itch.io

Edit: We have found a composer to make the music track, but there's still room for anyone interested, particularily those who can do 2D art / GUI art!

Hi! 

Yes, we are still looking for someone to make 2D art for the game^^ We have an artist specializing in sprites & backrounds, but we could use someone who could do 2D game assets & CG art, as well as someone to do GUI art.

Do you use discord? We could talk more privately there. My username is jumatsuga there also.

If not, it's fine to talk here.

Hi there!

We are ( currently ) a team of two ( an artist & a writer/programmer ) from Finland looking for active & committed members to create a visual novel entry for Spooktober 2024 with us.

We are especially interested in:

A GUI artist / mini game artist

A  music composer / a sound person

However, if you are intrested in the premise & want do other things, you are welcome to contact us^^

The premise:

Haruka Tsujino 辻埜 遼空 (Tsujino Haruka) is a young, browbeaten reporter who has been given an aimless job to make an article about Obon festivities in a small, remote town. Once there, it becomes obvious to her that something is amiss in this quaint little place… Can she unearth the mystery haunting this town, or is she destined to be buried with its secrets?

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Suspense

More info:

The VN is set in modern Japan, and it pays homage to japanese folklore & traditions, as well as classic japanese ghost stories.

The game is programmed in Ren'Py.

If you are interested, you can contact us under this post, or directly at discord!

Discord: jumatsuga

Let's have a fantastic & spooky jam together!

Day ??? Last crunch

Aaaa we have roughly 38 hours left😱

Miira is working extra hard to finish the art, and I'm coding my ass off. We can do it!

It isn't perfect, but like I told Miira, it doesn't need to be; It just has to be done.

In-progress pic of one of the bgs (It is done at the time of this post tho )

I hope my writing does justice to Miira's art, and brings some extra atmosphere to the vn.^^

I also think I have found some really good music and sounds to make the game more of an immersive experience.

Welp, back to work I go!

Nice to see other visual novels^^ Btw there are good, up to date ren'py tutorials on YouTube channels such as Coding with B and E.

Day 5,6,7 visuals

Sorry for the long silence! Miira has worked very hard, and we have some visuals to share^^

The concept of an inkeeper character making an appereance in the story ^

An almost ready version of one of the central places in the vn!

As for me, I'm devoting next week to finishing the script, coding, and audio mixing. This is exciting!

Day 3-4: Progress

Here's a work-in-progress photo of one of the backrounds:

Sorry about the quality, it's a screenshot taken with a phone.^^

I also made a small quiz that will determine the base attributes of the player (Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma).

Our cat decided that she needs more attention today, and has been in the way of the work a little, but we are going strong!

The fiend in question:

Thank you^^ We probably share some visuals once Miira finishes some of the side characters / backrounds. 

Day 2: The planning stage

The story is forming nicely, and I have made some progress with the dialogue.

We finalized and organized the backround concepts. Miira had to be the realist and convinced me to cut back with some of the ideas. First, we will prioritize the 5 backrounds most central to the story, and if we have the time, we may add a few more.

Finally, I gave Miira some direction and references on a couple of the central characters. I have a few more to design, but I already have a general idea of what needs to be done.^^

As for the code, I have viewed some tutorials regarding a few of the trickier parts, and I have learned some new things I'm excited to try out. First, I need to finish the story and dialogue, though.

Day 1: Actualizing the concepts

We had a late start due to personal obligations, but I have began the writing process, and Miira has produced her first sprite, which we won't be sharing beforehand due to it's central nature to the game.

I also searched and found reference photos for a couple of the backrounds:

Overall, we had a nice, productive planning session, and even got some work done^^ Personally, I am satisfied. A solid 9/10 day.

Hi there^^

I'm Ju, and I have partnered with my twin Miira to bring you... *drum rolls* 

Blade of Baltonia; An interactive visual novel set in a fantasy land full of mysteries, romance, and magic!

The Story:

You, a sellsword, arrive at the crown capital of the land at a time of chaos and confusion. Finding yourself in a position to solve some issues in exchange for coin, you engage on a quest to solve a grand mystery and confront the culprit behind the havoc. On your journey you meet friends, foes, and maybe even love...

Features:

- Beautiful and dynamic sprites / backrounds

- An engaging story

- RPG-like skill stats (hidden because where's the fun otherwise?)

- Friendship and romance

- The best music I can find for free lol

Added if time favours us:

- Simple voice acting

- Special CGs

I'll add updates regularily(?) to show the progress we have made, and discuss the process with those who are interested (I'm friendly, no worries).

Happy Jamming!

. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself? 

Hi! I go online as Jumatsuga or Ju. I'm 27 y.o, and I'm from Finland. 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining? 

This is my first Jam! I'm planning on creating my first visual novel with RPG elements as a team with my twin, Miira^^

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own? 

I play a lot of games, my favorites being Overwatch 2, Night In The Woods, Undertale, and The Sims series.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine? 

I am primarily a vn writer, but I intend to expand my skills to coding visual novels. My plan is to use Ren'Py as my game engine. Miira is the artist out of the two of us. She is very skilled!

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!  6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I want to create visual novels and learn! Telling stories is one of my dearest passions.