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      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/cbEDUJLT6xMwvlDdsMoTG/e9afca685d9a9135e75a37be1bcc7621/WeeklyUpdates_2.jpg" alt=""/>
      
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    <br/>Hello again, Tatsu pals! It's Zerkalo back with you today, after a few guest blogs by Morrigan. Thrilled to show you around our first project updates of June!<br/><br/><br/>Here's what we've got planned for you this blog. There's a new map tour! Previews of creatures and villains. Our latest screen designs. And plenty of nice illustration updates too. But enough talk – let's get into it!<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">New Theme for June Is Here!</b></h1>As you know, a new month means a new theme in the Tatsu world! And if you're a cat person or a coffee lover (or both!), you'll be all over this one!<br/><br/><br/>Our special theme this month is <b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Cat Café</b>, and the new <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://tatsumeeko.com/community?post=patch-0-80-june-update-cat-cafe-theme-new-themed-furniture-and-pet-cosmetics"><u>Patch</u></a> and <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://tatsumeeko.com/community?post=june-2023-supporter-rewards"><u>Supporter</u></a> blogs are live! Over 30 new items for you to make the <i>purrfect</i> café in your house or daycare. Get decorating today!<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/LUrisWL4RwBHtHaorOy2l/bd0bbcb44969b261f5f606c6e6e03b72/JuneBanner.jpg" alt="undefined"/>
      
    </div>
    <br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Getting into Gameplay on Maps</b></h1>The updates begin with news from our Game Design team! As you'll see, our latest designs have been merging features of maps, quests, and gameplay.<br/><br/><br/>We even have a sneak peek at the results! Here's a demo of early testing – and how you (the player) could interact with locals on Parina Island:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <video src="//videos.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/6o1baYccKka913MNucb8Nq/77b77de7e7669e26b1042dac344854c3/MeekorineTest.mp4" loop muted autoplay/>
      
