FAQ

[supershigi]

When is the game coming out?

UPDATE: The game will be released May 10th, 2017!

Will the game be ported to Mac/Linux?

Yes! The game will be released on all three desktop platforms simultaneously. Depending on how things go, we may port to other systems as well.

How much will the game cost?

$9.99

May I do a Let's Play of the game, or stream it on my Twitch channel?

Yes, that would be totally cool :) My only requirement is that you link back to the Rakuen Steam page and include the following contact information somewere in the info bar or something:

youtube.com/user/supershigi
twitter.com/supershigi
facebook.com/LauraShigihara

I need to put the game into windowed mode to record it, how do I do this?

You can put the game into windowed mode by pressing Alt-Enter. However, please make sure not to click off of the game during any of the cutscenes where the audio and visuals are synchronized (like the storybook reading, or any of the Runestone songs for example), otherwise it will go out of sync...

I just downloaded the Rakuen Soundtrack DLC. Where is it located?

Right click the game in your library, click on "Properties" and go to the "Local Files" tab. Click the "Browse local files" button, and the soundtrack folder should be there :)

I'd like to play using a controller. Is there a way to remap the buttons?

Yes! There is general controller support built in, and the keys can be mapped via the windowed menu by pressing F1 -> Gamepad tab. Though since the game was built around the keyboard controls, I still highly recommend using the keyboard to play.

Is there any way to change the resolution out of 640 x 480?

Ah, I must apologize for this! Just as with games like "To the Moon," an unfortunate limitation of the engine we used to create the game (rpg maker xp), is that we're unable to change the 640 x 480 resolution. Players can however play in windowed mode by pressing Alt-Enter. But as I mentioned above, please make sure not to click off of the game during any of the cutscenes where the audio and visuals are synchronized (like the storybook reading, or any of the Runestone songs for example), otherwise it will go out of sync.

Will the game be translated to other languages?

I hope so! I know after To the Moon was released, various translation teams volunteered at his forum to translate the game into Chinese, German, Korean, etc. I've gotten a few emails so far offering help with translation, so if we have a similar situation I will do whatever I can to facilitate this :)

Is the game based on To the Moon?

The game is not based on To the Moon, and the stories are not related. There are some similarities though -- Both games are story-centric. Both have a visual style that resembles JRPGs from the SNES era (but without battles or leveling up). Rakuen's gameplay however is made up of things like room escape puzzles, a Zelda-like dungeon with an ecosystem full of strange creatures, dialogue-based mysteries, and quests where you need to do things like work undercover as a waiter in a fancy sky mansion :P

How long is the game?

I'd say on average it would take around 6-10 hours to beat the game, but it really depends on your play style. Some folks blitz through the game, whereas others like to really get to know all the characters, collect all the hospital lounge items, talk to every NPC and do all the side quests.

You've been a composer for most of your career... what motivated you to create a game?

I've always wanted to create a video game, ever since I was really little. I used to design Mega Man levels on paper, and write RPG stories :) Rakuen actually started as a song ("Jump," which was written for the "Play for Japan" album). As I was composing the song, I imagined a story of a boy living in the hospital, and his mother helping him to cope by taking him on a grand adventure right where he was. My friend Emmy (who is the concept artist for the game) and I originally intended to only make a little animated music video for the song, but after thinking more about the story and being inspired by her wonderful concept art, I said, "we should turn this into a game!"

I think I really wanted to create something that would (hopefully) impact people in a positive way. Even though the game has sad/bittersweet moments, I'd like to think that after finishing the game, the player would walk away feeling hopeful, or maybe even inspired to be a light for someone who was going through difficult times. That's my hope anyways, hehe...

Will the soundtrack be available on Steam?

Yes! The soundtrack will be available on Steam as an individual purchase, or as part of a bundle with the game.

What is the game about?

Rakuen is an adventure game about a little Boy who lives in the hospital. One day, the Boy asks his Mom to escort him to the fantasy world from his favorite storybook, so that he can ask the Guardian of the Forest to grant him one wish. In order to receive his wish, the Boy must complete a set of challenges that revolve around helping his neighbors in the hospital by interacting with their alter-egos in the fantasy world...

...A cranky old man who guards a broken music box with his life while complaining that he never gets any visitors; a young woman in a coma whose husband hasn’t left her side in months; a little girl who laments over a friend she was never able to say goodbye to after growing ill… The Boy slowly begins to realize that his neighbors are plagued by secrets and struggles that are mysteriously tied to the strange hospital.

[Astragoth]

Thanks for posting this Laura! ^_^

[OneMoreGame]

I have been interested in Rakuen since I first watched its trailer on your YouTube channel back in 2014. And now it's finally coming out! Congratulations and I believe the game will do great!

