Interest Check Thread

[moo]

𝕄𝕖𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 :: Slice of Life / Fantasy / Romance

“Once Upon a Time,” the familiar beginning of the chapter. The gleaming happily ever after tales of true love’s kiss, of the gallant knight and shining armor, how the courageous hero saved the day. But what of the pictures of the mundane lives in a world so brimming with magic, what of their stories? Of the lives only found when read between the lines?

This is a slice of life game where you play the sole child of an eccentric wizard, who in someone else’s tale might be considered a traditional “villain”. There isn’t much of an over arching plot, just very slice-of-life moments as it follows you through different stages of your life growing up. The only caveat being realistic moments of this life are imbued with magic and whimsical adventures, curses, etc.

I fell in love with Our Life the visual novel if you’ve played - I just loved the laid back growing up making memories of the game - and was inspired to create my own little game focusing just on your character’s life and relationships as you grow. It will have its serious moments, a little bit of angst here and there, different sections will have your own little adventures with their own little plots, you have a betrothed, can adopt a magical creature, deal with a little court intrigue, but it’s going to be a very “charming”, quaint game.

Would any of you be interested? I’m just a bit hesitant because I think slice-of-life games really work well with visuals, so maybe a more sleepy game might not translate as well over pure text. .0.

[Kirschtein]

I think anything can be done as long as it’s written with a bit of forethought and confidence. I still sometimes play Life is Strange not for the plot, but just to chill out in the ambiance of the prologue when I’m stressed. Maybe you could make a whole thing of it, like by making an optional spotify/youtube playlist for people who want to use while playing along? Or do something like https://thiscityknowsyou.tumblr.com/ but for choicescript? Either way it sounds fun and relaxing and you should test it out if your gut tells you to:)

[khakihades16]

I’m very interested in your story a slice of life set in a fantasy intrigues me.

[mrcmrc]

Just to gather some opinions on the subject: do you think the theme of the protagonist ‘waking up with no memory’ as a hook to tell a story using Choice of Games always holds up or is it starting to show signs of fatigue? I ask this just to get an idea, I understand that the important thing is how a story is told rather than the initial hook.

Thanks!

[Doriana-Gray]

@void_mermaid

PERIOD DRAMA ROMANCE GAME?

YES!

But—research and tone have to be just right, or I think it easily feels off for the time period.

@void_mermaid

a marriage of convenience

Tbh I feel the need for a marriage of convenience is a pretty good plot point tbh to spur the romantic plot, and very regency drama coded?

@void_mermaid

– I’d also like to include some RO’s with interchangeable gender and/or female ROs and for that to happen I’d like to make the society much more accepting.

While it wasn’t exactly easy for two women to have a romantic relationship, it wasn’t extremely hard to get away with at the time compared to some other things. Women could have life-companions of the same sex, and my research showed that romantic and even sexual contact between two young women were seen as, and I hate how this was phrased, “good practice for their future husbands”… basically it was seen as so harmless it was alright (in this instance I read about).
I think the drama of the forbidden or the unknown could be a big pull, so ignoring all of the hardship can be a drawback (but that is ofc entirely up to you and your preferences, there’s no right or wrong answer!)

@void_mermaid

some typical or cliché character or scene trope with period drama romance novel vibes I would love to hear your ideas

• I need to be able to reach a happy ending! (DARN SANDITON—Jane Austen would disapprove!)
• I often find the best historical romance villains are the more grey ones. For the villains, I am rather more drawn to gothic romance novel anti-heroes than jane austen’s scoundrels.
• The moments where the full title goes to a shorter name to just the given name or nickname!
• I like an intelligent MC—but it doesn’t have to be an incredibly witty MC only—the sensible or soft or naive jane austen heroine is very interesting to me too.
• I like a good letter, example:

Wentworth's letter

I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

F. W.

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father’s house this evening or never.

Good luck!

[NPJessop]

I think an important consideration about the aforementioned hook is that there are two parts to it: the amnesia itself and the context of the main character within the world they “wake up” to before they woke up. Which is to say that the nature of the hook precludes a sense of mystery and mysteries work best when there is something enticing to be discovered. Amnesia as an excuse to have a blank slate character that the reader can imprint upon is definitely not the worst idea, but I think there definitely is so much more you can do with the scenario.

