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Winter Voices - All News

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Thursday - November 06, 2014
Sunday - June 12, 2011
Saturday - May 28, 2011
Thursday - March 24, 2011
Tuesday - March 15, 2011
Friday - January 28, 2011
Sunday - January 02, 2011
Monday - December 20, 2010
Tuesday - November 30, 2010
Wednesday - November 24, 2010
Saturday - November 20, 2010
Thursday - November 18, 2010
Monday - October 18, 2010
Tuesday - October 05, 2010
Thursday - September 30, 2010
Wednesday - September 08, 2010
Box Art

Thursday - November 06, 2014

Winter Voices - Interview @ Core-RPG

by Couchpotato, 09:03

Forum member m00n1ight notified me of a interview on his site Core-RPG with Winter Voices developer Kévin Lehénaff. Seems the developer will be doing a new kickstarter.

While we're on the subject of the second season — you promised to start the Kickstarter-campaign at the beginning of the year, but it was delayed somehow. Were there any unforeseen problems?

Yes, quite a lot of problems ! Starting a kickstarter when you are in France (or any country other than USA and UK) is a real pain, as you need to either create a company in the USA, or ask someone to handle the kickstarter for you there. Things are progressing very slowly and there is a lot of legal concern to be taken care of. Right now the production of Winter Voices 2 is on hold. We finished pre-production in January. We will begin the production once we have a set schedule. In the meanwhile, we are working on different things, like the kickstarter prizes. Some of them are actually a lot of work ! The book of the Season 1 for example will be something like 200-250 pages long, 50% of it being reworked texts of winter voices, the other 50% are original texts. For all this to work as a real book, I need to rethink a lot of things - which is taking longer than expected.

Sunday - June 12, 2011

Winter Voices - Sale @ GamersGate

by Dhruin, 00:20

The Winter Voices series is on sale at GamersGate for 50% off, which makes each episode $2.50, for those interested. Don't forget there is a demo.

Saturday - May 28, 2011

Winter Voices - Episode 4 Released

by Dhruin, 23:24

Steam has released Episode 4 for Winter Voices, titled Amethyst Rivers:

As you descend the mountain on the road to the capital, your vision clears little by little. For the first time, you are able to face your past, as well as your future. What do they have in store for you?

Thursday - March 24, 2011

Winter Voices - Episode 3 Press Release

by Dhruin, 20:51

We posted that Winter Voices Episode 3 has been released a couple of days back but now their PR company has caught up with the official press release:

A Murder of Crows Circles Winter Voices, Episode Three

Independent Developer Beyondthepillars to launch “Like a crow on a wire,” the latest episode of the story driven role-playing game

PARIS – March 24, 2011 – Fight the dark demons of the soul in the third episode of Winter Voices, the narrative-driven, episodic, solo role-playing game from independent game developer Beyondthepillars. Players can download the third episode, “Like a crow on a wire,” now for Mac and PC at the Winter Voices website; the PC version only at digital distribution leader Steam for $4.99. Beyondthepillars is also offering the first three episodes of Winter Voices as part of a bundle, exclusively available at the game’s official website. The Winter Voices bundle, which is $12.00on PC and Mac, includes three episodes of turn-based psychic role playing: Prologue: Avalanche, Episode One: Those who have no name and Episode Two: Nowhere of me.

“‘Like a crow on a wire’ continues the story of the young heroine as she desperately tries to answer the questions surrounding her father’s death,” said Guy Levi-Bochi, CEO of Beyondthepillars. “Players must scathe off increasingly aggressive inner-demons and use the power of the mind to survive cold, unforgiving enemies. The latest episode will unravel the story even more, allowing players to further discover the world of Winter Voices.”

In Winter Voices, players control a 24 year-old heroine as she deals with the unexpected and tragic death of her father. She must journey through the heart of winter and battle her worst enemies – her own personal demons. Winter Voices combines “point and click” gaming with strictly defensive turn-based combat. As the game alternates real-time dialogue and world exploration with struggle, players will have access to more than 100 unique skills as they upgrade their character.

Tuesday - March 15, 2011

Winter Voices - Episode 3 Released

by Dhruin, 22:24

Episode 3 of Winter Voices, subtitled Like a Crow on a Wire, has been released on Steam. You'll need the main game and previous episodes, of course. A demo of the basic game was released some time back if you'd like to investigate.

Friday - January 28, 2011

Winter Voices - Review @ PC Advisor

by Dhruin, 20:52

The indie episodic game Winter Voices has been reviewed at PC Advisor, with a score of 3/5:

But there’s a problem, and unfortunately it’s a fairly enormous one: Winter Voices simply isn’t that much fun to play. When you’re free to roam the frost-bitten landscape, meeting its residents and absorbing the wonderful music and deliciously overwrought dialogue, Winter Voices is a bewitching experience. But when the combat starts the cracks really begin to show. 

