Followed a failed Fig Campaign, White Owns and G-rounding have relaunched its crowdfunding efforts for The Good Life via a Kickstarter campaign today seeking 68 million yen ($647,910).
Here is a brief overview of the game, via its Kickstarter page:
What is The Good Life?
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (Steam)
Genre: Debt Repayment Daily Life Action Adventure
Players: 1
Multiplayer: Yes / Online
Full Controller Support / Key Board and Mouse Support: Yes
Visual Target: Real-Time Rendering in 3DCG
Player POV: Third-Person (the camera follows the player from behind)
Development Director: Yukio Futatsugi (G-rounding)
Art Director: Noboru Hotta (G-rounding)
Production / Copyrights: White Owls, Inc.
Development: G-rounding
The Good Life is a debt repayment daily life RPG co-developed by Swery’s White Owls Inc. and a development team led by Yukio Futatsugi, the creator of Panzer Dragoon and Phantom Dust.
The Good Life is a Daily Life Simulator x Swerism.
You like bizarre and mysterious things? You like unique and memorable characters? You want to enjoy a game that offers a lot of freedom, but you also want to enjoy a good story?
Think that’s too much to ask for? Not in The Good Life! This game is made for you!
Play as Naomi, a journalist from New York who moves to a backwoods British town called Rainy Woods in order to pay off her massive debt.
The only way for her to escape from debt hell is to take pictures of happenings in the town and report on them. Of course, ‘the happiest town in the world’ is not your average town…
The inhabitants of the happiest town in the world are some of the most bizarre people you’ll ever come across. You’ll live alongside them as you solve mysteries and experience a hearty helping of craziness. We’re sure that you’ll eventually come to love all the mystery, horror, and good old charm that this town has to offer.
Watch the Kickstarter pitch video and a trailer highlighting what has changed since the game’s last crowdfunding efforts below.
The Good Life Kickstarter relaunch set for March 26
White Owls and G-rounding will relaunch its crowdfunding efforts for The Good Life via a Kickstarter campaign on March 26, the companies announced.
The game previously raised $682,864 through a Fig campaign, but did not meet its funding goal. In October 2017, a Kickstarter relaunch was announced.
Here is the full message from director and main writer Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro, creative director Yukio Futatsugi, and art director Noboru Hotta:
The Good Life is Coming to Kickstarter!
Hello, everyone.
We are proud to announce that the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for The Good Life, the new game co-developed by White Owls Inc. and G-rounding Inc., will be launching on March 26, 2018.
In 2017, we launched a crowdfunding campaign for The Good Life on Fig, and although it raised $682,864, the project failed to reach its goal, and so the project was put on hold.
At that point, we decided to turn our temporary setback into a chance to make The Good Life better. We exhaustively analyzed and re-examined our campaign and initial plan, and made many critical adjustments.
When we restart the campaign in March 2018, we believe from the bottom of our hearts that The Good Life will be a project that satisfies you all!
We plan to post updates on the details. We hope you’ll keep cheering us on.
Thank you for your continued support!
Swery / Director and Main Writer
Hi! I’m the director, Swery. First, I’d like to apologize for not sending out any updates on The Good Life‘s crowdfunding status for such a long time.
Many fans have asked me the same question on Twitter. “Are you still working on the game?” Rest assured, I’ve never stopped working on it!
The campaign we did in September 2017 was our first crowdfunding campaign ever. We ran towards it at full speed, and swallowed the bitter medicine of the unsuccessful. We learned a great deal, and also experienced a lot of “firsts.” For starters, we didn’t prepare enough, and much of our announcement news was leaked long before the campaign got started. Despite all the trouble, we managed to make it through thanks to all the support we received from backers, followers, the media, and many people from within the game industry, as well as our own family members and friends.
I now understand just how hard it is to keep a daily information update flow going.
Now, I plan to use 120 percent of everything I’ve experienced and learned, far beyond its maximum potential, in order to make sure this campaign succeeds!
Currently, we’re working on the following six changes in order to ensure success:
1. Build Powerful Partnerships
2. Change Initial Goal Amount
3. Change Reward Content
4. Enhance the Game Design
5. Enhance the Graphical Style
6. Provide Gameplay Footage
We think they’ll all be very effective changes, and we hope this’ll make you excited! Please keep cheering us on! I love you all!
