Downstream Games

@downstreamgames

We're an indie studio developing Masque: A Trickster Tale, a story-rich adventure game about a child lost in the realm of tricksters. Follow for more! 💛 🌐

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Bluesky

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Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 3d

4. Finally, we put it in-engine and see what it looks like! #GameDev #PixelArt #ScreenshotSaturday

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 3d

Today we wanted to share our foliage process! 🌳🎨 1. Block out the basic shapes and colors. 2. Add more shades and start to define details. 3. Add shading, an outline, and contextual details, like grass. #GameDev #PixelArt #ScreenshotSaturday

ALT TEXT: Two-tone pixel art of a tree. The shape is rounded at the top, and one dark teal and brown tone are used to define the leaves and trunk, respectively.

ALT TEXT: Additional shading has been added to the tree to define individual bushes of leaves and the direction of the light source.

ALT TEXT: Finer details have ben added to the bark and leaf clusters to imply texture and volume.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 4d

After a vacation-induced break, it's time for the 3rd devlog for Masque: A Trickster Tale! This week, we're featuring two of our talented artists: @pandattack.bsky.social and @ovelhart.bsky.social! downstreamgames.com#devlog #gamedev #indiedev #devlog

A poster for Masque: A Trickster Tale. The poster announces the third developer log, or devlog, for the game. The title is "Artist Showcase: Pandattack and Ovelha" The body says "Check out art from the artists for the overworld, Pandattack and Ovelha!" Kid, a Victorian-era child, stands to the left of the text wearing a red cloak, held together with a clasp, wearing Masque. Both characters are smiling.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 6d

Your lantern does more than just protect you from thick fog and poisonous spores. It can also be used to burn poisonous mushrooms blocking your path! 🔥 #indiegame #gamedev #pixelart

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 11d

With the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we thought now would be a good time to drop in on the original spider man: Anansi 🕷️📖 In Masque: A Trickster Tale, Anansi is a member of the Campfire Crew, trickster deities that help Kid and Masque at the start of their journey! #GameDev #IndieGame

A character spotlight for Anansi from Masque: A Trickster Tale. He is depicted as a black man with four arms, smiling broadly with his hair styled in long braids and a high bun. He wears a green and red patterned sash across his chest, a necklace made of large teeth, and a yellow and orange geometric belt around his waist. The body text reads, "Anansi is the spider trickster god of stories to the Akan people, including the Ashanti people of Ghana. In Masque: A Trickster Tale, he’ll give you a journal to track your progress!" The post advertises the DownstreamGames account on Bluesky, Tumblr, YouTube, and TikTok.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 13d

When you have a lantern that runs on hellfire, you can use it to light other things on fire. Ignite torches around the forest to guide your path (and maybe reveal a secret or two!) #indiegame #gamedev #rpg

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 17d

Early on in the project, our director knew that he wanted cool lighting and shadow effects for more interesting level design, which is why he decided to switch engines. We think we're making good progress towards achieving those goals! #gamedev #indiegamedev #ScreenshotSaturday

A screenshot from an early prototype build of Masque: A Trickster Tale. I shows a dark forest with periodic, non-diegetic light sources, meaning the light is lighting the scene but isn't visible itself.

An updated prototype for Masque: A Trickster Tale. It has dynamic lighting and shadows. A cylinder in the middle of the screen representing the player character displays the word Fly, which denotes the state of the character.

An updated version of Masque: A Trickster Tale. It includes updated art, including a Kid, Coyote, a campfire, torches, fog, dynamic lighting and shadows, and more. Kid is holding Masque, who's shapeshifted into a lantern.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 20d

It's scary when the light is running low, and the shadows start to grow, but that's what lanterns are for! Plus, with a lantern that runs on hellfire, you can easily make it though the fog of the Trickster Realm 🔥 #indiegame #animation #rpg

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 24d

Last week we shared our Art Bible, which we use to collaborate and organize art assets. This week, we're sharing the Design Bible! Design Bibles are typically long, printed documents that plan out the entire design of the game, but ours is much more fluid and visual! #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

An overview of a Miro board for the Design Bible. An Index is placed prominently on the left-hand side. A large portion is blurred out in the center.

A screenshot of the Narrative Design section of the board. Most of the contents are too zoomed out to discern, but there is a color-coded timeline at the bottom that lays out the game's plot.

