01
May

‘I’ve made it my life’s goal to complete Crown Code Chronicles in his honor.’

Following the tragic loss of his father, indie dev promises to finish the game they began creating together

Jarnell Marasigan had been working with his father Joselito on JRPG (Japanese role-playing game) Crown Code Chronicles for two years. Unfortunately when his father passed away five years ago, Jarnell stopped working on the project.

Jarnell now plans to finish the game and is running a Kickstarter campaign to garner support for the project. His ambition is for the game to become a testament to his father, a way to honor his memory and to set an example for others.

I recently lost my father and Jarnell’s story certainly resonates with me. I think anyone mourning a parent cherishes the memories – a creative project seems a great medium to keep those memories alive.

The game the pair had been working on is Crown Code Chronicles, which focuses on a prince who witnesses his father’s death. The protagonist then begins a whirlwind time traveling adventure to try to prevent his father’s demise. Unwittingly he unleashes a greater threat to not only his timeline, but all of existence.

The project’s conception came as a result of Jarnell beginning his career as a software developer over five years ago, he decided to use his skills to create a JRPG. He discussed the concept with his dad, who instantly added his creative skills to the project.

Jarnell and his father would talk every day after they finished work, the game was often a hot topic of conversation. They would discuss the characters, story ideas and concepts. His father created the game’s theme tune, which was later developed by a composer to create the game’s soundtrack.

The passion project gradually evolved through the years, as the father and son team devoted the hours they could to the project. But after his dad’s passing Jarnell took a hiatus from the game. He started his life over in that period, selling his home and moving his family to an entirely different state.

By the time Jarnell found the courage to go back to the game, he’d honed years of development knowledge and vowed to finish the game as part of his father’s legacy. He revised the original concept, to tell the story of a son trying to save his father.

“I wanted to change things so I could express all my feelings of loss, depression, and my desire to bring my father back,” says Jarnell. “I’ve made it my life’s goal to complete Crown Code Chronicles in his honor.”

‘I've made it my life’s goal to complete Crown Code Chronicles in his honor.’

Jarnell believes the game will allow men to better share their feelings and emotions around losing a loved one, “I hope it will help drive more conversation, and provide some solace for people that have gone through or are going through similar situations.” says Jarnell.

Jarnell thinks there should be more father and son development teams, and wishes that he could show his father the progress that has now been made on the game. He also tries to support other father son teams, encouraging them to recognise its value and not take it for granted.

For Jarnell success would mean finding an audience who enjoy playing the game and gain fond memories through playing. He’d like players to connect with the game emotionally and feel the amount of love poured into the game. He would also like fathers, sons and families to play the game together.

I am sure Jarnell’s father would be proud of him, the journey which they began together, which Jarnell will now continue on his own. Although the game has changed significantly since its original concept, Jarnell feels that his father would be delighted with the game’s evolution.

“I feel he would definitely be satisfied knowing that I re-made the game to be all about him!“ Jarnell says in closing.

If you are interested in supporting Crown Code Chronicles, Jarnell has launched a Kickstarter campaign. You can also find the game on Steam and follow Jarnell on X for regular updates.

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This Article was written by: Harry Cole