Finally, after 5 years, we made it - it’s launch day!!
Today, Falling Squirrel's award-winning, audio-only action-adventure game The Vale: Shadow of the Crown launches on PC (Steam, itch.io, and Epic Games) and Xbox One!
We have so many people to thank! The CNIB, Ontario Creates, Creative Bytes, Microsoft, Ubisoft, the community at audiogames.net, all of our testers and fans, our friends and family, and all of the talented developers, musicians, actors, designers, artists, and more who helped make The Vale possible! Thank you!
But that’s enough from me- go put on your headphones, grab a controller or keyboard, and play through a gaming experience that’s unlike anything you’ve played before!
Want to know more about The Vale: Shadow of the Crown - then read on!
Developed in close consultation with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), The Vale: Shadow of the Crown utilizes the latest in assistive technologies, including binaural audio and haptic controller feedback, to create an immersive experience and a thrilling action-adventure game. The team at Falling Squirrel is committed to their mandate to bring inclusive and accessible games to the mainstream — The Vale: Shadow of the Crown’s development features sincere and deliberate representation by employing visually impaired voice actors and developers.
“We’re thrilled to invite players to try out a unique and accessible take on the action-adventure genre,” said David Evans, Falling Squirrel Founder and Creative Director. “We hope that what we’ve learned during The Vale: Shadow of the Crown will prove that games in a variety of genres — from indie to AAA — can be made accessible to blind and low vision gamers so that they can enjoy the same exciting experiences as sighted players.” In celebration of The Vale: Shadow of the Crown's launch, Falling Squirrel has released a new gameplay trailer. Watch and listen below: [YouTube] https://uberstrategist.link/TheVale-Gameplay-YT [Download] https://uberstrategist.link/TheVale-Gameplay-DL
In The Vale: Shadow of the Crown, players embark on the emotional journey of the Second-to-the-Throne — blind from birth and recently exiled to the edges of the kingdom upon the coronation of their elder brother as King of the Land. Through the ears of the hero, players must embark on a treacherous journey as they explore the world around them, fight off enemies in challenging, interactive combat, hunt for resources, acquire gear, and lose themselves in a rich narrative supported by top-tier voice acting.
Key Features:
Accessible Gaming For All: Haptic controller feedback, binaural audio technology, and professional cinematic voice acting guides players through real-time combat, exploration, quests, and cut scenes, making this a gaming experience that is accessible to visually impaired and sighted players alike.
Diverse Soundscape Environments: The bustle of busy villages, the gentle rustling of leaves through the trees in the forests, the eerie echoes of the unknown in dank caves — full 3-dimensional sound surrounds players from all sides as they adventure in over 20 diverse locations ripe for exploration.
Immersive Medieval Combat: Players become engaged in the action in a way that is entirely refreshing as a diverse set of enemies attack with random and story-based encounters, boss battles, and more. Intuitive battle clamor guides players towards enemies as they attack and defend against their foes.
Meaningful RPG Elements: Presented with a choice of combat styles, players will guide their fully-voiced hero and build their potential as they unlock upgradable magic paths, loot enemies, hunt animals for valuable items, and visit shops to purchase weapons and armor — each with unique sounds and stats.
A Story for the Ages: With optional narrative paths including over 20 side quests and more than 70 audio cutscenes, players will uncover twists and surprises as they travel the land and speak with the many unique and fully voiced characters they encounter.
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is now available on Windows PC via Steam, Epic Games, and itch.io, and Xbox One for $19.99 USD. Players who wish to learn more may visit the official webpage: https://www.fallingsquirrel.com/the-vale.
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A full press kit with behind-the-scenes pictures, video gameplay samples, trailer, and logos is available here: https://uberstrategist.link/The_Vale_Press-Kit.