Apples to Ashes: The Visual Novel

I don’t have a lot to show for it after three years, for a number of reasons. If I tried to explain it all, I just feel like it’d end up feeling like excuses and like I’m fishing for sympathy. That being said, on the days that I feel like I’m not cut out for this, when I’m at the lowest creatively I feel I’ve ever been, it’s the love and support so many have shown to me and this project that keeps me from quitting.

Thank you for not giving up on me. I won’t give up either.

I'll raise you one better and say Douglas would prefer a chubby guy.

And he always has.

This has been something I've answered at varying levels of detail over the last couple of years, but here's the thing:

If you have a very VERY strict definition of what you think a yandere HAS to be in order to be considered one, then maybe Douglas isn't for you.

So I wanted to ask if A) you would be alright with those questions here, or B) if you could provide insight on how someone can get to the forum I mentioned

Regardless, I am very much excited for your game! I adore the concept so far and am very very interested in the directions you plan on taking it!

Ever since its conception I've answered various questions about Apples to Ashes on my curiouscat. Although not all of it may still be canon, it may be a fun way to learn some little things here and there about everything. Thank you for your question.

Hi, it's Prima, the creator and sole developer of Apples to Ashes.

Wow, it's been two years since I conceptualized Douglas and the idea for a visual novel. I think about how much has changed for me personally since March 2022, the different things that have happened to and for me. It's hard to sum it all up into a few words, but to put it plainly, there's been a lot of hardships I've encountered in my personal and professional life since starting this journey, along with some blessings that kept me going along the way.

When I first dreamed up this concept, I was experiencing a lot of new things. I was participating in fandoms for other indie "yandere" VNs, I was drawing a shit ton and garnering a following. I was actually becoming the active, well known artist I'd been striving to become since around 2015. I was so inspired and, somehow along the way, I gained the attention and respect from a lot of other creators. It was so insane to think so many talented people cared about what I was making, considered me worth following, etc.

That only grew as time went on, especially when I started the A2A project. From that point, I watched in absolute shock as people engaged with my own ideas, drew my own characters. They were hyped for this visual novel, they wanted to know more. Douglas started to get associated and drawn with other indie VN characters. This feeling of being put beside all these other amazing creators was disorienting to say the least.

Due to a lot of things I've been through, it feels like the magic wore off a bit. A lot of the drive I experienced at the peak of 2022 kind of plateaued, and... lots of things changed for me. I started taking commissions, I started doing more than just art, like getting back into video editing and voice acting. I got hired by a studio, I got a lead role in another visual novel. I told myself that I can do all these things that I want to, despite the additional need to work a regular job, and the fact that ADHD VERY much has hands. Financial hardship and mental illness... double homicide

A lot can change in two years. My inspirations for the setting in A2A came from my experiences with a job I had at the time. Well, needless to say I've had a few jobs since then, and been through a few very... jading experiences. The person I was when I conceptualized Apple to Ashes and the person I am now are two different people. I was very bright-eyed and inspired, especially by my peers. I wanted to attempt to do something I'd dreamed of for a long time: make a visual novel, and it felt possible, tangible.

I've learned a lot since then. There's a lot that goes into making a game, especially considering I'm largely pursuing it alone. Due to that, and the choices I've made, the things I've been through, Apple to Ashes progress has largely been halted. I feel a lot of pressure to make it something satisfying for everyone that's given love to this project. I feel a lot of guilt about the lack of progress, and feel like I'm earning the ire of people who are tired of waiting, or perhaps losing any momentum or interest I had originally garnered.

All that being said, I'm not saying all this to come to the conclusion that this project is canceled. It's not. I want this story to come to fruition. I want to give everyone waiting the experience they deserve. I want to reach the full potential this concept offers. I want to explore the themes I've attached, use the experiences I've had and witnessed. I want to bring light to these issues using this medium.

The TLDR of this is... Apples to Ashes will happen when it happens, but it is going to happen. To those of you who have offered your patience, I really appreciate it more than I can put into words.

For the O2A2 VN Jam, Bowling for Apples: A Special "Apples to Ashes" Episode is out now!

