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December WIP: REP NPCs and a FN background!

Hello all! We hope your December's going well thus far.

We've got a few WIPs for you today from Red Embrace: Paradisus and our visual novel Final Nocturne!

RE:P WIPs

What's that? Wandering NPCs, you say? Yes indeed!

This meandering chap is a test from the new script we're working on for NPC movement/AI. To bring the areas in RE:P to life, we want some NPCs to actually move and wander, so that the streets aren't quite so empty and depressing.

Look forward to some new (and possibly buggy) lurking individuals around Chinatown in this month's update!

A new loading screen! More importantly, though, it might just hint at a new, certain individual you'll be meeting at some point... can you guess who? (Hint: They've been revealed as an NPC on our blog!)

Bonus FN WIP

The sketch of a mysterious background... who lives (or lived) here? 👀

More FN details to come...soon!

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Thank you as always for your amazing support! We'll be seeing you again soon for this month's dev update.

Stay safe out there!

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.12.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

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Update v0.0.12.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Apologies for the day's delay: We had an unexpected delay due to a power outage, causing our main building/testing computer to be unavailable. 

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha1201
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

More main quest shenanigans in this update! You'll find a new area (Club Sepulture) and a chance to flex your diplomacy/fist diplomacy skills. This update leaves off on a cliffhanger of sorts, so be ready!

(Note: Should you get stuck at any point in the main quest [you will be brought back to the main menu once it's complete], please ping Dovah in the Discord server for a hint!) 

Next Month's Update

So what's up on the agenda for next (or more precisely, this) month?

There'll be a finale for the first main quest, before we turn our focus towards faction/side quests and convos for a time. 

New features we plan to implement include wandering NPCs, a minimap for the hub areas, and a new camera effect. All of these were almost ready for November's update, but didn't quite make it in.

As a note, due to holiday traveling, the December RE:P update may be smaller in content size than normal. If so, rest assured we'll be back up to speed in January!

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

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Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

November Dev Log

Hello all! 

We hope your autumn is going well. It's hard to believe that the end of the year is nearly upon us! 2022 has been quite eventful.

Read on for general updates on Red Embrace: Paradisus, Guilded Hearts, and Final Nocturne!

Red Embrace: Paradisus

This month's RE:P update includes a new area, as well as the continuation of the main quest! Things may veer into rather dark territory soon...

Next month, we'll likely be taking a brief break from the main quest (or only adding a small new portion) to instead add in a new faction area (for Netizen), as well as some additional side NPC conversations.

We're also working on some additional features such as a minimap (for the hub) and wandering NPCs to bring areas to life. They might be ready by the time we launch November's update, but we hope to implement them in December if not!

Guilded Hearts

Guilded Hearts was successfully funded on Kickstarter! We'll be able to go full steam ahead with the game's development. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us in backing GH!

Writing is speeding along (only one route remaining to write), and our art is around 50% completed! We're still aiming for a Spring 2023 release, but if that changes, we'll make sure to keep you updated.

Final Nocturne

Our not-yet-publicly-announced VN project, Final Nocturne, is steadily continuing progress! 

We've almost got the second love interest's design finished, after which we'll only need one additional character designed before we'll be ready for the key visual/thumbnail. Once that's done, we'll be officially announcing FN, which will include more game details and a public Steam page!

General Update

It's been another busy month as we sprint along with AG and non-AG activities! Dovah has been settling in post-move to Michigan, and Gamma is locked in mortal combat with a paper for their PhD. 

Some pictures from the past few weeks:

A new kitten appears

Fraternizing with a friend's doggo

Evening lights spotted whilst kayaking

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As always, thank you all so much for your wonderful support! We're forging ahead into the last month of 2022 and plan to bring you plenty of exciting content in 2023!

Stay safe out there <3

November WIP: New REP Area Screenshots

Hello all! 

This month, we've got an early teaser for you from Red Embrace: Paradisus.

We're currently working on building out the first accessible club area, which is a seedy spot in Chinatown. This screenshot was snapped after all the NPCs were just copy/pasted (see the dancing triplets)...

...And after a bit more customization! (All NPCs are still placeholder models and will be for some time, but it's still important to us to add a little variety for immersion.)

You can visit Club Sepulture as part of the upcoming main quest update in RE:P, and over time, it will be fleshed out into a properly atmospheric haunt!

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Thank you as always for all your amazing support! <3 Keep an eye out for some upcoming details about the RE:P update, as well as info on our other projects~

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.10.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

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Update v0.0.10.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha1031
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

In this month's update, the main quest continues! The mystery of your turning unravels even further, and you'll finally have the chance to come face-to-face with a certain somebody...

The blood meter is also now implemented, as well as the first feeding scene (encountered as part of the main quest).

NOTE: The next phase of the main quest (once you return to Zhang after the Sisters' Mansion) is not yet implemented, but will be next month!