    </div>
    <br/>It's still early, but really exciting progress on interactions and exploring! Plus, here's a closer look at the action on the Docks. A fun side quest here, perhaps? ;)<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/3DxCaLRp5MzR2IxyVahuct/b75b38ed91567cc8bbbfc2eca6011db3/MapTest.png" alt="Would YOU accept a quest from the “Bad Kitty” gang?!"/>
      <p>Would YOU accept a quest from the “Bad Kitty” gang?!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>But that's not all on the map front. Behind the scenes, our Designers have begun experimenting with map expansions! We're building out mock-ups with bridges, wide terrains, and tons of architecture: <br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/3za21GeYm6uszTrl62EmZE/0dda00dc77b37bc1236c9e495723ecab/Map3.png" alt="Testing house props and textures around a spacious map!"/>
      <p>Testing house props and textures around a spacious map!</p>
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    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/3sn30OaEFyt1xJh1AZPJNx/ef39bf151324f9d4e8781200bd77efa0/Map4.png" alt="Zooming way out: A bird’s-eye view of a rough residential area"/>
      <p>Zooming way out: A bird’s-eye view of a rough residential area</p>
    </div>
    <br/>With these initial experiments, our Designers are getting a feel for the gameplay experience on the maps. From close-up interactions to the broader game world!<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Obtaining Characters… in Style!</b></h1>Next, we have some stylish updates from our UI/UX team! We've got an epic Game Flow WIP for obtaining characters you’ve unlocked in Tatsumeeko. Here's Kaylee to model as our first sneak peek!<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/4AnKOUHlYFl40cR2E3cRar/d308ab43f3acc26978a7b2597eb8f5b4/character_first_obtain.png" alt="Zing! Imagine the OP DPS Machinist Kaylee becoming yours!"/>
      <p>Zing! Imagine the OP DPS Machinist Kaylee becoming yours!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>This first preview showcases Kaylee's rarity, character type, and a special art design for obtaining her. In the future, we'll also be showcasing effects for the particular rarity as well as unique animations for the characters and their backgrounds. Stay tuned for that future update!<br/><br/><br/>But wait… it's not just characters getting epic backgrounds – our UI/UX team is working on keeping <i>everything</i> interesting for our players, even Loading Screens! <br/><br/><br/>Check out this WIP showcasing an emblem, a section for Game Tips, and the background sharing the starry space design with the Character Obtain preview:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/4u42D6QQeR9bbdOqzJfffe/13afd9bbb6cdd39dd41d3c9f05249c05/tm_loading_W1920.png" alt="Here’s a game tip: Don’t forget to drink water while playing Tatsumeeko!"/>
      <p>Here’s a game tip: Don’t forget to drink water while playing Tatsumeeko!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Last but not the least, we've been listening to your house and daycare feedback! Our UI/UX team is looking for ways to improve player editing with the Mapbuilder.<br/><br/><br/>They've sketched up some ideas on how we could integrate a better house editing system without going through multitudes of Discord commands. Check out these outlined plans straight from their notes:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/5A0Zy2SLrXxHV8UiSSID0G/77323df1fa61f38fa2200b88f16a54df/brainstorming_for_housing_edit_iteration.png" alt="Edits in one place and fewer menus?! Sign us up!"/>
      <p>Edits in one place and fewer menus?! Sign us up!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Ideas being planned out and tested include: creating sorting buttons to ease the finding of furniture according to type (furnishing, room, season, event, etc.), allowing users to change or move houses while viewing their current house, color selection buttons appearing around furniture during customization, previewing furniture in your house before you “buy and place” or “buy and store,” and inventory drawers sliding on the screen.<br/><br/><br/>These exciting conceptualizations that tease a more efficient editing system sure have us at the edge of our seats! What do you think of these plans? Let us know your thoughts over at <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="http://discord.gg/tatsu"><u>Tatsu's Lounge</u></a>!<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Progress on Creatures and Combatants</b></h1>The world of Tatsumeeko will be home to all sorts of wondrous creatures! One that our Artists were polishing up recently? The fish!<br/><br/><br/>And did you know? We're actually envisioning <i>six</i> classes of fish, ranging from “common” to “legendary.” This week, we get a rare preview of some legendary fish in the works!<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/s7pBkqvIoVBVvBOZCoDpU/e39822144f6f45162f7e0d1b75126141/fish_legendary_v2.png" alt="Epic colors! These fish totally have that legendary look, don't they?"/>
