Sea of Stars: The Concept Art of Bryce Kho is Almost Here!
4 days ago
– Tue, Apr 16, 2024 at 07:05:10 AM
Hello dear backers & supporters,
As you may know, the team is fully focused on production of the DLC at the moment, as well as the Couch Co-Op mode for Sea of Stars. While we’re very happy with the pace of development on both fronts, it’s still too early to reveal specific details for those yet. However, we do have a fun announcement for you all today.
The Sea of Stars physical art book is printing as we speak!
Sea of Stars: The Art of Bryce Kho is a 272-page collection of concept art from the game, featuring over 90+ illustrations of concepts for playable characters, NPCs, enemies, bosses, and environments. The book also showcases the creative process through excerpts of conversations between concept artist Bryce Kho and creative director Thierry Boulanger.
It’s published in partnership with 3dtotal, and we couldn’t have dreamed of a partner better aligned with the vision we had for it. To say that we’re very happy with the final product would be an understatement. We hope you’ll love it too!
Pre-orders are now open over at 3dtotal.com, and include free shipping in the US and the UK! The official release is coming on May 28th.
If you feel like helping us spread the word, the best way is by liking and sharing this tweet.
SEA OF STARS: THE CONCEPT ART OF BRYCE KHO, PUBLISHED BY 3DTOTAL
3dtotal is a publisher dedicated to delivering high-quality publications that offer creative insight, expert advice, and essential motivation to artists and enthusiasts. The 3dtotal Publishing audience is very fond of character and concept digital art, making it an obvious partner for this beloved project of ours.
Sea of Stars: The Concept Art of Bryce Kho will have a high production value with hardback cover, foil finish on the front cover, and top quality paper.
It’s the ultimate resource to admire over 90 illustrations of concept art from all parts of the game. It’s also an intimate window into the many design discussions that took place between Thierry and Bryce during production.
“The iterations and conversations in this Art Book are a genuine look at Bryce and I’s process, and the daily conversations that brought the amazing cast of Sea of Stars to life. Looking back as I read through the final version of this book, it only reaffirmed one thing: this collaboration has been the stuff of dreams, and I couldn’t have picked a better artist.” - Thierry (Excerpt from the art book’s introduction)
In case you don’t know him already, Bryce Kho has been part of the Saboteam as lead concept artist since 2020. Known for his colorful and complex, retro-anime inspired illustrations, Bryce’s art style was a natural fit for the Sea of Stars universe. We look forward to continuing to work with him on our next project.
As backers, many of you had the digital art book included as a reward with your pledge. The first, spoiler-free half of the book was distributed at launch, with the promise that the second half would be available to download once the physical book was released.
On May 28th, you’ll be able to get the full thing for free as a digital download directly in your backer survey.
In case you lost your backer survey link, you can retrieve it using this survey recovery page.
If you need any help, or have any questions concerning your pledge, please reach out to us at [email protected]
THAT’S IT FOR NOW
We’ll be back soon with the next shipping update for the physical rewards. Until then, take care everybody and thank you once again for your support!
All the love,
-SaboTeam
Physical + Couch Co-Op Update
about 1 month ago
– Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 08:47:31 AM
Hello dear backers & supporters!
As you may remember from our previous update, we’ve been working on a redesign of the backer-exclusive physical edition with our partner Limited Run Games in order to offer our early supporters a package that truly stands out.
As you can see from the image above, we opted to go for a look that pays homage to an era of gaming that is obviously very close to our heart, and resonates with the spirit of Sea of Stars. We’re really happy with how it turned out, and hope you’ll love it too!
Stay until the end for an exciting new milestone and production update :)
PHYSICAL REWARDS UPDATE
BACKER-EXCLUSIVE PHYSICAL EDITION
Here's a breakdown of what this exclusive edition contains:
Box design that emulates the SNES-era style of cartridge boxes. It’ll have metallic ink on the purple areas, spot gloss on the artwork, and the logo embossed on the box
4-piece acrylic standee of the Solstice Warriors
Silver metal hard enamel pin with glitter effect
2-Disc OST Selection digipak with matte finish
12" x 16" (3:4) Poster of Bryce Kho’s artwork
42-page retro-inspired instruction booklet
5" x 5" Foil Stamped Certificate of Authenticity + Thank You Message
The console versions will include the physical game discs, while the PC one comes with a Steam code.
SHIPPING UPDATE
With all of our partners aligned on the vision and most of the items already in production, it’s looking like this edition should be shipped by the end of April. While shipping times are outside of our control, rest assured that we are doing our best to ensure that all copies will be sent out all at once, and as soon as possible.
