Davy Jones Deckhand News

[p]We'll be broadcasting all week to celebrate being part of Forsty Mini 2025![/p][p][/p][h2]Watch the stream here.[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Creators included:[/p]

• [p]The Geek Cupboard: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p] [/p]
• [p]TalaVT : [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]
• [p]Deep Space Matt: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[h3]Ahoy mateys, welcome Below Deck![/h3][p][/p][p]It’s been a while since I shared a behind the scenes interview with a member of the Cass Bay Games team, so I’m excited to introduce you to Ewan Clark. Ewan is an incredibly gifted music composer, and I’ve been itching to work with him again since he scored two of my short films a decade ago.[/p][p][/p][p]I’ll also give some behind the scenes insights into our growing sound team.[/p][p][/p][p]Yours piratically,[/p][p]Ben[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]
At Cass Bay Games, we’re very lucky to be working with Wellington-based, award-winning composer and orchestrator, Dr Ewan Clark. Ewan specialises in music for film and television, and is now making his debut in games with the exciting, adventurous score for Davy Jones’ Deckhand. He holds an MMus from the Royal College of Music and a PhD from the New Zealand School of Music.[/p][p][/p][p]We’ve asked Ewan a few questions for this edition of Below Deck, and hope you enjoy this short interview![/p][p]

[/p][h3]What is some of the work you’re most proud of?[/h3][p]My score for the indie feature The Turn of the Screw won awards at the Istanbul Film Awards and Terror in the Bay Film Festival, and was a finalist for the 2021 APRA Best Music in Film award. I’m also proud to have scored projects including TVNZ1’s Doubt: The Scott Watson Case and shorts including the acclaimed The World in Your Window and Shmeat.[/p][p]
As an orchestrator, I’ve worked on feature films The Inventor, One Thousand Ropes, and Beyond the Edge.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]What’s your ideal environment for doing your best work?[/h3][p]I love working with collaborators that value music’s role in their project, enjoy what I bring to the table, and have a clear vision for what they want.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]What is on your musical bucket list?[/h3][p]I’d love to compose for any moderate to high budget film, TV, or game projects, but have a particular ambition to score things in the action/adventure genre.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]What drew you to Davy Jones’ Deckhand?[/h3][p]I had a very positive experience in 2013-2014 working with Ben Childs on the short films Birdsong and Space Trash Men. So when Ben approached me about working on DJD, it was the perfect opportunity to cut my teeth in the game music space, but with a known collaborator. I’ve been thinking for a while that it would be good to diversify and add game music to my skill set. I also love that DJD calls for an orchestral action/adventure score.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]What’s been your favourite part of working on Davy Jones’ Deckhand so far?[/h3][p]I’ve really enjoyed the aspects that are unique to composing for games, namely the use of adaptive music. It’s been fun to figure out how the music might adapt naturally depending on gameplay factors such as the player’s level of health or which characters they are fighting.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]Finally, what’s some advice you have for aspiring music composers?[/h3][p]My advice is to build a rich, varied musical life. The young musicians who go on to thrive as versatile composers are usually the ones who’ve spent years doing a range of things like playing in ensembles, singing in choirs, writing notated music and hearing it performed, producing music in a DAW at the forefront of music technology, listening widely, and engaging seriously with theory and orchestration studies. Those diverse experiences create the foundation of a flexible, well-rounded composer. So identify any gaps in your skills or musical experiences and fill them steadily, in line with your goals, and never lose sight of your love for music and the media you want to write for.[/p][p]
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[/p][p]You can learn more about Ewan and listen to his work on his website.[/p][p]https://www.ewanclarkmusic.com/
[/p][hr][/hr][p]
We get lots of positive comments on the sound design in Davy Jones’ Deckhand, and there have been lots of people involved. Our first sound designer was Roco Moroi Thorne, a recent Masters graduate who had studied under Dr Ewan Clark. Ewan brought Roco on to help with the technical implementation of his dynamic music, but we ended up blown away by Roco’s keen instincts for all aspects of sound design. Sadly (for us, but not a surprise) Roco was scooped up by none other than Grinding Gear Games, one of New Zealand’s most successful studios, to work on their Path of Exile series.[/p][p]
Following in Roco’s footsteps, the studio has now welcomed two more of Ewan’s students, Erin Thomas-Riley and Sarah Paton Taylor. For the past six months Erin has been doing a fantastic job, and we’re excited to start working with Sarah as the newest addition to the evolving sound team.[/p][p]
We’ve also had some voice artists lending their talents to the game: Benjamin Pilbrow, Caitlin Thomas-Riley, and Sam Polwart.
[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]
Tepene Marsden-Boyd has stepped down from the Cass Bay games team due to clashing family circumstances.[/p][p]
Tepene has had a huge impact on the game and studio, not only for his beautiful artwork, but he has also been a dedicated, smart business partner, and joined Ben on two massive trips this year promoting Davy Jones' Deckhand in both Germany and Australia. Thanks Tep for your passion, skill and hard work. [/p][p]
We're going to miss having you on the team!
[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p][/p][p]We have shifted into development of DJD’s secondary game-loop. Here’s a very early sneak peek at some of the work-in-progress systems. We’ve started implementing point-and-click style navigation and a new dialogue system for conversations with NPCs.[/p][p]
When you finish a roguelike voyage, you’ll be able to disembark at your current port, peruse the town, take on side-quests, purchase new artefacts, find secrets, and upgrade your weapons. This won’t ruin the true roguelike experience though, as any artefacts you collect will still be limited by the cargo system that only allows you to bring a few select buffs along at the start of new voyages. The meta progression is intended to give you new ways to play, not to dramatically reduce the difficulty of the runs.[/p][p]
Watch this short pre-alpha gameplay clip.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]
Don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam, blackmail your friends and family to do the same, and help us market our pirate game![/p][p]
If you'd like more regular updates and to chat with the team then please join our public Discord server, we'd love to have you join our growing community. You can also follow us on social media at the links below.
[/p][h3]Wishlist now: [/h3][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]
Discord invite: [/h3][p]https://t.co/sBqCnmZi9T[/p][p] [/p][h3]Previous editions of 'Below Deck'[/h3][p]can be found on our Itch Devlog.[/p][p] [/p][h3]Playtester sign ups:[/h3][p]Fill out this form to access the playtest [/p][p]
Until next time me hearties, yo ho![/p][p]
[/p][p]

