Reaching is a visual novel project wherein the player attempts to befriend a girl with clinical depression.
You'll be with her through bullying situations, highs, lows, and a bunch of other situations, and sometimes you'll need to know when it's time to just back off and leave her alone for a bit, because clinical depression is different from situational depression.
While this game will be made on Ren'py, this game will not be a dating sim. You can't date her. She doesn't magically get better and confess her love to you. All you're working for in this is to help her.
The point of this game is to look at depression from an outside eye. It should be remembered that every case of depression is different, and while this shouldn't be used as a guide, it may get you thinking.
Our Female MC. Her personality will be shaped by your choices. Aria
Mr. Applegate is the Psyche teacher. He's pretty cool, actually, and he always has a new fun project for us to work on. In exchange, though, he always expects a lot out of his students, and will not tolerate goofing off or slacking. Outside of class, he always puts in the extra effort with his students, and will gladly put in extra time to help them understand the material, or just chat with them about problems at home.
Assisted by Empish (Coding)
Me (Writing and scripting)
None Yet(Music and SFX)
Me (Sprite Art)
Me (Background Art)
Me... (GUI Art)
Me... (Concept Art, Editing)
Me... (Editing)
(yeah I need help...)
145+ events, of which about 80 will be accessed during any one playthrough.
4 main characters to meet and understand, each of which have different wants, needs, problems, and more!
- Kind / Mean (How nice are you to the people around you? Are you the friend to everyone? The Bully?)
- Excitable / Calm (How levelheaded are you? Are you the life of the party, or the rock in the storm?)
- Curious / Apathetic (How often do you go out of your way to ask questions? Are you more likely to accept the easiest answer?)
- Stress (How stressed out are you? Maybe you should take a personal day? Other things are sure to suffer if you don't rest.)
- School (Your family likes it when you're doing well in school, and it's the only way you'll make it to college!)
- Kendall (Kendall has been there for you for a long time. She may not want to share! Are you paying attention to her?)
- Adam (Adam is loyal, but quick to see betrayal. Make sure he doesn't feel left out.)
- Luke (Luke will stay out of your way, but maybe you shouldn't let him?)
- Aria (Aria doesn't really know how to form connections. She stays in place unless you pull her forward with you. It's very easy to leave her behind.)
- Inclusion (How much is Aria a part of your group? Maybe she could help them while you help her?)
- Family (Your family loves you unconditionally. Almost. Maybe make sure they don't see a reason to... step in?)
A "Friendless" Mode, which will remove all 'friend' options, and give you the ability to focus wholly on the other variables
A second storyline wherein MC is a male. Of equal length to the female storyline, but with entirely different contents to each event.
A songless Mode, where you never meet Aria. What changes when she's not around?
"Challenge Codes" Where you can start the game off with alternate stats for an easier or harder experience. (Like starting off with -30 family stat, or having Aria actively dislike you with a -20 trust stat.)
Overall Progress: 22.4%
Writing: 48%
Sprites: 9%
BGs: 18%
CGs: 2%
GUI: 50%
Music: 15%
Programming: 15%
Stats as of
2/11/18 *12:09 AM*
The game contains 208 dialogue blocks, containing 2,473 words and 12,795
characters, for an average of 11.9 words and 62 characters per block.
The game contains 13 menus, 17 images, and 26 screens.
(No longer accurate, because I did a lot of stuff by hand. I'd say I have about 5k words of notes now finished, and ready to start coding for the first chapter.)
scott buckley "Solstice" (Creative Commons)
scott buckley "Life Is" (Creative Commons)
Do you have experience with depression or know someone who does?
Do you like the characters?
Would you play this game?
Are there any situations you'd like to see addressed specifically? (ie. what would happen if...)
Any thoughts/concerns?