Zdeněk Houb, who together with his colleagues is preparing a prequel to The Messenger of Death with the subtitle Blood Ties, has informed us that he has published the very first image from the new game. “It is the location of an almost abandoned village that has its own dark history and plot,” he specified. And on top of that, he also added several sketches created by a new artist.
An engaging story from old England and Scotland
As we wrote earlier, the upcoming crowdfunding campaign is supposed to help finance the project. In our interview in March, it was said that it will be necessary to collect at least two million crowns in the campaign for the new game. As for the game itself, we can briefly recall what we learned earlier. It is a prequel, and its author promised an engaging story from old England and Scotland, to be inspired by real events. Originally, he was also attracted to a new game design not used in adventure games. However, after the reactions of the players, he finally decided not to change it in any way and, on the contrary, to make Blood Bond exactly like the original Messenger of Death, that is, according to Zdenek Houb, people want it.
We have new materials and information they waited thanks to a previous campaign to remaster the music of the original Messenger of Death. Part of the rewards was delayed, for which Zdeněk Houb apologized to the contributors and thanked them for their patience. After all, the delayed start of the Blood Bond campaign is also related to this. “All digital rewards have been sent. The production and distribution of physical rewards will still take some time, and it would not be right to start a campaign for the new Messenger of Death before the rewards from the remaster start being sent to you,” said Zdeněk Houb.
“New location screens are being created, we already have working rain and lightning animations.”
“The grace period depends on the interplay of several things. Therefore, I prefer to say with a reserve that it will take another month. This postponement is already final,” he added. But this does not mean that the work on the game itself is worth it. Quite the opposite. “We are working hard on the development of Blood Bond. New location screens are being created, we already have working rain and lightning animations. Our team has grown to include the professional illustrator Eva Uherková, who will give shape to a comprehensive game diary,” explained Zdeněk Houb.
“Thus, a new one will be added to the rewards in the Blood Bond campaign. A diary of the entire game as a printed book. The book will be accompanied by a USB flash drive with the soundtrack and the audio story of the game. You can thus read the plot of the game again accompanied by music, or just scroll through all the drawings and pictures from the game and listen to the dubbing of the story,” entices Zdeněk.
Source: Zdeněk Houb
Blood Ties: The Upcoming Prequel Keeping Everyone on Their Toes!
Gather around, gaming enthusiasts and lovers of the macabre! Zdeněk Houb, along with his intrepid band of developers, is rolling out the proverbial red carpet for the upcoming prequel to The Messenger of Death, cheekily entitled Blood Ties. We’re not talking about a casual stroll through the park here; we’re diving headfirst into an almost abandoned village that’s probably seen some things better left unspoken. Dark history? Oh, honey, you can bet there’ll be more plot twists than a soap opera! Oh wait, did I mention the sketches? Yes, they’ve brought in a new artist whose creativity will surely knock your socks off—even if you’re wearing the industrial-strength variety!
An Engaging Story from Old England and Scotland
Now, let’s tackle the not-so-little elephant in the room: funding! Yes, a crowdfunding campaign is part of this thrilling endeavor. According to the whispers from the gaming grapevine, they need to rustle up at least two million crowns. Because nothing says “I’m a serious developer” like trying to fund your project through online donations, right? Let’s just hope it doesn’t turn into a digital version of begging for change at the bus stop. “Please sir, can I have a dollar for some Ghosts and Ghouls?”
For those of you who may have forgotten, Blood Ties promises to deliver a story that hearkens from the depths of history in England and Scotland. Zdeněk promises an engaging tale inspired by real events—which sounds much better than “inspired by a bad day at the office”, don’t you think? The early buzz suggested some innovative new game design, but, surprise surprise, Zdeněk eventually decided to stick closely to the original format. Because after all, who needs progress when nostalgia is just a phone call away?
