My Time at Portia - Fully Funded!
Just recently, I was brought to the attention of a simulation RPG called My Time at Portia. The game is inspired by Animal Crossing, Dark Cloud 2, Harvest Moon and the works of Miyazaki (Specifically Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind). I watched the trailer and I thought people here might like it too. There's even a demo to play on their Kickstarter if you want to try it.
Last edited by Ronin19 on Oct 08, 2017 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
That looks like a pretty good find...the graphics are dreamy in a youthful sort of way and it looks like there's loads to do, so I participated. It's due out in only five months (well, estimated)...$25 for a PS4 (or Switch) game is really cheap. I may go back and just contribute to increase that a bit, it feels almost like stealing at this rate. 
I did like what I was able to play of the demo, but...it ran poorly on my PC and threatened to overheat it to boot, so I couldn't get very far in (I just got the wood axe and pickaxe made.) I'm sure I'd love this on PS4, or better still, the Switch...if they do bring it to Switch as they're saying they might. I did get a console package rather than anything with a Steam key...PC games just don't work for me on many levels, even with a controller hooked up. (I didn't try controller for the demo...dunno if it's possible yet or not.)
I like the graphics (so far, they're sort of 'Pixar'-ish), I like the gathering and crafting/building/repairing, I like the little bit I've seen of the landscape and the town, I love that it is an action RPG, I like faint air of dreaminess that seems to run through the whole thing (which is the only thing that seemed Miyazaki-esque, to me)...seems like a winner.
I like the graphics (so far, they're sort of 'Pixar'-ish), I like the gathering and crafting/building/repairing, I like the little bit I've seen of the landscape and the town, I love that it is an action RPG, I like faint air of dreaminess that seems to run through the whole thing (which is the only thing that seemed Miyazaki-esque, to me)...seems like a winner.
I tried with a controller. Unlike playing with a keyboard and mouse, it doesn't say what does what on the controller yet and the demo did say that it wasn't fully optimized for controllers yet. I really hope they bring it to the Switch, but I'll take a PS4 version if they can't get the support they need.
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rachellion
- Ultimate Farming Fanatic
- Posts: 1585
- Joined: Dec 29, 2010 8:21 am
I just got an update from these guys...I'll copy a portion here that people may be interested in:
EDIT: Actually, I saw this because it was sent to me in email, but...it looks like this is just an update you might be able to see directly on the kickstarter page somewhere? I didn't notice it, and I know only backers can comment on certain parts, (though I don't know which), but... There were screenshots and so on included with the information above.
EDIT 2: It's very interesting that it sort of looks like there are no marriage candidates specifically...it looks like ANY adult character is datable? I'm not sure, but right now it sort of looks like everyone is marriageable, though I don't know how many people exist in the game, just that 25 of them are options. Oh...ha ha! In the FAQ it says that the only people you can't marry are people who are ALREADY married, children, and 'the bear', lol. Sorry if anyone was hoping to marry the bathrobe bear, lol.
That is about 2/3 of what was in the email I was sent today from the kickstarter newsletter for this game, or whatever I should call it. The emphasis in bold is mine, not theirs...I thought that particular sentence would be of interest to some. It's also nice (?) that you can decrease FP. It's a bit funny that you can literally (physically) fight with the villagers, lol. You seem to be able to 'spar' with them? (Some like to spar and others don't but it seems like you can try it with anyone, if I read it right.) Kind of interesting feature, lol. I did read that this game is supposed to be about relationships between people and how any adversity can be overcome if people come together or etc, so I guess making friends with everyone has a fairly big impact on what you can do in the game.Pathea Games wrote:To increase the heart count, the player can improve the relationship with a NPC through conversation, completion of quests, or gift giving. Once the relationship reaches a certain threshold, the player will have the option to choose how to spend quality time with the targeted NPC. For example the player can take him/her out for a lunch, dance in the park, play some seesaw, or even invite them to your birthday party. As the relationship grows, more activities will become available, such as a walk along the shore, watch the starry sky atop the church tower, or even ride a hot air balloon (must build this park first!). When the hearts count finally gets to ten, the player has the option to marry the NPC (same or opposite gender) or be best friends forever. On the other hand, you can also have a negative relationship with a NPC, try using animal droppings as a gift or picking fights all the time. The negative relationship will have an adverse effect on choices available to the player. Feuding NPCs will pick fights with the player as well as refuse to sell items, not a nice situation to be in.
