What's new in V1.0?

Officiall release! 😄

Hello there!

I can't believe it! I just uploaded my very first visual novel! I'd be honored if you'd play it. If you like merman then you won't be disappointed! 💙

Since I was a teen I always played some kind of visual novel. I have a lot of respect for everyone who pours their heart and soul into this kind of storytelling medium and shares their little artworks with the world. Now as a professional game designer (for a TCG) I felt like it was my time to give back to the VN community that brings me so much joy! :)

Why write about mermen?

SeaSons: Frost Bites actually came to be because of a Winter Visual Novel Game Jam I planned to participate in. I did, in fact, work multiple hours a day on this game, learning about storytelling and Ren'Py. Gladly, I already know how to draw and design so that was taken care of. If I love drawing one thing, it's slightly naughty merman so I figured, I could use one of them for a game and since it was winter, the male lead had to be some kind of arctic merman. I wanted to keep the scope low for my first game so there's only two characters in the game: Vira, a stranded pirate and Arodon, a very compassionate shark. While thinking about the possibilities this story could go in, I decided to eventually create a merman love-story for every season. I plan to capture my feelings about each season in these stories. A spring themed visual novel is already in the making. For now, these sons of the sea (See what I did there?) get wooed by a female protagonist but knowing me, there will be LGBTQ content in future releases. Not in Frost Bites, though. This game is finished for now.

Character Design

I'm a simple girl: I like men with long hair, especially when they come with a fish tail. As I looked at the winter sky here in Germany I noticed a distinct light yellow hue in each sunset. That's how Arodon's hair color and the overall color scheme of SeaSons: Frost Bites was decided. Arodon's tail and form is inspired by a variety of sharks inhabiting the northern regions.

Vira on the other hand was always meant to represent my personal resentment for the colder months, so her color scheme is warm with a hint of summer & autumn vibes. Her bright, lively colors contrast beautifully with Arodon's cool, muted look. Her fashion is not set in a specific time period, so feel free to mentally put her into whatever time you feel like she belongs.

Generally speaking, it's nice to work on a game like this all on my own (except for my boyfriend who passionately tested each new line I wrote and a friend who played a very early state back in December, I think? 🤍) and skip the long decision making process involved in "official productions". I love my job, I really do, but being able to just do what I want to because I like it this way is a nice change.

Retrospective & Outlook

Would I start making VNs again? 100%. I never expected to get such a kick out of a passion project like this but honestly, the SeaSons series brings the things I love the most together and allows me to share the outcome with you. SeaSons: Spring Fever will probably be released bit by bit instead of waiting for the finished product to be fully polished. Additionally, it's highly possible I'll add more artworks to SeaSons: Frost Bites in the future. Please let me know what you think about Arodon and Vira!

I sincerely hope I can bring some merfolk-love into your life! ❄🦈❄