They Call is a work in progress 18+ visual novel. A dark story with optional romance, sexual content, and choices that cater to monsterlovers. Demo: Cick to go to Itch.io Release date: To be determined. Official development started 17th of Jan, 2024 Idea formed 24th of Dec, 2023
They Call is a work in progress 18+ visual novel. A dark story with optional romance, sexual content, and choices that cater to monsterlovers.
“In the past, ghosts, fae, gods, and everything in between were things of fiction. The “veil between worlds” was something mystical; something intangible.
That was before the boundary between physical and metaphysical came crashing down, and all those things turned out to be real.
Already too wary of the world, the change adds another layer of uncertainty to your life that you’re barely able to handle. As the situation deteriorates globally, you feel your sanity steadily slipping away.
And amidst it all, they call for you.”
If you have any general questions that aren't answered below, asks are open, and I will answer as much as I can.
Demo: On Itch.io
Release date: To be determined.
FAQ below cut:
Is this romance-centric?
Only if you want it to be. They Call is first and foremost a story I desperately wanted to write, and that will always be the core of it. What you build for yourself within that story is up to you.
Why keep the information to yourself?
To be blunt, I'm paranoid. I do not want someone to find and use any of the work I've put into this before I can even put it together. What information you have from the demo, the sneak peeks, and occasional ask (depending on what's asked) are all I'm going to share until the full release. I'm also spoiler-prone and really trying to avoid that!
Theme?
They Call is both dark and not? The story itself is dark, but it's intended to be balanced out by... mundane fluff. Both with and without the other main.
Who is the other main?
They have been called the guardian, protector, and BB, now officially named. I will continue to call them BB and I'll be tucking their name away from public posts. I'm doing this so it can be a silly little surprise for you to discover when you play!
Anyway, they are the (entirely optional) love interest. You can develop the relationship you have with them any way you want - you can even complete the story as total strangers that vaguely tolerate each other's company!
Are there bad ends?
Technically, yes, but it has nothing to do with the relationship you have with BB. There are a lot of bad ends, and I do mean a lot.
What about other endings? Any "true" ends?
Without getting too into it, there is more than one. The good ends are all the same in that they are all the "true" end. They're merely... flavoured by your choices throughout the story.
18+?
Yes, this game is definitely 18+! Not just because of the (optional) sexual content, but also because the story itself can get very heavy, gory, and generally unpleasant. At current, I'm unsure how bad it's going to be. It's already very dark, but it's still super early in development. Content warnings will be clearly displayed once I'm able to list them all!
When can we expect sneak peeks and updates?
I am working on this entirely alone. I'm writing, programming, and making all the art for it (characters, backgrounds, CGs) on my own. Which, obviously, is going to take me a super long time. Especially considering this is my first time ever making something like this! Basically, you'll get sneak peeks when you get them - sorry it's not a more concrete answer!
How much will it cost?
After giving it some thought, I've decided to keep it free. On Itch.io, anyway. There will be an optional payment thing, of course. Only $3, (the price may change) seeing as this is the first time I've ever done this.
But! If things go well, I'm happy with the finished product, and I can drum up the courage, I will put it on Steam too. (if they'll let me) But that one will not be free - same price as whatever the optional Itch payment is.
What inspired this?
In truth, it started with a (literal) dream. (You can find out more about this dream in the very first progress post!)
It was dark, violent, and I could see BB and the UI used perfectly. So I made it a reality. I will also mention that most of this is written as catharsis, using my mind and mental struggles as inspiration and creative fuel.
In terms of technicalities, though, I was inspired by my favourite visual novels. That specifically being story structure and how you develop the relationship you have with the other main.
FAQ will be edited as time goes on.
As I said, if you have any more questions, (or even suggestions based off the "progress" posts) do not hesitate! Asks are open and will remain open. I'll answer as soon as possible.
Progress posts are now a little structured - the brain flavoured rambling is still there, just under a cut beneath the summary. For summaries:
- x1.0 means finished
- x0.5 mean worked on but not finished
Important tags:
- theycallvn (general tag)
- theycallvn progress post (progress posts - what i've worked on)
- theycallvn peek (sneak peek tag - writing & art)
- theycallvn chat (ask tag)
If you'd like to keep track of future projects, you can follow @chasm-critter-studios (link)
I didn't expect to get this many downloads, especially not so soon. And with only the demo out, too? Mindblowing.
