Question Thread: May 2022 (CLOSED)

In the OL1 every once in a while there would be a opportunity to decide how school was going. How is that going to work since in OL2 our MCs are actively going to school? Is there like a daily thing where you decide how your school day was? Will it be asked once every step? Or will our choices for that school day determine our overall grade?

Would our MCs be able to display souveniers in their room in OL2? Such as the paper airplane that Tamarack made from Qiu's lost paper from the beginning? It would be cool to see it hanging from the ceiling like how some kids display airplane/space ship models. If it's not possible for OL2, could storyline trophies be displayed in MC's room in a future game?

Is there a chance for a OL prequel? Back when the parental figures from OL1 and/or OL2 were young? I was also wondering, is it possible to do a mini-story, that acts as a bridge between let's say OL1 and the next generation (OL1 MC and, let's say, OL3/OL:Next Gen's MC)? MC/Jamie Last talks about how the marriage with Cove is doing, just talk about how so-and-so is doing, plans for getting together (i.e. going back to Sunset Bird), having/adopting a kid/multiple kids, progress on the Pretzel Plan, etc.

I'm wondering a few things for OL2. 1: will there be more scar options and such for the MC? 2: is there a plan for Delinquent options? 3: why are you so good at making me love characters? and 4: what kind of supernatural creature would Qiu and Tam be if it were possible?

When you started making VNs were you a one person team or did you already have people to work with? And how did you go about growing your team as your work grew in popularity? I feel like I may struggle being a one person team if I start making VNs by myself.

Would you ever consider selling the soundtrack for OLBAA & OLNAF? I love to own them! Or if you could put them on Apple music! or Spotify!

Will their be a crossover event with the mc's from OLBAA and OLNAF?

Will there be a platonic route for the Derek/Baxter dlcs, or are they strictly romance paths

Will our MCs and their friends be visit a haunted house for Halloween in Stage 2? Stage 3 would be perfect for a moment where they return as volunteers/workers, where the shoe is on the other foot (I found myself in that situation a number of times when I was an older teen, including playing as a mad scientist along a haunted trail; MC could have mulitple options depending on their personality for goofiness, wanting to scare the daylights out of peple, or try to convince other volunteers not be so scary, etc.)

Will the MC in OL2 have more piercing's options as I like my MC to have a tongue piercing when they are in step 2 or 3

What's the process for making visual novels and how do you plan how the story and events go? When the Baxter dlc is in develope will we get a sprite for when we see him in the soiree?

Will there ever be an option for MC and one of the love interests to have or adopt kids? Either in ONF or in future games.

In OL1, the MC has the option of wanting pets, but they weren't available. I know the possible combinations are too large to create a MC Pet generator. For a future game, would it be possible for the MC to get a pet from a small pet shop/animal shelter? This way the combinations could be more controlled (i.e. choice between a cat, a dog, a hamster, a bird, a fish, etc.), they could be shown up front, so the MC could decide which one they want. At the very least the MC could name the pet. 🐶🐱🐭🐹🐰🦜🐢🐠🦔

Have you considered posting an interactions map for players looking for specific dialogue? (For example, my first play through got deleted when I switched computers and I can’t remember how I got the Cove personality I did.)

Does Our Life and OL2 exist in the same world? And if so, will familiar characters appear in the second game?

Since Tama lives with her grandparents, and Frankie's mom is a single parent, will there be a chance that Qiu will have siblings in the future? Or will the main trio remain as their family's only children?

I remembered there was a post here that said we'd be able to change the relationship status between the MC and the LIs in OL2 in the middle of the step—like if we decided we wanted to be friends instead of neighbors or vice versa but I can't find it anymore on the feed. I don't know if it was actually posted on patreon or on tumblr but I know it was a thing. Please tell me I'm not going crazy lmao

Do you think the romance in OL2 will feel different for players than in OL1 with Cove? Since we have 2 romancable characters for OL2 from the get go, and they're different characters than Cove.

out of all the games that you guys have made, what was your favorite to work on

If you ever make OL3, what new mechanic are you thinking of introducing to the players?

