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Critter Cove Devlog #4 + Playtest DATE Reveal!

[h3]Hello everyone,

I hope you're all settled in with your favorite cup of tea! My name is Sammi, and it's an absolute pleasure to lead today's Critter Cove tourism board. Anchor is a bit tied up hunting down his office keys, so he kindly asked me to step in, and I couldn't say no to lending a hand to a friend! Here in our little community, we always strive to help each other.[/h3]

[h2]Firstly I’ve got some big news! The Critter Cove closed beta playtest will begin on Steam on September 26th! If you’ve got a Twitch or a YouTube channel and want to hang out with us even earlier, let us know, and we’ll see if we can help you out![/h2]

[h3]And if you haven’t signed up yet, now is the perfect time![/h3]



[h3]Allow me to introduce you to some important members of our community. You're likely to cross paths with them frequently, given the fascinating things you discover on your journeys. You truly inspire us all to be better versions of ourselves!

Meet Euphemia Stompanie Woolington, affectionately known as Effie. She’s the brains behind the Critter Cove museum, cataloging and restoring the artifacts you uncover for public display. She’s got a wicked sense of humor and a real nose for interesting discoveries![/h3]



[h3]Then there's Mishell – a true-blue artist! Her talent knows no bounds; she captures beauty in everything. And hey, it's extra impressive, because she's often on the glass-half-empty side of life. Whenever you stumble upon something nice to capture, take it straight to Mishell![/h3]



[h3]Our town is rich with many other Critters you'll come to know, but there’s even more of us out there who haven’t joined our community yet, and every storm leads more people to becoming shipwrecked here! You’ll have the opportunity to build relationships with them, and the stronger your relationships, the more they'll be willing to assist you.

There’s plenty of room here in town for new residents… but don’t be surprised when they ask YOU to fix up one of the old houses, being as how you’re so good at that sort of thing! I know, it’s going to be quite a bit of work turning this place into a bustling town… but hey, it's better than sand in your shorts, right?

Enhancing the town with decorations and goodies will also boost Critter happiness, depending on their preferences. The artsy types will flip for a painting easel, while the chill ones will happily relax in a hammock!

In fact, your Town Rank won't budge unless Critter Cove's happiness gets a boost! I know you're juggling lots, and it might feel like herding cats (and sharks, and lizards) but hang tight! I'll back you up as best I can.[/h3]



[h3]Everyone's got their tale!

When you're off on those missions to rescue shipwrecked Critters, you'll catch wind of all sorts of stories. Your job? Lend a helping hand and recruit them to help our town blossom! These Critters come in all flavors – some might be a bit scary (or sulky) like Pokee... but I think if anyone can turn them around to our little community, it’s you! You'll handle 'em like a pro! After a little favor, they'll be itching to hop on your boat and join Critter Cove![/h3]

[h3]That about covers what Anchor wanted me to share today. Thanks a ton for tuning in and all your hard work! And don't forget, there's still time to sign up for our Closed Beta before it goes live on September 26th![/h3]


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Steam Playtest Signup, New Trailer and Gamescom Booth!

[h2]New Gameplay Trailer Unveiled! [/h2]

[h3]🌴 Get ready to immerse yourself further in the vibrant and enchanting world of Critter Cove! We're thrilled to present our brand-new gameplay trailer, giving you a tantalizing glimpse into the new locations and features of the game. Discover the secrets of the past hidden in the relics scattered around the world, peek into the mesmerizing Enchanted Biome and build meaningful relationships with Critter Cove’s townsfolk. Watch the trailer now and prepare to embark on your own tropical getaway![/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]Steam Playtest Sign Up Now Open![/h2]

[h3]🏝️ Calling all aspiring island adventurers! Critter Cove is opening its shores for an exclusive Steam Playtest! Be among the first to explore the meticulously handcrafted open world, dive into the depths of mysterious oceans, and let the laid-back island vibes wash over you. If you're ready to embrace the cozy lifestyle of Critter Cove, sign up for the Steam Playtest now for a chance to be a part of shaping this extraordinary journey during the playtest in September![/h3]

