Today we’d like to announce our main project, the one that got us all together as a team. To celebrate this official announcement, we’re releasing a small portion of Katie’s beautiful concept art for the game, with some accompanying concept music:
MP3 Download → Marian Medley [2:54]
“Marian” is a concept that we’ve been developing since August 2008 – inspired by our combined personal experiences. Our goal is to create a deep, meaningful, fun and moving experience. I also think we have a good shot at making one of the most beautiful 2D games, thanks to Katie.
Back in November we printed 100 promotional posters for Marian to hand out at the Montreal International Games Summit. Katie’s poster art was recently featured in Play’s “Girls of Gaming” magazine:
Printed in Girls of Gaming, is a description of the game:
“Marian is a beautifully carved marionette who rips her strings from the grasp of ‘The Narrator’ and becomes her own master. Caught in the dream world between life and death, she uses her own puppet handle as a weapon and replaces her limbs with a variety of tools in her quest to discover her true identity – and maybe even true love.”
Currently we’re focused on finishing our game “Heroes and Villains”, but we’re still planning and doing pre-production work on Marian in the meantime. One of the challenges with Marian (and many indie games) is funding. We have a few options available to us, and we’ll have to see if we can make them work. (fingers crossed)
P.S. If this is your first time visiting Infinite Ammo, welcome! We’d be delighted if you stuck around and followed along with our development updates. We try to show as much of the behind-the-scenes process as possible, without spoiling our games. Your comments, praise and criticisms are always welcome – feel free to add them below! Thanks for reading, and we all hope to see you again. 
Jeffrey Rosen wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:27 am
Looks awesome. Let me know if you need a beta tester.
Inspuration wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:28 am
Sign me up for a beta test as well
Raf wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:28 am
Looks beautiful
Levin wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:29 am
Hey Alec, the concept arts looks really amazing (good job Katie!). Can’t wait to see new stuff
El Latino wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:29 am
Wow amazing artwork Katie. Being a feature in Play is pretty cool keep up the awesome work
Chrissy wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:29 am
Wahooo! Awesome job Alec + Katie + Ian + Chris. 2009 is gonna be bitchin’.
Renton wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:30 am
Here’s hoping all goes well with Marian in the new year.
J Kujanen wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:31 am
Interesting and peculiar story concept, but somehow sad one (as in Aquaria). The music is beautiful, love it. This will be something great, I’m waiting eagerly for more news about this project. I hope you solve the funding problem, but I’m sure there’re people willing to give a small donation, if nothing more helps. Happy New Year 2009 to Infinite Ammo -team.
Mark Johns wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:32 am
Looks puuuurdy. Nice work, guys (and gal)! Here’s looking forward to a creatively and professionally 2009. Cheeers. -Mark
Mark Johns wrote a Comment on December 31, 2008 at 3:33 am
er – creatively and professionally _successful_ 2009. Boom.
Two Jacks wrote a Comment on January 1, 2009 at 3:28 am
“Marian is a beautifully carved MARIONette” /facepalm. Heh, I do admit that I like those kinds of names.
I also only just noticed the puppet arms, but the strings in the first picture were my initial hint. Hopefully Heroes and Villains will give you guys a big enough rise to finish your masterpiece.
Jhon wrote a Comment on January 1, 2009 at 3:28 am
i am toataly available for beta testing, no but seriously guys cant wait it looks cool and the music sounds great
Xiagan wrote a Comment on January 1, 2009 at 3:31 am
Looks/Sounds great! Will the Crea.. uhm Narrator be the endboss?
Cheers!
Andrew wrote a Comment on January 1, 2009 at 3:32 am
Umm what is with the Metal Gear Solid picture? Is that just to show how awesome Marian is going to be compared to that other game? Or how tastefully artistic Marian’s beauty eclipses the “whore-ificly overly exaggerated bimbo” style of feminine beauty in modern gaming? Just wondering, thanks!
Greg wrote a Comment on January 1, 2009 at 3:33 am
looks amazing. can’t wait to see more.
