Amber Isle

Last updated

Amber Isle
Amber Isle.png
Developer(s) Ambertail Games
Publisher(s) Team17
Director(s) Jordan Bradley
Producer(s) Caolan McKendry
Programmer(s) Noel Watters
Artist(s) Svetlana Shlepanova
Milo Moore
Writer(s) Samantha Birch
Marc Gregg
Composer(s) Neil Hughes
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
  • WW: 10 October 2024
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: February 2025
Genre(s) Social simulation game
Mode(s) Single-player

Amber Isle is an independent social simulation game developed by Ambertail Games and published by Team17. It was released for Windows on 10 October 2024 while a Nintendo Switch version is planned for February 2025.

Contents

Gameplay and plot

Amber Isle is a social and shopkeeping simulation game taking place in a quaint island town where players interact with a variety of townsfolk made up of anthropomorphic dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals known as "Paleofolk". [1] The game features species from a variety of geologic eras including Ice Age mammals, Permian amphibians, marine life, and invertebrates. Players assume the role of their own Paleofolk, which can be customized from a variety of parts from different species, allowing them to create their own distinct character. [2]

Players work to build relationships with 48 separate villagers, each with their own personalities and character traits, while serving as the island's sole shop keep. The player is able to craft items for their store, their price, and which will go on sale, in order to maximize their success and help restore the town to its former glory. Shops may also be upgraded and the island itself customized based on the player's preference, including paths, recreational areas, and water features. Areas of the town may be repaired or unlocked in order to allow expansion and new villagers to become permanent residents. [3]

Development

Amber Isle was first announced on December 26, 2020, as the debut project of Northern Ireland-based independent game studio Ambertail Games by the company's co-founder, Jordan Bradley. [4] The title began development for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch, and was inspired by other simulation games such as the Animal Crossing series and Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale . [5] Ambertail Games set out to improve upon the dialogue "redundancy" found in Animal Crossing by giving villagers their own distinct personalities, interests, and jobs which they will talk about though the day. [5] A variety of prehistoric and dinosaur species were chosen to represent the town's inhabitants which the developers felt were underrepresented in mainstream media. While the developers originally intended for players to assume the role of a human character, they added the ability to create and customize their own Paleofolk after it became their most-requested feature. [6] A trailer was shown during the "Wholesome Direct" gaming showcase event at E3 2021 in June of that year. [7]

In April 2024, Team17 revealed that they would be serving as the game's publisher, and would bring the title to all announced platforms sometime in the future. [8] Development was supported by Northern Ireland Screen to lend assistance to Irish media projects. [9]

The game was released for Windows on October 10, 2024, [10] with the Switch version releasing in February 2025. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Animal Crossing</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Animal Crossing, stylized as Welcome to Animal Crossing, and known in Japan as Dōbutsu no Mori+, is a 2001 social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the first game in the Animal Crossing series, and is also an enhanced version of the Nintendo 64 game Dōbutsu no Mori, which was only released in Japan earlier the same year, and was followed by another edition, Dōbutsu no Mori e+, in 2003.

<i>Animal Crossing: Wild World</i> 2005 social simulation video game

Animal Crossing: Wild World is a 2005 social simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan in November 2005, in North America and Australia in December 2005, and in Europe in March 2006. It is the second installment in the Animal Crossing series, and the sequel to Animal Crossing on the GameCube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life simulation game</span> Subgenre of simulation video games

Life simulation games form a subgenre of simulation video games in which the player lives or controls one or more virtual characters. Such a game can revolve around "individuals and relationships, or it could be a simulation of an ecosystem". Other terms include artificial life game and simulated life game (SLG).

<i>Animal Crossing</i> Video game series developed by Nintendo

Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series developed and published by Nintendo. The series was conceptualized and created by Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami. In Animal Crossing, the player character is a human who lives in a village inhabited by various anthropomorphic animals and can do various activities like fishing, insect catching, and fossil hunting. The series is notable for its open-ended gameplay, chill gameplay, cute dialogue, nice hourly music, and use of the video game console's internal clock and calendar to simulate real passage of time.

<i>Magicians Quest: Mysterious Times</i> 2008 video game

Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times, known in Europe as Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardry and in Japan as Tongari Boushi to Mahou no 365 Nichi, is a fantasy-adventure and life simulation game for the Nintendo DS where players are tasked with attending classes in a Magic Academy, to learn the mysteries of magic and the art of casting spells, while building relationships with other students.

<i>Animal Crossing: New Leaf</i> 2012 video game

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a 2012 social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. In the game, the player controls a human character who takes on the role of mayor in a town populated with anthropomorphic animals. As the fourth main title in the Animal Crossing series, it was released in Japan in November 2012, and in 2013 in international territories.

<i>Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is a 2015 sandbox video game developed and published by Nintendo, with assistance from Monolith Soft, for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan in July 2015, in North America in September 2015, and in PAL regions in October 2015. The game is a spin-off of the Animal Crossing series where the player designs homes for various anthropomorphic animal characters.

