Sky of Tides News

[h2][/h2][p]The second entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is now available, diving into the intertwined tale of Thrace and Loaj. Available now in two exciting formats—as audio diaries voiced by the talent behind the upcoming game and animated series, and in text format with custom illustrations on Wattpad.[/p][p]This story follows smooth-talking Thrace and the eccentric outcast Loaj as they cross paths in the bleached relics, a wasteland where danger and friendship collide. Together, they must survive the unforgiving ruins and the truths they uncover about their world—and themselves.[/p][p]I peek inside and see the bleachette impaled on a huge crystal spike.

Behind it, the relic squatter is somehow standing on his one good leg with his hand on a lever. The other leg is partly missing and squirting blood.

I say, “You’re gonna bleed out.”

He looks down. “I’m fine. I’ve had worse than this before.”

I can feel my face wincing. “If that was true, you would have only had one leg when I met you.”

He looks down at his leg and lowers himself to the ground. “It’s pretty bad, huh?”
[/p][p][/p][p]Read the full story now on Wattpad → Dance of the Cave Monkey, or listen to the audio version voiced by Conrad Haynes and David Shatraw, free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at [/p][p]skyoftides.com[/p][p] or join the Discord community.[/p][p]If you missed the first entry, read “Birth of the Chosen Hand” featuring Dr. Lu D’Lorah on Wattpad!
Next up: “The ‘i’ is Little in SAiLS” — meet Streak Tybo.[/p][p]
[/p]

[p]We’re thrilled to announce a new series of stories diving into the origins of all key characters in the Sky of Tides universe! Available now in two exciting formats—as audio diaries voiced by the talent behind the upcoming game and animated series, and starting today, in text format with custom illustrations on Wattpad. The first story introduces Dr. Lu D’Lorah, father of the game’s protagonist, Rin.[/p][p]When the Sky of Tides game begins, Lu D’Lorah has gone missing. But what inspired Dr. Lu’s bold foray into the radioactive wasteland at the edge of Yantar? “Birth of the Chosen Hand” reveals the pivotal event that forever changed Dr. Lu’s life—and gave him his first glimpse of the unique power carried by his daughter, Rin.
[/p][p]The storms back home were nothing like this. Twenty-eight years on Lapis, and none of our surge storms came even close to this Yantarian whopper! I’ve only been here for three months and they just keep getting stronger.

The plains of Yantar are famous for their surge storms, and this hill outside of the station is the perfect spot to watch them crash into the storm panels. Surge nodes, energy orbs full of water, spray into the air as waves bounce off of the sky projected panels and flow around the station. It looks like fireworks.

The pressure is incredible, my ears keep popping!

Another purple wave explodes against the orange panel of the storm shield. It’s breathtaking.

The tides are so close to the land right now that it seems like I could reach up and touch the water…[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Read the full story now on Wattpad → Birth of the Chosen Hand, or listen to the audio version voiced by David Haberkorn, free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at skyoftides.com or join the Discord community.

Stay tuned for more entries on Wattpad, dropping each week! Next up: “Dance of the Cave Monkey” introduces the intertwined tale of two key characters, Thrace and Loaj.[/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Crafting a compelling narrative for a video game is a unique and intricate dance, a blend of traditional storytelling and interactive design. For Sky of Tides, we embarked on a journey to create a world that not only captivated players with its visuals but also resonated deeply with its story. Today, we're delving into the heart of that process, exploring how we wove the narrative fabric of numen9.
[/p][p]
One of the most rewarding aspects of creating a narrative video game is the ability to tell a story through the player's own journey of discovery. In Sky of Tides, players explore diverse environments, uncovering objects and clues that reveal the world's lore, its characters' motivations, and the central conflict. This approach allowed us to layer depth and detail into the narrative as they explored, enriching the player's experience in a way that’s unique to interactive storytelling.[/p][p]Unlike film, TV, or novels, where the story is often delivered through dialogue or narration, games prioritize player agency. The player is the main character; their choices drive the narrative forward. This interactive element allows for non-linear storytelling, multiple endings, and a deeply personal connection to the story. Sky of Tides presented a fascinating case study, as we simultaneously developed the game, an animated series, and a collection of short stories, each offering a distinct perspective on the world of numen9.


