Genre: Narrative builder sim
Keywords: sci-fi, branching, chats, humour, large cast
Format: pc/Switch/Xbox
Developer: Studio Floris Kaayk (publisher: Humble Games)
Steam

About the game:
Next Space Rebels combines real videos, choice-based chat narratives and rocket building in one story about becoming a succesful rocket builder and using your skills to improve the internet.

What I did:
I joined this game when it was already in production to help out on the chat writing and the narrative design, specifically on the subject of choice-based storylines, branching and player expectations. The core of the narrative gameplay revolves around chatting with friends and new characters in order to advance the storyline and/or get new gameplay challenges. The design for this was already set up, but needed to be optimalised and streamlined. I expanded the ways that individual chats used a choice-based system, and also assessed the ‘pay-offs’ when certain gameplay goals were met; do they lead to a satisfactory conclusion and/or do they lead to new story insights?
I also helped develop some of the secondary characters and wrote short fun video comment parodies that display when the player uploads a rocket launch video to the in-game StarTube channel.

Reviews and articles:
https://www.pcgamer.com/next-space-rebels-is-an-amateur-rocketry-sim-thats-also-about-taking-back-the-internet/
Reveal trailer
‎The Nextlander Podcast: Three Kinds of Foul on Apple Podcasts