a boost?

I realize this is kind of scummy – the whole point of Reddit is that the community decides what to upvote and downvote based on their hive-mind interest. But… we’re part of the community too, right?

Also, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to brag about how popular our game is on the /r/IndieGaming subreddit after posting just one GIF. Read on, and thanks in advance for the help!

 

 

Boost These Reddit Posts!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to upvote the following posts:

/r/IndieGaming – My friend (dev) and I (art) made a game where shadows change things

We did really well here already. Shout-out to Grant for recommending we post here and giving me advice about how to get on the top page. My initial post was boring, long, and corporate – we shortened it to basically just a website link and let the game speak for itself. Nearly 5,000 people viewed this, and it only cost me a few minutes of my time. I’ll have to come back to this sub more often!

/r/Gaming – New mobile puzzle game where shadows change the environment

This post was dead on arrival, sadly. For a community as large as /r/Gaming, you’d expect more upvotes and comments. I doubt your help will get us on the front page, but you’re welcome to try. The front page of this sub is usually gaming memes or really popular titles.

/r/AndroidGaming – [DEV] Where Shadows Slumber (Creepy / Puzzle / Adventure) just launched on Google Play!

This one didn’t do too badly, though I was hoping for more from a sub with this many subscribers. Plenty of comments though!

/r/IndieDev – Our indie team made it to Google Play! [Where Shadows Slumber]

Solid engagement here from a community that I confused with /r/IndieGaming. This sub is all about the developers, and the process of making games. People seemed to like our trailer!

There’s more where that came from. Comment below with your favorite subreddit – if I can somehow tie it to the game, I will. Next up, I’m going to post rainy GIFs to /r/ImaginaryRain and see if there’s a snow subreddit too. (I’m not kidding! Tell me your favorite subreddit and I’ll work a plug in somehow. As long as it isn’t a NSFW subreddit…)

 

 

BONUS: Robert Adams of TechRaptor Reviewed Us!

We met Robert a loooong time ago during Playcrafting’s Spring 2016 arcade event. He’s kept in touch with us all this time, eagerly awaiting the game’s release.

I feel bad that it took so long to get a build out to him, but he’s on Android instead of iOS. So when our game launched on iOS first, it took a while to get him a copy. Now that we’ve released the game on Google Play, he published his thoughts on TechRaptor. Here’s a sneak peek:

Where Shadows Slumber is a game that I’ve been following for some time. I first saw a tiny poster with intriguing art at a Playcrafting event and got to talking with one of its developers. Since then, I’ve anxiously followed the game’s progress and was finally able to get my hands on the final release. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely.

Check out the full review here:

Where Shadows Slumber Review – Colorful Cliffs & Dark Depths

Thanks for your patience all these years, Robert! We hope you enjoyed the game [^_^ ]

 

We have some cool marketing stuff in the works right now, but nothing to announce yet… stay tuned, and thanks for your support!

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available for purchase on the App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store.

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

 

 

How To Discuss Where Shadows Slumber At The Dinner Table

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The Where Shadows Slumber team realizes that holidays can be both good and bad for your mental health. While it’s always a pleasure to enjoy days off work with friends and family, it can also be difficult to confront those same people about the weighty issues of the day.

We consulted a panel of family & compassion experts to come up with the answers to commonly asked questions. Please enjoy this helpful guide for how you can navigate those difficult dinner conversations this Thanksgiving.

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Q. What is Where Shadows Slumber?

A. Where Shadows Slumber is an indie game for mobile devices where you play as a tiny old man with a lantern. Objects hidden by shadows in the game can change the next time you see them. It’s a blend of puzzle and adventure that requires you to pay attention to your environment and experiment.

Q. What does “indie” mean?

A. It means our team is small and we’re self-publishing this game. No one owns it besides the original creators.

Q. What is a video game? Can it be eaten?

A. No, a video game is a computer program that’s fun and is executed for its own sake rather than some utilitarian purpose (like a Calculator or Calendar program). They are meant to be enjoyed to pass the time. As an abstract collection of data, they cannot be eaten.

