SAN FRANCISCO--June 17th, 2014: Choice of Games announced today that both games in their bestselling "Heroes Rise" series of interactive novels are now available on Steam. These are the first text-only games ever to be released on Valve's platform.
"Heroes Rise" is an epic interactive novel series by Zachary Sergi, where your choices control the story. The games are entirely text-based--without graphics or sound effects--and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.
"There are some gorgeous visual novels on Steam," said Dan Fabulich, co-founder of Choice of Games, "but there has never been a game on Steam without graphics or sound effects. We're proud to bring an entirely new genre of games to this platform."
Today's release includes both "Heroes Rise: The Prodigy" and "Heroes Rise: The Hero Project," clocking in at 100,000 words and 177,000 words respectively. In a single playthrough of each game, players will typically read more than 50,000 words, the size of a 200-page manuscript.
** A Huge Discount at Launch
During the first week of launch, each "Heroes Rise" game can be purchased standalone for $1.99, a 33% discount off the full $2.99 price. In addition, Steam buyers can purchase one $0.99 upgrade for "Heroes Rise: The Prodigy" and two $0.99 upgrades for "Heroes Rise: The Hero Project," or buy both games plus all of the in-app upgrades for just $3.99, 55% off the full price.
"During launch week, Steam buyers will be able to buy the Heroes Rise games at our lowest price ever," said Adam Strong-Morse, co-founder of Choice of Games. "Picking up Heroes Rise during launch week should be a no-brainer for our customers and loyal fans."
** How Did a Game Without Graphics Land on Steam?
"Heroes Rise" did not go through Steam's Greenlight process, in which Steam players vote for games to get access to Steam. Instead, someone vouched for Choice of Games: Keith Nemitz of Mousechief, author of IGF-nominated games "7 Grand Steps," "The Witch's Yarn", and the critically acclaimed "Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble."
"We never applied to Steam Greenlight," said Dan Fabulich, co-founder of Choice of Games. "We focused our energy on finding another way in. I met Keith at the San Francisco Bay Area Interactive Fiction meetup, where we're both regulars. Keith earned access to Steam via the IGF; we're honored and extremely grateful that he pitched our games to Valve."
** More Games to Steam?
The third game in the "Heroes Rise" trilogy, "Heroes Rise: Herofall," will be finished and released later this summer, and Choice of Games has committed to making it available on Steam, allowing Steam players to finish the trilogy on the platform of their choice.
"After that, we'd love to bring our entire catalog to Steam," said Jason Hill, co-founder of Choice of Games. "But much of that depends on Valve, and how many copies of 'Heroes Rise' we can sell this summer. We're asking all of our fans to buy Heroes Rise on Steam, even if they already own the game on other platforms, to show their support for Choice of Games and interactive fiction on Steam."
** About "Heroes Rise: The Prodigy"
In "Heroes Rise: The Prodigy," Powered heroes have become the ultimate celebrities, and you dream of joining the A-List--but to get there, you'll have to take down evil Powered gangs, compete with deadly rivals, choose a worthy sidekick, team up with famous champions, and prove to all of Millennia City that you're a true hero.
For example, when surrounded by dozens of criminals who are battling for control of the "Gravitas" artifact, which would you choose?
A) Jump in right away and stop the killing. It doesn't matter who gets the Gravitas--saving lives is more important than anything.
B) My only concern here is the Gravitas. Make a grab for it and go!
C) Wait for them all to kill each other off, then take the Gravitas by surprise from whoever is left standing.
D) Stay put and wait for the police to arrive--this is way too much for me and I know it.
Will you play as male or female? Gay or straight? Crusader for justice, or gun for money?
How high will you rise?
** About "Heroes Rise: The Hero Project"
It's America's #1 reality TV show for heroes! As a contestant on "The Hero Project," you'll battle villains and heroes alike with your newly discovered "Infini" powers. Will you vote to eliminate your rivals, or betray your alliance to curry favor with the celebrity judges?
For example, everybody on a reality show has to have an "angle," which doubles as a strategy to win as well as a role to play for the cameras. Which will you choose?
A) A loyal ally and team player.
B) A villain everyone loves to hate.
C) A cutthroat strategist--I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win.
D) A floater, staying under the radar by befriending everyone.
E) A true hero. That's more important than anything.
"First-time readers can enjoy 'The Hero Project' as a standalone novel," said author Zachary Sergi, "and returning fans are in for a treat. There will be plenty more Victon drama, new love interests (or old ones, if Black Magic is your main squeeze), brand new Infini Powers, and dozens of new heroes and villains to meet--and defeat."
Play as male or female, gay or straight; you can even start a "showmance" with the other contestants. What will you sacrifice to become the nation's next top hero?
How high will you rise?
** About the Author
Zachary Sergi is a New Adult television and fiction writer. He specializes in science fiction content for Young & New Adult audiences and has written for Choice of Games, The Disney Channel and developed/pitched concepts for several other networks. He grew up in New York City and studied writing at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Los Angeles, writing for the TV development cycle and working on the Heroes Rise series.
** About Choice of Games
Choice of Games was founded by Dan Fabulich, Adam Strong-Morse, and Jason Stevan Hill in 2009. They produce text-based interactive novels for web, desktop, and mobile, combining the delicious freedom of the 1980s' choose-a-path gamebooks with the depth and scope of a bestselling novel. Choice of Games adventures have been awarded First Place in IntroComp 2011 (Choice of Zombies), Best Roleplaying Game of the Year by JayIsGames (Choice of the Dragon), and Honorable Mention in the IGF Nuovo Awards (Choice of Broadsides).
In addition to developing their own games in-house, Choice of Games has created an easy to use programming language for writing text-based games, ChoiceScript, and publishes games written by other designers.
** Screenshots and Video
"Heroes Rise: The Prodigy" screenshots
"Heroes Rise: The Hero Project" screenshots
** Contact:
Dan Fabulich
Choice of Games LLC
http://www.choiceofgames.com/press/
press@choiceofgames.com
@choiceofgames