Interest Check Thread

Hosted Games Works In Progress
6857

I think either way is valid and could be fun writing and reading, but if you do go non-standard, either from high fantasy or changing a preestablished cultural mythos, I’d recommend eventually adding some sort of codex accessible by the stats menu that has a glossary of terms or something similar, or do something else to help readers orientate themselves.

Then again, there is also president for just letting the readers wade in and explore the setting and get used to it in game, similar to some of Sanderson’s series.

—————————

Regarding Medusa vs Gorgons…technically, yes. But I think the Snake hair bit and the turning people to stone power was unique to her and not her sisters, but can’t claim to be an expert in Hellenic myth.

6858

Technically, without a codex I could just… ignore the whole thing and never call anyone an elf (or whatever) at any point. In what I have of the actual story, I think there’s only two (three, but two of them overlap) places where that’s being drawn attention to - one, where the POV character at that point is confused about a couple of characters’ shapeshifting, and another character explains to that’s because they’re elves (and then consequently, telling that he himself can’t do that because he’s only a half-elf), the other ones where said half-elf is talking with his friend, the innkeeper, about the queen of the sea kingdom, who’s rumoured to be partially elf, and the half-elf pointing out that the innkeeper joking about the half-elf getting together with the queen would get too messy because he’s a half… archelf? and she’s rumoured to be partially naiad (nereid, but I wasn’t aware of that word at that point in my life). And that could so easily be edited out.

The nereid part is foreshadowing, but I’m sure there’d be alternative ways to pull that plot twist off.

(Also they totally are together, he’s just protecting her from the inevitable rumours and because the Usurper King is waging war against her because she refused to marry the Usurper King.)

1 Like
6859

I like your idea, it sounds fun! Seems like you’ve got a lot of cool worldbuilding and you’re invested in the details, which I enjoy. Do you still want suggestions on a possible MC? If so: how about the seer who gave the prophecy in the first place?

Because I think going with the Seer could smooth your story's transformation from novel(?) to game and here's why.

Consider this premise: the MC (whichever their origin/race) delivered a prophecy ages ago, then went to sleep or got cursed or frozen in time somehow–and then woke up to find that their little prediction has thrown the world into dramatic chaos and in-fighting. Now they’re involved in the events of their own prophecy and must reckon with the consequences.

This role for the player helps you in a couple of ways. First, it allows you to keep a manageable amount of perspective hopping. If the player-character is a seer with visions and prophetic abilities, then the character themselves comes along with the player during the scene changes and allows them to react (at least emotionally) to those events.

Second: casting the player-character as a Seer with no pre-existing attachments to one side or the other is a good way to establish that character’s investment in the conflict without tying the player to one side or the other at the start. It also makes the MC a character of potential interest/conflict to the NPCs, and doesn’t require you to sacrifice any of them to make room for the player. (Since you said that the original Seer-character was dead/hibernating during the events of the game anyway.)

Bonus advantage: playing a Seer with no pre-existing allegiances and a removed frame of reference allows the player to integrate with the high-level perspective you’ve been describing throughout your posts on the lore and worldbuilding. Seer-type characters tend to be heavily involved in those aspects of a story, and telling the reader up front that this is who they’re playing as will help you attract attract players/set expectations based on what they will encounter.

Tl;dr and the specific question of MCs aside, my best suggestion would be: instead of trying to reign in your desire to pursue the world-building and perspective changes, consider how you can turn them into an advantage.

It sounds like you’ve had this project cooking for a long time, and you’ve got some really cool history and lore build-up. If that’s the heart of your interest in the story, then kind of role gives you an excuse to get the player actively involved with it? That could be where you find your main character.

1 Like
6860

The more I think about it, the more I like “folk”… it’s in line with things like “fair folk” and “merfolk”, fits with the magic system (I’m literally calling it “folken magic” in another story), translates well, and lets me do things like “vanfolk, who some called elves and others jötnar” in descriptions…

Comic, actually, which is where the appearance stuff comes in as so important!

I can’t picture the original seer in that situation doing anything else than rolling her eyes, saying that humans are idiots, and going back to sleep. She’d be too removed from affairs of mere mortals. Some lesser seer or scholar working on interpretations could work though.

I need to rework the story anyway, its current state is atrocious. But that’s where this kind of throwing-ideas-back-and-forth brainstorming comes in as so important!

Really amused that nobody has said anything about me including “interdimensional aliens” in list of standard high fantasy species though. Is that really so common? I admit I haven’t read that much fantasy lately, I’m more on a Nordic Noir spree currently.

2 Likes
6861

In many works, especially those with magical beings coming from their own magical world or plane something like Jötunheimr as being separate from Midgard, or fire elementals from the plane of fire, “Interdimensional aliens” isn’t all that inaccurate a term for them, though it would not be the first word most people would reach for, as it has more of a sci-fi connotation.

1 Like
6862

Hm, I see. Sci-fi connotation was intentional in this case, though. :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
6863

I, personally, love the intersection of fantasy and sci-fi (read: Shadowrun), so I’m here for it. Others may prefer a crowbar separation of the two, but that feels limiting.

6864

In this case, one of the alien species in my space opera is descended from the elves in my fantasy world. Sometimes they come back when they die. And sometimes they come with reentry in their spaceship when they botch an emergency jump.

Sometimes they are part of a prophecy.

4 Likes
6865

Guys, maybe start a workshopping thread or something? This has gone a bit far beyond “interest check.”