Q. What if my relative hates video games?

A. Tell them that video games bring people joy, just like film, TV, books, and theater. They aren’t for everybody, but some people really enjoy them.

Q. Is it OK to scream at my family if they disagree?

A. Generally, this is not advised. Remember that you’ll see these people again next year. Try to be compassionate with everyone and bring up the topic of Where Shadows Slumber gently.

Q. What if my relative doesn’t have the game, and doesn’t want to buy it?

A. There are some situations where you can scream at them. This is one of those situations.

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Q. What if my relative has an iOS device?

A. Not a problem. They can download the game on the App Store here.

Q. What if my relative has an Android device?

A. Everything will be OK. The game is available on Google Play here.

Q. What if my relative has an Amazon tablet?

A. We’ve got them covered. They can get the game from the Amazon App Store here.

Q. What if my relative has a Windows phone?

A. Tell them to leave.

That’s all the advice we’ve got – now you’re on your own. Good luck with your family today!

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available for purchase on the App Store and Google Play!

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

Where Shadows Slumber, out on Android!

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The long(er) wait is over… Where Shadows Slumber is finally out on Android worldwide! Download the game from our Google Play page by clicking the link below:

STORE: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamerevenant.whereshadowsslumber&hl=en

If you’d like an easier link to share with your friends, try this one:

SHORT LINK: bit.ly/WSS-Android

We want to extend a very hearty “thank you” to all of you Android gamers who patiently waited for our game to launch on your platform. It’s a shame we couldn’t do the App Store and Google play at the same exact time, but this strategy was a bit easier on our small indie team.

Note: If you get a strange message that the game needs to access the storage on your device, you can press “Deny” and the game will still work. We’re looking into why that false alarm is being triggered.

 

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We Need Your Help!

First and foremost, grab a cup of tea and curl up on the couch with Where Shadows Slumber. You’ve waited a long time to play this, and we spent a long time working on it. You deserve to savor the moment.

When you’re done with that, go leave a 5 star review on the game’s store page! Look at it right now. One review?* Get in there, people! Let’s make this as popular as Monument Valley so Jack can retire and fulfill his lifelong dream of replacing author Stephen King and taking over his life without anyone noticing o_o. That’s a secret, but you read these blog posts for inside information, right? We trust you.

Seriously, go leave a review and share this link with your friends:

bit.ly/WSS-Android

 

*One review written by me.

 

Share The Trailer!

It’s always good to share some beautiful artwork of the game with your friends, instead of just shouting at them. Here’s the YouTube link to our promo video. Check it out, and share it on Facebook or Twitter! You can also boost our original post if you want to see how many Shares we can rack up on that bad boy.

 

Amazon Is Happening!

As we speak, our game is chugging along in Amazon’s review process. It’ll be there for another day at least, so if you have a Kindle… just wait longer! You’ve waited all this time, what’s one more day? If you want, you can keep furiously scanning the store page. It may randomly show up sometime during the evening!

Don’t worry – the game is coming to the Amazon App Store. I can’t promise that anyone will actually buy it there, considering it’s the smallest market, but it’s coming! Maybe we should have a stretch goal if we sell 10 units?

 

Thank you for your patience, Androids of the world. Your time to rise up and take your rightful place is finally here! We hope you enjoy the game [ ^_^]

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available for purchase on the App Store and Google Play!

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

Champagne Supanova

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My business trip to Australia is winding down! By this time next week, I’ll be home on the frosty mean streets of Hoboken, and Where Shadows Slumber will be available on Google Play. That’s quite a change from the hot, humid, Android-less weather here in Brisbane.

I’ve enjoyed my time away from the U.S., and I can safely say the Where Shadows Slumber “World” Tour was an official success. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to the past two weeks, as well as a look ahead at our next event.