The encounters section of the design bible, prominently featuring the Encounter System, Turn Structure, and Kid Actions subsections, although once again the details are deliberately too small to discern. There are several pictures, though, in the Kid Actions subsection, which are diagrams of what Kid's actions during encounters are meant to look like.

A level diagram of the demo level. It features a crude layout of the level with symbols, numbers, and a legend on the side detailing what each number means. Parts of the legend are redacted with big, black bars. The legend reads:
1. Talk to [redacted] to get the quest.
2. Chest is on the other side of the river. Stepping near the river without the [redacted] prompts [redacted] to mention it the next time you talk to him. A will-o-the-wisp guides you through the fog, but if you don't stick close then [redacted].
3. Alux random encounter.
4. Fog here is one-way.
5. Buy the key to the gate leading south from [redacted].
6. Unlock the gate with [redacted] key.
7. Trigger starts dialogue with opponent, then encounter, then getting the [redacted].
Shortcut back out.
9. Talking to [redacted] grants player [redacted], unlocking [redacted].
10. Player can get this chest now.
11. Torch causes fog to clear and moves brambles.
12. Fog requires [redacted] to move through it, otherwise it takes you back.
13. Player [redacted] revealing a torch from the river which allows them to [redacted]. Player gets a key from [redacted] in the cabin.
14. Player [redacted].

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· 27d

They have many names: feu follet in France, guǐ huǒ in China, andaru in Indonesia, devil's lantern in the Deep South. In many English speaking countries they're known as will-o-the-wisps, and in the trickster forest, they'll actually guide travelers through the deep fog 🔥 #indiedev #indiegame

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 11

Here's a look behind-the-scenes at a tool we use to organize our art: The Art Bible! 🎨 This is a huuuge board split up by References, the Style Guide, Characters, Environment, and UI. We can't show off too much, but hopefully the scale comes across! #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

A zoomed out picture of the Art Bible Miro Board. It shows an Index on the left, and various text, image, and note assets at a very zoomed out scale.

The finished character assets section of the Art Bible. It shows four columns: Concept Art, Overworld Characters, Encounter Characters, and Portraits. The Concept Art section is full, while the others seem to be less full.

A zoomed-on but blurry section of the Art Bible. It features various blurry assets in a table with distinct columns. One of the columns has a black note labeled "Demo!!" pointing down at the column beneath it.

A Height Comparison Chart featuring five blurry characters; four appear to be humanoid, while the last appears to be avian. On the left is a scale, denoting centimeters, starting at 0 on the bottom and going up in ten centimeter increments to 300 at the top.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 10

The second devlog for Masque: A Trickster Tale is available to read on our website 😎 This week, we're taking a look at our studio's values, pillars, and workflows for the game! downstreamgames.com#devlog #gamedev #indiedev #devlog

A poster for Masque: A Trickster Tale. The poster announces the second developer log, or devlog, for the game. The title is "Core Values, Pillars, and Workflows" The body says "This week, we're taking a deep dive into the processes we use to make Masque: A Trickster Tale!" Kid, a Victorian-era child, stands to the left of the text wearing a red cloak, held together with a clasp, wearing Masque. Both characters are smiling.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 8

The forest in the Trickster Realm can be an eerie, disorienting place. When you find a friendly face, it's best that you take a moment to rest! #indiegame #pixelart #animation

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 7

We want to shine a light on the alux for #WorldChocolateDay! 🍫 Originating from the Yucatán Peninsula, aluxo'ob, or aluxes, are one of the first junior tricksters you'll encounter. They can buff their allies with Bark Up or throw cacao pods at opponents using Podcast! #characterdesign #indiedev

A character spotlight for the alux, properly pronounced ah-loosh, from Masque: A Trickster Tale. Its design is a portly wooden sprite with long brown hair with leaves in it. It has gold jewelry, including a headband, earrings, and wide pectoral collar. It has baggy red sleeves and a loin cloth with yellow trims. The body text reads, "The alux (pronounced ah-loosh) is a forest protection spirit and trickster from Mayan folklore! Aluxo’ob protect their allies by using Bark Up, which grants them extra Guard!" The post advertises the DownstreamGames account on Bluesky, Tumblr, YouTube, and TikTok.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 4

Starting later in the summer, we'll have devlogs dedicated to the members of our art team. Sign-up for our email list to be the first to hear about it 💛 www.downstreamgames.com

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 4

When development started in 2023, we just had an artist and designer working on the game. Then it stalled... Since then, we've switched engines and brought on more artists! We're still narrowing down our style, but you can already see a world of difference! 🎨 #gamedev #gameart #screenshotsaturday

A very early screenshot of the overworld for Masque: A Trickster Tale. It's mostly a bunch of dark green, saturated green, and mango tiles in a vague configuration that implies a forest. A pixelated character that we don't own the rights to is on the left.