<i>Ark: Survival Evolved</i> 2017 video game

Ark: Survival Evolved is a 2017 action-adventure survival video game developed by Studio Wildcard. In the game, players must survive being stranded on one of several maps filled with roaming dinosaurs, fictional fantasy monsters, and other prehistoric animals, natural hazards, and potentially hostile human players.

<i>Worms W.M.D</i> 2016 video game

Worms W.M.D is a 2D artillery turn-based tactics video game developed and published by Team17. It is the nineteenth installment in the Worms series, and was released on 23 August 2016 for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One. It was later released on 23 November 2017 for Switch, on 1 July 2022 for Stadia and on 11 April 2023 for iOS and Android. Its gameplay resembles that of Worms Armageddon more than subsequent installments, while adding new features that range from interactive vehicles such as tanks, to buildings that the worms can enter for protection. It is also notable for being the first major redesign the worm characters have received since Worms 3D.

<i>The Escapists 2</i> 2017 strategy role-playing video game

The Escapists 2 is a strategy role-playing video game developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and published by Team17. It is the sequel to The Escapists (2015) and it was released worldwide for Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in August 2017. Nintendo Switch and mobile phones versions were released in 2018 and 2019, both iOS and Android respectively.

<i>Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp</i> 2017 mobile game by Nintendo in the Animal Crossing series

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a 2017 free-to-play social simulation mobile game developed and published by Nintendo for iOS and Android devices. An installment in the Animal Crossing series, it was released in Australia in October 2017 and worldwide the following month. The game continues the series of social simulations that allow players to interact with a small campsite with various campers, performing small tasks, engaging in commerce, and decorating living spaces.

<i>Harvest Moon: Light of Hope</i> 2017 farming simulation video game

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is a farm simulation role-playing game developed by Tabot, Inc. for multiple platforms. First announced at E3 2017, It was first released for Microsoft Windows on November 14, 2017, with versions for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch following on May 29, 2018. It was later released for iOS and Android on September 26, 2018. A version containing all previously released downloadable content titled Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Complete was released for Windows 10 and Xbox One on September 18, 2020.

<i>Animal Crossing: New Horizons</i> 2020 video game

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch; it is the fifth main entry in the Animal Crossing series. In New Horizons, the player controls a character who moves to a deserted island after purchasing a getaway package from Tom Nook, accomplishes assigned tasks, and develops the island as they choose. They can gather and craft items, customize the island, and develop it into a community of anthropomorphic animals.

<i>Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics</i> 2020 video game

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, known as 51 Worldwide Games in Europe and Australia, is a 2020 party video game developed by NDcube and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The game is a successor to Clubhouse Games for the Nintendo DS and is a compilation of board, card, tabletop, and toy sports games from around the world. The game sold more than four million copies by April 2022.

<i>Disney Dreamlight Valley</i> 2023 life simulation video game

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a 2023 life simulation adventure game developed by Gameloft Montreal and published by Gameloft. The game has players tend to a magical valley populated by various Disney and Pixar characters who previously underwent a curse that caused them to lose their memories of their lives in the valley.

<i>Hokko Life</i> 2022 video game

Hokko Life is a 2022 video game developed by Wonderscope Games and published by Team17.

Raymond (<i>Animal Crossing</i>) Fictional character

Raymond is a character in the Animal Crossing series, having first appeared in the 2020 release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch, as well as an update in the 2017 mobile game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. He is an anthropomorphic cat who may appear on a player's island in New Horizons and be subsequently recruited as a villager to their island. He also appears in the manga adaptation of New Horizons, and has had merchandise created featuring him, including stickers, magnets, and plushes.

References

  1. ↑ "We can't wait for the Amber Isle release date to hatch onto the Switch". Pocket Tactics. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Hagues, Alana (9 April 2024). "'Amber Isle' Combines Animal Crossing With Adorable Dinosaurs And Shop Management". NintendoLife. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Romano, Sal (9 April 2024). "Dinosaur-themed shop management game Amber Isle announced for Switch, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Bradley, Jordan (26 December 2020). "So I Have Some Amazing News!". Tumblr. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 Finley, Brittni (8 March 2021). "Amber Isle is an Animal Crossing-Inspired Indie Game". GameRant. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "Will you ever be able to play as a paleo-folk?". Tumblr. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Bell, Alice (15 June 2021). "Every game from Wholesome Direct 2021, grouped by genre". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Williams, Leah J. (10 April 2024). "Cosy dinosaur shop sim Amber Isle gets major re-reveal". GamesHub. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "TEAM17 DIGITAL AND AMBERTAIL GAMES ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO PUBLISH PREHISTORIC SHOP SIM, AMBER ISLE". Northern Ireland Screen. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (16 July 2024). "Amber Isle launches October 10 for PC, "soon after" for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Norman, Jim (18 July 2024). "Animal Crossing Meets Dinosaurs In 'Amber Isle', Hatching On Switch This October". NintendoLife.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.