Hey hey, it’s Joy! (Flowersforjoy) I'm the founder, creative director, lead writer, and so many other things for Meant to Bee Studios and all its projects.
Today I wanted to make a quite hefty devlog regarding all Meant to Bee Studios projects and specifically the Rectifier: In Bloom Update! So if you here for only some of the information, feel more than free to skim.
Note: This Devlog is split into sections, so feel free to take it all in or skip to what you want to know. If you read any Devlogs at all, you’re a blessing. However if you happen to read this one in its entirety than you are now the funniest one in your friend group. My word is now gospel.
The following topics are: A 2024 Recap, Tattoos and Tulips Steam Release, Skywrite Studios and its releases, New Meant to Bee Studios dating sim, and lastly the Rectifier: In Bloom Update.
Happy (late) New Year! I had an incredibly busy 2024, I moved several times, had major burn out, started streaming (@ twitch.tv/flowersforjoy ) started working as a freelancer, and so much more! In regards to games and Meant to Bee Studios specifically, I released Rectifier: In Bloom and Carved in Stone (both of which you can play for free in their entirety, right now, links below).
Releasing 2 games in an entire year is not what I would have considered a major feat in the past. But one full game with 7 routes 1 hour+ a piece (Rectifier: In Bloom) and my first NSFW project that was released within exactly a month from conceptualization to publication. (Carved in Stone)
I gotta say I am very proud of myself! I also worked on other projects, such as writing Aurel's route in Carnival of Shadows, Leon's route for The Inn Between, streamed 44 times, and mostly worked on lots of projects behind the scenes.
I so desperately wanted to do a year recap for all of 2024, but the thing is most of it would contain spoilers for games to come this year, as well as lots of personal detailings that consisted mostly of boring anecdotes about my mental health and moving. Omg SO much moving in 2024 jfc…
It was a hard year that taught me a lot, but it was also quite good, if not a trash fire at times. I am most grateful for maintaining and making such wonderful friendships, specifically in the dev space, and pacing myself in a way where I can still get so much done without killing myself. If you know me, that's a huge accomplishment. And managing to accomplish a goal I didn't think possible even 5 years ago, making a sizeable income off of my writing.
Of course, its still contract/freelance so the work can be sporadic, and some months are better than others, I am still so glad to be able to feed myself off of my work. It's been a dream come true!
Well more than last year, that's for sure.
Starting with…
Yeah! It’s finally happening. Apologies it took an additional year- turns out putting a game on Steam for the first time is not easy whatsoever. But I finally buckled down and did it. It was easily one of the most frustrating dev-related things I’ve ever done, maybe one of the most frustrating things I’ve done ever. But I feel confident now to be able to put on more games in the future.
Tattoos and Tulips as you may already know is my debut project and means a lot to me. It will be available for free on Steam so I strongly encourage you to wishlist it if you like cute boy's love stories.
It’ll be released on April 13th, 2025—aka its two-year anniversary! I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all the support. I would have never imagined I’d have a game on Steam.
So I’m a part of another studio! Ran by my friend GreyEnwright and I! We make primarily queer romance dating sims of all types of genres.
Why another studio? Well, you may or may not know but Meant to Bee Studios is ran entirely by myself. And honestly it gets pretty lonely, Skywrite was made in huge part to allow myself to make games while not having to worry about game performance and sales. Meant to Bee Studios is moving in a more professional and/or commercial direction, and I don't want to lose touch with why I became a developer in the first place.
Skywrite is all about experimenting with ways to tell stories, make games, and make wonderful memories with my best friend. (I also hope to make even more friends along the way.)
We plan to release 3 games by May, we plan to release more this year, but these are the ones currently in development.
(This also happens to be a Meant to Bee Studios project)
Golden Bonds is our entry to my own game jam Polyjamorous 2024, the jam celebrates healthy depictions of polyamorous romance. (Don't worry if you've missed it, it'll be an annual jam)
Golden Bonds is a fairy tale romance visual novel about a cursed Princess- Priya Sultana who can turn anything she touches into gold. Her loyal knight Kairo enlists the help of a dark magic practitioner, a man named Assad to help break Priya’s curse. Through trial and tribulation, the three become inseparable, falling in love and forging a golden bond.
The game is set to release the last week of January, or early February at the latest.
Next is our Amare Festival entry and Skywrite Studio's true debut project- The Prince’s Keeper, an Amare visual novel focusing on the relationship (either platonic or romantic) between a depressed Prince Railan and their hired servant (the player). It’s a wonderfully sweet story, with an incredibly hot Prince with baggy undereyes. Keep an eye out.
Set to release Valentine's Day 2025. (Art is not finalized)
And last but not least our game for Blossom Jam we have a contemporary/fantasy romantic comedy visual novel between a workaholic woman who is forced to take a vacation and meets an eccentric and incredibly attractive fairy (who can present as masculine or feminine).
