Memento Mori
Project Overview
NOTE: While most visual novels want voice actors to deliver an energetic, "anime" performance, I want the VAs for this project to deliver a more conversational, grounded performance similar to what you might sound like talking to your family or friends outside of your VA work.
In Memento Mori, you play as Alex Foster, a 30 year old bipolar alcoholic. After spending 3 months at a meditation retreat completely cut off from the outside world, he returns home to attend his family's Christmas Eve party. Alex is in the midst of a severe manic episode. Instead of enjoying the time spent with his family, he seems hellbent on blaming his parents and siblings for all his problems. They try to cheer him up and change the subject, but they're also fed up with him never taking responsibility for his mistakes.
The entire story takes place during his family's Christmas party. The player talks to each family member and makes frequent dialog choices. While many of these choices don't affect the ending, the path any conversation takes will influence the events of the story. (For example, if you argue with a sibling, they may refuse to talk to you for the rest of the party.) Each scene will unlock new dialog options for each character.
Alex eventually realizes dwelling on the past and wishing his life had gone a different direction isn't healthy. His family is all together for the first time in years and death is always knocking at the door, so why is he brooding over the past when he could be enjoying the present moment? The game ends with the entire family posing for a family photo. Alex might not have many friends…he may not have a job or a girlfriend or a car or his own place, but he knows no matter how many times he fucks up, his family will always be there to help him get back up.
This project will be an entry in the Winter VN Jam 2023 on itch.io.
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Alex (30/Male/main character) - Alex is an unemployed bipolar alcoholic. He lives with his mom and volunteers at a senior center. He's kind and caring when stable, but rude and selfish when manic. Somber, nonchalant voice when stable. Irritated, bossy tone when manic. (Voice references: Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg)
- english
- male adult
- male young adult
- american (west coast)
- general american
- general
- video game
- visualnovel
- general american (natural)
Stop dwelling on the past. It's gone. It's dead. You have to focus on the present moment. The little decisions you make with every passing moment determine your future.
I tried to help Josie. I Venmo'd her a hundred bucks so she could buy a suitcase, then another three hundred so she could get out of Florida.
No! You have no idea what it's like being bipolar. You're neurotypical. You're rich. You have a husband and a career and a beautiful home--I have none of that.
Nathan (40/M/Alex's half-brother) - Workaholic CTO living in Los Angeles. He's rarely able to return home for the holidays after being promoted to CTO four years ago. Friendly, enthusiastic masculine voice. (Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds)
- english
- male adult
- american (west coast)
- general american
- general american (natural)
- general
- video game
- visualnovel
I almost had to cancel my flight out here. Mike wanted me to help pitch his new app to some investors, but I told him no. He does this shit every year. I ask for time off. He approves it. Then right before I leave, he makes me feel guilty for leaving.
I know I haven't always been there for you. We've just been so busy lately since launching in Europe. And we're still in debt from expanding right before covid hit...
I know...sobriety's not easy. I'll be four months sober on Friday, but I almost walked into a bar at LAX and ordered a drink before the flight just to shut my brain off for a bit.
Heidi (37/F/Alex's sister) - An overachieving cybersecurity consultant working for the NSA. She recently completed a month long intensive rehab program mandated by her employer because she took edibles at her best friend's bachelorette party and got a DUI on the drive home. Assertive, eloquent feminine voice. (Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams)
- english
- general american (natural)
- general american
- general
- video game
- videogame
- visualnovel
- female adult
- american (west coast)
It feels like I have to work twice as hard just because I'm a woman. I have more certificaitons than my coworkers. I work longer hours. I stay up-to-date on the latest vulnerabilities...but they just keep failing upwards...getting all the praise while I'm ignored or told 'Oh, maybe next year.'
That's a generalization. Yes, you've had a lot of shitty, shallow exes. But not all women are like that.
So this is all you want from life? Just playing video games and binge watching documentaries all day? I don't care if you're bipolar--you can't keep using that as an excuse.
Recently retired. Worked for 28 years as a counselor at a private school. She's also a bestselling author of books on parenting and adolescent psychology. Betty is the sole parent of Alex, Heidi, and Nathan. Their father died in a drunk driving accident when they were young and Betty never remarried. Nathan is from a previous marriage, and his father moved to Mexico and hasn't spoken to him in almost a decade. Enthusiastic, feminine voice.
- english
- female senior
- american (west coast)
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2D realistic backgrounds for a visual novel. The scope of the project is fairly small and only in one location (the mother's home), so the workload should be fairly light.
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