Vote for Lord Winklebottom!

Thank you so much to everyone who's played Lord Winklebottom Investigates so far! If you enjoyed it please consider nominating the game for the Outstanding Story-Rich Game of 2022.

As you probably know, the game was made by a very small team (mainly one person, me!), so any help with spreading the word about the game, posting reviews and nominations are greatly appreciated!

Thank you all!

Charlotte

Lord Winklebottom Investigates is now available for 20% off for a limited time during the Steam Autumn sale!

There's no better time to get your hooves on the murder mystery whodunnit featuring the fanciest giraffe in town...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1024160/Lord_Winklebottom_Investigates/

This is a bug fix and polish update, plus an additional QOL option for controller & Steam Deck players.

• Added cursor speed option when using a joypad or Steam Deck to play the game.
  
• Fixed a bug where invalid autosaves could be created after the game was completed.
  
• Added social media links on the main menu.
  
• Fixed a handful of text errors.
  

Hey everyone,

Gameplay, mechanics, and art direction are all crucial to game development, but the contribution of stellar voice acting often goes unnoticed. Perhaps thats intentional! The best voice acting blends into the overall soundscape of a game, helps set the scene, and brings characters to life. Voice acting that makes itself obvious can ruin immersion.

How do we bring Lord Winklebottom Investigates characters to life, and what do our voice actors have to say about their profession?

Were shining a spotlight on one such incredible actress, Sally Beaumont, the talented voice behind numerous stars of Lord Winklebottom Investigates. Heres what she had to say.



[h3]How long have you been voice acting? How did it all start?[/h3]
Id probably say Ive been voice acting since I could speak. Realising it was a real job happened in my late teens, and I have been hooked ever since. I trained at University, and acting was all about transformation. When I learned how to use the studio there, I was able to transform even more!

[h3]Which Lord Winklebottom Investigates characters did you voice?[/h3]
Im Dame Celia, Beryl the Maid, and another TOP SECRET role. Youll have to play the game to meet her.

[h3]Which one was the most fun and challenging to record and why?[/h3]
Oh gosh. Dame Celia is an absolute hoot! We pushed her flamboyance about as far as it could go! Beryl is also a fabulous role. I love Agatha Christie maids, the type who drop the tea tray and screech when they discover the body, so Beryl was wonderful fun. Its such a lively, well-written script that the characters kind of sprang out of me.



[h3]What's it like working on Lord Winklebottom Investigates?[/h3]
Honestly? Absolute joy. I love the concept and am an avid Conan Doyle fan, so I was keen to play a suspect. The comedy references it makes speak to me- Carry On films, Fawlty Towers, Round The Horn. The team are smashing, too. They know exactly what they want from the voices, which makes life much easier. Oh, and they laugh at my ridiculous performances, encouraging me to go even further!

[h3]Can you tell me a little bit about your all-time favourite projects?[/h3]
Its usually whatever Im working on right nowI love the process of getting to know a new character. I loved working on Bertram Fiddle 2; it clicked with me how much I wanted to work in adventure games. Aye Fair Lady was also a pivotal moment, Charlotte Gore encouraged me to be very silly, and its the role many people remember me from. Oh, and Carlata from Mutropolis. Shes a lot like me, and I love that shes this funny, complicated woman who gets underestimated a lot. I think a lot of actresses would get that!

[h3]What's the best part about voice acting?[/h3]
Joke answer: working in my pyjamas (actually, no, maybe Im not joking).
Real answer: I get to work on lots of different things at once, many different challenges, and I get to be part of a team that makes magic happen. I think games can be magic, especially for players.

[h3]What is the biggest challenge of your job?[/h3]
I think the feast/famine nature of the job is really toughnot just on your finances and energy levels but your self-esteem too. Having work dry up can leave you feeling like youre all washed up, and then the next week, youre overwhelmed. So I try to have personal and professional goals that arent in the hands of others. I can take care of my voice, feed my creativity, and support the VA community. That all helps.

