Create the perfect blend of storytelling in Coffee Talk Episode 2

In a social media world where more and more people want to talk and voice their opinions, listening seems like an underappreciated skill. We at Toge Productions would like to point this out Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, out now on Xbox and available with Game Pass. I’m Arya, PR and Communications Manager at Toge Production, and I’d like to tell you more about how a listening-centric game can be engaging…

Heart to heart over a warm brew

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is a coffee maker and heart-to-heart conversation simulator that takes you to an alternate near-future Seattle. Here you will not only find humans as residents, but also a variety of fantasy creatures such as vampires, werewolves, orcs, elves and some others. Once you’ve played the first game, you’ll also meet some familiar faces and meet some new ones as well.

You play the barista whose job it is to prepare coffee and other warming drinks while listening to and helping your customers. How Does Coffee Talk Make Listening Interesting?

I chatted with Hibiscus & ButterflyThe co-authors of , Junkipatchi (Narrative Designer and Lead Writer) and Anna Winterstein (Author), on how they maintain the right atmosphere and experience in a listening-centric game, and their own challenges as new writers for the series.

Conversations in the cafe

“Writing is one of the most important aspects after mood (graphics, music) because that’s how the player interacts with the characters. We need to make sure the characters are speaking while the players are gently encouraging them to sort of open up,” Junki said.

Real-life experiences can also serve as inspiration, Junki says.

“Some experience of having real-world conversations with strangers can help, as people’s communication styles vary by location. Cafes or bars often serve as a “third place” for individuals to either relax or become more cautious, depending on their personality. This can create interesting dynamics…” she added.

The ordeal dates back to when Junki was – in his own words – “a penniless freelancer” in Toronto, which does coffee talk and its surroundings in Seattle.

“When I was a freelance comic artist, I would often spend hours in a coffee shop because of the background noise. I stayed for hours and always ordered the same drink – the baristas knew my order by heart! Oddly enough, people started talking to me because they saw me drawing,” she recalled.

“There was a bodybuilder who loved manga, a curious chef who always noticed me there, and even a textile manufacturer looking for new pattern ideas. Even the café itself eventually invited me to try new drinks. It was quite a fun experience and admittedly made me nervous!”

build relationships

As for Anna, she said the key to creating the right gaming experience is making the characters feel like they are the player’s friends, which means that as a writer, you see them as your friends too.

“The process is very similar to watching a sitcom: nothing big or dramatic happens, but once you get to know the characters, you start to root for them and you want to know what’s going on in their lives – similar like real people, what interests you,” Anna said.

“Of course, in this case, players are already familiar with many of the characters, which makes it extra intimidating because we don’t want them to feel like their friends have become strangers! There’s a certain pressure to make sure they continue to enjoy the pixel people they’ve come to love and stay invested in their personal stories.”

maintaining the magic

Of course, the challenge for both of them in writing the sequel was to do justice to the existing work. They had to collect character stories and lore from the first game, create a sequel that would enhance the fans’ experience, but still maintain that relaxed and magical experience that so many players have already enjoyed… so no pressure!

Anna played the first game, and it had a huge impact: “When I got the opportunity to write for the sequel, I was excited, but also a bit apprehensive: I really didn’t want to screw it up for anyone else who felt like it like me,” she said.

“Fortunately, lines of communication have always been fully open with everyone at Toge who worked on the original game, as well as with Jho, my fellow writer, who has been long associated with the project, and in every way it has been a collaborative effort. Now I just hope fans of the original game enjoy reading this sequel as much as I enjoyed working on it.”

So there you have it. We really hope you will like it Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly!

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly

Choir Worldwide Games

☆☆☆☆☆
22

★★★★★

$14.99

PC game pass

Xbox Game Pass

At a time when people are isolated from each other, Coffee Talk is a place where we can find each other over a cup of warm beverage. It’s time to revisit your favorite late night coffee shop and reconnect with your imaginary friends over a warm drink or two. You’re a barista and your customers aren’t always human, listen to their stories and sway their hearts with a warm cup of coffee or two. * Prepare hot drinks Mix a combination of ingredients like tea, ginger, mint, chocolate, coffee and more. Experiment and discover secret recipes, change people’s lives by serving drinks that warm their hearts. * Create latte art masterpieces Show your creativity, draw your own latte art masterpiece with our in-game liquid simulation to decorate your drinks. *Chill Lo-Fi Atmosphere Immerse yourself in the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop. It’s raining outside, brew yourself a warm drink, play the lo-fi chillhop beats and listen to the coffee talk. *Urban Fantasy Cappuccinopunk Set in an alternate contemporary Seattle where humans, orcs, elves and other races have coexisted since the dawn of time. Discover the world through the stories your customers tell, cup after cup. *Hangout with different cast Meet quirky and interesting characters such as Baileys the freelance elf graphic designer, Lua the Succubus Bisdev manager, Myrtle the ork game developer, and more. Listen to their stories and influence them with a warm drink or two!