Set to release in April.
Meant to Bee Studios’ next project comes this Summer. A passion project of mine tied into the Lord of Lies and Rectifier Universe. "Starfallen" also known as my Tarot Anthology. "Strength" is the first entry to this anthology. It's a fantasy/action/adventure dating sim visual novel.
Play as Lennon, a military captain underestimated by her peers who is left in charge at the worst possible time. A monster army has been unleashed onto the world and her unit is one of the first to stand against it.
Here is some early concept art- subject to change- credit to the oh-so-talented Pinachs.
Main Character: Lennon Drake- shimbo (she + himbo) battle mage protagonist who's just trying her best. Ad who may or may not have an unrequited crush on her mentor Verona. Even so, she manages to capture the heart's of her 3 love interests whilst proving her worth as her unit's captain.
Love Interest 1: Deon Lucillus [he/him] Lennon's rival, son of King (a character in Lord of Lies), and former gladiator who- despite his expression-is quite a Golden Retriever with an incredibly tragic backstory..
Love Interest 2: Colette Fontaine [she/they] a noblewoman drafted into the military. Cousin to Lennon and Deon's mentor Verona. Colette is a bubbly ranger who loves animals, tea parties, and playing pranks.
Love Interest 3: Idris [they/them]- a powerful mage turned prisoner of war who loves to read. They're also very very bitchy. (But also super cute).
Strength is in development. The first chapter is planned to be released during Otome Jam 2025. There are a planned 7 or 8 chapters.
Now lastly, the main topic of this devlog…
Yes, this may be a surprise to most- or at least I hope it is lolol. I have been working on a Rectifier: In Bloom update. Why you may ask, well mainly because I should have had it made in Renpy to begin with...live and learn I suppose.
The accessibility options in Renpy are invaluable, not to mention volume control, and general quality-of-life additions. I thought I could make it in RPG Maker and get much the same experience out of it, but I hadn't understood why Renpy is the visual novel standard. I'll never doubt it again. So for everyone who gave feedback in regards to how awkward the game was to play, never fear, the problem is being solved.
Of course, the game was also made during a game jam and has a couple noticeable grammatical/spelling errors, as well as some coding ones.
Just moving engines isn't the only improvement however, since I will also be adding:
These changes are necessary as I’ve decided to make In Bloom paid/commercial for 2 reasons:
The main game has been in development for a while, but the main route outlines are happening as we speak. We've got a lot of wonderful things planned, and we need the money to make it happen. Even a bit of funding goes a long way.
I'll be releasing the In Bloom Update during Otome Jam 2025- (yes right alongside "Starfallen: Strength") the jam date is still to be announced, but based off of previous years will probably start in May. I aim to have the update available by June 1st in time for Pride Month.
The update will be free to play for the month of June only. So if you want to play it without paying, make sure to clear out your schedule for June.
Then once the jam has finished, I will be making the game pay to play on both Itch.io and Steam. It will be $6.99 USD. (About $1 per route).
Rectifier: In Bloom update will be available on Steam starting July 1st. (Keep in mind if you want it on Itch and Steam you’ll have to purchase them separately)
Important Note: However, if you have already donated at least $5 to the game via donations to either the Itch game page, or Kofi, before the game is made commercial, (so anytime before July 1st) then you can DM me with proof via Discord (flowersforjoy) and I will get you the game key on your preferred platform either Itch or Steam!
Another way to receive the game on Steam/Itch is to stream/playthrough "Rectifier: In Bloom update" in its entirety on either Twitch/Youtube during June 2025!
Lastly, and this is the big one- I'm really nervous about it to be honest. I am asking for funding.
I’m currently running a Kofi goal to find Rectifier: In Bloom update. Any little bit helps.
Donate here: https://ko-fi.com/I2I14HTZ9
You can also donate to the game directly if you so choose, watch my streams (linked in the intro section), or commission me. Regardless, whatever money I make between now and July will be going towards In Bloom.
If it isn't already apparent, Rectifier is my favorite project I've ever made, I have huge hopes and plans for it. I'll do anything possible to see it come to life, and if you happen to have any amount of money to spare I promise to put it to good use.
Please check the Kofi link above. And if you want to keep up with the progress I'll be posting monthly devlogs. You can also follow Meant to Bee Studios on Bluesky and for all things Rectifier-related, we have a specific "Rectifier" blog on Tumblr.
Thank you so much for reading and, even more so, for following and supporting my work! I have a lot of wonderful stories to share in 2025 and beyond, and I look forward to sharing everything I can with you!
Did you like this post? Tell us
Leave a comment
Log in with your itch.io account to leave a comment.