07 Jun 2026Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2 : Daijoubu Major Update - NM2 0.42f

Nippon Marathon 2 : Daijoubu Major Update - NM2 0.42f This one’s huge: Linux support, massive optimisation, Cup Mode, facial animations, new UI upgrades, new colour options, Collections, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive in. NEW! Dedicated Native Linux Version and Optimisation! St

Nippon Marathon 2 : Daijoubu Major Update - NM2 0.42f

This one’s huge: Linux support, massive optimisation, Cup Mode, facial animations, new UI upgrades, new colour options, Collections, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive in.

NEW! Dedicated Native Linux Version and Optimisation!

Steam Deck now hits a solid 60fps with better visuals
Faster loading + smoother performance across all settings
Lighting and memory handling improved
Linux users officially welcomed into the Nipponverse

That's a pretty big visual improvement and performance is better too!

NEW! Each Contestant Now Has Multiple Colour Choices Available!

We know you wanted it, so here it is! Every contestant now comes with a minimum of 4 colour choices, we'll be adding more in the future too.

I think the new black and red Zenbei is my favourite - moe moe kyuuuuu!

NEW! Try out Cup Mode and Feel the Real Marathon Experience!

Finally we're all able to enjoy a 3-stage marathon! Scores and popularity are carried across to the next stage, this is the best way to enjoy NM2

The cup's emblem features elements from all three stages

NEW! Contestants Now Have Fully Animated Facial Expressions!

Contestants now react to everything — hits, flying, waving, panic, joy, chaos. They’re more expressive than ever.

(`･ω･´) It's nice to see the contestants being so expressive now （´∀｀）

NEW! Snapshots and Photos are Saved to COLLECTIONS For Later Enjoyment!

Every snapshot you take is now saved automatically. Up to 108 images, exportable directly to Steam.

Awww, precious memories....

NEW! Award System - Check Out The Score Calculation Screen!

The score screen now shows a clearer, more fun breakdown of awards. New awards added too — no spoilers.

What's next... Cucumber of Time? Tears of the Mushroom? Don't sue me!

NEW! Weapon Pick-up Indicators

A clean new UI element shows which item you picked up and which hand it’s in. Small change, big clarity boost.

Nishibori is dual-wielding the cucumber!

Whoa, just reading that made me tired and sweaty! But wait, there's still more! The full patch notes are at the bottom of this post.

So What's Next?

We know you’re waiting for:

new stages
L.O.B.S.T.E.R. Mode
trolley bowling
online play

We’re on it.

SENSATIONAL SCREENSHOTS

Today we're going to start with a bunch of screenshots showing off the new facial expressions, check 'em out!

Shock!

Exhaustion!

Determination!

Surprise!

Anguish!

Pain!

DISCORD DISCO

Huge thanks to ふーにゃ for testing the Linux build:

200 FPS, WQHD, everything is DAIJOUBU! Auto‑snap is a welcome addition.

They also gave great feedback on subtitles, screenshot deletion, and countdown timing — all added to the list.

So you heard it here first, the Linux build is DAIJOUBU!

PLAY THE LATEST UPDATE

Why not jump in and try all these new updates immediately

View game page

A Note of Dev Health

Some of you know I (Andy) have been dealing with Fibromyalgia for a while. It affects energy, pain levels, concentration — all the fun stuff. A recent med change shook things up, so if updates slow briefly, that’s why. We’re still 100% committed to NM2, and your support genuinely helps us keep going. Thank you for being patient and daijoubu.

Korean Translation Help

If you know any Korean fan translation groups who might be interested in helping with Nippon Marathon 2, please email Andy at andymadin(a)onionsoupinteractive.com

Until next time, stay DAIJOUBU! - Reiwa Man

Version 0.42f_ea Update and Patch Notes

New features

Revamped award system for the score screen (previously badges)
Contestant Colours
Added animated facial features for all main contestants driven programmatically by game logic
Added subtitles for contestant voice lines when winning a star or winning a game
Every snapshot or photo taken in photomode is now automatically saved to disk and can be viewed in Collections
Dedicated Linux version!
Cup Mode - Hungry Romance Cup - Stages can now be played with cumulative scores and extra excitement!

Optimisation

Decreased loading time when returning to main menu by a huge amount!!
Made Direct3D 11 the default as D3D12 was causing crashes on too many hardware configs
Optimised the low graphics setting for Steam Deck so locked 60fps is now possible!
Optimised lighting for better performance and consistency across quality settings

Interface

Improved the marathon select UI to incorporate Cup Mode
Added a menu at end of race allowing players to Return to Marathon Select or Return to Main Menu
Added higher quality stage screenshots for loading screens
Added popularity percentage to score calculation screen
Added new weapon collect icons over the contestant to help quickly identify the new weapon and the hand it is in

Fixes

Fixed contestants getting stuck on weapon spawns
Avatars at the top of the screen no longer turn to eliminated (greyed out with red X) when passing the finish line
Fixed bug where players could still use the menu during the loading screen
Fixed the bug where contestants would get stuck at the podium unable to pose
Finally found and fixed the bug where contestants be sometimes soft-locked at the final checkpoint

Tweaks:

Matched shiba inu speed more closely to the player
Changed podium scaling behaviour to prevent podiums going offscreen during a cup
Improved Darwin's face geometry and skin shading
Added cooldowns for most of Sora's commentary lines to avoid repetition
Updated localisation on the main menu control hint bar
Sora can be interrupted at the end of a round allowing the winning contestant to speak
Shadow resolution for most lights now based on quality setting
Snapshot camera now sometimes has a random tilt applied for more variety
Shortened the time octopus attack time on the freighter for better playability
Improved the area immediately after the crow battle in Shika Shika Deer Town
End of race fanfare song "Your Goal in Life" now plays during the winning celebration

Original post

18 Apr 2026Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu Is Out Now!

Hello everyone! The news you've been waiting for is finally here! After years of chaos, cucumbers, and questionable physics, Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu has officially launched into Early Access 🙌🙌🙌 View game page Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is everything you loved about the o

Hello everyone!

