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Press release:
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – June 7, 2023.
The Bowling Green-based (Kentucky, the US) indie games publisher and developer Hitcents and Copenhagen-based (Denmark) indie games developer Throughline Games, are today super thrilled and happy to announce that their fantasy action-adventure “Forgotlings“, is coming to PC (via Steam) and consoles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch) in early 2024 (as seen today at the Guerrilla Collective 2023 Showcase).

ThroughLine Games, the creators from the critically acclaimed Forgotton Anne alongside publisher Hitcents, invite players to step into the Forgotten Lands as Fig, a gifted posing doll on a quest to unite different tribes of forgotlings against an enigmatic beast prophesied to engulf the world in darkness. Severed from their human owners and struggling for survival, the forgotlings’ only hope lies in him.

Take charge as the captain of The Volare, Fig’s ship and base of operations alongside his crew of forgotlings. Save settlements from pesky bandits and other critters through combat mechanics that blend hack-and-slash with strategy and stealth.

Choose the next destination in a 2.5D semi open-world metroidvania, from uncovering ancient secrets that lie buried in the desert Dunes, to climbing the magnificent Agora Mountains and exploring the majestic Falls. Learn about forgotling psychology to better respond in interactive conversations and build relationships and allies that could determine the fate of a tribe.

Engage in side-quests or earn a reputation by challenging forgotlings to a game of INA, a popular board game transcending tribe affiliations. Search for Power Stones to include in customizable INA decks, or mine for crystals in the environment to place as bets. Join tournaments and climb the ranks to become a Grandmaster, or simply play a match as a form of icebreaker to unlock dialogues and connect with forgotlings.

Thousands of traditionally hand-drawn animation frames combined with full voice acting and a score featuring choir ensemble Theatre of Voices (Arrival, Mary Magdalene) provide an immersive experience deep in an imaginative world and an emotional story about things we have forgotten and the power of diversity.

“The main theme in Forgotlings is ‘Purpose’ – despite living in complex societies with more connectivity than ever before, we still see pervasive loneliness” said Alfred Nguyen, CEO & Creative Director at ThroughLine Games.

“We hope Forgotlings resonates with players in today’s world, providing an imaginative lens through which to view existential threats.”

Forgotlings launches on PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in 2024.

To learn more, visit the game’s and ThroughLine Games’ official websites, like the studio’s Facebook page, and follow @ThroughLineGame and @Hitcents on Twitter.

About Throughline Games:
ThroughLine Games was founded in 2014 by CEO & Creative Director Alfred Nguyen and Technical Director Michael Godlowski-Maryniak. The studio’s name sprung from the narrative concept of a through-line: the central idea that runs from the beginning to the end of a story.

About Hitcents:
Hitcents is a full-service video game publisher and developer. That’s not where we started, though, and our journey to this point is part of what makes us such a unique company.

We founded Hitcents in 1999 as an early internet advertising company. We worked with businesses to create and implement banner ads on websites. It was solid, profitable work, but we ultimately decided to head off in another direction hoping to find our true passion and niche.

In 2011, one of Hitcents’ employees came up with a fun idea for a simple interactive web app where players could draw their protagonists. Thus was born Draw a Stickman, a concept that exploded in popularity and gave us the push we needed to create our first full, internally-developed game: Draw a Stickman: EPIC.

From there, our passion for games took over, and we left behind the world of advertising entirely. In addition to building up the Draw a Stickman franchise, we’ve been working on tons of new ideas. From the Rogue-like Metroidvania adventure, A Robot Named Fight! to the dystopic platforming in Ministry of Broadcast, or the heart-pounding action in GTTOD ‘Get To The Orange Door,’ Hitcents offers a little something for everyone. Our games feature across all major platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS, Android, and PC.

As both a developer of our games and a publisher working with other small independent teams, our primary goal is to bring the highest quality indie titles to the market. We know from experience how much work it is to create a new game, and that’s why we offer support to indie studios from the initial concept phase through to their full launch.

We want developers to focus on developing their games and let us handle all the rest; which includes: Marketing & Branding Strategy, PR Campaigns, Social Media, Multi-media Outreach, Consulting, Design Analysis, and furnishing Development Grants. Whether you have a playable demo, a near-complete build, or just a handful of notes, we can help you get your game across the finish line.

Above all else, Hitcents is a group of people who love and care about video games. If your team is the same and needs a boost of support, get in touch. We are always looking to expand our list of talented partners and further our goal of getting the best games out into the world.