The game is free to play, and donations are welcome! Please enjoy this special story as a thank you to All Apples to Ashes fans for their patience!

https://primarvelous.itch.io/bowling-for-apples

Featuring work from these fine creators:

Douglas Owens portrayed by Dragon!

Script-writing  by Erin Murphy!

Programming by Oriana Greene!

Teaser trailer by StarPunchPlatinum!

Background art, character art, and scenario by Primarvelous!

Apples to Ashes series, scenario, and characters created and owned by Primarvelous!

This visual novel was created as part of the One of Any Asset 2023 game jam! The guidelines for this game jam are as follows:

one sprite (one character,  one pose) (multiple expressions without change in pose are okay)

one background (one place, one time of day)

one illustration (in place of the one sprite and one background)

one thousand words

one background sound file

one sound effect

one voice actor

one piece of menu background art

one main project

In line with the game jam's theme, every member of the team is a member of the LGBTQ+ community in some way, namely the creator and developer Primarvelous, who is a transgender, bisexual woman. We're proud to employ the talents of queer creators to fully embrace the game jam in its queer edition this year.

Hello Apples to Ashes fans, this is Prima a.k.a Primarvelous. I’m here to talk about development, and update you all on things going forward in 2023.

Let me first reiterate that this project is NOT canceled. When I conceptualized Douglas and the premise of Apples to Ashes back in March of this year, it was truly and completely a new idea then. I wanted to take all the passion and inspiration I’d been fostering from other visual novels I’d been interested in and do something I’d always dreamed of: make my own. What I didn’t expect was how rapidly Douglas and Apples to Ashes would garner traction and attention. It was the first time I’d ever experienced that kind of attention, that people revered something I made that was completely mine, and I treasure that. Let me say thank you to everyone who has shown love to this project. It’s my project, and I’m making it for me first, but I’m so happy to be making it for all of you too.

That being said, I’ve never done anything like this before, and so it has been a learning process. I felt like I had to get the project out as soon as possible, like I had to strike while the iron was hot and mimic my peers, regardless of how different our knowledge and our circumstances might be. After a long year, I’ve been able to reflect a lot on the things that have happened, and I think differently about things. I believe that, more than anything, I want to release a demo that is polished, that is worth all the patience that fans have offered. That does mean it’ll take more time to really produce something that I’m satisfied with. Additionally, I can fully admit that there have been situations and circumstances personal to me that have prevented me from dedicating as much time as I’ve wanted to development, stagnating progress in any capacity. To those that have stuck with me and this project through that, I am so grateful.

I’m proud to say I happen to be involved in some other project as of late that I’m very passionate about. I’ve picked upsome contracted work I can’t go into for privacy’s sake, but I’m excited for you all to see the results of soon. I’m performing voiceover for another project you all may be familiar with, in “See Thru: Need a Friend?” as the titular character and love interest Friend, and I’m very ecstatic to have been cast. I’m depending a lot on these opportunities and my independent work with commissions to keep myself afloat monetarily right now, and I have good feelings about my ability to provide for Apples to Ashes not only funds wise, but I’m also going to be taking everything I learn from these opportunities to better what I produce for you all. I think that’s what makes me the most excited for these opportunities, because what I learn will only add to my ability to make Apples to Ashes what it deserves to be: a fulfilling experience for all of you.

I still don’t intend to open a patreon for this project until I feel fully able to not only manage it, but also like I have something for you all to taste before you decide to pay for it. I’m invested in giving all of you a reason to commit your time and money to this project in the future. I also don’t want to give an expected date of release until I’m sure that I can meet it. I wholeheartedly promise that as soon as it’s clear to me that work is almost done, you’ll all know that the wait is coming to an end.

Until then, I hope you’ll look forward to what the future holds for Apples to Ashes; for Douglas, Xamira, the characters you’ve yet to meet, and all the amazing characters you yourselves have made to go on this journey with. I’m done comparing apples to oranges, I’m ready for the crisp and refreshing bite into a new year.

Thanks for reading,

Prima

Primarvelous

With the threat of twitter as a platform becoming unreliable, we’ve decided to broaden our horizons and open up a blog to catalogue game development, here on tumblr! We’ll be doing our best to catch up with what’s been posted on twitter, as well as use both platforms to update fans on development (assuming twitter remains a valid means of updating you all).