I think the cliche can be utilised to it’s full extent if you start the story with a great sense of immediacy. An action packed or otherwise exciting start to force the reader to engage with the story. The fish-out-of-water scenario will only heighten the tension. Following that, I think there should be some attention paid to, once again, coming out hard and fast with the second part of the hook: drawing attention to who the character was before they “woke up”(and before the reader was in control). This makes it so that not only is there an interesting world to explore that the reader doesn’t know, there is also an interesting character to explore and one that the reader will naturally feel very connected to, namely; the person the main character was before the start of the story. If you were to go down this route, by the end of the intro there should be some serious hints or foreshadowing paid towards the MC’s previous life-implying that the MC might be someone much more important to the story than they seem, and that there is alot more to discover.

Maybe having an entire backstory for the MC is straying from the story you have in your head, but I do feel like it’ll really serve to double the mystery and intrigue of the scenario rather than just having the MC be a nobody beforehand.

[oxoleaoxo]

So interest check, I’m currently working on Love and Leases, currently being made in Twine. Would also like to make it in cog.

Love and Leases is a slice-of-life interactive story. Where drama, romance, betrayal intertwines to create your story. Set in Chicago. With focus on relationships, drama, and healing. Ready to sign your lease? You will play as a recently single leasing agent who gets roped into signing a lease for a year.

Premise

You had it all going for you, didn’t you?

A loving fiancé, Chris. A wonderful older sister, Jade who understood you when others couldn’t, a best friend who has been your ride or die since you were in diapers together. A beautiful apartment, not to mention the cutest dog you have ever dreamed of.

Of course, nothing stays good forever. In fact, that is when everything decided to come crashing down.

That fiancé, wonderful sister, perfect apartment. Gone within an hour. That adorable dog, stolen by your now former fiancé. That left you with one option.

You were intent on heading back home to pick up the pieces of your now shattered life. Your best friend had a different plan, that required your position at a leasing office. What happened next is still a blur in your mind. Yet somehow you’re stuck signing a lease and staying for another year.

This is your chance to start over, start a new career or continue to work at the local leasing office, stake your claim in the city that will be your home for the foreseeable future. Fall for someone, or make new friends? Get revenge/make amends with your past, get back your dog? Will you be going back home once the year is up? Or will you be signing a new lease with someone else?

Features

• Play as male, female, or non-gender specific.

• Romance 1 of 6 character, or go the poly-route and romance two of them.

• Customize your appearance, personality, and past relationships.

• Find your place in the city you call home.

• Fix not only your relationships but also those around you.

• Choose to continue your career as a leasing agent, or start a new maybe even more fulfilling one.

Love Interest's

There are 6 love interest. Three are gender selectable, while two are set.

• Cameron “Cam” Clarke [M]
  Cam has always been by your side; you have known each other since you were in diapers. Always clinging to one another’s familiarity. Some would say he dives headfirst without thinking, according to Cam it’s always thought out. His “impulsiveness” is part of his charm. He could care less about others, but one look in your direction is all it takes to soften him up. Cam is confident, sarcastic, and some would say rude. Yet never to you. You can’t help noticing how he looks at you, has it always been this adoringly? Cam works as a photographer.

  Trope- Friends-to-lovers. Childhood crush

• Gage|Garnet Kim [M|F]
  G was one of your closest friends/rival in college, now just a sore reminder of the bad choices you’ve made. G was your educational rival in every sense of the word. You fought about everything. G has always had a sharp tongue, and stood out as a lone wolf. They’re stoic, detached, and a bit closed-off. Regardless, Cam was able to soften their tough exterior. Getting close to one another was inevitable. Your chemistry undeniable. That was until a fight one night at the dorms. Now G barely looks your way. No witty comment, no stolen glances when they thought you weren’t looking. Can you fix the fracture in your relationship? G works as a veterinarian.

  Trope- Rivals-to-lovers, one that got away, second chance

• Kara Clarke [F]
  Kara is the younger sister of Cam and Chris. She knows what she wants and how to get it. She got the best attributes of her siblings, loyalty and undeniable charm. She is spunky yet sweet, outspoken, confident, and mainly competitive. That could be the reason she’s now vying for your position at the leasing office.

  Trope- Dark secret

• Markus|Marie Wilkens [M|F]
  M is the ideal type to bring home to your parents, or to your friends, or anywhere. M is sweet, considerate, and extremely overworking. Always lacking sleep, that doesn’t dampen their smile. Yet from time to time you notice a sadness that doesn’t belong to their kind face. Not to mention that glimmer of mischief in their eyes.