[h3]How do you bring a character to life?[/h3]
It varies depending on the role, but often I find out what that character finds funny. Sometimes a laugh will make a character click. I like to listen to people generally and try to bring real intonations Ive heard to a role. Its kind of alchemical sometimes. Youll do a take, and the developer will make eye contact, and youll both feel itthats the character.

[h3]What does successful voice acting sound like to you? [/h3]
It doesnt sound like anything! What I mean is, if youre thinking, cor! Thats some good voice acting! then that isnt good. Its pulling you out of the story. It should feel effortless, right. Good voice acting follows the overall goals of the game developer whilst bringing a little extra something thats unique to the performer.


Which character voice are you most excited about? Why? Leave a comment below and let us know!


More from Sally Beaumont:

[previewyoutube=bUDUbUf_4Lc;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=vDh20azGpEA;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Hey guys,

With the official release of Lord Winklebottom Investigates just around the corner, I thought now would be the perfect time to take a closer look at some of its defining gameplay elements.

In case you didnt know already, Lord Winklebottom Investigates is a whodunnit point and click with a twistor two. Players assume the role of Lord Winklebottom, a giraffe detective tasked with solving the mysterious murder of his childhood friend, Admiral Gilfrey.

There are hundreds of clickable elements scattered around the Isle of Barghest, serving all kinds of different uses and functions.

Throughout your journey, youll come across useful tools and objects that you can:

• Use at the right time and place to solve challenging puzzles. Theres no pixel hunting in Lord Winklebottom Investigates, which means players dont have to position their cursor perfectly to interact with chosen elements.
  
• Combine to create new items. Some puzzles require you to drag one object/tool in your inventory and drop it onto another.
  
• Share with suspects to unlock new interactions. Again, this is done by dragging items and dropping them where necessary.
  

Release Date!

The time has come for Lord Winklebottom to pack his magnifying glass, don the top hat and stash some spare Earl Grey (for emergencies) as we prepare to venture to the mysterious Isle of Barghest in Lord Winklebottom Investigates, releasing on JULY 28th on Steam!



This splendid 1920s mystery features the genial giraffe detective Lord Winklebottom as he strives to unravel the mystery behind his old friend Admiral Gilfreys recent unceremonious demise. Could it be murder?

With the help of Dr Frumple, and with a cast of memorable hand drawn anthropomorphic animals, all fully voiced, this successfully funded Kickstarter game is a point & click adventure full of wit, puzzles and intrigue from a one-woman developer.

With characteristic British humour and delightfully distinctive story, Lord Winklebottom Investigates launches on Steam and consoles July 28th.



[h2]Features[/h2]

• Animals of all shapes and sizes!
  
• Unique 2D hand painted artwork.
  
• Streamlined point and click interface.
  
• Collection of bizarre characters to interrogate!
  
• Play as a gentleman giraffe!
  
• Dozens of puzzles to solve!
  

Hello everyone,

Lord Winklebottom Investigates will soon hit the digital shelves, but we still havent addressed the giraffe in the room: Whats with the animals?

The world of Lord Winklebottom Investigates draws heavily from the classic mystery novels of the early 20th century. The mysterious murder, the mansion, the suspects, the eccentric detectiveall are conventional whodunnit elements with which many of you will be very familiar.

Heres the twist. Although similar to our own reality in many ways, this world is inhabited by all kinds of conscious, talking animals.

Talking (or otherwise anthropomorphized) animals have made many appearances in art over the centuries. Theyre, of course, very popular with children. Sometimes, theyre used as symbols of different qualities and virtues; other times, theyre part of moral/political allegories. For example, George Orwells Animal Farm is an allegorical commentary on the rise of communism in post-Czarist Russia.

