Please, Touch The Artwork 2

Factsheet

Developer:
Thomas Waterzooi
Based in Gent/Brussels, Belgium

Release date:
February 19th 2024

Platforms:
Steam (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Itch.io (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
Nintendo Switch

Rating:

Languages:

Website:
studiowaterzooi.com/please-touch-the-artwork/#ptta2

Regular Price:

Mobile	Free
PC/MAC	Free
Nintendo Switch	$4.99 (US)

Description

Press release

Please, Touch The Artwork 2 continues the tradition of its award-winning predecessor, immersing players in the captivating realm of a renowned modern artist.

Embark on a journey through the iconic paintings of James Ensor in an engaging hidden object adventure, reminiscent of the beloved 'Where's Waldo/Wally?' concept, allowing players, 12 and up, to uncover the deeper layers of his magnificent works.

The game was released February 19th 2024 on Steam (Mac/Win/Linux), Apple Appstore and Google Play. Some stats:

• Over 500.000 downloads
• Over 7000 overwhelmingly positive reviews
• 13th best rated Steam game in 2024 (99.3% positive)
• 87% PC Metacritic

The game will release on Nintendo Switch May 23rd 2025.

Short Description (~300 chars)

Assist a wandering skeleton artist in navigating a surreal, hand-painted universe, while collecting hidden objects for its quirky inhabitants. ​Solve casual puzzles and fix gaps and cracks in the paintings. Carefully crafted from works by James Ensor, a Belgian pioneer in the world of Modern Art.

Short Description (~200 chars)

A relaxing hidden object adventure. Explore iconic paintings, collect items for their quirky inhabitants, and solve casual puzzles. Discover the world of James Ensor, Belgian Modern Art pioneer.

Short Description (~80 chars)

‘Where’s Waldo’ meets Modern Art in this cozy hidden-object adventure.

Short Description (~30 chars)

Where's Waldo meets Modern Art

Features

• Explore 5 unique worlds - Embark on a journey through five distinct worlds, each brimming with the mesmerizing art of James Ensor. Discover hidden treasures and unravel the mysteries within his famous paintings.
• Hints when stuck - Stuck on a particularly elusive object? No worries! Players can request hints to nudge them in the right direction. This ensures a frustration-free adventure, allowing you to seamlessly continue your exploration.
• Casual point & click controls - Navigate the world by clicking or tapping where you want to move. The intuitive controls make it accessible to gamers of all ages. T ake advantage of the zoom function to delve into every intricate detail.
• Real hand-painted art - Interactive elements and animations made from James Ensor's authentic hand-painted works bring his masterpieces to life.
• Easygoing - With a light-hearted theme and relaxing gameplay, "Please, Touch The Artwork 2" is a delightfully cozy adventure suitable for almost everyone.

Inspiration

"What would happen if you DID touch the artwork?" That's the fantasy Thomas started playing with back in 2016 after reading ‘What Are You Looking At’ by Will Gompertz. In Dutch (his mother tongue) the title was changed and it freely translates to ‘My little sister can do this as well. Why modern art is art.’ Thomas has a technical background but very artistic parents. He's always had a complex relation with modern art so this title triggered him. It’s an anecdotal and informative book which sketches the chronology of the origins of modern art, from the impressionists to the present.

You go on a journey and read about where these artists lived and worked, who their friends were and what drove them to make their art. They reflected on the rapidly industrializing society. All artists portrayed their own inner criticism and opinions on that society thus their art became very personal. It is precisely that aspect - the emergence of the path of the artist - that he found so exciting about this period.

At that time Thomas, who worked at AAA studios like Larian Studios (Baldur's Gate) and IO-Interactive (Hitman), wanted to create his own indie-games. He wanted to take a wholesome, casual approach and make accessible playful slices of life, attracting both gamers and non-(frequent)-gamers. Combining art and games turned out to be the best way to achieve this!

Please, Touch The Artwork 2 Credits

Thomas Waterzooi
Design & Development, Studio Waterzooi

Fannie Buissier
Illustration & Animation Support, freelance

Lison Raimbault
Illustration & Animation Support, freelance

Julie Kern Donck
Developer Support, freelance

Contact

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