Recent Updates
last updated
Heya there! I’m currently reevaluating my needs for the project and taking another shot at offering a skill trade. I’ll be intermittently updating postings as well as the timeline and details. Everything will be very much a WIP until then!
About the Game
On its surface, TwistedFates:LUCAS is a story about a late college graduate who dies in his first job out of college.
BUT ACTUALLY, TwistedFates:LUCAS is Luke’s origin story, following his descent (ascent?) into madness until he escapes the Corruption and starts the Rebels with Terry and Gale.
At its core, TwistedFates:LUCAS is a visual novel (specifically a kinetic novel). The player takes on the role of Luke, a lethargic hacker with very limited time to interact with technology in a technologically advanced world. Something is haunting him relentlessly, infesting every device he interacts with in an attempt to reach him—but thankfully, a mysterious inner voice is ready to protect him. Learn more about TwistedFates:LUCAS here!
Help Needed!
Heya! I’m Olive, an independent digital artist and indie game developer looking to build a team to help bring TwistedFates:LUCAS to life! At the moment, I have no budget, but I am hoping to be able to expand and offer more means of compensation as my health improves and TwistedFates starts gaining traction. A couple of things for transparency:
💲Episode 1 is a non-commercial, indie hobby project. When I first posted this, I posted a very small budget of $500 USD (which would be split among those who wanted financial compensation) while I offered my skills up for trade as well. As an artist in the field, I understand how bad that looks. That’s a LOT of work for what amounts to pennies on the dollar, which isn’t fair to anyone—especially in the wake of so many of us losing opportunities to genAI. I wish I could properly financially compensate everyone who helps me bring this vision to life. In the meantime, I’ll be offering a skill trade to everyone who assists with the project!
HOWEVER! I do intend to make later episodes as paid projects which will hopefully open the doors for monetary compensation.
📆 I’m out of office/studio sometimes Thursdays and usually Fridays and Saturdays. While I may answer some questions and correspondence during those times, this is not the usual case. I also cannot provide rush services, as I am chronically ill.
🚫 This is a genAI-FREE project. I will not accept assistance from nor will I participate in any projects that use AI-generated assets.
What I Need:
I’m looking for creatives who are:
- familiar with Ren’Py and/or visual novels!
- enthusiastic about TwistedFates:LUCAS and bringing indie projects to life!
- excited about the entire creative process of making a game!
- vibe well with their teammates!
- able to keep secrets! Please don’t release details about the project until it’s done!
- on Discord! All communication and collaboration within the project will be handled in a private Discord server.
What I Can Offer:
I’m offering my own skills as a trade to help bring your vision to life! For every episode you help me with, I can offer any of the skills listed below, which we’ll negotiate before we start collaborating. You’ll also get access to the “Clocked In” role on the TwistedFates Discord server, which comes with its own bundle of benefits!
I can collaborate with you to bring characters to life, from conceptualization via building a mood board to sketches, to final design!
EXAMPLES – More on Unvale!
Already have a design in mind, but need a good splash image for your project? Fantastic! I can make that happen for you!
EXAMPLES
I can help you wow the crowd, creating elements and using CSS to make your game page stand out while matching your game’s look and feel!
EXAMPLES
I have a combined 3 years of AAA and indie quality assurance experience and a lifetime experience of playing videogames in general! I will happily playtest your game and provide feedback on visuals, functionality and text. I’ve been referred to as helpful, keen-eyed, and passionate about my work!
I’ve created charming, vibrant portraits of people that they’ve gone on to use as their avatars on Discord, Twitch, and so much more! I can do the same for you, channeling my creative energies into a unique portrait that (politely) screams of how awesome you are!
EXAMPLES
The Timeline*
last updated
Here’s a general look at Episode 1’s development timeline. A majority of the game is done, as I’ve been working on this solo (and with help from a couple of friends) throughout the course of 2025-26.
- Mid to End of November 2026: Team recruiting DONE!
- Winter Solstice 2026 (12.21.26): Resume development!
- Spring Equinox 2027 (3.20.27): Quality Assurance/Closed Beta Playtesting
This timeline may change as my health/outside situation change, for better or for worse.
Current Open Position(s)— 🚧Updating…🚧
last updated
These are the current positions I have open for the project. They will be updated as the project evolves. Positions marked with “⭐” are wishlist items, something that I am very much wishing upon a star for ;w; 💫
Collaborates with me and designs the world around the characters. Collaborates with the CG/BG Artist(s) to create background/cutscene graphics that the characters will dwell in. This includes:
- Interior design, i.e., the characters’ work suites and their personal workspaces.
- Abstract areas, i.e., the digital world, the space between reality and the digital world.
- Exterior/abstract landscapes, i.e. a lighthouse on the shore in the digital world.
Plans and designs the game’s UI, including:
- Screens:
- Main Menu
- Load
- Save
- Credits
- Options
- Help
- Pause Menu
- Popup windows for system dialogue
- Textboxes for character dialogue
- Buttons
- Indicators (symbols that appear on screen that highlight certain parts of the scene or the UI itself)
Mixes sounds (creature sounds, ambiences, and voice clips, if applicable) and collaborates with the GUI designer to help design a soundscape that makes an overall cohesive experience for the game’s look and feel.
Bringing even more life to the cast, voiceover artists will provide voices for the characters, including full and reactive lines.
Interested in Joining?
Fantastic! Send an email to gamedev@twistedfates.net with the following details:
- SUBJECT LINE:
Project introLUCAS | [Position] | Your name (Nickname is okay!) - Body:
- Introduce yourself! Tell me about what you do and why you’re interested in joining the project!
- Link some examples of your past work!
- How would you like to be compensated?
- What’s your Discord username?
- Do you have any questions for me?
These details will update as the project evolves. If you know someone who may fit this role or may be interested in joining an indie game project, please share this post with them! And if you have questions about the project, please feel free to ask in the comments or forward them to gamedev@twistedfates.net.
Thanks a ton!
🍊 Olive
