mirawakestudios

[mirawakestudios]

Do you take ilya jam recommendations???

If so, I feel like the song Song For Tonight by The Suicide File & The Chemicals Between Us by Bush are so him!!

i absolutely do!!! OMG song for tonight is so fire i immediately added it into the playlist ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ thank you for the recommendations!

[mirawakestudios]

hiii everyone!! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) the discord server + patreon is finally all set up and ready to go!! i’ll be posting the links tomorrow so keep an eye out~ ✨ (if you guys have any suggestions for channels in the discord, lmk! as of right now i have basic ones) super excited to see you guys there ♡

[mirawakestudios]

the devil's fruit

[mirawakestudios]

Hello! First, I just want to say how much I absolutely adore WTR. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop since playing it. It seriously blows me away how talented you are. I look so forward to the full game.

Playing your vn has actually inspired me to get into game development myself :) Hearing that this was your first vn was crazy. I’ve always had an interest + love writing but was hesitant since I have no experience with creating things. But I’ve started to learn how to draw and I’m gonna look into learning game dev for hope that in the future I can make a good game. So for my questions (and sorry if you’ve gotten some like these before!!)

1. Do you have any tips for someone learning to draw?

2. What is your favorite and least favorite parts of the VN development process?

3. How did it feel to have your game get so popular? Was it unexpected how much people would love it (especially how much people would love ilya)?

Hope these questions are ok! I’m rooting for you!

AHH thank you so much… i’m actually gonna cry (´；ω；`) hearing that WTR inspired you to start creating means so much to me!! good luck with learning both art + game dev, i'm rooting for you as well!

i know it’s like a broken record at this point, but practice really is the biggest thing! things like art trades (with mutuals online or even friends irl) or joining artfight in the summer are great ways to stay active. if you post your work online, try to treat it as more of a gallery/portfolio instead of tying it to “i didn’t reach [x] likes… do people even like what i’m doing?”--that mindset can trap you so fast. also, surround yourself with other creatives, either online or in person! seeing your peers working toward their dreams is so motivating. i really recommend making little grayscale thumbnails before beginning an illustration, and doing studies of specific things you love in other artists’ work (their lineart, composition, how they tell stories visually, etc). i grew up drawing constantly and was super influenced by shoujo + seinen manga, so my style kinda reflects that, or so i’ve heard! sorry if this got rambly ajsdkf, i hope it’s still helpful!!

my favorite part is definitely the brainstorming + writing stages. my least favorite… the coding/programming side LOL. i still haven’t found a beta tester yet so it’s a lot of trial and error, but youtube has saved me many times!

it was super unexpected! i originally thought i’d just finish the game quietly and release it as a “one-and-done" mostly for my own enjoyment, but someone convinced me to put the demo out early to see what people thought. i’m so glad i did, because without the feedback + excitement from everyone, i probably would’ve lost steam halfway through. i know i keep on saying this but i'm so, so grateful for all the support!!! at the end of the day, though, do remember that we're creating to tell a story. it's completely okay if people dislike certain aspects, or don't like it at all. create for the sake of creation!

[mirawakestudios]

hi!! sort of based on a different ask you got, but I’ve noticed that in Ilya’s playlist, a lot of songs seem to have the motif or lyric of “tell me how (this/that/things) are supposed to be”. Whether intentional or not, I think it paints a really interesting picture of Ilya as someone who has a fundamental disconnect from others, “normal” society, and “normal” people. Like, there is a standard of how things “should” be, and he seeks or possibly resents the concept.

Is there anything you could elaborate on with that? I understand lots is off limits for now since it’d be spoilers, but I’d love to hear more on this topic with Ilya if you have anything you can say, since It’s something I’ve been thinking on for a while!

I’ll also say, with the characterisation we have in the demo and also some other songs on his playlist, he seems to be a very, very good liar. And conscious of it, too. Sort of always usually putting up an “act” with others and changing his demeanour on the fly to get the desired outcome he wants.

