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X-Tactics ("Cross-Tactics"), is an episodic tactical RPG, that blends turn based tactics and fighting game mechanics for a fresh take on the genre. Also offering online CO-OP mode, and urban exploration experience to players, by leveraging GPS and other real world data streams.
Release Roadmap
Confirmed Platforms:
- iOS, Android, Kindle (2014)
- PC, Mac, Linux, Google Glass (2015)
Stretch Goal Platforms:
- PS-Vita & 3DS (2015)
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If you want to get the game for ALL platforms, THIS perk is for you!
$25 Urban Explorer
- Includes digital download for all platforms
- Access to all content unlocked by this campaign's stretch goals
- Special in-game urban explorer pack, with exclusive IndieGoGo equipment!
- Help us shape to 2 additional characters as a community
RECENT NEWS
[09/16]
Although we'll most likely be missing the original handheld stretch goal. We'll still do all the efforts to bring in to handhelds, and will be giving out download keys for all platforms with the $25 Urban Explorer support tier. This does put some delay on the handhelds release, but doesn't change the final plan!
[09/13]
3rd Stretch Goal reached!
Thanks everyone!!!
[09/12]
Another friend, game programmer, from SEGA has joined our team, we're woking hard on getting the Beta version ready, and with the extra help are now planning on holding a small beta for our supporters around Halloween.
[09/05]
We're almost at the 3rd Stretch Goal for adding a full crafting system to X-Tactics!
[09/04]
We got controller support for PC and Mobile working :)
[09/03]
One of the composers of Megami Tensei & Persona series is on board with us for X-tactics' music!
[09/01]
We have our first interview in print! We'll be in the Indies Dev Corner of Famitsu, one of the biggest magazines here in Japan! So as a bonus we'll include a copy of the Magazine to all our Collector and up perks!
Follow Us
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gk_xtactics
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gamkin.xtactics
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Due to popular request we added a stretch goal for handhelds. But please remember our team is new and small, so we are tight on resources. We need to decide on one handheld first, either the Nintendo 3DS or the Sony PS Vita, but we want to let you decide. So we put this up for vote!
POLL: which handheld do you want us to add as a stretch goal first?
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UPDATE:
Although we'll most likely be missing the original handheld stretch goal. We'll still do all the efforts to bring in to handhelds, and will be giving out download keys for all platforms with the $20-25 Urban Explorer support tier. This does put some delay on the handhelds release, but doesn't change the final plan!
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「Indiegogo」を通じて弊社にご支援を頂くことで、ご支援に内容応じて、弊社がご用意させて頂くゲーム関連の特典を得ることができます。例えば、アートブックやサウンドトラックや応援者限定オリジナルTシャツ、ゲーム内アイテム、登場するキャラクターの共同制作権利等が得られます。
Indiegogoの支援方法はこちらへ
日本の事前登録ページはこちらへ
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We're GAMKIN
GAMKIN, is an Indie studio formed by Square-Enix, Capcom and SEGA veterans, as well as talented young creators. Established at the end of 2013, and dedicated to creating new forms of entertainment by combining their game development expertise with other media. Besides working on games, GAMKIN also works on interactive children's television in Japan, and collaborating with local game schools and text publishers to help bring up a next generation of game developers.
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X-Tactics takes place in a world, similar to our own, but one where top-secret government agencies and secret societies,
maintain the peace and world order by manipulating the truth, news and many historical events.
X-Tactics puts you the player in the role of
the head of one of these secret agencies, and at the command of a ragtag cast of secret agents, adventurers and treasure hunters, that risk their lives trying to
keep the truth from leaking.
Wrapped in dark humour and a stylish anime punk art style, X-Tactics brings a new twist to modern
conspiracy theories and
urban legends.
"The Truth is dangerous, we can’t let it destroy the peace"
-Adam White, Secret Agent
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X-Tactics differs greatly from other tactical games in that there are not armies, generic characters, or job systems, instead we decided to go with fighting game aesthetics and have designed a unique roster of characters, each with their own unique skills and play styles, while still giving you the freedom to customise character skill growth to match your strategies and preferred play style.
We want you to think about what each
character brings to the table at an individual level, as you would if you we’re
sending highly trained special agents out to fulfill dangerous missions.
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Your Agents
To give you an idea of what some of the initial secret agents have for skills we here list a few for each, although they can learn new skills by completing character based side-quests.
