itch.io

Hey there -- this should be sorted now, we've just uploaded an updated version for Itch. Any issues, please contact support@pantaoon.io 

Cheers! 

What's "Counter-Strike"?  Unfamiliar with that one 👀

👀

The servers are spun up. The arsenal is stocked. The enemy is lining up at the frontline.

It's time to connect.

It Takes a War - which is OUT NOW on Itch! - has been confusing players and journalists a-like since it was announced in September. “Was the game made in 2001 or is it set in 2001?”, “So is just that one map like?" and “What tf am I looking at!?” are all things that have been asked since then. 

Missed the latest trailer? Because it basically doesn’t clear any of those questions up at all. It makes things more confusing, if anything.

A Bespoke Release for Itch 

Many of you will realise that ITAW launched on Steam a couple of weeks back. If you've played or know much about the game, you'll understand why the Itch version needs to be a very separate release from a production stand point. We needed to take a little longer with this version of the game to ensure a standalone version would work, and well, here it is! 

A Quick But Important Note

If possible, we recommend making sure you have enough time to play It Takes a War in one session as to not disappoint your teammates. A single playthrough of It Takes a War consists of around 45-60 minutes of playtime - so reserve that time in full, if you're able.

A Little Message From Thomas 

(Itch!) Launch day, everyone!

Thank you to everyone and anyone who decides to check the game out (yes, even you). I put a lot of hard work into this project and I really appreciate the support I've received so far.

If you end up enjoying It Takes a War, please feel free to leave a review. I’m always very anxious to share my work with people, but despite that I would still love to know what you thought! Unless it's something bad, in that case I'd rather you send a handwritten letter if that's okay. An insult is always easier to swallow when you can see the person's handwriting.

I don't expect this game to necessarily be as much of a "crowd-pleaser" as THE CORRIDOR, but it's just as personal to me (if not more) and so if it resonates with even a few of you I'll consider it a job well done.

Stay connected out there! Or don't, whatever's best for you.

Thomas

We have a hint system integrated into the puzzle channel of our discord server - you can use the syntax "clue for kill [x]" 

https://discord.com/invite/GshQKAEY4P?_kx=_NEZvoNKZfV4cXEX5IMHEg%3D%3D.VxpbwG

This is fixed now - apologies for the issue here. 

What on earth do you mean!? This is PURE ACTION. Relentless COMBAT! This is the pinnacle of TACTICAL WARFARE, and nothing more 👀

Hello there! We’re ready to talk about our new game - the next resident of Pantaloon's home for misfits.

We're working with Thomas Mackinnon; the creative force behind THE CORRIDOR, as we chart very different genre waters with his new game, It Takes a War.

https://pantaloon-io.itch.io/it-takes-a-war

For anybody well-versed in the early noughties era of tactical shooters - or the online culture surrounding them - I hope this game resonates.

Seeing early reactions to It Takes a War in playtest has reinforced my belief that Thomas has crafted something bloody special here; it's a game that will command conversation.

ITAW is a tactical team shooter with three unique classes, stunning photoreal graphics, innovative “voice chat” functionality, and nothing whatsoever lurking under that surface of VISCERAL TACTICAL ACTION.

Itch.io & Steam page live now - please wishlist/share/get the logo tattooed across your chest.

Pantaloon x

Thanks for this, Arno - we should've posted an update to the comments, too. 

Oh that rabbit hole is deeper than you think. Thanks for picking up the game -- hope you continue to enjoy!

Hi there! The Steam and Itch versions are identical, yes. 

Appreciate your want to support here - we'll gladly supply a Steam key with your purchase. Please email support[at]pantaloon[dot]io with your order number and we'll furnish you with the key. 

Thanks!

The rituals have begun; it's time to break the world.  Tributary Games and Pantaloon's game of occult solitaire, Occlude, is OUT NOW 👁️

• Solitaire: but not as you know it.
• Seven rituals: unlock increasingly complex card puzzles with unique hidden rulesets.
• Reality-bending narrative: uncover a cosmic horror story about a world broken by countless attempts to fix it.
• Atmospheric sound design: immersive audio cues that shift based on your closeness to solving each puzzle.
• Secret documents: discover fragments of forbidden texts that provide clues about Occlude's origins.
• Terrible secrets: for those foolish enough to look for them.

