They posted a big update today explaining the game a bit better: Link. It's still not completely clear what the game will actually play like, but the campaign would have benefited greatly if this info was there from the start. It probably won't reach its goal, but it sounds cool so I hope they can revise the campaign or find some other source of funding.
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Swery's The Good Life, [UP] FIG campaign fails, will be back on Kickstarter
- Thread starter CannonFodder52
- Start date
CannonFodder52
Member
Game Details Q&A
Many people have pointed out that "The Good Life requires long time to comprehend and understand the game contents". Therefore we summarize the summary for understanding the game design.
Q. What kind of a game is The Good Life?
A. It's a game where you enjoy daily life in a rural English town and pay off your debt little by little. Aside from that, you can also use money to buy clothing, decorate your house, or invest it in facilities that will allow you to make even more money.
As you pay off your debt, you'll uncover more of the town's secrets and get wrapped up in surprising incidents.
Q. Does this game have a story?
A. Yes, it does.
Naomi, the main character, is a photographer from New York who has a massive debt. In order to pay off that debt, she undertook a special job from a large newspaper company, which sent her to a rural town in England to uncover the secret of Rainy Woods, the "happiest town in the world."
But as she begins her new life there, Naomi is quickly drawn into a murder mystery. While the player pays off their debt, they'll also be able to uncover the town's secrets and the truth about the murder.
　
Q. What is the game's biggest draw?
A. When night falls in this game, all of the townspeople turn into cats or dogs.
The player can also turn into a cat or a dog for one week each month (during your period) and explore the town at night. These parts will feature a completely new and fun style of gameplay.
Q. There are two versions, a cat version and a dog version?
A. Yes, that's right.
We plan to release two versions: The Good Life -CATS- and The Good Life -DOGS-. The cats and dogs will each have their own unique items and behavior patterns, and the overall atmosphere of the game will vary widely between the two. For example, cats can crawl through cramped spaces and climb across tree branches and roofs. Meanwhile, dogs will be able to dig in the ground, follow scent trails, and move larger objects. This may even cause parts of the story to change between versions. You can buy either one, or buy both and compare the differences.
Q. Why do the townspeople turn into cats and dogs?
A. This is one of the most important parts of the story, so I can't answer this question right now.
　
Q. Is this a one-player game?
A. Yes, only one player can play through the main game. However, there is also a multiplayer mode that allows you to invite other players and friends to your town. You can also transform into a cat or a dog and visit other players' towns.
　
Q. Does this game have online multiplayer?
A. Yes, it does. You can go online and visit other players' towns, or invite them to yours.
Q. Does this game have local multiplayer, such as splitscreen multiplayer?
A. No, it doesn't. You can only connect to the internet and engage in online multiplayer.
Q. Are the cat and dog versions compatible with each other?
A. Yes, they are.
Players can visit each other's towns through online multiplayer. When they do, players who own the cat version will become cats, while players who own the dog version will become dogs when they visit friends and strangers. You can also use multiplayer to collect items and valuables that can only be acquired in each version of the game.
Q. Is the main game 2D or 3D CG?
A. The main game is 3D CG rendered in real time.
　
Q. Does this game have experience points and leveling up in it?
A. It has neither experience points nor leveling up in it. Instead, you can use the money you earn to customize your camera, invest in facilities that will help you pay off your debt, and buy clothing with special effects. Doing these things will help your photography and debt paying abilities to grow.
Q. How do you earn money in the game?
A. Explore the town and take photos of things that catch your eye. Also, speak with the townspeople and make notes on what they say. Sending this data through the postbox to the Morningvale newspaper company in New York will earn you money. Aside from that, you can do part-time jobs to earn a steady stream of income.
Q. What sort of part-time jobs are there?
A. The game is filled with British part-time jobs such as shearing sheep, bartending, and delivering milk. They're all simple mini-games, and how much you earn will change based on how well you do in each one.
Q. Are there any other ways to make money aside from reports and part-time jobs?
A. You can borrow and purchase farms, tea gardens, and mines in order to earn steady and special streams of income. For example, if you rent a farm and raise sheep there, you'll earn a profit from whatever sheep income is left over after paying the rent. After you buy a facility, you'll be able to keep 100% of the profit for yourself.
　
Q. What happens when you buy one of the sheep that are for sale in the EXTRA category?
A. At first, you'll start the game having rented a farm. The cost of purchasing the sheep and the down payment for renting the facility will be waived.
By raising sheep at this facility, you'll be able to earn a steady profit from the beginning of the game. And since the EXTRA pre-purchased sheep will never die, you'll be able to keep earning that profit semi-permanently.
