Rectifier Devlog #1

Guess who's back, back again- devlogs are back, tell a friend!

Hey hey, it's Joy! I've been taking a break finally-mostly just streaming while waiting for Otome Jam 2024. I've known I was going to participate in Otome Jam since this time last year LOL. (I've had to keep it's existence as mostly a secret for an entire year, which was difficult since it's probably my favorite project I've ever worked on, and has a cast of the best characters like ever.)

THIS PROJECT- "Rectifier" has been a WILD ADVENTURE. Fitting since it's an epic high fantasy adventure dating sim, where you play as an alien angel with 3 different personalities, traveling with your SEVEN super distinct love interests.

Each guy is based off of one of 7 deadly sins. Which means they alone, and in a group are a handful. 

I want to just talk about a handful of things about the project as a whole, and what you can expect if you are interested.

For those that have played my most recent game "Lord of Lies" you won't feel so out of the loop. Though playing Lord of Lies before Rectifier is by no means a requirement. They just take place in the same universe. So the magic, world, and art is the same. Yes, same sprite artist! GET HYPED!

Rectifier is a special project as it is the exact dating sim I want to play. You step into the role of an Angel or more specifically a Nephelim, a celestial race of aliens who can shapeshift at will, have a great deal of magic at their disposal, and work to save humanity for themselves. 

The project's mood is the most similar to "One Piece", "Avatar the Last Airbender", and many other action/adventures with a diverse cast of whacky characters- but if you could date them all.

The MC will have 2 appearances- masculine and feminine leaning, but you can be: she/her, he/him, or they/them. 

What affects the game and your MC mostly is one of their 3 distinct personalities- Red, Green, and Blue respectively.

Red- dominant, confident, aggressive, and decisive.

Green- neutral, alien, observant, and intelligent.

Blue- submissive, diplomatic, understanding, and altruistic .

This personality system is one of the most unique aspects about Rectifier- you have 7 love interests and can romance them 3 different ways. So in a way, you've got 21 unique story experiences. Regardless of your choices/personality you can't get a bad end, and you and your chosen guy will fall in love in their own specific way.

Neat huh?

Although your choices don't lead to a bad end, that doesn't mean they don't have any impact in the story. Your personality/choices will affect specific story events, how characters react to and speak about you. Especially your love interest.

What's important to me was that players could sit down with the story and feel stress free. Though this doesn't mean the story won't have twists and turns.

Something special as well, is that no matter which love interest you choose, you still spend a huge amount of time with the other guys as they are your party members no matter what. Meaning you can get to know them again as friends. All the guys have complex relationships with one another, and maybe chemistry..? Who knows...hehe.

This is also the first project of Meant to Bee where I am working with multiple writers. This has been a wonderful decision as with such a large project, I worried I wouldn't be able to make each guy feel unique and interesting by myself lol. I will be writing one route all by myself. (Greed's route).

Regardless, I am creative director, lead writer, and programmer for this project- among many other things. I have a hand in every part of production, so it will still have my scent all over it...could have phrased that better LOL.

It's important I note one thing. Our submission to otome jam will actually be a spin off game.

*record scratch*

WAIT WHAT?

Yeah, so... the project is quite large as you may have already guessed. I planned for a long time to release a huge demo showcasing the world and characters, covering the first couple chapters of each route, however...I didn't feel all that confident in that idea.

There's a lot of groundwork necessary for this project

So suffice it to say, I felt OVERWHELMED. And if I someone whose been sitting with this project since it was a spark of an idea felt that way. I knew for a fact my audience would also feel that way.

I needed more time, and otome jam was only getting closer everyday. I thought about compressing it, cutting corners here, simplifying concepts I loved, etc... but none of it sat right with me.

I was at a loss, and even went into a period of burn out/creator's block as a result. I've loved and I mean, adored, worshiped this project since the moment I decided I wanted to work on it. (that's a story for a whole other devlog) It's the kind of project where I HAD to show it to friends, months before it was ever meant to be announced.

I worried I would be doing the story, my team, and myself a disservice if I released it feeling the way I was. So much behind the scenes work has been made for this game. 

I didn't want to release it and it be info dump-y, take too long to get to the hot boys, or cut short before it gets into the meat of the story. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. I want my readers to be interested, invested, clawing for more.

The demo focuses on setting up a lot of LORE, which can be interesting if we have enough time to make it interesting. It has to be strategic, it needed more time.

But otome jam is the best chance for this project to gain the attention it deserves. I didn't want to miss the window. So I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

UNTIL- I had a eureka moment...a side game.

But Joy (I can hear you asking yourself) a side game for a game that doesn't exist???

Yes.

I know why people play dating sims- for the boyssss, sure an interesting story is great- but ultimately it is background dressing. The story will be deep and detailed, but that's for the main game to worry about balancing the rich story with dating sim mechanics and conventions.

The side game, just fun dating sim, with little hints to a bigger picture.

You'll meet our boys in media res. You'll be thrown into what the heart of the game is. If you like where you land, then I'm sure you'll love the demo when it's released at a later date.

The Rectifier main game is VERY MUCH still a priority for me. But for now, for my team and I's first ever otome jam we are going to have fun and show you what we've been working so hard on.

So let me reintroduce you to our newest project...

"Rectifier: In Bloom"

The game will center around you/the MC receiving a flower from all your love interests in their very specific way. (This is a very rough concept sketch, but by the time all the love interests are revealed we will have an itch page.)

"Rectifier: In Bloom" will be a complete game! Each route will be anywhere from 5k-10k words, so you can get a good sense of each guy, and pursue them fully in the main game, as well as get a taste of the world, personality system, and feeling of the Rectifier world.

It's the best choice for my team and I to test the waters for both us and our player base. So I hope you'll enjoy this side game when it releases. We will make it so you can go in blind and still enjoy your time.

There's so many wonderful things I want to show. And I am so glad I am finally getting the chance to bring this story to life.

Please stay tuned for more, either here on itch, Twitter, and Tumblr!

I'll be yapping about this project from now until July 1st.

This is also the first monthly devlog for all things Rectifier related.