The Bloom after Spring
Theme & Genre
The Bloom after Spring (TBaS) is a solo project of an original short narrative game under the drama genre, inspired by an animation film titled "The Garden of Words".
The story aims to convey a deep narrative, with a common issue that teenagers/ young adults face these days.
Made in Unity Engine with Fungus Implementation
CHARACTERS
*Pictures for reference only
AZALEA
ZINNIA
AMARYLLIS
The main protagonist, a bright and cheerful college girl who lives life in the moment. Azalea enjoys singing as a hobby and works part time at daycare.
Nearing her graduation date, she soon has to decide on what path to take.
Flower Meaning
Love - Gentleness - Remembrance of home - Grateful to family - Happiness
A demure girl who seems aloof, an aspiring composer. She often goes to the playground to study and compose music when nobody is around.
Zinnia is passionate about music and is determined to succeed her dreams.
Flower Meaning
Thought of an absent friend - Affection - Remembrance - Heart
Mother of Azalea, Amaryllis is a widow who works at a supermarket. She wishes to send Azalea overseas to study with the money left behind by her husband so that Azalea does not end up working at subpar jobs like her.
Flower Meaning
Determination - Strength - Passion - Beauty
GAME CONCEPT
TBaS is a visual novel game focusing on life decisions and possible consequences, while conveying a message through each decision.
It is similar to the themes of The Garden of Words, where it touches on responsibilities and maturing up.
Narrative
The story revolves around Azalea, the main character who is trying to find out what she wants to do after graduation.
She meets Zinnia, a demure girl who is an aspiring music composer who later advises on her problems.
The story incorporates the language of flowers for symbolism.
GAME MECHANICS
As a visual novel game, selecting dialogue choices as the narrative plays is the main mechanic of the game. The choices may or may not affect the following dialogue and outcomes, depending on the situation.
Sub mechanics
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Expressive replies
- Adding emoticons behind choices to set the mood more realistically towards each individual’s visualization of the situation
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Character affinity
- User choices may trigger hidden variables which affect future dialogues
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Timer based replies
- Questions that may be stressful to Azalea are time-based allowing players to feel like they are the character itself
NARRATIVE ARC
Sentiments
Azalea met Zinnia under the rain after school and talked to her out of curiosity. The two hung out together at the playground and became friends.
They talked about their hobbies and dreams where Zinnia is an aspiring composer and Azalea sings as a hobby. When Zinnia hummed a melody, Azalea naturally sang along.
Although their personalities were day and night, the both of them shared the same sentiment towards rain and music.
Inciting Incident
Lost
Azalea works part time at day care for children on Thursdays and Fridays, and hangs out with Zinnia during the other days.
Spring was coming to an end, and Azalea was graduating soon. Everyone had already made a decision where to go and what to do after graduation except for her. She tries to figure out what she really wants to do.
Rising Action
Decision
During dinner time, Azalea had a conversation with Amaryllis about her career choices. She mentioned how she enjoys teaching and music. Amaryllis strictly objects on her pursuing music, telling her not to mix up her hobbies for a career.
Amaryllis then convinces Azalea to study overseas, which made her frustrated with thoughts. She did not want to leave her family and friends.
She ran out of the house and headed towards the playground.
Climax
Encouragement
Zinnia was still at the playground, focused on her work. Azalea joins her beneath the small roof with the sad ambience of drizzle. She confided in Zinnia about her worries, not being sure what to do in the future, and how her choices affects her mother.
Zinnia asks her questions about painting a rainbow, in which Azalea answers and learns a lesson. She then tells her the meaning of the Azalea flower, which encouraged Azalea.
Falling Action
Overseas
When Azalea reached home late in the night, Amaryllis was still up waiting for her. She was worried, and apologized as soon as she came home. Azalea told her it is fine and that she have decided to study overseas for the both of them.
Weeks later, Azalea had graduated and bids Zinnia farewell while thanking her for all the time spent together. Zinnia plays the song she composed of what they sang together on the first day of meeting, and tells her the meaning of the Zinnia flower.
Spring is almost over, the Zinnias are in season while the last Azalea flower just bloomed.
Resolution.1
Music
Azalea decides to stay and pursue music. She did not know where to start, but she is slowly working towards it.
When Zinnia published the song she composed for them, she got the attention of many which made Azalea envious.
Spring ends as the Zinnias blossom while the Azaleas get pruned, but there is always another time to blossom again.
Resolution.2
