Hello! This is a sort of pre-devlog post just to sort of introduce myself and my game House Party!

I wanted to make a game that embodies the definition of nostalgia, from the look to the sound to everything in between. I take inspiration from music, other artists, and, of course, the scenery in my own backyard. The Midwest is such an interesting place that I don't see highlighted in games too often (or maybe it is and I'm not looking in the right places). Not just the place, but the stories that come with it; the wandering around grocery stores and empty towns, driving through farm fields, and hanging out in someone's basement. The very conversations and stories I enjoy writing all are inspired by my experiences here. I want to bring these unexplainable feelings to a wider audience because no matter how far I travel, I always end up back here.

My game includes a cast of 15 characters (not including the main character), all unique and with their own stories, relationships, and complexities. Though I have only really written everything out in my head and not on paper, I love all of these characters and the direction they are headed in and I hope it shows. I know I enjoy games that you can tell that someone cares about the project, but maybe that's just my inner game designer!

Speaking of which, I may as well introduce a little bit about me and my background. Lets just start from the beginning. HI! I'm Paper! House Party is my first solo development project (a fact I am very proud of), but I have in fact worked on both finished and unfinished games for a decent amount of time now. I'm in my 3rd year majoring in Game Design and I have 2 more years to go before I have a Master's Degree in a field that I never want to leave! I also do a bit of writing on the side (and by on the side I mean as a Minor)! I'm an Art Executive for my university's club dedicated to game development as well as an open-mic theater club.  With what spare time I have left, I write and host tabletop games with friends in my community. With all that being said, if you're hiring, I'll be right here! If not, well, sit back and enjoy me making my art and struggling learning programming!

In the future, expect to hear a bit about my inspirations for this project, my process, and just some of my crazy ramblings about game design in general. For now I'm getting all of my socials set as well as figuring out marketing methods, so spread the word! You can find me on Instagram, Tiktok, and Bluesky with @paperrbirds for similar updates!

Thank you so much for being here and I'll see you all soon my Party-Goers!

-Paper