On a slightly more serious note, bear in mind that the previous crowdfunding campaign—yes, the one that left everyone on the edge of their seats—has indeed been a slow burn, particularly with the remaster of the original game music. Houb has graciously apologized for the delays, causing more suspense than a cliffhanger episode of your favorite series. “All digital rewards have been sent,” he reassured while hinting that physical rewards might be stuck in limbo, much like your cousin’s chance at getting a proper job after college.
“New location screens are being created, we already have working rain and lightning animations.”
“Another month,” he teased, leaving fans clinging to the hope that this is indeed the final postponement. But let’s be clear: the development of Blood Ties is not slowing down! With new location screens popping up like daisies in the spring, the team is hard at their work, showing off working rain and lightning animations. Because if you can’t have a gloomy atmosphere, are you even trying?
But wait, there’s more! They’ve brought in professional illustrator Eva Uherková to conjure up a game diary that’ll make even your grandmother’s scrapbook look drab. And as if that wasn’t enough, backers can expect a delightful printed diary, complete with a USB flash drive that might just have the entire soundtrack and an audio story. You can now read the plot while live-tweeting your thoughts about it! Who knew gaming could kindle such literary aspirations?
So there you have it, folks! Zdeněk Houb is working his magic, transforming our dreams (or nightmares) into engaging gameplay that promises a trip down memory lane. The prequel puzzle pieces are being assembled one sketch at a time, and as we sit impatiently waiting for our ghosts and ghouls, let’s keep our eyes peeled for updates that’ll keep the gaming community buzzing!
Source: Zdeněk Houb
Zdeněk Houb, alongside his dedicated team, is currently hard at work preparing an exciting prequel titled The Messenger of Death: Blood Ties. He has recently shared the very first image from this eagerly anticipated game, presenting the haunting setting of an almost deserted village, steeped in its own dark and intricate history. Additionally, he released several captivating sketches crafted by a talented new artist, showcasing the unique aesthetic of the project.
An engaging story from old England and Scotland
The upcoming crowdfunding campaign is designed to generate the necessary funds to bring this ambitious project to fruition. In a previous interview conducted in March, it was revealed that the campaign needs to secure a minimum of two million crowns for the new game to move forward. This prequel promises to deliver a rich and engaging narrative inspired by the historical events of old England and Scotland. Initially, Zdeněk expressed interest in exploring a novel game design that had never been seen in adventure games before. However, after considering player feedback, he decided to retain the original style of The Messenger of Death. He firmly believes that fans of the series desire a familiar experience.
Thanks to a prior campaign aimed at remastering the music from the original Messenger of Death, new materials and intriguing information have emerged for eager fans. Although some rewards were delayed, which led to an apology from Zdeněk Houb, he thanked contributors for their understanding and patience during this process. This delay is also tied to the postponed start of the Blood Bond campaign. “All digital rewards have been sent. The production and distribution of physical rewards will still take some time, and it would not be right to start a campaign for the new Messenger of Death before the rewards from the remaster start being sent to you,” remarked Zdeněk Houb with sincerity.
“New location screens are being created, we already have working rain and lightning animations.”
The timeline for the project’s progress depends on various factors, leading Zdeněk Houb to cautiously state, “I prefer to say with a reserve that it will take another month. This postponement is already final.” However, this does not imply a slowdown in the development of the game; in fact, the opposite is true. “We are diligently working on the development of Blood Bond. New location screens are being created and we already have working rain and lightning animations,” he shared enthusiastically. The team’s expansion includes the addition of professional illustrator Eva Uherková, who is tasked with bringing a comprehensive game diary to life.
“Thus, a new one will be added to the rewards in the Blood Bond campaign. A diary of the entire game as a printed book. The book will be accompanied by a USB flash drive with the soundtrack and the audio story of the game. You can thus read the plot of the game again accompanied by music, or just scroll through all the drawings and pictures from the game and listen to the dubbing of the story,” Zdeněk Houb enticed prospective backers with a glimpse of the enticing rewards to come.
Source: Zdeněk Houb