Indie Game Afterlove EP: A Bittersweet Tribute to Its Late Creator
A Tragic Premise
Upcoming anime-inspired indie game Afterlove EP is a game in which art imitates life in the saddest way possible. There’s a tragic irony to its premise, as you play as twenty-something musician Rama trying to move on from the death of his girlfriend Cinta, whose voice he continues to hear, while trying to get ready for an important gig that may make or break his band. The game’s original writer and director Fahmi Hasan had suddenly passed away in 2022.
Honoring the Late Developer
"For a while, it felt like we had no direction and no reason to keep going," says technical artist Maxi. "But after some time, we pushed through even though it was really rough, and I think we did our best to honour what he started."
Indonesian Culture and Influences
Part of that vision was the setting of Jakarta, where the late developer was also based (the remote studio Pikselnesia consists of developers working from across Indonesia). Just as Japanese games like Persona 5 and The World Ends With You are examples of Japanese developers showcasing their trendy contemporary culture to the world, so too does Afterlove EP depict the kind of trendy neighbourhoods that Indonesian youth gravitate towards.
Anime and Manga Style
Indeed, Japanese culture is very influential in Indonesian culture, not just in terms of games but visuals, as background artist Pinga mentions to me that the manga Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad was one of Fahmi’s inspirations behind the band element of Afterlove EP’s story. Illustrator Soyatu, whose work already garnered a large following prior to joining Pikselnesia, also cites Japanese manga artists Yasuda Suzuhito and Natsujikei Miyazaki as inspirations.
Authentic Depiction of Diversity
Despite Japanese influences and an anime style, it was also important to authentically depict the diversity of Indonesia, which is a Muslim-majority country. "Indonesia has so many diverse people, so I spent some time researching and trying to discover how Indonesian people might look in an anime-style," Soyatu explains.
Game Development
The game is presented in 2D format with just a handful of locations, Pinga’s backgrounds cover a considerable length, allowing players to traverse them in a side-scrolling fashion rather than just static backdrops you might find in a visual novel. Even then, there’s variations to the visuals, such as for longer dialogue scenes or the rhythm game mini-games.
Conclusion
Although the loss of Fahmi had a major impact on the team, everyone decided to pull together to see his vision through to the end, and the result is bittersweet. "We lost our friend, also a leader at the same time, but the show must go on, so we did our best!" Soyatu concludes. "I’m so happy and relieved the game is coming out, but sad at the same time because Fahmi isn’t with us now. But we did it. It’s for Fahmi, our beloved person."
FAQs
Q: What is the premise of Afterlove EP?
A: The game follows twenty-something musician Rama as he tries to move on from the death of his girlfriend Cinta and get ready for an important gig that may make or break his band.
Q: Who was the original writer and director of Afterlove EP?
A: Fahmi Hasan, who sadly passed away in 2022.
Q: How does the game depict Indonesian culture?
A: The game features trendy neighbourhoods that Indonesian youth gravitate towards, and authentic depictions of Indonesian people, despite Japanese influences and an anime style.
Q: What software was used to develop Afterlove EP?
A: The game was developed using Unity, with additional tools such as Procreate, Photoshop, and Spine.
