Latest news with #OnceAgain
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
M'sian studio's debut game explores the eternal goodbye through a child's eyes
If you could go back in time and see that person you loved again, what would you do? What would you say to them? Everything good must come to an end, and all love ends with grief. We've all dealt with loss in our lives, making the central premise of Once Again universally relatable. The young protagonist of this short but sweet visual novel is a boy named Sia, whose mother has passed away. On his 10th birthday, he awakens from a nap to discover a birthday cake in his room. Making a wish, he finds himself mysteriously transported to the past. There, he miraculously encounters his mother as a younger woman, who teaches him to develop photographs. Sia's mother teaches him about photography, and he in turn develops an equally strong interest in the craft. The story is mainly expressed through short sentences, all told from the point of view of the main protagonist Sia. From then on, on each of his birthdays, the boy is transported to the past, reuniting with his departed mother for one precious day each year. The pain of farewell Once Again is the debut game from Malaysian developers RB Wolf Games, and was conceived by producer Yee Weng Hong during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Yee, 36, comes from an advertising background, and this was his first foray into a purely creative project. 'That was a time when I realised how fragile life is,' he says. 'The game's story is also based on a real-life story. One of the main characters is inspired by one of my relatives, a woman who dreamed of becoming a mother, but unfortunately passed away two months after giving birth due to a heart condition called PPCM.' (Also known as peripartum cardiomyopathy, the American Heart Association explains it as an uncommon form of heart failure which can happen during or after pregnancy, when no other cause of heart failure can be found.) 'This story had always been in my mind, and during Covid, I thought I could try to make a video game.' His mind made up, Yee set up RB Wolf Games and managed to win a grant from MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) which really helped the fledgling company during the developmental stage. The melancholic colours and composition of Once Again informs the player of the sentimental tone of this quiet tale of goodbyes and second chances. Throughout the course of the game, Sia repeatedly travels to the past, spending time with his mother, who is revealed to have a strong interest in photography. She teaches Sia about her passion, and he too develops an equally strong interest in the craft. 'I love photography,' Yee says. 'I think it's a beautiful way to freeze time, and turn moments into lasting memories. I think in the game, photography helps to tell the story of the differing perspectives of mother and son.' Artistic influences 'I think the biggest influence on my game was actually music,' Yee shares. 'A lot of inspiration for the story, visuals, and soundtrack came from lo-fi music. It was more about capturing the vibe.' If you have spent any time on YouTube listening to lo-fi music, perhaps that would have conjured up a certain aesthetic. Manga-style, hand drawn character art, combined with soft pastel clouds draped over the sunset. Yee would often play instrumental lo-fi or Ryuichi Sakomoto's piano music while working on the visuals and art direction to infuse his work with the intended feelings. 'Instrumental music only,' Yee says. 'If there's a person singing lyrics it might distract me.' Other than music, the indie game Florence, developed by Mountains and published by Annapurna Interactive was a big influence. Yee says, 'It inspired us in developing the interactive aspect of the game. Interaction is very important because you need it for the player to truly immerse themselves in the story.' Once Again is Yee's first time telling a narrative story. — YEE WENG HONG The gameplay in Once Again, like Florence, is understated and simple. For example, some sequences task the player with adjusting the exposure and focus on a camera to take beautiful shots of the landscape or Sia's mother, much like Florence's gameplay loop of touching certain areas of the screen to perform mundane tasks or convey interactions with the main character's loved ones. Once Again is the first work of fiction Yee has created. 'It was a big personal challenge,' Yee remarked. 'I don't come from a writing background, I worked in advertising. I'm an art person. This is my first full narrative story. It was quite fun!' The text in Once Again is minimalist, unconcerned with using fancy words, instead trusting to the emotions the simple dialogue and narration evokes. The gorgeous visuals combines with the beautiful music to create a truly sentimental and timeless atmosphere, putting one in mind of the idle holidays of one's youth. A chance to say goodbye Yee emphasises the importance of closure in his game. In life, there are a lot of continuous or unresolved experiences, or experiences that are 'commas', as Yee describes. 'When you are able to say goodbye properly, it turns those commas into full stops, full sentences. You need to be able to properly say goodbye to everything, not just people, but memories, relationships, and different phases of your life. The core of this game is exploring the meaning of farewell. How we face it and learn to let go. 'Cherish the moment and appreciate every chance you get to meet the people you love. I hope that's something players can take away from their journey in Once Again.' Indeed, the protagonist Sia has the chance to do something that many people never get to do: say goodbye on his own terms. Photography serves as a gameplay mechanic and vehicle to express the point of view of the characters. — RB Wolf Games As a newcomer to the gaming industry, Yee and his company RB Wolf Games met with their share of challenges. He had no contacts or experience. 'When we started out I watched a lot of case studies, joined some game festivals, and learned from others in the industry,' Yee says. 'I met many developers and producers and they shared their experience.' Yee and his team of four to five people, mostly freelancers, gave their all to make their vision a reality. He employed Chinese and English writers to help finetune and translate his manuscripts as he had no writing experience. The positive response this game has received is a source of motivation for Yee and his team to keep going. 'Sometimes I still receive thank you messages from players,' Yee says. 'It means a lot to us. It has become a strong foundation for us to build something even better in the future.' RB Wolf Games is working on their second project now, with an even bigger scale and emotional story. 'We just kickstarted it this year, so there's nothing much we can show at the moment. I just completed the script end of last year, and now we're working on art direction and characters. One of the many idyllic yet bittersweet panoramas in the game. 'We also plan to enhance the gameplay and make it more engaging, we're in the process of trial and error with the gameplay mechanics. We're trying to get the gameplay rhythm to match the story and make sure the player won't feel bored. Hopefully we will have more to show people early next year.' Once Again is available on Steam for RM11.50, as well as on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and Nintendo eShop for US$5.99 (RM25).
