root vegetable boy
CHORUS MACHINE DEV LOG #22 - WINTER 2026
Winter is over, and the CHORUS MACHINE Demo is now playable on itch.io.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Actually, as of the time of writing, it's still roughly 12 hours before release...
I'm a lot more nervous than I thought I would be. I don't have much of an audience, so I figure it'll mostly be people I know playing the game, but maybe that makes it scarier?
Originally, I was going to have a demo release party on the 20th, and then I would at least have some live reactions to go off of going into release day. But, I got sick, and the party got pushed to next week. So it's just me and a handful of other people that have ever played the Demo.
I just hope anyone likes it!
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
The vast majority of my time has been spent communciating with playtesters and finalizing the Demo for release (preparing the itch page, the soundtrack, among other things...) When not focusing on the Demo, I'm hunkered down, trying to finish the proper script for the rest of the game. Currently, I'm most of the way done with the next major section; I'm hoping the reception to the Demo will give me a sorely-needed boost of motivation.
If I'm being honest, it took a lot more work than I had initially anticipated to get here. Isn't game dev always? It's hard to believe that I've already been working on this for two and a half years... I'm happy the Demo is complete, but a small part of me despairs at how much game is still left to make.
Still, I'm glad the Demo is going to be playable soon. I really really really need other people to look at it. I'll go crazy if I keep it to myself any longer!
PARTY UPDATE
If you're in or near Denver, I'm having a demo release party at Beehive Skate Shop at 8:00pm MST on March 27th! We're going to play through the entire thing together and have a great time laughing at all the jokes I wrote. It's gonna be a fun night of gamers and skaters, so come on out and goof off with us.
I'm lucky to have been surrounded and supported by so many people in the making of this Demo. They're thanked in the credits, but I'll thank them here, too:
THANK YOU
Pip: Came up with the idea of limited save files as a difficulty slider. Helped me knit together the correct mechanics for my story. Loved me fiercely the whole way through.
Asha, Miguel, Thomas: Lived with me while I worked night and day on this project. Listened to me rant and rave about characters and mechanics until I went blue in the face.
Erin, Joey, Will: The best volunteer playtesters anyone could ask for. Supported the project and my vision from day one.
Olivia Orzechowski and BITxBIT: Gave an incredibly early version of the CHORUS MACHINE Demo a place to be celebrated and for people to play.
Beehive Skate Shop: Hosting the demo release party. Also, my current place of employment!
CHORUS MACHINE would not exist in the same way without you.
Well... I hope you like it!
Originally posted March 23rd, 2025.