this week's brew 🎧
​what we played this week + supplementary materials to help you dig deeper.

To be in a relationship with someone requires change and the ability to accept change. Moving from the vast majority of games where romantic pursuits are clear-cut, both in how you foster relationships as well as who you want to pursue. Characters have their specific likes, dislikes, and personalities, and are (largely) predictable to interact with. A game that was this compellingly messy with it's characters and relationships, though? Truly a treat.

What struck me most in the moment to moment experience of playing Sorry We're Closed is how unsure I felt about my decisions. I knew prooobably what was the healthier decision, but it rarely felt clear cut. In fact, I often found myself making choices I knew were probably not great, because of the hope I had for the result, rather than what in my brain I thought would actually happen. The past is important, but how much did I want Michelle to move on to something new versus attempt to revisit the familiar? How much change is healthy...and what does it mean to be trapped, repeating the same mistakes of the past?
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​I loved Sorry We're Closed because it allowed us to explore these questions through multiple relationship dynamics, not just our player character. Oakley and Darrel, Robin and Benedict, Chamuel, and even the melodrama : each represented opportunities to experiment with additional facets of what love could look like at it's best...and worst. Selfless or selfish, nurturing or toxic, blissfully unaware or overly critical.
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Still finishing up Sorry We're Closed? Check out the playthrough guide for pacing, and feel free to respond to this email, leave a voicemail, or post your thoughts in Discord about this game. And if you have a question for the developers, be sure to email me before tomorrow (Friday) so I can try to ensure its included in our conversation with them!

Pour Over

Check out supplementary recs to expand your gameplay experience and understanding!

• Read: Heavenly Tyrant. Can't get enough of toxic relationships (and want a story about vengeance)? This is book two of a trilogy, so you may want to begin with Iron Widow, but I couldn't help but marvel at some of the thematic ties I encountered between Sorry We're Closed and this story.
• Read: This interview with C.B. (who we're chatting with next week!) Gain some insight to the creative process for the game and check out early concept sketches.
• Listen. The Sorry We're Closed OST is 🔥🔥🔥. Treat your ears!

Reflection Question

As you play this week, take a moment and reflect on this question:

Have a response to the reflection question? Want to share other thoughts on the game? Share thoughts in the Discord to chat with the community or leave a 60-second voice message and you’ll have the chance to be featured on a future podcast episode!

Next Week’s Brew: We're coming up on a special two episode week! On Feb 25th, we'll have our conversation with the devs behind Sorry We're Closed: C.B. and Tom of a la mode games! Our Bonus Brew discussion about The Dark Queen of Mortholme goes live on Feb 27th.
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Finally: our March title is Arco! It's on sale for 30% off until March 1, if you'd like to get it at a discount! The first discussion podcast delving into Acts I & II will release on March 4th.

the pastry case 🥐
​our grab-bag of topics related to the industry and other media we've engaged with.

Next week is the Steam NextFest! That means loads of demos -- be sure to note your faves and share them with us as you play (we'll have a special NextFest thread in Discord).
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Jenny -

• Play: Is This Seat Taken (Demo), The Duck Detective (Demo)
• Watch: The White Lotus (Season 3)​
• Read: The Lamb (Lucy Rose)

Joel -

• Play: Lok Digital​
• Watch: Invincible​
• Listen: GNX, Worlds Beyond Number​
• Read: Bands of Mourning (Brandon Sanderson)

This Weeks' Game Releases

Curated titles to keep an eye on ~

​Lost Records: Bloom & Rage | Feb 18​ Mystery LGBTQ+ Choices Matter Embark on a new narrative journey by the creators of Life is Strange. Film your summer of 1995 and create memories of a lifetime with your new friends. 27 years later, confront the dark secrets that made you all promise to never speak again after that fateful summer. ​***This is our community-voted game for April! Currently has a 10% launch discount ($35.99 USD).

​Cabernet | Feb 20​ Narrative Choices Matter Vampires Cabernet is a 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire in her new unlife among the unsuspecting townsfolk. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become?

Stay in the loop -- listen to the weekly podcast on Spotify and Apple, hang with the community in Discord, and find us on Instagram!

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Thanks for joining our digital café this week -- talk soon!

Jenny