Where the Water Tastes Like Wine

Last updated
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine cover art.jpg
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Composer(s) Ryan Ike
Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
  • February 28, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • November 29, 2019
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is an adventure game developed by Dim Bulb Games and Serenity Forge, and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. It was released for Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows in February 2018. In November 2019, Serenity Forge announced that Where the Water Tastes Like Wine would also be released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. [1]

Contents

Gameplay

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is a narrative-driven adventure game. [2] Players explore a Great Depression-era United States, hearing and collecting oral stories and passing them along. Stories are used as a form of progression, with characters gradually opening up to the player in response to the provided stories, which in turn allows one to learn their true stories. The player may purchase goods to replenish their hunger or tiredness, with money being earned and then spent on the aforementioned goods, or in faster means of transportation. Several means of transport are available, including walking, hitchhiking and freighthopping.

Development and release

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine was developed by Dim Bulb Games and Serenity Forge. [3] "[Going] where the water tastes like wine" is an excerpt from the traditional American folk song "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" (also known as the "Lonesome Road Blues"). The game was published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. [4] The game was released for Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows on 28 February 2018. [5] According to the developer, the game's initial release was a commercial disaster. [6]

On November 8, Serenity Forge announced the game would be coming to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 29. [1]

Reception

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic with the Switch version receiving slightly worse reviews than the PC version. [7] It was awarded the Developers Choice Award along with Walden, a game at the 2017 Indiecade Festival. [17] However, in the months following release, creator Johnnemann Nordhagen wrote in his postmortem, [18] "I can’t discuss exact numbers, but in the first few weeks fewer people bought the game than I have Twitter followers, and I don’t have a lot of Twitter followers," and "At the end of the day it’s astounding that a game that got this much attention from the press, that won awards, that had an all-star cast of writers and performers, that had a bizarre celebrity guest appearance [by the musician Sting] failed this hard." Nordhagen writes, "Basically, I’m not sure that games like this one can continue to be made in the current market." [19]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine gained praise as an authentic representation of Americana: The 30-track compilation spans folk, jazz, country, blues, bluegrass, and more. [20] [21] The soundtrack was licensed and released by video game music label Materia Collective. A limited edition vinyl was pressed by Laced Records.

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultRef
2017 SXSW Gamer's Voice Awards Gamer's Voice (Single Player)Nominated [22]
2018 Independent Games Festival AwardsExcellence in NarrativeNominated [23] [24]
2019New York Game AwardsHerman Melville Award for Best WritingNominated [25]
National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers AwardsSong, Original or Adapted ("White Rider")Nominated [26]
Writing in a DramaNominated
SXSW Gaming Awards Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation AwardNominated [27]
2019 G.A.N.G. AwardsBest Original Soundtrack AlbumNominated [28]
Best Original Song ("Heavy Hands")Nominated

Related Research Articles

South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. It began in 1987 and has continued growing in both scope and size every year. In 2017, the conference lasted for 10 days with the interactive track lasting for five days, music for seven days, and film for nine days. There was no in-person event in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austin; in both years there was a smaller online event instead.

<i>The Banner Saga</i> Tactical role-playing video game

The Banner Saga is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Stoic and published by Versus Evil. It was released for personal computers and mobile phones in 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 and for Nintendo Switch in 2018.

<i>Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</i> 2013 video game

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a 2013 adventure game developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by 505 Games for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. The narrative takes place in a fantasy world filled with fictitious creatures such as orcs and trolls, where two young brothers set out on a journey to find a cure for their father's illness. The game is often mentioned as an example of artistry in video games due to its heavy narrative. It received positive reviews from critics and had sold over 800,000 units by January 2015.

<i>Fallout 4</i> 2015 video game

Fallout 4 is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fourth main game in the Fallout series and was released worldwide on November 10, 2015, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game is set within an open world post-apocalyptic environment that encompasses the city of Boston and the surrounding Massachusetts region known as "The Commonwealth".

<i>Gang Beasts</i> 2017 multiplayer beat em up party game

Gang Beasts is a beat 'em up party game developed and published by English indie studio Boneloaf. The title would originally be published by Double Fine Presents until May 2020 and self-published afterwards, while it would later be published in physical form by Skybound Games. The game released for Windows, macOS, Linux, and PlayStation 4 on 12 December 2017, following an early access period for the PC platforms that began in August 2014. It was also released on the Xbox One on 27 March 2019. A version for Nintendo Switch was released on 12 October 2021.