In terms of execution, the skill animations are agonisingly slow, making even the earliest encounters feel unnecessarily protracted. This isn’t helped by the lack of attention paid to educating the player in the gameplay’s intricacies. Even as you’re being charmed by Winter Voices’ presentation and quirks, there’s a nagging feeling that you’re flying blind, and sure enough, as the battles become more complex and challenging a handful of deaths is all but necessary to figure out exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.

Sunday - January 02, 2011

Winter Voices - Demo Available

by Dhruin, 00:02

I noticed a demo has been released on Steam for Winter Voices, an episodic, indie RPG (it's also on sale).  I had a quick look for a whole 10 minutes and it's unusual but worth checking out.  Turn-based combat, too, although I'm not sold on the subject matter yet.

Monday - December 20, 2010

Winter Voices - Nowhere of Me: Released

by Dhruin, 12:00

The next Winter Voices installment has been released on Steam, titled Nowhere of Me.

Tuesday - November 30, 2010

Winter Voices - Review @ The Examiner

by Dhruin, 22:41

The Examiner has reviewed the first episode of Winter Voices, finding it a compelling experience.  It's worth noting Beyond the Pillars has tweaked the game recently and this version may be different to previous reviews that received harsher treatment (or not).  The score is 4/5 and here are two clips:

Combat is turn based, and you must balance your use of movement points, psyche points (Mana), and Energy Points (Health) to succeed. Basically, on every turn you expend movement points to move, and Psyche Points to use abilities. You regenerate some energy, psyche, and movement points every turn.

There is plenty of combat in the game. However, the combat is scripted to occur at key points in the story. You don’t go wandering aimlessly into the woods looking for things to kill and loot. However, combat scenarios usually have varied goals, such as surviving for X number of turns or simply getting to a key point on the screen to escape. Some battles involve a little puzzle solving.

Even if you don’t care much for the game's abstract ideas or its lack of visceral appeal typical of the PC RPG genre, you might be surprised just how well the story keeps you going, fighting through “just one more battle” to see what your character learns about her father, herself, and her ultimate fate in the aftermath of his death. And this is just the first chapter in that story.

Source: Blues News

Wednesday - November 24, 2010

Winter Voices - Developer Diary Video

by Skavenhorde, 15:22

Beyond the Pillars, the developers of Winter Voices, has made a video discussing the driving force behind their game. The video is in french with subtitles:

 

Saturday - November 20, 2010

Winter Voices - Those Who Have No Name: Released

by Dhruin, 22:15

It appears Winter Voices: Those Who Have No Name (note to game developers: the title is too long), the second episode in this series, has been released on Steam.  Normally the PR company for this is quick to let us know but it's certainly showing up on Steam for me.

Thursday - November 18, 2010

Winter Voices - Those Who Have No Name Screenshots

by Myrthos, 22:27

Nine screenshots for the next part of Winter Voices, named Those who have no name can now be viewed in our gallery. Winter Voices is a game that is released in parts, which are available in two week intervals.

   Winter Voices    Winter Voices

Monday - October 18, 2010

Winter Voices - Avalanche Now Available, RPS Review

by Dhruin, 19:43

The first episode of Winter Voices, titled Avalanche, is now available.  Here's the PR:

“Avalanche”, the season 1 prologue of the online Role-Playing Game “Winter Voices” is now available for download on www.wintervoices.com

Paris, October 15th 2010. BeyondthePillars, the French game production company, announced today the release of “Winter Voices’” first episode “Avalanche”. It is now available for download on www.wintervoices.com.

“Avalanche”, the introductory prologue to “Winter Voices” 7-episode season, provides between 4 and 5 hours of play. Each episode is available for 4,49 €.

“Winter Voices” is an entertaining and pioneering game whose main female character is at grips with the phantoms of her past. The team’s editorial and creative angle is to enable the player, through the provision of regular episodes, to follow the heroine’s physical and mental journey in an adventure that is riveting to the end.

“Winter Voices” was presented to professionals at the Cologne GamesCom (Germany) last August and received good reviews including the nomination “Best RPG novelty” by RPG France

The prologue “Avalanche” was first played at the popular Festival du Jeu Vidéo in Paris (France) last September. Its innovative approach and unique game-play – defensive and psychological – were appreciated, particularly by the many games bloggers who came to meet the team

Recently, Canard PC (French video games magazine) rated “Winter Voices” 8/10 while the game’s exclusive soundtrack by Balthazar Bénadon, already freely available on www.wintervoices.com, has been highly praised, particularly in Anglo-Saxon markets (GameVortex)

There's also a very well written review at Rock, Paper, Shotgun.  The result is mixed - but probably worth a look if the art or premise interests you:

Winter Voices is upsetting. Heartbreaking, even. And writing this review is the hardest part of all. Because my word, is this ever a wonderful idea for a game. And boy, does it ever disappoint.

