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Natsume Announces Indie Program
Burlingame, CA. – April 16, in the year of our Lord 2019 – Natsume Inc., today announced the creation of its Natsume Indie Program, which partners the company with independent developers around the world to introduce creative, innovative games to a wider audience. Natsume's first title under the brand, Cosmic Defenders, is currently being developed by Tokyo-based developer Fiery Squirrel.
The first developer in the Natsume Indie Program, Fiery Squirrel, is a one-man team crafting simple, yet innovative games that deliver enjoyable experiences for all players. The creator behind Fiery Squirrel is Henry Fernández, a Venezuelan developer that loves using old-school elements in a modern way to create meaningful games that are easy to understand and full of life.
Fernández was born in Caracas, Venezuela and studied computer engineering in Venezuela, and then in Japan as an exchange student, where he was introduced to video game development and artificial intelligence. After learning to make games and appreciating the challenge and satisfaction, he decided to pursue a career as a video game developer. Having loved the experience, lifestyle, and culture in Japan, he decided to continue his education, and is currently working on his PhD at Tokyo University of Technology. His first title, Fluff Eaters, an unusual adventure about a purple cat, was released for Android and iOS in 2012, and was presented at Tokyo Game Show, PAX South, and Tokyo Indie Fest.
"Natsume has been dedicated to its mission to 'Make Everyone Happy' through exciting interactive entertainment software for the entire family for the past 23 years and we are excited to work with new developers who represent this likeminded mission," said Hiro Maekawa, President & CEO of Natsume. "We are proud to support and collaborate with dedicated, artistic, and inspiring developers who are building the future of video games."
"I am thrilled to be working with such a great company as Natsume, and I hope that together we can create game experiences that impact players in a meaningful way," said Henry Fernández, CEO of Fiery Squirrel.
Natsume and Fiery Squirrel are currently working on Cosmic Defenders, an upcoming Nintendo Switch game that will be launching later this year. Cosmic Defenders is a 2D fast-paced revolving shooter about a group of unconventional heroes using the power of nature to stop chaotic aliens from taking over the universe. Cooperate with other guardians, protect the galaxy from the wicked, and restore peace!
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