🎼 'Emotional Labor Research Institute' (~8/16) : INDIE BOOST LAB ON STOVE

12hr ago

NEW

[TopEmployee] The moment that moved my emotions!

I felt a flutter of excitement while enjoying a date-that-wasn't-really-a-date with the boss at the amusement park.I really loved the movement in Han I-bom's animation.

14hr ago

NEW

+1

[TopEmployee] Are you a T?

Don't you dare stop the love story between me and the boss, you narrator~~~It seems you enjoyed the fun subtitles from the narrator who likes to tease people haha

09/08/2026

[TopEmployee] A scene that evoked complex, subtle, and ambivalent emotions.

Looking back at the story so far, Han I-bom mentions to the protagonist (Minam) that 'our company is a place where expressing emotions honestly can be an advantage.'Yet, Han I-bom herself keeps hiding her own inner thoughts and does not honestly reveal her feelings.This is a very subtle and ironic (paradoxical) situation, and it was particularly well-expressed in the dialogue above, which I really liked.Joy, sadness, regret... It feels like a complex and subtle emotion that cannot be defined by a single word.Wouldn't this kind of emotion be worthy of being the 'final boss' of this game?I would like to see a situation where Aiden learns about contradictory and inconsistent emotions, and I would also like to see a scene where Han I-bom agonizes over Aiden's observations.At first glance, she seems like a very flat (merely bright) character, but the fact that she actually has a contradictory side that doesn't add up makes her feel more human and even more interesting.

09/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] [안내] 게임 실행 불가 현상 수정 완료

안녕하세요, 개발팀 astro stew입니다. 최근 스토브에서 게임 실행 시 즉시 종료되는 현상이 확인되었습니다. 유저분들께 실행 문제로 불편을 드려 진심으로 사과드립니다. 확인 결과 스토브 보안 모듈(DRM)과의 충돌이 문제인것을 파악하여, 현재 해당 문제를 해결하기 위해 스토브 DRM 설정을 해제 조치하였습니다. 현재 스토브 런처를 통해 접속하시면 이상 없이 바로 플레이하실 수 있습니다. 해당 오류 현상에 대해서는 스토브 측에 문의를 전달하여, 향후 동일한 불편이 없으시도록 면밀히 살펴보겠습니다. 이용에 불편을 드려 다시 한번 죄송하다는 말씀을 드리며, 문제를 제보해 주신 유저분들께 깊이 감사드립니다. astro stew 드림.

09/08/2026

[BugReport] The game won't launch [2]

I tried to play again today to see what the problem was, but the game won't launch. Deleting and reinstalling didn't help either.

08/08/2026

[BugReport] The game won't even launch. [2]

Neither Stove nor direct execution works.What is going on with this?

08/08/2026

+1

[BugReport] The game won't launch. [2]

Literally, it won't even start.The screen above appears, then after a moment it changes to the screen below, and it just won't launch.I thought it might be a graphics driver issue, so I updated it, but it still won't launch.Since it won't launch, there are no logs left, so I can't even share any logs with you...

07/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] [업데이트] 버그 수정, 최적화 및 디스플레이/UI 편의성 패치 안내

안녕하세요, 개발사 astro stew입니다. 플레이어분들께서 정성껏 남겨주신 피드백들을 반영하여 종합 패치를 진행하였습니다. 피드백 주신 모든분들께 감사드립니다. 자세한 패치 내역은 아래를 참고해 주시기 바랍니다. 1. 게임 실행 및 안정화 (최적화) 최초 실행 오류 수정: 게임 최초 실행 시 간헐적으로 반응이 없거나 재실행해야 켜지던 현상을 수정하였습니다. 게임 내 프레임 최적화: 게임 렌더링 방식을 전면 수정하여, 프레임 드랍(끊김) 현상을 개선하였습니다. 2. 디스플레이 개선 창 모드 옵션 지원: 이제 창 모드 및 전체 화면 전환이 가능합니다. 원하시는 화면 모드로 자유롭게 설정하실 수 있습니다. 3. 마우스 버그 수정 마우스 관련 오작동 수정: 윈도우 마우스 커서와 게임 UI커서가 중복으로 보이던 현상을 수정하였습니다. 4. 로그창 텍스트 가독성 향상 로그 텍스트 색상 구분: 대화 및 로그 텍스트의 가독성을 높이기 위해 주요 정보에 색상 구분을 적용하여 시각적 편의성을 높였습니다. 앞으로도 쾌적하고 즐거운 플레이 환경을 제공해 드릴 수 있도록 지속해서 관리하고 개선해 나가겠습니다. 감사합니다. astro stew 드림.

06/08/2026

+4

[BugReport] I am reporting some minor bugs. [2]

1. Screen glitching issue2. Mouse cursor visibilityAs a personal request, I would also like the conversation log UI to be modified.I would appreciate it if you could improve readability, such as by adjusting line spacing or adding colors to distinguish who is speaking.