To show my gratitude, I've made this (self-indulgent) piece; BB in all their pretty glory. 🧡
Again, thank you so much for giving "They Call" a go! It makes me so happy knowing that people enjoyed the demo enough to share it around/add it to their Itch.io collections.
Anyway, just wanted to do something special as thanks. bai! 🧡
not done a post, i caught the morbs and forgot, but i have been working!
finished lining the monster sprites and started colouring. worked on bg stuff also
worked on outlines for chapters 4, 6, 7, and 10.
did some research for something which... well, the last thing i searched in that particular mission for clarity was "what does it feel like to be mauled by a crocodile"
not explaining because spoilers, but yi
put ch 2 draft into the code, did the sprites n shite too. had to make a new "effect" for a scene (which i needed to add a new "flashing images" warning for - it's not too bad, i am epileptic myself and was real careful about my own limits, but it is still needed) and put in some new sprites.
also while i was doing that, i noticed something that i needed to fix. it was just something i overlooked, one of those "why is that- oh, wait. duh." things
i won't admit how long it took for me to fix cause i over thought, that's embarrassing, but i have fixed it. possibly. no issues yet, anyway lol
wrote stuff for ch 2 (new scenes) & ch 3 (added detail) also
two sneak peeks. first, a bit of writing:
and second, some art. i said i wouldn't be showing anymore peeks of monster bb, but oh well:
wip peek cause i haven't finished shading
gonna keep working on various stuff til bed time but pretty sure all wips will remain wips so i'm gonna go ahead and post this early
Art - monster design, sprite sketch x1, sprite lines x0.5
okay so. added in the sprites from yesterday, tweaked some code and made some writing edits. also rewrote a lil section in chapter 3
finished bb's monster design and skectehd out the two poses those sprites will have.
started lining it, but didn't finish. a lot of details, two poses, three emotions, a couple of... "special" layers. it's a lot of work so it's gonna take me a hot minute
ugh bb is so cute 🥺 i can't wait til the monster reveal. and their waist is slutty
no more sneak peeks of them til the game is out tho, i have decided. the sketches i've shared before + the early version of the design in the main menu are the only hints to what it'll look like
i really want it to be a surprise also hope it won't be a let down for people who are expecting something... different
been thinking of. well, not gonna say specifically, but been thinking of something. for bb's monster sprites. it's a fun idea, i just don't know if it's too much lol
i'll do some tests after i finish the sprites, see how i feel about it and if it is gonna be too much. i hope it's not, i wanna do it
that's all. i'll prolly keep lining until i go to sleep, but yeah. night
did some code edits, added some uh. fuck i forgot the word. decision. markers. for flavour text WHATEVER
i added stuff for future flavour text (didn't wanna add these in til i drafted the parts of the story they'll be in)
looked at lists of words used for writing sex scenes so i can decide how i wanna word parts-customization. dick/pussy is too straightfoward. i personally know some people who Have A Bad Time when those words are used to describe their body parts. so i've been trying to figure out how to list things??
i don't wanna go technical, i was thinking descriptive, but it's hard to- oh my god idea. okay, i have to edit what i have written for the second variation of body customization, but i think i know how i wanna do it
okay cool
to reiterate, just for customization. i can write the scenes fine, it's just. making choosing easy but still a lil more inclusive.
anyway i'll. figure it out. i have an idea now so (still, if you have any suggestions, it'd help!!)
almost finalized bb's monster design. which also means i'm nearly done sketching their sprites out
finished two other sprites. peek below
it's definitely faster for me to just make a full sprite rather than silhouettes lol hurts a lot more but it is faster
added one into the code also (: hand and wrist are killing me so i'm gonna wait to do the other tomorrow
did a read through of my outline and notes to prep for the next writing bit for chapter 2 - i have to do research before i can start so i'm just trying to get ready for that lil study session
edited all the stuff i wrote yesterday, wrote a bit more today.
finished lining one bg and started colouring it. got the bulk of a new bg sketch done also, just need to sketch out some last bits (details that i won't remember if i start lines right away lol) and i can start lining it next
also started sketching out a sprite. i'm tempted to say it's finished, but i gotta tweak some proportions/angles. maybe change the shirt. it just needs some adjustments
edit: this one is also long? i'm starting to think i'm just rambling
did some editing last night before bed, for writing and code. also edited the guide and added what's already in the game to it
idk if i mentioned i was gonna do that yet, but in case i didn't: it'll help me keep track of stuff as i'm writing, so i have a better idea of stat related pacing. also helps me keep track of ending stuff
did linework and sketched stuff out for another bg. didn't finish the sketch tho cause it's one that i have to do a lot of like... straight lines.