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*abilities listed here are tentative and might change before release.
And more to come!
Some other character that are at different stages of development include, Werewolf, Voodoo Doctor with Zombies, Digital Genie, Deep One, Cyborg, among others. Additional characters like these will join you in future episodes after release.
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Special Guests
We thankfully we have many of friends in the games industry here, and some members of our team have also worked in the animation industry so we are arranging at this time for some very special guest characters from other games and anime to cross over into the X-Tactics universe and perhaps if your capable enough even recruit them into your team!
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Design Goals
When we set out to make X-Tactics we didn’t want to make just another tactical game, nor attempt to create some sort of spiritual successor.
Our goal as developers here at Gamkin is to create something new.
However we have combined tactical gameplay from classics like that of Final Fantasy Tactics and Valkyrie Chronicles, together with new mechanics and aesthetics inspired by fighting game, like Street Fighter, to create a new gameplay experience, that we at least have not seen done before.
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Mobile Experience vs PC & Handhelds Experience
The PC and Handheld versions will have extended maps and allow more characters per mission. Internally we think of the the PC version akin to chess, and the mobile version akin to a smaller fast paced speed-chess.
Because of this we aren't doing a simultaneous release, because the PC/Handheld version is not a port and requires quite a bit of development. But you will be able to sync your play data between devices and platforms.
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Core Gameplay Mechanics
X-Tactics is at its heart a game of turn-based tactics, but with dynamics focused on investigating missions and battles in treacherous close-quarters combat, as you might find in an urban setting.
Your agents won’t be able to take ridiculous amounts of damage to the face, and you will need to keep on the move and play by taking calculated risks to achieve victory rapidly before things get out of control.
A typical missions consists of a strategic map, followed by a series of tactical skirmishes.
STRATEGIC PHASE
Like
Valkyria Chronicles each mission has a "strategic phase" where you spend command points to decide on the overall strategy and order in which to send your agents to investigate and neutralise the dangers in the mission.
SKIRMISH PHASE
After you have decided on which agents to send to handle which areas, those areas that involve combat transition to the "skirmish mode". This mode is a turn-based tactical experience more in line with Final Fantasy Tactics.
The Battle Field
Because we are focused on close-quarter tactics battle fields tend to smaller than your typical tactical game, but we do this to reduce the initial setup phase, and instead focus on mechanics that require you to keep your agents on the move.
Some features that keep things spiced up include:
- flanking to reduce enemy defences
- characters have support and affinity bonuses required to use skills
- destructible furnishings
- special bonus areas and traps!
Enemy Waves
In spirit of our goal to keep a fast paced tactical experience, many skirmishes, consist of waves of enemies, where new waves start after a determined initiative time, so if you are not fast in clearing your current enemies, you're likely to be overwhelmed by more than you can chew!
Initiative System
X-tactics uses an Initiative based system similar to that of Final Fantasy Tactics, where each character is lined up based on their speed, and where really fast characters might even take turns twice as fast than slower characters.
Also by fine controlling your initiative queue expert players can unleash devastating dual and team combos.
Here is an explanation from a friend that might be easier to understand:
"I will translate that to the American readers: shit’s going to battle like DnD. Initiative will be based on speed and turn order will be thereby determined." - The Crotchety Old Gamer
Team Rage Gauge
Your team has a “rage gauge" that accumulates based on how good your attacks are, and how much damage you have taken, similar to those of Fighting Games. This gauge when full can then be used to unleash special super attacks.
Health and Defense
There are no healer characters, and there are no healing potions so to speak of. Instead characters have a health meters that works like those of fighting games.
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- Fighting game style health meter with temporary and permanent damage
- Reflex-based block and counter attack gameplay
- Enemies can also counter attack, but you can counter block
- Complete missions without taking damage (PERFECT) if your really good
The health and defense system raises stakes and constantly shifts battle’s flow between risky frontal attacks to neutralize the enemy before reinforcements arrive, and trying to take cover and protect the wounded so they don't fall in battle.
In a nutshell this means you can't just send tank characters to the front and keep them alive with healers as support, no slugfests allowed.
4 PLAYER COOP
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Play with up to 4 friends together in online coop online for special missions, where each player gets to bring in one hero of their choice. We have designed the experience to be similar to playing an old school D&D session with your friends.
Urban Exploration
Location Based Missions
X-Tactics features location based missions, where you can protect your school, or workplace from outbreaks of dangerous creatures, and other dangers together with your friends.