06/08/2026

+3

[TopEmployee] Memories with President Han I-bom.

Joy - My first meeting with the President; along with the joy of getting the job, I felt immense joy in working with a beautiful woman.Excitement - I felt excitement while spending time together at the amusement park. Especially when we linked arms.. Sadness - When the President stepped away to shed tears in secret, I cried along with her. Pleasure - The cuteness of the President's awkward expression was beyond a lethal dose.

06/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] [업데이트] 2단 점프 기능 도입

안녕하세요, 개발사 astro stew입니다. 맵 탐험(플랫폼) 파트의 조작 재미를 더하고, 점프 난이도로 인한 스트레스를 완화해 드리고자 '2단 점프(이중 점프)' 기능을 새롭게 도입하여 업데이트를 진행하였습니다. ■ 주요 업데이트 내용 1. 2단 점프(Double Jump) 기능 추가 공중에서 점프(Space) 키를 한 번 더 입력하면 2단 점프를 수행합니다. 발판 이동과 장애물 회피가 한층 수월해지며, 플랫포머 특유의 조작 손맛을 느끼실 수 있습니다. 2. 난이도별 2단 점프 적용 방식 (데모 버전 기준) EASY 모드: 현재 데모 버전에서 2단 점프가 기본 제공되어 누구나 쾌적하게 맵을 탐험하실 수 있습니다. (리듬 노트 방향 화살표 표시도 함께 유지됩니다.) NORMAL / HARD 모드: 정식 버전 시스템(디코딩 스테이션 해금)에 맞춰 설계되어 있어, 이번 데모 버전에서는 기존과 동일하게 1단 점프 기반의 도전적인 난이도로 진행됩니다. 플레이어분들께서 보내주시는 피드백을 바탕으로, 리듬 파트뿐만 아니라 탐험 파트 역시 더욱 완성도 높고 쾌적하게 즐기실 수 있도록 지속해서 다듬어 나가겠습니다. EASY 모드에서 새롭게 추가된 2단 점프 기능을 직접 체험해 보시고 소중한 의견 나눠주시면 감사하겠습니다. 감사합니다. astro stew 드림.

05/08/2026

+2

[TopEmployee] The sad inner self of Han I-bom, who seemed so bright

1. A radiant smile that disarms anyone who sees itWhen I first started this game, the buildup leading up to the amusement park date was truly sweet itself. When I saw Han I-bom smiling shyly in front of the male lead, my heart as a player completely melted away. When the male lead's monologue, "I feel too shy to even approach her," came up, I felt 200% empathy.Don't cry ㅠ2. The sense of precariousness felt behind the perfect smileFrom the first meeting with the protagonist, she treated him with an almost excessive level of intimacy and kept smiling brightly. As I progressed through the game, I realized this wasn't just because of a bright personality, but because she was desperately trying to hide the deep wounds of her harsh past from the male lead. I found such a multi-dimensional heroine to be very charming.It was a game with charming music and a charming heroine.Although there seem to be many parts that need polishing, it is a game with clear strengths.I'm looking forward to it. Good luck, developer!

05/08/2026

+1

[BugReport] Bug report [1]

In the early part of the last 5 chapters, there is an invincibility frame against black holes when doing jump maps in the music section.Since there is little music in the early part of chapter 5, I tried jumping while ignoring it, but I survived even after stepping on the instant-death block. It returns to normal once the music turns off.This is a clipping bug. Most people would be stepping on the platform that goes up there, and if you get pushed inward by the rising block, you get stuck in between.It seems like it should be made to always push you outward.The game is fun. Although I see some minor bugs, the music was so good.Looking forward to it.

05/08/2026

[TopEmployee] CEO Han I-bom! Please marry me!!!!!

You are the first and only woman to ever tell me I'm handsome, CEO Han I-bom!!!!! (Choked up...) I, a man, Kim Mi-nam, am on my knees!!!!! CEO Han I-bom!!!!! Would you please spend the rest of your life with me!!!!!?

05/08/2026

[BugReport] Come to think of it, the controller was working. [1]

I'm curious if this was intentional or not.

05/08/2026

[BugReport] Mouse pointer bug [1]

There is a bug where both the in-game mouse pointer and the Windows mouse pointer are displayed.

05/08/2026

[TopEmployee] Anger is an emotion, too, I suppose. [1]

I felt rushed by the time limit, and having to worry about moving platforms on top of that, only to fall and get a game over.Anger is an emotion, too, I suppose.Still, I played through it all to leave feedback that would be helpful for the game.