SPOILER/HINT for the main quest (if stuck): To find a way to lure Antal to the mansion, you might want to visit the casino.

Next Month's Update

So what's up on the agenda for next month?

As before, we'll be focusing on the continuation of the main quest until the first chapter of the questline is completed. Side quests will slowly trickle in over time, as well as more conversations with NPCs, and additional feeding opportunities.

Due to time constraints from moving states, we weren't able to squeeze in the additional choice options voted on in this month's poll. However, we'll be adding them in next month!

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

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Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

October Dev Log

Hello all! We hope you're enjoying the fall weather and any Halloween adventures you might have planned! 

It's been an even busier month than normal for us at AG--read on for more details!

Red Embrace: Paradisus

This month's RE:P update is well underway, and will likely roll out on none other than Halloween! 

The main quest continues in the October update, and we'll also be adding in some additional trait-related options for winning options from this month's poll (Amorous, Bohedonist, and Gonzo).

The blood meter is finally seeing its inception! While there won't be much hooked up to it yet (besides a visual representation of how much blood your MC has "stored"), it will eventually affect things like your House powers, as well as lead to a potential game over if you completely run out of blood. 

The first feeding scene will show up for this month's update. As time goes on, more feeding options will be added to the game, as well as blood packs.

Keep an eye out for the update in about a week!

Guilded Hearts

Our Kickstarter campaign is live, and almost at the halfway mark! If BL romance/slice-of-life visual novels are your jam, check out the game's page and play the demo if it strikes your fancy! <3 

General Update

Things have been hectic these past few weeks! Besides the Guilded Hearts Kickstarter and work on our other projects, one of us (Dov) has also been going through a move to Michigan. 

For this month's pics, we have...a catstravaganza!

Dov's cat (#1) forgets how to use a bed

Gam chooses Edgar Allen Poe the kitten

Dov's cat (#2) enjoys some sunbathing

Gam's friend acquires a small gremlin

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And that's it for the October dev log! Thank you so much as always for your amazing patronage and support--we appreciate it beyond all words. 

Enjoy the rest of your spooky month, and we'll see you soon with the RE:P update!

October WIP(s): REP Feeding Scene + Bonus Final Nocturne WIP!

Hello all! Happy spooky month!

We've got a Red Embrace: Paradisus writing WIP for you, as well as a sketch of the main character from our side project VN, Final Nocturne!

Red Embrace: Paradisus Feeding Scene WIP

In this month's update, your vampire MC will finally be able to bare their fangs and feed...

__

But his words only enter your head as a muffled buzz.

Louder--deafeningly loud--is the sharp, raging hunger that abruptly tears its claws through your stomach like razor blades.

It pounds through your ears, ravenous and feral, turning your vision red.

Prey...alone, helpless. Your instincts burst free with terrifying speed, and blot out everything except a single desperate thought.

Blood. You need it. Feed on him. 

__

...But depending on your skills and traits, you may or may not be able to control your hunger. 🩸

Final Nocturne MC Sketch/WIP 

We haven't yet formally announced our second current VN project, Final Nocturne, but the art development has been going on the background for a few months now!

Here's a sneak peek of sh00's early sketch for the game's MC~

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The dev log for this month will be coming soon! Keep an eye out~

Thank you as always for your amazing support <3

Guilded Hearts Kickstarter NOW LIVE

We're finally here—you can now back the Guilded Hearts Kickstarter!

Play the Demo on itch

Wishlist on Steam 

Join us on Discord 

Follow us on Twitter 

RE:P Skill/Trait Options Poll

Instead of adding new skills/traits this month, October's poll is for new dialogue options with existing skills/traits! 

Want more violent ways to interact with the world? Or maybe you'd like to weasel more information out of people with some wily lies? Or perhaps just flirt with everything that moves (even if it doesn't necessarily breathe)? 

Choose your favorites from the following options! We'll prioritize the winners to implement in the coming update. Poll closes on Oct 7th!

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.9.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

__________________________

Update v0.0.9.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha0929
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

This month's update allows you to continue the main quest! Check out the izakaya and unravel a little more of the mystery behind your turning... (Minor location spoiler: You can find Renkon near the Chinatown bookstore, on the same street as the coffee shop.)

Aside from fixing some small bugs, we've also polished our loading screens a little bit, adding in lore tidbits and a small animation.

NOTE: The next phase of the main quest (once you return to Zhang after Renkon) is not yet implemented, but will be next month!

Next Month's Update

So what's up on the agenda for next month?

We're planning on continuing work on the main quest, as well as hopefully adding in some initial elements of feeding/the blood meter mechanic. New characters will soon be introduced, so stay tuned~

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

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Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

September Dev Log

Hello all!

We hope your September is going well thus far! We've got a lot of exciting stuff coming up for AG and Gallium Games that we're excited to share with you soon.