Also certain hidden character story lines are unlocked by certain combinations of characters and locale types (schools, libraries, stores, etc...). So be sure to explore your surroundings and find out what secrets you may find!
Real-world Data Sources
Local weather conditions, and other events like day & night cycles and moon phases, to play part in unlocking certain missions and events.
Local conditions also affect missions, so if you enter a mission at nighttime, it is dark, if it is raining, it will rain, and so on. This also has gameplay effects that range from what enemies you may encounter, to providing certain combat benefits and handicaps to certain characters and enemies. After all ranged attacks don’t work well in strong winds, and slippery floors can make movement more difficult than usual.
Geocaching and Urban Treasure Hunting
The mobile version of X-Tactics also uses your device's GPS, to investigate nearby areas, search for hints, and treasure!
X-Tactics will also provide user-driven Geocaching abilities, so you can organise your own treasure hunts with your friends!
"Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world." -Wikipedia
Google Glass Companion
We're fortunate enough to be part of the
Glass Explorer program, thanks Google! So we have a pair of glasses and are working on a companion app to assist with the
Urban Exploration part of X-Tactics. Of course this is totally experimental so we can't promise anything yet, but hope to have an early alpha ready for
Spring 2015.
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Episodic Content
Our team members have years of experience hosting live games from MMORPGs to more casual games, and we also have experience as a company hosting interactive TV on a weekly basis here in Japan, so we are aiming to leverage this knowhow to add episodic updates, with new missions, items and occasionally new heroes and enemies on a weekly basis, as free updates to all our players, although some content will need to be unlocked, so it might not be readily available to everyone at the same time.
Stretch Goal Features
Agency Customisation
UNLOCKED!
You will now be able to upgrade and expand the different sections of your agency to provide you bonuses that range from intelligence and training benefits, to improved searching facilities (for urban exploration).
Items Crafting Systems
(Stretch Goa $17,500)
Right now X-Tactics has an item system, but we want to add a crafting system so you can customise your own equipment.
Ranked Endless Survival Mode
(Stretch Goal $25,000)
Play Endless Survival missions, and see how far you get!
We will be adding location based ranking, so you can how good your are compared to your peers in your neighbourhood, town, city, region, country, continent and world wide!
Friendly PVP
(Stretch Goal $35,000)
We will add PVP skirmishes, but want this to be friendly so it will not be ranked in game, but are considering exposing an API so players can organise their own tournaments.
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Let's build X-Tactics together
Our IndieGoGo campaign is just not about funding the development of X-Tactics, our goal here is to find like-minded collaborators who want join us on this journey to make X-Tactics the most it can be.
So come join us, and leave your mark in the game!
Campaign Funds Breakdown
The campaign's funds will be used in a fairly straightforward manner to help us pay for the many in-game assets we still need to produce and stretch goal implement costs.
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70%: Will be used for Development costs, mostly in-game assets and effects
20%: Is needed to create the digital and physical rewards for this campaign
10%: Will be used for taxes, service fees, and our plans for a new world order
Release Roadmap
Our current roadmap, without the Handheld stretch goals yet in there.
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Because X-Tactics depends in large part on Urban Exploration, it only makes sense that we go with a Mobile-first strategy, but the PC version and Google Glass version will all share the same account, so you can play with your same characters and agency wherever you are!
After release and depending on demand, and resources we'll be porting to consoles, but we are a small team, and porting to too many devices simultaneously is not something that can realistically handle without compromising gameplay at this time.
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All perks include everything in lower tier perks.
[GET IT] $5, High Five - Our eternal gratitude and gifts :)
- DRM free digital copy of the X-Tactics original soundtrack
- Set of Original HD Wallpapers
- Exclusive in-game Badge item
[GET IT] $25 Urban Explorer - Help us shape X-Tactics
(*Recommended)
- Help us shape to 2 additional characters as a community
- Access to all content unlocked by this campaign's stretch goals
- Special in-game urban explorer pack, with exclusive IndieGoGo equipment!
- Includes digital download for all platforms PC, Mac and Linux
(We're trying to figure out how to handle this for Mobile).
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**NEW** Will include digital download for handheld, if we reach the Handhelds stretch goal!
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**NEW** You'll be part of our development discussion boards, to be opened soon.
[GET IT] $50, Urban Investigator - For the digital collector
- DRM free copy of our interactive X-Tactics Collector's Codex. Think digital Art-Book on steroids, with video and sound, not just a PDF of the art book.
