I helped make a Visual Novel! Codename: Typhoon announcement

Why, hello there~

Its been a while hasn't it?? I promise I didn't really intend to leave my site so dry for so long, but if you follow me anywhere else or keep up on DMs then you probably know this last year has been roughDivorce, among other things. I've thought about talking about it on here and updating the site on multiple occasions, and have many failed drafts of such. I might still get around to it sometime, or maybe I don't need to blog about the lowest point in my life and the painful, still ongoing crawl out of it.Technically speaking I DID do a (secret) post about it here, a sort of anti-suicide note... yea like I said, rough year! What really matters is I'm doing way better now in most respects, so I can come here to talk about exciting projects I've been involved in!!!

Codename: Typhoon is sick as hell and you should play it (totally biased here (check the CWs!!))

I'll keep it short-ish for now, since I intend to do an in-depth post-mortem down the line, so here it is:

I was responsible for 3D art (among many other things) as part of the circle Gravity House in our entry for the Ryona Yuri VN Jam, Codename: Typhoon. Our team of incredibly talented individuals busted our assesand lost a fair bit of sleep, lmao for 6 weeks to create what, in retrospect, is kind of an incredible work for a game jam. I can only hope my work can match up to everyone else's, but so far the reception has been incredibly positive!

The game is a spy thriller set in an alternate history setting where the USSR persists to modern times, and also psychic powers exist. It follows the psychic Agent Angelica Gropius Rhythmic Triad TyphoonGotta use the full name. Okay you can just call her Agent Typhoon, or just Angelica (or Angie), who was tasked with setting a bomb off in Moscow but has instead been captured by a defected spy and her former mentor, going by the codename Psycho Soldier Number SevenOr you could call her Isabel. Angelica is now at the mercy of her captor's homoerotic violence/torture, and your occasional dialogue choices can lead to one of 3 very unique endingsand potentially one 'secret' tiebreaker scene most people are never gonna see lol. She may or may not be in over her head, reality isn't as kind as the movies are.

It is a pretty dense work, with tons of political commentary and worldbuilding, and each route gives different glimpses into the character's complexities and relationship. It wasn't my idea or writing, but Joyce's passion for spy fiction is infectious in a way I hope comes through every element of it. I've seen people describe it as akin to Disco Elysium in its writing, which, well I haven't played DE yet, but with how good Ophelia's writing on this is, I believe itIts apparently not a coincidence, as Joyce pitched it to Ophelia as in part wanting to do to the spy genre what DE does to the buddy cop genre..

It is also just dense with art. harm.less, the game's 2D artist, made an absolutely bonkers number of special illustrations and CGs, along with providing design sheets and concept sketches for me to build 3D models off of. We've been mutuals on bluesky for a while, and as a big fan of their art I was overjoyed they came forward when I sent out the call for an artist, an absolute pleasure to work with. For my part, I learned blenderTechnically I used the bforartists fork of blender, shoutouts to that one basically from scratchBefore you get too surprised, I must remind/inform you I am a professional 3D Rigger with several years of experience who's been using 3D software for over a decade and went to college for this. I just mainly used maya and was stubborn about learning blender until now. Still, its SO nice to have it under my tool belt now! Blender rocks!! during the jam in order to put together the 3D scenes. That meant 2 fully modelled, textured and riggedI got the praise for blender in on the last tooltip so now I can tell you that good fucking lord is rigging in blender atrocious, but I made do characters, one environment and multiple props, which I then had to arrange and pose for what ended up being 86 total 3D CGs. An actually absurd number in retrospect, which I'm still not sure how I pulled it off, specially since it took me so long to get used to the tools, into a good workflow and build momentum on asset creationI didn't really get to actually posing or making CGs until like, a week before the deadline,and I had to improvise a few props and setups at the last minute. I, of all people, ought to have known better just HOW much work 3D is to even get into the start line, but I guess working as part of larger productions makes it easy to not think about. All of this too, I had to do on my free time after my fulltime job (WHICH I HAVE NOWLike I said, doing a lot better now!). I was basically working two jobs, I'd clock out of one 3D workspace into another. The work on this was FAR more fulfilling though, even if I did sacrifice basically all self-care and chores to make time for it.