[h3]Sign Up for the Playtest Here![/h3]

[h2]Join Us at Gamescom![/h2]

[h3]🎮Finally, Critter Cove will be making a splash at Gamescom this month! Don’t wait for the playtest to start - immerse yourself in our captivating game booth and experience the enchanting world firsthand. Meet the quirky animal characters, explore the vibrant town, and get a taste of the tranquil island lifestyle that awaits you. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or new to the life simulation genre, Critter Cove promises an unforgettable adventure! Head to Hall 10.2 and look for the Indie Arena Booth - we’d love to say hi![/h3]

[h3]Get your Gamescom tickets here![/h3]

[h3]Thank you for being a part of Critter Cove's heartwarming journey. Whether you're watching our new gameplay trailer, signing up for the Steam Playtest, or visiting our booth at Gamescom, we’re incredibly grateful for your support and can’t wait to show you more of the game. See you there! 🌊🏖️[/h3]

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Join the Critter Cove Contest on Twitter!

[h3]Hello Critters,[/h3]

[h2]Join our contest on Twitter for a chance to win a key for a tinyBuild game of your choice!

How to enter:

👉 Follow us on Twitter
🔁 Retweet this post
✏️ Reply to the post with your answer to the question “What 3 things would you take with you to a cozy tropical island?

We will pick the lucky winner on August 14th, so hurry up![/h2]

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Critter Cove Dev Log #3

[h3]Hey there, you bunch of slackers!

Hah! Bet you were expecting Anchor to waltz back today and tuck you in with some 'everything's gonna be fine'? Well, tough break! Turns out, my last update didn't exactly tickle his fancy, not that I'm surprised. But guess what? I couldn't care less. Park yourselves and lend an ear, because things are about to get even rougher from here on out.[/h3]

[h2]Shops, shops, and more shops...[/h2]

[h3]We used to have a bunch of shops, and you'll need to get them back on their feet - Mayor Renard keeps yapping about how it’ll be worth it, but that guy just wants to start getting some of that sweet tax money in his pocket, I’ll betya.

Get that tinhead Copperbottom to do some dirty work as well. I walked around the main square today and let me tell you, it doesn’t exactly scream five-star holiday destination! Still, even I have to admit it could start looking a little better around here with a slave, uhh, helpful citizen to fix things up.

Here’s a list of what needs to be done:[/h3]

  • [h3]Bait shop: Fresh fish smell worse than you, which is saying something. Fishing gear might help get more food.
  • Tavern: Everyone loves a good drink and gossip, plus some occasional brawls to liven up the weekends.
  • Salon: Maybe it'll convince you to change your face or something.
  • Clinic: For those sensitive wimps who need more than a bandaid for their boo-boos.
  • Clothing shop: Change those filthy rags; style doesn't cost anything.
  • Café and bakery: Food and drinks, duh. Basic survival stuff.
  • Museum: Boring, but apparently crucial for tourism. Fill it up with exhibits or whatever.
  • Workshop: That oily mess is all yours. Do your crafting stuff there, far away from me.
  • Furniture shop: Get furniture and some crafting recipes to save a buck.
  • School: Some less bright folks here need all the help they can get, so fix that school for them.
  • Lighthouse: No idea why we need it. I guess to keep those fools from shipwrecking all the time.[/h3]


[h3]Oh, and we already have the post office and Renard's shop up and running, but that place doesn’t exactly sell luxury items most of the time. I swear I saw him selling a broken treadmill in there the other day.[/h3]



[h2]Do people here work?
[/h2]


[h3]What happens when there’s no business? Well, nobody really does any work, right?