The introduction of human-like animal characters in a detective story can be pretty advantageous for several reasons:

It broadens the audience by toning down the mature elements associated with the genre. Lord Winklebottom Investigates maintains all the fun and mystery of detective games without the gruesome imagery.
It provides opportunities for comedic relief and leaves plenty of room for jokes/puns/and funny references.
It allows for unique and memorable suspects, making it really easy to keep track of whos who - valuable for Lets Plays and live streams. Whodunnits can be hard to follow, especially when dozens of suspects are vying for attention. Distinctive animal characters help solve this problem.

But the most honest answer to the animal question is: Why not? Much like humans, animals can be clever, cunning, fierce, timid, and the list goes on. The possibilities are endless, and the anthropomorphic qualities of the animals in Lord Winklebottom Investigates add a fun and playful twist to the story.

What is your favourite animal, and does it make an appearance in LWI? Find out by purchasing a copy of the game once it becomes available, later in the year. Meanwhile, join our friendly discord community and share your thoughts and excitement!

Calling all adventure game fans! From Jan 20-24th, Lord Winklebottom Investigates will sit shoulder-to-shoulder with a host of the genres upcoming indie hits in the Big Adventure Event - a digital showcase of adventure titles, supported by some of gamings greatest independent publishers.

On Friday 21st, we will be hosting a livestream on our Steam page from 9pm GMT (13:00 PST / 16:00 EST / 08:00 (Sat) AEDT). Charlotte will be playing Lord Winklebottom Investigates and answering your questions.

Send us your questions in Discord over at:
discord.gg/cavemonsters
We will answer them live on stream!

Hi guys,

Developing an indie game from scratch can be quite a roller coaster ride. There are both highs and lows, and both have come at points with the development of Lord Winklebottom Investigates.


What have been the biggest challenges of the game's development?
My first Kickstarter failed to meet its goal, but I didnt let that get to me. I made several good contacts through game localization, sought advice, and relaunched with a more focused goal. In addition to delays caused by COVID, there have also been family health problems to contend with, as my husband, who has a heart condition, had to unexpectedly go into hospital to have an operation. One of the problems with developing the game largely solo is that when a family emergency happens, theres nobody else to pick up the work.

What have been the best parts of the games development?
I remember I was super excited to see people play the game for the first time at AdventureX. It was a similar experience when I attended Insomnia and EGX. As a creator, nothing beats the feeling of watching people play and enjoy your game. I was also thrilled to see Lord Winklebottom Investigates running on Switch for the first time, and I got very emotional when I heard some of the characters come to life in the VO sessions.


Lord Winklebottom Investigates is in the final stages of development and set to release in early 2022. Download the special preview demo (if you havent already), and come join our active community on Discord today!

See you there!

Hes dead! The masters dead!
But hold up, that isnt Admiral Gilfrey I spy. What the devil is this?

Were hosting a special Murder Mystery Mini-Game event in our Discord server, from this Friday.
Join the server and receive the role of one of many peculiar guests at the home of Cesar Garrett.

Perhaps you will play:

• A washed-up actor with a serious drinking problem. Hes always ready to start a fight at the poker tableeven when hes winning.
  
• The flamboyant daughter of a prominent fashion designer. She keeps questionable company and uses her charm to get her own way.
  
• The ravishing widow of an eccentric playboy. Some say she had a role to play in her dearly beloved's untimely passing.
  
• A local minister with a dark secret to keep. Why do parish members see him creeping out to that annex, late each evening?
  

Hi everyone,

These past few weeks have been very busy, but Lord Winklebottom is no stranger to a packed schedule. As we move closer to release, I thought itd be fun to explore some of the inspirations behind the game in a little more detail.

There are definitely similarities between Lord Winklebottom and Sherlock Holmes. They share a keen eye for suspicious activity, sticking their neck in where its not always wanted!. Like every good detective, Lord Winklebottom also has his own eccentricities, a bit of a dandy with his top hat, pipe, and monocle; he's a bit old-fashioned for the times he lives in.