- Get your name in the credits
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**NEW** Will include physical copy for handheld, if we reach the stretch goal
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[GET IT] $75, Secret Agent - Become a part of the story
- Exclusive set of alternate versions of the 3 secret agent characters, Adam White, Alice Astor & Goicci, with rebalanced stats, modified abilities and skills
- We'll use your name in the main story!
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[GET IT] $80 EARLY BIRD, Urban Hunter - The ultimate in Digital
(*Recommended)
- Exclusive set of alternate versions of the 3 urban hunter characters, Astrid Svart, Lazarus & Nikita Tesla, with rebalanced stats, modified abilities and skills
- Exclusive in-game urban hunter item pack
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[GET IT] $150, Conspirator - Add your school or workplace!
- Customise the mission settings and add story, to a real world location on the world map of your choice (like your school, office, or favourite shop)
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[GET IT] $200, Collector - For the pop collector
- We'll send you an authographed physical copy of the X-Tactics soundtrack
- We'll send you a limited edition 8-piece pin badge collection of the X-Tactics hunters
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**NEW** Copy of the September Famitsu magazine that features us in the Indies section
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**NEW** Exclusive Movie Sized Poster (27” x 40”)
[GET IT] $250, Treasure Hunter - For the art collector
(*Recommended)
- We'll send you a physical authographed X-Tactics art book, with official collector certificate
- A limited run X-Tactics t-shirt, with official collector certificate
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[GET IT] $350, Mad Scientist - Create an Important story item
- We'll work together to bring an item/treasure of your choice to life in X-Tactics! It can be a anything you can imagine, and have copyright to (or is part of the public domain).
- You get full credit for the item in the game's credits!
[GET IT] $500, Conspiracy Weaver - Co-Design a side quest!
- We'll work together to design and balance a short X-Tactics' campaign (side quest) of your imagination.
- You get full credit for the story in the game's credits!
[GET IT] $750, Urban Legend - Create an Enemy or NPC
- We'll work together to bring an enemy of your choice to life in X-Tactics! It can be an urban legend of your town! Or any character that you have copyright to (or is part of the public domain).
- You get full credit for the enemy in the game's credits!
[GET IT] $1000, Urban Hero - Create a Playable Hero Character!
- We'll work together to bring a playable hero character of your choice to life in X-Tactics! It can be you, an urban legend of your town, or any character that you have copyright to (or is part of the public domain).
- You get full credit for the hero in the game's credits!
[GET IT] $1500, Master Mind - Co-Design an entire Official Episode!
- We'll work together to design and balance an entire X-Tactics' campaign (story-arc) of your imagination, where you can show off your hero, enemy and item creations!
- You get full credit in the game's credits!
[GET IT] $4000, Party Member - Join us at Tokyo Game Show 2014
- Join us at the 2014 Tokyo Game Show. We'll escort you around the Event and Tokyo, and you'll be a guest of honour at our pre-release party taking place during that week.
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[GET IT] $10000, Assistant Producer - Become an Associate Producer
- Join us at the 2014 Tokyo Game Show. We'll escort you around the Event and Tokyo, and be a guest of honour at our pre-release party taking place during that week. This does not include flight expenses, but we'll take care of local transport and lodging!
- You'll be mentioned in the credits as Associate Producer!
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I Can't help with funding, is there anything I can do?
Of course! Help us spread the word, and join are special Twitter campaign.
Follow us @gk_xtactics and tweet updates with the #Xtactics hashtag.
Besides helping us out, we'll be giving away Urban Explorer ($25 tier equivalent) and Urban Investigator ($50 tier equivalent) equivalent gifts (*transferable) to some of our followers.
The more followers we reach the better the chances of getting free perks!
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Get Perks for your Work!
We're holding a special art contest that lasts until the end of this Indiegogo Campaign!
Rules & Rewards
- Create original art based on our characters, or even new character concepts that would fit the X-Tactics world.
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Post them on twitter using the #XTactics hash tag and a link back to this Indiegogo campaign page.
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Send us a Direct Message informing us of your entry, just in case we miss it!
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All entries will receive a "High Five" equivalent perk reward!!! (*1)
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We'll choose the best and include them in a special section of the official Codex and Art book!
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Selected entries will receive an "Conspirator" equivalent perk ($150).