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm a Dietitian and This Is My Favorite Healthy Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has been a lifelong favorite for its comfort and nutritional benefits. Once Again brand is my top pick for its simple ingredients, taste and environment-friendly glass jar. Peanut butter is a great addition to smoothies, breakfast recipes and as part of a you know me, then you know that I start almost every single day with a piece of whole-wheat toast topped with peanut butter. Somehow it's the only breakfast combination that not only helps me feel satisfied, but also brings me joy. It's simple, but perfect to me. And frankly, it's a food I couldn't live without. I've sampled my fair share of peanut butter brands, but the Once Again brand is my favorite. Here's why. Before I was a dietitian, I was a kid. And I spent my early childhood eating plenty of bologna sandwiches, but even more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I remember the anticipation of opening my brown paper bag at lunchtime, hoping that the sandwich wrapped in foil was peanut butter with grape jelly on white bread (and not the warm turkey and cheese sandwich that would sometimes be packed). Somehow, like fine wine, PB&J seemed to get better with time. If it was smashed or a little warm, well, that just added to its charm for me. While the jelly was good, it was the peanut butter I loved most. It was savory, creamy and just a little sweet. It was perfect. My love of peanut butter continued into high school and even into college, when money was tight, but I needed something to fuel sports (I was a collegiate cyclist) and learning. As a nutrition major, I began to understand why peanut butter was such a great food. Nuts, like peanuts, are a great source of plant-based protein, exactly what I needed for fueling my active body and brain. They also have fiber and unsaturated fat to help fill me up and keep me satisfied for hours. I quickly learned from classes and reading nutrition labels that the creamy, sweet peanut butter of my childhood had added sugar and hydrogenated oils, which can be damaging to our health in excess. So I transitioned to 'natural' peanut butter, which often means it's made with just peanuts and salt. I learned to love the simplicity of that peanut butter and have been enjoying it that way ever since. Now that you know how deep my relationship with peanut butter is, I hope you can trust me when I say that Once Again peanut butter is my absolute favorite of all store-bought peanut butters. I only shop the original line (not the 'No-Stir') and prefer their 'lightly salted' option, which has only 50 milligrams sodium per 2-tablespoon serving. Both the creamy and crunchy varieties are delicious, and I appreciate that they only contain two ingredients, peanuts and salt! Unlike some other natural peanut butters, this one is easy to stir and, once stirred, it's a dream for spreading and enjoying. The flavor is perfectly peanutty, with just the right amount of sweet warmth from being roasted. Beyond flavor, I also love that this peanut butter comes in a glass jar. The environment and the health of our planet is important, so I prefer glass versus plastic. Plus, once I've enjoyed every last bit of peanut butter, I can easily clean the jar and use it for storing leftovers, holding fresh flowers or recycling. Whatever peanut butter you love, know that it's a great addition to breakfasts like Spinach, Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie or High-Protein Strawberry & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats. Try it in snacks like our Peanut Butter Energy Balls or even spread on a slice of celery, too. And you can even add peanut butter to dinner recipes like our Roasted Tofu & Broccoli with Peanut-Curry Sauce. As a registered dietitian, peanut butter is something I'll always have stocked in my pantry (and it's usually the Once Again brand). Read the original article on EATINGWELL
