Author Comments
All is well. Still making content without issues. Episode 4: Decay (part 2/2) is coming along nicely.
Last time you were given the option to leave questions about the game and story so far. Some have been combined, and others reworded for more concise answers.
If you're not interested in the Q&A, skip to the end, there's something I want to ask you.
Q&A Author Responses
Q: How does one pronounce Leyley?
A: Lay-lay. "Lay" as in "Lay down."
Q: Merch when??
A: We're in discussions regarding contracts and licensing and logistics and other legal hoopla that needs to be dealt with. It'll be a while but it'll happen.
Q: You mentioned the possible re-release of your old game jam novels. Which ones? When?
A: Not even god knows. Thank you for all the interest.
Q: What inspired The Coffin of Andy and Leyley? How did you come up with the story?
A: This was one of the most asked questions. Luckily I've already answered it in detail here.
Q: Is it okay to refer to you by your old screen name?
A: Nemlei was a company name. It was acquired and discontinued. It's like calling me Coca-Cola, I don't feel any way about it. But still, thank you. Your concern warms my heart.
I don't have any current usernames, so I just go by "author".
Q: People have branded this as the "incest game" despite it having a lot more to it. How does it feel?
A: Their loss. I'm glad not everyone has such a shallow, one-note interpretation, because this burning garbage heap is a symphony!
Q: Do you think your audience is more male or female?
A: The target demographic is women who enjoy true crime shows, gothic romance, and dark comedy. I've no idea who showed up though, and it doesn't matter. Everyone is welcome to give me money!
Q: Explicit sex hentai porn NSFW scene when???????
A: Never.
Q: What does Andrew study?
A: Pedantry.
Q: What determines the color of someone's soul in the game?
A: Great question! Find out in Decay.
Q: Is Andrew lying about his nightmares?
A: No, but he does exaggerate the frequency of them.
Q: Did the Lady in 302 actually try to shoot Andrew?
A: Yes. She lunged for the nailgun but didn't make it in time.
Q: Does Ashley and/or Andrew have [cluster B type personality disorder]?
A: Shoehorning the characters into real-life diagnoses would only serve to diminish the narrative, and cause contradictions in the way their symptoms would or wouldn't manifest. Rather than seeing their behavior through the lens of this or that affliction, it's more fruitful to analyze the cause and effect of in-universe events.
Q: Do you do anything with the batteries from episode 1?
A: Yes.
Q: Is The Coffin of Andy and Leyley related to any other games? Is there a shared universe your games take place in?
A: No.
Q: What inspired the character names?
A: A google search for the most common names in the 90s.
Q: Is Ashley disinterested in sex?
A: Rather than disinterested, she doesn't want to grow up. Sex doesn't accommodate her fantasy of "Andy and Leyley", which is a dynamic where Andrew nurtures her unconditionally. The crux of their enmeshment is Ashley projecting all her unmet needs (platonic and sexual alike) onto Andrew, while expecting him to be a safe object that never reciprocates or asks anything of her. The "troubles ahead" shown by the trinket were what they were for a reason.
Q: Why are you making Decay first? It sucks ass!
A: Burying one's problems and pretending everything is hunky-dory doesn't solve anything. In fact, it often makes matters worse. Although unpleasant, true [CHAOS AND MAYHEM!!!] can only be achieved by unearthing the root cause of one's issues and addressing the underlying decay.
Q: How tall are Ashley and Andrew?
A: Ashley is small and tiny. Andrew is tall and whiny.
The talking sprites are not at all representative of their heights, as they're leveled for readability. In the CGs you can see Andrew pretty much towers over Ashley, despite him hunching down a lot of the time and her wearing heels.
Q: "What's the size of Andrews pp"
A: PP be big.
Q: What's the size of Ashley's awesome fat tits?
A: Smaller than advertised.
Q: Which character do you hate the most?
A: If I'm not entertained by at least some aspect of a character, I don't write them. Therefore there isn't really one I'd scorn.
Q: Who is your favorite character?
A: The overall narrative is more fun than any singular character. Since the cast has been written to build upon one another, none of them would work in isolation.
Q: What did mom want to talk to Andrew about?
A: This is a mildly interesting plot beat that showcases their similarity.
Both mom and Andrew spent the day assessing the situation. Both arrived to the same conclusion: Duo leaves quietly, and everyone pretends they were never there. Their reasons were different due to knowing different things, but essentially they both wanted to avoid drawing attention.
Mother wanted to convey this plan to Andrew, though it would've been wrapped up in a sob story about how hard she had it, and lies how she didn't know what went on at the apartment. They'd talk more about how Andrew and Ashley should "start their own lives already", the subtext being: "Get lost and stay lost". Should Andrew pretend to buy all of it, he'd leave with Ashley the next morning and never contact the parents again.
As to why Ashley can't be present for the talk; She'd call bullshit, making the pretense of the conversation impossible (both mom and Andrew need to lie about what's happening to feel better about it). But as seen in the game, the situation escalates before anyone can get a word in. Because of this, mom's plan changes to that seen in the Olive Branches gag. What little goodwill remained for her shitty kids has been irreversibly exhausted.
Q: Are "Olive branches" endings canon?
A: Everything seen in the Olive Branches gag is canon except Andrew's behavior. Everyone else is in-character, and following the game's canon plot.
Q: Why did the organ trafficking ring allow the parents to leave?
A: Their operation did not allow for force at that point in time.
Q: You've shown a lot of teasers that take place in flashbacks. Will the majority of the next episode take place in the past?
A: That's just me avoiding spoilers for the main plot.
Q: Will these same flashback scenes be in Burial too?
A: They aren't relevant in Burial. You can only see them in Decay.
Q: Will there be a happy end?
A: Why yes of course.
Q: Any tips for aspiring game devs?
A: Write your own engine. Sell your house and quit your job to make your first game ever (as long as it's an MMORPG).
Start a video blog about your game to make sure you don't have time to actually develop it. Worship social media, spend all day absorbing negativity, and sacrifice everything to cater to the whims of strangers.
Read marketing advice written by people who've never shipped a game.
Switch engines midway through development! On top of that, repeatedly remake already finished content, and remember to keep starting side projects.
Finally and most importantly: Make sure to neglect your physical and mental health until you burn out, because that's when you can finally put your game on an infinite hiatus! If, despite your best efforts you end up finishing a game, make sure you don't test the build before releasing it.
Hope this helps!
:coffinheart:
Aaaaaaaaand I think that's enough Q&A. There were so, so many questions asked, which I'm grateful for, but this has gone on long enough as it is.
How about I ask you something now?
Question
Has your opinion on the release format changed these past few months?
Should there be a re-vote on releasing Episode 3: Decay (part 1/2) alone?
Kind regards with a dash of bashful,
The Author