Q. Are there any collectibles in the game?
A. Yes, there are. Player clothing, home decorations, various photographs you can take with your camera, rare minerals, junk, and much more.
　
Q. Does the time of day change within the game?
A. Yes, it does.
The townspeople move on unique schedules, and over time the player will get hungry, tired, and sleepy.
　
Q. Are there different days of the week within the game?
A. Yes, there are. Many shops are closed on Sunday, and Naomi also needs to rest so that she doesn't get exhausted. The pub is usually filled on Friday, and there's a morning market on Saturday. On Sunday, it's also important to decide which part-time job you'll do in order to keep paying off your debt.
　
Q. Does this game have seasons?
A. Yes, it does. The game has a calendar, and four seasons a year. You'll be able to photograph different things in each season as well. For example, the horsetails you can only shoot in spring can yield big rewards, so that's one thing you have to look forward to in that season.
Q. Does the in-game time sync up with the time in real life?
A. No, it doesn't sync up with real time. Each day in the game passes based on the in-game time.
　
Q. How do I move the story forward?
A. Talk with as many townspeople as possible, and take photos of suspicious things. Data from your conversations and photographing are regularly recorded as notes and photos, but will sometimes be categorized as testimonies and photo proof. Gathering these will gradually push the story closer to the truth.
Q. So I can make it to the ending just by speaking to people and taking photos?
A. Not necessarily. You need to work hard every day and really become a part of the townspeople's community in order to deepen your relationships with them. They'll never reveal important testimonies to an 'outsider.'
　
Q. Do villagers have affinity parameters?
A. They do, in the sense that there is an internal stat that tracks how much each villager has opened their heart to the player. However, this isn't the sort of game where the player needs to watch those stats and try to adjust the relationship balances. The game is designed so that as long as the player keeps working on paying off their debt and engaging with the townspeople on a daily basis, their relationships will naturally grow.
Q. What exactly does 'daily life' entail within the game?
A. Once you wake up in the morning, your day in town begins. There are some subjects that you can only photograph early in the morning, and some dialogue that you can only hear in certain places at certain times. If you're doing a part-time job, working to get special income, or exploring the town, it'll soon become night before you know it.
At night, you can turn into a cat or dog and run around the town, but you still need to rest. Your body won't be able to take constant working without sleep or rest, and you need to eat when you get hungry. Your daily life consists of repeating these daily cycles, which serve as the core of the game.
Q：Does this game have an ending?
A. Yes, it does. But even after players watch the ending, they can still continue their lives in Rainy Woods. And at some point, I think players will come to feel that their daily lives are more important than the story.
Many people have pointed out that "The Good Life requires long time to comprehend and understand the game contents". Therefore we summarize the summary for understanding the game design.
Q. What kind of a game is The Good Life?
A. It's a game where you enjoy daily life in a rural English town and pay off your debt little by little. Aside from that, you can also use money to buy clothing, decorate your house, or invest it in facilities that will allow you to make even more money.
As you pay off your debt, you'll uncover more of the town's secrets and get wrapped up in surprising incidents.
Q. Does this game have a story?
A. Yes, it does.
Naomi, the main character, is a photographer from New York who has a massive debt. In order to pay off that debt, she undertook a special job from a large newspaper company, which sent her to a rural town in England to uncover the secret of Rainy Woods, the "happiest town in the world."
But as she begins her new life there, Naomi is quickly drawn into a murder mystery. While the player pays off their debt, they'll also be able to uncover the town's secrets and the truth about the murder.
　
Q. What is the game's biggest draw?
A. When night falls in this game, all of the townspeople turn into cats or dogs.
The player can also turn into a cat or a dog for one week each month (during your period) and explore the town at night. These parts will feature a completely new and fun style of gameplay.
Q. There are two versions, a cat version and a dog version?
A. Yes, that's right.
We plan to release two versions: The Good Life -CATS- and The Good Life -DOGS-. The cats and dogs will each have their own unique items and behavior patterns, and the overall atmosphere of the game will vary widely between the two. For example, cats can crawl through cramped spaces and climb across tree branches and roofs. Meanwhile, dogs will be able to dig in the ground, follow scent trails, and move larger objects. This may even cause parts of the story to change between versions. You can buy either one, or buy both and compare the differences.
Q. Why do the townspeople turn into cats and dogs?
A. This is one of the most important parts of the story, so I can't answer this question right now.
　
Q. Is this a one-player game?
A. Yes, only one player can play through the main game. However, there is also a multiplayer mode that allows you to invite other players and friends to your town. You can also transform into a cat or a dog and visit other players' towns.
