Role Playing Game
Whisper of a Rose
Whisper of a Rose was the debut product from RosePortal Games. Featuring entirely self-made graphics and custom-coded systems in Ruby, the game pushed the boundaries of the gaming engine. This 2D retro-style game tells the story of a girl seeking solace in her dreams to escape the trauma of her real life, only to discover that running from her fears is impossible. These fears manifest in her dreams, forcing her to confront and deal with them. The narrative was designed to inspire players, offering a positive message that encourages resilience in the face of life’s struggles.
Inspired by MMORPGs, particularly Final Fantasy XI, Whisper of a Rose is an expansive game with significant depth. It offers a lengthy, immersive experience featuring multiple areas, monsters, side quests, and rich storylines. The game was initially released on casual gaming portals like Big Fish Games, Amaranth Games, and Aldorlea. Later, it was published on Steam through Degica, where it achieved #1 on the top-selling releases list.
The character animations in the game were created using real-life reference photographs and human posture studies to provide a more realistic and relatable feel. This approach was chosen to match the mature themes of the game, contrasting with a cartoonish style. The game also features a self-coded crafting system and a custom-designed GUI.
Key responsibilities included:
- Developing custom systems in Ruby, including the menu and crafting systems.
- Designing and drawing background, character, and monster graphics.
- Writing scripts and narrative elements for the game.
- Overseeing cinematography and directing in-game cutscenes.
- Reaching out to gaming portals to secure publication.
- Engaging in customer outreach and marketing to promote the game.
- Coordinating beta testing groups to refine the game.
- Hiring and managing artists for cover artwork, logos, and dialogue screen graphics.
- Managing databases and balancing gameplay statistics and difficulty levels.