The news you've been waiting for is finally here!

After years of chaos, cucumbers, and questionable physics, Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu has officially launched into Early Access 🙌🙌🙌

View game page

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is everything you loved about the original — just bigger, smoother, and even more bizarre. You’ll race across Japan, fling fruit at your friends, dodge hazards you definitely weren’t prepared for, and yes… Sora the Troll is back with brand‑new commentary to roast every glorious mistake you make.

What’s in the Early Access Launch?

Here’s what you can jump into right now:

Three brand‑new stages set across exaggerated Japanese locations
Fully revamped graphics and physics
Create‑a‑Contestant mode for crafting your own beautiful-ly cursed racer
A new Photo Mode with free‑cam controls for capturing mid‑action chaos
A brand new, deadly melee weapon in the form of the Whirling Cucumber
Fresh new commentary from Sora the Troll
New CPU difficulty modes for solo play

This is just the start of the race, as we’ll be adding more stages, more contestants, more weapons, more chaos and even online multiplayer throughout Early Access.

Key Features

Race Across Japan: A wild, exaggerated tour of iconic locations
Even More Chaos: New obstacles, weapons, silly physics, and hilarious wipeouts
Solo Play Support: Face off against our newly improved (and occasionally ferocious) CPU racers
New Difficulty Modes: Novice, Amateur, and Pro settings to suit every level of chaos
A Tastier Arsenal: More throwable produce than ever, each with its own chaotic impact
Expanded Cast: Starting with the egg‑obsessed Mr BREAKFAST, with more contestants hatching over time
Create‑a‑Contestant: Build the weirdest racer your imagination can handle
Multiplayer Mayhem: Local multiplayer + Remote Play Together
Epic Soundtrack: An electrifying score to fuel every marathon

Play Now

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is available now on Steam Early Access with a 20% launch discount.

View game page

Thanks for your support, remember your feedback will help shape the final game, so please jump in, experiment, and tell us what you think!

So until next time

Stay Daijoubu

Andy & Amy

Original post

27 Mar 2026Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu Enters Early Access on April 17th!

Konnichiwa everyone! We’ve got some exciting news that you might want to jot down in your notebook... ✨ Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is entering Steam Early Access on April 17th! ✨ Get ready to dash through new courses, unleash new weapons, and of course, be chased by Shiba Inu! Y

Konnichiwa everyone!

We’ve got some exciting news that you might want to jot down in your notebook...

✨ Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is entering Steam Early Access on April 17th! ✨

Get ready to dash through new courses, unleash new weapons, and of course, be chased by Shiba Inu!

You can watch the brand new trailer here:

Watch on YouTube

Why Early Access?

Making a video game is like running a marathon… except the course is still being built. And the builders are also racing, throwing fruit, and occasionally falling into the sea. It gets a little messy, a little sticky, and every so often someone gets knocked off the course by a bug we didn’t even know existed.

That’s why Early Access exists. When development gets this chaotic, opening the gates early actually helps — it gives us room to breathe, lets us keep building the game at a sustainable pace, and invites the community to run alongside us, share ideas, and help shape the final experience together.

It’s how the original Nippon Marathon began, and it worked wonderfully, so we thought… Let's do it all again!

And the best part? The game is already ready for you to play, laugh at, fall over in, and shout “DAIJOUBU!” while we continue adding more mayhem behind the scenes.

What’s waiting for you on April 17th?

Three brand‑new stages

Each one is packed with new hazards, shortcuts, and enough beautifully unhinged chaos to give you three new favourite stages — and at least five new ways to lose friends.

Revamped gameplay & physics

Smoother, sillier, and scientifically engineered for maximum wipeouts.

All‑new Tutorial

Learn the basics, master the fruit‑flinging fundamentals, and prepare your body for the kind of race etiquette that would get you banned from any real marathon.

Create‑A‑Contestant Mode

Craft the racer of your dreams… or nightmares. Both are valid.

Photo Mode

Capture every mid‑air disaster in beautiful, high‑definition shame.

And that’s just the beginning…

**What’s coming during Early Access?**

Online multiplayer — ranked AND casual
New contestants — more weirdos to love
New weapons — melons were only the beginning
More stages — more places to fall over
More chaos — obviously

And yes, your feedback will help shape it all.

If you shout “This melon is too powerful!” we'll probably ignore you. If you shout “This melon isn’t powerful enough!” we'll absolutely listen.

3, 2, 1… Wishlist Nippon Marathon!

Wishlist Nippon Marathon 2: DAIJOUBU and be first in line to cause chaos across Japan the moment it goes live.

