Hello! My name is xiruo!
I'm working on a visual novel for the Spooktober VN Jam 2025.
Here's a link to my itchio and what I've previously made:
Like always... I still don't have a title yet. But the game is about people who have died and now exist in a purgatory-like space that is shaped like a 90s/2000s mall, stretching out infinitely. (Infinite mall.)
All these people work as part of a supply company and they gather packages from the outskirts of the mall and bring them back to supply the stores/shops within the main area of the mall.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUDITION:
You MUST be 18 years or older.
We will use discord as our main form of communication, so please have a discord account you don't mind using.
We will also use google drive as our file sharing space, so the same applies to whatever google account you're using.
Please have a professional-ish microphone/set up.
PLEASE be available to record during the month of September! The deadline for the game jam is the end of September.
PLEASE include your discord username as part of your audition, this is how we will reach out to you and how we will communicate for the project. If we do not hear back from your discord, we'll reach out through casting call as well, but you will have to use discord for the work.
Feel free to link a portfolio or demo reel, and anything else you want to show us about yourself. (It's not a requirement though.)
The game will not be fully voiced. We will have some parts/lines fully voiced, but the rest of the game will use voice clips instead. (This is because of the time constraint and the size of the game.)
If you have any questions or anything, you can DM my discord at xiruo. Or you can DM my bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/xiruo.bsky.social. Or you can DM my email-- I'm just kidding, stick to those two.
We will start sending out results once the Casting Call has ended (9/1)!!
But depending on the busy-ness and the number of auditions we receive, that time might change, so pay attention to this CCC page or my bluesky for updates! :>
Thank you!!
Hello everyone! Sorry this update is coming in so late ;;7;;
But we've finished sending out decisions on all of the characters and our cast has been decided!
Thank you so much to everyone for auditioning. I'm always blown away by the number of auditions we get each year.
I hope you'll enjoy playing the game when it comes out.
Thank you again!
-Xiruo
MC
- he/him
- punk-y
- selfish, individualistic/self-reliant
He constantly does things to the benefit of himself and no one else.
Gradually softens over the course of the game after starting to get along with Torch.
His voice should be on the medium to deep end, not too baritone though. He has a surprisingly deeper voice than you'd expect from his appearance. But it's clear and not raspy. Smooth but not flirty or shmoozy? Descriptions are hard.
(Don't make this sound too whiny.) Can you clean this up? My arms are tired... You're saying it's my turn? ...Whatever, as long as I get to clock out on time.
(Calling for help.) Torch. This package is more of a two-person job. Or maybe a one-person job if you're strong enough. I could just be your spotter.
(Baffled, Angry) Are you serious? They're totally going to screw us over if you don't say something!
2nd MC/Lead
- he/him
- responsible, selfless
- often ignores his own needs for others, if someone talks over him while he's saying something, he will just drop it lmao
- doormat type
A timid guy who wants to avoid fights at all costs.
Heart is too soft for his own good. Learns to stand up for himself.
His voice should be about medium range, I imagine it's a little higher than Lock's.
PLEASE do not do a nerd voice, I will cry! It might be a little shaky or soft due to him just not being used to talking a lot among his peers.
Of course, I'll get all of this sorted right away!
This isn't going to be my whole job this week... right? Oh. It is? ...No, no! That's fine! I was just asking...
(Disappointed.) Lock... you aren't supposed to pick those up. We're told to throw them out.
Supporting
- they/them
- gender is crocs
- apathetic/burnt out, workaholic
- can be friendly, they just got resting bitch/idc face, emotionless
- not very excited to go away from purgatory, find the monotony comforting
They're a kind of person that's easy to miss in a room. They don't have very strong emotions.
Androgynous voice, speaks pretty monotone.
I'm pretty content staying here... You say there's nothing to do? Not like that has changed anything for me.
The new outskirts location is so far. Can't believe I have to put my crocs into sports mode for this.
*yawn* Another day, another pretzel. Time to get to it.
Supporting
- she/her
- image obsessed, wants to look good always, her worth is tied to her beauty
- if she had the money, she would buy all those products in the over-consumption tiktoks
She's kind of controlling, kind of mean-girl/queen bee type. Maybe it's popular girl syndrome, Maybe it's... trauma. !! Warms up to Candle when they get assigned to work together.
A medium-ish femme voice. I'm okay with a little vocal fry and a little bit of a valley girl accent. As long as it's not leaning totally into a gag-type valley girl character.
(Greeting) Hey there! [Realizes] ...What's wrong? You look kinda... sad. Oh wait. [Laugh] You just don't have any makeup on. Want me to do yours?
(Serious.) I'm genuinely sorry about earlier. Can we still be friends even after all of this?
This new limited edition palette is SO CUTE! I can't wait to try it out this weekend. You're coming along too, right friend?
Supporting
- she/her
- friendly/sociable, good at meeting new people and striking up conversations with strangers
- but can sometimes get excited and just talk over people
- chronically online
- attachment issues, codependent, please love me
A girl who spent her whole life inside while alive and now wants to spend her afterlife doing all the fun things she missed out on.
A high to medium range female voice is good, something clear and crisp? She's used to just yapping non-stop.
Wait. This is crazy. I just read about this thing yesterday where these alien influencers reverse a miscarriage?!
(Serious, grateful.) Thank you... no one's said that to me before. (Laugh, lightening the mood.) Wh-What's going on with you today? You take a laxative for your emotional constipation?
(Happy, but sad for herself.) No, no. I'm fine! I'm just... really happy for you. I won't remember it, but I hope I see you again some time.
Smaller Supporting Role
- they/them
- One part of the mall cop duo in charge.
Cynical.
The voice can be a bit more cartoonish. Think of like... a haughty anime guy with glasses.
But they do have more serious lines where the cartoonish-ness fades away.
There's no 'Hell' for us to go to. We're already living in it.
(Serious.) If you're going to push forward with this, we'll have no choice put to stop you.
Smaller Supporting Role
- they/them
- One of the two mall cops in charge.
A little... crazy.
Gruff, raspy male voice. Medium to deep range. Can be cartoonish, but during his serious moments, the cartoonish-ness feels more threatening.
Hah! Yea, beat it! I'll beat you with a stick as if chiropractors were real!
(Frustrated) You guys think you're all that? Ugh! This is why I hate mortals, they keep thinking they can change things!
Shopkeeper (Only three lines and very few voice clips.)
- she/her
Works at Pretty Pretz.
High to Medium range female voice. Accents are okay.
Shopkeepers can have more over-the-top voices. They're supposed to be a little eccentric.
Want me to heat that up for you?
Shopkeeper (Only three lines and very few voice clips.)
- she/her
Works at One More Pull.
Medium to low range female voice. Accents are okay.
Shopkeepers can have more over-the-top voices. They're supposed to be a little eccentric.
Ooh. Looks like you're pretty lucky today. Wanna draw again?
Shopkeeper (Only three lines and very few voice clips.)
- who tf gives a snake pronouns
Works at SSSuperniers.
Any range, any gender. Accents are okay.
Shopkeepers can have more over-the-top voices. They're supposed to be a little eccentric.
Thanks for shopping with us! Come again whenever the craving strikes.
Shopkeeper (Only three lines and very few voice clips.)
- who gives a hat pronouns
- yes, it's the hat that is talking, NOT the cat.
- but it likes to pretend that it's the cat.
Works at Buck-It.
Any range. Any gender. Accents are okay.
Shopkeepers can have more over-the-top voices. They're supposed to be a little eccentric.
Hey there! Looking to cover up a bald spot? ...Meow?
