[Status Report #2] MBML Chapter 2 - Episode 1 (Patreon)

Hey, everyone.

This report is gonna cover a few key things: where the games currently stand, the global nonsense we're up against, and how we're planning to deal with it. And yeah… this one's gonna sting if you're team Sicae over MBML.

You probably already know where this is headed, so let's just rip the Band-Aid off.

The IssueUnless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the latest censorship storm sweeping through, hitting adult and “sensitive topic” games hard. And, well… MBML is kind of a lightning rod.We've already addressed a handful of red flags in a previous announcement, but let's not kid ourselves, this game's crossed lines before. Some would even call it disturbing. We're fully aware that the control-happy watchdogs won't stop at one thing, and it's not a matter of if we'll get hit, but when.Will the dust settle eventually? Probably. But how much will actually settle… and how much gets buried under it? That's the real question, and we've got zero guarantees.

How We're Dealing With ItAs absurd as it might sound, I'm not ready to throw in the towel and cop out by calling Emma's solo ending the official ending. So here's the plan: I'm shifting all focus to MBML until Chapter 2 is fully complete. Until the game is finished.It's still gonna take years—even with Sicae on pause—but the sooner I can wrap it up, the sooner I can breathe again. I'll do everything I can not to rush the arcs or emotional beats, but if something feels a little sped up... now you know why. It's a mental warzone up here.

The edited dialogue's been up for a few days now (check the latest public build). I managed to salvage the main story arcs...But Sky and Klara's edits? Hot. Flaming. Garbage. Absolute dogwater. That BROKE me. I had high hopes going into those revisions. Asked for help. No one came. Just me. Stuck in bed for days, sulking and staring at the ceiling like a washed-up soap opera extra.Am I doing better now? Not really. I still feel like crap. And with this looming over everything, not just the games, but my job too, my anxiety's shot through the roof.

What About Sicae?It's officially on the back burner now. Unlike before, it no longer has a set window in the dev cycle. It's not dead—I'll probably revisit it when MBML burnout hits.But let's be real: Sicae ain't exactly sunshine and rainbows either. It's got its own mess of heavy themes, and the last thing I need when trying to relax is more existential dread.

So yeah, if I ever post that I'm spiraling into a depressive episode... don't be surprised.

Anyway, quick progress report:We're almost halfway through the dialogue. Some renders and animations are done, but not enough to call it real progress yet. I'm aiming to knock out 40% of those renders starting today.Commissioned a few outfits for Chapter 2, but there's still a bunch I'll have to port myself, which I'll chip away at while rendering.

Next post will likely be previews, so keep your eyes peeled.

That's all for now.Take care of yourselves. And as always, thanks for sticking around.

– NiiChan