that gets complicated in some pieces cause i basically make a "grid" layer, then try and erase the lines of the grid i don't need before i actually line it idk how to explain it sorry lol
actually. i could do a before and after of the next grid thing i do for a sneak peek.
anyway moving on. wrote for chapters 2 and 3, and wrote some spicy stuff while i was. medicated. i have to reread it again tomorrow to make sure it's as okay as i thought it was
poked at ui stuff (code) cause i started doing something before and never actually finished it. a lil bloodless rn so it took longer for me to brain than i care to admit but i finished it lol
also been reconsidering the whole secondary characters thing again. my brain can't work with silhouettes, unfortunately. like i know that an interesting silhouette should be a thing for art in gen, but i've never been good at it.
i'll make an attempt to think about it more as i'm making the other sprites, just so i can learn, but i do think i'm gonna have to just... draw full sprites.
at this point, it'll probably end up being faster than me making silhouettes lmao
thinking that if i just... make the group scenes have fairly boring sprites, it'll have the same kinda "too simple to detract from the scene" vibe. and hoods/hair/hats are a good way for me to avoid certain expressions that might me uncomfortable
and as i (seem to) always say before biting off more than i can chew with this project: i can do it. i believe in me. 😌
edit: this one is way longer than i thought it would be, but most of the work i've done lately isn't the kind of work i put into the summary thing up top
sooo some stuff happened and made me nonexistent for a bit. personal stuff, so i'm not gonna get into it. managed to get in a tiny bit of work regardless
also spent a lot of my free time i had moving all my docs into ellipsus (i was using google docs cause it was easy to use and access, but they cannot be trusted)
i like it. it has a lot of focus on collaboration stuff which would make any future projects a lot easier (if i ever expand beyond the whole one man team thing)
anyway. into the actual development part sorry
worked on the lines i was doing before my break, didn't get much done tho. hoping to sit down and make more progress on art during next moth MOTH TYPO month, at least
did a lil writing for chapter 1, edited/added to the outlines for chapters 4, 7, 9, & 10 + added in background info to fill some holes i left when i first started.
(when writing, i always go back and look at the relevent bits of this info so i can make sure the world/characters stay consistent lol - so it's gotta be as hole free as i can manage and up to date. constantly editing this thing but this was the biggest edit i've done since i started so i'm bringing it up)
i feel like i should mention that info/background/outlines DO NOT count towards that word count in the summary. that's literally like. draft stuff.
also since i ~*vanished*~ here's a tiny peek of my planning doc that has never before seen the light of day to make up for it:
(this stuff is old, obviously, but i wanted to share what most of the doc looks like nowadays. a lot of this stuff ya know)
and was feeling Some Kinda Way while i was in bed one night and inspiration hatched out of the feels. i've now written how bb would confess to loving the player (if certain conditions are met - there's not going to be a confession if you don't want one - from you OR bb) and oh my goooodUHhh i love bb. i love themso much. it made me do the lil kicky feet thing!!
was about to mention what chapter i might put it in, but realized that would be a spoiler. and now i'm realizing that i'm gonna have to be more careful about that. weird that i'm reaching a point where i have to tuck some info away to avoid spoilers
also did some thinking and planning on ways to (violently) undermine certain tropes. because i am, at my heart, one contrary mother fucker.
i do delight in derailing everything all the time forever
uhm. i think that's it. i can't remember anything else i've done since the last update. baiiii
"In the past, ghosts, fae, gods, and everything in between were things of fiction. The “veil between worlds” was something mystical; something intangible.
That was before the boundary between physical and metaphysical came crashing down, and all those things turned out to be real.
Already too wary of the world, the change adds another layer of uncertainty to your life that you’re barely able to handle. As the situation deteriorates globally, you feel your sanity steadily slipping away.
And amidst it all, they call for you."
They Call is a work in progress 18+ visual novel. A dark story with optional romance, sexual content, and choices that cater to monsterlovers.
