On 11 January 2018, Toge Productions published two experimental short stories by Mojiken Studio on Steam. Mojiken Studio itself is an independent game studio hailing from Surabaya, Indonesia, and responsible for titles such as Ultra Space Battle Brawl, She and the Light Bearer, and A Space for The Unbound.
Titled A Raven Monologue and Banyu Lintar Angin, the works of the studio that consist mostly of illustrators are available for free, with additional DLC that features behind-the-scenes process of creating the arts. Both A Raven Monologue and Banyu Lintar Angin were parts of #MojikenCamp2, an internal upgrade program by Mojiken Studio to experiment with how to tell stories or to communicate an experience using a constrained work of interactive art. The theme of the project is “Unspoken Language,” as the project limits the developers not only on how to work with the small scope but also, on how to tell the stories without any verbal means.
A Raven Monologue itself is a silent short story about a raven that does not know how to croak and his relationship with the people in the town. You will control The Raven walking across the small town and seeing his surreal encounters with the townsfolk. The journey is also accompanied by music from Indonesian indie singer, Christabel Annora. The combination of the artwork, music, and a story with a very open interpretation will surely bring an unforgettable short experience for the players.
While A Raven Monologue tells a surreal fantasy story, Banyu Lintar Angin takes totally different approach and presents daily life in a common rural town of Indonesia. It follows the lives of Banyu, Lintar, and Angin, three siblings that live without their parents around. The story is presented by dozens of beautifully hand-drawn pictures that show a life that feels familiar for Indonesians and presents the country as well as its unique culture to others.
Both stories feature:
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Beautifully hand-drawn artworks that present the silent story in an open-to-interpretation way.
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Songs that enhance the experience of enjoying the stories
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And everything is available for free!
A Raven Monologue, Banyu Lintar Angin, and their DLCs are available on Steam.