White Owls Inc.
Swery
Works: Deadly Premonition / D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die
Yukio Futatsugi / Creative Director
Hello! I’m Futatsugi, the creative director for the project.
I’m so glad that we can finally give everyone an update on The Good Life. It may have seemed like three months of silence, but we’ve been working hard on further developing our project plan every since our previous crowdfunding attempt. We listened to everyone’s reactions and opinions, and adjusted many things. I’ve also been traveling to Osaka regularly to have project meetings with Swery.
We’ve refined the project quite a bit, and I can’t wait to share the new elements with everyone. Many of our other staff members are getting really excited, asking me how else they can contribute to The Good Life project. After we finish the Kickstarter campaign, I plan to assign my G-rounding elites to the actual development.
For now, we just need to keep our proverbial foot glued to the pedal.
I can’t wait to work together with everyone again in March.
G-rounding Inc.
Yukio Futatsugi
Works: Panzer Dragoon / Phantom Dust / Crimson Dragon
Noboru Hotta / Art Director
Hello. I’m the art director, Hotta.
I’m really happy to be bringing everyone news on The Good Life. It’s been three months since our last update, but we’ve been busy. Our entire art team re-examined the art direction and style for the game and is now working on redesigning it.
Thanks to the enhancements we’ve made to the game design, we’ve also been able to work in new ideas which have helped to further evolve the art style.
I can’t wait to show everyone the brand new look of The Good Life!
This game is going to be super fun, so I hope you’re all excited.
G-rounding Inc.
Noboru Hotta
Works: Rez / Meteos / Machikoro The Good Life reveals Cat and Dog versions
The Good Life, the “debt repayment life simulation RPG” from Deadly Premonition creator Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro’s studio White Owls, is planned to be released in both “Cat” and “Dog” versions, the studio announced.
While in The Good Life: Cat, people will become cats at night, in The Good Life: Dog, people—including the protagonist Naomi—will become dogs at night. As a cat, Naomi will be able to climb up to high spots and slip into cramped passages. And as a dog, she’ll be able to dig holes and follow scent trails. You’ll also get to find different items and the way you interact with the townspeople will also change. Some story beats may also differ.
Both versions are compatible with each other for online multiplayer, where you’ll be able to turn into a cat or dog and visit a friend or stranger’s town. In their town, you can scratch posts and leave cricket corpses on your friend’s doorstep as cats, or mark their doors with your urine and scare their sheep as dogs. According to Suehiro, there will be a “bunch of creative ways” to play tricks on each other.
Read more about the game here. Fund it on Fig here.
Watch a trailer for The Good Life: Cat and The Good Life: Dog below, as well as an in-development look at multiplayer.
Interview: Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro on The Good Life ahead of Kickstarter finish
The Good Life is the latest project from D4 and Deadly Premonition creator Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro. A “debt repayment daily life RPG” set in an British town where people transform into cats and dogs at night, the game is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter and is halfway to its 68 million yen goal with 12 days remaining.
Gematsu recently had the opportunity to submit questions to Swery, mostly gathered via users on Twitter and in the Gematsu Open Forum, for an e-mail interview as the Kickstarter nears its finish.
Get the interview below.
What is the most difficult experience you have had in developing The Good Life thus far?
Swery: “Funding.”
What made you want to go with such a different art direction compared to your previous games, Deadly Premonition and D4, which had a dark and atmospheric tone?
Swery: “We want to make a fairy tale that adults can enjoy. The theme is that this town is not quite what it seems, and things that look cute on the surface might actually be quite dark. That’s the kind of story we want our players to enjoy.”
Did any specific video game titles or franchises influence the premise behind The Good Life?
Swery: “It’s been influenced by a lot of things, but I’m trying to make something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.”
What cultural traits were an influence in the creation of The Good Life?
Swery: “I go overseas many times per year, and I notice how everyone lives and thinks a bit differently in each country I visit. I feel culture shock in a lot of different places, and I think mixing that in with The Good Life will be fun.”
Will The Good Life have voice acting? If so, will it be in English, Japanese, or both?
Swery: “There will be voice acting. Currently, we’re working with a Japanese company to do pre-production on the Japanese voices. The languages available will be decided based on the amount of backers we get.”