Jon wrote a Comment on January 2, 2009 at 3:25 am
Looks very interesting, looking forward to more info =)
Calibers wrote a Comment on January 2, 2009 at 3:27 am
Wow, this looks incredible, the artwork is beautiful! Please posts lots of updates on this one!
NightmareShadow wrote a Comment on January 3, 2009 at 3:25 am
Fascinating premise…I hope it’s as good as Aquaria. The music sounds fantastic…so deep, so moving, and somewhat brooding. Interested to know more…and hopefully we get a proper ending on this one.(Aquaria reference)
StaticFloat wrote a Comment on January 3, 2009 at 3:26 am
Looks great already. The artwork combined with the music strikes a wonderful tone, can’t wait to see how you reflect this tone through the gameplay.
Hiro wrote a Comment on January 3, 2009 at 3:26 am
Heh, Andrew, I think that the MGS page just happens to be there since thats a scan from a magazine. And the new game sounds….interesting. I’ll wait for more info before I pass judgement of course.
But the music does sound great.
Alspal wrote a Comment on January 4, 2009 at 3:23 am
The first image brings back memories of Castlevania.
Jacabyte wrote a Comment on January 5, 2009 at 3:36 am
Wow… What striking contrast Marian has with the MGS ad. Makes you realize how “overly exaggerated” many modern day games have become. If you need a Mac tester, I’m open, but I’m sure if you show anybody this concept art that’ll you’ll have an instant tester.
I’m a little late, sorry.
Ithamore wrote a Comment on January 7, 2009 at 12:10 am
Alec, the concept and concept art are beautiful. Furthermore, “marian-promo-0003″ left my mind tingling with delight.
Senses wrote a Comment on January 7, 2009 at 3:36 am
hope, it´ll be in german too?!?
Ashe wrote a Comment on January 9, 2009 at 3:37 am
I am stunned. That Marian concept music gave me goosebumps and I’ve been listening to it obsessively on loop ever since I discovered it. It’s poignant and gentle, yet rich and melancholic. It blends beautifully with that promo art. Katie De Sousa is quite the inspiration. You all give me much hope that video games are not an idle form of entertainment or titillation, but an art form in of themselves. I eagerly await your updates.
Yegwa wrote a Comment on January 12, 2009 at 3:36 am
It all looks very amazing! Definitely looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. Already using one of the desktop wallpapers
Ann Cole wrote a Comment on January 12, 2009 at 3:38 am
I would encourage you to pay attention to the older demographic. There are so many of us now who would like to play games but aren’t into violence. Myst was my favorite — a mental challenge and beautifully done. We represent a huge market.
Bunbury wrote a Comment on January 12, 2009 at 3:39 am
Looks beautiful. Ditto the above comment re:older gamers and Myst. BTW, did Phillipe Genty’s profoundly moving Pierrot vignette influence this at all?
MayhemMessiah wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:39 am
Looks beautiful, and very creative to boot. Always liked puppet mythology (he whole “tool v.s. master”). Just a noob’s question… the game coming out for what console again
? Sorry… >.> Will look forward to more updates!
EmptyThought wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:39 am
amazing art, i’ll be quite sad if this just fades away. you guys can do it!
F wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:40 am
Who composed that piece? It’s mesmerizing.
Chrissy wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:40 am
Unofficial answers to questions: 1) The game will be in English, and I’m not sure if any plans for subs of other languages have been established at this point. 2) It’s planned for PC, as far as I know. 3) the music is composed by Alec Holowka.
Andrew Ferguson wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:41 am
I find it interesting that the first commentor thought of Castlevania. My mind immediately went to the Opera scene from Final Fantasy 6. Looking forward to this!
Jacabyte wrote a Comment on January 13, 2009 at 3:41 am
Planned for PC? After Alec hooked us Mac users on Aquaria? I think not.
