a time capsule from the future;
a chronicle of a dying city;
a story about two friends (and everyone else);
a looming cosmic phenomenon;
a record of a band named Dawn Chorus;
→ a browser-based interactive fiction game set and made on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land by haraiva, isyourguy, unseconds.

ABOUT DAWN CHORUS

Credits

haraiva directs, writes, illustrates and designs the game.
isyourguy composes the music, designs the sounds, programs the game engine.
unseconds makes additional illustrations for the game.
this game is made in html, css, js and ink with inkrunner

References and inspirations

Novels and short stories

Polynia by China Miéville
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
The Great Undoing by Sharlene Allsopp
A Wrong Turn at the Office of Unmade Lists by Jane Rawson (thanks Alex for the rec!)

Games and interactive media

17776 and 20020 by Jon Bois
Old Radiohead websites
Disco Elysium by ZA/UM
Kentucky Route Zero by Cardboard Computer
Domino Club games: tear ripple, The Ouroborous Incident, against the will of the chainsaw, Ziptie Choker, Memorel Restoration Project, and many more

Music

Food for Worms by Shame
Tomorrow's Harvest by Boards of Canada
et cetera, etc by dust
Love What Survives and The Sunset Violent by Mount Kimbie

Films

Idiot Box, 1996, dir. David Caesar
The Club, 1980, dir. Bruce Beresford
Pictures of Ghosts, 2023, dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho
Pajeú, 2019, dir. Pedro Diógenes
La Jetée, 1962, dir. Chris Marker

Miscellaneous

The one time they put lawn all over Swanston St in Melbourne for an art thing
The Radical Melbourne books by Jeff and Jill Sparrow
Going to the footy and watching your team lose
The Solar Walkman WM-F107
Low-Tech Magazine, and this interview about it with founder Kris de Decker
Em Reed's Dark Matter Reading List
Taking the train or tram home late after a night out

F.A.Q.

When will you release this game?

I'll release it when it's done.

Is it true you're releasing this game for free?

Yep. I'll put it on itch.io and probably also self-host.

Will this game be on Steam?

Yeah. It'll be free on there too I guess.

Why is this a game, and not a novel or a film?

Great question! In fact it's such a great question that you should try and come up with an answer yourself as a little exercise. I've got my own private answer, but what's yours?

I have a book/film/game recommendation for you that this game reminds me of!

Hell yeah, I'd love to hear it. You can send me an email about it, or chat to me IRL if you see me around.