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Wales in Games
Приєднався 28 сер 2024
Documenting video games referencing the country of Wales.
Interview with Toward Dawn Developer Gina Markey (Wales in Games)
Wales in Games' Aaron spoke to Gina Markey about her Welsh mythology inspired indie game Toward Dawn.
(Interview recorded December 2024, published January 2025)
Also known by her online and developer name Devi Serene, Gina has been working solo on Toward Dawn since March 2024, with a planned release date of April 2025.
Toward Dawn tells the story of Carys and Bleddyn, focusing on recovery after traumatic events, and draws inspiration from mythical Welsh stories, the Welsh language and Welsh history, and incorporates many other references to Wales throughout this fantasy turn-based role-playing game.
Purchase and wishlist Toward Dawn now:
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/Toward_Dawn/
Itch.io: deviserene.itch.io/toward-dawn
Follow Gina at the following locations:
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/deviserene.bsky.social
X/Twitter: x.com/DeviSerene
UA-cam: www.youtube.com/@DeviSerene
A huge diolch to Gina for taking the time to chat about Toward Dawn! Good luck with the game!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:11 Steam Next Fest progress
00:53 Gina's background
01:53 Favourite games and memories
03:10 Creating software projects
04:43 Game programming at Bournemouth University
06:00 Hired at Frontier Developments
07:16 Leaving to work on Toward Dawn
08:04 What is Toward Dawn?
08:52 How long has Gina worked on Toward Dawn?
09:24 How much support do solo developers get?
10:53 The worries of a solo developer
11:32 Gina's passion to create Toward Dawn
13:18 Toward Dawn's Welsh origins
18:50 Battle system inspirations
22:45 Using art assets
24:43 Balancing the difficulty
31:35 Playable characters in Toward Dawn
36:38 Welsh story influences on Carys and Bleddyn
38:40 Welsh representation in video games
40:27 Incorporating Wales, Welsh language and Welsh culture
46:42 Release date of Toward Dawn demo and final game
49:06 Welsh stories Gina would like to see in games
50:50 Gina's ideas for future video games
54:00 Gina's social media pages and Toward Dawn game links
54:34 Diolch!
55:56 Toward Dawn trailer
Follow #WalesInGames at the following locations for more Welsh references in video games:
Official website: www.walesingames.com/
Discord: discord.gg/6QVb9Mz2rp
UA-cam: www.youtube.com/@walesingames
Instagram: WalesInGames
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@walesingames
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/walesingames
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/walesingames.com
X/Twitter: x.com/WalesInGames
Facebook: profile.php?id=61565724639446
Threads: www.threads.net/@walesingames
You can show your support with a small donation, getting early access to videos, shoutouts, suggestions for the videos I make next, and more, here:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/WalesInGames
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/walesingames
Wales in Games is dedicated to documenting #Welsh representation in #videogames, however big or small the references. This includes highlighting games that take place in #Cymru (#Wales); are inspired by Welsh mythology; use #Cymraeg, the Welsh language; feature Welsh characters and actors; are developed by Welsh developers; and more.
Diolch yn fawr to everyone that supports me in this huge project!
#Wales #Cymru #Welsh #Cymraeg #WelshReferences #WelshReference #TowardDawn #DeviSerene #Gwyllgi #WelshStory #WelshRPG #WelshInspired #RPG #RolePlayingGame #PixelRPG #PixelArt #FantasyRPG #FantasyAdventure #WelshFantasy #WelshGame #SoloDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
(Interview recorded December 2024, published January 2025)
Also known by her online and developer name Devi Serene, Gina has been working solo on Toward Dawn since March 2024, with a planned release date of April 2025.
Toward Dawn tells the story of Carys and Bleddyn, focusing on recovery after traumatic events, and draws inspiration from mythical Welsh stories, the Welsh language and Welsh history, and incorporates many other references to Wales throughout this fantasy turn-based role-playing game.
Purchase and wishlist Toward Dawn now:
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/Toward_Dawn/
Itch.io: deviserene.itch.io/toward-dawn
Follow Gina at the following locations:
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/deviserene.bsky.social
X/Twitter: x.com/DeviSerene
UA-cam: www.youtube.com/@DeviSerene
A huge diolch to Gina for taking the time to chat about Toward Dawn! Good luck with the game!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:11 Steam Next Fest progress
00:53 Gina's background
01:53 Favourite games and memories
03:10 Creating software projects
04:43 Game programming at Bournemouth University
06:00 Hired at Frontier Developments
07:16 Leaving to work on Toward Dawn
08:04 What is Toward Dawn?
08:52 How long has Gina worked on Toward Dawn?
09:24 How much support do solo developers get?