In real life, friends will help each other in times of need, that’s also the case in this game. When the hearts reach a certain level, some NPCs will start to do the player favors, such as selling an item cheaper. The player can even hire other NPCs to do menial work in certain situations. Further more, when married, the spouse will cook, water your crops, and tend to the workshop machinery.
EDIT: Actually, I saw this because it was sent to me in email, but...it looks like this is just an update you might be able to see directly on the kickstarter page somewhere? I didn't notice it, and I know only backers can comment on certain parts, (though I don't know which), but... There were screenshots and so on included with the information above.
EDIT 2: It's very interesting that it sort of looks like there are no marriage candidates specifically...it looks like ANY adult character is datable? I'm not sure, but right now it sort of looks like everyone is marriageable, though I don't know how many people exist in the game, just that 25 of them are options. Oh...ha ha! In the FAQ it says that the only people you can't marry are people who are ALREADY married, children, and 'the bear', lol. Sorry if anyone was hoping to marry the bathrobe bear, lol.
Yeah, I saw that in the FAQ and I thought, "Well, guess I'm definitely supporting the game and securing a console copy." When I went through the demo, I ran into 4 NPCs and only one of them seemed eligible, so that seems logical that so long as they aren't already married, a kid, or the bear I think we're good.
I had read initially that they took most of the farming out to automate it so that the players wouldn't have to spend much time on it, but the demand is very high according to today's update, so they've put a little bit more emphasis back into the farming without taking away too much time for exploration. I wonder what they'll come up with, if that part is finalized or if they're still working on it. I kind of liked the idea of them having container gardens...raised beds and the like that you can build irrigation or something for to have it be half automated would be pretty cool. I saw sprinklers. I guess only needing to farm every couple of days might work out okay?
I think that'd be an interesting bokumono, too...little farm in the big city, sort of a thing, where all you've got is a postage stamp back yard and maybe a balcony...or a limited roof garden or something like that. You'd have to maximize your space and use containers and vertical gardening to be able to get a good level of production. That would be a kind of cool setting for a bokumono, for me, and maybe what Portia comes ends up with will have a little of that sort of feel to it? I'm not sure how final what they showed was, but they seem to be doing a good job on lots of other parts of the game so I'm hoping that whatever they finalize for farming will be fun, too.
Too bad the fundraising hasn't kept on as quick as the first day. Re: Legend was really an extraordinary success with the way it surpassed it's goal by...what was it, 600% or something? Well, at least MTaP is 26% done and still has nearly a month left. Still, I'll keep my fingers crossed. Unfortunately I can't spread the word much since I am a recluse not just IRL but even online. I only use my Twitter and Tumblr and Facebook accounts to follow various others and I don't actually have a single friend on any of them, lol.
I think that'd be an interesting bokumono, too...little farm in the big city, sort of a thing, where all you've got is a postage stamp back yard and maybe a balcony...or a limited roof garden or something like that. You'd have to maximize your space and use containers and vertical gardening to be able to get a good level of production. That would be a kind of cool setting for a bokumono, for me, and maybe what Portia comes ends up with will have a little of that sort of feel to it? I'm not sure how final what they showed was, but they seem to be doing a good job on lots of other parts of the game so I'm hoping that whatever they finalize for farming will be fun, too.
Too bad the fundraising hasn't kept on as quick as the first day. Re: Legend was really an extraordinary success with the way it surpassed it's goal by...what was it, 600% or something? Well, at least MTaP is 26% done and still has nearly a month left. Still, I'll keep my fingers crossed. Unfortunately I can't spread the word much since I am a recluse not just IRL but even online. I only use my Twitter and Tumblr and Facebook accounts to follow various others and I don't actually have a single friend on any of them, lol.
I'm not too worried; they're already 1/4 of the way to their goal and they have 26 days left. I'll start to worry at the 15th day marking and if they're below 50%.
I just saw their video on farming. It seems interesting and they do seem more focused on exploring. I'll give them that since in the opening we're asked if we're going to do some ruin diving.
I just saw their video on farming. It seems interesting and they do seem more focused on exploring. I'll give them that since in the opening we're asked if we're going to do some ruin diving.
I wonder if they intend to continue with daily updates for the whole kickstarter. If so, we should get to learn quite a lot about the game, since so far each update has shown us a decent amount. I'd like to see some rebuilding and how that works, since I really can't play the demo (overheats my PC in only a few minutes...no joke!...and that's with the resolution at minimum and the graphics set half way, to 'good'. My PC just isn't meant for any gaming other than, like...Solitaire, lol. I'm definitely going for the PS4 version if they don't make it to a Switch version.)
