new beginnings ~ pocket compass launch!

crescent moon copies are finally here, too

Dec 20, 2021

Hello everyone! Ema here. Many things may seem to be changing all at once, so if you’re receiving this message out of nowhere and are confused about what’s happening, let me explain:

Starting today I’m launching Pocket Compass Co. ; a publishing label for my games, art, and other weird endeavors.
I’m also moving this newsletter to Substack! There are many reasons for this; the main one being that every time I try to do anything in Mailchimp I get a headache, and the second that I’d love to have these posts be easily accessible for anyone; especially as Crescent Moon’s campaign comes to a close and I move away from Kickstarter.

All in all it’s the same me, in all it’s goofy glory. Moving forward you can expect this newsletter to center around Pocket Compass and its news, more than me as an individual…but you’ll always be able to catch a glimpse of me behind the curtain, winking discreetly. So let’s get right into it, shall we?

playful art, artsy play

As I was saying, Pocket Compass will from now on be the tiny spot on the internet to find my games and art, as well as the label I'll be publishing any future independent work under. The site went live today, and the reception has been heartwarming. I envision this brand as a way for me to articulate how I feel about art and play, and as a means to bring more people in this sphere together. You can expect the objects from Pocket Compass to boldly embody that in-between, to push it further and to freely move between the two poles. It’s gonna be fun!

Our launch lineup includes physical copies for Crescent Moon and The Farmstead, as well as (pretty) (hot) merchandise. But this is just the beginning!

Crescent Moon ☾ physical copies!

If you didn't get a chance to back the game while it was funding, here's a list of independent retailers who are or will be carrying Crescent Moon shortly:

Pocket Compass Co. (Portugal) (that's me.. hehe)
Iglootree (UK)
SF Bokhandeln (Sweden)
Floating Chair (US) Coming Soon!
Exalted Funeral (US) Coming Soon!
Ratti Incantati (Canada) Coming Soon!
Four Rogues Trading Company (Canada) Coming Soon!

Version 1.3 and winter sale on itch

Along with the site's launch, a new Crescent Moon update has also been released. It includes some pretty minor visual changes, as well as some surgical rule updates. A winter sale on itch also happens to be coming for both Crescent Moon standalone and a bundle with Crescent Moon, The Farmstead, and I am the Horizon beginning tomorrow! I don't foresee any relevant updates to the game moving forward, so if you've been meaning to sink your teeth into this, now's about the perfect time to do so.

✶THE EXILES✶

Simultaneous to the shop launch, I've also been designing and playtesting THE EXILES, Crescent Moon's dark fantasy playset. I am on track for releasing it as a free update in a couple of weeks, in preparation for a physical edition coming next year. (!!)

In the process of working on the playset, I realized there was a lot I wanted to fit in to make this version of the game really shine, so I decided to pull the trigger and release an extended edition as the first project for 2022. If you wish to see how it has been coming along in a devblog format, I have been posting snippets of the game on Patreon as I work on it—which I plan to continue doing as this becomes my primary project soon.

The original plan was to host a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for Zinequest 4, but due to recent announcements regarding what their plans are for the future, there's about a 99% chance preorders for this will happen literally anywhere else. At any rate, you can expect me to keep you posted on where this goes beginning the new year.

a sappy, end-of-the-year thank you

Thank you for sticking through this hell of a year. Whether you joined me on this journey all the way back in February or found your way here along the way, I appreciate how far I’ve been able to come thanks to your help. May 2022 bring new beginnings and fortunes for both of us; and as uncertain of a year as the next one might be, I hope you find in my work a place of respite and reflection, of fun and care.

be well and see you very soon,

ema <3

This letter was sent to you by Pocket Compass, and it was penned by Ema Acosta. You can catch us on twitter, instagram, or on our very own world wide web site! Have a wonderful rest of your day. :-)

pocket compass co.