When Winds of Change releases next Wednesday it will do so with the goal of positively changing the world’s impression of Furries. That is, the community of folks who enjoy dressing up as animals on a daily, or at least regular basis.
Promising a fresh take on the visual novel and point-and-click adventure genres, Winds of Change is also said to feature a dark fantasy theme. Through this mix of genres, it hopes to “stand in the face of any negativity and provide an outlet for people to engage with and better understand this rich community full of creatives, easing the stress this stigma puts on members of the community.” The press release goes on to further state that it will provide an accurate portrayal of the community, which others should appreciate.
According to Klace, the game’s creator, “the Furry Fandom seems to exist in a bubble. It hasn’t quite popped, and been exposed or integrated into our way of life like other fandoms and communities have. It’s lagged behind quite a bit, especially when you take into account some of the ‘questionable’ representation we’ve had in mainstream media.” He doesn’t feel this will last forever though, positing that “the furry fandom is on the fence, and tipping more toward the direction of acceptance.”
Speaking to the furry community specifically, he noted “it’s still generally seen as a bad idea for a furry to outright discuss fandom conventions, costumes, or content with the average public, because that begins to dive into details and topics most people might not understand on a surface level and don’t have the time or willingness to research on their own. Like telling jokes at a funeral, it risks being a case of Appropriate Content, Inappropriate Environment. I think over time, as more and more people become familiar with the fandom and the good it can produce, more of those environments will become appropriate as well.”
Below you’ll find an accurate description of the title’s gameplay and mechanics, which has been taken from the press release:
Winds of Change is 2D adventure game that blends elements of open-world RPGs, point-and-click adventures, and visual novels to create something that feels truly unique. Incorporating its open world with a non-linear narrative, the unique ability to inhabit different characters’ bodies to experience the story from their perspective, a fully-voiced narrative, and a wealth of side quests to tackle, this is a genre mashup unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Winds of Change will leave Steam Early Access on August 21st.