Red Embrace: Paradisus Update

For this month's alpha update, the main questline continues with a visit to an izakaya in Chinatown. You'll uncover a little more of the mystery, but perhaps walk away with more questions than answers...

Along with the main quest addition, we've also tweaked our (still WIP/temporary) loading screen to feature some lore tidbits, so you don't have to stare at a sad empty panel the whole time.

Next month, the main quest will continue! We're also hoping to finally introduce a feeding scene/mechanic (blood bank ahoy), as well as a blood meter. 

Keep an eye out for the September alpha update, which should be dropping very soon!

Guilded Hearts Update

In case you missed the announcement, we're currently running a beta test for the Guilded Hearts demo! We'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on the game so far.

The script and art for GH are moving along quite quickly, and we've almost finished up our promotional video/trailer. Our October Kickstarter plans (follow the GH page! <3) are still on track, so look out for the campaign dropping in the next few weeks!

Final Nocturne Update

While still not our main focus, FN progress is rolling along nicely in the background! We've got some beautiful BG arts, as well as sh00's amazing sprite work, that we're hoping to share in the next month or two.

Life Update

It's been quite a busy month, as always. Dovah has been traveling with the intent to move rather soon, while Gam nobly forges on managing the Guilded Hearts beta.

A few pics from September shenanigans:

Gam roasts a delectable chicken

Dov captures a sleepy catto

Gam glimpses the eerie sky

Gam's kayak soujourn on a lake

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As always, thank you so much for your support and patronage! It means the world to us, and we're super excited to have you all along for the ride as we strive to make our games the best they can possibly be.

We'll see you soon with the RE:P update and more infos on our other projects!

Guilded Hearts Demo Beta

The Guilded Hearts demo beta is now live! You can sign up for it at the link, and the beta will end Oct 1. 

Just submit your Discord tag, and Gamma will send you a key. Any further instructions will be available in the #gh-demo-beta channel.

Discord 

September WIP: REP Writing Snippet + GH Sneak Peek!

Hello all! 

We've actually got a couple of WIPs for you this month from both of our current projects! Check 'em out below~

Red Embrace: Paradisus Writing Teaser

We've got a writing snippet to share with you for September! In this month's update, you'll be encountering someone quite familiar... 

~

Inside the dark, cigarette smoke-soaked izakaya, the smell of cheap beer and tempura wafts into your nostrils.

Far more tantalizing, though, are the scents of all the humans around you. Fresh, hot blood pounds through their tender veins.

<<if $born_vampire is true>>
   {$BV} Your predatory instincts flare up, and primal thirst ignites in your gut. You need it. Need one of them.
<<elif $sunkissed is true>>
   {$SK} ..."Tender veins"? A wave of nausea mingles with the hungry knot clawing at your stomach.
<<endif>>

But as you attempt to refocus your attention on the task at hand...suddenly, you spot a familiar face.

A tall man, elegantly dressed, stalking towards the exit with purposeful strides. He looks annoyed, brows knitted in a scowl and mouth twisted into an unpleasant line.

He doesn't seem to notice you at all, not until he's barely a few feet away. Then, your eyes meet--and he abruptly freezes. 

It's the same man you met on the street. The one who pulled you into all of this. 

Sal said his name was Antal...and judging from the panic flashing over his face, Antal sure as hell remembers you.

~

...But he might not be quite so happy to see you.

Keep an eye out for the update later this month, which will feature the continuation of the main quest!

Guilded Hearts Sneak Peek

Since we'll be launching a Kickstarter for our new VN, Guilded Hearts, sometime next month--we've commissioned a few promo pieces!

What do you think Archie is telling MC? 👀

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Thank you as always for your support and patronage! It means the world to us and helps us bring all our creative visions to life. <3

Future WIP Content Poll!

Hello all!

Before we post this month's WIP, we'd like to get everyone's input on what kinds of WIPs they'd most like to see!

We did a similar poll several months ago, but since we've had a fair number of new patrons join us (as well as officially announced one of our VNs, with a second one on the way) we wanted your updated opinions on what content you're most interested in!

Red Embrace: Paradisus WIPs

As most of you probably know, Red Embrace: Paradisus is our current main focus on the Argent Games label! It's a narrative-driven RPG currently in development.

RE:P WIPs will include writing snippets, screenshots of new areas, and new art. 

Guilded Hearts WIPs

Guilded Hearts is our recently announced, soon-to-be-Kickstarted 18+ Boys Love visual novel! It's a project on our side label, Gallium Games.

GH WIPs will include sketches, writing snippets, screenshots/gifs, and teasers of completed art.

Final Nocturne WIPs

(speaking of WIPs, this logo is still quite a WIP, but enjoy a general teaser)

Final Nocturne is our yet-unannounced (but hopefully soon!) second BL visual novel on the Gallium Games label for this year. It's a rather Castlevania-inspired game, and features the beautiful art of the amazingly talented sh00 (who did Red Embrace: Hollywood and RE:P art).