Do you really plan to implement the jealousy feature into OL2 like the demo said could possibly added into the game? If yes I love the idea of having the choice to be jealous of or make one jealous of another character. That brings me to my next question, Do Tamarack and Qiu ever have the possible ending of being together?

in the Derek and Baxter step 4 dlcs will there be 5 moments or is it more like one big long moment? And for OL 2 how many fall activities such as carving pumpkins and thanksgiving are planned if you know and want to share.

Does Qiu and Tamarack have their ideal jobs in mind yet? (Like wanting to be a teacher, ballerina, lawyer, artist, etc.) I'm curious about that because it really makes you wonder and speculate on what could've made them choice that field of career and how maybe their life would've went in that direction of career choice or who probably influenced them to wanting to pursue such careers.

If Cove woke up from a nightmare, what would he do to calm himself down? (walk around, listen to music, talk to MC about it, etc)

Do you have any set birthdays for the new love interests for Our Life 2 ( as well as Derek and Baxter)? If not, do you have a rough idea of them? Like early September or late April, etc.

Would Qiu take advantage of how popular they are if they really wanted to?

Incorrect quotes?

What mythical creatures would Qiu and Tamarack be?

Also as a little add on, I love how alive you make these characters feel and really give them individual personalities. I absolutely adore these characters 💕

Is there a certain way you approach writing scenes and dialogue and branches from different choices players choose? It must take a lot to keep track of those, haha. Also how do you come up with ideas for Moments?

What is the process for making characters? Do you start with the design or is the personality first? And do they have quirks that aren't really in the game like Cove stole a bracelet from his mom so he always has a physical keepsake or 1 of our moms strongly believes in friday the 13 that sort of thing? Also thanks for making such a fun game! I can't wait for whats to come! Many thanks & much love!

Awesome thank you for doing this! Some questions I have: when you first started developing VNs, how did you balance that with working/being a student/whatever else you had going on in life? How do you organize things so that you can make specific callbacks in different Moments? I was always super impressed at how different “flavor” choices or memories, even small ones, were called back later. How much planning do you do before you start writing/coding? As in, what do you need to know about a scene or project before you begin writing/coding?

The art work shows Tamarack and Qiu full body but most of the game you only see part of their legs. The scene usually describes if they have certain pants, socks shoes or whichever. But will we ever see them further away. Like Qiu T2 shown walking with his bike but will we see him full body actually doing so, or like Tamarack with her new leggings and new boots. It seems like a waste to make such cool designs but never see them.

Will there ever be moments of vulnerability between the player and the two love interests? If so would those things be significant moments and if not why?

What pet names would Qiu and Tamarack call the MC, and what do they love/prefer to be called in return? 🥺 I'm a sucker for pet names

Are there actual ghosts or vampires in the OL universe? What about mermaids?

I have a question about Qiu. His characterization as a popular kid is interesting, and I've been thinkign about the Step 2 cast. Seemingly there's no character that somehow follows the trend of adoring Qiu (besides maybe mc). Vianca thinks of them as a rival; Serenity thinks they're very unapproachable; I don't think Ren sees them that way; Baxter sees Qiu as a kid and so on. Maybe some of them (Serenity?) do express that kind of "adoration" for him? Or is it only relegated to background characters\classmates?

Do you ever plan on working on floret bond again, or has it been completely scrapped?

A while ago it was mentioned that from step 2 onwards in OL2 There is going to be a jealousy mechanic. I don't understand completely. If you cannot go into how it works, but I was wondering because At one point it said something about a divide between wanting attention from and being protective. What determines this? Is it the optional attitude's you can choose at the end of a step? (Doting, Idolising etc) Or is the jealousy mechanic a one size fits all thing? I hope the question is clear and thank you for everything that you do. Your games have helped so many people, me included and I wanted you to know how grateful we are for them.