View game page

Coming Up Next: Meet you at Yolko Harbour!

We got a tiny bit side-tracked by announcing the release date, but next time we’ll be back to regular broadcasting and getting you in the perfect mood for Early Access!

Next time, we’re diving into Yolko Harbour. A fully operational dockyard that someone, for reasons unknown, decided was ideal for a marathon. Expect fast moving forklifts, sailors twirling their anchors, and a giant octopus with unresolved issues.

So until next time…

Stay DAIJOUBU!

Amy & Andy

Original post

27 Feb 2026Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu Takes Its First Public Lap at Bristol VGE

Hey everyone! We’ve got big news to kick off the year: Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is about to make its first-ever public playable appearance at the Bristol Video Games Expo (VGE)! For the first time, players will be able to dive headfirst into the latest build, try out new cours

13 Oct 2025Developer post

Nippon Marathon Unity Security Patch

We have applied a fix to address a Unity Security flaw.

27 Sep 2025Developer post

Play Nippon Marathon in Iconic Tokyo Game Center

Konnichiwa minna-san! 👋 I’m here to celebrate all things Tokyo Game Show, and to mark the occasion, Nippon Marathon is participating in the TGS Steam Sale! 👏👏👏 View game page It’s currently 75% off, so the perfect opportunity to experience Japan for a fraction of the cost of

Konnichiwa minna-san! 👋

I’m here to celebrate all things Tokyo Game Show, and to mark the occasion, Nippon Marathon is participating in the TGS Steam Sale! 👏👏👏

View game page

It’s currently 75% off, so the perfect opportunity to experience Japan for a fraction of the cost of a matcha latte!

But if you happen to be in Tokyo — maybe you're visiting for TGS, want to visit, or just are interested in all things Japan — I’ve got a recommendation that’s 100% certified Wedy-approved…

🕹️ Play the Arcade Edition of Nippon Marathon at Mikado Game Center

Yes, you heard me.

Nestled in the heart of Tokyo, right next to Takadanobaba Station, you’ll find the arcade edition of Nippon Marathon, aptly titled Nippon Marathon Turbo Hyper=Running.

It features exclusive stages, new contestants, leader boards, and faster gameplay — all designed for high-energy, arcade-friendly action. It even has custom cabinet artwork designed by veteran Namco character designer, Tatsuya Ishikawa (Dragon Spirit and Numan Athletics), and yes, it's totemo amazing!

The devs actually made the pilgrimage back in September 2023 to play it in person, while promoting SUPER 56 at TGS.

It was a surreal moment, playing their own game, in a real arcade, in Tokyo.

It was truly a dream come true, and yes, they got a little emotional.

🏛️ About Mikado Game Center

Mikado Game Center is one of Tokyo’s most iconic arcades — a haven for retro and fighting game fans. Even if you’re not there to play Nippon Marathon, the devs recommend visiting (though let’s be honest, that should be the main reason).

It’s so legendary that IGN called it “One of the Best Arcades in Japan” — and they weren’t wrong.

Having Nippon Marathon Turbo Hyper = Running featured at such a venue is a huge honour. So go forth, grab a melon soda, and pay your respects to the arcade gods.

🎯 Visiting Tokyo? Go Play It!

If you're in town for TGS or just exploring, head to Mikado Game Center and try Nippon Marathon Turbo Hyper = Running.

It’s a rare chance to experience the game in full arcade glory - and maybe shout “DAIJOBU!” at strangers in person (but maybe don’t do that).

📍 Mikado Game Center on Google Maps

Japan, 〒169-0075 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Takadanobaba, 4 Chome−5−10 オアシスプラザビル１Ｆ

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4pX1hwuiBRPnr3MWA

💻 Not in Tokyo? Daijoubu! Grab the Original on Steam

Nippon Marathon is on sale now - complete with mini-games, wipeouts, and all the absurdity you love.

View game page

Don’t forget to wishlist Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu — and follow for updates on new chaos, contestants, and surprises.

View game page

Hopefully with your support Nippon Marathon 2 will get its own cabinet someday too. I’ve already designed it in my dreams - it involves life-size Shiba Inu statues, pineapple shaped seats, mushroom cloud gas emitters and a button that shouts “DAIJOUBU” when you push it.

A true masterpiece. I know.

Until then, I’ll be waiting at the finish line. Probably upside down.

Stay Daijoubu

Wedy Jones

Original post

14 Sep 2025Developer post

Play the Updated Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu Demo

Konnichiwa minna-san! 👋 It’s Wedy Jones here with good news: the Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu demo has been updated! 🎉 After the first Playtest, the devs crawled back into their secret developer dojo (whilst dodging banana peels 🍌) and fine-tuned a bunch of fixes, updates, and

Konnichiwa minna-san! 👋

It’s Wedy Jones here with good news: the Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu demo has been updated! 🎉

After the first Playtest, the devs crawled back into their secret developer dojo (whilst dodging banana peels 🍌) and fine-tuned a bunch of fixes, updates, and brand-new features. And guess what? You can try them right now in the Steam demo!

View game page

🆕 What’s New in the Demo?

🏗️ Demo Stage YOLKO HARBOUR (Reworked!)

Inspired by Yokohama, this fishing port-themed stage has it all: water, giant carp, anchor-twirling sailors, and yes… a very grumpy Giant Octopus 🐙.