We understand that it might come later than some of you would have preferred, but in the end we felt that making sure the backer-exclusive package truly stood out was paramount in the long run, rather than the limited quality (and quantity of items) that would have stemmed from rushing the delivery. You all have been very patient and understanding, and for that, we thank you once again.
Now is also a good time to validate that the shipping details associated with your order are correct. If any changes are needed, please drop us a line at [email protected].
VINYL OST
Good progress is being made on the vinyl side as well. Shipping for Q3 2024 is very much still on target.
The backer version will differ from the retail one thanks to its numerated jackets and Special Marble effect on the vinyls.
In case you had any questions about the vinyl’s tracklist, it’ll be the same as the retail edition available through iam8bit. You can see the tracklist here.
Every new player milestone we hit is absolutely mind-blowing to us. We’re thrilled to see that this little world we built continues to connect with so many players around the world.
To celebrate, we've been cooking a little something…
3 PLAYER COUCH CO-OP UPDATE
As backers, it’s probably not a surprise to you that we’re currently working on a couch co-op mode for Sea of Stars. Here’s the news though: it will not only allow two, but three players to engage in traversal and combat with a new "Co-Op timed hits" mechanic!
If you feel like to helping us spread the word, please like & share this post.
It’s too early to come forward with an ETA at this point, but we’re actively working on it! We hope you’re excited to revisit the world of Sea of Stars with family and friends.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW
Back at the studio, production is going really well for “Throes of the Watchmaker”, the DLC for Sea of Stars. While it’s still too early for specific details, we're happy to report that the team really connected with the ideas pitched and developed at our summit back in November, and has been cooking in high spirits ever since. We can’t wait to reveal more info later this year!
Thank you once again for your support (and patience!)
All the love,
-SaboTeam
Backer-Exclusive Physical Edition Update
3 months ago
– Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 09:03:44 AM
Hello dear backers & supporters!
The official announcement for the physical version in partnership with iam8bit just went live. In order to avoid any confusion in relation to the Limited Run Games produced backer-exclusive edition, here's everything you need to know.
BACKER-EXCLUSIVE PHYSICAL EDITION UPDATE
Our priority is for the backer-exclusive edition to be shipped before the retail version hits the shelves later this year. While we don’t have an exact date to share at this time, know that we are doing everything in our power to allow backers to get their hands on it as soon as possible.
As you can imagine, things have evolved quite a lot since the backer-exclusive physical edition was first announced during the Kickstarter campaign back in 2020. While we can't reveal more details just yet, we're excited to confirm that we have been approaching the backer-exclusive version back from the drawing board to make it a more unique and exciting package with exclusive elements that go beyond the cover art. All of this is in the spirit of giving as much as we can to our early supporters, so we hope you are looking forward to it!
We’ll be back with more information as soon as we close in on shipping. Rest assured that the discussion is very active and currently a top priority for us. Your patience and understanding has manifested this commitment to bonus value for backers, so once again, we thank you.
In more musical news, good progress is being made on the vinyl front too - the tracklist is set in stone and the box is looking great! The plan is to ship all physical items around the same time.
If you have any questions or issues regarding your pledge, please reach out to us at [email protected]
NEW ACCOLADES TRAILER!
To put a bow on today's announcement, we whipped up a new trailer reflecting the overwhelming reception Sea of Stars has gotten since launch. For this version we wanted to convey more of the game's scale, so we included a lot of shots that we used to consider spoilers.
This new trailer is our favorite by far. Let us know what you think!
LOOKING AHEAD
In case you missed it, there was also this small tease of a social media post last week:
Back in November the team gathered for Sabobo Summit where the DLC for Sea of Stars was pitched, along with the vision for "Game 3".
Work is going well with the mysterious and wacky DLC which has officially graduated from pre-production!
Malevolent spectacle awaits...
Cheers,
-SaboTeam
2023 Wrap-Up
4 months ago
– Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 08:26:55 AM
Hello dear backers & supporters!
Sea of Stars has been out for almost four months now, and what a ride it has been! As we are closing in on an eventful year for the studio, we wanted to take the time to touch base with you all and recap some of the latest highlights.
Details below, but the gist of it is simply this: Thank You <3
This year has once again reminded us of how amazing our community is, and we can only look back with awe at how far this little dream project was able to go thanks to our supporters.
SEA OF STARS WON BEST INDEPENDENT GAME AT THE GAME AWARDS!
Sea of Stars won the award for Best Independent Game at this year's The Game Awards that took place in Los Angeles on December 7th!