In OL2 step 3 they're about 18 right? will step 3 take place in their freshman year of college? Or will it be senior year in high school?

When Cove was attending high school with MC and friends, could he handle the noisy lunch room-- or did he choose to eat/go somewhere quieter, like outside or to the library? I personally couldn't handle the stimulation myself and I used to eat quickly then leave for the library.

How do you give your characters life? All of them have such distinct personalities, and are so relatable in one way or another. Also are there gonna be family dynamics? Like having a tense relationship with your mom and being able to talk about it, like Cove did?

I’m assuming in the future you might be doing more OL games for spring and fall if so can we have the parents be divorced or them being two Gay men it would be interesting to see that dynamic also maybe Mc can be the oldest or middle child this time instead of the youngest or Single child.

What programs and pens do the artist use to create the OL1 and OL2 characters?

Does the OL2 MC influence Tamarack and Qiu's relationship or are they friends either way? Also, would it be possible for a Ren route dlc similar to Derek/Baxter exist after OL2 comes out? I know it's probably too early to know but I already love her character lol

What kind of music does Cove like the most? Does he have a canon race/ethnicity? Will the jealousy options in OL2 be enough to cause a rift in friendships?

will there be a new OL merch? like the mug Cove bought for MC, Cove's perfume and Cove's pajamas?

What pet names would Baxter and Derek give the MC, if there are any? I'm not asking for Cove's because I know you answered about him on your tumblr before!

After OL2, is there a possibility for OL3? If so, what season would be more appealing, Winter or Spring?

How do you keep track of all the possible choices and outcomes while you are working on the game script?

I would love to know what your process/pipeline for game-making is, and what your favourite part of the process.

having/adopting children was mentioned in the cove wedding dlc and i believe in step 3 also, so what would be some cove approved baby names?

Any personal favorite VNs you've played before? Any that inspired you to get into VN making?

Can I date Nicolas someday？and When will XOBD Dlc release？🥺

Any chance we'll see more OL1 characters in OL2? Like a Step 3 Derek vacationing in Golden Grove or something? Also will we get a scene like the near kiss with Cove in Road Trip for Derek and Baxter? Or is that all Step 4 for the romance? First comment here but thanks so much for the great games. :)

hmmm how'd you come up with the love interests in each games? like their baselines before you developed them or whatever?

Do you ever plan on making any more bonus moments for OL 1 or 2? Whether it's 18+ or not?

I’ve always wondered this but how tall is cove? I think it said in either step 2 or 3 that he was the tallest in the class and it never specified so I was wondering how tall he actually is. Also if you’d be willing to state the hight of tamarack’s and Qiu’s hight in the very beginning or at the very end when their fully grown (and obviously this is only if you want to but I just thought it be interesting to know)

What led to Cove having wavy eyebrows and green hair? (asking as both in game reasons and as a creative decision).

Are any of the LIs in the OL series anime fans?

I feel like people have probably asked this but will the Derek DLC be released altogether step 2 & 3 or will they be released separately

who were your favourite characters to create from each OL game?

In OL1, the MC has an ideal relationship with their parents and sister, and it's difficult to stray away from that even if you try to choose negative reactions. Will there be more of an opportunity to sway the family dynamics in OL2? Additionally, what is the family situation going to be like- another perfect, loving family or something more flawed?

Do you have any exact plans for the Kickstarter like what will be tier and if they will be similar to OL1 expect for the voiced name tiers lmao and maybe a season you think it will go up

Will there be voiced MC names in OL2, would MC nicknames also be VO'd? If Patreon/Kickstarters are able to submit nicknames is there going to be a list to see what names are covered so other players would be able to think of another name to submit?

Did you have any inspirations for Cove's character? Like his personality, the iconic hair and eyebrow colour?

What was the inspiration behind the OL series? What drove you guys to create these fantastic games?