 

Double Supanova In The Sky

From November 2nd to the 4th, I attended Supanova Adelaide. From Nov. 9th to the 11th, I was at Supanova Brisbane. Although the events are part of a series, they felt quite different. Both of them were comic conventions, but Brisbane was much more heavily attended and my table was in a much better location. Even so, both gave me the opportunity to expose Where Shadows Slumber to an audience that otherwise would have never heard of the game. Some people even bought the game on their iPhones right in front of me!

I’m very glad I went – not just because I got to see two beautiful Australian cities, but because it was a chance to bring a bit of joy and mystery into people’s lives. If I had the chance to go to another Supanova, I might dress the booth up a bit different to match the “comic con” theme. But it was still totally worth it! Look out Supanova Gold Coast…

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As always, the best part of these conventions is getting chummy with the artists to your left and right. Go support Keelan over at Killustrate (Keelan + Illustrates, he’s not a murderer) by buying some of his cool hand painted artwork! These are not made in photoshop, they’re actually painted and then digitally scanned! Keelan was next to me at Supanova Adelaide, and he’s totally not a bogan so go buy his stuff.

Then, if you’re feeling lucky, grab yourself a replica Ace of Spades from Halifax. I met the whole team at Supanova Brisbane, and got a chance to hold the weapons myself. They feel great in your hand, and you can even paint them yourself if you buy the kit version. Plus, if you’re not a Destiny fan, they’re working on a whole bunch of new guns from classic series like Halo and Devil May Cry. Go vote in their Instagram poll to make your voice heard!

I want to thank everyone I met at these conventions, dealers and customers alike. Everyone made me feel very welcome in this foreign land, and I’m so glad you’re all running around with Where Shadows Slumber pins on your bags now, hehehe. Hope to see you again next time I’m in Australia!

 

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Going To Gameacon?

Gameacon NYC is this weekend at the Resorts World Casino in New York City, which I believe is in Queens. Gameacon was one of the first shows we ever did, though we went to the Atlantic City version. The show has since expanded to NYC and Las Vegas. It’s hard to justify the trip out to some of these places, but since this Gameacon is in our backyard it was hard to say no. Plus, the event manager took $50 off our price since we’re alumni!

Sadly, I’ll be in Australia during this show and Jack will be away. Fortunately, Alba and Noah, our talented audio duo, are here to save the day!

Thanks to Alba and Noah for filling in here – if you’re going to Gameacon, be sure to say hello. And if you’re looking for two awesome freelance composers to bring onto your team, show them your game… I’m sure PHÖZ is looking for a chance at their next masterpiece!

 

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One Week Until Android Launches!

We have just seven days until our global (sans China) release of Where Shadows Slumber on Google Play, so we’re both excited and a bit terrified. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong with our iOS release went wrong, so I have no idea what to expect. This is either going to go really smooth, or go terribly wrong in unimaginable ways. In either case, download the beta for free right now so you can fill us in on any problems you’ve experienced!

If anyone knows how Google Play’s stupid promo code system works, please email me at contact@GameRevenant, comment below, DM me on Twitter @GameRevenant, or throw a brick at my head with a note attached to it. I sent a code to Robert Adams of TechRaptor, and it didn’t work! This poor man has been dying to play the game since Play NYC 2017. He must think I’m trolling him. But apparently Google Play’s promo codes don’t work if your game is unreleased. We may need to go into some kind of Closed Beta just so journalists can play the game a few days early.

We’re also preparing for an Amazon launch, which is basically Android with a different online marketplace. Diligent readers of this blog will remember that we won a Developer Spotlight Feature Thing on the Amazon App Store at last year’s Mobile Games Forum at the end of October 2017. Sadly, the contacts I had for that prize have dropped off the face of the Earth, so this week I’ll be doing a little investigating. If we’re not on your Kindle by November 20th, it’s because we’re waiting for a promotion from Amazon.

Keep your chin up, Android users! We’re in the home stretch. Soon, you’ll be able to taste sweet shadowy goodness. In the meantime, tell your friends about the game, download the beta, download the beta, tell your friends about the game, and download the beta!

It’s only a matter of time now.

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available on the App Store! bit.ly/WSS-iOS

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.