Remote play service Nora lets developers exhibit their games and gather feedback like a real gaming event

Written by. Ryuki Ishii based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2021-12-14 16:45 JST)

Japanese solo game developer ruccho launched a beta version of their new online service Nora. It’s a remote play service that lets users try out the games running on the developer’s PC via a remote connection. Developers can gather feedback from users without having to distribute their games. The service is currently available only in Japanese.

Input is done via the player’s own keyboard/mouse, controller (if the game supports it), or the on-screen virtual pad. The visual and sound output can be checked via Nora’s dedicated application.

Why do we need such a service when developers can easily distribute a demo version of their games? The reason lies in the situation game events have recently found themselves in. For indie developers, the opportunity to exhibit their games at events and gain feedback from users is valuable. Developers can see and hear user reactions firsthand and understand where the problems are. There are benefits that can’t be replicated by simply distributing a demo version.

These opportunities to get feedback directly from users are rare now due to the current circumstances around COVID-19. Furthermore, there are times when developers want to avoid distributing their game that is still under development. That’s where Nora comes in. It’s an attempt to virtually recreate the experience of exhibiting a game at an event booth.

There’s also the benefit of users being able to play games regardless of their PC specs. As long as the game is running on the developer’s PC and the network connection is working, it can be played. It’s a browser-based application so it can be played on pretty much any PC or even a smartphone.

Additional features include voice chat, text chat, and a “waiting in line” system which is used for managing participants. These features allow developers to communicate with users and manage their time allocation.

Similar services do exist, but they are typically not tailored specifically for game developers and gamers like Nora. Nora is available in the Japanese language only, including the setup guide and content guidelines which list things that are not allowed to stream. It should also be noted that Nora is still in a beta phase and there have been reports of issues such as video and input delays.

The developer ruccho is currently making a 2D action game called Chikaro.