<i>Night in the Woods</i> 2017 video game

Night in the Woods is a 2017 single-player adventure video game developed by Infinite Fall and published by Finji. Set in a world of zoomorphic humans., the story follows a young woman named Mae Borowski, who drops out of college and returns to her hometown to find unexpected changes, alongside Bea Santello, a gothic crocodile woman and her childhood best friend. The game was funded via Kickstarter, where it earned over 400% of its initial US$50,000 funding goal.

Undertale is a 2015 2D role-playing video game created by American indie developer Toby Fox. The player controls a child who has fallen into the Underground: a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magical barrier. The player meets various monsters during the journey back to the surface, although some monsters might engage the player in a fight. The combat system involves the player navigating through mini-bullet hell attacks by the opponent. They can opt to pacify or subdue monsters in order to spare them instead of killing them. These choices affect the game, with the dialogue, characters, and story changing based on outcomes.

<i>Clash Royale</i> 2016 mobile game

Clash Royale is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Supercell. The game combines elements from collectible card games, tower defense, and multiplayer online battle arena. The game was released globally on March 2, 2016. Clash Royale reached $1 billion in revenue in less than a year on the market. In three years, Clash Royale made $2.5 billion in revenue according to market intelligence company Sensor Tower. It is the first spinoff of Clash of Clans.

<i>Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series</i> 2017 episodic graphic adventure video game

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is an episodic graphic adventure video game series developed and published by Telltale Games. Based on Marvel Comics' Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series, the game's first episode was released on April 18, 2017.

<i>GreedFall</i> 2019 video game

GreedFall is an action role-playing game developed by Spiders and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game is set in an early 18th century-styled fantasy setting and was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on September 10, 2019, and subsequently in a graphically uplifted and performance enhanced version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on June 30, 2021.

<i>Far: Lone Sails</i> 2018 video game

Far: Lone Sails is an exploration adventure videogame developed by the Swiss development company Okomotive. The game was released for Windows and macOS in May 2018, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in April 2019, for Nintendo Switch in August 2019, and for Android and iOS in October 2020. A sequel, Far: Changing Tides, was released in March 2022.

<i>Monster Hunter: World</i> 2018 video game

Monster Hunter: World is a 2018 action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom. The fifth mainline installment in the Monster Hunter series, it was released worldwide for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in January 2018, with a Windows version following in August 2018. In the game, the player takes the role of a Hunter, tasked to hunt down and either kill or trap monsters that roam in one of several environmental spaces. If successful, the player is rewarded through loot consisting of parts from the monster and other elements that are used to craft weapons and armor, amongst other equipment. The game's core loop has the player crafting appropriate gear to be able to hunt down more difficult monsters, which in turn provide parts that lead to more powerful gear. Players may hunt alone or in a group of up to four players via the game's online multiplayer.

<i>Doki Doki Literature Club!</i> 2017 video game

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a 2017 freeware visual novel developed by American independent game studio Team Salvato for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The story follows a student who reluctantly joins his high school's literature club at the insistence of his friend Sayori, and is given the option to romantically pursue her, Yuri, or Natsuki. Club president Monika also features heavily in the game's plot. The game features a non-traditional plot structure with multiple endings and unlockable cutscenes with each of the main characters. Although it initially appears to be a light-hearted dating simulator, it is actually a metafictional psychological horror game that extensively breaks the fourth wall.

<i>Moss</i> (video game) 2018 video game

Moss is a virtual reality adventure game developed and published by American video game development studio Polyarc. The game is presented from a blend of first-person and third-person perspectives, with a primary focus on solving puzzles. Moss was released for the PlayStation 4 in February 2018. In June, a PC version featuring high-resolution graphics was released. A PlayStation 5 version was released in February 2023.

<i>Walden, a game</i> 2017 video game

Walden, a game is a first-person open-world video game developed by Tracy Fullerton and the USC Game Innovation Lab for Microsoft Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game translates the experience of naturalist and author Henry David Thoreau's stay at Walden Pond in 1845–47 to a video game.