FN WIPs will include sketches, writing snippets, and (eventually) screenshots/gifs.

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The poll options are:

• RE:P WIPs only: We'll focus purely on RE:P content, outside of mentioning the other games' progress in our dev logs.
• Mostly RE:P, occasional VN WIP: About a 70/30 split of RE:P content to VN (both GH and FN) content.
• Even split RE:P and GH: An equal amount of RE:P and Guilded Hearts WIPs (no Final Nocturne content yet).
• Mostly GH, occasional REP WIP: About a 70/30 split of GH to RE:P content.
• Even split RE:P + GH + FN: Sharing content for all of our current projects about equally!

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Please cast your vote in the poll below for this month and future months' WIPs! We'll continue to occasionally remake this poll to keep abreast of what you all are most interested in. 

Feel free to comment on the post with any general thoughts or feedback!

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.8.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

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Update v0.0.8.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha0831
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

This month's update has been primarily focused on adding in new conversations/fleshing out some of the NPCs you can interact with! We've also been adding in a transportation system (the taxi), which you'll be able to use to visit an increasing number of areas outside of the hubs.

As the story/game progresses, new conversation options will unlock with various NPCs. Your affinity/relationship with them will also greatly affect what dialogue you end up seeing! In future updates, make sure to revisit your favorite characters often to see what new things they have to say. :)

• New area: The Paradisus, 37th Floor (Dakayivani's Office)
• Taxi time: Use the taxi on day 3 (the night after returning home from the Paradisus) to travel to new areas
• Motel access: On day 3, you can now freely enter/leave your motel room and the lobby to speak with Jiwa
• Casino access: On day 3, you can now go visit Sal in his casino (Catch 33)
• New convos/convo questions: Side conversations have been added for Dakayivani and Sal, and new options have been added in for Zhang and Jiwa
• Main quest teaser: Talk to Zhang for your next mission in the main quest (continuation not yet implemented, see below)
• Movement update: You can now click and hold to move your character (still WIP/slightly buggy) 
• Save update: Saving/loading is still quite buggy, but works a little more properly than before 

NOTE: The next area for the main quest (Renkon) is not yet implemented. The MQ will be continued next month! 

Next Month's Update

So what's up on the agenda for next month?

We'll be switching focus over to the main quest, including a new area, as well as continuing work on fixing up our save/load system. Your first opportunity to feed/buy blood bags will likely also be implemented.

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

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Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

August Dev Log

Hello all!

We hope your August is going swimmingly thus far! We've been hard at work on our three current projects, so read on for all the infos! 

Red Embrace: Paradisus Update News

From our earlier polls, we gauged that you all are most interested in side conversations with NPCs and the continuation of the main quest. 

This month's update will be mainly focused on adding some side convos, but we've also been working on hooking up areas so you can finally travel/move around them freely, including the motel. Taxi, anyone?

NPC conversations: The August update will add side convos for Dakayivani and Salvador, as well as additional convo topics for Zhang and Jiwa!

Motel access: You'll be able to access the motel lobby (and your room) at any time after you reach Chinatown! 

New area: Check out the 37th floor of the Paradisus to meet Dakayivani! 

Taxi time: To visit any area not in the current hub, you can use the taxi (free in the upcoming build, eventually will cost your MC $$) to travel. This includes the faction bases, Sal's bar, the Twin Sisters' mansion, other hubs, and other side quest/NPC convo areas.

Main quest teaser: Once you've activated the main quest, talk to Zhang for an idea of where things are going next! There's not much content immediately available afterwards, but soon...

Next month, we'll be focusing on main quest content again, as well as a reworking/fixing of the (currently rather broken/fiddly) save system. The final skills/traits will be added a bit later on, when there's more content that's applicable for them.

Keep an eye out for the update coming at the end of this month!

Visual Novel News

Guilded Hearts Announcement!

If you haven't already seen it yet, we just officially announced our latest visual novel, Guilded Hearts! 

More GH updates/teasers will be coming over the following months!

Final Nocturne Update

Though our main focus remains on RE:P and GH, we're continuing work on our second VN, Final Nocturne: Beloved of the Moon! 

We're making great progress on BG art, and Sh00 is currently working on the design of the MC! The logo is currently in progress and we're testing out some different styles, but we'll likely be able to post it here in the next few weeks.

An official announcement for FN likely won't show up for at least a couple more months (as we need the main character designs finished for the key visual), but we're hoping to finally show off the beautiful results come fall!

Life Update

It's been a busy month (as usual) with Gam doing lots of traveling, and both of us hard at work with Red Embrace: Paradisus and visual novel work. 

A few pics from our everyday adventures:

A wild counter catto appears

Dov acquires a new plant

Gam discovers a cool coffee place in Vancouver

Dov finishes a very well edited book to be greeted by the eldritch author's appearance

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Thanks so much as always for your support! We immensely appreciate every one of you, and your patronage helps out enormously with the creation of every game!