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We'll also choose some of your original character ideas to be implemented as official Characters! (*2)
(*1) The entry has to be cool, funny or cute!
(*2) The exact amount of selected characters depends on the quality of the entries. And we can also only select characters that do not infringe on other's copyrights.
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In The News
Some news articles
English
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/08/19/x-tactics-developer-game-draws-inspiration-final-fantasy-tactics/
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/08/11/former-square-enix-capcom-sega-staff-team-x-tactics-rpg/
http://crotchetyoldgamer.com/2014/08/13/x-tactics-genre-fusion/
http://worthplaying.com/article/2014/8/8/news/93140/
http://games.mxdwn.com/news/x-tactics-a-tactical-rpg-with-fighting-game-flair/
Japanese
http://www.4gamer.net/games/268/G026858/20140808066/
http://www.gpara.com/infos/view/15211
http://news.nicovideo.jp/watch/nw1185824?news_ref=top_latest_gam
http://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201408110004/
French
http://ingame.fr/x-tactics-reussi-campagne-financement/
Spanish
http://www.koi-nya.net/2014/08/13/antiguos-empleados-de-square-enix-capcom-y-sega-crean-un-nuevo-rpg-de-estrategia/
http://www.3djuegos.com/noticia/145593/0/x-tactics/gamkin/pc-android-ios/
Portuguese
http://www.eurogamer.pt/articles/2014-08-09-veteranos-da-square-capcom-e-sega-juntam-se-num-novo-estudio
Chinese
http://sy.pcgames.com.cn/420/4202280.html
*If you know of other articles please contact us
FAQ
Q: Is this a micro transactions based game?
A: Not really. We don't want to have micro transactions like those of many mobile games these days. For example we won’t be selling keys to unlock treasure chests you find exploring the city, or anything like that.
Q: Will this be a Japanese Card Battle/Puzzle game?
A: No. This is not a card battle or puzzle game. We founded GAMKIN together to take on more exciting challenges.
Q: Will there be in-app purchases?
A: Probably. Our goal is to make X-Tactics a live game and grow it together with our community, we want to evolve the game constantly. It is likely there will be some form of in-app purchases for early access to certain content. We are still working out this part of the business model. As developers and gamers, we want to do this in a way that everyone can have fun playing, and allow us keep on evolving the game and adding new content and mechanics.
Q: What about handheld?
A: We'll be adding a free digital download together with the "Urban Explorer" tiers ($20~25) and up, and signed physical copies with at a new $50 +plus shipping tier, that includes all the benefits of current "Urban Investigator" ($50). If the stretch goal is met we'll ask all our current Urban Investigator supporters if they want to participate in the new tier, so you don't have to worry.
Q: What languages will you support?
A: Currently we have Japanese and English underway. French and Spanish targeted shortly after release. We hope to support other languages, but it might take some more time for that.
Q: Will the characters be animated?
A: Yes, the characters will be animated. However animation is costly so we are using portrait images as placeholders during development to test systems and gameplay. We expect to cover the animation costs with the funds from this campaign. However this is a tactical game, so it is not like we will have incredible animated assets like Dragon's Crown, but are aiming for animated look that keeps in line with our art style.
Q: How will the PC version use GPS data?
A: It will not. Our plan is that the PC version will have access to episodic content and multiplayer features. The idea is that the PC version will have let you play more complex missions that would be unsuitable for short burst of mobile play. But you can sync your play data between platforms.
Q: Will I need a Mobile device if I want to play on the PC version?
A: No, but we highly recommend it. It will be perfectly possible to play the PC version without a mobile device, but you will be missing out on part of the fun!
Q: Will I need a PC to play the Mobile version?
A: No, but we highly recommend it. It will be perfectly possible to play the Mobile version without a PC, but you will be missing out on part of the fun!
Q: Will there be an Ouya, Amazon Fire TV, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U version?
A: Maybe. At this moment we already have quite ambitious goals, so we don’t want to promise anything at this time, even with stretch goals, but if things go well, we will be porting the PC version over to these consoles as time and resources allow.
Q: Who is the Associate Producer?
A: A friend & supporter. We have been very fortunate to have received some extraordinary funding from a very successful business person of the industry here in Japan. This person has been very generous, and is very interested in our success and technology, but this person is not affiliated with our studio in any way.
Our contact info:
Website:
http://gamkin.com
Address: Cerulean Tower 15F, 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8512, Japan
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