  Trope- Oblivious to love, tragic past

• Isaac Allen [M|NB]
  I is the resident flirt/jokester. Are you having a bad day? Well, you better believe they have a well timed comment/joke ready to make you blush or laugh. They regularly forget things. Isaac is constantly working either their delivery job or their other job they keep secret. Though you’ve never met prior, you can swear you’ve seen them before. Will you be the one who finally gets Isaac to give love a chance?

  Trope- Fear of commitment, double life

• Ardent Pine [M]
  You know the last person on Earth you would ever want to be stuck with, yeah that’s Ardent. He is rude, inconsiderate, self-entitled. Everyone has a bad word to say about Ardent. Even his cat (who is the cause of the scars on his arms). Since seeing you something about you has just rubbed him the wrong way, always quick to throw a snide comment your way. Ardent is the type who you could argue with about anything, wanting to pull his hair out afterwards. Surely, he can’t be that bad right? There must be a good bone in him somewhere, are you willing to find it, and find what has hardened his heart?

  Trope- Villainous crush

Tumblr: Love and Leases Tumblr

[AnneWest]

@NPJessop

I think the cliche can be utilised to it’s full extent if you start the story with a great sense of immediacy. An action packed or otherwise exciting start to force the reader to engage with the story. The fish-out-of-water scenario will only heighten the tension.

I don’t quite agree. It depends on the story you want to tell. Not every story involving amnesia has to be an action adventure story that just throws you into the middle of everything. Tell us what kind of story you want to write with that idea, let’s start from there with the advice.

[NPJessop]

Absolutely. A more instrospective story with themes of self-discovery doesn’t need to start hard and fast with the mystery and intrigue. If said story were an action-adventure I do think being hard-hitting and leaning into things early helps hook readers into the story and allows the amnesiac MC thing to become more than just a quirk.

[Frankex_2272]

You reminded me of an anime with a similar plot where the main character is one of the monsters he is hunting. It sounds interesting because it puts into question our affiliation to an organization that harms beings like the MC.

[AnneWest]

@NPJessop

If said story were an action-adventure I do think being hard-hitting and leaning into things early helps hook readers into the story and allows the amnesiac MC thing to become more than just a quirk.

And if said story is a spy-fi action adventure, where you’ve been co-opted? It could still take a “gentler” start with the amnesia, where that condition is part of the manipulation of the character into believing they are/belong on/have always worked and lived for or on the other side of the conflict. Waking in a hospital and being provided with a spouse (control agent) and a peaceful home in the country to cement the false memories is just as much an amnesia trope as any other.

[metzdup]

Interest Check:

You are a social worker in local government (soon to become a counselor) working and warring in an office environment to better humankind; however, your efforts seem futile as you find multiple ways to discover your frail mortality, often becoming the victim to your own ficus plant, your sloth companion, a possessed writing utensil, or some other unforeseen danger. The point is to repeatedly try, try again because helping professionals have to navigate the ridiculous, often thanklessly, while sacrificing some of their own well-being. This is in hopes of lightening the mood and helping us all realize we need levity, joy, and that extra measure of dark humor to just keep going! It includes about 70 unfavorable endings and a few I threw in that truly progress the three-part story. Thoughts? Thanks! I’m new to this community and very excited about sharing and also reading more of your stories.

[Amesy]

This sounds fabulous! I’d love to see more cyberpunk hosted games.

[NPJessop]

In fact a spy-thriller was kinda exactly what I had in mind. I’m thinking like: wake up in the hospital with amnesia, doctors tell you a name that you can’t choose, someone picks you up(says they’re your spouse/boss/business partner/uncle etc.), some things are giving you the willies but you don’t know what etc etc. Next day, your friend picks you up and starts driving you ‘home’ and then Bang! you get ambushed. Your ‘friend’ pulls out a gun and tries to shoot you, but you bust out some sick kung-fu moves out of instinct and take them down. Then you get kidnapped and your kidnappers tell you some stuff(you’re a government agent, resistance fighter whatever) and how the big bad tried to brainwash you. Then some more stuff happens and you get an ominous phone call or something that hints that you’re being lied to. But then who can you trust?? End of Intro-Titlecard: The Bourne Situation

I feel like unless it’s a Total Recall type situation(where not knowing who you are is more than just an in for the story) paying attention and taking time to establish the fake status quo that then gets broken is less effective than being more overt. It goes without saying that the pacing and nature of the story being told supersedes anything else.

[Tyrexisaurus_Rex]

I am working on a choice game called Fleshwalkers.

