Continuing a Legacy: The Story of Afterlove EP's Development After Its Creator's Passing

The challenges of game development often lead to the original creator leaving the project, but rarely is it due to tragic circumstances like the passing of Mohammed Fahmi, the creative director behind Afterlove EP. First announced in December 2021, the music-centric narrative game was still in its early stages when Fahmi passed away, leaving his team to pick up the pieces and decide whether to continue his vision. The team took a three-month hiatus to grieve before unanimously deciding to finish the game, driven by their desire to honor Fahmi's legacy and not let his work go to waste. Game director and programmer Dany explains, 'We all agreed that our hearts could not let his vision go to waste, and we had to finish the game, no matter what.' Afterlove EP recently resurfaced at LudoNarraCon with a free Steam demo and a release window for Q3 2024, offering a glimpse into the game's narrative, which coincidentally deals with grief and moving on after a loved one's untimely passing. The cause of Fahmi's death was never publicly disclosed, although it was mentioned that he suffered from asthma. The game's protagonist, Rama, experiences a similar loss, and the team found themselves drawing eerie parallels with their own experiences. According to Dany, 'With Fahmi's passing, we were all experiencing the feeling that Rama feels, and we understand what he is going through very intimately.' Despite the challenges, the team had a clear direction for the game, thanks to Fahmi's well-documented story outline and big direction decisions. Game producer Ivor Dwitomo notes, 'He knew what he wanted for sure. The story outline was well documented before he passed away, and the big direction decisions for Afterlove EP from start to end were very clear.' The team still faced the daunting task of breaking down the narrative into scenes and dialogue, with over 100,000 words to write. Fortunately, Fahmi had worked closely with writer Sasha Ariana, who stepped in to lead the narrative and ensure that the team stayed true to Fahmi's vision. Another key team member, lead programmer Giri Prahasta Iruma, acted as a 'human database,' providing valuable insights and links to old discussions with Fahmi. The game's narrative is a choice-based experience, where players guide Rama through his grief and help him make decisions about his future. The story takes place over a 30-day period, with a Persona-inspired calendar structure, and features a mix of emotional aspects, including sadness, grief, and humor. Dwitomo emphasizes, 'Sadness and grief will not dominate in the story – all emotional aspects will be there. This is more about Rama's future than his past.' One of Fahmi's goals was to showcase Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, and the game's setting, the W Bloc, is based on the real-life M Bloc. The game also features songs from Jakarta-based band L'alphalpha, including a track dedicated to Fahmi. As the team nears the completion of Afterlove EP, they reflect on their journey and the future of Pikselnesia, Fahmi's studio and legacy. While the team will likely disband after the game's release, they hope to move on and create new stories. As Dwitomo explains, 'We don't know what will happen in the future, but I have the feeling the team will meet again to make something.'