We’ve reworked most of the stage to include extra dockside hazards and new environments.
Test your sea legs in the all-new cargo ship section, but watch out for Octopus attacks, the water’s about to get a little choppy.
Find alternate routes by jumping on dockside machinery like forklifts and scissorlifts. They might launch you to victory… or straight into the drink.

📸 Photo Mode (✨NEW FEATURE✨)

Thought you didn’t need a photo mode in a silly party racer? Think again! Now you can pause mid-race and capture those relivable moments - whether that’s a dramatic tumble, a Shiba Inu ambush, or someone getting sent flying by a giant anchor.

You can move the camera wherever you like, zoom in and out, and let the auto-focus do the work:

Want to take a photo of Zenbei’s luscious eyelashes up close? Go for it.
Feel like waving and pretending to be one of the crowd? Absolutely.
Or maybe you just want to capture your wildest antics for clout - we don’t judge.

Here's some screenshots we took using Photo Mode:

And if you’re more of a sightseer than a stunt photographer, Photo Mode doubles as a mini-tour guide: pan around, read the barrier text, snap your favourite shop signs (Google Translate at the ready) - trust us, they’re worth it.

You can find Photo Mode in the pause menu.

🕺 Strike a Pose on the Podium

It didn’t feel very Nippon Marathon to just stand still on the podium while being told you’re the smelliest contestant!

So each contestant now has their own exhausted animation. But we didn’t stop there.

Each contestant also comes with a completely unique set of dance moves to show off while the scores are tallied. Mix and match to create chaotic podium performances and make the stage your personal spotlight!

(Currently, these animations are only available for player-controlled contestants; AI will get them in a future update.)

Pssst… want to go completely wild and break free from the podium altogether? Enter the secret cheat code:

up down up down left right left right up up down down up up down down

What was once a bug is now a cheeky feature, you're welcome.

👏Other Fun Updates:

The screen now shakes for melon & gas tank explosions making them feel even more dramatic💥
Watch out for sneaky finish line gates that love to trick you, some might be a fake!
Our Create-A-Contestant got a makeover too — updated head and hairstyle models

For a full list of changes since the March Playtest; including bug fixes, performance improvements, and gameplay tweaks, check the Patch Notes at the end of this post.

🎮 Challenge Friends with Remote Play Together

The demo supports solo, local, and online multiplayer via Steam Remote Play Together!

It’s the perfect excuse to grab your friends and challenge them to a race, or even a podium dance-off, who really deserves the title of Nippon Marathon Champion!

📢 Try the New Demo Today!

This might only be one stage, but it gives you a taste of what’s to come in the full game, and a glimpse of just how dedicated we are to making Nippon Marathon 2 the ultimate racing game!

View game page

Want even more mayhem? Our Discord Playtest will include these updates plus a brand-new stage — join the community for early access and be part of the fun.

🔗 Join the Discord ->

https://discord.gg/SpsyEHs

Thanks again for your patience, enthusiasm, and support. We know you’ve been waiting almost as long for Nippon Marathon 2 as for Silksong, but we promise, it’ll be worth it.

Stay Daijoubu,
Wedy Jones

📝 FULL PATCH NOTES

🐞 Bug Fixes

Fixed pineapple rope line renderer glitch
Fixed flag props spawning off-centre (causing them to fall over)
Fixed commentary incorrectly saying spectators were blown up
Fixed commentary talking about eliminated player’s stamina
Fixed inconsistent player order bug
Fixed tutorial bug: wrong key assigned for Waving to the crowd
Fixed tutorial bug: instructions not progressing if paused

⚙️ Performance & Technical

Improved loading times
Added upscaler options in Settings (⚠️ unstable on Steam Deck, under investigation)
Camera updates:
- Now follows centre point of all contestants when 4 players are active
- Zooms further out when contestants are spread out

🎮 Gameplay Improvements

Dive skill improved – more useful & predictable
CPU AI: better navigation, more variety, smarter obstacle handling
Contestants respawn in random order at checkpoints
Updated character poses, hairstyles and head models in Create-A-Contestant
Weapon visibility improved:
- Larger & clearer in gameplay
- More realistic in snapshots
- Visible in contestant’s hands during snapshots
Snapshot camera angles improved
Water splash animation upgraded with a new hand-drawn 9-frame spritesheet
Item respawn time reduced (2s → 1.5s)
Increased cucumber attack range slightly
Contestants recover from falls quicker & more reliably
Water slows contestants less than before
Banana improved: instantly trips enemies, especially when close behind
Explosion interaction: pineapple bursts when hit (⚠️ not fully working yet)
Elimination rules tweaked:
- Must sweat for at least 2s before elimination
- Immediate elimination if 15m+ behind 1st place

Original post

09 Jun 2025Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu!, is racing headfirst into Steam Next Fest

Hello everyone! Hope you don’t mind the shameless plug, but the long-awaited sequel, Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu! , is racing headfirst into Steam Next Fest — and you can play it RIGHT NOW with our brand-new free demo ! 🎮💥 View game page Get ready for more Shiba Inus, ridiculou

10 Feb 2025Developer post

Celebrate Couch Co-Op Fest with the Chaotic Party Night bundle!

