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Key Fairy changes
Hello!
We are writing in to say hello and thank you! It has been 3 full moons since Key Fairy was unleashed to dance in your computers, and since then we have been having a little rest! Because we are sleepy. But you! You’ve found secrets, found enchanted paths, challenged the terrible might of creatures cursed by darkness, and shown that darkness that there is still gentle starlight shining behind the leaves of the forest.
So, thank you so much! Thank you for saving the forest from its curse! Thank you for showing kindness! Thank you for sinking into the world we carved for you, for walking among the fairies (or, as some call them, “insects”), for caring about it like we care about it...
There are times, often in our lives, where it becomes hard to understand what we should do, and why we should do it. Sometimes the path forwards appears dark, and the boughs hang down around our crowns, and the shadows appear like company but leap away as we bring our lanterns closer.
But in those moments, if you look hard between the pillars of trees, you might find a friendly face. And if you walk a while with that friendly face, you might start to understand why you push forwards down that path. And in time you will find more company, and together you can dance and sing in the dark cool night until the sun joins you again.
When we read what you have to say about what we have made, it reminds us why we make art. Your warm words, your love, when you understand what we are making and why we made it, that adds fuel to the hearths in our chests.
We wanted to share some things that you guys have been saying about the game that have been really special to our hearts to hear (and after that, tell you about what we have been up to! And maybe some hints about what we would like to do?)
Things People are Saying...
The Cosmic Circus 5/5
"I don’t think I’ve crossed paths with a game exactly like this one before. Even if I have, nothing else has been able to match the game that I just experienced. [...] I believe this game to be an artistic masterpiece."
Rock Paper Shotgun
"Brought to life with spacious, enchanting and playfully layered electronic music and hand-drawn art (you can change the colour palette to something cooler or monochrome if you wish), Key Fairy's forest is a place I want to live, and I'm very grateful for even a short opportunity to spend time in it."
Sifter 9/10
"Key Fairy is a refreshing detachment from corporate media and I'm convinced it was made by fae."
GameCritix 4.5/5
"Those willing to embrace ambiguity will find a quietly poignant tale about grief, fear, and reconciliation beneath the whimsy. [...] When everything aligns — when you swing effortlessly through a storm of projectiles while haunting music swells — Key Fairy achieves something rare: a bullet-hell that feels gentle without ever being easy. It’s one of the most original indie releases of the year."
NextPlay 9/10
"Key Fairy is a meticulous experience that feels like pure magic from start to finish. Despite not understanding a single thing that goes on in the Key Fairy’s little fantastical world, I have this compulsion to immerse myself in it evermore."
Checkpoint Gaming 8.5/10
"Key Fairy is a crucial play for the year if you care at all about games as an art form and the creative and picturesque things they can do. [...] It’s the Australian Game of the Year to watch out for, a shining example heralding how talented our locals are."
Qualbert
"Without a doubt, the game has one of my favourite combat themes, a high-energy and jaunty track that’s a mix of sharp vocals and percussion that always gets me amped for a battle."
Well-Played 9/10
"How Owl Machine managed to make this world eerie, cute, foreboding, and quaint all at once, by hand, is a miracle. [...] Easily one of my favourite games I’ve played in a hot minute, unique doesn’t even begin to describe how one-of-a-kind this title truly is."
Quest Daily 8.5/10
"This is a game made with intention, patience, and care — one that softens a traditionally aggressive genre into something thoughtful and quietly affecting. [...] It is a must for anyone who is interested in a softer, more thoughtful take on the genre."
Steam Review Higlights :)
"I dunno mang....This is simply astounding. Like others or other have stated here, its one well quirky and whimsical experience. Really conveys the worlds of fairies or as we call them, insects, quite well. Beautiful art, innovative gameplay, fun challenges, its rite up my alley. This is what gaming is about. Summoning weird dimensional ♥♥♥♥ like this. THX DEVS!!! <33333333333333"
"yumy meal..for my eyes to crunch / many details to consume / I've been here in a dream"
"When this game is truly singing, it feels like the closest one could get to playing within the space of one of the witch fights from Madoka Magika."
"Simply a miracle. A living, breathing, dancing game. [...] I suspect this game will stay with me for a very, very long time. [...] There is something strange and beautiful in this world, and in you and I as well. Take a deep breath and close your eyes."
"Is it a game or a dance? [...] Dreamlike dialogue—in fact, I'm not sure I didn't dream the whole thing."
"i'm just sitting here wondering how this got done. Just so, so dope. Gives me over the garden wall vibes but like after someone has deducted 50% of my braincells so I can't really piece toegether what's going on. it's a truly whimsical experience. [...] just sit still for a while"
"I think the moon is mad at me"
What has Tex been doing?
Ollo, I've been spending a bit of time prototyping a game about making terrible trash sculptures for tiny island folks!
I’ve been trying to use games to explore the process of making art, and how people try to find meaning in nonsense.
In Key Fairy, the dialogue system was introduced part way through production and always struggled against the frenetic pace of the movement and engagements. With Womble I'm trying to make something a bit more relaxed and vibe-y, with the game designed around weird and funky dialogue.
Initially I designed the sculpture building to be all in 3D, with the Gnome sort of tossing objects around to make art. However, after a lot of experimentation, I decided to rework it to use a separate 2D collage screen. The aim is to provide the lowest barrier to entry - for the highest room for creative expression.
So that's what I've been doing, at least, in my spare time! Who knows how far I'll go with it, but it is delightful to work on so far!
However, I'm actually not working on anything at the moment, because I just had a baby! They are tiny and magical, and so I'll be taking a bit of a break for a while.
Farewell, for now! I hope you have found meaning in the mist, and have wandered home weary, yet wild.
What has niosis been up to?
Mostly art as usual! Though i lost one of my sketch books!!!! Ack!!! It was halfway finished too… Most of my time has been taken up by trying to finish my uni studies, working on programming on some VR stuff involving tennis and struggling to stomach using a Meta owned product. VR is really fun to develop for from a design perspective, but all the software is really annoying to use which is a little unfortunate. I have also had the pleasure of finally trying out Godot and am delighted to say that the hype is warranted; quaqua, I have waited too long...
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Can you tell I like pink highlighters and eyestrain powerful colour choices :3
Oh yeah, and I have been putting together plans for local game shows! I have a pamphlet in the works for the Queensland games festival which will (hopefully) be for a stamp rally to feature all the cool games! The idea is that you'll be able to visit stalls where people are demoing their games, and then get a stamp for your pamphlet if you give it a go :). This is just a test copy i scrawled out while sitting at an arcade bar haha
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And here is half a poster I made for a local indie game showcase, hosted by the Zed Games radio show!
I have also been working on a TTRPG commission for an unannounced project a local developer is writing… more news when there is more to share hahah.
Your Art!!
So, to finish off we wanted to showcase some of the wicked art that you’ve been making!
By @a__ellan
tea fairy key fairy!!!! by @alanamation
Fare Thee Well!
We will have more to share about future Key Fairy things soon :) we cant say exactly what yet (secrets are our thing after all), but expect something cool and/or wicked. Maybe something for your ears...?
If you want to say hi and hang out, come visit our discord server:)
Stay tuned, stay wizard, stay mellow. Kindest Regards, Owl Machine <3
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