　
Q. Does this game have online multiplayer?
A. Yes, it does. You can go online and visit other players' towns, or invite them to yours.
Q. Does this game have local multiplayer, such as splitscreen multiplayer?
A. No, it doesn't. You can only connect to the internet and engage in online multiplayer.
Q. Are the cat and dog versions compatible with each other?
A. Yes, they are.
Players can visit each other's towns through online multiplayer. When they do, players who own the cat version will become cats, while players who own the dog version will become dogs when they visit friends and strangers. You can also use multiplayer to collect items and valuables that can only be acquired in each version of the game.
Q. Is the main game 2D or 3D CG?
A. The main game is 3D CG rendered in real time.
　
Q. Does this game have experience points and leveling up in it?
A. It has neither experience points nor leveling up in it. Instead, you can use the money you earn to customize your camera, invest in facilities that will help you pay off your debt, and buy clothing with special effects. Doing these things will help your photography and debt paying abilities to grow.
Q. How do you earn money in the game?
A. Explore the town and take photos of things that catch your eye. Also, speak with the townspeople and make notes on what they say. Sending this data through the postbox to the Morningvale newspaper company in New York will earn you money. Aside from that, you can do part-time jobs to earn a steady stream of income.
Q. What sort of part-time jobs are there?
A. The game is filled with British part-time jobs such as shearing sheep, bartending, and delivering milk. They're all simple mini-games, and how much you earn will change based on how well you do in each one.
Q. Are there any other ways to make money aside from reports and part-time jobs?
A. You can borrow and purchase farms, tea gardens, and mines in order to earn steady and special streams of income. For example, if you rent a farm and raise sheep there, you'll earn a profit from whatever sheep income is left over after paying the rent. After you buy a facility, you'll be able to keep 100% of the profit for yourself.
　
Q. What happens when you buy one of the sheep that are for sale in the EXTRA category?
A. At first, you'll start the game having rented a farm. The cost of purchasing the sheep and the down payment for renting the facility will be waived.
By raising sheep at this facility, you'll be able to earn a steady profit from the beginning of the game. And since the EXTRA pre-purchased sheep will never die, you'll be able to keep earning that profit semi-permanently.
Q. Are there any collectibles in the game?
A. Yes, there are. Player clothing, home decorations, various photographs you can take with your camera, rare minerals, junk, and much more.
　
Q. Does the time of day change within the game?
A. Yes, it does.
The townspeople move on unique schedules, and over time the player will get hungry, tired, and sleepy.
　
Q. Are there different days of the week within the game?
A. Yes, there are. Many shops are closed on Sunday, and Naomi also needs to rest so that she doesn't get exhausted. The pub is usually filled on Friday, and there's a morning market on Saturday. On Sunday, it's also important to decide which part-time job you'll do in order to keep paying off your debt.
　
Q. Does this game have seasons?
A. Yes, it does. The game has a calendar, and four seasons a year. You'll be able to photograph different things in each season as well. For example, the horsetails you can only shoot in spring can yield big rewards, so that's one thing you have to look forward to in that season.
Q. Does the in-game time sync up with the time in real life?
A. No, it doesn't sync up with real time. Each day in the game passes based on the in-game time.
　
Q. How do I move the story forward?
A. Talk with as many townspeople as possible, and take photos of suspicious things. Data from your conversations and photographing are regularly recorded as notes and photos, but will sometimes be categorized as testimonies and photo proof. Gathering these will gradually push the story closer to the truth.
Q. So I can make it to the ending just by speaking to people and taking photos?
A. Not necessarily. You need to work hard every day and really become a part of the townspeople's community in order to deepen your relationships with them. They'll never reveal important testimonies to an 'outsider.'
　
Q. Do villagers have affinity parameters?
A. They do, in the sense that there is an internal stat that tracks how much each villager has opened their heart to the player. However, this isn't the sort of game where the player needs to watch those stats and try to adjust the relationship balances. The game is designed so that as long as the player keeps working on paying off their debt and engaging with the townspeople on a daily basis, their relationships will naturally grow.
Q. What exactly does 'daily life' entail within the game?
A. Once you wake up in the morning, your day in town begins. There are some subjects that you can only photograph early in the morning, and some dialogue that you can only hear in certain places at certain times. If you're doing a part-time job, working to get special income, or exploring the town, it'll soon become night before you know it.
At night, you can turn into a cat or dog and run around the town, but you still need to rest. Your body won't be able to take constant working without sleep or rest, and you need to eat when you get hungry. Your daily life consists of repeating these daily cycles, which serve as the core of the game.
Q：Does this game have an ending?
A. Yes, it does. But even after players watch the ending, they can still continue their lives in Rainy Woods. And at some point, I think players will come to feel that their daily lives are more important than the story.
starry sonata
Member
No...Just no...I refuse to believe this game will fail.