04/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] [업데이트] 순간적인 끊김(렉) 현상 개선 및 최적화 안내

안녕하세요, 감정노동 연구소 개발팀 astro stew입니다. 순간적으로 화면이 끊기는 현상(렉)이 제보되어 이를 해결하기 위한 최적화 업데이트를 진행하였습니다. 플레이해주시는 모든 유저분들께 깊이 감사드립니다. 감사합니다. astro stew 드림.

04/08/2026

+5

[TopEmployee] I am participating in the Employee of the Month certification event.

When I first met Han I-bomand saw the line "Mr. Handsome is here"I was happy to hear someone say that a handsome person had come.While playing the rhythm game and looking around at the stage design, the feeling I got wasthat there was a section where I would get a game over.The reason was that I was moving outside the musical noteswhile playing, so even using both hands, I couldn't progress in the game.I realized I had to go inside there to clear the rhythm game.Based on my experience playing the game,the Emotional Labor Research Institute game demohad charming spaces and an emotional atmosphere,and I liked the natural facial expression changes of the characters.

04/08/2026

+1

[BugReport] Early section that looks like a bug [2]

If you don't press the skip keyA bug where it doesn't move past a few months ago

04/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] [업데이트] 이지(Easy) 모드에 '방향 화살표' 도입

안녕하세요, 의견 남겨주신 모든 분들께 감사드립니다. 게임이 익숙하지 않은 초기에 노트 매칭이 어렵다는 의견을 바탕으로 추가 패치를 진행하여 안내해 드립니다. ■ 개선 사항 이지(Easy) 모드에 한하여 노트 내부에 상/하 방향 화살표(↑, ↓) 표시를 새롭게 추가하였습니다. 이제 화살표를 보며 보다 편안하고 직관적으로 게임을 즐기실 수 있습니다. 플레이해주셔서 진심으로 감사드립니다.

04/08/2026

+1

[TopEmployee] I really enjoyed playing this.

Hello! I'm a user who was truly immersed in and enjoyed 'Emotional Labor Research Lab'. I'd like to share the two moments that stirred my emotions the most while playing the game!1. The 'excitement' felt amidst the dazzling presentationThe moment she appeared in a dazzling dress at the amusement park carousel, smiling shyly, and the line "It's blindingly unfamiliar. For some reason, I'm too shy to approach her" appeared, my heart truly raced and a feeling of 'excitement' welled up inside me. The illustration and the atmosphere were so beautiful that I couldn't help but take a screenshot!2. The thrilling 'pleasure & sense of achievement' from clearing the mini-gameThe thrill I felt when I earned a medal with the message 'Excellent synchronization!' after focusing and playing the rhythm mini-game! Seeing the cute pixel character congratulating me, I felt immense 'pleasure and a sense of achievement' along with joy.From the emotional 'excitement' of the story to the 'pleasure' of the mini-games, it was a wonderful game that moves the user's emotions in various ways. I am really looking forward to the official release. Good luck, Emotional Labor Research Lab!

03/08/2026

[TopEmployee] Difficult even though it was clearly patched [1]

One of the scenes I liked.Personally, there is probably only one reason why I feel it is difficult."But other games at least show you with arrows."was the biggest one.Even though this game clearly only uses the up and down keys, problems keep arising from that point.I would probably only use this in a survey... but personally, I think you should introduce arrows. P.S. By the way, I was able to move during the rhythm game, so why on earth...

03/08/2026

Notice

[Notice] 업데이트: 이지모드 도입 + WASD 조작키 도입

첫날부터 소중한 피드백을 남겨주신 모든분들께 진심으로 감사드립니다. 조작감과 노트 난이도 때문에 플레이하시는 동안 불편함을 느끼신 분들의 상황이 깊이 공감되었습니다. 개발자로서 더 친숙하고 편안한 환경을 제공해 드리지고자 플레이어님의 소중한 의견을 바탕으로, 아래 2가지를 개선하였습니다. [이번 업데이트 개선 사항] 1. 이지모드(Easy Mode): 맵 디자인과 노트 배치를 보다 직관적으로 수정한 이지 모드를 선택하여 플레이하실 수 있습니다. 2. 조작키 자유도 확대: 이제 WSAD와 방향키(화살표) 중 플레이어님께 가장 편한 방식을 자유롭게 선택하여 플레이하실 수 있습니다. 두가지 시스템의 교차 플레이도 가능합니다. 보내주시는 의견을 바탕으로 한 걸음씩 더 좋은 게임으로 만들어 나가겠습니다. 저희 게임에 시간을 내어주시고 더 나은 방향을 제시해 주셔서 다시 한번 감사드립니다.

INDIE BOOST LAB New Reward & Penalty Rules (Jul 22, 2026 ~) [11]

Notice of Changes to the INDIE BOOST LAB Operation Policy (January 12, 2026~) [8]

[Notice] [안내] 게임 실행 불가 현상 수정 완료