I have had a question in mind for a while: Will OL2 have the same range of customisation as OL1 doll maker? Are there specific things that will be locked depending on steps like hair styles and such? Will anything visually that wasn’t in OL1’s customisation system be added? (Like new piercings, Earrings, Etc)

hey curious this might be to much of a spoiler but will you be able to have a wedding with derek in his dlc at the endgame

Assuming that this is the last of the Our Life series, have you thought about what the next project will be or are just strictly focusing on the next Our Life game? I recall a post last summer discussing some future Ideas you've had.

Hi I was wondering if you’ve ever thought of making a yandere dlc maybe or including pets in the second game

Hello! I have a question: a while back, after the release of the Patreon 18+ Moment, I recall that maybe there could be another one for Step 4? Maybe I missed if you said something, but is this still in consideration? (If not, is totally fine! I get wanting to advance and go full OL2, but I suddenly remembered and got curious! xD)

oh and this is kind of a silly question but what kind of music do you think cove would listen to? just something i've always wondered about

would love to know a bit more backstory on our moms from OL1! like how they grew up or how they met and fell in love :)

When giving instructions to the character sprite artists, how detailed of an idea do you usually have of what the characters should look like? Would you say you give more of a down-to-the-detail description or somewhat free reign with some set vibe or details you want them to include?

OL is such a choice-heavy game that I’ve always wondered how you guys manage to keep track of all different choices/branches! Do you use any special programs to keep track of them?

No questions come to mind - just wanted to take a moment to tell you that I appreciate how readily you keep us in the loop. Between here and Twitter we’re never left guessing, there’s always something to see and new content to explore! It really helps bridge the divide between creator and consumer in a very positive way, and it’s wonderful to see! So thank you for that 💛

Have you thought about doing more DLC with the current LI for OLB&A with Cove after Derek and Baxter? Like maybe some inbetween episodes that might cover the years in between or school time stuff.

What type of coding /software do you use? cause making a VN is simple enough in planning but when you hit the physical coding I could see it being confusing or an Actual block. in progress.

What do you look for when considering VAs for any of your projects?

Could you tell us more about Cliff's past? the few things they said in the game made me curious

how your meetings with all your collegues go ? your typical meeting for example

What inspired you to make Our Life (both one and two)?

What was your inspiration behind Cove and how was the process of making him come alive?

Will we get to see a baby picture of Derek at any point in the OL1 DLC? My other question is, Are you thinking about adding romanceable characters through DLC for OL2 like you did for OL1?

For someone with a desire to create visual novels, how do we start? How do I go from sitting staring at my computer to actually making progress towards a game?

Who's your most favourite character you've created??

What got you into visual novel creation overall? Was it just a knack for writing, or spur of the moment "I wanna try X out"? Also, will be there be additional characters we meet in Steps 3 & 4 of OL2, besides the aged versions of those in Steps 1 & 2? Or is the cast already plenty big just with this school cast alone?

Will we be able to see OL1 characters in OL2?

Besides testing/debugging purposes, do you play the games you make for fun?

This is a silly question but what are Qiu's and Tamarack's favorite foods?

Are there any plans to keep going on with XOXO related content after you're—completely—done with Our Life? Be it the revamp of the game, ending the remaining stories of XBD and/or Project R.

What were some ideas you couldn't execute in OL1 that you were able to try out in OL2, if there were any.

since ol1 and ol2 are (at least in my opinion) pretty ground breaking with the character customisation and inclusivity, what inspired you to make VNs like this? :D

What inspired you to first create the Our Life series? So far there's been a game for each season: summer and fall. Will that pattern continue?

.. Summer and Fall are cover; got plans for Winter and Spring games? XD . . Good Luck with this!!!!

How did you get the idea to make the OL games ?

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Were Cove, Baxter, and Derek always going to be the love interests/only ones? And another question is after finishing Derek and Baxter’s DLC do you plan on doing anything else with OL1?

What is your favorite design for Cove in Steps 2, 3, and 4, including hairstyles?

what’s the inspiration behind the art style change in ol1 and ol2 ?

How do you go about creating your characters?