Henni, the game's composer, made an awesome soundtrack that perfectly captures the vibe of spy films. I still find myself going back to listen to many of these tracks'No end Credits' is a particular favorite of mine, specially since it always plays towards the end of each route at pivotal moments. It takes me right back to those, and brings to mind many iconic lines.. She also, and I kid you not, made an entire custom font for the game??? Along with doing a lot of work on the UI and stuff like the TV frame background. Kirin, who worked on Gravity House's previous VN Letters to Rosa (Seriously, check that one out, its REALLY GOOD) also provided a lot of support, while simultaneously working on a couple other jam entries. Everyone truly went above and beyond for this one!

Now if it wasn't already clear from the theme of the jam, this VN features a lot of sensitive topics. Please check the content warnings and make sure you're okay with that before you read it! That said, I think most people will find its hopefully not that bad, and enjoyable even if you don't have a taste for Ryona. Its more of a political thriller, and there's not any explicit sexual content, it isn't too far off what you'd see in a movie.

Okay its still a pervert game made by perverts for a pervert game jam. Its also YURI, which is what really matters here~

You should also play Moonlight Duelists!! (Okay THIS ONE definitely has dead dove content so maybe you shouldn't, but, consider it!)

I'd be remiss if I didn't also give a plug to Kayin's very own (honorary) entry to the jam, the stellar Moonlight Duelists! Its like if Utena was a PC-98 visual novel and about a girl who is SO very normal and just wants to stab another girl, is that so wrong? Surely her dreams of girl violence will survive contact with reality. (This game does not hold back, so do approach with caution, or excitement~)

Kay, ever my confidant and friend to this site, popped the fuck off with this one. I was actually the one who tipped her off about the jam since it was perfectly up her alley, and she got so caught up in her art tests that she wound up starting the jam with a 2 month headstart (hence the honorary sttatus). I got the pleasure of seeing it take shape and be in awe at all the pixel art and flawless PC-98 pastiche she createdNot to mention, the gratuitous pixel tits and gore. I also got to help edit early versions of the text.You have no idea how good she is at making typos, those gyaru nails get in the way. I also usually help proofread her blogposts lol She also gave me lot sof support on my own work on the jam, and got a "Violence Consultant" credit for her help on getting the punching and kicking scenes looking rightIn reality it meant looking at fighting game sprites with her for reference lol.

To get a little sappy, Kay's friendship and support means the world to me, its safe to say I wouldn't be where and who I ambitch cracked that egg into a million pieces lmao without her. So this moment is really special for me, I've always known how talented she is and how much she thinks about art, design, stories and kink, she's an inspiration! Not to put her on a pedestal, there are no special geniuses in this world, but she's special to me and I value her opinion and thought process a lot. But for as long as I've known her, she's yet to release anything this substantial for people to see and appreciate. And that's fine! and I know Brave Earth: Prologue will come out eventuallyWith any luck this whole process has given her a motivational boost to get it done, but I do not for one second believe art is behind her or that she's anywhere near washed out. Burnt out, maybe, definitely! With that in mind, its so affirming, and brings me so much joy, to see her flex her artistic muscles like this, she's still got it! She never stopped doing her reps!!Even if it was mostly in the form of porn game renders and private roleplays Now everyone can see it. How could I be anything but ecstatic at my friends living their best selves and being recognized for it!

As Kayin's friend and the one who tipped her off to the jam it seriously makes me so happy to see the massive positive reception to her pervert game and specially how happy she's been in turn to have released something after so long

She's genuinely so cool, talented and thoughtful aughhhh

[image or embed]

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) February 18, 2026 at 3:45 PM

That would all stand true no matter what kind of game this was, but the fact that it was specifically an indulgent fetish game that laid bare her most unsavory interests without shameIt also lays bare how thoughtful and considered she is about this kind of thing. I don't think its a more 'moral' or 'artistic' work for it, but she cannot help herself in twisting these desires in interesting, critical and uncomfortably relatable ways? That's legendary. I've spent more nights than I can count chatting with Kay about fetishes, kink, and all the fear, shame and persecution surrounding them. Her counsel has been an integral part to me coming to terms with and getting over so many anxieties over my fear of being cancelled for what I'm into, or that being into these things reflects poorly on me. She's not been shy publicly that she's got her own unpalatable interests, but its different to allude to and talk about it than it is to post lovingly crafted lesbian eroguro on main! I've always thought of her as mature and confident in this matter, but she's known the fear just as well.I can recall a conversation long ago, when I was more shy about my interests, and queer 'progressive' spaces on twitter were at peak moral panic and witch hunt. We were discussing the possibility of me being outed and unpersoned like I'd seen many be, and the question of what she'd do in that situation in relation to me came up. And her answer was basically 'I won't ever throw stones myself, but I cannot afford the risk of coming to your defense, so I'll just sit back' and I said 'yea, fair'. GOD, this shit has fucked so much with all our heads