It’s been two years since you had left your childhood hometown of Torlinen. Now you came back, mainly because your parents (who are detectives) are investigating a series of murdered high school students. Once you arrive there, you realize that the town you once knew no longer feels…safe.

There are rumors spreading amok. The students who died were seen alive after their time of death. Rumors of supernatural forces playing a role in this spread through the halls. It made no sense, so many believe them to be false rumors…yet, you’re about to experience firsthand why those rumors are very much true.

Oh, and you aren’t experiencing it alone. Your childhood best friend, the student council leader (who you used to tutor), their troublemaker brother, the light music club leader, the football team captain, and the new girl are forced into this mess with you…and hopefully you all survive the ordeal…

Characters

Note: Some of these characters (with your help) can romance each other
They are all romanceable…kinda. There’s one romance that can get locked by gender, but that’s it.

Alison Dreslum
Your childhood best friend. She’s always by your side…well, before you moved away. You can feel that things have changed. She’s not the same best friend you had 2 years ago. Alison’s so different from her past self. Her interests have all changed. Her personality has changed… everything you knew about her…gone…

Heike Von Vare
The student council leader and newest valedictorian. You were their role model and friend. While you weren’t as close, they wouldn’t hesitate to help you out. You did tutor them after all. But they seem…unusually stressed. They lash out more than usual. Did something happen that caused Heike to be this way?

Grayson Von Vare
The troublemaker. He’s a fun guy to be around and you’ve seen him pull off many pranks before. He’s only failed once, and ever since then, he’s become hostile and paranoid. Someone apparently gave an anonymous tip to the principal and got Grayson in trouble. Besides that, he’s compassionate about what he does…but you wonder, who would betray a guy like Grayson?

Elloise “Elly” Xelleth
The club leader of the Light Music Club. You don’t know much about her, but you do know that she and Heike are dating. They are as tight as glue and almost won a popular couples contest just by being together. Elly’s a kind and innocent girl. Almost everyone in her presence tries not to say bad things around her (mainly because she just doesn’t understand it). But sometimes, you feel like she’s not entirely all that she seems. What could she be hiding?

Taylor Mason
The captain of the football team. He’s always focused, honest, and kind-hearted. You and him were lab partners before you moved. Even though you did most of the work, he was a damn fine partner, helping you stay on track and sometimes providing the answers when you could not. However, a tragedy happened that left his sister burnt to death. You don’t know what happened to Taylor after the accident, but hopefully he has recovered from the trauma that was left.

Yvonne Iscarre
A quiet introvert who has an obsession with the unknown. She’s the new girl at your school; only been here for two days. But even then, she’s already caught up in the information about those rumors. She seems unusually invested in the rumors for someone who’s been here for two days…

Features I want/will implement

• You can play as male, female, or nonbinary
• Romance…if you want…maybe poly???
• Customize your character and your backstory (which will affect your skills and personality)
• Solve the mystery of those murders plaguing Torlinen
• Don’t die and make sure your friends live…unless you hate them??
• Speaking of friends, figuring out why these supernatural forces are targeting you and your friends. Your friends must have a secret that makes it target them…and you do to…

[Ivan_WM]

Super pumped for this one…
hope you really follow through with it’s creation. We need more unique story lines like this. I’m also hyped cause I’m a fan of poly choice works

[parisgracex]

Interest check!

“A flash of white fur. The tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock of a decrepit fob watch. The hysteria of a laugh echoing throughout…”

Hey so I’m kind of in the early stages of planning out/ writing a story. I say early bc I have no access to laptop atm so can’t code- I would have to learn HOW to even code haha- so it’s just the prologue and the beginning of chapter 1 in my notes.

Basically I suck at writing synopsis’s but here goes:

You are normal. You live a normal life. With a normal (if slightly boring) job. A normal social life. Normal routines. You work, you come home, you go to bed. It’s simple, normal.

Until one day you get dragged into something that isn’t normal. An “opportunity” to become more than just your everyday life.

But to do that you’d have to step out of your comfort zone, really open up your eyes, see what is in front of you…

Suddenly everything you thought you knew is questioned and there’s danger around every corner. Also those random dreams you keep getting…they’re probably nothing, right?

Will you take the risk and follow the white rabbit or our we all mad here?

Will have features probably-

• Choice of 3 ROs- one male, one female, one non-binary
• Also play as male/female/non-binary
• Customise character’s personality and looks. not backstory tho - for plot reasons
• Play a matrix-type/Alice/cyberpunk themed world
• Argue with a…cat?