Hi everyone, we hope you’re well? We’re just checking in to celebrate Steam’s Couch Co-Op Fest and the launch of a new bundle that seeks to capture the spirit of good old fashioned party game nights! For enjoyers of slapstick Japanese gameshows, high stakes octopus racing, and in

17 Dec 2024Developer post

It’s official—Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is happening!

It’s official— Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is happening! Hi everyone, Get ready to duck, dodge, and dive into chaos because Nippon Marathon 2 is sprinting onto Steam Early Access in Q2 2025! What’s New? This sequel is bigger, crazier, and packed with even more ridiculous fun: ✨ V

21 Nov 2023Developer post

Nominate us!!!

ːsteamthumbsupː Arigatou gozaimasu ːsteamthumbsupː ːsteamthumbsupː ありがとうございます ːsteamthumbsupː

06 Feb 2023Developer post

SUPER 56 demo now available in SteamNextFest

Hello everyone! Just a quick announcement to say that upcoming mini-game collection SUPER 56 is now available to play during the Steam Next Fest. The aim of SUPER 56 is to get the best score possible by completing each stage as fast as you can. Sounds easy, right? Think again...

25 Mar 2022Developer post

New Game Annoucement and more!

Hello Steam Community, It's been a while, but we have some fun news for you. We're announcing our new game Press A For Achievements. It's a mini-game collection where players earn achievements, coins and gifts by simply pressing A. Watch the trailer below: Nippon Characters Retur

01 Oct 2021Developer post

Apologies for our mistake yesterday

Hello everyone, On 30th September we revealed a character intended for Nippon Marathon 2, a Canadian Mountie. What we didn't know was that the 30th September was Truth and Reconciliation Day - A Day that honours victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools, which sought

Hello everyone,

On 30th September we revealed a character intended for Nippon Marathon 2, a Canadian Mountie. What we didn't know was that the 30th September was Truth and Reconciliation Day - A Day that honours victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools, which sought to forcefully assimilate indigenous children in which the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) were involved.

Here is some more information on Truth and Reconciliation Day: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/first-national-truth-reconciliation-day-1.6188540

A member of our Discord channel brought this to our attention and we wish to make sure that Nippon Marathon remains a fun experience for everyone.

We're sorry, we were unaware of something that is very important to many families. Our ignorance is not an excuse and we have taken time to reflect upon this.

We want to ensure that Nippon Marathon and future games are fun for everyone and is never meant to be offensive. This has caused us to take a step back and evaluate all of our NM2 characters, as the last thing we want to do is cause offence. In the original Nippon Marathon, we never assigned nationalities and we made sure that all the characters were voiced by individuals of different races and gender. We take this all very seriously.

In regards to Benton and Tony, we will be withdrawing them from the NM roster.

If you or anyone you know are experiencing pain or distress as a result of their (or someone they knows) Residential school experience, then please get in touch with the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (https://www.irsss.ca/)

We made a donation to the IRSSS this afternoon, consider making a donation to the IRSSS too.

Everyone reading this should feel free to talk to me or Amy about this or anything else. We are a safe space and our door is always open.

You can DM us on our company Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/OnionSoupLtd), my personal Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/MonAmieMadin), our discord (https://discordapp.com/invite/SpsyEHs), or even via email ([email protected])

Thank you

Original post

30 Sep 2021Developer post

All hail a Nippon Marathon update (and much more)

Hello everyone, Firstly we would like to apologise for the radio silence from us. We thought we would provide you all with an update regarding all things Onion Soup Interactive, including Nippon Marathon 2. BOSS BATTLE - FIBROMYALGIA In October 2020 I was diagnosed with Fibromyal

Hello everyone,

Firstly we would like to apologise for the radio silence from us. We thought we would provide you all with an update regarding all things Onion Soup Interactive, including Nippon Marathon 2.

BOSS BATTLE - FIBROMYALGIA

In October 2020 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I’d been suffering with the illness for quite a long time prior to this under the impression it was an old neck injury from 2008, but after the symptoms worsened and the illness’ characteristic chronic pain and fatigue became unbearable the doctors finally gave me a label that I could work with.

By this point it had become almost impossible to work on UEDI: Shadow of the Citadel, each day I was able to do less and less until I couldn't work on the game at all, heck I couldn’t even finish a meal at the dining table without going for a lie down, taking a ton of painkillers and sleeping for as long as my body demanded (or, ironically, laid awake, super tired and totally incapable of sleep). At its worst, the illness put me in constant physical pain, reduced my brain to mush and deprived me of sleep, sometimes for weeks at a time without any kind of reprieve.

I have a pretty strong work ethic, but since creating Onion Soup Interactive with Amy my desire to work on games is so strong that it’s been really tough to sit on the sidelines and try to focus on getting better. Fibromyalgia sufferers have a lot of trouble focussing on complex tasks and game design is really, really complex. For a while I tried really hard to fight through it, but it really isn’t possible to do that. I had to take a time-out, even if it lasted for a whole year… or longer.

Our wonderful friends in the Onion Soup Discord Server have been very supportive of us, they’ve insisted that health comes before work, no matter what and I’m really happy and proud of our community.