Our story development process began with the core question: Who is the player inhabiting? From there, we considered the game's mechanics and user experience. The story needed to organically integrate with gameplay, reaching a climax and conclusion that felt earned. In Sky of Tides, given the setting of a broken planet with oceans hovering in the sky and two factions vying for power, the theme of balance emerged as a central pillar. We then worked hard to align the narrative with the character stat mechanics. This thematic unity was crucial in shaping the final form of the story, creating a cohesive and meaningful experience.[/p][p]Creating memorable characters in a game requires a delicate balance of surprise, motivation, and depth. We wanted characters that felt both relatable and intriguing, individuals with distinct personalities and compelling goals. The Syndicate Agent Streak Tybo’s relentless pursuit of Rin, or the enigmatic wild man in the bleached relics, Loaj, are examples of characters designed to pique curiosity and invite exploration.[/p][p]Great video game dialogue is concise, impactful, and action-driven. It needs to propel the story forward, never feeling like a drag. Drawing inspiration from stage plays and small-budget films, we focused on crafting dialogue that revealed character and advanced the plot in meaningful ways. The dialogue choice mechanic further engages players, allowing them to shape conversations and explore alternate responses that feel authentic to the characters.[/p][p]The story of Sky of Tides evolved significantly throughout production. Initially, we drafted a linear narrative, akin to a film script. As game mechanics and gameplay elements were refined, we adapted the story to fit the interactive format, creating scripts that could be integrated into the game engine. The theme of balance, which became central to the gameplay, also influenced the narrative, leading to a revised ending that felt more thematically resonant.[/p][p]

The collaborative nature of game development was crucial in shaping the story. Writers, designers, and developers worked closely to ensure that the narrative and gameplay elements were seamlessly integrated. This iterative process allowed us to refine the story, ensuring that it resonated with players on a deeper level.[/p][p]Creating Sky of Tides was a unique endeavour, particularly as we developed the game and animated series simultaneously. This allowed us to explore the world from multiple perspectives, enriching the overall narrative and creating a more immersive cross-platform experience. The interconnected stories of Rin and the characters that inhabit numen9 all add up to a rich and detailed tapestry.[/p][p]Ultimately, we aimed to craft a story that felt both personal and expansive, a journey of discovery that resonated with players on an emotional level. We hope you'll find yourselves immersed in the world of numen9, uncovering its secrets and forging your own path through the fractured skies.[/p][p]– The Sky of Tides Team.[/p]

[p]Excitement is building for Sky of Tides, and the 32 endings are a big talking point! Let’s clarify what that means for your journey through numen9.
[/p][p][/p][p]Some might worry that 32 completely different branches would water down the narrative, but that’s not how Sky of Tides works. Instead, your choices and actions shape Rin’s five core stats: compassion, intelligence, courage, luck, and humor. Each stat is tied to a major outcome in the game, and the fate of one of the key characters Rin forms a bond with over the nine episodes of Sky of Tides. Reaching stat thresholds for each stat determines how each story concludes.[/p][p]This gets to the main difference between Sky of Tides’ core mechanic and those of other RPGs. numen9 is already a world totally out of balance–with planetoids hovering in space, the oceans floating in the sky, and two factions vying for control on the brink of all-out war. [/p][p]The typical min-maxing approach where players double down on one character trait doesn’t quite fit when everything is already at an extreme, and that’s why the game rewards your ability to reach a threshold with each of your character traits, and restore an element of balance. [/p][p]Each trait is tied to a major outcome in the game. The "32 endings" come from the combinations of these individual character outcomes. With five key characters and varying resolutions for each based on your stat development, the possibilities multiply. It’s an intricate web of interconnected stories, rather than wildly divergent and unrelated paths.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The goal is to give players a satisfying experience no matter where they end up statwise, but also allow a way to play again to see a different outcome with characters they feel particularly close to. [/p][p]And if you can achieve balance and unlock the “true” ending of the game, we have a reward. We’ll throw in the Sky of Tides: Atla animated series, which loads right inside the game. [/p][p]Sky of Tides offers a deeply personal experience where your choices directly influence the fates of those around you. For players who value narrative and relationships, this system provides a compelling and rewarding journey. The 32 potential combinations of outcomes highlight the depth and impact of your choices. [/p][p]We look forward to you discovering all the ways your story can unfold![/p]

The brand-new trailer for our five-episode animated series just dropped — and it’s exclusive to those who unlock the true ending of Sky of Tides!

Sky of Tides: Atla is an original animated series that dives deeper into the world of numen9. Across five episodes, the story follows a new protagonist, Atla Gildeon, as she and her twin brother Kryll embark on a secret mission from the Chairman of the Syndicate.

Check it out — watch the trailer now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUdRcd1yzME&t=1s

Wishlist Sky of Tides today!

The first episode will have its world premiere at the New Media Film Festival on June 5.

Tickets and schedule https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/events/.