Press Kit

Factsheet

Developer:

The Odd Gentlemen

Based in Southern California

Founding Date:

2008

Announced Platforms:

Netflix Games

Microsoft Game Pass

Description

Harmonium is an interactive sign language musical and adventure/narrative game that follows Melody Macato, an energetic 10-year-old Filipina-American musician who became Deaf at a young age. For her upcoming debut show, she wants to create a new type of music that can be felt, seen, and is accessible to her friends.

When Melody's notes leap off the page, she is pulled into a musical and visual wonderland called Harmonium. To make it home in time for her big show, Melody has to face Cacophony, an all-consuming force who can only be defeated with a masterpiece symphony.

In a world where all music is visualized, players explore the wonders of Harmonium through innovative gameplay mechanics and narrative puzzles that incorporate American Sign Language and allow the player to communicate through body language, handshapes, and gestures.

This heart-warming story features universal themes for players of any age and background to enjoy. Players are taken on a fantastical journey where Melody discovers her own painted symphony, a song that lives inside of her heart and through her hands.

History

Harmonium is a collaboration between writers, designers, artists, and animators in the Deaf Community coming together with an award-winning narrative game studio, The Odd Gentlemen, to create an accessible game for a wide, all-ages audience to enjoy. Through many years of development, the story, gameplay, and art has grown and been revised to authentically represent Melody’s story. The team is excited to announce their passion project to the world.

Features

Unique Sign Language Game Mechanics
The game uses sign language and a variety of other non-verbal communication in its puzzles and narrative gameplay. Players will observe and take action in gameplay mechanics that utilize body language and handshapes classifiers to describe things visually. No prior sign language experience is required to play.
An Accessible Experience
Accessibility design has been baked in from the start. The game features a visual language for music, animated subtitles for musical numbers, customizable captions/UI/controls, characters who fully communicate through ASL, a high-contrast gameplay mode, dubbed or subtitled mode, and more
Interactive Musical Numbers
Inspired by animated musicals and Deaf theater, the game features interactive and musical numbers that are signed and sung, branching dialogues that affect lyrics and gameplay, and puzzles that invite the player to tinker with visual musical toys.
A Narrative Experience for All Ages
Harmonium: The Musical is a highly polished narrative, seamlessly told through gameplay. Melody’s story is touching, charming, and humorous with universal appeal. The game is designed to be an experience everyone can enjoy and share together.

About The Odd Gentlemen

Founded in 2008, The Odd Gentlemen is a multi-award-winning narrative game company passionate about creating heartfelt, humorous, and diverse stories told through charming and innovative gameplay with breathtaking visuals.

We create games with positive messaging and universal themes that appeal to gamers of all ages and backgrounds. Our studio has shipped over 40 SKUs including The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom and the best selling, critically acclaimed, episodic, King’s Quest.

Our company is structured to broaden inclusivity and increase accessibility in games. We are one of the earliest game studios in the world to have hired dedicated accessibility staff members, who are leaders and innovators in the field of accessibility. By fully integrating accessibility into the pipeline, we hope to not only increase the size of our player base, but also push the boundaries of game design as a whole.