Hello adventure fans,

Its time for a little insight into whats been happening behind the scenes with Chapter 2 of A Twisted Tale.

As many of you know, development continues to be entirely hand-drawn and animated frame by frame and with Chapter 2 being significantly larger than Chapter 1, theres now even more to illustrate and bring to life.

Scenes, scenes, scenes...

Most of my recent work has gone into backgrounds especially the lush jungle areas. While Im careful not to reveal too much, heres a small glimpse from deep within the swamp which may or may not feature a claw machine. I couldnt resist.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/41187465/108357fc25eea72eb59b7de25d4c65881c444bd4.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/41187465/1c1c7d2007f59157c9190eb1a2cd709d8d465f92.jpg"][/img]

Jungle foliage in particular takes a great deal of time. Even though Ive become more efficient at suggesting detail in the distance, I still tend to lose myself in the process.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/41187465/534888cd9d30463b9cd883fbccf113da8e0eed8a.jpg"][/img]

At one point, I realised Id completely lost track of how many scenes were still ahead so I grabbed the nearest thing at hand (a piece of kitchen roll, naturally) and scribbled down a rough plan.

The result: 21 scenes, an as-yet undefined number of quest-specific ones, a map, and several close-up views. About half of the core scenes and some of the close-ups are already complete. The first testing phase will begin without the quest-specific content, which Ill build in parallel.

Characters and animation

Chapter 2 doesnt just bring new locations it also raises the bar visually. To match the more detailed environments, the characters youll meet are being drawn with greater nuance, and their animations have become noticeably more expressive.

One of these characters is Montoya, a gifted fencer who plays a key role in Chapter 2. Hes already become a personal favourite to work on.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/41187465/8d8f0e51cc4df9593e493e232ab94d1a30836eaf.jpg"][/img]

Compared to Chapter 1, the process of animating characters feels far more natural now. For the first chapter, I hand-drew hundreds of animation frames every movement frame by frame. But many of the early character animations (such as the antique shop owner or Ned) were created in the earliest stages of development, and are relatively simple as a result. By contrast, the games intro which I completed last taught me a great deal about timing, motion and emotion. That learning now flows directly into the animations of Chapter 2, and Im excited for players to see the difference.

Sound & atmosphere

The world is also beginning to sound more alive. Ive started integrating early ambient sounds and musical sketches, and even at this stage they bring a lot of depth to the atmosphere. I'm delighted to be working again with Maxim (sound) and Micha (music), who both helped shape the experience of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 builds on that foundation and already has its own distinct feel.

[previewyoutube="DxWcKIAYLBU;full"][/previewyoutube]

[previewyoutube="v68LBp9g5N0;full"][/previewyoutube]

Thats all for now thank you so much for following along! If you enjoyed Chapter 1, you can look forward to a bigger, richer and more vibrant continuation in Chapter 2 :)

Greetings from Germany,

Eva

[ 2025-06-13 08:22:47 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello dear adventure fans,

since you have requested updates here on Steam as well, I am trying to make this possible with a devlog that runs parallel to the Kickstarter updates, but is of course tailored for here. I hope to be able to involve you better. Having already presented you with a first scene & teaser for Chapter 2, I'm all the more pleased to show you a little more. Not only am I currently drawing the backgrounds for all the scenes (and there will be a few more than in Chapter 1), but I'm also trying to polish up the atmosphere a bit. So I've been working on the parallax effect and the creation and integration of lightmaps. It is certainly a question of the extent to which these elements can still be described as retro and can be authentically integrated into the 90s 2D design style. I have to admit that this was the main reason why I hadn't even thought about it for Chapter 1. As Chapter 2 will be much darker in some parts, a light map is the most practical option for me. Another alternative would be to recolour and replace Vio's animation sprites, but that would take an enormous amount of time and wouldn't be technically clean either. With the parallax effect, I really like the play with depth if you don't overdo it and impose it on all the scenes. But it can add a lot to the atmosphere. And I was surprised when I realised that even Broken Sword uses this effect (was it always like this, or was it added in the later versions?). In any case, I don't want to withhold the results from you. Please note that the screens and tests are not final, so I will still be adding work and effort: [previewyoutube=0XPhFAqV2UU;full][previewyoutube=0XPhFAqV2UU;leftthumb][/previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

At the moment I'm working really hard to get all the scenes more or less finished and technically integrated, in the next step I would add all the necessary elements so that a clickable rudimentary version is created. I'm trying to add animations late, although I have to admit that I really want to make the fire dance in the fireplace and play with the candlelight. :) I hope you like this little insight into the current state of things. It's still a bit difficult for me to estimate how much information you want and how detailed it should be. That's why I'm looking forward to your feedback - so don't hesitate to write it below. This concludes the first entry of the devlog for Chapter 2 here on Steam. Stay healthy and until next time, Many greetings from Germany, Eva

[ 2024-09-26 08:12:46 CET ] [ Original post ]