If you don't know already, Fibromyalgia makes the body produce excess cortisol (the stress hormone) and prevents the body from creating serotonin (the happiness hormone). You can imagine how taxing this is on mental health, Amy continues to do an amazing job of helping me through it. I know it isn’t easy for her. Amy, my parents, and our dog help keep my mental health in check. If you’re suffering with any form of mental health issue I absolutely insist that you must find some kind of help and support. You might spend a lot of time thinking the loneliest and darkest thoughts but making a genuine human connection with someone who really cares can help you drag yourself out the deepest of holes, I promise!

Since then I’ve tried so many things to help ease the symptoms of the illness, I cut gluten, caffeine, sugar and alcohol from my diet (my favourite things used to be coffee, pizza, whiskey and salted caramel brownies😭 😭 😭 . I had one year of weekly physiotherapy, 6 months of acupuncture, opioids, anti-inflammatories, supplements, exercise routines, meditation, and osteopathy. You name it, i’ve probably done it! I’m writing a detailed guide for other sufferers which may be of some help and it’ll be posted soon.

Finally, after a really long time I’m starting to feel slightly better. For a few weeks now I’ve been able to do a bit of work again, mostly art but also some work in Unity work too.

Getting Back on the Horse! - A New Game That’s Even More Stupid?

Amy and I agreed that jumping back into UEDI or Nippon 2 development would probably be too difficult for me right now and there would be a risk of triggering a flare up of symptoms and taking 10 steps back.

So instead we’ve been putting together a new ‘micro game’ collection. This allows Amy to learn more Unity skills and is also a much more low-pressure project.

We’re almost ready to share it with you, maybe in a couple of months. Before then though we’ll be running a closed beta, so if you’re interested just mention it to us in our Discord.

Join the Discord here: https://discordapp.com/invite/SpsyEHs

Oh, what the heck, here are a few GIFs just for fun.

We will be keeping the name a surprise until it's official announcement, but we are VERY excited to share it with you all. Believe me, keeping this project under wraps has been very difficult.

What’s next for UEDI: Shadow of the Citadel

We’ll be working on our new project for a little while longer, once we have that wrapped up and assuming I’m able to maintain my health, we’ll be getting back to the game. We’ll be making a conscious effort to keep it a tighter and more focussed action game than originally planned. We want to get the coolest and most fun gameplay aspects ready for you to enjoy so as not to risk the game getting stuck in development hell again.

You Want Nippon Marathon 2?

I made Nippon Marathon mostly by myself with a little help from Amy, as she was first picking up the fundamentals of art and game design. It was very difficult and stressful, so when the time comes for us to begin working on Nippon Marathon 2 as a full-time project, we’ll be hiring some help. We’re not a big studio and we don’t have a lot of resources but thankfully there’s enough love for Nippon Marathon that we believe a publisher is willing to cover the expenses. This means I can focus of work that’s less mentally taxing, I’ve really enjoyed brushing up on my Maya 3D modelling and ZBrush 3D Sculpting skills recently and I think this is now a real strength of mine.

I wish we could start NM2 tomorrow, so much that I made a new character. She’s a Canadian Mountie called Benton who rides her trusty ‘horse’ Toby.

Here’s a render of them, please let us know what you think!

Nippon Marathon CD OST now available

We’ve had requests for a physical Nippon Marathon OST for aaaaages, and along with many things in the world it was horribly delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Anyway, it’s just been released by City Connection and is available to order from Clarice Shop. The CD features the music from the original game as well as tracks exclusive to the Arcade Edition. It also features a written note from us (in Japanese).

Although the site is in Japanese and primarily for the Japanese market, Buyee supports international shipping from this store.

Buy Now: https://bit.ly/NipponMarathonCD

Nippon Marathon Turbo Hyper = Running

It has finally been released! Yay! The pandemic literally sucked the life out of the arcade industry but we’re seeing signs of life creeping back in now and you might start to see some of them in the wild soon. There’s a huge Japanese and US chain called 1UP where the game’s been on test. Then there’s a bunch of them in Japan and Hawaii too. Can’t we go and live there?

If you fancy a copy of Nippon Marathon Turbo for yourself, then they'e available to purchase from our arcade publisher, exA-Arcadia. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/nmturbo

If you are attending the "Made in Asia" Convention in Brussels this October, then you can actually play the game yourself during the convention. Arcade Belgium are hosting a NM Turbo tournament at the convention. Be one of the first people in Europe to play Nippon Marathon Turbo. How exciting.

Support a Local Artist

During the pandemic, we commissioned a piece of art for our website from our community member, KYLEZOOKI. We are super pleased with the results and recommend that you all go and support this amazing artist. Not only does it include myself and Amy, our Master of Ceremonies, Buster, and Company Flower, Mocha, were also included in the piece.

Go and follow him immediately on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KYLEZOOKI091

Phew that was a long one...

Again thank you all for your continued support, and thanks to everyone who continues to buy us a coffee. It's very much appreciated, and if you want to buy us one today, mine's a decaf oat latte; https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nipponmarathon2

Remember to drop by our Discord and say hello, everyone loves chatting about games, anime and other fun stuff and everyone’s welcome.

So that's everything for now,

Stay safe!

Andy, Amy, Buster & Mocha

Original post

25 Jun 2021Developer post

Cool off with the Steam Summer Sale – get up to 90% off PQube Games!