On a side note, do you have any plans for a physical release of the game that may include collectibles such as a collector's edition?

[supershigi]

Originally posted by OneMoreGame:

I have been interested in Rakuen since I first watched its trailer on your YouTube channel back in 2014. And now it's finally coming out! Congratulations and I believe the game will do great! :happy_creep:

On a side note, do you have any plans for a physical release of the game that may include collectibles such as a collector's edition?

Thank-you very much! As for a physical release, I think that would be SO cool, though I'm not entirely sure how to go about doing that. I'll try to ask around because I'd love to have something like that :)

[🏳️‍🌈CamiRock17🏳]

Hi, I can help you to translate into Spanish.

[Mållgan]

If the game costs $9,99 in the US, does that mean it will cost 7,99€ in EU?

[Perky Pat]

Originally posted by Generic Player:

If the game costs $9,99 in the US, does that mean it will cost 7,99€ in EU?

More like 9,99€ (BTW $9,99 are 9,19€ atm and if you include VAT 10,93€ ;) )

[Mållgan]

Originally posted by Perky Pat:

Originally posted by Generic Player:

If the game costs $9,99 in the US, does that mean it will cost 7,99€ in EU?

More like 9,99€ (BTW $9,99 are 9,19€ atm and if you include VAT 10,93€ ;) )

The developer said that the game will cost as much as TtM, which is 7,99€.

Also, ";)"? Really? No one likes that condescending attitude of yours.

[🏳️‍🌈CamiRock17🏳]

Originally posted by Hasrock17:

Hi, I can help you to translate into Spanish.

[Perky Pat]

Originally posted by Generic Player:

Also, ";)"? Really? No one likes that condescending attitude of yours.

I think you missed the point of my smilie, to not take my statement too serious... I just tried to explain the odd $ to € exchange.
Anyway have fun with the game!

[Visi]

Originally posted by supershigi:

May I do a Let's Play of the game, or stream it on my Twitch channel?

Yes, that would be totally cool :) My only requirement is that you link back to the Rakuen Steam page and include the following contact information somewere in the info bar or something:

youtube.com/user/supershigi
twitter.com/supershigi
facebook.com/LauraShigihara

Don't like this policy at all. Showing off a game through uploaded video content or through a streaming service does nothing but help promote the game and spread word around. It's free advertising for you and falls under Fair Use regardless. Politely asking for that information to be included is fine, but having it as some sort of requirement really rubs me the wrong way. Taking the game off my wishlist. Good luck with your future enterprises, and I hope you adopt less player-hostile policies in the future.

[Spanky Pie]

Originally posted by Visi:

Originally posted by supershigi:

May I do a Let's Play of the game, or stream it on my Twitch channel?

Yes, that would be totally cool :) My only requirement is that you link back to the Rakuen Steam page and include the following contact information somewere in the info bar or something:

youtube.com/user/supershigi
twitter.com/supershigi
facebook.com/LauraShigihara

Don't like this policy at all. Showing off a game through uploaded video content or through a streaming service does nothing but help promote the game and spread word around. It's free advertising for you and falls under Fair Use regardless. Politely asking for that information to be included is fine, but having it as some sort of requirement really rubs me the wrong way. Taking the game off my wishlist. Good luck with your future enterprises, and I hope you adopt less player-hostile policies in the future.

At least there's no takedowns. And it's more than fair - expected even - for streamers/lets players to link back to the source of the content anyways.

[Bryantheart]

I try to change a keyboard control using F1 Menu.. but it was confusing.. i just want to change my movement from Arrow Key to WASD and change Interact button (Q and Space) to Numlock button.

[OdanUrr]

This game would be a perfect fit for a handheld device! (3DS, Switch, Vita?)

Also, a physical release would be all kinds of awesome! (book cover being the cover of the box?) I sincerely hope we get one some day; this game absolutely deserves it. =)

[shaiya288]

When I run the game in full-screen it looks stretched on my 1080 x 1920 monitor, but when I run it in windowed mode it is too small to be enjoyable.
Is there any way I can run it in full-screen and maintain the 4:3 aspect ratio?
--------------------------------------------------

I resolved the issue. To make it run in 4:3 while full-screen, I had to:

-Open Nvidia Control Panel
-Go to 'Adjust desktop size and position'
-Set scaling to 'Aspect Ratio'
-Set the 'Perform scaling on: GPU'

That made it run in full-screen but still maintain its native ratio of 4:3. yay! :D

[Endira]

This is the only game on my MAC that crashes at launch :/ would really love to play it, any ideas would be helpfull!