Looking forward to seeing you all down the rabbit hole....

https://pantaloon-io.itch.io/occlude

Hey GreedyRadish -- the standalone version is definitely more stable this month. The WebGL version is having some difficulty connecting our databases (not sure if a change Itch side, or a problem with our code (most likely latter!), but we're trying to diagnose the issue at the moment. Apologies for the issues here!

We're hugely excited to bring the next game from Tributary Games (King of the Castle) to Itch.io -- the game of occult solitaire known as Occlude.  

The game’s not simple. The rules are hidden, and you find them by playing and experimenting. Make sure you have some coins - the coins will show when you’re on the right path. There are seven Rituals, each their own puzzle, increasing in difficulty. 

There are seven Entities, and they know you’re playing. Don’t worry about them. Worrying doesn’t do anything. I shouldn’t have mentioned them at all.

Watch the brand new trailer. 

Very excited to finally announce that Sub-Verge is OUT NOW. Been waiting a long time to say those words, and release the first game from the new Pantaloon publishing label. 

The free/web-player version of Puzzletrunk always just features the current month's puzzle -- to access the archive and all past puzzles, you'll need to purchase the game. Hope this helps! 

Manage to get through it? We have a channel in our Discord server with hints, if you really hit a brick wall. 

Hello! Ah sorry, the offer has ended. Primo is usually $19.99, but our Reverse Sale for Puzzletrunk here on Itch made the game $5 more expensive, but gave the annual Primo sub as a bonus. 

We'll have some similar initiatives and opportunities to win an Annual sub in our Discord server over December, so keep your eyes out...

Hello! In the backlog of new features we're looking at rolling out, we're thinking of a Guest Log in, which would bypass any formal sign in but then also forgo any reward (this is the only reason we have the sign in - to be able to deliver game keys and the partnered rewards we have.)

Salutations! Puzzletrunk's October puzzle is now live! 

Solve this month's occult-flavoured challenge, and you'll guarantee a key for Pantaloon's partnered game for the month; the point-and-click renaissance masterpiece Four Last Things.

Solve the puzzle, bag yourself a great game. 



GL x

https://pantaloon-io.itch.io/puzzletrunk

GREETINGS. If you like giving that slab of grey matter nestled behind your eyes a good workout, BOY do we have the game for you. Introducing Pantaloon's Puzzletrunk: a puzzle compendium updated each month with new challenges, and new rewards for completing them.



This month, those who manage to successfully solve Puzzletrunk's inaugural puzzle will be entered into a draw to win a 256 GB LCD Steamdeck (terms & conditions).

Anybody that signs up to Pantaloon over the course of September will be given a copy of Puzzletrunk, after which point it will just be the Web version that’s available to all for free.

Please furnish us with your thoughts and feelings on the game; we'd love to know what you think, and what you'd like to see in terms of features and improvements for next month. 

Thanks (and GL). 

pantaloon.

Hello! We've just made our Brand Plan Template available on Itch.io -- a free 33-slide template that will become the commercial foundation for your game. 

If you're self-publishing your game on Itch (or anywhere else), but not sure how to navigate the murky waters or publishing/marketing -- working through this template until you have a solid Brand Plan will put your game on a path to commercial success. From there, the doors to the worlds of community, press, influencer, social - and all other flavours of marketing - are wide open. 

Our recently launched Publishing Hub contains a slew of other assets for studios handling their own publishing, and we're on hand for advice and reassurance.

Thanks! 

Hello! This looks interesting - what timelines are you working to? When does the bundle go live (and how long for?)

If the timings dovetail, we might be able to look at featuring this -- especially if there are any stand-out titles that are particularly weird or interesting. 

Salutations! Pantaloon is an unreasonably delightful newsletter that puts weird and wayward games up on a pedestal, and shines a light upon the developers that birthed them. Our mission is simply to surface bold and bizarre games that deserve chatter and attention. Maybe you're working on one!?

Each month we send out a Bold and Bizarre Games Bulletin, with the latest and great that we might find here on Itch, and are constantly on the lookout for peculiar or striking games that might be a fit for our 20k strong mailing list. We also run deeper partnerships with particularly noteworthy games (like Playables' KIDS, for example), and want to expose ourselves to the weirdest and wildest Itch.io has to offer. 

Anyway! We're constantly trawling the newly released titles on Itch, but if you'd like to send something for consideration directly, please do so here. 

Cheers x