The Rhapsode
Ἡ Ῥαψωδή (The Rhapsode) is a single-player puzzle-based adventure RPG set in a "columnpunk" version of ancient Greece. Rhapsodes were employed by the Greeks to sing and recite the epics, primarily Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Eupheme (Ἐύφημη), our hero, learns of a lost story from the Odyssey and, hoping to make a name for herself and expand the repertoire of rhapsodes everywhere, sets out in search of it - a search that leads her across Greece and deep into ruins ancient even to her.
Noëlle Anthony and Mischievess Studios
Noëlle Anthony, the creator of Ἡ Ῥαψωδή, has a long background both with games and with the classics. She programmed her first games from a Marvel Comics BASIC magazine at age 5, and has never stopped developing. Likewise, she began learning Latin in the 7th grade and earned a Bachelor's degree in Classical Studies in 2007 after more than a decade of immersion in the language and culture of ancient Greece and Rome.
Noëlle came out as a transgender woman in 2011, and has since founded Mischievess Studios, a game-development studio intended to give women a start in the game industry. It seemed like an obvious step to combine her loves - classical studies and game design and programming - into Ἡ Ῥαψωδή, the first game to be developed under the Mischievess banner.
Funding the development of this game will allow Mischievess Studios to pursue projects beyond Ἡ Ῥαψωδή, which in turn will allow Mischievess to begin and promote the careers of other women in game development and design. It's a small but significant step in equalizing the game industry.
Currently, Noëlle is the sole creative contributor to the project, but meeting stretch goals will change that!
Where will my contribution go?
The first $36,000 of this campaign will go toward allowing Noëlle to make this game her full-time job for one year; $9,000 will go toward making necessary infrastructure changes to the studio. (Specifically, this will allow the studio access to broadband internet - a necessity which, due to the studio's location in rural Maryland, is not yet available.)
If the primary goal is met, further contributions will be directed toward providing professional art and music for the game. Although Noëlle enjoys creating art and music, taking these off her plate will free her up to concentrate on story and programming.
Any contributions above $50,000 will be split evenly between art and music for Ἡ Ῥαψωδή. At $120,000, Mischievess Studios will attempt to retain art and music directors for the full year.
In addition, if this project reaches $100,000 in contributions, Mischievess Studios will add an ancient Greek language option to the game.
What does my contribution get me?
Everyone who contributes $10 or more will receive a copy of the game when it is released, as well as free updates for the life of the game. You will also be listed as a contributor in the game's credits.
Larger contributions carry larger rewards:
- Multiple copies of the game (for friends!)
- Alpha/beta access
- Exclusive wallpapers and icons
- The official Ἡ Ῥαψωδή soundtrack
- Higher-status credit within the game
- Access to exclusive in-game items
- The ability to name an in-game NPC (within reason)
What if I can't contribute financially?
You can still help by spreading the word! Every single share, tweet, Facebook post, Tumbl, and blog post helps. And if you're a musician or artist who would be willing to contribute to Ἡ Ῥαψωδή, please drop us a line and let us know!
How do you pronounce Ἡ Ῥαψωδή?
Roughly: "hey rhah-psoh-DAY". (But nobody will be upset if you just call the game "The Rhapsode".)
How can I get in touch?
You can find Noëlle on Twitter as @noellejoyeuse, or send an email to noelle.d.anthony at Gmail. Noëlle will also be starting a podcast discussing the development process - watch this space for details!