Few games capture the spirit of indie game development quite like VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. What initially started out as a short game for a Cyberpunk Game Jam back in 2014, soon became a standout indie hit. VA-11 Hall-A delivers a heartfelt story of happiness in the depths of disaster, draped in a unique cyberpunk aesthetic and set to a distinctive synthwave soundtrack to match. It’s a truly remarkable visual novel, and the perfect choice for our Design Works range. 

Produced in collaboration with Sukeban Games and Ysbryd, VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works explores the corrupt metropolis of Glitch City, its culture, and the people who frequent the game’s beloved hole in the wall, VA-11 Hall-A. You’ll hear how this world came to be and the cyberpunk touchstones that inspired it — all the while lending insight into the history of Venezuela, where the team is located, and the unique challenges of developing a game there. VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works will be a celebration of this beautiful indie masterpiece, and the people that made it all possible. 

Alongside contemporary interviews with writer/programmer Fernando Damas and artist/designer Christopher Ortiz conducted exclusively for VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works,  the book also features a collection of highlights from the ‘Daily VA-11 Hall-A’ blog posts directly from Sukeban.moe. You can also expect deep dives into the development of the game’s prototype and prologue; the bartending mechanics that put you in the shoes of disaster bisexual bartender Jill Stingray, and interviews exploring its iconic synthwave soundtrack/jukebox with composer Michael Kelly. 

VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works features detailed insight into the game’s early concepts and development, an exploration of Glitch City itself, and a deep dive into the programming, art and soundtrack — an unmissable read for any fan.