About Me, The Game, and Future Plans

🤍 Personal Note

The vision and conceptualization for this visual novel started back in 2022 with a few friends. At the time, I had just become a father. And while the passion for this project was there, it slowly fizzled out. I was the only one managing and directing the team, and eventually, I had to put everything on the backburner to focus on my new role as a parent.

Fast forward to today: My son now goes to daycare for a few hours during the weekdays. And with that bit of free time finally opening up, I revisited this old project. Something definitely clicked again, and I decided to revive this on my own. Completing this vertical slice became an obsession over the past month… and after 35 intense days, this demo is the result.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a few friends, the tools I had access to (including AI), and especially my wife, who showed immense patience and belief through the long hours and late nights.

More than anything, I hope this story resonates with anyone who's ever stepped away from something they loved… and quietly wished they could start again.

If the demo spoke to you, I’d be grateful if you shared your thoughts, or passed it along to someone who might need it too. I’ll be here, working on the next act. Thank you so much for reading, and listening.

- Ice

A story-driven visual novel about grief, healing, and rediscovering oneself through music. From A Muted Canvas follows a reclusive student trying to start over—and the city, and songs that slowly pull him back to life.

A Story Written in Sound

A heartfelt ode to the Metro Manila rock and music scene, and the enduring power of second chances — A visual novel set in the Philippines, driven by originally produced songs from the author and team.

It tells the story of Sebastian, for whom university life in Manila is meant to be a quiet chapter, a carefully managed existence far from the shadows of his haunting past. This slice-of-life story watches as he navigates new surroundings and unexpected connections. But the pulse of the city's local music scene is a siren song, stirring a long-dormant part of his soul. As he's drawn towards its vibrant heart, Sebastian has to confront a difficult question: can a fresh start truly silence the echoes he fled? This is a coming-of-age tale of finding oneself amidst the melodies of Metro Manila.

About the Project

This is a passion project, developed primarily by me with creative contributions from a few close collaborators. All of them, like me, are established musicians in Metro Manila. While I’m the only one working on it full-time at the moment, this story reflects the heart and collaboration of a tight-knit team that deeply believes in what we’re building.

From A Muted Canvas is heavily inspired by the kind of emotionally rich Japanese visual novels that shaped me as a writer: multi-route structures, character-driven arcs, and quiet moments that hit harder than you'd expect.

What’s in the Demo?

• A full Prologue. A brief introduction to our protagonist, Sebastian, and the setting of the story.
• Act 1 follows his move to Metro Manila, an unfamiliar and overwhelming place, where he begins to discover a world vividly colored by sound, and takes the first uncertain step toward a new future.
• Early bonding scenes, slice-of-life tone, and light flag-setting for future routes (will be added in v1.2)
• Original background music + sound design tailored to support the story’s beats and emotional flow.

Scope & Future Plans

This is just the beginning. The full game will include:

• A common route leading into:
• Five branching character paths
• Each with full romance arcs, emotional and musical climaxes, and unique resolutions.
• Voice acting
• An estimated final playtime of 25–35 hours, comparable to full-length VNs.
• *ahem* Eroge scenes *ahem* Now hear me out! It'll be released as a free dlc on the main website. It won't come with official releases (that includes mobile releases).

We’re aiming to bring the full Japanese-style visual novel experience, with Philippine roots and heart.

I know this is a monumental task for a first-time solo dev. But this is a story I deeply care about, and one I’m committed to telling well no matter how long it takes. I believe that with the right support and team growth, we can achieve something truly special. I’m currently exploring sustainable ways to fund full production, whether through grants, community support, or long-term partnerships.

A Note on the Visuals and Art

You’ll notice that the art in this demo is mostly AI-assisted and placeholder in nature. I’ve used the tools available to prototype the tone, setting, and character design direction. BUT, these assets are temporary.

For the final version, I’m actively seeking skilled visual artists to bring the world of From A Muted Canvas to life with unique, hand-drawn illustrations and polished sprites.

If you’re a background, cg, or character sprite artist who feels drawn to the atmosphere of this story, please reach out.

And of course, if you'd like to support future development, share the demo, wishlist the game (when it’s up on Steam), or just send feedback. Every little bit helps. I'll probably try to set up a Patreon page in the future too.

📩 ice@mugensoftware.com

"If I suddenly stop playing, would the world stop listening?"