A while ago I shared the GameBoy's punkest pixel art music shop - but I didn't let you inside... Well, today that all changes.

Welcome in. 

I've gone for a darker colour palette to make things feel broodier, and used the GameBoy's dark green to block out the wall, rather than the light green that was used as a base for outside. The door is just the same as it is outside - but flipped around. I've even continued the power cable for the 'OPEN' sign, sneaking its way in through the doorframe - and I plugged it in, this game is super realistic!

Music shops always have big, expansive counters - and this one is no different! There has to be plenty of space to lay down guitars and admire them. It also leaves us with a bunch of real estate on the wall behind the counter to display some radical musical wares (yes, I know there was a window on the outside, but on the inside we're boarding that up!).

Directly behind the counter is where we're going to pin up the ultimate spread of guitars. I'll come back to the guitar designs later, so for now, let's just pop up some frames and price tags. Phew, that's pricey!

The next addition is a guitar that you definitely can't buy. It's hung up in a fancy frame and is probably signed by half a dozen famous rockers who frequent this shop. The shop is super proud of it. Don't touch it! You're not worthy!

Like many classic GameBoy-era games, the player has two changeable weapon slots mapped to the A and B buttons. You won't only be playing guitar to rock to the top! I'll talk about the functionality of each instrument in a later devlog, but for now this music shop needs to be stocked up!

These three microphones will sit on shelves up on the right hand side. I figured three was a good number to allow for progression phases without getting too crazy. It's not like it's a choir game. What's that? You can't sing? Don't worry about all that...

We've ended up with a bunch of space for electric guitars, but what about the noble bass? Every grunge song needs a chunky, rumbling bassline! So, we'll add one. One bass. One bass is all you need if it's a good one. It won't come cheap. 

I bet that's left you asking about drums. You love drums and you think they just HAVE to be a part of any GameBoy grunge rock adventure. Well, you're in luck, drummer kid. There will be an entire room dedicated to drums. The mechanic for drumming is a little different from the other instruments, and I think the player ought to have a bespoke place to practice. This little door will lead to that room - eventually... But don't go in now! It's a mess back there! 

But who is the mastermind behind this wonderful shop? Who in this city of grunge knows more about musical instruments than anyone else? Who is it that could possibly keep you out of the drum room?!

I present to you: Les.

He's a guitar mastermind with an ear for a good chord. Always kindhearted, but he'll tell it to you straight no matter how deep it cuts. And if you're not up to scratch to play one of his guitars, you better believe he won't sell it to you. He might be cool and collected on the surface, but I assure you, this man is passionate to a fault. A guitarist's career can be built or broken by their guitar guy, so let's hope our hero has what it takes to earn his support. 

Let's close up this devlog by slamming all of those pieces together for a final snapshot of the music shop's filled out interior:

What do you think? Does it live up to the exterior? What kind of guitars do you want to see stocked?

Until next time, grunge rockers 🤟

conoro