Is this an accurate observation? And, if so, I’m curious on what he’d think of a MC who puts up similar social acts and is never truly genuine with others (though maybe the MC isn’t as conscious of it as he seems to be).

Sorry for the long ask!! I’ve been drawing a lot recently because of this game, so clearly it’s stuck in my head, hehe. Answer at your leisure. ^^

ASASJ you’re literally insane (positive) for catching that already because i haven’t even revealed a crumb of his backstory yet to anyone except like… one close friend (´///`) but yes… you’re very much on the right track with some of those observations! i don’t want to spill all the “themes” i’ve been cooking up for this vn just yet, but one of the major ones is isolation and how it shapes people.

as for the lying… yeah. he’s very, very aware of how to shift himself depending on the audience. it’s not always malicious, but it’s almost always calculated (there is always some truth to his words, though!) someone who plays the same kind of social theater would 100% catch his interest, but whether that turns into kinship or suspicion really depends on the situation!! (˶ˆᗜˆ˵) (also so glad to hear you’re enjoying the playlist!! i really do need to clean it up soon so it’s a little neater haha)

[mirawakestudios]

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲." Ahh Ilya.

(please ignore the eye difference, I'm struggling to draw it💔)

[mirawakestudios]

Hi> These may sound weird but what does Ilyas wardrobe look like? What's his style? What does he usually wear? Does he wear PJs?

this may sound insane but i’m in progress of drawing his sprite with AT LEAST 4 outfit changes (maybe 5, if certain people find a certain easter egg cough) so i’ve thought about this way too much LOL. his style in general is just 'comfortable'--lots of layering but nothing flashy. stuff like flannels over t-shirts, hoodies under jackets, and coats that look like they’ve seen a few winters too many. he doesn’t own any jewelry at all. he gravitates towards heavier, more textured fabrics (stuff like canvas, corduroy, dark grey denim) and his pants are always loose-fitting cargo/work pants for ease of movement. during warmer months he’ll typically dial it down to just a regular old plain t-shirt,, i'd say yes to the pajamas!!! but they’re not “sets” or anything, usually just old shirts and sweatpants

[mirawakestudios]

I don't know if ilya will do this, but I want to draw this > 3 <（Oh, God, I'm too lazy to color）

[mirawakestudios]

Drew @stray-k1tty and I’s mcs for Watch the road!! His Nora is such a cutie….

[mirawakestudios]

[mirawakestudios]

hi mari! i recently played watch the road and absolutely adored everything about it :D it’s even inspired me to pick up writing again after over a year of writer’s block so thank you for that! i was wondering if you’ve thought about doing merch or prints sometime in the future maybe after the release of the full game?

so excited to see more of your work and wishing you the best throughout the rest of the development process <3

hiiii omg (｡T‿T｡) i’m so so happy to hear wtr inspired you to start writing again 💕 i’d absolutely love to do merch sometime in the future!! but i’m still not too sure about all the production costs for that sort of stuff ajsjsadj. i really wanna make an ilya plushie or even a little figure (like a nendoroid kinda?? LMFAO) but that’s just me being extremely wishful. prints are definitely on the list though since i already have a inprnt!!

thank you for the kind words and support, wishing you the best for your writing too!! ( ⁎ᵕᴗᵕ⁎ )❤

[mirawakestudios]

Ren and Ilya!!! Such a random combo but my bestie pookie loves Ren and Ilya is one of my sillies

This is my first ever Ren fanart :3

Might post this on tiktok :p

sketch dump of my oc Britney with Ilya ;p

Feel free to use my art however credit would be great! Tysm <3

[mirawakestudios]

whatever. go my Ilya and MC sona doodle sheet.

[mirawakestudios]

FINALLY, I'VE DONE IT \(>0<)/ (my first fan art ever after not drawing for MONTHSSSS) tempted to re-draw this on my phone LOL

(Orginal character by mirawakestudios)

[mirawakestudios]

Heyyyyyy Mira :3

Felt like asking s'more questions for that notebook 🤭 and questions for YOUUUUUUUUU!!

