Comrades! Some time ago we showed you how Irony Curtain looked in the early prototype phase and how it looks like now. Today wed like to talk a little bit more about the reasons behind the change and the whole creative process. Its no doubt that Irony Curtain came a long way from the times when it was just a prototype called simply Matryoshka. There are three main reasons why weve decided to simplify the art style:

1. The previous style looked great but it didnt play well

The before screenshots weve shown are undoubtedly the ones that look brilliant detailed backgrounds, vibrant colours and original characters. And thats the whole point. It looked awesome on static graphics but the puzzles and navigating through the level seemed frustrating just BECAUSE of all those things. When everything is so detailed every object fights for your attention so it feels like pixel hunting all the time. It is crucial for us to have the best possible gameplay without any frustrations and unfortunately, the previous style caused a lot of it. One of Irony Curtain's minigames: the very detailed BEFORE (left) version and simpler AFTER (right) version

2. Weve changed the way we animate characters

The characters in the early prototype we've were made with a technique called cutout animation, a form of stop-motion animation that uses flat objects (think about the paper theatre that youve probably played as a child) . Right now Evan and other characters from the game are animated in a traditional stop-motion way that requires simpler textures on the models. And simpler textures mean simpler art style everywhere in order to keep the project consistent. BEFORE:
AFTER:

3. We want the art style to be a part of how we tell the story

When Evan first arrives at the Leaders Heart Hotel, hes overwhelmed by its monumentality and splendor. The location should reflect that, so weve decided to add a lot of empty space and make the character look really small in comparison to the building. There are locations in the game that didnt change that much though (e.g., Evans bathroom in the hotel room), weve only adjusted them to the current style of the game. BEFORE:
AFTER:
In the next episode of Behind Irony Curtain, well show you the creative process behind creating the locations in Irony Curtain. Stay tuned!

[ 2018-12-28 15:09:28 CET ] [ Original post ]

King Raphael returns victorious from the expedition against the army of the mysterious Elf Sylvanheir. While king's subjects are preparing for his triumphant arrival, his sister - startled by his strange letters from during the war - suspects that Raphael has been cursed and that a real war is about to begin.

The war between the Kingdom of Phoenix and the possesed army of elves and their leader Sylvanheir is coming to an end. When the subjects await the arrival of their king, his sister - the alchemist - is full of bad feelings. Strange letters, sent by her broher in the last weeks of war expedition and horrible nightmares lead her to believe that something wrong is going on with the king. She suspects that it is somehow connected with the dwellers of the Tangled Forest, who conjured people of the kingdom of elves. Is the protagonist right about all this? What inglorious secrets are hidden beneath the legendary past? Will the Alchemist unravel the complicated plot, make up for the Kingdom's sins from the past and save her brother?

Features

• Travel through 26 hand painted locations!
  
• Use alchemy to lead your investigation!
  
• Solve 26 minigames and ho scenes!
  
• Traverse the Kingdom on horseback and a raft!
  
• Learn the long hidden secret of people and elves!