flxu_8.rpy
A downloadable unfinished game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
#TODO: describe the game before uploading
you quit your job because it was dragging your mental health down to a new low.
you're sitting on a mountain of unfinished passion projects-- most of them having died in the planning stages because you couldn't work the motivation to actually start any of them.
you're just trying to figure out what to do with yourself, now that you've been left with more free time than you can handle.
you don't feel free.
...haven't we been here before?
maybe this time will be different.
an unfinished story about unfinished stories. 4,100 words
made for the menhera vn jam
content warnings:
suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression, brief comedic discussions of kink and sexual themes, mentions of transphobia as well as criticism of religion in regards to the former, depiction of an anxiety attack, as well as one character who is represented as an abstract giant eye if that kind of thing creeps you out
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thinks about this 5ever. as a serial non-project-finisher who is also adjacent to some of the other things in here, I can definitely relate XD
I'm glad [ ] finally published a project diagetically!! and big props to you for making me feel so much for her--from the fun ui and background changes (the colors!! the error screen!! text coming off the box! etc etc I know you're familiar with them all but they're just neat!), to her realisations about herself looking back, to the cool sprite representations, to how everyone's voices feel so alive from just their snippets. I'm glad I read it ^^
and wishing the best for all your projects too, both future and past!
I absolutely loved the visual presentation of this VN~ All of the little details (e.g. the animation on the head's scribbles, the different colors and "faces" for the alters, etc.) add so much, and give the VN quite a lot of character, heheh~ And the plurality is so well-written! This is genuinely some of the best plural representation I've seen.
There really is something magical about going back and revisiting your old work~ Not only is it often a goldmine for ideas and inspiration—reclaiming concepts previously left unexplored or underdeveloped, and resurrecting long-neglected scenarios and characters with a fresh coat of paint—but it's also an excellent way to see just how much you've progressed as a writer and an artist. I ought to revisit some of my older work sometime soon, too, heheheh~
Also, I'd be remiss not to comment on the sound design! The use of soft static for ambiance throughout large stretches of the VN really helps both the music AND the sudden cuts to silence really pop~
Superb work across the board! I hope to see more stories from you in the future, whether finished or unfinished, heheheh~
Thank you very much!! It means a lot to hear such kind words.
And yeah, I tend to write from life a lot with my work (Being a plural myself helped a ton with this, haha) so it was fun trying to take my own life experiences and tweak them into their own unique creation.
Revisiting old works is something I've always been fascinated with. myself, even if it does occasionally make me realize how many projects I've started only to leave on the backburner and get a bit of dread and depression haha (I was very much writing from life with this one, having my own personal Symbiotoria that's been on creative hold for 8 years now ;W;). But, like you said, it can be a good pick-me-up as well, seeing how far you've come. Always fun re-evaluating old work and seeing how you can make it even better with years of hindsight.
The sound design was fun for me because I actually just recorded my bedroom ambience to make it more authentic-- time limits breed creativity, lol
this was good and very interesting! thanks for your effort and submission~ i have to ask, is "Tempest Breeze" referencing the very same of inhospitable?
Glad you enjoyed it! And no, I didn't intend for that reference-- I have another project that's on the backburner (because yes, the main character sitting on too many projects is in fact based on real life haha) involving a character who's meant to be a Sonic-the-Hedgehog-like, and they're named Tempest-- was basically just a fun happenstance given I figured it would be fun to have the main character be a fandom nerd.
(Though, given Homestuck and webcomics in general were a major part of my formative years I'd say it's a pretty funny coincidence)
Thank you so much for making this extremely personal and moving VN. I've been playing through this jam's submissions and yours is a stand out; a lot of what you put down on the page is stuff I (and I'm sure many other queer creators) have felt over and over again, and while the art of invoking relatability is common for VNs, you portrayed it so well that it hits really hard, and it's both emotional and motivating.
I love the way you portray a system through the sprites too, that's wonderful. Same with the overall GUI and presentation, it's very clean and smooth, makes me jealous.
I'm very glad you were able to participate in this jam, because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to read this.
d'aww, thank you so much! i usually don't do vent art, but i figured it would be something nice to do for the jam, especially with what's been going on with my real life situation haha.
it's been very motivating to see such positive reception to this, so thanks again!