Press release:
Montreal, Canada –September 9, 2021.
Retro publisher Incube8 Games, games producer Spacebot Interactive, and indie developer Hadrian Lin, are today very happy and excited to announce that physical (as in cartridges) pre-orders are now available for their short narrative experience “The Year After” (which is a full-blown Game Boy Color game title).
You are an invisible stranger. Time moves freely around you, as seasons pass and characters age. A family prepares for a particularly harsh winter, whose tidings will echo throughout their lives.
The Year After is a short narrative experience for the Game Boy Color. Observe characters as they traverse through their lives, checking in periodically as your presence becomes increasingly felt. You won’t remain a stranger for long… or perhaps you were never a stranger, to begin with.
The game is rated for a general audience, and will be available as a limited collectors edition.
Collector’s Edition Includes
Limited edition sealed box
Clear black game cartridge
Clear cartridge protector
Game manual
The Year After stickers sheet
Silkscreened PCB with artwork on the back side
Game soundtrack on CD and digital download
2x The Year After enamelled pin
Game poster
Exclusive paperback Dev Log
Numbered certificate of authenticity
Limited to 250 numbered copies
Features
2D Pixel Art style
Narrative focused gameplay
Developed using GB Studio
Supported Languages: English
Fully compatible with all Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance handhelds
About Retro Modding
Created in 2016, Retro Modding is a company based in Montreal, Canada. Its mission is to ensure the longevity of retro handheld systems. Specialized in the design and console components and modding parts, they collaborated with artists like Mr. Beast, Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty), Spacebot Interactive (Dragonborne, Deadeus), NGDEV team, Chipzel (Crypt of the NecroDancer), The Retro Future, Rage Elixir, Eboys, Metal Jesus Rocks and many others.
About Incube8 Games
Incube8 Games aims to facilitate the publishing of retro video game cartridges, with a focus on 8-bit handheld consoles. Strong with Retro Modding’s expertise and supply chain, they offer turnkey publishing solutions for physical releases.
About Spacebot Interactive
Based in the UK, Spacebot Interactive is an indie game developer and publisher, who has a passion for retro-style video games. They initially garnered interest with Dragonborne, an adventure RPG released in 2020, which has gone on to be one of the most successful indie Game Boy games in terms of sales.
About Hadrian Lin
I reach back in time and embrace the strict limitations of the 8-bit era to explore thematically rich, story-driven games.
In the age of digital, why does Christopher Nolan focus on practical special effects and shoot with film? Why does he fight to preserve celluloid? Maybe the same reason communities of people still draw low-res pixel art and make games for a console nearing 30 years old. It is something more than nostalgia. There is power in simplicity.
The ’90s came and went. We have moved on to 4k, 3d, and VR but there are still spaces of possibility we did not fully explore when the GameBoy was in its heyday. It’s worth going back in time to see if we can do more with less.
Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
More by Jonas Ek:
Tags: Game Boy, Hadrian Lin, Incube8 Games, Indie games, Retro games, Retro Modding, Spacebot Interactive, The Year After