Ritenuto
Ritenuto is Finally Complete!
What!? It didn't take until Winter VN Jam 2025 to finish this game???
Honestly, it would be kind of funny and poetic if I did wait until then, haha.
But it's been long enough! Ritenuto has been in WIP for too long lol.
I try to look for jams that match the theme/timing of my game and work because having a deadline for something makes me work better... and it's easier to use a game jam's deadline than to set my own release date cause... jams feel more community oriented. I guess.
Anyway, very grateful to Josei Jam for allowing submissions that have been previously published already. So, YIPPEE!!!! Ritenuto is done!!!
Now what?
There's still work that needs to be done to promote the game... Which includes making a trailer for it and possibly an artbook? Though I'm not sure how composed I can make my thoughts if I were to create an artbook. Seriously. I think I've ran through around 5 or 6 different planning docs for this story. Changing their ages, backstories, side characters, etc. It's really hard to organize... because it's NOT organized! It's just scattered throughout TWO google drives.
Also if I were to make an artbook, it would consist of so much old art... I think I would cringe more than enjoy making it. Maybe no artbook. Idk.
As I said in my previous post, the main characters of Ritenuto were created when I was in high school and I had the two wolves inside of me-- one pushing for stable careers within a job that I'm not enthused about where as the other pushed for ambition and freedom of doing what I like for profit.
I've kinda come to my own conclusions about the battle, which I hope were expressed by the game. Haha.
About The Aroace Stuff (Happy Pride!!):
Mild spoilers ahead! Click to expand:
So. It's never explicitly said in game, but for clarification:
Viv is Gray Aromantic Asexual. He sees himself as just asexual cause he looked it up in high school once, figured that's what was going on, and then never bothered to do any deeper research.
Chip is Bisexual. He probably also learned some time in high school. The way he sees it is similar to people who say they're more interested in potential partners as people and it's just less about their gender.
Originally, there wasn't that much Aro talk in the game, with Viv just being gray-ace instead of aroace. But as I kinda realized... some other things :standing_man_emoji: it changed to aroace.
I think it's a misconception that aro people can only be with other aro people. Of course, Viv is a shade of gray in that area cause even I don't know how this works. I'm just a guy! I don't have a degree in this!
But I'd imagine that despite the difference in how someone shows affection-- whether it be romantic or platonic, as long as the other person receives it and understands it as affection... isn't it all fine?
I really wanted to try and do a direct comparison, hence why Ashley Kennen and Josh Wheaton are in the game, and see... between a less romantic more platonic couple and a completely romantic couple, what were the differences? And turns out my conclusion is... there aren't that many! It's the same love framed in a different light. Who knew it was so simple!! (It did not feel simple and still does not feel simple.)
I don't know if I've committed aroace atrocities or aroace heroics. I guess I'll find out.
Happy Pride!!
SO. WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT??
Aha... Good question!!
As for the Italian music notation universe (Dolce, Sempre, Ritenuto) the next game I'm thinking of creating is pretty large in scope... so it might not fit within game jam boundaries.
Very scary, releasing a game on my own. All alone on my own game island... but it's going to be called Vivace.
I probably won't do any work for it until O2A2 and Spooktober are over, because I want to focus on making cool games for those jams. EhehehehEHEH
The Ritenuto boys will be around for cameos, but their main story is finished now!! Thank you so much for reading, it means a lot to me.
This is the first visual novel that I feel like I've put the most quality assurance into, lmao. As expressed by my previous devlog, I hope this is a VN that you enjoy reading as much as you enjoy looking at!
Thank you, thank you, and see you in the next game!! <3
- Xiruo
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I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS UAGHHHHHH TURN IT UP
LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY PROJECTS YOU MAKE NEXT!!!!
HLSFKJGS WOOO
THANK YOUUUUUU !!! <3