But I’ll get to that. Just let me be positive for a minute, because this is a brave little game that deserves some love.

Tuesday - October 05, 2010

Winter Voices - Gone Gold, First Review

by Dhruin, 22:10

Beyond the Pillars sent us a PR announcing Winter Voices has gone Gold.  I can't see a specific release date and they mention the release of the episodes "over the next few months", which seems different to the original plan of an episode every week:

“WINTER VOICES” Has gone GOLD....

5th October 2010. Beyondthepillars are a game production company, based in Paris, France today announced that their highly anticipated first commercial release title “Winter Voices” - a serial RPG game on PC AND MAC - has gone Gold. Winter Voices is a beautiful drawn RPG game that takes the player on a long journey to find answers; you come across situations that you have to overcome - anger, sadness, pain and fear, until finally unveiling what is whispered by the voices of Winter.  Many dangers await your character, for the world she knows is doomed to crumble and fall or is it?

Each new episode is available to download, and each episodes costs 5€ / 7$ / 4,5£ (tax included). Episodes will unfold over the next few months providing clear narrative steps towards eventually resolving the plot.

“Beyondthepillars is thrilled to deliver the ultimate RPG experience,” said Guy Levi Bochi Beyond the Pillars CEO. "This 1st episode of the series takes players along a path where they are drawn into the hurt and pain of their character.  Like her, they grow stronger as the story unfolds, experiencing epic battles and intense gameplay. We believe that we have created a unique and fresh new game and hope that gamers will enjoy discovering it”

UK site Resolution Magazine has the first review we've seen and while they see some positives, the overall score is only 5/10:

Winter Voice is full of innovative ideas and creative potential but its great ambition is diluted by repetition. Additionally the build we played still suffers from a few bugs, including a game breaking one that prevents progression beyond a certain point.

In the end, terrific atmosphere conveyed by the visuals and music, and some great ideas create a unique and initially interesting game. The repetition, in both the combat and poetic dialogue, unfortunately damages the experience to a severe enough degree to ruin the fun. However, it’s all amendable within the episodic setup of this series release, so perhaps episode two will fare the winter better.

Thursday - September 30, 2010

Winter Voices - Six New Screenshots

by Myrthos, 20:03

We have added a set of 6 new screens to our gallery for the recently announced RPG Winter Voices that can be downloaded in 7 separate parts in the coming months.

Winter Voices Winter Voices

Wednesday - September 08, 2010

Winter Voices Revealed

by Dhruin, 06:24

Beyond the Pillars sent us a press release announcing a 7-part episodic RPG named Winter Voices.  The official site has a teaser trailer, some art, screens and music, an overview and titles of each episode.  Apparently an episode will get released every seven days after launch for 5 Euro.  It's hard to get a good picture of the gameplay but, from the emphasis on the story, I'm guessing its jRPG-inspired.  From the PR:

The first role-play in game-series on PC and MAC

A drama is unfolding in a tiny village buried in snow, lost in the depths of a Three-River Principality valley. A sudden death, a now-hostile home, new sensory capacities rising like a storm and the departure towards the unknown, the only means to escape besides death, has become inevitable...The newly-orphaned heroine is pushed to leave her father’s village by the voices of her unconscious mind. The long journey to find answers will lead you through many events to overcome anger, sadness, pain and fear and finally unveil what is whispered by the voices of Winter.

A unique adventure, a stunning scenario to discover in one season

Winter Voices is a solo role game on PC AND MAC purchased by downloading 7 episodes at 5 €each (tax included). Each new episode, made available every 7 days, constitutes a decisive narrative step towards resolving the plot.

Beyond the Pillars, play better to live better

Beyond the Pillars, a startup creating digital game worlds and founded in Paris in late 2008, is designing a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) that is multifaceted, full-web and cloud-powered. The release of Winter Voices is a preview of the project whose codename is LNW.

...and from the gameplay information on the site:

The game alternates real-time phases for dialog, world exploration and turn-based combat that requires reflection and strategy, with a choice of more than 100 skills for a unique confrontation with your destiny.

In this innovative game experience, each week and up until the end of the first season; you are provided with new elements in your character's adventure
Totally immersed in Three-River Principality, you incarnate a fragile and vulnerable female character, with many hidden resources currently damaged by a troubling past. She is seeking answers.

Above and beyond the adventurous journey to the heart of Winter, your aim is to fight the character's personal demons and thus save her from herself.

Information about

Winter Voices

Developer: inner seas

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Modern
Genre: RPG
Combat: Turn-based
Play-time: 10-20 hours
Voice-acting: Unknown

Regions & platforms
World
· Homepage
· Platform: PC
· Released: 2010-10-15
· Publisher: inner seas