I'm just letting you all know that Laura has announced her latest game, called 'Rakuen' (or 'paradise', in Japanese) ^_^
"Rakuen is a story-based adventure game about a little Boy who becomes bored with living in a hospital, and eventually asks his mother if she'll escort him to the fantasy world from his favourite storybook. Throughout the game, the Boy begins to learn more about the patients who live around him. They each have their own secrets and struggles that are mysteriously tied to the strange hospital. In helping those around him, the Boy deals with questions about empathy, hope, and what it means to leave behind a legacy by coming to terms with his own story."
In terms of gameplay, Rakuen functions like a mix between Maniac Mansion, To The Moon, and The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past (though without battles or fighting). The story and character design is influenced by Japanese mythology and children's culture, as well as films like Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
The game is scheduled to be released early 2014 for PC initially (with possible ports afterwards).
If a great story, characters, and relaxing gameplay wasn't enough, Laura is also composing the soundtrack for Rakuen, which is available for pre-order here. Most of the available tracks can be listened to for free as well, though I would definitely recommend buying the soundtrack so you can get the rest of the tracks free when it is released :)
Want more info on Rakuen? :D You can head to the Official Rakuen page, complete with game info, the characters in the game, and amazing, well-drawn art work, whether it be in Rakuen, or the official Rakuen cover art.
Please check out the above links and support Project Rakuen! ^_^
