Creating the Perfect Blend of Storytelling in Coffee Talk Episode 2

It can appear that listening is an unappreciated art in the social media age, where everyone wants to share their opinion. Toge Productions wants to bring this important skill into focus. Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & ButterflyGame Pass and Xbox are available now. I’m Arya, Toge Production’s PR & Communications Manager and I’d like to tell you more about how a game that’s focused on listening can be engaging…

A Warm Brew and a Heartfelt Conversation

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & ButterflyThis simulator will transport you to a near-future Seattle. Here, you’ll not only find humans as its residents but also a myriad of fantasy creatures such as vampires, werewolves, orcs, elves, and a few others too. The first-time player will be able to catch up on some old faces and meet new ones. 

While listening and helping your customer, you play the role of a barista whose task is to make coffee and warm drinks while also listening and helping out. What makes Coffee Talk so interesting to listen to?

You and I talked Hibiscus & Butterfly’s two writers, Junkipatchi (Narrative Designer and Lead Writer) and Anna Winterstein (Writer), on how they maintain the right atmosphere and experience in a game where listening is pivotal, and their own challenges as new writers for the series.

Discussions in Coffee Shops

“The writing is one of the most crucial aspects after the vibe (visuals, music), as it’s how the player interacts with the characters. We need to ensure the characters talk, while players gently encourage them to open up, so to speak.” Junki said.

Junki believes that inspiration can come from real life experience.

“Some experience with real-life conversations with strangers can be helpful, as people’s communication styles vary based on location. Coffee shops or bars often serve as a ‘third place’ for individuals, where they might either relax or become more cautious, depending on their personality. This can lead to interesting dynamics…” she added.

The ordeal dates to when Junki was – in their own words – “a penniless freelancer” in Toronto, which makes Coffee TalkSeattle is a relatable setting.

“Back when I did freelance comic work, I often spent hours in a cafe for the background noise. I’d stay for hours, always ordering the same drink – the baristas knew my order by heart! Oddly, people would chat with me because they saw me drawing.” she recalled.

“There was a bodybuilder who loved manga, a curious chef who always noticed me there, and even a textile factory owner seeking new pattern ideas. I was even asked to sample new drinks by the cafe. It was kind of a funny experience and admittedly made me nervous!”

Building Relationships

As for Anna, she said the key to creating the right player experience is about making the characters feel like they’re the player’s friends, which means that as a writer, you start seeing them as your friends as well.

“The process is very similar to watching a sitcom: nothing big or dramatic happens, but as you grow familiar with the protagonists, you start rooting for them, and you want to know what’s going on in their lives—much like with the real people you care about,” Anna said.

“Of course, in this case, a lot of the characters are already familiar to the players, which makes it extra daunting, because you don’t want them to feel like their friends have become strangers! There’s some pressure there to make sure that they keep enjoying the pixel people they’ve grown to love, and that they keep feeling invested in their personal stories.”

Keeping the magic alive

Both writers had to make sure that the work was done justice in the sequel. They had to gather character stories and lore from the first game, create a continuation that enhances fans’ experience, yet keep that relaxed and magical experience that so many players have already enjoyed… so no pressure! 

Anna played the first game, and it had a huge impact: “When I got a chance to write for the sequel, I was thrilled but also a little scared: I really didn’t want to mess it up for everyone else who had felt like me,” she said.

“Fortunately, the channels of communication with everyone at Toge, who had worked on the original game, as well as with Jho, my fellow writer, who had long-standing ties to the project, were always completely open, and every part of this was a joint effort. Now I only hope the fans of the original game enjoy reading this sequel as much as I enjoyed working on it.” 

That’s all there is to it. We really hope you’ll enjoy Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly!

Hibiscus and butterfly in Coffee Talk episode 2

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Coffee Talk helps us reconnect in an age where many people live apart. We can enjoy a hot drink together and rekindle our friendships.

It’s time to revisit your favorite late-night coffee shop and reconnect with your fantasy friends over a warm drink or two. Listen to your barista customers’ stories, as they are not always human. Influence their hearts by serving them a cup of warm coffee.

*Brew Warm Drinks
Combine ingredients such as chocolate, tea, ginger and mint. Experiment and uncover secret recipes, change people’s lives by serving drinks that will warm their hearts.
*Create Latte-Art Masterpieces
Use our fluid simulation within the game to create your own latte artwork.
*Chill Lo-fi Atmosphere
Immerse yourself into the relaxed coffee shop environment. It’s raining outside, brew yourself a warm drink, play that lo-fi chillhop beats, and listen to the coffee talk.
*Urban Fantasy Cappuccinopunk
In an alternate Seattle, humans, orcs and elves have coexisted since the dawn of time. Discover the world by listening to the stories of your customers, one cup at time.
*Hangout With a Diverse Cast
Discover quirky characters such as Baileys, an elf graphic designer freelance, Lua the succubus Bisdev executive and Myrtle, the orc video game developer. You can influence their story by bringing them a hot drink!