      <p>Epic colors! These fish totally have that legendary look, don't they?</p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/17WQJWimcnOn4QEeGeZldx/f72da96a07b38b68cb94cfa00171eb38/test_leg_v2.png" alt="Sampling visuals and scale for fishing - with those legendary WIPs!"/>
      <p>Sampling visuals and scale for fishing - with those legendary WIPs!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>And while we're out at sea… You may recall that our Art team previewed a new pirate villain for <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://tatsumeeko.com/community?post=quest-log-info-map-enhancements-farm-props-in-2-5d-31st-may-2023"><u>our last blog</u></a>. Now it seems one of his crewmates has boarded this update!<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/5gdNx6t0hykND8qZplkpdl/850c4965349ce2a190fb68574ab31412/Pirate_Idle_02.gif" alt="You could encounter pirates like this in combat!"/>
      <p>You could encounter pirates like this in combat!</p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/5V1pHCwtFYSBmfo03lyzpG/9a9f77ac549f790903e1af7d3eaa88c1/Pirate_Idle_03.gif" alt="Testing idle animation variants for the pirate baddie"/>
      <p>Testing idle animation variants for the pirate baddie</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Facing pirates in battle will be a challenge, but don't sleep on these next combatants either! Our Artists have prepared concepts for a new bat monster, with ghoulish color themes:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/6aOd2xhzMdmw7rCAhLsuYw/95fd7099a7437860c181393c5965631e/Bat_Mons.png" alt="Wow - We’re going batty for these bat monster concepts"/>
      <p>Wow - We’re going batty for these bat monster concepts</p>
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    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/3TGdf7XeXVAdsJhyiXzJu2/66e10ec95cb3fc2a0076e3c12423abf9/Bat_Mockup.png" alt="Release the bats! Debuting the bat monster on the battlefield"/>
      <p>Release the bats! Debuting the bat monster on the battlefield</p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/4g0CFacsMTq0HfqvY2WaF2/b8a237f5ed1cfda09ec4d276dc63df01/Leech_Mockup.png" alt="Plus: The leech monster (seen last blog!) leads the charge in this WIP"/>
      <p>Plus: The leech monster (seen last blog!) leads the charge in this WIP</p>
    </div>
    <br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Latest Visions for Our Game World</b></h1>It's not just creatures coming to life in our Art Department lately. Some brilliant biome experiments are underway, providing a look at early visions of game environments. Check out the spotlight on select props too!<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/1v3yuskVVgY6QiBssPPmCJ/898a5b496bcad2cb4c05c9a47a787bc1/Forest_Biome_Rough_sketch-2.jpg" alt="A lush biome test painting, including characters for a sense of size"/>
      <p>A lush biome test painting, including characters for a sense of size</p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/7pLwxQ4ZHBkzlKDJSq2WWW/6e05dd41f95400d82ebc24357616a2ad/Forest_Biome_Rough_sketch-2_callout.jpg" alt="Explaining those biome props - love the Wild Flowers!"/>
      <p>Explaining those biome props - love the Wild Flowers!</p>
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    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/D9eV53BehegOkFPgqdXyT/1066b6045654c22088b624134f49960c/Forest_Biome_Rough_sketch.jpg" alt="Exploring biome formations, with a range of tree and plant concepts"/>
      <p>Exploring biome formations, with a range of tree and plant concepts</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Speaking of tree variants, how about a peek at the process behind our tree art? You can see the evolution from concept sketch to more detailed illustration below:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/4nz56kA5dblTNH0gwEvLuE/533fc5f3310a578ade0072f82d96a25d/Trees_variant.jpg" alt="We’ve been envisioning creative and curvy tree designs"/>
      <p>We’ve been envisioning creative and curvy tree designs</p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/4TahUvMACZkl6i27QZAv4d/65ded8afcdd44b5caa05b4e21f81f530/Trees_variant-2.jpg" alt="The variant trees - in various stages of color and detail upgrades"/>
      <p>The variant trees - in various stages of color and detail upgrades</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Continuing our art journey… Remember <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://tatsumeeko.com/community?post=quest-log-info-map-enhancements-farm-props-in-2-5d-31st-may-2023"><u>the farm spotlight</u></a> from our most recent project updates? Our Artists now re-envisioned those concepts – barns and the like – as 2.5D models! Take a look:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/2K869UaB27Uw9du6U4z9r1/1b469414046bef5649311b8e9c35e785/2.5FarmTest.png" alt="Farm architecture looking super realistic in this 2.5D testing"/>
      <p>Farm architecture looking super realistic in this 2.5D testing</p>
    </div>
    <br/>The 2.5D transition is a key stage in the artistic process for our game world. As is pixel art! And a collage of assorted new asset WIPs has arrived:<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/2KnkYVAMZPaldGmVahXFo2/4f5b826e4a9ed84595239d5106cb4b3c/FarmAssets.png" alt="Wow! Plenty to build a world with in these latest pixel art assets"/>
