Own your own restaurant in this visual novel/restaurant sim hybrid inspired by Persona 4 and Hot Dog Stand: The Works. Read more
Own your own restaurant in this visual novel/restaurant sim hybrid inspired by Persona 4 and Hot Dog Stand: The Works.
About this project
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Download the visual novel prologue—Culina: The Spirit of Cooking: PC, Mac, Linux, OUYA
Culina is a visual novel/strategy game where you step into the shoes of a culinary school graduate who dreams of opening up his own restaurant. Due to his family’s trust in him, he gets to embark on that endeavor. However, he will have to prove that he can create a successful business and pay his parents back in time so he doesn't have to move back home.
Features
- Build the restaurant of your dreams by customizing it the way you want
- Decide who you want to be: Become a better cook, develop bonds with the people you meet, or perhaps kindle a romance
- Purchase ingredients from different vendors, each with their own separate perks
- Craft recipes with purchased ingredients to draw in more customers
Players will interpret information, keep records, determine prices, and plan marketing strategies based on that data. By gathering information from a variety of sources, players can make purchasing and pricing decisions. Then players will be able to see the fruits of their labors and see if their plans are profitable.
As you can see from the video, a lot of work has already been done on the game, and it is progressing nicely. Most of the gameplay features are already implemented, and a good chunk of the story is written. Now we are going to take the game to the next level.
We are planning on having more art commissioned. Spending time with characters in the game brings you closer to them, and in key points during the story line we would like different CGs to be created to show the importance of those scenes and as a reward for completing them. In addition, our programmer will be working to add details to make the environments in the game more alive than other games in the genre with things like animations and a versatile particle system
We’ll also be adding in additional gameplay features based on playtesting with you the audience to help make Culina the game you want it to be!
We are also plan to write additional scenes to better immerse the player in the world.
Funds raised using our Kickstarter will firstly be used to fund the art that we need in order to get the game completed. In addition, to give our game the ability to move to multiple platforms that our current engine doesn't support, we are porting the game to Unity. This will also allow us to add more gameplay options that would be difficult with our current engine. A part of the funds will also be used to create promotional materials for the game, as well as general polish to make the game as great as we can before release.
If we are able reach above $10,000, we have some exciting stretch goals as well.
We are aiming to raise enough funds to be eligible for the OUYA "Free the Games Fund." If we reach our Kickstarter goal, OUYA's generous contribution will greatly benefit our games development.
OUYA requires we include the following:
“Double Our Fun(ds)! We're participating in OUYA's #FreeTheGames Fund, created by OUYA to support developers making new and creative console games. OUYA will match your pledge dollar-for-dollar up to your goal amount (and a max of $250,000), so help us get there and make a great game for everyone! To be eligible for this match, we commit that this game will be an OUYA exclusive for a period of time. To learn more about OUYA, go to www.OUYA.tv.”
The game will launch on OUYA, PC, Linux, and Mac simultaneously. The reward tiers above $12 include DRM-free versions of the game for Windows, Mac, and Linux (distributed through the Humble Store) in addition to OUYA vouchers. Those tiers will also include Steam keys as well if the game is accepted (please help by voting for us on greenlight).
If you think you know someone who would be interested in the project, please let them know about the page. We have a like button underneath our video, and word of mouth is the best possible way that we can get exposure for this project. We have some great incentives for the pledges, so check them out and share them with your friends!
The Team
John Doran—Programming/Design/Story Concept:
John Doran is a technical game designer who has been creating games for over 10 years. He has worked on an assortment of games in teams from just himself to over 70 in student, mod, and professional projects.He previously worked at LucasArts on Star Wars 1313 as the only junior designer on the team. He is the author of Getting Started with UDK and Mastering UDK Game Development, as well as the coauthor ofUDK iOS Game Development Beginner's Guide, all available from Packt Publishing.
Chris Doran—Story Concept/Musician
Chris enjoys life everyday and is passionate about playing music and his family. He tries to leave people better than when he found them. He has worked on several game projects previously, including Lunaris and several unannounced titles. He received a degree in music at the University of Evansville and is currently studying to get his Doctorate of Jurisprudence at Ohio Northern University.
Andrew Riley—Musician
Andrew is a composer and audio engineer who specializes in video game audio. He has composed over 70 titles, including the #1 selling iPhone game CraftedBattle and the Swedish Game Awards "Game of the Year" winner Secrets of Grindea
archia—Character Art
archia is a 22 year-old student living in New Zealand. They draw art, write weird fanfic, and do webcomic stuff.
Pam Isleta—CGs
http://moirgane.deviantart.com/
Andrea Chavez (Ezri)—CGs/Additional Artwork
Andrea is a freelance artist who gives her all in everything she does. Games are a large part of her life and she hopes to keep working on them for a long time. She has been drawing her entire life and studied graphic design at Middle Tennessee State University.
http://abygonesummerday.tumblr.com/
Auro-Cyanide—Background Artwork
Auro-Cyanide is a 23-year-old full time graphic designer who does art for indie games on the side. They live in Australia and their general tools of the trade are a Mac, a Wacom Intous 3 and Photoshop CS5.
http://auro-cyanide.deviantart.com/
A part of Cyanide Tea
Rachael Morris (aka ehcs or Adyrn)—GUI/Additional Artwork
Racheal loves to draw and play video games. She is also severely addicted to sweets. The only thing she'd pick over chocolates is cats.