As many of you know, I'm currently working on Chapter (episode / book / tale) 2, and have been for a while, so it's about time for an official announcement. So I'm really pleased to announce publicly that Chapter 2 of A Twisted Tale is going to be more Caribbean than Hermann's (you know which fisherman) wildest dreams. The graphics are still hand-drawn, but I've decided to overdraw the hard outlines in the colouring process as well. This makes it easier for me to draw and I personally like the look better this way, as Vio blends in better with the environment. For you, this also means a reunion with familiar and new faces, a large portion of clichs and some clich-breaking. So you'll come across a lot of things that you wouldn't necessarily expect in a setting like this ;) Apart from that, I don't want to give too much away, but let the screenshot stand for itself.
Greetings from Germany, Eva

[ 2024-07-20 22:31:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hotfix online

+ It is now prevented that the language changes every 2 or 3 clicks if you look at the items in the antique shop in English (sorry, that was a really stupid bug)

[ 2024-03-15 13:36:44 CET ] [ Original post ]

English:

+ If you try to use an item with the fisherman's bucket, you now get a reaction + If you try to use the seed bag in the antique shop in the English version, Vio no longer accidentally speaks German + The last residues from the dialogue of the old demo were removed in the final antique shop (table) + The scorched earth in the forest is now also labelled (if [spoiler]the cube is gone[/spoiler]) + The bug that Vio disappears in the forest at the [spoiler] end sequence when she uses the cube[/spoiler] has been fixed + Vio now does not have infinite [spoiler]Orichalcum [/spoiler]in her inventory (after use) + If you load the last autosave after finishing the chapter, Vio is no longer invisible (only applies with the new autosave) + If you have used the [spoiler] cube[/spoiler], Vio no longer acts as if she hadn't used it at all when you take a closer look at this item + The old lady now reacts when you try to give her the [spoiler]drink she wants[/spoiler] using only [spoiler]detergent[/spoiler] + The display errors of the volume configuration have been adjusted + The background music of the Caruso is now a little quieter + The dust particles in the antique shop had to be removed because they were too performance-hungry, causing unwanted audio interference (at least it's a bit cleaner in the shop now) + The background music at the construction site is now a little quieter + The background music at the construction site can now also be customised via the background music settings + If the riddle at the antique shop owner is solved, Vio will not continue to consider [spoiler]whether another item might interest him[/spoiler] + The bug with the empty dialogue menu at the antique shop owner has been fixed + In the German version, the older lady now speaks all her passages audibly

Deutsch:

+ Wenn man versucht ein Item mit dem Eimer des Anglers zu verwenden bekommt man nun eine Reaktion + Wenn man in der englischen Fassung die Samentte im Antikladen versucht zu benutzen, spricht Vio nicht mehr versehentlich deutsch (in der englischen Fassung) + Die letzten Rckstnde aus dem Dialog der alten Demo wurden im finalen Antikladen entfernt (Tisch) + Die verbrannte Erde im Wald ist nun auch als solche beschriftet (wenn [spoiler]der Wrfel dort verschwunden ist [/spoiler]) + Der Bug, dass Vio im Wald verschwindet und die Sequenz zerstrt wird, wenn sie [spoiler] den Wrfel benutzt [/spoiler], wurde behoben + Vio hat nun nicht unendlich [spoiler]Orichalcum [/spoiler] im Inventar (nach Benutzung) + Wenn man nach Beenden des Kapitels den letzten Autosave ldt ist Vio nicht mehr unsichtbar (gilt nur mit neuer Autosave-Schreibung) + Wenn man den [spoiler]Wrfel [/spoiler] verwendet hat, tut Vio beim genaueren Betrachten des Items nicht mehr so, als htte sie ihn gar nicht benutzt + Die alte Dame reagiert nun, wenn man versucht ihr das gewnschte [spoiler] Getrnk [/spoiler] ausschlielich mit [spoiler] Reinigungsmittel [/spoiler] anzudrehen + Die Darstellungsfehler der Lautstrkenkonfiguration wurden angepasst + Die Hintergrundmusik des Carusos ist nun etwas leiser + Die Staubpartikel im Antikladen mussten enfernt werden, da sie zu performancefressend waren, sodass es zu ungewollten Audiostrungen kam (wenigstens ist es jetzt etwas sauberer im Laden) + Die Hintergrundmusik bei der Baustelle ist nun etwas leiser + Die Hintergrundmusik bei der Baustelle lsst sich nun auch ber die Hintergrundmusik-Einstellungen anpassen + Wenn das Rtsel beim [spoiler]Antikhndler [/spoiler] gelst ist, wird Vio nicht weiterhin berlegen, ob ein anderes Item ihn interessieren knnte + Der Bug, dass das Dialogmen beim Antikhndler leer bleibt wurde behoben + In der deutschen Fassung spricht die ltere Dame nun all ihre Passagen hrbar

[ 2024-03-13 15:55:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

Vio's adventure begins!

And my journey as Solodev continues.

