As of today, the price of Icebound is increasing from $14.99 to $19.99 USD. This is not to reflect any massive additions to the game, but a crazy little thing called inflation means that $20 today is quite literally $15 back when the game released. This update is purely to maintain the game's original price point, as it has become devalued over time due to the economy and the passage of time. I still believe that the game holds up today, and $15 was a low-ish price point even for the time. The imminent addition of the long-awaited voice acting with the game's final-ever major update will add even more to the deal. If you are thinking of buying the game, don't worry, since Icebound will be hitting its greatest-ever discount soon regardless. Thank you for reading this and any continued support!

[ 2025-01-24 20:58:42 CET ] [ Original post ]

Given how long it has been since the last update, many might assume that perhaps I vanished into the Infinitum, or became lost in time and space. But, nay, I am still on this mortal plane, and, as some might say, "back in business" and "so back". Furthermore, as TF2 might attest to, 'tis the season for resurrecting things from the grave. Therefore, I am proud to announce that Icebound 2.0 has been released! While not exactly a remaster, it revamps the entire interface and changes some game mechanics and even character graphics. If you experience any problems or issues with the game, let me know so that they can be addressed. The game is currently half-off for the Winter Sale as well! It still does not have the long-awaited voice acting, but that is currently in development. In the interest of getting it to people as soon as possible, it may be releasing in stages. Furthermore, DRM-free versions will be rolling out to those who have the game on the Humble Store.

Full changelog

(Contains minor spoilers for names) This patch institutes a full redesign of the game's interface. The game is now a 64-bit program and is no longer Windows XP-compatible. It is a modernization of the game incorporating things I've learned since release, while fixing a few long-unaddressed bugs.

Gameplay changes

• Notoriety changed to Alignment and simplified into a single meter
• Added "neutral" option to alchemy puzzles that does not change alignment. Now, you only have to gain Order or Chaos if you wish to do so.
• Prevent tutorial from re-appearing if you choose to repeat the first puzzle on a second playthrough

UI changes

• Complete Main Menu and dossier graphical revamp. New unlockable backgrounds added to Main Menu upon game completion.
• The game now has an option to change to a dyslexia-friendly font for accessibility purposes.
• Added text history, achievement progress, and "about" screens.
• Choice menu now adjusts in size depending on number of choices and has new buttons.
• Consolidated settings screen for better usability, new settings added including font changer
• Consolidated and updated help screen
• Save file names now show the ingame day
• Reduced text size of alert prompt screen and dossier text for better readability
• Slight opacity reduction of text box and text box faces now slide in/out
• Added tooltips for quick menu and adjusted opacity
• Updated text skipping indicator
• Stat screen descriptions now appear in the same window
• Removed defunct link in Web Links
• Cursor size increased by 25%
• Quit to desktop option added to ingame menu

Graphical changes

• Isaac's face was redrawn, and now matches the cutscene version. This is closer to my original conception of his appearance.
• Fei's head was redrawn. It is now also identical to the cutscene version, and is much more scar-- I mean, cuddly.
• Vastly improved several animal sprites - Yoreya, Bessie, Nibbles. The former was just the original sprite artist not being great at drawing animals, while the latter couple were design decisions I wanted to change to something more fitting for the Icebound universe.
• Modified Nibbles cutscene and Farm background to reflect design changes
• Lamia's disguise sprites redone to better match art style
• Taro dreamworld silhouette adjusted
• Golden Knight calling card improved
• Dougal's glowing eyes in nighttime animated
• Lamia's blushing animated
• Fei breakdown scene moved in-engine
• Salamandra core FX added
• Added alchemy FX in certain scenes
• Final puzzle intro improved
• "How to Perform Alchemy" tutorial now has textboxes instead of static images
• Credits sequence now scrolls, was added to "Extras" to be played at any time

Dossier changes

• 20 new lore entries added, unlocked at their appropriate points in the story.
• Devia: Moonglow, Abydos, The Cataclysm.
• Ferans: Demon's Curse, Dreamworld.
• Alchemy: Alchemy Kit, Insubstantiation, Resurrection.
• Ancients: Homunculi, Forbidden Style, The Ark, The Azoth, The Tale of Two Beasts.
• Empire: Story of Megistus, Empress Meridia, Clockwork Armor, The Clockwork War, The S.R.D.
• Council: Felkriegs, The Feran Way.
• Elementals lore entry rewritten

Bug fixes

• Fixed bug that mis-counted points on an Order choice
• Fixed bug where some characters would not appear dark at nighttime
• Fixed alignment of Music Room entries that broke in a prior patch

Other announcements

There are multiple other announcements I would like to reveal as well.

Icebound novel

My debut novel, Icebound: Usurper of the Unseen, is currently nearing completion. This action-packed prequel follows Dougal before his accident and subsequent memory loss. A greenhorn recruit to the Imperial military, due to his unique abilities, he is assigned to be the bodyguard of Rann, a feran alchemist who has betrayed her people for unknown reasons. He teams up with Celine, a noble who abandoned a life of safety and prestige for the battlefield, and Gregory, a scholar who desperately wants to be off it. Assigned to an impossible mission to attack a heavily defended feran city, their only hope lies in a power that Dougal discovers. But, this forbidden fire can scorch his friends just as easily as his enemies... will it simply be his undoing?

