Lockheart Indigo

Lockheart Indigo is a project that, over the course of 2 years and a half, has reinvented its identity as a result of my growing experience as an artist. With this in mind, I’ve decided to document the updates with more clarity and to contextualize the game’s development in my own life.

What’s new? (Pre-Alpha 2.0)

Back in June, I released the Pre-Alpha 2.0 build. This update was important as it included many narrative & structural changes. Notably, I’ve added a GAB window, a dialogue box that does not stop the flow of the game, so that characters like Aya & Beatris can have conversations while the player continues to explore the mansion. This small change has lead to a plethora of improvements in the story as the game can now converse on the themes at hand within the rooms involved. I can use this to prepare the player to an important encounter or debrief characters after an important plot point. Also, Beatris can run now (using the Shift button) and it looks SUPER CUTE!~

Another change was the mansions layout. I’ve removed one of the 5 floors, making the mansion feel more compact, giving each room more purpose. I’ve also given more importance to every scene involving the murder. Floors 1, 2, & 3 are build in a symmetrical shapes as to make the player ask themselves which direction to explore first, one side usually building on the “Murder” plotline while the other side focuses on the “Family” plotline. The robots play a more important role & their involvement climaxes towards the end of the build as the player arrives at the Murder Scene!

Example of the GAB window

Work In Progress

For the next build, I’ll be adding a new character to interrogate and some new tiles. I’ve made it a point to let a few steampunk elements creep into Lockheart Indigo & 2.1 is where it happens.

What the new tiles look like. (I apologize for the watermark)

My task list for Pre-Alpha 2.1

Personal Life

My new roommate has finally moved in & it’s been nothing, but fun! ✿ She has a bird that poops everywhere. We decorated the apartment with a BUNCH of plants & we organized the office to look all nice~ There’s anime everywhere, it’s great. ٩( ๑╹ ꇴ╹)۶

“I love to poop.”

I’ll be starting a new job soon. Not gonna lie, it’s probably gonna be take a lot of my time. I don’t know when I’ll be able to work on LHI once I start, but I’ll try my best! ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ I’ll be getting a scooter tomorrow. I don’t drive, this will be a welcome change. 

Finally, I’ll get to be the anime boy I always wanted to be.

I’ll be able to drive up to an artist friend anytime instead of… asking for a lift. ε(´סּ︵סּ`)з Started working out again. Found out I lost 30lbs! (Hadn’t weighted myself in a year.) 

*Angry rap music in background*

Media I enjoyed

Utena Season 2 was wild. Utena is such a source of inspiration for the Rich & Floral aesthetic of LHI. I LOVE they way they layout their themes. They also manage to weave darkness and humor by using subtly or double-meaning as to prevent the two from clashing. Utena’s strength is clearly it’s structure and mastery of symbolism.

OTP, best villains

Death Grips - Year Of The Snitch is a wonderful progression for the band. They’ve managed to harmonize their originally abrasive sound with the quirky & wishy-washy styles of today’s lofi mixes we find on youtube. Was honestly impressed.

I have no explaination, this is the cover art.