“Four Months Earlier”
Linda & Joan is a narrative game about a British family. You play as Russell, Linda, and Joan — son, mother, and grandmother — switching between them to help the family cope with a series of traumatic events. Based on a true story.
Prologue: “Four Months Earlier” is part one of the story. Part two, the main Linda & Joan game, is in development.
Linda is visiting Russell in Los Angeles, where he now lives. We join them halfway up a hiking trail. You must walk them to the top. Linda is using a stick and is unable to move as quickly as Russell. Keep them within earshot and they’ll chat about Linda’s visit and the past, while trying to find the right time to bring up what’s weighing on their minds.
There are multiple endings based on the choices you make — one of which involves Joan, who is at home in Hereford, UK. Play in Normal Mode (walk Russell, Linda follows) then try Challenging Mode (walk both Russell and Linda).
“Four Months Earlier” is a free, standalone experience. It will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
Featuring original music by Jeremy Warmsley.
While “Four Months Earlier” really is free, Linda & Joan is primarily a self-funded project. So, if you enjoyed it, and would like to support development of the main game, you can donate below… thank you!
You can also purchase gallery-quality prints of scenes from the prologue; or join Zine Club.
—Russell
Released on July 14th, 2020 for Windows, macOS, iOS
Download on the iOS App Store or Mac App Store
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io
Inquiries to russell@falsevacuum.com
LINDA & JOAN PROLOGUE: “FOUR MONTHS EARLIER”
Story, art, development by Russell Quinn
Ambient music design by Jeremy Warmsley
Griffith Park field recordings and additional sound effects by Russell Quinn
“Nice Day For a Walk”
Written and produced by Jeremy Warmsley
Lyrics by Jeremy Warmsley, Russell Quinn
Playtesting by
Matthias Flügge Ørum-Hansen, Jez Burrows, Karl Ringman, Alfonzo Arellano, Angi Brzycki, Peyton Catchpole-Maskell, Hopper Mills, Alie Cirgenski, Richard Moyse Fenning, Justin Carder, David Su, Steven Harmon, Chris Ying, Dereck Escobar, Emory Davis III, Sarah Hall, Antony de Fault, Lisza Togler
Special thanks to
Lucy Reynell, Eli Horowitz, Jon Adams, Kevin Tseng, Kerry McLaughlin, Arthur Jones, Richard Parks III, Miranda July, Alie Cirgenski, Clare Reynell, Aralyn Beaumont, Emory Davis III, Sam Riley, Natalie Sun, Walter Green, Jeremy Warmsley, Miranda Tsang, Carter Gunn, Ben Munson
In memory of Mum and Nan
Made in Los Angeles, Calif.
© 2020 Russell Quinn and False Vacuum Games