Bridges
Member
Dammit how come the only games I ever crowdfund NEVER reach their goals? I must be cursed, I have yet to play a hand in a single successful campaign because apparently not enough people give a shit about the niche things I love :/
I wonder what's next for Swery when this inevitably fails...?
There are only a little over 5 days left in the campaign and funding is still stuck at 20%. Not good.
I wonder what's next for Swery when this inevitably fails...?
There are only a little over 5 days left in the campaign and funding is still stuck at 20%. Not good.
SomedayTheFire
Member
Is this one of the biggest ~high profile crowdfunding bombs yet? Shame.
Spiritwalker
Member
I hope they can somehow bounce back from this. They really should have prepared a better prototype for this campaign because it looked ugly as hell.
High profile?
SomedayTheFire
Member
High ish profiles I guess. Its bigger than smaller bombs that have happened on Kickstarter for sure.
CannonFodder52
Member
To each their own, although I really like how the game looks.
A little over 2 days left.
Humdinger
Gold Member
Thatwas quite a decent leap in the last few days. Still won't be enough unfortunately.
CannonFodder52
Member
It went up to 31% in under an hour. It's weird that people waited this long to back. Or did some gaming websites just report on this game again today.
Anyways hopefully he can a more respectable backing percent over the next two days. I'm sure that will help him if he has to pitch the game and show that there was interest etc.
I loved Deadly Premonition and D4, but I'm not very interested in The Good Life. The concept of the game sounds pretty solid, but the visual design of the game is a turn-off for me. I don't have any nostalgia for PS1 era low polygon models, and I feel like the art style is a bit too whimsical for a Swery game. His game's are filled with so much madness, that I think he needs a more realistic art style to keep it somewhat grounded, while also allowing the strange or absurdist elements to really stand out.
Interesting. I *love* the art style, and I don't have any nostalgia for PS1 era games either. The reality is, the game looks far too clean and well animated to token a PS1 style to me.
PensivePen
Member
Less than a day left. I'm gonna stay hopeful for a miracle until the end, crazier things have happened.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
Goddamn. Can't blame this one on Xbox and this looks cooler than D4.
How does FIG work? Does he keep the funding that is there or does it need to hit the goal for it to go forward? First time on FIG.
It would be cool if some of those big streamers or journalist got the word out there on this title.
How does FIG work? Does he keep the funding that is there or does it need to hit the goal for it to go forward? First time on FIG.
It would be cool if some of those big streamers or journalist got the word out there on this title.
SmiteOfHand
Member
I did my part. 👍
Cave Johnson
Member
HOW THE HELL did I find about this JUST NOW?
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Up to 34% now with 18.5 hours left to go.
disappeared
Banned
I hope this game gets made in the future. Clearly this was a failed campaign but it's a real shame it bombed the way it did. Maybe somebody picks up the publishing rights and helps it see the light of day.
Otherwise I think Swery is just gonna drink himself into oblivion and this will be the last we hear from him.
Otherwise I think Swery is just gonna drink himself into oblivion and this will be the last we hear from him.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
Pretty cool clip here, I dunno how to gif it.
https://twitter.com/Grounding_Inc/status/918114488234078208
https://twitter.com/Grounding_Inc/status/918114488234078208
Wow, this might be the first time Ive seen Swery explode on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Swery65/status/918453005782999042
https://twitter.com/Swery65/status/918453005782999042
CannonFodder52
Member
That explains it.
Sucks that he needs to pull a Kamiya cuz he's pretty welcoming to everyone but yea, I told him to block that guy and I hope he did.
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
I'll be back for Kickstarter 100%. It can help, depending how they handle it. I've seen games fail funding, change strategies and come back later to become successes.
1.5 million was a hefty goal though, curious with help what it might be lowered to. Honestly speaking I think there might be some movement fans can try to think up to see if they can help it by then, spread the word ahead of time. A big part of a Kickstarter's success is getting the word and interest higher ahead of time.
1.5 million was a hefty goal though, curious with help what it might be lowered to. Honestly speaking I think there might be some movement fans can try to think up to see if they can help it by then, spread the word ahead of time. A big part of a Kickstarter's success is getting the word and interest higher ahead of time.
Did you read the full text?
I did, but i must've skipped that part. I'm dumb.
CannonFodder52
Member
I'm in for the Kickstarter for sure. Glad to see that they seem to be aware of a lot of the potential faults in the campaign.
Also weird overlap for me, with them doing a Limited Run Games deal. Definitely down for that too though.
Also weird overlap for me, with them doing a Limited Run Games deal. Definitely down for that too though.
