Since the first week passed, we've been trying to combine updates together so you're not being bombarded with an email every single day. This does of course mean we have a good bit to cover in this update - so let's get started right away!!
Despair Dilemma Ends in One Week!!
With how busy week one was, we took things a good bit more slowly for week two - but for Week Three we're getting things going full force again! We've hit a bunch of exciting stretch goals, but we still have a good number we had planned that we can't yet afford to make happen. These next seven days are the last chance - so if you know anyone who's interested in Death Games or just weird and experimental TTRPGs, we'd be extremely thankful if you shared the project with them.
If you're still looking to give the game a try before you feel ready to invest, you can join our Discord server here to get a game of the Demo Kit in with some of our community!
Unlocked: Death Game Sheet by Viveros
Brilliant!! We mentioned this in a previous update, but if you don't know Viveros, then you should absolutely check out some of their genuinely fantastic video essays on Death Game media like Your Turn to Die and Inescapable. Their currently working on an absolutely massive (last I checked with them it had apparently reached around 7 Hours long??) video essay on Danganronpa V3 as well. Now that we've hit $25,000, we'll be commissioning Viveros to make a Death Game Sheet for us! We asked them for a comment and here's what they had to say about their plans:
A group of 19 strangers wake up on a tropical island with their memories wiped, with one notable exception: all but one remember that they’ve played this killing game before. Unbeknownst to them, they are the all-star finalists of the simulated reality competition show Virtual Killing Academy, where digital clones of real people fight to the death for a global audience in hopes of becoming the Ultimate Killing Game Champion!
It's a really interesting premise, and I'm personally very excited to see how it turns out! They'll be streaming it at some point on their Twitch channel too, so if you want to see Despair Dilemma (with a few twists) in action, they'll be a fantastic place to do exactly that!
And Up Next: Death Game Sheet by Jun Kakeru
Yet Another Killing Game is one of the most recent indie success stories when it comes to the "Death Game" genre. Taking the genre to its very limits - there are only three characters in Yet Another Killing Game, including yourself. One of you has to die to escape, and with over ten endings, it's up to your choices to decide out how things go.
If we reach $29,000 in funding, we'll be commissioning the developer of the game, Jun Kakeru, to create a Death Game Sheet for Despair Dilemma! We don't yet know exactly what they plan to make, but as one of games selected for the 2025 Storytellers Festival, we can promise that it'll be interesting!
Part 3 of Playing Despair Dilemma With Chat!
While maybe one of the most foolish ideas we've ever come up with, playing Despair Dilemma with some of our backers has been a fantastic and very fun experience. In the previous two streams we've created an exciting story together featuring warring factions and the mysteries of a strange movie set. We want to give all of our backers the chance to join in and be a part of the story, so we're doing the final stream during a different time again.
Playing Despair Dilemma WITH CHAT! (Part 3) April 2 9:30PM PST / April 2 4:30AM GMT Take control of The Mob's Will alongside Nora Jean Haynes and Iris Cassandra Saintclaire as we explore Despair Dilemma! AppleGoogleYahoo
This puts the stream right in the last 48 hours of the crowdfunding campaign, which we hope can act as a fun and exciting celebration of the game as a whole!
The Purgatory Express Moves to Chapter Two!
With the votes completed for Chapter One of the Purgatory Express - we can reveal the winning selection for Chapter One:
If you're favorite didn't win, then there's still a chance of course! We have Chapter Two and Chapter Three still - and given how cool some of people's ideas were, we'll absolutely be adding some of the other options that still make sense to the next polls.
That said, we still need to give everyone the chance to submit ideas for Chapter Two before we can start voting! So, while we have you here, please comment below with your answer to the following question: What Should Happen in Chapter Two? And What Question Should the Players Answer When they Finish the Chapter?
Please note that unlike Chapter One, Chapter Two in Despair Dilemma actually has two options, so we'll be taking the top two answers and adding them to the book instead of just one! Options in Chapter Two also generally have effects on the game - but to keep things simple, we'll add those on our end once we know which options have won!
To give you some inspiration, here are just a couple examples of Chapter Two selections in the full book:
Your Head on a Spike The people in power want a show. A spectacle. And that means -someone- has to die. Chapter Mystery: What stakes do the audience have in this game? Who do the audience want to lose above all else and why?
Starvation Supplies are limited, and mouths are hungry. It’s not easy for the survivors to admit aloud, but… perhaps some of them need to go hungry. Maybe worse. It’s for the good of everyone else, after all. Chapter Mystery: What conspiracy or accident is the cause for there being so little food?
Spirits Walk Among Us Faced with the pain and suffering of their loved ones’ lives snuffed out, one character chooses to make a pact and complete a ritual - returning someone from the dead. Chapter Mystery: What is unique about the afterlife for people who die in this game?
I'm excited to see what you all come up with - the Death Game Sheet is really shaping up! We'll start the vote in 24-48 hours, so get your answers in now before it's too late!
-- See you next time and have a great week! Nora Jean Haynes
