After the amazing response to our ROM hack Black Pearl Emerald, our team spent the last year chasing a dream. Wildbound is a fully original, open-world, monster-taming, RPG.
We’re building on the parts we loved most from Black Pearl Emerald and other ROM hacks, like exploration, turn-based combat, puzzle-filled dungeons, and a meaningful story. This time, we’re making something entirely our own.
We just launched our Kickstarter to help bring Wildbound to life. If you’d like to be part of the journey, check it out and consider supporting us!
I see an Axolotl like creature, im already hooked.
Nooby_Chris
[Palworld flashbacks Intensifies]
james___uk
Sorry I’m not so familiar, ROM in what context?
MGfreak
> With this, you can collect DNA from fallen wilds to reanimate them and fight with their powers.
Im guessing this is your Catching mechanic (to avoid Nintendo lawsuits)? You defeat monsters, collect their DNA and once you have enough you can reanimate and add them to your collection, i guess?
SupaPatt
Nintendo lawyers: looking
Mataric
Looks awesome – but I’d definitely be wary using prior Nintendo rom hacking experience as a badge of merit..
Nintendo are currently doing a ‘reputation destruction any%’ run, and you’re presenting them a wide open ganondoor.
geldonyetich
“Former ROM Hackers” is a weird way to introduce them.
But don’t let it sell them short in your mind. Toby Fox was a ROM hacker of Mother/Earthbound games before he went on to make Undertale.
So there’s some precedent there that it’s a pretty great platform to make something better than the original.
>!Not that Gamefreak set the bar very high.!<
darkpyro2
Are you open to gentle feedback, by any chance? The game itself looks well put together — the open world environment design in particular looks really detailed and natural, even with the lower-fidelity artwork — but I think the character models need some more work.
They look polished in that they seem like technically sound 3D models in line with your art style, but they have a sort of uncanny valley element to them — very stiff, and unnatural.
The shot in the trailer in the very beginning at 0:14, with the woman in the red dress walking next to the little purple creature has a walk animation that looks a little…spread-legged? Kind of like they have rashes on their thighs and are hobbling to keep their legs from rubbing together. It doesn’t feel natural. You see it again with the woman with the white dress at 0:58. That animation probably needs another pass.
And then the faces need something in the way of animation. If not actual face rigging, then different fixed expressions that you can switch between to convey emotion. Right now, they come across a bit bland and uninteresting to me, and they’re the sort of thing you’ll look at a lot in a game like this.
These are minor things, though and I think this looks awesome. Those little things could spruce up the presentation considerably.
Magnusg
I feel like i couldnt kickstart something like this because theres a lot you have to change to avoid infringement. examples:
1. the monster cries are like straight out of nintendo.
2. the move list display, you could have varied it up, done 5 moves, heck maybe they learn moves and can always switch back to them but only have 3 equipped, you straight made a TM screen.
Sounds like your catch mechanic is diversified, you should have taken that to more places.
IlIIllIlIIIl
Nintendo sends their regards.
AnubisIncGaming
*The Nintendo Stirs*
No but seriously we need like 5 more of these to drop so Nintendo can stop trying to bully people.
ConsequenceChoice222
This is plagiarism of plagiarism.
ErikT738
I’m not sure if you actually killing all the local wildlife is the best way to go with this cutesy look.
CircaCitadel
Like others have said, this is already going to be an uphill battle with Nintendo as it is but marketing it as “former rom hackers” is making it 10x more risky. This looks great on its own, I don’t think labeling yourselves as that is necessary at all and is just going to make it more difficult.
Just imagining if they send a Cease & Desist and you contest it in court and they bring your past “rom hacking” as evidence of intended IP manipulation. That’s going to look real bad to a jury and judge. Might be too late at this point though. Good luck though, it looks amazing.
