“House of memories.”
In case you missed it, earlier this month we had the pleasure of reviewing Afterlove EP by games development studio, Pikselnesia. We absolutely adored it and gave it high praise by labelling it, “the greatest piece of poetry of the 21st century.” And now we get to revisit this delightful gem in another way as we reached out to Pikselnesia and arranged an interview to discuss Afterlove EP.
With plenty of questions we wanted to ask, but were only able to ask a handful, shortlisting the questions was no easy task, but satisfactory answers were still given nonetheless. So please join us as we welcome Game Producer, Ivor. D. Tomo to Miketendo64 and discuss Love, Loss & Devotion:
Ivor D. Tomo | Love, Loss & Devotion with Afterlove EP
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your role with Pikselnesia and in what capacity are you involved with Afterlove EP?
Ivor D. Tomo: Hello! My name is Ivor D. Tomo, you can call me Ivor. And I’m the Game Producer for Afterlove EP. In this role, I oversee the overall production of Afterlove EP, ensuring the task and milestones are delivered on time and that the development process runs smoothly. My job involves coordinating between our teams and the publisher, managing schedules, and making sure we stay aligned with our creative and technical goals.
With Afterlove EP, I’ve been deeply involved in bringing Fahmi’s vision to life. Since his passing, my responsibilities have expanded to include co-managing Pikselnesia Studio alongside Damas and Giri. Together we’ve worked to honor Fahmi’s legacy by guiding the team through the challenges of development and ensuring that Afterlove EP reflects his passion and creativity.
Can you talk about your inspirations behind creating the setting? I think Persona was one that was referenced before, not just with the calendar system but also because Persona 5 was of course set in a real city that feels iconic to so many gamers. But if there were other games or media that would have been an inspiration then that would be good to know too.
Ivor D. Tomo: Of course! Persona 5was definitely one of our references for Afterlove EP, particularly in how it brings a real city to life and makes it feel iconic. The calendar system and the way Persona 5 balances daily life with deeper narrative themes were big inspirations for us. We also drew inspiration from The Night in the Woods, which excels at creating a small-town atmosphere filled with personality and emotional depth.
The decision to set Afterlove EP in Jakarta came directly from Fahmi. He wanted to showcase the vibrancy and energy of his home city, making it more than just a setting but a living, breathing part of the story.
Another major inspiration for us was the manga Beck. It’s a portrayal of youth, music, and the struggles of chasing dreams resonated deeply with Fahmi and the team.
These inspirations, combined with Fahmi’s vision, helped us craft a setting that feels both personal and universal, a place where players can see themselves and their own experiences reflected, while also discovering something new and exciting.
Prior to his tragic passing, Mohammad Fahmi Hasni had already planned out Afterlove EP’s story, beginning and end, but what struggles did you encounter when trying to pick up where he left off to create the final product that we have now?
Ivor D. Tomo: After Fahmi’s passing, one of the biggest challenges we faced was ensuring that his vision for Afterlove EP remained intact while moving forward with development. Thankfully, most of the team was deeply familiar with Fahmi’s ideas and the direction he wanted the story to take. The narrative design was also well-documented in his GDD (Game Design Document), which gave us a solid foundation to build on.
The outline of the story, crafted by Fahmi and Sasha, was clear and compelling. However, the real struggle came in breaking down that outline into detailed dialogue and scripts. This was a massive task, as it required translating Fahmi’s vision into every line of dialogue while maintaining the emotional depth and authenticity he envisioned.
In the end, I believe we’ve created something that not only reflects Fahmi’s vision but also stands as a testament to dedication and love of everyone involved in Afterlove EP.
With many themes and emotions represented, Afterlove EP does a brilliant job of depicting the struggles one faces when grieving a loved one. Rama, in particular, hears Cinta’s voice, which helps to guide his voice and actions. Was this the case for you or any member of the development team at any point during development? Hearing Mohammad Fahmi’s voice and having it help guide you through development?
Ivor D. Tomo: Over the two years we spent developing Afterlove EP before his passing, working five to six days a week, we shared countless moments with Fahmi. While it wasn’t exactly like Rama hearing Cinta’s voice, Fahmi’s presence was always with us in a different way. Whenever we looked at his documentation, whether it was Game Design Document, his sketches, or his notes, we could almost hear his voice and laughter.
I remember how he would talk about his ugly sketches, explaining his ideas with such passion and humor. Those memories became a guiding force for us , especially after his death. It wasn’t a literal voice, but his vision, his words, and his spirit were deeply embedded with everything we did.
In a way, Fahmi’s voice became a part of the team’s collective consciousness, helping us stay true to his vision and navigate the challenges of development. It was a bittersweet experience, but it also reminded us why we were so committed to finishing Afterlove EP, to honor Fahmi and share his incredible creativity with the world.
Should the player opt for making Rama attend regular therapy sessions, they’re in for a real treat as we found the encounters to be full of dialogue that helps to bring Rama out of his shell and more accepting of his current reality. A lot of great advice was offered and on the whole, Afterlove EP can make a person contemplate many a great question and/or issue that deserves more consideration than most would normally give. What were the challenges you faced in making Afterlove EP as thought-provoking as it is and did you need to seek out outside help, especially with the therapy sessions?
Ivor D. Tomo: One of our main goals with Afterlove EP was to create a game that encourages players to reflect on deep, personal themes like love, loss, and self-discovery. A big part of that was portraying Rama’s journey in a way that felt authentic and meaningful, especially during the therapy session.
Writing the scenes was a challenge because we wanted to balance realism with sensitivity. To ensure accuracy, we consulted with a real therapist to better understand how to address Rama’s struggles and depict his healing process respectfully. Their insights were invaluable in helping us craft dialogue that felt genuine and impactful. We hope players find these moments thought-provoking and relatable. And that they walk away with a deeper understanding of the themes we explore in the game.
With multiple endings available in Afterlove EP, can you give us a brief spoiler- free guide as to go about getting the different endings?
Ivor D. Tomo: The endings in Afterlove EP are shaped by the choices you make throughout the game, particularly in your interaction with the love interest. However, it’s not just about romance, it’s also about Rama’s relationship with himself. The game asks you to reflect on the question like: Do you love yourself as Rama? Are you okay with your current condition, or do you feel there;s something you need to address?
These choices, both in dialogue and in how you guide Rama’s personal growth, will influence the direction of the story and ultimately determine which ending you experience.
To Ivor D. Tomo, we thank you for taking the time to grace our site with your presence and look forwards to what you and your team turn your hand to next.
About Afterlove EP:
A slice-of-life adventure about love, loss and music. Taking place in the vibrant city of Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Afterlove EP is a blend of visual novel, narrative adventure and rhythm game from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of their girlfriend, Cinta.
Whilst his close friends and bandmates are all determined to help him move on, Rama has been stuck for more than a year. He’s neglecting his music, his mental health and his relationships.
Making things harder, he’s hearing Cinta’s voice inside his head, unsure if she is a spirit or part of his imagination.
Now he has just one month to get it together!
Rama’s band has a critical gig in one month’s time. Either he gets serious about his music and delivers the new songs he has been promising or the band will move on without him.
KEY FEATURES:
- An emotional new story from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
- Set in a vibrant and authentic recreation of modern day Jakarta, Indonesia
- A blend of narrative adventure, visual novel and rhythm game elements – explore, talk, jam out!
- Multiple endings and story paths – over 28 days and nights, it will be your choices that determine the path Rama takes.
- Featuring the distinctive art of renowned Indonesian indie-manga artist, Soyatu.
- Featuring an original soundtrack from popular Indonesian band, L’alphalpha.
