A downloadable game



FACT SHEET

Name: Dear Mom: My Letter to You

Developer: Mangoku418

Business Contact: mangoku418@gmail.com

Socials: Twitter

Release Date: TBA

Platforms: Steam PC/Mac/Linux | itch.io PC/Mac/Linux


Dev Log | Press Kit Images | Kickstarter Page

DESCRIPTION

One year following a traumatic event, a high schooler turns over a new leaf. Play the role of Ayame as she confronts reality once again to make amends with her family and friends in this heartwarming dating sim. What journey awaits her since her long absence...?

ABOUT THE GAME

Inspired by the Persona and the Danganronpa series, Dear Mom: My Letter to You is a dating sim that offers a story-rich narrative over the course of a year, taking a slice-of-life approach to the genre to develop a more thorough understanding of character relationships. Role-Playing Game mechanics are introduced to choices you make as a player, heavily influencing the game's story and progression. Just as in real life, relationships are built over a long series of moments.

The game stars Ayame Kawasaki, a spirited girl who has been reclusive for the past year, following a tragic and traumatic incident. Today, she steps out to begin her life anew, repeating her second year at Yamada Hoshi High School. Embark on an emotional journey of loss, redemption, and the bonds that will blossom into meaningful connections, or even love.

GAME PROGRESSION

The game and story progression are based on the player's Social Stats. There are 5 stats in total: Charisma, Knowledge, Craftsmanship, Kindness, and Determination respectively. These are leveled up by partaking in activities, talking to friends, or making particular decisions throughout the game.

In between main story events, you can decide how to spend each day and navigate to various places of interest. Doing so will grant you additional options to choose from. You can partake in activities like socializing with friends, studying, cleaning, or drawing. Choosing certain activities can grant you Social Stats, which are useful for unlocking new opportunities.

Throughout the game, you can earn Mood Points based on your choices to further develop your relationship with other characters. Earn enough Mood Points to unlock side chapters and learn more about them, and potentially romance with them! As your connection with others deepens, your conversations with them will also change, even referencing topics you discussed with them previously. This is to emulate a natural progression of a human bond.

Generally in dating sims, players may feel compelled to skip the text due to the repetitive nature of stat-building and being presented with the same dialogue every time. In Dear Mom, we incorporate different scenarios and interactions in each activity to make encounters feel fresh and unique.

FEATURES

  • Female Protagonist & 4 romanceable characters, each with their own unique personalities and story arcs!
  • Point-and-Click adventure where you can navigate to various areas of interest, engage in activities, and interact with characters!
  • Choices and Stats system that impact the events of the story!
  • Partial Voice Acting!
  • Colorful and expressive sprite art and animations!
  • Stunning environments with daytime/nighttime variations! 

ABOUT THE GAME

I wanted the story to be impactful and relatable to real-life situations while having a little bit of fun to it. Something that focused on building connections, finding meaning in life, suffering from bullying, and dealing with family loss. I started taking inspiration from media like "A Silent Voice", "CLANNAD", and "Aggretsuko". As for game mechanics, I was heavily inspired by games that tie RPG elements with having meaningful and sometimes wacky conversations with other characters. Games like "Persona 4", "Danganronpa V3", and "Monster Prom" conveyed those concepts very well.

ABOUT ME

It has always been a dream of mine to develop video games. I first wanted to be a racecar driver, but I found myself enjoying racing games like Crash Team Racing. I began my game development journey by making fan games with GameMaker back in 2010. Having an artistic background, I knew I wanted to enter the gaming industry focusing on character and UI design. Coming out with a Bachelor's Degree in Game Design and Development, I wanted to put my skills to the test and develop an original game of my own. Over time, I've gained valuable experience, acquired new skills, connected with fellow developers, and collaborated with many wonderful people. It's been a blast developing this project and I hope to deliver an exceptional experience for everyone to enjoy!

CREDITS 

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