Grikdog wrote a Comment on January 14, 2009 at 3:42 am
Beautiful theme and marionette. Would really hate to see this become a twisted Alice McGee sort of game. Weapons? What about burglar’s tools? What about musical instruments? Paint brushes? How about recursion? Marian plays marionette with even smaller puppets who help or hinder. Hands become flippers, horse brushes, pinball levers, tiny scythes to harvest frost flowers, hand puppets to get past warrior shrews, ear trumpets to listen to a patchwork fool’s secret meanings, The mind boggles. You may have stumbled onto an icon, if you’re careful at the beginning.
Yousef wrote a Comment on January 15, 2009 at 3:38 am
You guys are doing a really great job. I really appreciate it. Can’t wait for Marian. It looks really beautiful and artistic; just like Aquaria =)
Alec Holowka wrote a Comment on January 16, 2009 at 3:44 am
Jacabyte: Our intention is to release a Mac version at the same time as the PC version.
We’re probably going to self-publish it.
misochang » marian wrote a Pingback on January 17, 2009 at 12:25 am
[...] marian [...]
GrimBook wrote a Comment on January 24, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hm, thats surely a game i would spend a lot to play with.
Aquaria was (IS!) so beautiful with a deep meaning, a great storyline, that is sure that you will make Marian twice better.
Maybe it’s again a “i-have-to-flee-my-creator” game, but for this one it will be a master piece.
Living pretty doll, who wants freedome…it makes me think about Pinochio.
Hope this will be a great game. (and i’m pretty sure it will be.)
Take care. =)
(Excuse me for my bad english i think there is many mistakes.)
Kyle Durand wrote a Comment on February 2, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Sounds like an excellent concept! I’m really loooking forward to seeing more of this, and I wish the best of luck to you Infinite Ammo Team.
P.S. Really like the new site!
Samantha wrote a Comment on February 19, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I love love love this. I would so appreciate an update about Marian! I have the golden (or are they light) butterflies as my desktop.
<3
William D wrote a Comment on March 30, 2009 at 12:59 pm
This looks pretty sweet and interesting, especially if it has physics. I look forward to your first beta release.
Alanielle wrote a Comment on May 6, 2009 at 7:51 am
Really like the art and the concepts. The promo-melody just stunning, as it is filled with dreams, wishes, thoughts. And it impresses me so much!
As I’m enjoying everything connected with dolls, I sure hope to see it and feel it soon. And really wish this master piece to be the head of my games collection ^_^
Pedro Joffily wrote a Comment on May 9, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I really hope “Marian” will be awesome like Aquaria. We´re hoping anxiously for this game!!
Alec Holowka wrote a Comment on May 22, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I want to work on this project the most…
Alexandre wrote a Comment on June 5, 2009 at 10:48 am
sign me up to if there gonna be a beta test lol i gotta try it if it as good as aquaria
James wrote a Comment on July 28, 2009 at 7:15 am
One of the things I really enjoyed about Aquaria was the tone of the setting. It was an amazing world, and you got the impression that there’s a lot more to it. Judging by this little peek, Marian might share that same feeling. I really hope it does.
Nerl wrote a Comment on September 6, 2009 at 10:07 am
The idea behind Marian holds so many possibilities. Be careful you guys don’t ruin it… and i’m sure you’ll come up an incredible game.
Panina Manina wrote a Comment on December 24, 2009 at 8:58 am
Entrar aqui e ver a OST de Aquaria e esse novo projeto me deixou emocionado.
Boa sorte para todos vocês.
Vocês tem fãs no mundo todo.
Annunciato Marian « Indie Vault wrote a Pingback on June 6, 2010 at 2:49 pm
[...] a rendere l’aspetto visivo del gioco finale quanto più simile ai concept art pubblicati sul sito ufficiale. Stay tuned! IndieVault © [...]
Annunciato Marian | Indie Vault wrote a Pingback on July 11, 2010 at 5:27 am
[...] a rendere l’aspetto visivo del gioco finale quanto più simile ai concept art pubblicati sul sito ufficiale. Stay tuned! 1185 Scrivi il primo commento a questo [...]