Stay safe and healthy out there! <3

August WIP: REP convo snippet + Dakayivani's office peek!

Hello all!

This month's WIP is a bit of a double one, actually.

We'll be adding in a few side conversations for the August update, and one of those is with Dakayivani! As such, we're working on giving him an office for all those cozy/dramatic/emotional chats and what-have-you.

Take a peek at a little bit of MC's first time in his office, too:

Dakayivani stands beside his chair, a fine leather-bound planner held open in one hand. His gaze, however, rests on you – and it's not long before he snaps the planner shut to give you his full attention.

Dakayivani: "{$mc}. I hope you're doing well." His quiet, eloquently swift words echo in the office's near-oppressive silence.

Dakayivani: "Before we discuss anything further, I want to apologize." His mouth twists gravely, head dipping a little. "It would've felt strange to do so in front of Izefia, so I decided to wait for a moment in private with you."

Keep an eye out for the RE:P update at the end of the month to experience the full convo + walk around in the office! <3

Thank you as always for all of your amazing support!

Announcing Guilded Hearts, a BL VN

We're excited to announce a new BL VN in development over at Gallium Games!

Look forward to a Kicktstarter before the year is out!

Steam | Itch 

Join the conversation | Follow on Twitter 

All things considered, Julian (customizable) lives a pretty normal life.

He does online university work, is hopelessly single (but has a habit  of crushing on cute boys), and spends most of his free time on a  fantasy MMO – Lost Heroes.

Little does he know that Lost Heroes will be what pulls him into a new, budding romance...

Whether he pursues the arrogant pretty boy Guillermo, his charismatic roommate Casper, the coy store clerk Archie, or his mysterious guildmate Verdant, join Julian  on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, heartache, and love.

• Genre: BxB, slice-of-life, romance, drama
• Rating: 18+ (NSFW content; SFW/PG-13 version also available)
• Length: TBD
• Routes: 4
• Estimated Release: Q1 2023
• Platforms: Windows/Mac/Linux, Android
• Customizable MC (name, appearance, chat profiles)
• Skippable 18+ scenes
• Multiple chat styles/interfaces

Content/Trigger Warnings: Foul language, homophobia,  domestic abuse, mentions of violence, cheating, petty crime,  pornography, sex work, terminal illness/end of life care, HIV+ character

RE:P Character Conversation Poll!

What characters would you like to chat with most?

Since side conversations are winning the future update focus poll by a large margin, we'll be focusing on providing a lot of convo content alongside main quest shenanigans!

Side conversations/interactions in RE:P allow you to increase your trust/affinity with a character, learn more about them, and in the case of certain characters (Dakayivani, Rosalind, and Koziol for now), advance your romance/friendship standing.

These interactions will also play into their personal side quests further down the line; after reaching a certain affinity threshold, you may be able to unlock special interactions/quests for the NPC.

Please vote for your top three characters you'd like to see side convo interactions with in future updates! All will eventually get more interactions, but we'd like to know who to prioritize first :)

Note: This is not a complete list, as more NPCs will be appearing in the coming months! We will likely repeat this poll at least a few times as progress continues.

Conversable Characters (more to come)

Dakayivani (Lucaci Group faction, potential love interest/platonic friend)

Izefia (Lucaci Group faction)

Zhang (Lucaci Group faction)

Kiefer (NetiZen faction)

Nadim (NetiZen faction)

Rosalind (NetiZen faction/neutral, potential love interest/platonic friend)

Koziol (Neutral, potential love interest/platonic friend) [Not yet in-game]

Salvador (Neutral)

Jiwa (Neutral)

Ulysses (Neutral)

The Twin Sisters (Neutral)

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The poll will end August 4th. Thank you for your feedback! <3

Important RE:P Poll for future content!

Future Content Update Poll!

Now that a solid chunk of core features have been implemented in RE:P, we're looking ahead to future updates and deciding what to focus on next.

We'd like to get your feedback on what you're most interested in seeing us prioritize! 

Main quest content: The central story of RE:P, quests that steadily advance the central plot.

Side quests: Optional story quests that flesh out the world, provide XP, and may advance your relationship with certain chars. Includes faction quests, which are related to the central story but non-essential. 

NPC side convos: Visiting NPCs to engage in more in-depth interactions, increase your relationship, etc. For certain chars, this includes their romance/platonic bond path.

New mechanics: Adding in more "gamey" content, like a blood bar/meter, feeding on NPCs, traveling around via a map, inventory, and leveling up your skills via XP.

New areas: Fleshing out/expanding the exterior hub and interior areas to provide more places to explore, including new NPCs to interact with. 

Visual improvements: Making the game generally look nicer by replacing placeholder 3D models and animations with custom ones, both for NPCs/the PC and the environment.

