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Currently available as a tech demo with the developer needing feedback, Ova Magica looks like a promising start of a new casual sim blending lots of different gameplay features.

Ova Magica looks like it mixes in a farming-life type of sim, with a creature hatching and battle system with blobbly little creatures that look like something slightly resembling what's in Slime Rancher. Inspired by the likes of Azure Dreams, Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, Pokemon, Grandia and many more it's in early development but they're planning full Linux support. The developer, ClaudiaTheDev, is being backed up by Top Hat Studios who are also helping to publish Steamdolls and Synergia for Linux too.

Have a look at some early footage:

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Want to check it out? You can try the latest tech demo on itch.io. According to Top Hat Studios who got in touch there's a Linux easter egg in there somewhere too. The developer would appreciate any feedback and Linux testing / performance info from a wide pool of Linux users.

If they get this right it could be the next big casual sim.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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12 comments
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kokoko3k Jul 24, 2020
Even if it is just a game, the idea that you make animals fight each other for your business disturbs me too much.
My child will never play this or any other pokemon related game.
razing32 Jul 25, 2020
If they pick up the best elements of all three of those games something interesting could come of it.
Draconicrose Jul 25, 2020
Looks pretty neat! I've always wanted something like this so I will be checking it out.
Cybolic Jul 26, 2020
Quoting: kokoko3kEven if it is just a game, the idea that you make animals fight each other for your business disturbs me too much.
My child will never play this or any other pokemon related game.
Same here. No matter how cute any game of this type may look, the initial concept is much too disturbing for me. I haven't even seen any of these games try to hide the concept behind something more innocent, like having the creatures pillowfight or who-gives-the-best-compliments battles (which I have seen in other game types).
It's honestly baffling to me how both the games and the audience seem perfectly fine with fantasy cock/dog fights; am I missing something?
kokoko3k Jul 26, 2020
Quoting: CybolicIt's honestly baffling to me how both the games and the audience seem perfectly fine with fantasy cock/dog fights; am I missing something?
I really hope so, because my faith in human kind is alerady at minimum levels.
I've ethical problems with factorio too which seems a great game from the demo.
DAMN!
Ehvis Jul 27, 2020
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Quoting: Cybolic
Quoting: kokoko3kEven if it is just a game, the idea that you make animals fight each other for your business disturbs me too much.
My child will never play this or any other pokemon related game.
Same here. No matter how cute any game of this type may look, the initial concept is much too disturbing for me. I haven't even seen any of these games try to hide the concept behind something more innocent, like having the creatures pillowfight or who-gives-the-best-compliments battles (which I have seen in other game types).

Maybe Ooblets will be something for you then. The battles there are dance battles. No contact at all. Currently only on the Epic Store though, but I assume the devs will eventually want to sell the game, so it'll no doubt come to Steam when it comes out of EA.
kokoko3k Jul 27, 2020
[quote=Patola]
Quoting: kokoko3k
Quoting: CybolicI really hope so, because my faith in human kind is alerady at minimum levels.
I've ethical problems with factorio too which seems a great game from the demo.
DAMN!
Factorio? Ethical problems? Would you care to describe them? Not going to contest you, just curious.
From reddit (sorry, i'm not english, but the following describes well what i think):
"I can't help but notice the game is about settling a planet, mining out all of it's resources while polluting the planet, and killing the inhabits that are trying to stop you from destroying their homes."
razing32 Jul 27, 2020
Quoting: kokoko3k
Quoting: CybolicIt's honestly baffling to me how both the games and the audience seem perfectly fine with fantasy cock/dog fights; am I missing something?
I really hope so, because my faith in human kind is alerady at minimum levels.
I've ethical problems with factorio too which seems a great game from the demo.
DAMN!

I was going to hold off on saying something because i was concerned how the conversation would go but ...
Let me play devil's advocate for a bit.
It's a game.
It's not real.
GTA has you play a gangster that can run over civilians and police officers by the hundreds. Nobody who plays that game wants to do that in real life.
I recently played Underrail where one mission for a proto-fascist faction asked me to gas some rebels. That doesn't mean I'm ok with crimes against humanity.
I don't mean to seem disrispectful but it really does sound the same as the argument that playing D&D puts you in league with the devil.
Cybolic Jul 27, 2020
Quoting: razing32
Quoting: kokoko3k
Quoting: CybolicIt's honestly baffling to me how both the games and the audience seem perfectly fine with fantasy cock/dog fights; am I missing something?
I really hope so, because my faith in human kind is alerady at minimum levels.
I've ethical problems with factorio too which seems a great game from the demo.
DAMN!

I was going to hold off on saying something because i was concerned how the conversation would go but ...
Let me play devil's advocate for a bit.
It's a game.
It's not real.
GTA has you play a gangster that can run over civilians and police officers by the hundreds. Nobody who plays that game wants to do that in real life.
I recently played Underrail where one mission for a proto-fascist faction asked me to gas some rebels. That doesn't mean I'm ok with crimes against humanity.
I don't mean to seem disrispectful but it really does sound the same as the argument that playing D&D puts you in league with the devil.
I get your point but I don't usually enjoy games that portray realistic violence as "fun" either unless the setting or presentation puts it firmly in make-believe territory. As for D&D, I still wouldn't enjoy a campaign where the focus was to enslave and abuse non-humanoid creatures, just like I imagine most people wouldn't (reactions to animals getting hurt in film or animation is a good example) - I'm just surprised that it seems that the thin veneer of "no no, these animals enjoy mauling each other" is enough for most people to not have that same gut reaction.
razing32 Jul 28, 2020
Quoting: Cybolic
Quoting: razing32
Quoting: kokoko3k
Quoting: CybolicIt's honestly baffling to me how both the games and the audience seem perfectly fine with fantasy cock/dog fights; am I missing something?
I really hope so, because my faith in human kind is alerady at minimum levels.
I've ethical problems with factorio too which seems a great game from the demo.
DAMN!

I was going to hold off on saying something because i was concerned how the conversation would go but ...
Let me play devil's advocate for a bit.
It's a game.
It's not real.
GTA has you play a gangster that can run over civilians and police officers by the hundreds. Nobody who plays that game wants to do that in real life.
I recently played Underrail where one mission for a proto-fascist faction asked me to gas some rebels. That doesn't mean I'm ok with crimes against humanity.
I don't mean to seem disrispectful but it really does sound the same as the argument that playing D&D puts you in league with the devil.
I get your point but I don't usually enjoy games that portray realistic violence as "fun" either unless the setting or presentation puts it firmly in make-believe territory. As for D&D, I still wouldn't enjoy a campaign where the focus was to enslave and abuse non-humanoid creatures, just like I imagine most people wouldn't (reactions to animals getting hurt in film or animation is a good example) - I'm just surprised that it seems that the thin veneer of "no no, these animals enjoy mauling each other" is enough for most people to not have that same gut reaction.

I respect that.
Context does matter and how violence is portraied matters.
This game is not out yet , so can't really say what the context will be.
As for other franchises like Pokemon , not really sure. Haven't been that big a fan over the years to really say. But i recall the pokemon could not be forced and they were stubborn to their trainers. The whole vibe i got as a kid was a kind of boxing setting where you train the fighters. Maybe the developers of such games side step the more unsavory aspects or maybe we are reading to much into them.
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