About Ilya + the game:

1. What does he think about piercings/tattoos?

2. (Not sure if this is spoilers or not but I'd thought I ask in case it's not) does the butterfly have blood on it or is that it's original color?

3. Would he ever dye his hair an unnatural color? (Since I heard he's not a natrual red head 👀)

4. Because the marriage route is totally cannon *wink wink* , what would be his go-to spot for the event?

For YOUUUU 💕

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Will we be able to share theories in the upcoming discord server?

3. WHAT BRUSHES AND SOFTWARE DO YOU USE OMLLLL 😩🙏🏻

4. What is your biggest goal as of right now?

You're such a big inspiration!!! Keep up your amazing work, and don't forget to take care of yourself >0< 💚 💚

HEYYYYYYYYY (｡> ﹏ <｡)ノ♡ omg you’re SO sweet for these questions wahhhh thank youuuu!! i had so much fun answering these!! >:3c

about ilya + the game:

REALLY fucking cool in his book, especially if the mc/pc has them!!! (≧▽≦) he’d definitely ask about the story behind every single tattoo (even if it's just. something really simple. he'd want to know) as for himself, i think he’d consider getting a piercing just to match an accessory w/ the mc/pc

original color!

HAHA i think he’d try it if you egged him on enough (⌒_⌒;) he’s not opposed to it, just... never really thought about it?? but if you suggested it, he’d probably give it a go

❅!!! (there’ll actually be two special spots depending on the route you take. if you got to a certain line of dialogue within the demo, you might already know where one of them will be... wink wink...) i’m gonna spend like 500 years on the wedding cgs...

for me (〃￣ω￣〃ゞ):

THIS IS EMBARRASSINGLY HARD LMFAOO i’ve always loved all shades of pink ever since my classic animated barbie movie era but lately i’ve been leaning toward lilac... i feel like i’m betraying my childhood self (´；ω；`)

YESSS absolutely!!! theory crafting is my lifeblood pls go crazy in the upcoming server (°▽°) i'll probably get to finishing up the discord & patreon sometime this weekend (hopefully)

OK SO i use clip studio paint on desktop and ibis paint on ipad!! (which is why the colors may look different) i also recently got aseprite for rpg maker spriting stuff 🙏as for brushes, i’ll put together a little pdf and then drop it on the FAQ side of my tumblr blog later, so it'll be easily accessible!

short-term: learning how to actually manage my time so i can make progress on the game without sacrificing school or mental health ;; long-term: i just really wanna work on a bunch of different projects over the years that are character-driven!!! i’m gonna pace myself and treat each one with care <3 otherwise, believe me, i would have demos upon demos… and then never really finish anything... as of right now, i only have plans for one other game (it'll be for a game jam at the beginning of next year, yes i already have a playlist in the making and a mini team of friends LMFAO) but i have concepts for a whole lot more!

i really appreciate you and your support so so much!!! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ take care of yourself too!!

[mirawakestudios]

hope everything is well!

is there a route ur interested the most in exploring between the captive and hotel route ?

thank you, i hope the same for you! honestly, there’s quite a few routes i’m excited to expand on (especially since some lead to timeskips by the end of the five days… anddd have a little bit of content even after those timeskips… why do i do this to myself LOL) but rather than full routes, i think i’m most looking forward to working on the mini “dates” the player can have with ilya! (if they go down a more romantic path, of course ₍₍ ◝(●˙꒳˙●)◜ ₎₎)

anddd... i'm not sure if i’m allowed to say this since it ties into a bunch of other projects i’ll be working on way after WTR ends, but i’m really excited to sneak in... quite a bit of foreshadowing...

[mirawakestudios]

“ Some chocolate? "

（Just realized in the game he break it off for MC, but hey, the art's already done! Handing over the whole thing works too :D）