More branches/skill and 

Multiple choices are allowed in the poll, but please only pick your top 3 choices!

If you'd like to give us extra helpful info, please comment on this post (or in the Discord channel) with the order of the content you'd be most interested in seeing (e.g. Main quest > mechanics > side convos) so we have a better idea of what everyone is looking forward to most!

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.7.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

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Update v0.0.7.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha0731
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

This update is fairly major in terms of the main quest, which finally is getting its continuation!

You'll get to meet a handful of the major characters in RE:P, as the stage is set for your mystery-unraveling adventure in Las Vegas to truly begin. 

• New skill (Nous) + new trait (Bohedonist) implemented
• New main quest sequence/cutscene 
• New area (Paradisus 30th Floor)
• 5 new NPCS

IMPORTANT NOTE: To trigger the main quest sequence (which will, in future builds, trigger automatically after a certain amount of side quests have been completed), interact with the taxi in Chinatown.

Next Month's Update

In August, we'll see a continuation of the main quest, as well as possibly some other additions (interactions with various NPCs, side quest(s), and/or other content or mechanics updates).

We'll soon be launching another Patreon poll to get your feedback on what you'd like us to prioritize in terms of content updates, so make sure to vote in order to get your voice heard + incorporated during the alpha!

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

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Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

July Dev Log

Hello all!

We hope your summer is going well--and if you're in one of the areas being affected by the heat waves, please stay safe!

In this month's dev log, we'll be looking at a quick update on RE:P and our visual novels, so read on for more! This is quite a juicy update, we're excited to say :D

Red Embrace: Paradisus Update News

This month's update is going to include some noticeable story content!

• 5 new NPCs introduced (!)
• New area (Paradisus Casino and Hotel)
• The first main quest entry (not completable in this update, but hopefully in August's)
• New skill (Nous) + new trait (Bohedonist)

We're finally getting rolling with RE:P's main quest storyline, which will slowly advance throughout the months as we work in side quests/new features alongside it. 

As the game world opens up--which it should be in the next couple of months--you will be able to visit additional areas outside the three hubs (Chinatown, near the Strip, and Old Vegas). These will include faction bases, the hangouts of certain major NPCs (to speak with/advance your relationship with them), Sal's casino, etc.

The update will be arriving sometime next week! Hopefully before the weekend, if no unexpected buggies rear their heads.

Visual Novel News

We have some very exciting news on this front...read on!

VN 1 (Guilded Hearts)

Our first VN to be announced is now officially titled Guilded Hearts! <3 Above, you can see the current iteration of the logo (subject to changes/edits).

As we've hinted at before, it's a BL visual novel with a fantasy MMO theme, based around the lives of several players who bond through the game. Currently there are four love interests planned, as well as 18+ content~

We're hoping to announce it within the next month or so, including character reveals! As our lovely patrons, you all are the first to hear about these juicy details, and more will be coming quite soon <3

VN 2 (Final Nocturne: Beloved of the Moon)

Our second VN in the works is called Final Nocturne: Beloved of the Moon! We haven't yet designed a logo for it, but that should hopefully be on its way in the next month or so.

FN is a Gothic fantasy BL visual novel in the vein of stories such as Castlevania and Diablo. There are three romance routes planned, and likely 18+ content as well. We'll tease a bit more about the story and characters in the coming months!

Perhaps most excitingly, we're delighted to announce that Sh00 (the artist for both Red Embrace: Hollywood and Red Embrace: Paradisus) will likely be working on both sprite + CG art for FN! If you enjoy their gorgeous art, you can look forward to some dazzling work in the near future. <3

FN will likely be announced later than Guilded Hearts, but we're still hoping to make an official page for it sometime in the fall. 

Life Update

We've been hard at work as usual, surviving the summer heat in Indiana and the chilling spring in Seattle! There's been a lot of cake and cats this past month, as the following pictures will evidence.

Gam spots a catto in the wild

Dov's oreo ice cream cake

Gam's many layer apple cake

Dov's cats enjoying a nice summer morning by the window

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And that's all for our July dev log! Quite a few exciting things will be coming up soon, and we can't wait to share them with you all, our lovely patrons. <3

Stay safe and healthy out there!

RE:P Poll: Skill/Trait for July update!

It's time for the next Red Embrace: Paradisus content poll--let's see which skills/traits will show up this month!

As a brief refresher, skills are passive/active abilities that let you gain insights, interact with the environment, and achieve quest goals. Examples include picking locks, tracking down a character, seducing someone, stealing their lunch money, etc.

(Below: the skill selection screen)

Traits, on the other hand, are personality/background facets of your character. They determine how your character thinks/feels about their situation, their background, and how other characters respond to them. Examples include flying into a rage at an insult, being able to flirt aggressively, always remaining stoically silent, and acting gleefully eccentric.

