Belfast-created dinosaur video game a roaring success ahead of its release
NORTHERN Ireland gaming company Ambertail Games have announced an exciting new partnership with an indie developer for their new video game — featuring a friendly prehistoric village crammed with characters and animals.
An independent games studio, Ambertail Games was founded in 2020 by Jordan Bradley and Noel Watters and is based in the heart of Belfast.
They’ve announced a partnership with Team17 Digital for their new game Amber Isle, which is expected to be a hit with fans of games like Nintendo-developed Animal Crossing.
Dinosaur-themed shop simulation, Amber Isle, follows a
“quaint, friendly village of prehistoric residents” where players become the new shopkeeper in town.
The game begins on the eponymous Amber Isle, a friendly village fit to bursting with an eclectic mix of prehistoric animals (Paleofolk).
It will see the player create their own personal Paleo-sona and, as the new (and only) shopkeeper on Amber Isle, it falls to players to stock their store with everything their Paleo-pals might need.
Players will open and customize their shop to their desire, help rebuild the island to attract new residents and meet a huge range of cute Paleofolk from different prehistoric eras. Each customer has their own unique needs and behaviours, so players will need to haggle, pawn, and counter-offer to get the best price possible, making their shop a resounding success and saving Amber Isle.
Excitement around the game is mounting in the gaming community as popular gaming website Pocket Tactics shared their first impressions.
“We’re massive fans of both dinosaur games and life sims here at Pocket Tactics, so Amber Isle’s cutesy combination of the two is right up our alley. Ambertail Games was born in Belfast,
Northern Ireland in 2020 and the team has been working on this game, which is the studio’s debut title, ever since. It’s great to see that Team17, the publishers behind other hit Nintendo Switch titles like Headbangers and Dredge, has signed on to publish the game, alongside help from Northern Ireland Screen.”
As players progress through Ambler Isle they can rebuild, decorate, and unlock new areas to explore the island, and with improvement, Paleofolk will take up residence on the island.
Players will also have the opportunity to meet a range of new characters as Ambler Isle is home to 48 different Paleofolk to befriend, including Ice Age mammals, Permian amphibians, marine life, invertebrates, and much more.
Something notable about Amber Isle is its storybook-style animation. The team at Ambertail Games said they are committed to creating fun and cute games.
“We love a cosy, wholesome game — and if you ask us, there’s no such thing as ‘too cute’. But we do value humour and emotional depth — and characters who grow and learn a thing or two. For our players, we’re creating fun, happy, inclusive worlds we hope you’ll love to escape to again and again.”
There is no release date for the game yet but Team17 Digital and Northern Irish game developer Ambertail Games, supported by Northern Ireland Screen, will be offering the game on Steam and Nintendo Switch™.