Subsequent games

Selenon Rising Episode 3 and 4 are still planned for release, and now one of my highest priorities. However, I am also nearly complete with an additional unannounced game. This game, set in a completely new fantasy universe, will also release on Steam. It is a dating sim - yes, that's right, and not the pure visual novel kind. The story revolves around a knight who is sent to destroy a village populated by those who are... not quite human. When he ends up wounded and mysteriously teleported there instead, he realizes his orders were not at all accurate. But, the rest of his continent are soon to arrive there... can he recover his strength in time? Further (but hopefully not too far) into the future, I plan to put this knowledge to use with another dating sim of the gothic horror variety.

[ 2024-12-22 04:43:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

Steam Cloud support has now been added to Icebound! The game will now back up save files across systems and when the game is uninstalled.

[ 2020-08-01 13:11:54 CET ] [ Original post ]

Episode 1 of our new game Selenon Rising, a sci-fi noir, mystery visual novel, has been released on Steam! If you enjoyed Icebound, then consider picking it up! http://store.steampowered.com/app/358760/ It will be 10% off for a limited time only as a release discount. Further episodes will be released as DLC in the coming months.

[ 2016-05-02 12:53:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

Episode 1 of our new game Selenon Rising, a sci-fi noir, mystery visual novel, has been released on Steam! If you enjoyed Icebound, then consider picking it up! http://store.steampowered.com/app/358760/ It will be 10% off for a limited time only as a release discount. Further episodes will be released as DLC in the coming months.

[ 2016-05-02 12:53:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

Patch 1.13 has just been released, which adds full controller support to the game and makes it compatible with Big Picture. It has also added graphical improvements such as animation on the puzzle screen. In addition, the puzzle has a new help screen that explains it in greater detail. Thank you for your support. If there is anything that doesn't work with the controller, or anything else that broke, then post on the forums and I will make sure it's fixed ASAP. And for those who have beaten the game and enjoyed it, don't hesitate to leave a positive review. Even if short, it helps boost the game's visibility.

[ 2015-09-17 18:38:18 CET ] [ Original post ]

Patch 1.13 has just been released, which adds full controller support to the game and makes it compatible with Big Picture. It has also added graphical improvements such as animation on the puzzle screen. In addition, the puzzle has a new help screen that explains it in greater detail. Thank you for your support. If there is anything that doesn't work with the controller, or anything else that broke, then post on the forums and I will make sure it's fixed ASAP. And for those who have beaten the game and enjoyed it, don't hesitate to leave a positive review. Even if short, it helps boost the game's visibility.

[ 2015-09-17 18:38:18 CET ] [ Original post ]

I've released a new patch that fixes a few glitches that were preventing players from getting two of the achievements. I am hoping to implement Full Controller Support in the next patch so that the game will be compatible with Big Picture mode and Xbox 360 controllers, etc. This will be available once the engine supports it.

[ 2015-09-04 11:13:48 CET ] [ Original post ]

I've released a new patch that fixes a few glitches that were preventing players from getting two of the achievements. I am hoping to implement Full Controller Support in the next patch so that the game will be compatible with Big Picture mode and Xbox 360 controllers, etc. This will be available once the engine supports it.

[ 2015-09-04 11:13:48 CET ] [ Original post ]

If you are interested in buying the Original Soundtrack, it is not available through Steam, but, rather, can be purchased at this link: https://julianlangdon.bandcamp.com/album/icebound-promotional-soundtrack It includes extended versions of a number of songs from the game. If you want to support the composer of the game, then consider grabbing it!

[ 2015-08-05 20:03:13 CET ] [ Original post ]

If you are interested in buying the Original Soundtrack, it is not available through Steam, but, rather, can be purchased at this link: https://julianlangdon.bandcamp.com/album/icebound-promotional-soundtrack It includes extended versions of a number of songs from the game. If you want to support the composer of the game, then consider grabbing it!

[ 2015-08-05 20:03:13 CET ] [ Original post ]

Important dispatch from the Empire: The omni-interactive tele-video device known as Icebound has been released to your local Steam-powered computing system for immediate perusal! It also includes sturdy trading cards featuring key characters from the game, a new technological advance our scientists have been calling "Achievements", and emoticons starring an unusual creature that has a rather uncanny resemblance to a sabercat. ːfeiː We hope that you enjoy this quality piece of entertainment constructed through the miracle of modern-day alchemy. If you encounter any unforeseen difficulties, do not hesitate to contact us and we will endeavor to repair the damage forthwith.

[ 2015-08-05 19:16:27 CET ] [ Original post ]

Important dispatch from the Empire: The omni-interactive tele-video device known as Icebound has been released to your local Steam-powered computing system for immediate perusal! It also includes sturdy trading cards featuring key characters from the game, a new technological advance our scientists have been calling "Achievements", and emoticons starring an unusual creature that has a rather uncanny resemblance to a sabercat. :fei: We hope that you enjoy this quality piece of entertainment constructed through the miracle of modern-day alchemy. If you encounter any unforeseen difficulties, do not hesitate to contact us and we will endeavor to repair the damage forthwith.

[ 2015-08-05 19:16:27 CET ] [ Original post ]