I just love spiffing up old things to make them prettier, both IRL and in games, so I'd love to see some renovations going on, to anything. Dunno if that's a significant part of this game, though...wish I could have gotten to fix the house in the demo but my computer kept shutting down. Wonder if that's something that will come up in the kickstarter updates. No big deal if it's not, but it'd be fun. For me, anyway. Just thinking about it makes me want to go down and refinish that coffee table my sister hates, lol.
It sounds like the avatar body type will not be customizable but that the face style will be in addition to the hair/eye colour and etc. That wasn't part of the demo, at least that I tried, but mine was not working well. Maybe they'll show a bit more customization features, too. And I'm not feeling well and am bored because I can't go out and move around so I'm looking for entertainment, lol.
I'm hoping they'll get well OVER their goal funding so that they can get into the stretch goals, as I would really like this on Switch. But even if not, I'd be fairly happy with it on PS4.
I just love spiffing up old things to make them prettier, both IRL and in games, so I'd love to see some renovations going on, to anything. Dunno if that's a significant part of this game, though...wish I could have gotten to fix the house in the demo but my computer kept shutting down. Wonder if that's something that will come up in the kickstarter updates. No big deal if it's not, but it'd be fun. For me, anyway. Just thinking about it makes me want to go down and refinish that coffee table my sister hates, lol.
It sounds like the avatar body type will not be customizable but that the face style will be in addition to the hair/eye colour and etc. That wasn't part of the demo, at least that I tried, but mine was not working well. Maybe they'll show a bit more customization features, too. And I'm not feeling well and am bored because I can't go out and move around so I'm looking for entertainment, lol.
I'm hoping they'll get well OVER their goal funding so that they can get into the stretch goals, as I would really like this on Switch. But even if not, I'd be fairly happy with it on PS4.
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JayDucky03
- Huggy Chickens
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Dec 14, 2016 3:37 pm
So the way to make money in this game is similar to Save the Homeland/Hero of Leaf Valley, but without the shipping bin. Pretty much you sell to stores to make money. I also went ruin diving. Similar to the mining system we know, but instead we dig through the floor and walls to find ruins with our special goggles.
Found a couple of guys I'm interested in. Namely Arlo, Oaks, and the wood supplier guy (name starts with a P. I want to say Phillip, but I don't think that's the name)
Found a couple of guys I'm interested in. Namely Arlo, Oaks, and the wood supplier guy (name starts with a P. I want to say Phillip, but I don't think that's the name)
Did they post that info today, Ronin19? I tend to miss stuff in the updates but I only noticed the information about house upgrading. (I was happy to hear that the building shown on the 'Try the Demo!' button on the kickstarter page is your house after it's been not-quite-fully upgraded, since I like how it looks.) Or maybe you learned it directly, by playing the demo...
I think there are a lot more appealing (looking) girl characters in this game even though there are more eligible males (15 compared to 10, I believe), but since I couldn't run the demo for more than a few minutes, I wasn't able to meet any of them 'in person'. They look like they have a lot of personality, and honestly my favourite HM bachelor was Sanjay, who is not really a flashy looker or anything...I totally fell for that personality and backstory. So that may happen here, too. And there is a lot of choice (25!) since you're not gender restricted (except in whatever way you restrict your own choices, of course.)
I'd like it best on Switch, too, KDucky11, but I'll settle for PS4 fairly comfortably if they don't surpass their basic funding goals.
I think there are a lot more appealing (looking) girl characters in this game even though there are more eligible males (15 compared to 10, I believe), but since I couldn't run the demo for more than a few minutes, I wasn't able to meet any of them 'in person'. They look like they have a lot of personality, and honestly my favourite HM bachelor was Sanjay, who is not really a flashy looker or anything...I totally fell for that personality and backstory. So that may happen here, too. And there is a lot of choice (25!) since you're not gender restricted (except in whatever way you restrict your own choices, of course.)
I'd like it best on Switch, too, KDucky11, but I'll settle for PS4 fairly comfortably if they don't surpass their basic funding goals.
The latter, I learned it from the demo. I'm sure they'll do an update regarding ruin diving soon. I'm not a fan of having to pay to go ruin diving as I didn't have a steady income, but still fun.Kikki wrote:Did they post that info today, Ronin19? I tend to miss stuff in the updates but I only noticed the information about house upgrading. (I was happy to hear that the building shown on the 'Try the Demo!' button on the kickstarter page is your house after it's been not-quite-fully upgraded, since I like how it looks.) Or maybe you learned it directly, by playing the demo....