What is the estimated time for a single playthrough of The Good Life?
Swery: “It will take you around 10 hours to reach the ending, but we’re trying to make a game that you can go on playing forever.”
What kind of side activity elements are planned?
Swery: “Collecting Naomi’s outfits, customizing her apartment, carrying different things around and arranging your own photos, collecting teacups like any proper British citizen would do, and you can also collect outfits for your dog and cat forms.”
Given that the game uses a day / night system, can we expect citizens of the town to only be in certain places at certain times?
Swery: “It’s not a typical day / night system. It’s more of a 24-hour flow. The townspeople will make their own decisions based on their own unique desires, so what they do at certain times will differ by each player’s game.”
What sort of smaller mysteries will players be solving leading up to the bigger mystery of the story’s “shocking truth”?
Swery: “Just like in Deadly Premonition, each of the townspeople will be unique, with their own unique side-quests.”
Can we expect easter eggs aimed at other Suehiro-san or G-rounding titles?
Swery: “If I talked about that here, they wouldn’t be easter eggs, now would they? Easter eggs have value because you get to uncover them on your own.”
Was Steam Early Access something you had considered?
Swery: “This time with Kickstarter, we’re selling a beta access ticket. This is attached to a rather high tier, so in order to give that proper value, our top priority is to share the beta access only with people who back the tier on Kickstarter. Early Access is something we’ll think about after all those backers are satisfied.”
If the Kickstarter is funded, will there be any extra goals, such as more content or additional platforms?
Swery: “There are only 10 days left, so I’ll just say this: I’d like to do ports to other platforms, expand the town, and add new townspeople.”
What made you choose the game’s current platforms, PlayStation 4 and PC?
Swery: “They have the top two active user counts.”
Why did you choose G-rounding as the game’s developer?
Swery: “They have 10 years of experience, and development power. Also because Futatsugi-san, their leader, loves alcohol. When we drink together, we never stop talking about games.”
Why cats and dogs? Why can’t I transform into a monkey? They’re pretty versatile, Suehiro-san!
Swery: “It’s important that you can transform into cats and dogs ONLY.”
What’s your plan for The Good Life if the Kickstarter doesn’t succeed? Have any publishers shown interest in picking up the project?
Swery: “I can’t say anything in detail right now, but both and I and G-rounding believe this project has potential, so we have no intentions of giving up.”
In February, Arc System Works announced a new title from you called The Missing due out this year. You promised it will blow our minds. I’m sure you can’t say much, but can you tell us a little bit more about the premise of the game and how it plays?
Swery: “I can’t say anything about The Missing right now. Please wait for further announcements.”
Is there any hope for a continuation of D4? Or is that all in the hands of Access Games now? If so, is working with Access Games as a freelancer to develop the project something you can see yourself doing given the opportunity?
Swery: “Never.”
Is a remastered release of Deadly Premonition for current generation consoles something that you could see happening? Or a sequel?
Swery: “Please ask the people who own the rights.”
When you left Access Games, you mentioned dealing with health concerns. Can you tell us how you’re doing, health-wise? Are you doing well?
Swery: “My family, friends, and fans all supported me, so my health is back to normal now. Thanks for your concern.”
Have you watched Twin Peaks yet?
Swery: “Yes. It was perfect.”
You’re a busy man, I’m sure, but can you tell us what games you’ve been able to get around to playing recently?
Swery: “Monster Hunter: World, Fortnite, and the mobile version of Chrono Trigger.”
What are your top five games of all time?
Swery: “Minecraft, Ice Climbers, Balloon Fight, Red Dead Redemption, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.”
Who did your back tattoo and how long did it take?
Swery: “That’s just a paint tattoo. A college friend of mine named Horizaru did it. It took seven and a half hours to finish painting. The photo shoot took one hour, and we erased it immediately after.”
A prototype demo for White Owl’s The Good Life, which is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, is now available for PC. Download it here.
The demo comes with a PDF guide that details the control scheme and the three side quests users can play, while also noting that this is indeed a prototype and that there will be bugs and unfinished elements.
The Good Life has currently been funded $327,548 of its $623,759 goal with nine days left on its campaign. If you are interested in seeing the project succeed, you can back it on Kickstarter. It is planned for release on PlayStation 4 and PC.