(Below: the trait selection screen)

As you can see from the screenshots, only a limited number of skills/traits have been introduced thus far. So let's decide what the next new skill + trait implementation will be!

Here are the current options (both the skill + trait will be implemented if picked):

Option 1: Iron Diplomacy + True Thespian

• [Skill] Iron Diplomacy: Threaten and intimidate people who might not share your point of view
• [Trait] True Thespian: Be extremely theatrical and dramatic, move (some) people to tears, channel your acting chops for sticky situations

Option 2: Silken Eros + Artiste

• [Skill] Silken Eros: Seduction and sensual prowess (note that this may not appear much until more quests are implemented)
• [Trait] Artiste: A natural affinity for art and music, accentuated by your vampiric nature

Option 3: Nous + Bohedonist

• [Skill] Nous: Willpower, mental strength, mind over body, resisting vampire powers
• [Trait] Bohedonist: Compulsively chase after pleasure, excitement, and new experiences; decadence thrills you beyond compare

Choose your favorite pair! Fear not, the ones that don't win will still show up later eventually! :) (Poll ends on the 16th)

July WIP: RE:P Portrait Sketch (+ bonus VN teaser!)

Hello all!

This month's main WIP is another portrait sketch for an upcoming character! We've also got a bonus for you, though...

RE:P Teaser Sketch

A pro hacker, no filter, and no bullshit tolerated...

Not even death stops a true punk! You'll be meeting her soon enough.

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Bonus WIP from one of our upcoming VNs...

Who might this handsome fella be? You'll find out in the coming weeks!

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Stay tuned for the RE:P poll and dev log! Thank you as always for your support <3

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.6.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

__________________________

Update v0.0.6.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha0630
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

Due to much of our June being spent exhibiting at/recovering from cons (as well as work on our VN projects), this update is something of a small one. 

However, alongside the monthly skill/trait addition, we've also added some new convo options and interactable/flavor text objects! 

• New skill (Honed Sinews) + new trait (Selfless) implemented 
• New conversation questions for Ulysses and Jack
• Added interactable + flavor text objects to Maodun Consulting, Clinic, coffee shop, bookstore, and Eisuke's house
• CTC icon added to CG mode so it's more obvious when to click
• Some small general bugfixes

Next Month's Update

Since we've now recovered and re-established our workflow, we're hoping to have a substantial July update. The biggest goal for next month will be to continue the main questline, which will involve the introduction of quite a few new NPCs! :) Some answers to your questions, and many more new questions, will soon arrive...

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

_____________

Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3

June Dev Log

Hello all!

In this month's dev log, a quick overview of RE:P's update status, the VN progresses, and the wrapup posts for our convention adventures!

Red Embrace: Paradisus Update News

Due to our travel and convention work this past month, June's RE:P update will be a small one. We're currently aiming to release the update next week, so keep an eye out!

The new skill (Honed Sinews) + trait (Selfless) will be added, as we slowly work on filling out the lists!

Existing NPCs in Chinatown will have a little more added to their conversations, and some areas will see new objects added to the environment!

We've been working on controller input/WASD movement, since the click-to-move method can be a little aggravating in larger areas (such as the Chinatown hub). However, it likely won't be implemented until July, as we need to ensure it works smoothly.

Next month, we'll be aiming for a more substantial update. July will hopefully see a continuation of the main quest, as well as the introduction of new NPCs, many of whom were introduced on our blog earlier. 

Visual Novel News

Exciting times! We're moving full speed ahead on both projects, and it's looking like we'll have at least one Kickstarter this year...most likely in the fall!

Currently, we're working on the sprite/CG art for the games, as well as refining our visual novel engine in Unity to start producing the demos.

More info to come next month!

Convention Wrap-Ups

Our month of cons is over! If you'd like to hear about our experiences, what we learned, and check out the various pics we took, head over to our MomoCon and PopCon blog posts for a comprehensive wrap-up!

Life Update

We've been hoisting ourselves back into the work saddle after recovering from all the travel/convention stresses. There's a lot on our plate for the summer and fall! 

A small glimpse of the past month in pics:

Gam's snuggly catto friend

Dov's aggressively blue/green drink from a tiki bar in Indianapolis

Dov's catto finds a perch

Gam's homemade drink in a new Monokuma glass

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And that's all for June! As always, thank you all so much for your amazing support! We wouldn't be here without you. <3

Important Poll: Future WIP Content

Hello all!

As we spread our focus towards developing visual novels concurrently with Red Embrace: Paradisus, we'd like to get your feedback on what kind of WIPs you're most interested in seeing.

As you may have read in our dev logs, we're currently working on two new BL VNs that we'll soon be ready to share more of. They will both include 18+ content.

However, we want to know whether you'd like to see VN content > RE:P content, vice versa, or an even mix of the two! 