The figure of Dr. Frumple was inspired, of course, by Dr. Watson, Holmes loyal sidekick. In our case, Dr. Frumple resembles the less-than-brilliant, perhaps slightly bumbling version of Dr. Watson as portrayed by Nigel Bruce in the late 30s and early 40s. Thats no sleight on Dr. Frumple, however! He deserves just as much credit as Lord Winklebottom, something which he is only too quick to remind you of.

The games mysterious plot also draws inspiration from Agatha Christies well-known classics. Players feel vulnerable and isolated on the remote Isle of Barghest, knowing that the killer must be one of the characters theyve interacted with along their journey. Theyre racing against the clock to track down this foe and solve the mystery of the Admirals death.

While Lord Winklebottoms adventure comes with plenty of intrigue, thrill, and excitement, the game doesnt take itself too seriously. The comedic undertone that permeates the story might remind you of the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P.G. Wodehouse, which were first published all the way back in 1915. Other inspirations include old British comedies, such as What a Carve Up and The House in Nightmare Park. I dont want to give too much away before the game is out, so Ill stop here!

As far as gameplay is concerned, Lord Winklebottom Investigates streamlined point-and-click system pays homage to legendary graphic adventure games of the 90s, such as The Secret of Monkey Island and Grim Fandango. With their intuitive gameplay, point-and-click games allow players to solve crucial puzzles while being fully immersed in the story.

Stay tuned for more exclusive insights into the world of Lord Winklebottom Investigates!

All the best,
Charlotte

Hi everyone,

Last week was super exciting. We had the opportunity to attend the amazing Tokyo Game Show as Lord Winklebottom Investigates was selected for the Indie Game Selected Exhibit.

Tons of popular games were announced during the event, but indie developers, with fresh concepts and innovative ideas, stole the show once again. Here are some interesting titles that immediately caught my eye:

• Nine Witches: Family Disruption: A puzzle game that masterfully combines witches with Nazis, magic, and the occult. Players play as Alexei Krakovitz, a professor with psychic powers, whos out to solve the mystery behind the darkness that has befallen the town of Sunde. Pixelated graphics, mystery, ghosts, and quirky humorwhat else can we ask for?
  
  
• Night Reverie: Is it a dream or a nightmare? In this puzzle adventure game, seemingly random fantasy elements make their way into a childs home. The pixelated graphics and the uncanny atmosphere make for a truly unique experience with endless possibilities.
  
  
• Fate of Kai: A unique adventure told through the pages of a magic book. The art looks beautiful, and the idea of having to modify thought bubbles to move the story forward is particularly clever.
  
  
• Operation Tango: It takes two to tango, and the same is true for this co-op puzzle-solving game. Operation Tango is all about espionage, hi-tech tools, and challenges that require excellent communication. Theres a lot of fun to be had here, especially if you enjoy spy adventures and dont mind having to team up with friends.
  

Hi everyone,

What an exciting month it has been! If youre not aware, Lord Winklebottom Investigates was featured in the Investigation & Mystery category of the Yogscast Tiny Teams event.

It was a privilege to be a part of the online show, and I want to thank the Yogscast team for making sure I had all the information needed to guide me through the experience and enjoy the celebration.

Many got to see the dashing detective gentleman giraffe in action, and Im pleased to report that quite a few more folks have downloaded and played the limited release demo over the past few weeks.

Transitioning from physical to fully digital events hasnt been easy, but like everyone else, Ive taken the time to adapt, making the most of every opportunity. The good news is that the game is getting exposed to a wider audience, which means that overall, its probably reaching more people as a result of these digital events.

The Tiny Teams week-long celebration was a unique experience, bringing small indie developers together and showcasing a range of unique titles.

I have a few favourites I enjoyed during the show! From other categories, the beautiful world of A Tale of Paper definitely stood out. The platformers Demon Turf and Akatori looked like a ton of fun as well!