Miyuki Hata—Writer
Miyuki is a freelance writer who has worked with several studios on multiple VNs doing writing and editing. She also writes game reviews and currently is a contributor to Indie Love.
https://twitter.com/riceforbrunch
Serenity Frost—Writer
Serenity is a writer and has worked on several Visual Novels including Happy Backwards and Queen at Arms.
Risks and challenges
There’s no doubt that game development is a large amount of work, and often the last 10% of a project takes up 50% of the development time, but as you can already see we have a fair bit of the work done already.
The funding goal we’ve set is higher than some other similar titles, but the money is being well spent in this regard in making the project look and play the best that it can possibly be. As it stands, we could release the game with minimal changes as it currently is, but iteration and playtesting are what makes a good game great and that’s what we’re looking to achieve.
If we are porting the project to Unity, there are a number of technical hurdles to overcome, but our programmer is extremely familiar with the game engine and already has a working prototype that can be built when we reach our goal.
Culina has been in production on for a number of years already and it’s already 90% complete, so there’s no way that it won’t be released; it’s just a matter of how much polish can be put into the final product.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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The Free the Games Rules actually state a period of limited exclusivity from mobile devices and other consoles with an exception for a PC version. This means that if we decide to port the game to the Vita, Xbox 360, etc., we will have to wait at least a month to release the game after the OUYA release.
If you look at section 9, paragraph 4 of the rules, you can see the exception. OUYA stated that the "...Game Developer is permitted to develop, market and sell a PC version of the Developed Game during the Exclusivity Period. Developer hereby agrees to release the Developed Game on the OUYA storefront prior to or on the same date as the commercial release of any PC version of the Developed Game."
Rewards
-
Pledge $1 or more
9 backers
PATRON- You are an awesome person, and in recognition of your awesomeness we'll send you a thank you letter via e-mail.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $5 or more
4 backers
PREP COOK- The above, plus have the ability to join our backer forum where we will be discussing the game and listen to your input to make the game the best it can be. Additionally, you will receive a series of wallpapers of the characters of the game.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $12 or more
198 backers Limited (2 left of 200)
EARLY BIRD - In addition to the above, you will receive a free digital copy of Culina when it is released for Windows, Mac, Linux, or Ouya. Additionally, you will recieve a Steam key if we get picked up by Greenlight.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $14 or more
95 backers Limited (5 left of 100)
NOT SO EARLY BIRD - Miss out on the early bird? The game can still be yours! Contains everything the Early Bird Tier contains
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $16 or more
6 backers
TOURNANT- In addition to the above, you will receive a free digital copy of Culina when it is released for Windows, Mac, Linux, or Ouya. Additionally, you will receive a Steam key if we get picked up by Greenlight. The game will retail for $20.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $20 or more
27 backers
PASTRY CHEF-Everything in the above, and at this point you’ll gain beta access to the game. In addition you will also get the EP Songs from Culina: Selections from the Culina Series as a digital download.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $24 or more
7 backers
BUTCHER- In addition to everything above, you will also receive a digital copy of the Cookbook/Artbook for the game.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $25 or more
49 backers
GARDE MANGER- In addition to everything above, get your name in the credits under "Special Thanks" section as well as a digital download of the game.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $50 or more
13 backers
ROTISSEUR- In addition to the above, shortly after the Kickstarter you will receive a copy of the game in the state that it is now and be able to give us feedback which we will take into consideration as the game is being created. You will be listed in the credits as a Consulting Designer.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $65 or more
2 backers Limited (8 left of 10)
INGREDIENT PROVIDER- Want to make sure your ingredient is in the game? Pick any ingredient and we will put it into our game for you to cook with (within reason, ask us ahead of time if unsure).This tier also includes also includes a digital copy of the game, a download of the EP, the digital artbook/cookbook, and the image file of the ingredient sent to you after it is made.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $75 or more
7 backers Limited (68 left of 75)
ENTREMETIER- At this tier level you will receive a copy of the limited-run hard copy of the game which includes the EP, a poster, and a DVD with the PC, Mac, and Linux versions of the game.
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $100 or more
4 backers Limited (71 left of 75)
POISSONIER- At this tier you will receive an apron like the one seen in the video and also a copy of the limited-run hard copy of the game which includes the EP, a poster, and a DVD with the PC, Mac, and Linux versions of the game.
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $110 or more
1 backer
T-SHIRT CONNOISSEUR- At this tier you will receive a Culina t-shirt, an apron like the one seen in the video and also a copy of the limited-run hard copy of the game which includes the EP, a poster, and a DVD with the PC, Mac, and Linux versions of the game. INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $150 or more
3 backers Limited (17 left of 20)
STATION CHEF- Ever wanted to be in a game? In addition to everything in the $100 tier level, you will have your (or your original character within reason) likeness put into our game created in the style of other characters in the game in a minimal role (such as a customer of the restaurant or a side character in one of the character’s routes).
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $500 or more
1 backer Limited (4 left of 5)
SOUS CHEF- Everything in the $100 level, plus you get to design a minor NPC character that the player can interact with in the game.
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $1,000 or more
2 backers
EXECUTIVE CHEF- In addition to everything in the $500 level and my undying gratitude, you will get a copy of every game that this company ever makes. Ever. You will receive credit as an Executive Producer in the credits.
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Please contact us before backing so we can determine additional shipping costs.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $3,000 or more
0 backers Limited (3 left of 3)
LANGUAGE AFICIONADO- Say you are an avid Star Trek fan and really want Culina to be in Klingon, pledge at this level and we will "make it so." (will also do any real language if the backer wishes) Also includes all games released by our studio ever and the physical rewards at the $100 level.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world
Funding period
- (34 days)