<i>Jump Force</i> 2019 video game

Jump Force is a Japanese crossover fighting game developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment featuring characters from various manga series featured in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump anthology in celebration of the magazine's 50th anniversary. The game was released on February 14, 2019 in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and the following day worldwide in addition to Windows. A Nintendo Switch port was released worldwide on August 28, 2020. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism being directed towards its story, gameplay, and failure to deliver its promises upon launch. Due to the disappointing sales upon release, the game was delisted from all digital storefronts on February 8, 2022, with its online services shutting down later that year, making the game inaccessible for newer players.

<i>Overcooked 2</i> 2018 video game

Overcooked 2 is a cooperative cooking simulation video game developed by Team17 alongside Ghost Town Games, and published by Team17. The sequel to Overcooked!, it was released for Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on August 7, 2018. The game was released for Amazon Luna on October 20, 2020. Overcooked: All You Can Eat, a compilation game that includes both Overcooked and Overcooked 2, was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 12, 2020. The compilation came to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on March 23, 2021, and on Google Stadia on May 5, 2022.

<i>Altos Odyssey</i> 2018 video game

Alto's Odyssey is an endless runner and sandboarding video game developed by Team Alto and published by Snowman (iOS) and Noodlecake Studios (Android). The player controls Alto as he explores the endless desert across different biomes, each with unique traversal mechanics and challenges. Developed over a year and a half, it was released in 2018 for iOS and Android. It is the sequel to Alto's Adventure (2015).

<i>Weird West</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Weird West is an action role-playing video game developed by WolfEye Studios and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on March 31, 2022, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S subtitled Definitive Edition on May 8, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serenity Forge</span> American video game developer

Serenity Forge LLC is an American video game developer and publisher based in Boulder, Colorado. The studio was founded in 2014 by Zhenghua "Z" Yang.

References

  1. 1 2 "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine is coming to consoles". VideoGamer.com. 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  2. 1 2 Favis, Elise (28 February 2018). "A Soulful Journey Through America - Where The Water Tastes Like Wine". Game Informer . Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Sykes, Tom (16 February 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine flows out February 28". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 Porreca, Ray (28 February 2018). "Review: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Smith, Adam (28 February 2018). "Wot I Think: Where The Water Tastes Like Wine". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Wood, Austin (30 March 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine was a 'commercial disaster,' dev says in painful post". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine". Edge (318). Future plc: 118–119. May 2018.
  10. ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (28 February 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine review - the joy of sharing stories". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  11. ↑ O'Connor, James (28 February 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Review: Hard Travelin'". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  12. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (28 February 2018). "Review: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Wilde, Tyler (2 March 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine review". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  14. ↑ Frank, Allegra (1 March 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine celebrates storytelling but loses the plot". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  15. ↑ McCarthy, Caty (28 February 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Review". USGamer . Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  16. ↑ Chan, Stephanie (28 February 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine review — a few threads come loose in this intriguing tapestry of tall tales". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "10th Anniversary Festival Awards & Honorees". Indiecade . 2017. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  18. ↑ Nordhagen, Johnnemann (30 March 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine Postmortem". Johnnemann Nordhagen. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  19. ↑ Vazquez, Suriel (31 March 2018). "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Sells Far Below Expectations, According To Creator". Game Informer . Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  20. ↑ Quillfeldt, Thomas (8 March 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine composer on soundtracking all the USA". Laced Records. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Farrell, Reilly (9 April 2018). "Where the Water Tastes Like Wine (Original Game Soundtrack)". VGMO. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  22. ↑ Aviles, Estevan (31 January 2017). "Gamer's Voice Nominees Revealed for SXSW Gaming 2017". SXSW . Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  23. ↑ Faller, Patrick (8 January 2018). "Independent Games Festival Awards Nominees Announced". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  24. ↑ Whitney, Kayla (22 March 2018). "Complete list of 2018 Independent Games Festival Awards Winners". AXS . Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  25. ↑ Keyes, Rob (3 January 2019). "2018 New York Game Awards Nominees Revealed". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  27. ↑ Trent, Logan (11 February 2019). "Here Are Your 2019 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". South by Southwest . Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  28. ↑ Lagumbay, Emmanuel (14 February 2019). "2019 G.A.N.G. Awards Finalists". Game Audio Network Guild. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
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.