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!