Many exciting months lie behind me and I am really happy that you finally have the opportunity to discover "A Twisted Tale" - with full English and German voice over! This milestone would not have been possible without the support of the community, the wonderful efforts of the voice actors and the wonderful people who have accompanied me on this journey of solo development. I can't thank you enough for that. For you players, this means that you can already discover Vio's adventures. Even though the game will be told across 7 chapters, it does not mean that you are playing a half-finished adventure. Each chapter has its own characters, settings, puzzles and stories. The average playing time of the first chapter is 6-8 hours. All further chapters will have at least this length. Vio's adventures, the stories, settings and the frame story of the adventure are already written and I can hardly wait to continue telling Vio's story. And to continue this heptalogy with you and create it together. So please feel invited to drop by the A Twisted Tale Discord server. I will also be streaming again at the start of the visible development of chapter 2 so that you can actively participate in the development process. The community has already left a lasting impression in the first chapter, which you can discover in the character Ned Harvey and the Puddelstones. This input from the community is incredibly important to me and I believe that the game will be enriched by it. I'm really looking forward to continuing Vio's journey with you and telling her story. The sales of the first chapter will go directly into the development of "A Twisted Tale". I hope that enough will be raised so that further translations (Spanish, French and Polish) can be realised. Chapter 1 alone contains over 73 pages (18212 words) of text in English and 76 pages (17836 words) in German. And who knows, maybe soon I won't have to do everything as a solo developer ;) I wish you lots of fun with A Twisted Tale and a smile or two. Greetings from Germany, Eva

[ 2024-03-07 18:01:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

The time has come: The first chapter of A Twisted Tale starts on 7 March 2024 (1 pm EST (UTC -5)) here on Steam. It's been a long journey to get here, but it's far from over. I'm really looking forward to experiencing this important moment with you. Thank you for all your support!

[ 2024-02-24 21:09:20 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello dear adventure friends, Now it's time, now it's up to you! The Kickstarter for A Twisted Tale is now live and only with your help can I realise the game as I have planned it. With full voice over in German and English - and translated into other languages. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eva-a-twisted-tale/a-twisted-tale I am really grateful and happy about every little help. Whether you support me financially, send me a few lines of encouragement, or just tell me about A Twisted Tale - every support helps me to make the game come true. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Greetings from Germany, Eva

[ 2022-06-07 19:12:38 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello adventure fans, Aren't these incredible news? A Twisted Tale is part of GamesRadar's Future Games Show - I still can't believe it! You can follow the show on Twitter, Youtube, Twitch, Facebook and on GamesRadar itself - and of course on Steam steamhappy. I look forward to celebrating this special day together with you! Stay healthy and greetings from Germany! Eva

[ 2022-05-20 09:31:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello adventure fans, "Oh boy, oh boy, and this is just the beginning!" (Quote: Kenny Falmouth in Monkey Island 3, German version) Today is a great day to quote Kenny's words. Because as of today, there is a pre-launch page on Kickstarter, which you can find here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eva-a-twisted-tale/a-twisted-tale
There, with just one click, you can ensure that you receive a notification as soon as the Kickstarter goes online. The campaign is intended to secure funding for the German and English voice over and also make (further) translations possible. It will start soon! If you want to be one of the Early Birds, don't forget to activate your notification ;) Stay healthy and see you soon, Eva

[ 2022-05-05 15:45:46 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello adventure friends,

As a solo developer, it is a very special honour and great pleasure for me to be part of this year's Women's Day event on Steam! The event starts Monday 7 March and runs until Friday 11 March. Keep up to date with the latest news on Twitter and / or Discord. And don't miss any more important events by signing up for the Newsletter. In the spirit of International Women's Day there will be something to see and hear from me here and there :)
Also, my 23-Point-&-Click-Homage-and-Reference-Challenge is still running for all savvy adventure game connoisseurs who want to go exploring in the A Twisted Tale gameplay demo. You can find out more about the Challenge and this stupid T-shirt here: https://twitter.com/TaleTwisted/status/1499380829310668806 I hope you enjoy this wonderful event, greetings from Germany, Eva

[ 2022-03-07 06:00:08 CET ] [ Original post ]

Heyho friends of point & click adventures, A Twisted Tale is taking part in the Steam Next Fest in February!

It is a great honour and wonderful to be given this special opportunity. Celebrate and try out the little gameplay demo. Adventure fans take note: 23 homages and references from the great classics await - who will discover them all first? Connect on Twitter and Discord and take part in the challenge. Don't miss the A Twisted Tale Kickstarter and sign up for the newsletter: https://twistedtale.de/en/ I'm looking forward to celebrating the Next Fest with you! Your Eva

[ 2022-02-21 18:27:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Heyho Adventurefans, I'm proud to announce that A Twisted Tale is part of the Big Adventure event!

And look who gets to enjoy a cup of coffee and a muffin on the official graphic! It is a great honour to be able to stand next to so many great adventures and developers. Together with Cryptic Hybrid we will click through the gameplay demo of A Twisted Tale - and in a Q&A we will get a bit more information about my indie game. Broadcast time: 11pm CET / 4pm CDT Be there and celebrate this special event with us! To make sure you don't miss anything, you can register for the A Twisted Tale newsletter here: https://twistedtale.de/en/

[ 2022-01-23 15:17:42 CET ] [ Original post ]

Come and discover A Twisted Tale in this little gameplay demo.

[ 2021-11-19 13:46:27 CET ] [ Original post ]