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DEVBLOG 2 - The Town & its Inhabitants ๐Ÿ”

Detectives,

As the Steam Next Fest draws to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for playing the Mindcop demo!
Weโ€™d love to hear your valuable feedback, so please donโ€™t hesitate to share your thoughts with us! ๐Ÿšจ


[h2]๐Ÿ”ŽA Unique Cast of Enigmatic Characters๐Ÿ”[/h2]
You may have encountered some of them while playing the demo as you patrolled the streets of Merrylin Crater Camp, searching for the elusive killer. But this small town harbors even more secrets and intriguing characters waiting to be discovered. Let's meet a few of them!


๐Ÿ‚ Rebecca: The tragic murder victim, a young woman who grew up and worked at Merrilyn Crater Camp. Her short life was filled with many secrets.

๐Ÿถ Sean: brash and cocky, some admire him and others despise him, but animals love him.

๐Ÿข Josh: the savvy owner of the camp, who lives in a caravan while running and trying to revitalize the camp.

๐Ÿ… Benji: A dedicated single father facing numerous hardships, he maintains a positive outlook and is always eager to lend a helping hand.

๐Ÿ‘“ Gabriel: One of the camp's original founders, this older gentleman embodies confidence and a steadfast commitment to tradition.

๐Ÿšฌ Alex: A cool, chain-smoking young adult with a complex family background, she exudes an air of mystery and confidence.

๐Ÿบ Reuben: Edgy and inexperienced, he helps around at the camp and has a strong dislike for authority figures.

With those informations in hand, you are now better equipped to lead the investigation. But remember, detectives: thereโ€™s always more than meets the eyeโ€”any of them could be the killer!

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[h2]๐ŸŒฒA visit to Merrylin Crater Camp๐ŸŒฒ[/h2]
A key element of Mindcop is its captivating setting, brimming with mystery and atmosphere.


Merrylin Crater Camp is a remote tourist destination nestled among dense woods, at the foot of the imposing Merrylin Crater mountain. The quaint town features just a hostel, a bar, and a gift shop, with staff residing in the few private houses along the road or in caravans. At the heart of the town lies a massive volcanic rock known as Bombo, the main attraction for visitors.

Itโ€™s up to you, detective, to explore this peculiar little town and uncover its secrets!

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[h2] Wishlist NOW & Play the demo [/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1517180/Mindcop/

[h3]โญ Follow the infamous detective on Tiktok! โญ[/h3]
The Mindcop shares all his tips on his tiktok page, follow him!

[h2]๐Ÿ”Ž Join our Community ๐Ÿ” [/h2]
[h3] ๐Ÿ”Ž Mindcop Games X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Discord ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Newsletter ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers YouTube ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers TikTok ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Instagram ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Facebook[/h3]

DEVBLOG 1 - Behind the Curtain ๐Ÿ”

Detectives, step into the shadowy world of Mindcop and uncover the secrets that bring this gripping murder mystery to life.

[h2]๐Ÿ”ŽCrafting the Detective Experience๐Ÿ”[/h2]
Mindcop is Andre Gareis' first commercial game project, in development since 2018. The goal was to create a detective game that empowers players to make their own choices, allowing them to truly embody the role of a detective rather than just observing a character in that role.

The solo-dev wanted to tell a compelling story while creating a small, immersive world filled with fleshed-out characters.

To enhance the detective experience, many clues are included, some of which can be easily missed. This design choice is intentional, as it encourages players to discern what is truly important in solving the mystery, reflecting the real challenges detectives face in their work.

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[h2]๐Ÿง The Influences behind Mindcop๐Ÿง [/h2]
Mindcop draws major inspiration from the iconic Twin Peaks TV show, alongside Hunie Pop as a unique video game influence. A vision emerged to transform it into a detective gameโ€”replacing anime characters with suspects and dates with interrogations.

Additional influences encompass Ace Attorney, Obra Dinn, Outer Wilds, Detective Grimoire, and point-and-click games in general, especially the challenges they often present.

While not a primary inspiration, Agatha Christie's novels have also left their mark on Andre Gareis, who listened to several of them during development. Lastly, Detective Conan deserves mention, as it sparked a lasting passion for crime fiction from an early age.

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[h2]๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธA Gallery of Characters๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ[/h2]
The goal was to craft a classic murder case, opting for a serious mystery that avoids an overly grim tone. Striking a balance is essential, which influenced key decisions throughout development.