Click the link here or attached to the image to go to Itch.io!
had a really bad headache yesterday and ended the night with a family emergency - still managed to get some work done, it just wasn't much. so yesterday and today are being put into one post
did a lot of outline stuff. chapters 4, 6, 7, & 8, specifically.
worked on a bg a bit too, mostly lining
updated name box and dialogue box to match new stats button. lowkey miss the old look tho, so i may change it back one day lol
it's basically the same, just added bugs for decoration. (which matches the stats obv) cause i really like the simple box look, just wanted to add a lil somethin ya know
uploaded new screenshots for the itch page and double checked my demo's files. was worried i wouldn't be able to upload them cause my internet's been weird today but i did it!
also got bsky and itch posts drafted and ready to post
shit, man. day after tomorrow, the demo is coming out. i'm still excited, but i'm not gonna lie. i'm now more scared than excited
had a thought about my previous want to make sprites for every character. i will have at least two scenes with 3+ people. i think that many sprites will only subtract from the vibe of those scenes
so i've decided to use silhouettes instead. again, for the "background" characters. i also lowkey don't want to do the expressions for most of them because it'll make me uncomfortable
that said, i started sketching out some. might have to do some research or somethin tho cause silhouettes are hard (to me)
uhhh had to edit a couple finished sprites i made because oopsies that i didn't notice
made edits and additions for chapters 4 & 6 - amusing note i made in chapter 4, "if Attraction - make it weird"
had an idea for the stats button. it didn't work out, but it gave me another idea which went better. like the button is different from my dream now but more on theme
i might be adding some more bits to the ui in places to make it less plain (and again, more on theme) - idk if i'll do that tonight or tomorrow tho. next progress update will metion it either way lol
(morning)
had SUCH a good idea come to me last night with my before bed coffee - i'm going to have SO MUCH FUN writing those bits of flavour text
i'm so fucking excited. there's so much "oh god that's fucked up" potential there i cannot WAIT
here's hoping i can pull it off lmao
(/morning)
started sketching next cg. (edit) and lining. (edit) and then colouring. (edit) okay, i straight up just finished it. and did the code stuff for it. 35 variations on this one
as you can assume by the previous 98 variation cg - this is also a player cg. i have learned from the previous one, so i was able to cut how much time i spent on it by A LOT
anyway! this is the first bad end cg, to be precise ;3c being the first, it's very tame. but like compared to the second bad end... it goes from 0% to 80%
next one won't have any variations tho (and that made me SO tempted to animate it, but if i did that to myself, i think i'd have to punch myself in the face. so no.)
did a tiiiny bit of writing for chapter 2, and some planning for 3
stopping early today cause i put off my chores and need to get them done before i sleep lol
did a looooot of edits for the code/writing in chapter 1
originally just wanted to change how i did a couple of things, but like. noticed there were some scenes that were paced weird like those ones in the prologue. so i fixed those while i was at it
added a new bb sprite into a scene also
had an idea while considering more backgrounds for chapters 2 and further and it turned into a scene - added it to the chpater 4 outline
coded in sprites and stuff for chapter 2 that i hadn't gotten around to
no art stuff again today. pain is gone. mostly. it would come back after typing for a while so i kept having to take breaks but! it wasn't that bad! i can draw again tomorrow! yaaay!
mostly spent the day getting ready to get back to work properly, now that the demo stuff is mostly done.
read through and edited the latest chapter 2 & 3 stuff, to get back into the groove.
collected the ref pics i took and put them into their designated art files so i can get straight to work on those when i'm ready. (wrist still hurts from that last demo bg, but feeling better than it did! should be able to get back to art-ing tomorrow or day after without pain)
copied over all the edits to the prologue that i made in the demo into the full game, since i think i'm done editing the writing in the demo
finished the lines this morning, finished the colours this afternoon, put it into the files + added it to the meeting bb cg as a background as intended.
it took a bit of trial and error to get the angle right, but i managed!
so yes. sneak peek, as you've seen ^
this means that i have all the art needed for demo done! gonna do some edits to put these last pieces in, then get the files ready so i can send it out for testing
fuck man i'm so nervous and excited and scared. it's just the prologue, it's not even the whole game, but i'm just so fucking anxious about it ksjdhalkjh
noticed an error in the bg i finished yesterday, which meant redoing the floor completely, so i fixed that.
continued sketching out the details needed for lines on the next version, worked on lining/editing lines for the bits that i can go ahead with when i got bored of the sketching
noticed inconsistancies that i needed to fix when i was doing some testing so code edits too
while i did make a lot of progress on the art stuff, i really struggled to focus today so there's not much to say lol
that's it for today. will be busy tomorrow, but hoping i can finish the lines tomorrow at least