Ah, summer. Sundresses, ice cream…and, of course, some crazy discounts on games! With everything from pixel platformers to furr-tastic RPGs, there is something for everyone in the PQube catalogue. Check out some of our top picks below! Gal*Gun Returns PANTIES! Got your attention?

14 Oct 2020Developer post

Online Mode and PS4 Support Announced for Nippon Marathon 2

The update you've all been waiting for is here! Online matchmaking, PS4 support and custom character skins are coming to Nippon Marathon 2! Online Mode Play just for fun in Casual Versus or try to be the best in the world by improving your rank in Competitive Versus. You'll be gl

The update you've all been waiting for is here!

Online matchmaking, PS4 support and custom character skins are coming to Nippon Marathon 2!

Watch on YouTube

Online Mode
Play just for fun in Casual Versus or try to be the best in the world by improving your rank in Competitive Versus.

You'll be glad to know the Go-Go Trolley Bowling and L.O.B.S.T.E.R party games are making a return with online capability too.

This is a game-changer for fans of online party games. We've felt that Nippon Marathon has always been the closest thing to a Takeshi's Castle (MXC) or Total Wipeout video game, and the inclusion of online support will bring the game to a much wider audience and be fun for everyone to play!

Kickstarter Exclusive Custom Skins
We've previously mentioned this before, but the in-game shop will be stocked full of custom items and character skins for you to unlock, hopefully adding to the Nippon Marathon experience.

Backers will automatically receive exclusive "BAKA" branded skins for all main characters and an exclusive nameplate for use online. A preview of these can be seen in the video above. YAY!

PS4 Support Announced
The two-person team has been inundated with calls to bring Nippon Marathon 2 to Playstation following the first game's success on PS+ Japan earlier this year. Fans will be happy to know that Onion Soup Interactive has added support for the platform to its development schedule.

Please share share share this with everyone you know!

I know a lot of fans were holding out for this one, so please share this news with everyone you can. We want to shout from the rooftops that NIPPON MARATHON 2 HAS ONLINE MODE!

Share now:

Twitter: https://ctt.ac/c6D55
Twitter JP: https://ctt.ac/5ZbbK
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onionsoupinteractive/nippon-marathon-2?ref=6z4r4y
Facebook JP: http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onionsoupinteractive/nippon-marathon-2?ref=6zelp0

Thanks again for your support!

So that's everything for now!

Amy & Andy

Original post

07 Oct 2020Developer post

First Celebrity Announcement, Campaign Update, and our very first Competition

Nippon Marathon Celebrity Announcement As you might have seen in our campaign, we are introducing a new feature; "Celebrity Special Progress Report". In this feature our very own Abe Watanabe is hosting a chat show with some famous faces. These celebrities will give out challenge

Nippon Marathon Celebrity Announcement
As you might have seen in our campaign, we are introducing a new feature; "Celebrity Special Progress Report". In this feature our very own Abe Watanabe is hosting a chat show with some famous faces. These celebrities will give out challenges before the race and can award bonuses or penalties to players.

So with that being said, we are incredibly excited to announce our first celebrity, Hideaki Kobayashi, or Uncle Sailor, is joining the Nippon Marathon family.

Watch on YouTube

To learn more, and learn how YOU can join the team of celebrity guests, then read the full update on our Kickstarter Campaign Page .

A Thank You From The Devs

As always we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has pledged so far. We are already at 45% and hope you help us reach 50% in the next couple of days.

We have recorded a video to say thank you as well as introduce you to our competition.

Watch on YouTube

Remember you must be a backer to be entered automatically into this competition.

So back the campaign now and grab a real collectors item: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onionsoupinteractive/nippon-marathon-2?ref=1wzjsn

Gain Exclusive Rewards with Backer Club

We have partnered with BlackerClub, a Kickstarter Partner where you receive an exclusive bonus if you pledge through their website.

Through BackerClub, receive a free signed copy of Nippon Marathon 1 when you spend more than $ 99 (free worldwide shipping). Although we have the signed NM1 game as a competition, if you want to guarantee your copy, then make a pledge through BackerClub

Add-ons Update
As some of you have noticed, we've had a few issues with add-ons, where physical add-ons were not being displayed when a digital only reward was chosen. We have now fixed this, so you should see the add-ons for the posters, OST & T-shirt when you chose a digital only reward. You may notice that the price has changed, due to how Kickstarter processes physical and digital rewards, we have had to merge the postage costs into the add-on price If you were able to chose a physical add-on before today, then the price has not been changed. There has been no change to the digital add-ons. There has also been some issues with early bird backers who wanted to purchase the "Design a Placard" add-on. Some of you have been unable to amend your original pledge, as the early bird is no longer available. So if you want the placard add-on and you chose early-bird, then we are working on a work-around so that you can still purchase the add-on once the campaign ends. Again we may sound like a broken record but we really do appreciate everything you have done for us!

If your haven't pledged already, then please back our campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onionsoupinteractive/nippon-marathon-2?ref=9gn77n

Stay tuned for more updates, including the opportunity for you to choose the next course, where will it be???

Amy & Andy

Original post

01 Oct 2020Developer post

Kickstarter Update: New Features Revealed

1 - 25% Funded in 36 hours We'd like to give everyone a huge thank you for supporting our campaign. We're blown away by the amount of support received so far! If you haven't pledged yet then what are you waiting for? Our "Early Bird" and "Early Bird +" Reward are only available f

1 - 25% Funded in 36 hours

We'd like to give everyone a huge thank you for supporting our campaign. We're blown away by the amount of support received so far!