10:53 The worries of a solo developer
11:32 Gina's passion to create Toward Dawn
13:18 Toward Dawn's Welsh origins
18:50 Battle system inspirations
22:45 Using art assets
24:43 Balancing the difficulty
31:35 Playable characters in Toward Dawn
36:38 Welsh story influences on Carys and Bleddyn
38:40 Welsh representation in video games
40:27 Incorporating Wales, Welsh language and Welsh culture
46:42 Release date of Toward Dawn demo and final game
49:06 Welsh stories Gina would like to see in games
50:50 Gina's ideas for future video games
54:00 Gina's social media pages and Toward Dawn game links
54:34 Diolch!
55:56 Toward Dawn trailer
Follow #WalesInGames at the following locations for more Welsh references in video games:
Official website: www.walesingames.com/
Discord: discord.gg/6QVb9Mz2rp
UA-cam: www.youtube.com/@walesingames
Instagram: WalesInGames
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@walesingames
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/walesingames
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/walesingames.com
X/Twitter: x.com/WalesInGames
Facebook: profile.php?id=61565724639446
Threads: www.threads.net/@walesingames
You can show your support with a small donation, getting early access to videos, shoutouts, suggestions for the videos I make next, and more, here:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/WalesInGames
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/walesingames
Wales in Games is dedicated to documenting #Welsh representation in #videogames, however big or small the references. This includes highlighting games that take place in #Cymru (#Wales); are inspired by Welsh mythology; use #Cymraeg, the Welsh language; feature Welsh characters and actors; are developed by Welsh developers; and more.
Diolch yn fawr to everyone that supports me in this huge project!
#Wales #Cymru #Welsh #Cymraeg #WelshReferences #WelshReference #TowardDawn #DeviSerene #Gwyllgi #WelshStory #WelshRPG #WelshInspired #RPG #RolePlayingGame #PixelRPG #PixelArt #FantasyRPG #FantasyAdventure #WelshFantasy #WelshGame #SoloDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
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Відео
Interview with Welsh Voice Actor Tobias Weatherburn (Wales in Games)
Переглядів 2472 місяці тому
Wales in Games' Aaron chats to #Welsh voice actor Tobias Weatherburn about his voice acting work, coming back to live and work in #Wales, Welsh representation in video games, the Welsh stories he would love to see in games, and a whole lot more. Tobias is known for his video game acting roles such as Vespasius in #Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2; Enoe, Forreger and more in Eiyuden Chronicle: H...
To take that leap from working for a company to focusing on your own game is so inspiring. I relate to so much of this as an artist and a lot of their points hit me in different ways. I like how realistic Gina is with understanding not all solo devs game sell (but I promise you I am buying this game!! And I know I’m not the only one!). When she talked about using the assets felt like cheating or that she was failing, I felt that in my soul. Like when I use a brush I bought for fabric material instead of doing it myself. BUUUUUT it’s a tool to help. We are one person! I cannot wait to see this game when it’s out! Also PLEASE PLEASE I need husband killer simulator. Burst out laughing 😂
There are so many relatable points here! The key takeaway is to try. Create the thing you want to see!
😂 I would also play that game!
Very exciting interview, thank you both, and I hope Gina's next game is "Husband Killer Simulator" 😂. That made me laugh. Toward Dawn looks really amazing and I will definitely be playing it.
I honestly didn't expect it when Gina said that! Straight out of nowhere! Really made me laugh too! At least she has a new game idea for after Toward Dawn :D
Diolch yn fawr! I greatly appreciate talking to you, and being able to share my love for Wales, mythology and games!
It was such a pleasure! I really can't wait to play Toward Dawn fully! Pob lwc! Diolch yn fawr!
Very interesting to see that this game is set in some of the most stunning areas in North Wales! And besides that, the characters in this game have also been given beautiful Welsh names!
Snowdonia is still a place I want to visit! Great video!
It will happen! Diolch!
That's really cool! Beddgelert is one of the places I want to visit too!
You'll make it happen!
It would make sense, since the Drakengard/Nier games take place on an alternate Earth, so language and naming conventions wouldn't be too different. As for the upside down map, since North and South are subjective, maybe that version of Earth chose the opposite, hence their maps appear upside down to ours.
How are north and south subjective
@@Quinlax There is no up or down in space, meaning there is no top or bottom to the planet. The reason North is the top and our maps are oriented the way they are are due to a couple of things. First is that the majority of the world's population live in the Northern Hemisphere, so when they were first making maps they would logically draw them right side up from their perspective making the Artic the top of the world. Combine that with the influence and authority that Europe had as they disseminated it across the world, it became the accepted standard when making maps. So my suggestion for why the Drakengard map was upside down was that perhaps the people of that alternate dimension's Earth had for whatever reason chosen the Antarctic to be the top of the world, meaning the maps should be an exact replicas of one another, other than one being upside down.
Interesting way to make a map: flip the original upside down
@@pixelzomblina Yeah, the Drakengard and Nier series (which are both linked) take place in an alternate reality where history took a huge divergence, featuring dragons and magic. The map being flipped is quite an interesting way to indicate the alternate reality!
I didn’t expect the part of the water leaper tackling the character 😂
Those kids should be proud of their dad singing on this game! Brilliant!
Wow this is hilarious and awesome.
