The Personal Journey of Where the Bees Make Honey, Available Now on Xbox One
Hey everyone, my name is Brian Wilson and I am the solo-developer on Where the Bees Make Honey. I started development on the game two years ago as my first ever game project. I was finishing my Associate’s Degree in Multimedia Programming, Simulation & Gaming when I downloaded Unity and gave it a go. My goal for the start of 2017 was to have a character be able to run around on screen; I achieved that goal within the first week and have stuck with the game ever since.
I could not have predicted what I would experience for the next two years. Developing Where the Bees Make Honey has been some of the hardest, yet most rewarding work I have ever done. I developed the entire game while finishing my bachelor’s degree at Penn State Behrend. I was able to work on the game in class a bit, but most of development was accomplished during nights and weekends. Above all else, I want Where the Bees Make Honey to show other students that they too can tell their personal stories through a game. I was able to create the game I wanted, all while being support by my family, friends, and university.
Development really shifted when I signed with my publisher Whitethorn Digital last year in 2018. I was presented with the opportunity to get on Xbox One which was such an achievement. Shortly after, the game was accepted into an indie showcase called The Mix at E3 2018 which was the first time I ever demoed the game in public.
The past year has been filled with ups, downs, myriad conferences and conventions, lifetime friendships, all for the love of video games. I couldn’t have asked for a better next step in my career and I am thankful for Whitethorn and everyone who helped make the game become even more possible.
Where the Bees Make Honey tells a story about reflecting on different moments from a childhood, which are played and experienced from an adult perspective.
It’s a dreamy, ethereal, and thoughtfully crafted experience about nostalgia. The game is capturing that grace period in a childhood where playing dress up was larger than life and changed the environments around you.
At its core Where the Bees Make Honey is a puzzle adventure game, but gameplay variation is filtered throughout. When game’s main character Sunny is an adult reflecting on the times when she was young, the game is played in a first-person perspective. This transition period takes place at her workplace, where she is ultimately at a crossroads with what to do next in her life.
Where the Bees Make Honey was made by one person but made possible by many. Thanks to everyone who has played the game, given me feedback, or simply retweeted a screenshot. Development has been nothing but a learning experience and I am excited for everyone to play Where the Bees Make Honey. I hope you’ll love it as much as I’ve grown to.
Where the Bees Make Honey is available now for Xbox One on the Microsoft Store. Click here for purchase details.