Emily Is Away
| Emily Is Away | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Designer(s) | Kyle Seeley |
| Writer(s) | Kyle Seeley |
| Series | 5 |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux[1] |
| Release date(s) | 20 November 2015 |
| Genre(s) | Visual novel, Romance |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Emily Is Away is an indie visual novel by game developer Kyle Seeley, released for free in November 2015. The game's story is linear, with the player unable to significantly change the course of the plot throughout the game. Set in the senior year of high school, 2002, Emily Is Away tells the story of the protagonist's relationship with a girl, Emily, and their relationship over the course of five years, ending in senior year of college.[2] The game is presented through a chat client on Windows XP styled after ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger, specifically their builds in the early and mid 2000s, complete with other users' profiles and interface. The choices for profile pictures are generally collected from the culture of the early and mid 2000s, including pop punk bands and Harry Potter.
Plot
In the protagonists' senior year of high school in 2002, they use a chat client to talk with "emerly35" or Emily. They talk to each other and discuss about high school and a fellow student, Brad, who keeps sending Emily messages. They also talk about a party that a classmate Travis is throwing that evening. Then they say goodbye as Emily logs off.
If you choose to not go to the party during senior year of high school in 2002, Emily will get together with Travis instead of Brad.
In the freshmen year of college in 2003, the character talks to Emily again, who has gotten together with Brad or Travis. The character congratulates her, and shifts to other questions, such as part of their classes. They finally say goodbye again, as Emily yet again logs off.
In the sophomore year of college in 2004, the character learns that Emily has broken up with Brad/Travis due to a complicated relationship, and the character consoles her. She asks why the character didn't kiss her on a walk or didn't come to Travis's party on the first night of the game, to mixed response. They both wonder what could have been, and Emily immediately asks if she can come to visit. Most of the time, they will agree for Emily to come, and Emily signs off.
In the junior year of college in 2005, if Emily visits, it turns out that Emily and the character ended up hooking up, and Emily feels like she was taken advantage of. If you choose to not let Emily visit, she will ask you about your new friends. The conversation is awkward and distant, with Emily eventually leaving due to discomfort, feeling too weird to continue.
In the senior and final year of college in 2006, Emily and the character have clearly grown apart. Emily starts dating Brad/Travis again and is involved in other things, widening the gulf between the two characters. As the conversation comes to an uncomfortable and cold finish, the character begins to revise sentences asking if the two will ever be the same - deleting earnest questions and asking about the weather or other mundane affairs instead. The protagonist says goodbye, and for the first time, the player character is the one who leaves the conversation.
References
- ↑ "emily is away". Official website. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ↑ Caldwell, Brendan. "Free Loaders: MSN_lover Is Typing…". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 24 November 2015.