Thank you for the support our The Land Beneath Us. Hope you like the game
Yes! I was surprised by all of the Welsh mythology references, but I love that the game takes inspiration from it!
Rock 'n Roooooll!
Interesting video! Just wanted to stop by and send some support your way! Great to see you have your first longform video now :)
Thank you! I appreciate that very much!
What an opening! 😂
For the Emperor!
Loved this!!
@@pixelzomblina Diolch! Here’s to more Welsh actor roles next year!
Thats amazing lol, I saw this trailer as a kid and never realised its in Welsh Always assumed it was Latin or something
I like the idea of them just deciding “yeah we can build a race track here.”
Yeah, not only is a dodgy energy plant there in the distant future, but a racetrack inside the plant too!
To be honest I love the accent. I don’t know why but I just feel attracted to it.
Soothing accents!
I heard these voices and felt joy. They sound like my neighbours.
I'm sure you'd find Welsh actors throughout all the Souls Bourne games. From Demon Souls, Dark Souls 1-3, and Bloodbourne. Despite those games all being developed in Japan, they typically only have English voice tracks and feature actors from the UK.
Definitely! There is still more to unpack with Elden Ring, so a second vid will be coming eventually, but for sure the other games you mentioned are also on the list.
Never woulda guessed anything Welsh would exist in this game but this channel continues to surprise me
Diolch yn fawr! Glad to know you’re learning some cool facts!
So interesting, I never would have known about this otherwise. I definitely will need to hear the full song now! ^^
@@DeviSerene A good piece of Welsh gaming history! It’s short but worth a listen!
Back when games where awesome and we waited till midnight to get
@@liljhomicidel69 The good old days!
First: AMAZING interview and video! Would love to see more long form content from you! Secondly: I would love a fighting game with a Welsh character! We need that!! Also I need to see faeries marching into battle with corgis please. Honestly, I loved this interview and the topics discussed such as “what is a Welsh accent?” So many good points here. Thank you!
Thank you!! I'm so surprised at the lack of a Welsh fighting game character! It needs to happen! And the potential for faeries on corgis is huge haha. I really enjoyed the topics we discussed, and it was refreshing to hear another Welsh person's similar feelings regarding Welsh accents.
Not even a single videogame whale was mentioned. Complete waste of time.
The Endless Ocean games are that way -->
Fun fact: The -wydd at the end of Sandwydd, Cindwydd and Mindwydd, means tree or fruit baring bush: gwinwydd (grape vine), olewydd (olive tree), castanwydd (chestnut tree), palfwydd (palm tree). Could also mean Knowledge.
Diolch! I almost went ahead with what the -wydd could mean here, but opted not to just because I wasn’t 100% sure what they intended. Sounds likely it was in reference to trees though, given these guys’ brutish size!
This is a very interesting and knowledgeable interview. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and learning about Welsh references. Da iawn!
Diolch yn fawr! 😄
Gwych! Looking forward to more of this long-form content Cymreig!
Diolch! Much appreciated! 😃
Absolutely wonderful interview, can't wait to see more of these! 😊
Thank you so much! Now I have to do more!😄
As a welsh/filipino i'm proud that my half nationality had been recognized in one of the best games ever hir fyw cymru!
It’s definitely a great game, and it’s made that much better because of the Welsh pirates! Hopefully there are more Welsh characters to come in future big games!
@walesingames Yeah i just googled about where do pirates come from and some of them are mostly welsh people
Yes, there is a large history of Welsh pirates. Some of the most famous ones were Welsh!
@@walesingames Like bortholomew roberts my favorite
@ Ooh yeah, I have another video here about the other Welsh pirates in this game too!
Im surprised at the amount of welsh references in this game already!
Me too! There are many more across the rest of the series too!
The Shin Megami Tensei have the player character controlling demons which are mythological figures from all over the world. Not too sure which figures are Welsh in origin, but something to check out.
This is a brilliant shout! Already had a look and found a bunch of Welsh mythological creatures! Diolch!
Kelpie maybe? Does that originate from the Welsh mythology? Anyhow, it is a creature that appears a lot in Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games. Also there is a character named Morgana in the Persona 5
Kelpie comes from Scottish mythology, but there are definitely a few Welsh ones in SMT games for sure that I’ll have fun exploring! Morgana certainly will be referenced too!
Cool background on this one!
Diolch yn fawr!
Cool!
What a throwback game!
Welsh names are so beautiful to pronounce! It’s nice to see some referenced in certain games :)
They also made a round based zombie shooter called Sker Ritual
Better use of funding than Dustborn.
played it. the premise is good and if you pay attention to the story it's not bad. unfortunately the gameplay is pretty lackluster and every gimmick the game had is only employed for a little while
They’re beautiful hymns, so it must be enchanting hearing them in the background whilst playing this game.
This is all very interesting ✨
I remember hearing about this game! Didn’t realize it was so heavily welsh inspired.
It was really cool to hear the Welsh hymns in the game!