If you haven't pledged yet then what are you waiting for? Our "Early Bird" and "Early Bird +" Reward are only available for 19 hours, so grab one whilst you can!

2 - Snuguru's Mystery Quest Update

Snuguru has only gone and done it again, he's opened Chest 1 and 2 already.

What was inside...

***drumroll please***

NEW CHARACTER: REIWA MAN

Amazing!

The first chest contained a brand new payable character! Now that Snuguru has released Reiwa Man from the chest we will add him to our development schedule. But who is Reiwa Man? Well, his real name is Reiwa Aonuma and he's from the Oita prefecture of Japan.

He is a 21 year old junior tax collector. His hobbies include organising pencils by their smell. Reiwa Man was bullied at school because of his unusual name but in 2019 the Heisei era came to an end and the Reiwa era began. Reiwa Man was so happy that his unusual name has become famous that he gained a new level of confidence. Now he has entered the Nippon Marathon to show off his famous name and prove to everyone everyone that tax collectors can be heroes to

NEW IN-GAME ITEM: French Bread

Ahh the smell of freshly baked French Bread! There's nothing else like it. Well done everyone, you've unlocked a new in-game item.

The French bread can be thrown, though this is mostly useless (unless your throw it to some ducks for popularity points). This French bread really deserves to be eaten.

This item can be eaten three times before it's used up, giving you three speed boosts. It's a great item to get you back in the race if you're lagging behind.

Let's help Snuguru reach chest 3 by playing Snuguru's Mystery Quest!

Chest 1: OPENED: New Character: Reiwa Man

Chest 2: OPENED: New In-Game Item: French Bread

Chest 3: 150 retweets of pinned tweet required to open chest!

Remember to check back tomorrow as it features information about brand new character www_Kimbly_www

Please remember to share this campaign with all of your friends and family!

Pledge to the campaign now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onionsoupinteractive/nippon-marathon-2

Speak soon,

Amy & Andy

Original post

21 Sep 2020Developer post

Nippon Marathon 2 Coming to Kickstarter 29th September!

Hello everyone! The launch of the Nippon Marathon 2 Kickstarter Campaign has been announced as 29th September 2020! That's only 8 days away! Here are three reasons to get excited: Which stretch goals will be included? Online? Story Mode? You'll have to wait and see... We have a r

Updates & announcements

Nippon Marathon 2 : Daijoubu Major Update - NM2 0.42f

NEW! Dedicated Native Linux Version and Optimisation!

NEW! Each Contestant Now Has Multiple Colour Choices Available!

NEW! Try out Cup Mode and Feel the Real Marathon Experience!

NEW! Contestants Now Have Fully Animated Facial Expressions!

NEW! Snapshots and Photos are Saved to COLLECTIONS For Later Enjoyment!

NEW! Award System - Check Out The Score Calculation Screen!

NEW! Weapon Pick-up Indicators

So What's Next?

SENSATIONAL SCREENSHOTS

DISCORD DISCO

So you heard it here first, the Linux build is DAIJOUBU!

PLAY THE LATEST UPDATE

A Note of Dev Health

Korean Translation Help

Version 0.42f_ea Update and Patch Notes

New features

Optimisation

Interface

Fixes

Tweaks:

What’s in the Early Access Launch?

Key Features

Play Now

✨ Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is entering Steam Early Access on April 17th! ✨

Why Early Access?

What’s waiting for you on April 17th?

Three brand‑new stages

Revamped gameplay & physics

All‑new Tutorial

Create‑A‑Contestant Mode

Photo Mode

What’s coming during Early Access?

If you shout “This melon is too powerful!” we'll probably ignore you. If you shout “This melon isn’t powerful enough!” we'll absolutely listen.

3, 2, 1… Wishlist Nippon Marathon!

Coming Up Next: Meet you at Yolko Harbour!

🏃 What’s in the Demo?

📅 Event Details

🛒 Wishlist & Follow

❤️ From Onion Soup Interactive

🕹️ Play the Arcade Edition of Nippon Marathon at Mikado Game Center

🏛️ About Mikado Game Center

🎯 Visiting Tokyo? Go Play It!

💻 Not in Tokyo? Daijoubu! Grab the Original on Steam

🆕 What’s New in the Demo?

🏗️ Demo Stage YOLKO HARBOUR (Reworked!)

📸 Photo Mode (✨NEW FEATURE✨)

🕺 Strike a Pose on the Podium

👏Other Fun Updates:

🎮 Challenge Friends with Remote Play Together

📢 Try the New Demo Today!

📝 FULL PATCH NOTES

🐞 Bug Fixes

⚙️ Performance & Technical

🎮 Gameplay Improvements

Hi everyone, we hope you’re well?

Nippon Characters Return in Press A For Achievements

NFTs on OpenSea

BOSS BATTLE - FIBROMYALGIA

Getting Back on the Horse! - A New Game That’s Even More Stupid?

What’s next for UEDI: Shadow of the Citadel

You Want Nippon Marathon 2?

Nippon Marathon CD OST now available

Nippon Marathon Turbo Hyper = Running

Support a Local Artist

**What’s coming during Early Access?**