I’ve talked to many of the folks at Vancouver’s East Side Games before; they’re most definitely a vibrant, silly bunch. After all, this is the developer of Pot Farm we’re talking about. And yet, with their newly announced iPad title Ruby Skies, they may have raised the bar even for themselves. Okay, let’s be honest. The bar is a dot for this team.
I’ve talked to many of the folks at Vancouver’s East Side Games before; they’re most definitely a vibrant, silly bunch. After all, this is the developer of Pot Farm we’re talking about. And yet, with their newly announced iPad title Ruby Skies, they may have raised the bar even for themselves. Okay, let’s be honest. The bar is a dot for this team.
Billed as a game of “exploration and romance,” East Side’s latest is part time management sim., part comedy adventure, part harlequin romance novel. Venus has determined (as gods are wont to do) that the world needs more love, and sends Cupid – that’s you! – to spread the Bob Marley good vibes. Your destination? “A wondrous world of islands floating amidst pink fluffy clouds.” Don’t understand how a place like that could be bereft of love? Why are you asking logical questions!?
Back in suspension-of-disbeliefville, it’s your job to scour this island world in search of treasures that hold value for the game’s quirky cast of characters, and use them to decide – choose your own adventure style – how their love lives will play out. Collect a pirate flag to endear Henrick the scurvy seafarer to Rosie, despite the rocky shores lingering in their past. Opt to harness a Jane Austen novel instead to ignite the fire between firey-haired book nut Adelia and Hendrick instead!
The choice is purportedly yours, as East Side promises the social game mechanics die-hards love blended with an ample amount of story-driven hijinx fresh to the genre. Think of it as…well, as…
“Waffles for your eyes,” says Josh Nilson, co-founder and COO of East Side. “”There is
just so much cute and pretty art in this game. It’s in turns sweet and tongue in cheek, having everything from airships to silly monkeys. Come fly the Ruby Skies with us! You just may fall in love…”
We certainly fell in love with the Vancouver studio’s audacious idea enough to probe a little deeper, and Nilson and Ruby Skies producer Jacob Krarup were kind enough to provide Gamezebo with some exclusive screens of the title, which we’ve peppered throughout the preview for you along with the game’s trailer. In the mean time, the team have submitted the game to the App Store, and will be launching the game in both Canada and Korea shortly, field testing in the home markets of both East Side and publisher 6waves.
We’ve got our pilot licenses ready (or at least forged), and will be taking to the skies as soon as the game hits, with hands-on impressions, a full review, and an exclusive interview with the team behind this breakfast food for your face. Stay tuned to Gamezebo, and feel free to leave a comment letting us know your thoughts on Ruby Skies!
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