Shoutout to our fellow nominees, make sure to check them out:
Cocoon
Dave the Diver
Dredge
Viewfinder
Sea of Stars was also nominated in the Best RPG category, which ultimately went to Baldur's Gate 3. Congratulations to our friends and neighbors at Larian Studios!
It's been quite a year for games, and this specific night is one our team will cherish forever. Here are some photos from the live event, and some more from the watch party at the studio!
Award season has been incredibly good to us! Here's a more complete list of what Sea of Stars has won so far:
Best Independent Game - The Golden Joysticks
Best Independent Game - Playstation Blog’s Games of the Year
Best Independent Game - Brazil Game Awards
Best Independent Game - Equinox Latam Game Awards
Best Independent Game - Algeria Game Awards
Best Indie Adventure - OTK Video Game Awards
Best Overseas Game - Indieplay China Indie Game Awards
Best New Characters - Indie Live Expo 2023
OVER 4 MILLION PLAYERS IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS
Including all platforms and subscription catalogs, Sea of Stars has been played by over 4 millions people since launch.
The fact that the little world we built has connected with so many players around the world is unreal. What a time!
FOR THE HOLIDAYS, SEA OF STARS IS ON SALE ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS!
This might interest some of your friends: Sea of Stars is currently on sale on different platforms with its biggest discounts yet!
Steam Winter Sale - Available at $ 27.99 (%20 off) from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4
The PlayStation Store’s Holiday Sale - Available at $ 24.49 (%30 off) from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5
Nintendo eShop New Year Sale - Available at $ 31.49 (%10 off) from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3
PHYSICAL EDITION UPDATE
As mentioned earlier this Fall, we made sure that the major bug fixes and updates were included in the physical edition, without the need for a patch download. With that in mind, the latest version (v1.0.46981), announced earlier this month, has been sent to print for physicals.
The ROM has passed certification on all platforms. We’re currently finalizing some details around packaging and extras with our partners. The plan hasn’t changed, the target is still to ship the backer-exclusive edition early 2024. More details will be shared in January!
Good progress is made on the vinyl front too - the tracklist is set in stone and the box set is looking great! The plan is to ship all physical items around the same time.
If you have any questions or issues regarding your pledge, please reach out to us at [email protected]
SEE YOU IN 2024
That's it for 2023!
Please note that the studio will be closed from December 22 to January 8. While the team will be enjoying some well deserved rest, we're all excited for what lies ahead and can't wait to share with you more about what is currently cooking.
Once again, a big thanks to all of you. To all who celebrate, we wish you the very best for the Holidays, and a happy 2024!
All the love,
-SaboTeam
Game Awards Nominations + Steam Awards Voting
5 months ago
– Tue, Nov 21, 2023 at 10:09:00 AM
Hello dear backers & supporters.
Things have been quite busy keeping up with everything since the game’s release, but we wanted to share some updates with you all!
Awards season is in full swing, and it’s been a real honor for us to see our little game receiving so many nominations amidst a year that is so incredibly stacked.
In case you missed it, Sea of Stars has already won Best Indie Game of the Year at the 41st ceremony of the Golden Joystick Awards held in London on November 10. While we have yet to land from the news, we want to thank everyone who took the time to vote!
To add to the excitement, Sea of Stars has officially received two nominations for this year's The Game Awards: Best Independent Game, and Best RPG!
Also, public voting has opened up for the Steam Awards, where we're hoping Sea of Stars can get nominated for Outstanding Visual Style.
If you like to partake in voting for award season, here's some more info:
GAME AWARDS NOMINATIONS
BEST INDEPENDENT GAME
After the win at the Golden Joystick Awards, it was a real treat to see that Sea of Stars was also receiving a nomination for Best Independent Game at The Game Awards!
Plus, if you feel like helping us even more by spreading the word, you can like and share this post.
BEST RPG
2023 gave us a long list of amazing RPGs from AAA studios. Let’s just say that we weren't expecting to find ourselves among these giants. It is an immense honor for us to be included as one of the best in the genre this year.
YOU CAN HELP SEA OF STARS MAKE ITS PLACE IN THE OUTSTANDING VISUAL STYLE CATEGORY FOR THE STEAM AWARDS!
For the Steam Awards this year, we chose the Outstanding Visual Style category for Sea of Stars!
As the nominees are determined by the community alone, every vote makes a big difference. You can cast yours right here.
Whichever titles you wish to support, we hope you will all participate in big numbers <3
FULFILLMENT UPDATE
Before we go, quick reminder that we expect the physical rewards for backers to be ready for delivery early 2024. We’ll have more info about it before the end of the year.
If you still have any issue with your digital rewards, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Once again, a big thanks to all of you. We couldn’t be here without your overwhelming support from the very start.