When you finally manage to fix those shops, you'll need someone to run them, and let's face it, this place is as lively as a graveyard right now. So, it's your job to cruise around in your lousy bathtub boat and find some stranded idiots to scam—ahem, I mean, to convince them to join our delightful island! I'm sure they'll be thrilled not to spend their nights sleeping on the sand.

Once you've got the shops up and running and a bunch of Critters running around sucking up the oxygen, it's time for the hard part: carefully selecting your workforce. Brace yourself; most of these Critters are good-for-nothings.

So, if you want to avoid having your customers served coffee with a side of Critter spit, sour milk soups garnished with dead flies, or leftovers mixed into fresh orders, you'd better think long and hard about those choices. Or don’t, of course. The chaos would at least be pretty entertaining.

On the rare occasion that you miraculously find a Critter enjoying their work, well, the customers might actually leave with a smile. And if we play our cards right, Checkmark might grace us with a tiny pat on the back in his loser clipboard. Piece of cake, right?[/h3]





[h3]Alright, that's enough for today. Anchor asked me to tell you to keep an eye out for some important announcement coming soon. I don't know, and I don't care. Now, leave me alone, I need my beauty sleep.

- Pokee[/h3]

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Critter Cove Dev Log #2

[h3]Alright, listen up, you unfortunate lot!

I’m Pokee, chief something here on Critter Cove. I’ve been living here a while and well, I don’t exactly get along with these other Critters. But, today's my turn to take over the “Critter Cove tourism board” and tell you guys about what’s been going on around here. Lucky me, huh? Anchor thought it'd be entertaining to throw me into this mess or hand me the tourism office keys, as if I had nothing better to do.

Anyway, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this. I guess I'll give you real-deal hot-off-the-press information about what a visit here’s really gonna be like, not like you'll appreciate it.

So, you're the new Critter that got scammed into fixing this dump with Anchor. Renard filled me in on your little “sob story”. Must've been a real easy mark, huh? Can't help but chuckle a little at your gullibility.[/h3]



[h2]Why do we need the town renovated?[/h2]

[h3]Critter Cove's been a disaster lately, so it's up to you to step up your game.

This guy “Inspector Checkmark” shows up now and then to judge this place for some weird “committee." Let’s just say we’ve been getting even worse grades than you probably did at school!

To impress this Checkmark dude, we need to improve in these three categories: presence, vigor and life satisfaction. And when I say we, I really mean, you. You don’t LOOK like some with a lot of life satisfaction, but we’ll see how it goes.

If you want my advice - get those old shops up and running first. And yeah, we need more Critters, so when the next storm hits, go rescue some people stupid enough to go out and explore. If they don't want rescuing, prepare to grease their palms. And obviously, we can’t have them mop around town all miserable![/h3]





[h2]As for the townsfolk's happiness...[/h2]

[h3]It varies, you dimwit. Personally, I prefer everyone staying far away from me. Others ain’t gonna be afraid to talk about what they need - clothes, furniture, decorations, food, you name it. Plus, you gotta keep the shops in shape. Fix leaks, clean floors, probably unclog toilets; it's all nasty. And if you refuse, don't expect the shopkeepers to lift a finger. The place will rot away, or at least, you’re not going to get any new stuff.

Oh, and if you wanna be a real hero, beautify the town with some decorations. Lamps, benches, whatever makes these slackers happy. I bet some of those sucks may even be inspired to help you. Not me though, obviously, I’ve got better things to do than follow around some mad newcomer with a bench fetish!

And when you get tired of that, well you might have heard mention of a free house here in town, but it’s more like a shed. You’re gonna want to fix it up. Decorate it, change the floors, paint the walls… Judging by the way you’re dressed I know I’m going to have fun watching you trying to work out interior design.[/h3]


This went just about as well as I thought it would. TERRIBLE.


[h3]Look, I’ve got more truth bombs to drop firmly onto your lap, ok, but I’ve also got places to be, people to avoid. I’ll come back next week if Anchor hasn’t locked me out and hit you with some more advice. Peace out. Or don’t.[/h3]


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