[/p]

[p]Ahoy mateys, welcome Below Deck![/p][p]
One year ago we started the Below Deck newsletter, alongside the official start of production. Time has flown by and Davy Jones’ Deckhand has come a long way in a year. Check out this before and after comparison.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]It has been a wild, epic adventure so far. In a year we’ve taken an idea and built it into an extremely fun demo that has been played by nearly 100 players, with an impressive median playtime of over 2 hours, we’ve travelled to Germany to pitch at Gamescom, and now just returned from PAX, Australia’s largest gaming event. We haven’t had a lot of time to stop and reflect or celebrate, but it’s been a very successful year! The team at Cass Bay Games are so grateful to everyone who has followed our newsletter, joined our playtests, and been cheering us on.
[/p][p]In this edition of Below Deck I’m going to share about our PAX Australia exploits and give you a sneaky little insight into what’s next for the game.
[/p][p]Yours piratically,[/p][p]Ben[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]The pirate and the crab[/h2][p][/p][p]As an unknown studio with an unknown game, Tepene and I knew we’d have to get creative to make the most out of our time in Australia. Our mantra was ‘commit to the bit’, and we certainly turned a few heads with our costumes and booth design. Tepene once again brought an exceptional eye for detail to give players an immersive sense of stepping into the swashbuckling world of the game. We had an exhausting, exhilarating time sharing our game with media and players, many of whom really clicked with what we were doing and absolutely loved our unique take on card combat at sea![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Booty![/h2][p]
We came well stocked with extra special VIP packs (recipients were horrified to discover their very own black spot inside), 5kgs of chocolate coins, and coloring-in-sheets![/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][h2]Articles and media about Davy Jones’ Deckhand[/h2][p][/p][p]While promoting the game at PAX we also had our first opportunity to talk to gaming media outlets about Davy Jones’ Deckhand. Check out this selection of articles that have been released so far.
[/p][p]Checkpoint Gaming Highlight “Davy Jones’ Deckhand uses a simple yet fascinating two-stance system that utilises parries as its main driving force.”[/p][p][/p][p]Kelly Byrne, DezDoes.com Top 5 Indies of PAX
"This one surprised me. I’m not always into deck builders, but the combat here feels sharp and rewarding. Pulling off a perfect parry and chaining counter-attacks is ridiculously satisfying. The art style pops, the UI is clean, and the fonts are easy to read, small detail, but it matters when you’re juggling cards mid-battle. It’s approachable too; you don’t need to be a card game veteran to enjoy it. I found myself thinking, “Just one more run,” which is always a good sign. One of my favourite indie at PAX, and honestly, it deserves way more attention."[/p][p][/p][p]Explosion Network Preview “The card-game genre can feel over-saturated at the moment and a bit harder to stand out in, which is why I was so pleased with Davy Jones’ Deckhand, which had me locked in as I did battle on the deck.”[/p][p][/p][p]Indieformer PAX Aus 2025 Indie Picks[/p][p]“A deckbuilder where defense isn’t optional - it’s everything.”[/p][p][/p][p]Hooked Gamers Highlight
"With a narrative, mechanical and artistic design dripping over from the likes of Monkey Island, Captain Pugwash and Muppet Treasure Island; Davy Jones' Deckhand has you engaging in a deckbuilding swashbuckling adventure to duel pirates, knaves and ne'er-do-wells in counter-based combat."[/p][p][/p][p]And finally, here’s a short video we made ourselves for a laugh at PAX:[/p][p]
[/p][h2]
Charting our next course[/h2][p]
It’s actually quite an exciting time at Cass Bay Games. We’ve officially started to transition into the second phase of development, which means moving away from the core combat loop that has been the focus of the past year, and onto the outer loop of the game that includes exploration, narrative and progression. While we’re proud of our unique combat mechanics, it’s this second phase that is going to bring genre-bending elements to our game that deckbuilder fans and adventure fans alike will be very excited about. We may be a little slower on the playtest updates front, but we’re working hard behind the scenes and can’t wait to share the next evolution of Davy Jones’ Deckhand with you when the time is right. Here’s a little sneak peek…[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]
Don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam, blackmail your friends and family to do the same, and help us market our pirate game![/p][p][/p][p]If you'd like more regular updates and to chat with the team then please join our public Discord server, we'd love to have you join our growing community. You can also follow us on social media at the links below.
[/p][h2]Wishlist now: [/h2][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]
Discord invite: [/h3][p]https://t.co/sBqCnmZi9T[/p][p] [/p][h3]Previous editions of 'Below Deck'[/h3][p]can be found on our Itch Devlog.[/p][p] [/p][h2]Playtester sign ups:[/h2][p]Fill out this form to access the playtest [/p][p]
Until next time me hearties, yo ho![/p][p]
[/p]