The cast of suspects is intentionally grounded, reflecting the gravity of the crime rather than the vibrant characters found in games like Ace Attorney. In contrast, detectives Mindcop and Linda bring a touch of extravagance and an unfazed attitude toward the murder, lightening the mood without diminishing the storyโ€™s weight.

Mindcop embodies the quintessential confident detective, serving as a stand-in for players, encouraging them to draw their own conclusions. Linda adds depth to their dynamic, reminiscent of iconic cop duos.


[h2] Wishlist NOW & Play the demo [/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1517180/Mindcop/

[h3]โญ Follow the infamous detective on Tiktok! โญ[/h3]
The Mindcop shares all his tips on his tiktok page, follow him!

[h2]๐Ÿ”Ž Join our Community ๐Ÿ” [/h2]
[h3] ๐Ÿ”Ž Mindcop Games X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Discord ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Newsletter ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers YouTube ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers TikTok ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Instagram ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Facebook[/h3]

๐ŸŽ‰ Steam Next Fest - Demo Available NOW! ๐Ÿง 

๐Ÿšจ Attention Detectives! ๐Ÿšจ

We're excited to announce that Mindcop, the thrilling non-linear "whodunnit" detective game, will be featured at the Steam Next Fest this October 2024 edition starting today!



[h3]๐ŸŽฎ Play the Demo Now![/h3]
Join the investigation today! The demo is available during the festival.

[h3]๐Ÿ“… Mark Your Calendars[/h3]
Don't forget: Mindcop will officially release on ๐ŸŽ‰ November 14, 2024 ๐ŸŽ‰.

[h3]๐Ÿ” Wishlist Mindcop on Steam now and get ready to solve the mystery![/h3]
๐Ÿ‘€ Stay tuned for more updates, and we can't wait to see you at the Steam Next Fest!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1517180/Mindcop/

๐Ÿง  Demo & Release Date announced with a trailer ๐Ÿง 

Detectives, a killer is on the run, and you need to catch him!

[h2] ๐ŸŽ‰ New demo available now ๐ŸŽ‰ [/h2]

Start your investigation in this new demo with new content added ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ

  • Start your investigation in this new demo with access to the tutorial and part of the first day of investigation.
  • This demo is playable in the same languages as the full game : English, French, Spanish, German, Simplified+Traditional Chinese.


So if you didn't play earlier demos because of the language barrier, now's the time to check it out!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2804690/Mindcop_Demo/

[h2] ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ Crack the case on NOVEMBER 14th ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ [/h2]

As your partner, here's a top secret info!๐Ÿคซ Mindcop is coming on NOVEMBER 14th! And here's our new trailer to make you wait!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Tell me if youโ€™re ready for a non-linear whodunnit detective adventure, Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll be!

[h2] Wishlist NOW & Play the demo [/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1517180/Mindcop/

[h2]๐Ÿ”Ž Join our Community ๐Ÿ” [/h2]
[h3] ๐Ÿ”Ž Mindcop Games X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Discord ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Newsletter ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers YouTube ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers TikTok ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Instagram ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Facebook[/h3]

๐Ÿ”Ž Announcement Trailer ๐Ÿ”

Andre Gareis, a German solo game developer, is teaming up with Dear Villagers, an indie-game publisher based in the South of France, to present you Mindcop! We are so excited about this collaboration! ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™€๏ธ

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Tell me if youโ€™re ready for a non-linear whodunnit detective adventure, Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll be!

Need more context? Well, as THE MINDCOP , your job is to find the real killer in the quiet hamlet of Merrylin Crater Camp! You only have 5 days to find the murderer!

[h2]๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™€๏ธ MINDCOP ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™‚๏ธ [/h2]
Investigate the suspects by using your special abilities!



[h3]๐Ÿง  LETโ€™S GO FOR A MINDSURF ๐Ÿง  [/h3]
Complete the real-time puzzle game of mindsurf to obtain clues and information for your investigation!



[h2]Coming Q4 2024 on Steam

Wishlist NOW & Play the demo [/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1517180/Mindcop/

[h2]๐Ÿ”Ž Join our Community ๐Ÿ” [/h2]
[h3] ๐Ÿ”Ž Mindcop Games X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers X
๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Discord ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Newsletter ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers YouTube ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers TikTok ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Instagram ๐Ÿ’œ Dear Villagers Facebook[/h3]