We all have something to lose, and for so long had to be content with forming private mutually-assured-kink-destruction pacts. Yet here we are, with this game of hers getting universal praise even from those not into this kind of thing. Despite how absurdly shitty the world has gotten, with every political machine doing its best to bring down queer, adult, and kink expression, it actually feels like in this moment we are building strength in numbers and can no longer afford to hide or cower. The stakes have gotten THAT high, and everyone is so fed up, we cannot entertain the idea that destroying the lives of trans women for having an incest kink or what have you is in any way anything but abject cruelty furthering the oppression of us all. At the very least, when all is said and done, life is too fucking short to be spent hiding in the shadows. If we won't indulge and be unapologetic now, then when will we? We can be shoved into the margins, but they can't stop us from making a ruckus and reaching out to each other. Do it for yourself and your fellow freaks, the rest be dammed.

And neither of these games of ours would've have been possible without the flourishing, vibrant scene behind these game jams.

Watch the english VN scene if you want raw queer and perverted works and stories unrestrained by capitalPayment processors will not keep us down, we'll be here one way or another

No joke if you're not tapping into the english VN scene you're REALLY missing out, we're literally sitting on a massive, burgeoning and flourishing space of trans expression and storytelling unlike any we've had before, with no restriction by market forces

[image or embed]

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) February 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM

You don't have to chase for imitations or crumbs elsewhere. We, the collective of trans and queer netizens are baring our souls right here and now, inscribed in .rpy scripts

They're not just quaint stories or curiosities, they're the real deal and all worth experiencing in their own right

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) February 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM

You should plug into the scene just because its good, but if you're wondering yes this movement is historically/culturally significant, I feel it in my bones. Whether or not it will be remembered or acknowledged at large is different, but you just have to look to know its cool as hell

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) February 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM

I've been following the indie english VN scene semi closely for the past year now, specially with the many recent game jams. Many of my friends participate on them, more and more of them over time, each boosting each other's works, encouraging everyone who can to break in and tell their own stories no matter how rough and raw. Its SUCH an absurdly cool and accessible scene, with stories you seriously won't find elsewhere. Incredibly resonant works for freaky, mentally ill, terminally online, transgender girlthings like me, and not just "good for what they are", honest to goodness amazing pieces of art to get obsessed over and think about for years to come. Its all right there, queer, trans, perverted, unrestrained!! There's so much to see and dig into just in the jams alone, let alone what gets made outside of the time constraints. Those constraints are great ways to motive people and get them to actually create though, and the themes and community they bring make it easy to jump in and not be lost at an empty script by yourself. The art that has been made in these space and continues to me made, the connections and communities built, its wonderful.

This space probably needs its own post, since this one is running long, and one where I can throw out recommendations, but just go through the Toxic Yuri VN Jam from last year and pick something, I guarantee you it will be interesting at the very least, or life-changing more often than you can count. I think if one thing this space is missing is more visibility so people can find out about these things, maybe someone should do something about thatLike start a podcast with a friend, haha jk. Unless???.....

I've been meaning to break in myself and make something, just anything, for a while now, but life has mostly gotten in the way of that. Toxic Yuri jam had an absurd amount of entries, and this is when Joyce and Ophelia started Gravity House. I got to beta read their entry, and then after the jam was done me and Joyce even did a couple of streams where we read various safe-enough-for-twitch entries! That was a nice consolation prize for me since I didn't get to participate, and I got to read some fantastic entriesThat said I've still barely scratched the surface of all that came from the Toxic Yuri VN Jam. Towards the end of the year both the Doll & Kigu Jam and the Robotic Romance Jam came up, and I psyched myself up since these were perfectly to my taste, these ones would surely be it!... nah, didn't happen... The end of the year is always a bit chaotic and hard to get stuff done in.

At this point however, the Ryona jam was fast approaching, and Joyce was already concocting plans for it. She came up to me wondering if I knew any artists, which I do actually?? I have a surprising number of artist friends and mutual followersAlmost like I'm an artist myself? waow.... After floating around some of the people I know, Joyce mentioned she was actually looking for a 3D artist, and told me the pitch for the game. I couldn't help but say, hey, I'm a 3D artist!! So while a bit afraid knowing I was signing up for a lot, I joined the project. And I'm SO glad I did, holy shit.