[p]We'll be broadcasting all week to celebrate being part of PAX Australia![/p][p][/p][h2]This broadcast has now finished.[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Creators included:[/p]

• [p]The Geek Cupboard: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeekCupboard[/p][p] [/p]
• [p]TalaVT : [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]
• [p]Deep Space Matt: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Ahoy mateys, welcome Below Deck!
[/p][p]Things are cooling off from Gamescom in Germany, and heating up for PAX! We’re just a few weeks away from our second business trip of the year, this time to Melbourne, Australia. Tep and I are rather relieved it's just “across the ditch” and not another epic 30 hour journey this time.[/p][p][/p][p]We are approaching the end of our CODE KickStart funded phase of development and now looking ahead to what’s next. Securing more investment is high on our list of priorities, but before that we’ll be aiming to make a great impression at PAX and promote our upcoming Steam demo. We’ve worked very hard over the past year and it’s time to share our efforts wider. There is no exact date set for the demo yet, but keep your eyes on our socials and upcoming newsletters for more info.
[/p][p]Yours piratically,[/p][p]Ben[/p][p][/p][h2]Exclusive look at our upcoming PAX booth (Spoiler alert!)[/h2][p][/p][p]Look at this epic booth design… 👀[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This is what to look out for if you happen to be in Melbourne and want to find us. Keep your eyes peeled for a pirate and a crab 😉[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Polishing our demo[/h2][p][/p][p]Thanks to our amazing playtesting community (join them here), we’re constantly refining our demo of Davy Jones’ Deckhand. It’s starting to feel really great, and we’re enjoying adding some extra layers of polish to the current gameplay loop before we expand the game with a new set of features.[/p][p][/p][p]This polish pass consists of things like bug fixing, balancing improvements, richer sound and music design, and lovely little touches like these dolphins that Tepene recently animated. We also plan on a few more quality of life improvements, and details such as bespoke artwork on all curse cards.[/p][p]
(Keep your eyes peeled for DOLPHINS! Beautifully hand-animated by Tepene.)[/p][p][/p][h2]🥝 Games Made in NZ - Steam event! 🥝[/h2][p][/p][p]Did you know there is an annual Steam frontpage take-over by little old Aotearoa, New Zealand? Well now you do! It starts tomorrow. Our game will be featured in the upcoming games and strategy sections. Make sure you jump onto the page and check out some awesome Kiwi-made games. You might be surprised to learn what games are actually coming to you from New Zealand.

Check out the games here.[/p][p]
Also, just for fun, we’ll be broadcasting our favourite Davy Jones’ Deckhand gameplay streams and videos on our Steam page for the duration of the event.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Celebrating the amazing work of Nik Scarr[/h2][p][/p][p]We’ve been working with Nik for almost a year and wanted to take a moment to appreciate the outrageous suite of characters he has created for the game so far! (Tom is screwed.)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam, blackmail your friends and family to do the same, and help us market our pirate game![/p][p]
If you'd like more regular updates and to chat with the team then please join our public Discord server, we'd love to have you join our growing community. You can also follow us on social media at the links below.
[/p][h3]Wishlist now: [/h3][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Discord invite: [/h3][p]https://t.co/sBqCnmZi9T[/p][p][/p][h3]Previous editions of 'Below Deck':[/h3][p]Can be found on our Itch Devlog.[/p][p][/p][h3]Playtester sign ups:[/h3][p]Fill out this form to access the playtest [/p][p]
Until next time me hearties, yo ho![/p][p][/p][p][/p]