      <p>Wow! Plenty to build a world with in these latest pixel art assets</p>
    </div>
    <br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Project Progress Update: Sandbox 1 is Complete!</b></h1>For the last 13 weeks, we've been updating our readers on Tatsumeeko's development through our Project Progress Bars. This week, we're pleased to announce that our first Sandbox milestone has concluded! Each department is entering the final phase of this stage, wherein the final QA and bug fixing takes place. <br/><br/><br/>The first Sandbox development covered dialogue and navigation systems, fishing gameplay, and game quests, among other major game infrastructures. Now our different departments are working on scope and requirement gathering for the next phase, which is Sandbox 2.<br/><br/><br/>Moving forward, this section will transition to that next milestone, and upcoming project progress bars will reflect the development for that stage. More info will be provided once we officially enter Sandbox 2… until then, stay tuned!<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Tatsu Works Is Hiring!</b></h1>You heard right! Here at Tatsu Works, we currently have four job openings, and we want to hear from all interested candidates – which means: you! <br/><br/><br/>Head to <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://careers.tatsumeeko.com/"><u>our Careers page</u></a> for up-to-date listings and details on applying! The opportunities include exciting roles as an FX Artist and a Software Engineer.<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Tatsu Returns to Twitch</b></h1>Our weekly Artist Corner streams are back this June! With FIVE Tatsu Artists streaming every month, there is an endless galore of exclusive previews, artist and community chats, and perhaps even a prize or two! ;)<br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/6PbXXk4vNc5XTgn1NrHyEC/759b852608830470b6542e09c864277e/SCMayStream.jpg" alt="Here’s some of the content Calvin worked on in his last stream!"/>
      <p>Here’s some of the content Calvin worked on in his last stream!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Our first streamer of the month is <b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Seraphinus Calvin</b>, streaming this <b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Friday, 9th June, at 8:30 pm SGT/ 12:30 pm UTC</b>!<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">Now Testing: Technical Pre-Alpha!</b></h1>Have you signed up for Tatsumeeko technical pre-alpha yet? If not, now's the time, because you're missing out on epic perks. Subscribers gain access to our playtests and a newsletter, among other exciting content to come! <br/>
    <div class="blog_addFullImage__DYXIc">
      <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/t4f4drli3f7d/40vBttjqZ5qvSYNUIQvYZy/84b48cbe7d34ce84abc4e22bc64a7c22/Technical-Pre-Alpha-Homepage.png" alt="Find THIS guy on the Tatsumeeko.com homepage!"/>
      <p>Find THIS guy on the Tatsumeeko.com homepage!</p>
    </div>
    <br/>Registering for technical pre-alpha is also how you can get involved as we develop the game. So let us know your feedback! Just find that pink "register" button on our homepage and join up today.<br/><br/><br/><h1 class="blog_heading1__LTQ_9"><b class="blog_bold__OUPuc">More Project Updates Coming Soon</b></h1>Well, friends, that just about does it for blog no. 1 of June! Will also nudge you again to visit our <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="https://tatsumeeko.com/community?post=patch-0-80-june-update-cat-cafe-theme-new-themed-furniture-and-pet-cosmetics"><u>Cat Café theme blogs</u></a> – they really are the cat's pajamas!<br/><br/><br/>For more Tatsu in your day, we host you all around the web too! You'll find exclusive content from us on both <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="http://instagram.com/official_tatsumeeko"><u>Instagram</u></a> and <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="http://twitter.com/tatsumeeko"><u>Twitter</u></a>. And our new <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="http://twitch.tv/officialtatsumeeko"><u>Twitch</u></a> streams are a total must-watch!<br/><br/><br/>We also have our own Discord server, <a class="blog_hyperLink__I_zr0" href="http://discord.gg/tatsu"><u>Tatsu’s Lounge</u></a>, and the action there is non-stop! You're probably already a member, but if not, consider this your invite. Come join in the fun and games!<br/><br/><br/>Be back with more project updates next week. Until then – happy gaming!<br/></div>

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News

LATEST:

Adventure awaits...

Sign up for Technical Pre-Alpha!

Set your foot in the worldof fantasy, wonder and joy!

Sign up for Technical Pre-Alpha!

Sign up for Technical Pre-Alpha!

Strategic

Gameplay

Discover Features

Build a team of

different classes

Sign up for Technical Pre-Alpha!

Set your foot in the world
of
fantasy, wonder and joy!