Mayion
last game I helped on kickstarter got me VAC banned on Steam for some reason and it’s like a scar that won’t heal on my account 🙁 hopefully this one doesn’t get me charged for selling drugs or something
20 Comments
After the amazing response to our ROM hack Black Pearl Emerald, our team spent the last year chasing a dream. Wildbound is a fully original, open-world, monster-taming, RPG.
We’re building on the parts we loved most from Black Pearl Emerald and other ROM hacks, like exploration, turn-based combat, puzzle-filled dungeons, and a meaningful story. This time, we’re making something entirely our own.
We just launched our Kickstarter to help bring Wildbound to life. If you’d like to be part of the journey, check it out and consider supporting us!
Wildbound Kickstarter: [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wildboundgame/wildbound](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wildboundgame/wildbound)
look nice and funny
Nintendo lawyers are on their way.
Nintendo has entered the chat.
Backed… best of luck!
I see an Axolotl like creature, im already hooked.
[Palworld flashbacks Intensifies]
Sorry I’m not so familiar, ROM in what context?
> With this, you can collect DNA from fallen wilds to reanimate them and fight with their powers.
Im guessing this is your Catching mechanic (to avoid Nintendo lawsuits)? You defeat monsters, collect their DNA and once you have enough you can reanimate and add them to your collection, i guess?
Nintendo lawyers: looking
Looks awesome – but I’d definitely be wary using prior Nintendo rom hacking experience as a badge of merit..
Nintendo are currently doing a ‘reputation destruction any%’ run, and you’re presenting them a wide open ganondoor.
“Former ROM Hackers” is a weird way to introduce them.
But don’t let it sell them short in your mind. Toby Fox was a ROM hacker of Mother/Earthbound games before he went on to make Undertale.
So there’s some precedent there that it’s a pretty great platform to make something better than the original.
>!Not that Gamefreak set the bar very high.!<
Are you open to gentle feedback, by any chance? The game itself looks well put together — the open world environment design in particular looks really detailed and natural, even with the lower-fidelity artwork — but I think the character models need some more work.
They look polished in that they seem like technically sound 3D models in line with your art style, but they have a sort of uncanny valley element to them — very stiff, and unnatural.
The shot in the trailer in the very beginning at 0:14, with the woman in the red dress walking next to the little purple creature has a walk animation that looks a little…spread-legged? Kind of like they have rashes on their thighs and are hobbling to keep their legs from rubbing together. It doesn’t feel natural. You see it again with the woman with the white dress at 0:58. That animation probably needs another pass.
And then the faces need something in the way of animation. If not actual face rigging, then different fixed expressions that you can switch between to convey emotion. Right now, they come across a bit bland and uninteresting to me, and they’re the sort of thing you’ll look at a lot in a game like this.
These are minor things, though and I think this looks awesome. Those little things could spruce up the presentation considerably.
I feel like i couldnt kickstart something like this because theres a lot you have to change to avoid infringement. examples:
1. the monster cries are like straight out of nintendo.
2. the move list display, you could have varied it up, done 5 moves, heck maybe they learn moves and can always switch back to them but only have 3 equipped, you straight made a TM screen.
Sounds like your catch mechanic is diversified, you should have taken that to more places.
Nintendo sends their regards.
*The Nintendo Stirs*
No but seriously we need like 5 more of these to drop so Nintendo can stop trying to bully people.
This is plagiarism of plagiarism.
I’m not sure if you actually killing all the local wildlife is the best way to go with this cutesy look.
Like others have said, this is already going to be an uphill battle with Nintendo as it is but marketing it as “former rom hackers” is making it 10x more risky. This looks great on its own, I don’t think labeling yourselves as that is necessary at all and is just going to make it more difficult.
Just imagining if they send a Cease & Desist and you contest it in court and they bring your past “rom hacking” as evidence of intended IP manipulation. That’s going to look real bad to a jury and judge. Might be too late at this point though. Good luck though, it looks amazing.
last game I helped on kickstarter got me VAC banned on Steam for some reason and it’s like a scar that won’t heal on my account 🙁 hopefully this one doesn’t get me charged for selling drugs or something