I write stories and build narrative experiences.
New updates to The Heartstone Caverns posted here first!
Hello! I'm Connor, the creator of InTheAtticDev and The Heartstone Caverns.
I am a writer, developer, and composer focused on the intersection of language and logic. As a communications student, I view interactive media as a conversation between the user, author, and the machine.
My work specializes in building custom narrative systems that bridge the gap between the freedom of fiction and the structure of code.
Whether I am architecting a Python-based parser engine to run natively in browsers, composing a synth soundtrack, or writing web-based short stories, my goal remains the same: to create unique and interactive narrative experiences where the audience is a part of a living story.
This entire site was designed and programmed by me. I hope you find something enjoyable to play, read, or listen to!
Want to ask me something? Site Email: info@intheattic.dev
I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's here.
Tagline
Apr 20, 2026
Hey, all! I wanted to post this to the site and update everyone on the progress of Heartstone Caverns as we near the end. Development is going well enough that I am going to get straight to the point and talk about the end… or beginning of this journey!
Heartstone Update Beta 1.7 will release on April 30th and act as the final story update. Along with adding in the dwarven city of Gort, this will finish up the main story arc, the third quest in Kaitlyn's arc, and give the player a way to end the game. More info on the content involved will be talked about in that update post, so be on the lookout.
I am cutting down some side quest content as a means to finish the game and focus on any last fixes. There will be no other areas added to the map beyond what will be present in 1.7. Update 1.8 will be the 'final' release with a TBD date determined, but I am aiming for June 13th. June 13th, 2025 was when Beta 1.0 released and I would want it to be on the one year anniversary.
Most importantly, I want to thank everybody who has supported me along the way. From talking about parser engines, ideas about character arcs, asking questions about the larger lore, all of it! I could not have spent the last year working on this project and building the world of Heartstone without all the help. To look back on where I was when I started this project, to where I am now in my comms/dev work, it does feel a bit like magic. What I have learned from this project, both personally and professionally, have been the most valuable parts. Anyways-- I will save getting sappy for the final release post!
The story of Heartstone Caverns means a lot to me and is what I have focused on the most during development. Kaitlyn the Enchantress, Marla the Catperson, Mreska and Teslik, and Chrono-Wing even. Game design wise, the thing I learned most during development of this project is that I want the story and characters to exist beyond the projects.
Heartstone Caverns is my proof of concept of that. There is the main game which needs an open world with self guided exploration. While playing, you discover stories inside of it. That gives wider context to the short stories found on my site, or my other games (Chrono-Wing). It has been my goal, that when players (and readers) see the connections, and are allowed to make active choices in it, the end product becomes something special to them. Heartstone Caverns was my first attempt at that idea.
As such, I know that only a few (dedicated and awesome) players will reach the end and see the content present. And so I have asked myself, if I have all these characters, all these plots and character arcs I believe in, what do I do with them? The story of Heartstone is what shines through, but it is not lost on me the friction to get there (see my last 1.6.0 update post).
So, what to do with my pages and pages of character and plot notes, scene descriptions, mapped out areas and worldbuilding? Pages about the history, character backstory, locations to visit, how each town or region has their own arc that mirrors the main story. What could ever be done with all that?
If it is not clear by now I am being sarcastic and I am currently starting to write a novel based on all this.
More info will come in time as draft one gets further along, but my goal is for it to be out sometime in 2027. (June 13th, 2027, the two year anniversary of the game, would be as good as any. We'll see what happens!)
I will say however that the novel version will have a new set protagonist and character, differing from the game where it is the typical create your own character start.
The world of Heartstone is just getting started and I do not just mean that. I recently released Rogue of Turtle Lake II (go subscribe to my Substack!) and announced III. And in June, the start of something truly special will be announced. Maybe a couple things, perhaps ;)
If I stick to my plans, next year will see some truly awesome projects and I will meet some goals I have held for a long time. Stick around, because just like Sir Paul once said-- we are 'coming up like a flower'.
And remember, friends… There is always a dream in Middletown.
Peace and Love to all, (except Big Orange and his Schrödinger's Strait)
– Connor | InTheAtticDev
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