Devlog #1: Welcome to Pocket Country (Start!)

Hi everyone! I'm Karter, and this is Pocket Country.

So, what is it?

Pocket Country is a cozy farming game and a JRPG at the same time.

Half of it is home life. You plant crops, fish, catch bugs, decorate, and get to know your neighbors. The other half is adventure. You open the way into other dimensions, pick a job/class, and fight your way through mystery dungeons.

The two halves feed each other. What you grow and gather at home is what opens new pocket dimensions, and what you bring back from those dimensions keeps your farm growing.

If I had to put it in one line: Stardew Valley meets Animal Crossing meets Final Fantasy, with a little Paper Mario in the battles.

The Story (so far)

The world ended nearly 200 years ago. The people who survived went underground into bunkers, and they're only now waking up and coming back to the surface. Home is an overgrown mess, and there isn't much left to rebuild it with.

That's where you come in. You're a Borrower, which means you can travel to other dimensions and borrow what you need. The Medieval Dimension has materials your world ran out of a long time ago. The Cloud Dimension has rare treasures. Bring back seeds and essential materials to fix up home... and maybe that lamp. Oh, and that dresser would look perfect in your neighbor's living room! AND LOOK AT HOW CUTE THAT HAT IS!

Borrowers also borrow other people's time. Spend time with the people you meet, bring them along in your party, and you'll learn their stories, including what their lives were like before the apocalypse. Stick with someone long enough and they'll teach you a unique ability, called a Borrowed Technique. Piece enough of their stories together, and you might find out what ended the world.

What's In-Game

• A clock that runs on real time. One day in the game = one real day, and the seasons follow the real calendar: cherry blossoms in spring, red and gold leaves in fall, frosty bare branches in winter.
• Farming, fishing, and bug catching.
• Battles where a well-timed button press hits harder, and a well-timed guard blocks the hit.
• A full character creator.
• In-game currency known as Buttons.

What to Expect Here

Short posts, often. Usually one new thing at a time, a screenshot or a gif and a few words about it. Every so often, a bigger update.

The next post will delve into the pillars behind Pocket Country: Every single person you meet has a name and a handwritten story arc of their own. No background or throwaway characters.

Thanks for letting me borrow some of your time!

-Karter