There’d be alot of Alice in wonderland references/in jokes/names/characters -obviously I don’t claim to own any. And only 3 RO’s bc like I said I’ve never coded before so don’t want to take on too much lol.

Anyways I’m probably going to try to carry on with this and start coding when my laptop gets repaired in like a month. Hopefully people like the idea of it! It would be more polished and less vague in the later version btw I just scribbled stuff down really quick bc was excited haha

[mrcmrc]

AnneWest and NPJessop, thanks both for your interesting replies.
Let’s say that mine was a slightly more general enquiry, intended to see if this theme has been used too often to become a (rhetorical) cliché. Of course, if written well, a story can also have this kind of premise. I can imagine my idea (science fiction, set in a spaceship) with a quieter, more meditative beginning or a fast-paced, action-packed start. I think it is actually up to me, at this point, to opt for one method or the other. Another thing: it is curious how I find writing a multiple-choice story, which therefore follows several plots, rather challenging. I have had various experiences in writing in the past, but never one of this kind. It is usually quite difficult to devise and write a good story. Here, it is also a matter of inventing variations and, thus, more than one plot. Thanks again for taking the time to share your impressions.

[Rillik]

Interest Check

Idk how to go about this as I am still at a very early stages of making this…

Here’s the summary:

Immortality is a vague concept… Yet It is sought after by nearly everyone in this vast universe… Be it using Alchemy pills, array Formation, artifacts to name a few yet… The most prominent methods are usually found within something called a cultivation method…

Qi a mysterious yet phenomenal force that flows through everything and everyone yet… Only 1 in every 100 people seemed to have the ability to cultivate… Even that is further dictated by their Talent pool… followed by availabiliy of needed resources to cultivate this Qi…

Yet it failed to offset The truly determined onces for afterall even a cultivator who just began could lift boulders that would require a standard heavy lifting cattle… Not considering True Immortal cultivators who could easily Destroy Mountains with but mere a Glance…

But that’s simply a glimpse into a vast number of possibilities that could be done with Qi alone… So… Would YOU like to become a cultivator?

*** end of summary

That’s at least some gists of it,might change the summary a lot consideting I thrive in remaking my stories… Anyways This is more of a life simulator with a wide range of stories to explore from, Dont worry it would have canon chapters The first game should probably have 9 chapters until at least the player turns 18

Here’s what features to expect (Most likely):-
° 3 “Main” characters (you chose which one you are )

° Play as Male/Female/non-binary

• Pronounces He/she/They/Your choice (the last one might be difficult but I will try)

° 9 MAIN endings with an elaborate amount of side endings such as death and so on

° at least 3 Sequals (hopefully depends if I get contracted)

° Save/load system ( will decide in a vote and if I can figure it out)

The first game won’t have romance since under 18 but you could become close to characters afterall… If I can at least I will try to turn almost every relevant character as datable… In the next game Dw if you thought dragon ball had crazy powerscaling then you haven’t seen what cultivation stories have… Large scale Reality warping is merely novice… Kekw but let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

I should be able to come up with a demo by next month unless some sort of emergency happens in my life and how much of the choice script coding I could do…

Anyways stay safe and hydrated and healthy, will check daily or so on this…

Btw the game will be called “Heavenly emperor: The beginning” unless that’s too long btw that’s a foreshadowing on the end goal besides Immortality :3 sovereign politics is fun!

[AnneWest]

@mrcmrc

Another thing: it is curious how I find writing a multiple-choice story, which therefore follows several plots, rather challenging.

My (unsolicited and probably bad) advice would be to write your core story first. Write it from beginning to end and figure out what works, what doesn’t and what junctures choices can fit naturally into the story at. And then talk to all of the authors of games here that you can. Learn from them whatever they’re willing to teach you. And remember that ultimately, you need to be happy with what you write. There will always be people on this board and elsewhere that will complain about whatever you produce, and they may seem like the majority (do you even want to know how many years I’ve lurked before actually starting to comment?) but they are not, they’re just the ones who are willing to speak up. Bowing to the whims of the most vocal of readers, the ones who are never pleased with anything, is a trap. Keep your foot out of it. Accepting feedback and asked for criticism is fine but don’t let anyone bully you into changing your vision. It is YOUR story, not theirs. And when you need help, ask for it. There are plenty of people here happy to help you scan your code, check your grammar, check you flow, audit your choices. Just ask. And don’t be afraid to let the project go on hiatus so you can take a break when you need it.