Pain Is Temporary

“The life of a musician is easy”

“...if only.”

Pain is Temporary is a text-based simulation game of realization, struggle, and doubt, the three greatest inconveniences of a musician. Unfold the story of an undergraduate pianist who has two weeks to learn a twelve page score for their final recital. Play as many routes as possible to discover firsthand the internal struggle of a musician desperate to succeed, at any cost. 

But that’s not all… 

If the above quote has ever struck you as correct, prepare to be proven wrong. Very wrong. 

The more routes you try, the more the story will unfold. 

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Player discretion is advised: 

• Suggestions of starvation. 
• Drastic decline of mental and physical health. 
• Themes of self-inflicted distress. 

All for realistic effect. 

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Creator’s Note: 

Hi!

Man, this game took a lot out of me (both mentally and physically, but mainly just mentally). When I first came up with the concept of this game, I wasn’t too sure exactly what direction it would take. I knew I wanted something similar to a simulation, but my main focus was to make music heavily incorporated into the work. So, a simulation game of a struggling music undergrad game to be! I obviously took inspiration from my own experience so far as a music major (being a double major probably doesn’t help much, making the struggle a bit more intense than others may understand), but I didn’t mean to take that much inspiration from myself. I guess it just came naturally haha. 

But seriously, anyone who plays an instrument knows that it isn’t easy, and being a music major definitely is a struggle, no matter how passionate we are about music. I am absolutely not looking for personal pity due to the themes of this game, just for people to understand that pursuing music is not an “easy way out.” It has its own challenges, ones you will not understand unless you experience it for yourself. Which now, I guess you can. 

Please enjoy! And remember, the harder you are on yourself in this game, the more interesting (and realistic) the story will be! 

• Brooklyn. 

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Credits: 

Concept, Themes, Creation, Editing: Brooklyn Boulay. 

Music: Tundra, Composed by Ola Gjeilo, Played by Brooklyn Boulay.  Playtesters: My wonderful family :)