Archive for December, 2017

Relaxed mode added to Shadowhand

Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

We are happy to announce that there are now even more ways to enjoy Shadowhand. The latest update to the game now includes a Relaxed mode, alongside the Normal and Very Hard options.

Even if you have already started playing, you can enable Relaxed mode via the Select Chapter screen:

Why choose relaxed mode? Enemies are easier, you earn more gold, and you can skip duels if you lose.

Shadowhand is available on Steam, GOG, The Humble Store and direct from the publisher, Positech Games.

Shadowhand dev diary #31: Looking back

Wednesday, December 6th, 2017

We announced Shadowhand in September, 2015 and rapidly put together a demo to try out on the public at EGX.

The concept was something of a prequel to Regency Solitaire, featuring one of the older characters from this Regency Romance in her wild youth, 40 years earlier.

While I was getting immersed in the history of the 1770s, with masquerade balls, highwaymen, smugglers and tricorns, Jake devised a novel game mechanic: turn-based combat driven by solitaire rather than dice rolls. As far as we could tell, this was the first time this had ever been done.

Testing the concept
Positech Games arranged for us to exhibit Shadowhand at EGX in Birmingham. So we spent four days cosplaying as highway robbers and demoing our game.

It was an exhausting time but the super-positive reception we got from players and press gave us confidence that we were on the right track with the game.


Photo credit: Jason Alan Dewey

We were hoping that Shadowhand would take maybe 12-18 months, but in the end we have spent over two years developing the game. Some of the extra time had to do with fine-tuning art and adding a lot of content, such as a multitude of enemies, items and collectible cards.

But the other factor that has taken longer was building and balancing a turn-based RPG. This is very complicated! There is a huge amount going on behind the scenes and we really wanted to get this right and provide a good level of challenge, choice and strategy to the highwaywoman experience.

The final weeks in the run up to launch have been exhausting as we have been working around the clock to make sure everything is ready.

Now we are finally at the finish line with launch day tomorrow – December 7th. We are really proud of what we have accomplished and are already getting great feedback on the game from those who have tried it.

It really is time to stand and deliver!

Shadowhand released on Steam

Wednesday, December 6th, 2017

Stand and deliver!

Positech Games (publisher) and Grey Alien Games (developer) are excited to announce the Steam release of SHADOWHAND, the new indie card-battling adventure game set in 18th Century England.

Shadowhand is available for Windows and OSX today, 7th December 2017, priced $14.99 (With a one week launch discount of 10%).

We follow the story of Lady Cornelia Darkmoor, a beguiling young aristocrat who masquerades as the notorious highwaywoman, Shadowhand. Fleeing a crime scene and forced to act under the cover of darkness, Shadowhand’s mission to safeguard a woman she holds dear leads to a web of corruption, smuggling and blackmail.

The developer Grey Alien Games is also the developer of the PC game ‘Regency Solitaire’ (Currently on Steam). Publisher Positech Games has previously released the Gratuitous Space Battles & Democracy games and currently has ‘Production Line’ in Early Access.

For more information contact Cliff Harris at Positech Games ([email protected]). A full press kit is available for download from the Shadowhand website at:
www.shadowhandgame.com

A full copy of the trailer can be grabbed from the Positech website here:
http://www.positech.co.uk/shadowhand/media/ShadowHand_1080p_STEAM.mp4

Or found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tKWGHhfkjK0