www.academagia.com

May 2009. I'm one of the writers for this game, and it is the first game by Black Chicken Studios. I am wanting to help this game along a little as I actually have been a part of this (backstory stuff mostly).

And just to get this out of the way, yes I am aware of its likeness to Harry Potter. No, its not a complete ripoff but it shares a similar premise (there is actually other works of literature that influenced it more than HP).

For now all I can say is this is the first commercial game I have been a part of. I'm actually working on it right now as I post this message.

So yeah. Discuss if you want.

Congrats on the near-completion of the project.

I've checked around and saw the picture of the game, which seemed like a really nice menu layout. It could be interesting.

How are you supposed to get it? Free download? Paid?

Paid download. It's a commercial game, but it downloadable. As far as I know, it is not in retail.

Looking similar to HP is a plague that'll haunt most fantasy school-based stories around for a long time, I think. Which is a shame.

Good luck in your job. It looks promising.

May I ask, does this game draw from Persona 3?

This game has a release date- this coming Friday (the 13th). Took awhile, considering the release date kept getting pushed back, the initial time was April 2009. I hope it will all be worth it- I'm hoping to work on the second.

The game will be $25 and available at GamersGate, Beamdog, and Impulse.

http://www.diygamer.com/2010/08/harry-potter-academagia-making-mages/

http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/academagia-making-mages/preview

http://zeboyd.com/2010/08/06/academagia-first-impressions/

And to answer Gnasher's question, it doesn't draw from Persona. Not on my end of the writing anyway.

Hey, I'm glad to see your hard work is finally seeing the light of day!

I hope it has success.

Only two days left!

And a full review.

http://electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/pc/pc-in-depth-reviews/5525-electronic-theatre-in-depth-review-academagia-the-making-of-mages

And it even has its own board on GameFAQs now. Even with the obligatory "name Black Chicken is racist" troll topic.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/604974-academagia-the-making-of-mages

And thanks Ix.

Game will be released in a few hours! (12 am EST)

Here is another full review, this one a negative one.

http://www.diygamer.com/2010/08/toil-tr ... ia-review/

Before you purchase the game, make sure you know that help is available. Be it on Academagia's site, this board, or you know, the MANUAL, there are ways to ease into the game's experience.

The aim is life simulation. Seriously. There are many events, and most are random. You can't really plan ahead for the unforeseen future, just like in real life. In this game you may play however you want. But with every freedom comes a consequence. You don't have to study, but you will fail exams. You don't have to make friends, but be prepared for a rather detrimental social life.

And, in the case of the reviewer's problems, you don't have to train in your skills. But that means failing when those skills are needed to overcome an obstacle forced upon you.

Make no mistake- you can't get a game over. You will just have to roll with the punches if a problem occurs and requires you to be proficient in a skill you did not foresee would be useful. Nobody's perfect.

And, to make it more clear- READ THE MANUAL. The game is deep, but the learning curve is not impossibly steep. You'd be amazed at how easy it really is to get the hang of.