Signs of the Sojourner is a narrative card game about connecting with people. This is the first release from our studio, Echodog Games, and I’m excited to announce that it will be available for download on PS4 starting March 16.
Construction of the bridge begins
We started development on Signs of the Sojourner in the summer of 2018 (at that time it was called “ Project Thunder ”), with a lot of prototyping and experimentation from the start. The original speech was “ your deck is your character, ” but figuring out what that really meant required a lot of exploration and iteration.
What the game looked like during the early stages of development
By early 2019, we had figured out the basic structure, systems, and visual language, and that’s when things really started to come together. We started bringing in outside collaborators this spring and by the fall we had an open and growing alpha community. Getting the community involved so early on has been a new experience for all of us, but fantastic. People were so excited and overflowing with ideas on how the game could be expanded.
Design a story
At first, we included similar mechanics to those found in games like Slay The Spire and Magic: The Gathering, but we quickly realized that this encouraged players to approach card encounters with a hostile mindset. . They would view the characters as enemies to be defeated, which was not what we wanted at all.
We evolved in a direction focused on symbols and chaining together, which we felt was a much better representation of what it might feel like trying to connect and communicate. Combined with how your deck evolves over time, the new direction also placed more emphasis on the themes of identity and personal growth that we wanted to explore.
Different communities in the game tend to favor certain types of cards and decks, and it’s up to you how to build your deck as you travel to the near world of Signs of the Sojourner, sort of on Earth. Of course, by organizing a deck that allows you to communicate more effectively with a group, it can make other conversations more difficult (even if it’s with old friends!).
There is no one “ultimate” deck that can bring positive results in all conversations. Instead, it’s different decks producing different storytelling experiences. There are many possible endings, and players will have to replay the game, exploring different paths and decks to find them all.
The journey begins soon
After launching Signs of the Sojourner for other platforms last year (and seeing it make it to many game of the year lists afterwards!), We can’t wait for PlayStation gamers to start their games. own trips and relationships in the game.
And I’m excited to also tell you that we’ve introduced five new characters that players can meet and experience. They include a mysterious stranger, a grumpy neighbor, and someone who is fighting to save their city.
At Echodog Games we are all incredibly proud of what we have accomplished with Signs of the Sojourner and we hope you enjoy building your deck, exploring the world and meeting its colorful characters when it arrives later this year. this month.