IT WAS SUCH A FULFILLING EXPERIENCE!!

It wasn't without its heartache here and there, and it took a lot out of me, but once I got in the groove I could feel myself the energy flow through me, wishing I could put my job on hold for it. I've been in my industry for some 6-7 years now, I've long, long known I'm burnt out of being a cog in a machine working on a project I give zero shits about, but its still so crazy how different it is to work on something you're actually invested in. I can't remember the last time I hit a flow state while staring at a 3D viewport like this, if ever.

Actually wild how fulfilling it is and how I forget to like, do anything else. I thought I'd be clocking out of one 3D job into another but go figure, personal work is totally different

[image or embed]

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) January 30, 2026 at 2:17 AM

I am no longer asking, you WILL MAKE STUFF!!

So I put it to you dear reader, same as everyone who's done this, YOU TOO CAN MAKE SOMETHING. DO IT SCARED. Grab Ren'py, videotome, anything you want! It doesn't matter how small or amateurish, you'll be so surprised how far you'll get. Join the discords, rope your friends into it!

Part of the reason we all harp about this so much is because YOU, literally YOU right now can just pick up renpy and spin something up for one of many game jams running at any given moment. We all start out reading a bunch of these before the itch comes for us and we rope each other into it

— ✧Mirai✦ (@starrymirai.moe) February 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM

Here, the third Videotome Jam is coming up in a month! Its unranked and very low stakes. I definitely have something in mind for it. Mainly reviving an unfinished project from late last year, so I can vouch that videotome is both accessible and fun. If you know web design, you can mod the engine a fair bit too~

And if you just aren't in the right place for making stuff, do at least try to keep up, play a VN or two, allow yourself to be surprised! The nice thing is, none of these VNs ever run too long, and they're usually all free! Even without making stuff in this space, just seeing the creative energy is fulfilling in its own right, and I hope you get to make (or do!) something, doesn't have to be this, that feels close to your heart.

But what about the takedowns? Should I trust itch? What's the point of anything?

WHAT ABOUT THEM?? FUCK PAYMENT PROCESSORS PAYMENT PROCESSORS CAN'T CONTROL WHAT WE MAKE, only what we can monetize.
Are you looking to make money off of jam entries, or are you looking to lay your soul bare? Now don't get me wrong, I am absolutely not trying to downplay the impact this has, it absolutely has a chilling effect and queer creators and should be able to make money off their hard work and erotic stories. What I'm saying is that its specially important that we keep making stuff in spite of the push to censor it, that we build communal infrastructure to share our works outside of these platforms. How is taking the hit and and cowering going to help in this scenario? The optimal conditions to make stuff are never gonna be here, the best time is now. The fact that people are still creating in spite of it is proof of that.

Itch is, just a platform, platforms come and go. There's only so much we can do about them, so while its the place right now, we don't have to be reliant on it. Your VN can probably fit in a discord messageOr some OTHER chat app since discord is going to shit, case in point! Fisher, who ran the Ryona jam, made sure to allow off-site entries and email submissions. Again, yes, it sucks to not have the visibility/discoverability of a centralized jam page on the site everyone uses. But ideally, you're making stuff cause you want to make it and want other people to see it, and use platforms as tools to that end, not the other way around, letting the platform dictate what you do or don't do.

Even beyond the platforms, I alluded to it already, and I'll say it definitively, because I always need to hear it:

Do not be bound by The Great Grinding Fear.

The train will arrive at the next station.
Then what about the stage?
What about you?

See you sooner than later~

Hoooly, that wasn't short, Mirai!!!

Ahh well, same as it ever was, lmao. I actually wrote most of this like days ago and then procrastinated on the final bits... Its been over a week since the game came out! Anyway, I've done a very minor update to the site, so I finally added bsky comments! NEVERMIND I COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK AND I NEED TO SLEEPOkay I found a solution even if its hacky. I'm hoping to do more in the future, maybe an entirely redesigned CSS layout with a bit more sauce, but I'm not in a rush.

Thank you for reading this, and sticking aorund with me. It seriously means the world to me to have so many people who think I'm cool supporting me, and I hope that I can live up even a little to my namesake and help shine your night sky.

I'm really glad, you know.

That I'm still alive.

The clouds have started to part.

It was just the weather, my star's still with me.

Always slightly out of reach.

I'll take some much needed rest.

And then I'm off to the races, once again.

Tomorrow (✧Mirai✦) is waiting for me.