Kid standing in a dense pixel art environment. It has various bushes, ferns, mushrooms, trees, rocks, and brambles. It also has lighting with depth and shadows.

ALT: An overlay of the two previous pictures, split diagonally across.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jul 1

Beware the forest's mushrooms!! ⚠️ Breathing in their spores has got to be bad for your health... #gamedev #pixelart #animation

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 29

This is what game dev feels like sometimes 😵‍💫 #gamedev #pixelart

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 28

To make development easier, we have a level dedicated just to stuff in the overworld, which we call the Interaction Gym! 🏋️ Here we can test tricky obstacles, dialogue, items, and more (even before the artists get to them 💀) #screenshotsaturday #gamedev

ALT Text: A screenshot of the Interaction Gym. It shows Kid standing next to a blue blob with purple smoke. Kid is looking at it with a look of surprise.

ALT Text: A screenshot of the Interaction Gym. It shows Kid standing next to an item. The item is a heart-shaped vial with green liquid.

ALT Text: A screenshot of the Interaction Gym. It shows Kid standing next to a poorly drawn sprite for the Greek titan, Prometheus. Prometheus, named "Non-AI Placeholder Character" and having five fingers per hand--including thumbs--says, "Welcome to the Interaction Gym, Bluesky! Make sure to Follow to learn more about the game!"

ALT Text: A screenshot of the Interaction Gym. It shows Kid standing next to a variety of crude artwork of various items.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 26

Our very first developer log, or "devlog", for Masque: A Trickster Tale is available to read on our website! 🥳 We discuss what a Trickster is, what the game is all about, and reveal what your adventure is going to be like in the Trickster Realm! downstreamgames.com#devlog #indiedev #devlog

A poster for Masque: A Trickster Tale. The poster announces the first developer log, or devlog, for the game. The title is "What is Masque: A Trickster Tale?" The body says "In our first devlog, we dive into what a trickster is and what the game’s all about!" Kid, a Victorian-era child, stands to the left of the text wearing a red cloak, held together with a clasp, wearing Masque. Both characters are smiling.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 24

In Masque: A Trickster Tale, you play as Kid, a Victorian-era foundling, and Masque, a magical mask with a flippant attitude. Explore the trickster realm together and find a way home! 🎭 #characterdesign #indiegamedev

A character spotlight for Kid and Masque from Masque: A Trickster Tale. The body text reads, "One's a Victorian-era foundling, the other's a wise-cracking mask. Together they're lying, cheating, and stealing their way outta the Trickster Realm!" The post advertises the DownstreamGames account on Bluesky, Tumblr, YouTube, and TikTok.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 22

Our items screen is still a work-in-progress, but we've come a long way since our initial wireframe! In user interface design, a wireframe is a mock-up of what you want the interface to look like. 💛 #indiedev #gameart

An early wireframe of the inventory menu for Masque: A Trickster Tale. It features photobashed elements, such as items from Stardew Valley, a realistic book, disparate bookmark tabs, and early, sketched concept art drawn by @pixeldragon.bsky.social

A more up-to-date, but still work-in-progress, version of the items screen. It has five primary tabs: Items, Journal, Map, Options, and Menu. In the menu there are four subtabs, featuring an item called an Ego Boost. The description for the item reads: "The label says: 'Nothing quite like a quick pick-me-up! And let me say, you are looking fabulous, darling." The concept art of Kid has been updated to the art style of @fafakus.bsky.social

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Jun 20

It's time to announce what we've been up to! Introducing Masque: A Trickster Tale, a story-rich adventure RPG about a child lost in the realm of tricksters from around the globe. Lie, cheat, steal--do whatever you can to get back home! Stay tuned and Follow for more 💛 #indiedev #indiegame

A poster announcing Masque: A Trickster Tale, in development from Downstream Games. It features the protagonists, in a colorful, cartoony style looking nervous and sweating.

Downstream Games@downstreamgames· Apr 1

Aw geez, looks like we're the Fools today...We were going to make a post about the game, but we haven't even announced it yet! Follow us to learn more, though, because we're hard at work for the announcement this Summer!