From Winklebottoms own category, I absolutely loved the quirkiness of The Season of the Warlock, the stylish 30s setting of Overboard!, and the pixelated awesomeness of The Darkside Detective. I cant deny the appreciation for non-humanoid detectives, which is exactly why Frog Detective will always hold a special place in my heart.

Once again, a big thanks to the Yogscast team for hosting an amazing event and to every one of you for your continuous support. Stay tuned, and rest assured there will be more exciting news about the game in the near future.

All the best,
Charlotte

Lord Winklebottom Investigates is being featured in "The Big Adventure Event" a new event celebrating adventure games run by Hitcents!

Join me at 3:00pm GMT for an hour long live art stream, where I'll be creating new artwork for the game and will be answering questions about Lord Winklebottom's development!

The Big Adventure Event runs from the 21st to the 25th of January, for the duration of the event you'll be able to play the limited release, work-progress demo of Lord Winklebottom Investigates alongside a host of other great adventure game offers and demos available through the event page!

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Charlotte

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all keeping well. Just a quick update to let you all know that Lord Winklebottom Investigates is being featured in the Yogscast "Tiny Teams" festival on Steam!



The event has just gone live now and to celebrate I've released a short demo featuring a section of gameplay from the beginning of the game! Obviously don't play if you want to remain completely spoiler free, but for anyone else feel free to check it out alongside the other indie games featured in the festival.

https://bit.ly/TinyTeams20

Lord Winklebottom is included in the "Investigation and Mystery" section alongside some other great games. Look at the great company we keep!



The current demo build is only available on Windows and in English at the moment (this will all change with the final game release obviously). You can download it from the Steam page here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1024160/Lord_Winklebottom_Investigates/

Hope you enjoy the demo!

Charlotte

As part of the Steam Summer Games Festival I'll be hosting a developer Q&A for Lord Winklebottom Investigates!

Join in on the game's Steam forum on Tuesday June 16th and ask me anything about the game's development or just stop by for a friendly chat and a nice cup of tea!




Look forward to chatting with you!

Charlotte

As part of the Steam Summer Games Festival I'll be hosting a developer Q&A for Lord Winklebottom Investigates!

Join in on the game's Steam forum on Tuesday June 9th and ask me anything about the game's development or just stop by for a friendly chat and a nice cup of tea!





Look forward to chatting with you!

Charlotte

After a busy few weeks, I'm excited to announce that the new Kickstarter for Lord Winklebottom Investigates is now live!

Find the new campaign at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/256029787/lord-winklebottom-investigates-murder-mystery-gira



I made some great contacts during the first campaign, with much better quotes for services like translation, which means that the new campaign can have a much lower goal without having to sacrifice any of the quality of the final game.

Also, a lot of people asked for a physical copy of the game, so I'm happy to say that this is now available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Plus, there's the option of a 90s style "big box" edition of the game which will fit right in to your classic adventure game collection.



There are also reduced prices for other goodies, so please give the new campaign a look.

As well as the new Kickstarter, I'm also going to be showing the game at Insomnia i64 this Easter weekend, so if any backers are going along, please come and say hello. I'll be in the Indie Zone, next to the Nintendo stand.

Thanks for your support!

- Charlotte

Get ready for adventure as the game is afoot! (or a hoof!) Lord Winklebottom Investigates, our 1920s murder mystery point and click adventure is now live on Kickstarter! Help us reach our goal of bringing the gentleman giraffe detective, Lord Winklebottom, to life and help us unlock a variety of amazing rewards, including exclusive merchandise and even the chance to have your favourite pet as a suspect in the game!

BACK US NOW AND PLAY THE DEMO HERE


Want to help us out even more? Please share the good news with your friends, family, social media following, favourite streamers and your favourite zookeeper! We're super excited about this and cant wait to see it all come to life.

Thank you,
Cave Monsters