Just the opening line on your page drew me in :D Anything with a protagonist who suffers with mental health problems is gonna grab my attention, haha. I've had anxiety and depression for most of my life, and recently diagnosed with ASD too, which explains a lot >.< So yeah, I just find it very enjoyable to see other people's artistic interpretations of characters who struggle with things like that and see those themes represented in games in general :3
I thought this was extremely charming! (Yes, even the rap segment :P) It reminded me of a few FMV games I've played in the past, and actually, I'd really love to take a shot at making something along those lines myself sometime in the future, but I have no idea where to even begin >.< especially when I don't have much in the way of in-person contacts who would be willing to embark on a project like that with me!
Anyways, I thought presenting that style in black and white was very effective :3 And the narrative in general was rather adorable and tender. I know you say it's just a short demo, but it's a concept I'd love to see expanded on in the future if it's something you end up doing! Robyn seems like a character I'd like to spend more time inserting into, and I imagine the possibilities for remnants summoned could be endless ^-^
Viewing post in Remnants: Counsel of the Dead jam comments
Hello Melancholy Marionette,
Thank you for your extended comment. Your insights and feedback has been very helpful and motivating!
I've long wanted to write emotional, respectful and sincere stories featuring main characters with anxiety. I also have had anxiety and depression, and I am neurodivergent. I appreciate how important it is for diverse representation, and I hope that other folks can continue to feel confident representing characters who share our various experiences <3
I hope you can take a shot at this kind of thing if you'd like to in the future. From the very beginning, I tried to limit the characters and the setting to what I had available. Originally I had planned for five characters, including 'Birdman' played by my brother, which would have been about a character whose focus was about completing contracts and fulfilling responsibilities, and a tiger which I'd film at my local zoo, which would have been about making the most of limited time. I think one of the best things about a game jam, is that it does force you to limit yourself and the breadth of your ideas, to aim for a project that is possible to complete. The process of filming something, then editing the footage and ensuring it all works is very time consuming though, which makes it much more viable in a longer game jam like Spooktober.
Regarding lack of in-person contacts... I would consider contacting local amateur acting clubs or organisations, or general creative spaces if there are any nearby. If not... Why not a game that involves video calls between various characters? That way the world is your oyster! You could also consider using stock footage on websites such as Pixabay.
I'm delighted you liked the style and narrative of the footage. I'm certainly inspired to keep going with it in the future.
Once again, all the best,
Ocelot.
(Glad you liked the rap segment too, haha!)
I’m sorry you’ve had to put up with anxiety and depression yourself cos it’s not a fun place to be :( It was suggested to me around 5 years ago that I was likely on the autistic spectrum, and it was only last week that I finally got my diagnosis appointment which confirmed it! The psychological team reckons my anxiety and depression developed because of growing up with ASD and not struggling to fit in >.< So yeah, I can’t help but question how different my life might’ve been if someone had identified it in me as a kid rather than not finding out until my adult life x3
Ooo, Birdman sounds like it would have been a very interesting character to interact with! And that would have been so cool if you’d been able to use your local zoo as a filming location :3 I can imagine it must be rather time-consuming to film and edit everything though as you say! I haven’t edited film myself, but I’ve done a lot of cutting of voice lines over the years, and it’s always one of those tasks that takes a while, haha.
Sadly, I don’t have anywhere near enough confidence to get in touch with any groups like that >.< I’m pretty much terrified of interacting with strangers at this point, haha. I struggle to reach out to anyone in general, but hopefully, I can get some therapy or something to help me handle my social fears a bit better!
I wish you all the best with your future endeavours though :3 I’m excited to see what else you create!