Please read the poll option descriptions below and cast your vote:

- Only RE:P WIPs: We will focus on Red Embrace: Paradisus content for teasers/WIPs

- Only VN WIPs: We will switch focus to WIP/teaser content for our upcoming VNs

- Mostly RE:P, occasional VN WIP: We'll remain focused on RE:P, but drop the occasional VN arts

- Mostly VNs, occasional RE:P WIP: We'll switch to posting mainly VN WIP content, but still drop new RE:P portrait sketches or screenshots

- Alternating: We'll go back and forth between the two equally!

Thanks so much for your feedback! <3

June WIP: REP Portrait Sketch!

Hello all!

Yet another portrait sketch WIP for you! This yet-unannounced character is one of the rare Fourth House vampires who you'll encounter in RE:P...

...You'd best beware!

Next month, we'll likely be glimpsing some WIP(s) from upcoming VNs. We might also do a poll to see which WIPs you all would rather see, so keep an eye out for that as well! 

Thanks as always for your amazing support <3

RE:P Poll: Skill/Trait for next update!

It's time for the next Red Embrace: Paradisus content poll--let's see which skills/traits will show up next month!

As a brief refresher, skills are passive/active abilities that let you gain insights, interact with the environment, and achieve quest goals. Examples include picking locks, tracking down a character, seducing someone, stealing their lunch money, etc.

(Below: the skill selection screen)

Traits, on the other hand, are personality/background facets of your character. They determine how your character thinks/feels about their situation, their background, and how other characters respond to them. Examples include flying into a rage at an insult, being able to flirt aggressively, always remaining stoically silent, and acting gleefully eccentric.

(Below: the trait selection screen)

As you can see from the screenshots, only a limited number of skills/traits have been introduced thus far. So let's decide what the next new skill + trait implementation will be!

Here are the current options (both the skill + trait will be implemented if picked):

Option 1: Iron Diplomacy + True Thespian

• [Skill] Iron Diplomacy: Threaten and intimidate people who might not share your point of view
• [Trait] True Thespian: Be extremely theatrical and dramatic, move (some) people to tears, channel your acting chops for sticky situations

Option 2: Honed Sinews + Selfless

• [Skill] Honed Sinews: Speed, athletics, and acrobatics. Useful for combat, flashy parkour, or anything in between
• [Trait] Selfless: Kind and self-sacrificing, sometimes to extremes. Go out of your way to brighten others' days

Option 3: Nous + Bohedonist

• [Skill] Nous: Willpower, mental strength, mind over body, resisting vampire powers
• [Trait] Bohedonist: Compulsively chase after pleasure, excitement, and new experiences; decadence thrills you beyond compare

Choose your favorite pair! Fear not, the ones that don't win will still show up later eventually! :) (Poll ends on the 14th)

RE:P Alpha Update v0.0.5.1 LIVE!

Interested in joining the alpha, if you haven't already? Read the instructions to get your Steam key and start playing!

__________________________

Update v0.0.5.1 is here!

We're excited to announce that the next update for RE:P is now live!!

Download the new update in Steam via the Patreon Alpha branch! Make sure to come share your thoughts on the new content with us in Discord. :)

This month's alpha password: repalpha0524
(Re-enter into the check code area in the beta testing window and hit "check code")

Changelog Summary

Read on for a small update of the major additions, then check them out in more detail below!

• New interior area (Clinic/Blood Bank)
• 1 new NPC to talk to (Jack)
• Hair and skin color customization on 3D model (still WIP)
• Eye/hair color picker for 2D portrait
• New skill (Illusive Web) + New trait (Malicious)
• Delete all saves button in main menu
• General polish and bugfixes

Chae-won's Clinic

There's a clinic/blood bank in Chinatown! It's rather bare-bones at the moment, and you can't yet speak to the owner herself--but there is a certain familiar somebody who works at the desk. You'll be able to buy blood here later!

Color Pickers/3D Model Update

While still a huge WIP (the color picker UI will be updated soon), we've now got a placeholder 3D model that actually reflects your skin/hair color. You can also use the color pickers to change your 2D portrait! 

We'll be adding a skin color picker eventually as well, and of course, the 3D model will be upgraded to reflect your hairstyle and accessories. :)

Next Month and the Future

What's next for RE:P?

We're doing more travel and convention exhibitions in June, so the update may be a little limited again. However, we're hoping to kick off the main questline soon since that the quest system and other groundwork is now in place!

Some (possible) things that might show up in June's update:

• Inventory system
• 1 new side quest
• New area and/or hub expansion

Polls & Throne Content Submission:

The polls for next month's new content will be posted on Patreon soon! What skill and trait would you like to see implemented next?

For our Throne patrons: Make sure to submit your design suggestions for next month in the sheet or on Discord to be polled on!

_____________

Thank you so much for supporting us during the RE:P Alpha!! Your patronage helps us immensely with developing the game, and all feedback/bug reports are hugely appreciated. <3