*Taps microphone*
Uh… hello? Can you hear us?
Hi, Steam! We are Nakama Game Studio, a small indie studio based in Spain.
In the coming months our game Coloratura will finally launch after a few years of work, so we thought it’d be a good moment to check in with you and let you know a bit more about the game, starting with… well, the very beginning of the project. So sit back, get a cool drink (always stay hydrated!) and enjoy the read!
How was Coloratura born?
The project evolved from Museful, a prototype created in a Game Jam that successfully validated a fundamental technical premise: it was possible to navigate a 3D environment in a game using only positional audio, without any visual aid.
For us, Coloratura’s main goal was to move away from the restrictive concept of an “audio guide” or audio game, creating a fully fledged interactive 3D video game where the core gameplay is based on orientation through positional audio. A game that can be played equally by both sighted and blind players.
What were our main objectives?
There were several pillars that shaped the creation of the game. In the coming weeks we will release more articles going deeper into gameplay design, lore, etc, but for now we’ll talk a bit about the main objectives.
Inclusive Gameplay
We wanted to make a game that could allow people with and without visual impairment to play in equal terms. Maybe even enjoy the game together!
We actually encourage sighted players to experience the game blindfolded or with their eyes closed, so they can increase their sensory immersion and enjoy the experience to its full potential.
Stimulating the Imagination
We created what we call a “sound landscape” (or “soundscape” for short) with the goal of allowing players to subjectively and personally draw the shape and dimensions of the virtual space in their own mind. In other words, use sound as a brush to draw the landscape in your mind - your brain is the graphic card here!
Spatial Exploration and Mastery
Coloratura is designed to guide the player from the initial disorientation of having to navigate a world without sight to building a mental map of the environment, mastering 3D navigation through active listening. Much like our main character, Alex!
Social and Educational Impact
We think the main premise of Coloratura can be an excellent tool for awareness. One of our goals was building a game that could serve as an awareness and sensitivity tool in workshops and educational settings. A way of promoting active empathy towards visual disability, of helping people get an idea of the difficulties a blind person can face in their day to day life.
And that’s all for today! A small glimpse on how all this started, and what sparked the will to create a game as special as Coloratura.
Stay tuned, though - this is not all we have to say! In the coming weeks we’ll post more about the process of creating Coloratura, the challenges our team faced, the story, the gameplay… everything you’d want to know! Feel free to ask us questions if you’re curious about anything, we’re always happy to talk to you all.
Have a great week!
The team at Nakama Game Studio