5 Likes
6866

Hey all! I’ve had an idea for a short game–50k words or so–rattling in my head for a while, and I would like to see if there’s an audience for it. Regardless of who likes it I’m going to complete it. I love this idea.

Working Title: Vera’s Restaurant (seems ill-fitting for the tone of the story, makes it sound like a restaurant management sim. I’ll have to think harder later.)

Genres: Drama, Action, Realistic Fiction(?)

Summary

In the near-future American Southeast, you play as a person fresh out of prison and running out of options. You thought moving to the city of New Garner could give you a fresh start, a new life, but the only paying job you found was that of a fixer— for an ambitious young diner owner. This diner owner is insistent on the destruction of a rival restaurant. You’d do it for the money, but someone seems to be standing in your way…

Mechanics

Choose your character-- male, female, nonbinary, with the option of being trans. Nothing too crazy with the details, I’m thinking of also including race, height, and gender presentation. Those details are where I can see flavor text opportunities the most.

Choose the gender of your boss and rival. I may cut this (so Vera’s a man and Ollie’s a woman)… I wanted the ability to choose so the player would like them more, in the limited story length I imagine this to have. May or may not actually work.

As for stats? Nothing too complex. Just choose who will you trust and who will you obey. This game will also record your character’s ruthlessness… These two variables will influence the ending.

Setting

When the banks moved out of the New Garner, so did opportunity. The spirit of the nation has moved on to the West, leaving those who cannot move with the times behind, leaving them to deal with the rising sea levels and extreme weather.

In the course of this story, everything takes place within a neighborhood. It’ll probably be Vera’s restaurant, the rival restaurant, a house or two, a train station, and a motel. Maybe a church?

Characters

Vera (m/f) - the young-adult diner owner who hired you. Having watched too many mafia movies as a child, they have developed ambitions that are borderline unrealistic. It doesn’t help that their diner is successful too. A feminine, calculating, nice-on-the-outside sort of person.

Ollie (m/f) - the young-adult nephling of the rival restaurant’s owner. Feeling like they’re is stuck at a dead-end, they’re is trying to make the most of it, supporting their uncle’s business. A masculine, loyal, and sometimes thoughtless person.

Anthony - the rival restaurant owner. An old man who can’t let go of his pride and joy, The Hot Plate. He can’t admit it’s failing, and is blind to the fact that Vera’s out to end it for good. A stubborn, kind, man.

Potential Content Warnings

Violence, with you as the perpetrator; arson

What are your thoughts? Any potential issues, missing info? Let me know :slight_smile:

6 Likes
6867

Just one question - do you mean “short game idea” as “idea for a short game”, or as “game idea that is currently short”?

1 Like
6868

Idea for a short game! Thanks for the clarifying question.

6869

Hey all!

I’ve been hard at work on a title I first unveiled in this thread quite awhile ago. I don’t often post in here and do not yet have a WiP thread for that title (lack of a playable demo at this moment) for Once in a Lifetime.

Once in a Lifetime is a life-simulator built in ChoiceScript.

Whilst evaluating scope and breadth/depth of content, I’ve realized that releasing OiaL with three eras from the get-go would be brutal to undertake as each will work with unique content of its own.

As a result, I wanted to put a little poll. I’m not someone who likes talking about pricing or anything involving it until I’m much further along, but it’ll help me get an idea for interest.

Right now, I am considering shelving prior plans and focusing on releasing the 2004 Era for Once in a Lifetime, this would include:

  • Playability from 2004 onwards until player death (maxing at 115 years old).
  • Major world events listed in a month-by-month news fashion. This will focus on real events that occurred up until 2024, where I will begin changing the content provided to fit a realistic theming but still produced by hand.
  • Dynamic events of a modern era. This could be anything from wars to activism, life events of health (cancer, etc), lottery winnings, morally ambiguous choices, crime, and much more.
  • Modern assets (properties, cars, and much more!)
  • The modern United States as a playable country in the beginning, with major cities sprawled throughout the US. Experience dynamic events tied specifically to those cities, and unique interactions based upon your starting/current city.
  • Much, much more.

There’s so much already burgeoning under the hood for planned content in Once in a Lifetime that it’s going to take a few years of development as is. Nonetheless, I wanted to propose my future plans and garner what interest would be (should the original release be loved/successful).

Once in a Lifetime: The Wild West (Paid Expansion #1)

  • Experience the Wild West era of American History, beginning as a newborn in 1842.
  • Major world events listed in a month-by-month news fashion, delivered through unique flavor text and fonts that emphasize the press era of the Wild West.
  • Experience the Civil War of the United States as it happens, with unique careers and events tailored explicitly to it.
  • Dynamic events that focus on the Wild West. Towns held hostage, gangs and robbery attempts, diseases that existed prior to the invention of modern medicine, and much more!
  • Careers fitting of the Wild West. Become the Sheriff, a bounty hunter, a Pinkerton, a masked robber on horseback, and much more!
  • Wealth and Asset management fitting of the Wild West. Is your horse a prized pony? Do you own your own ranch? Maybe you’re a poor lad flitting through the trash.
  • 26 States, sprawling from Maine to Louisiana. Experience the naturalized expansion of the United States throughout your lifetime.
  • Much, much more.

Once in a Lifetime: A World at War (Paid Expansion #2)

  • Experience massive change in a world thrust into War, beginning as a newborn in 1921.
  • Major world events listed in a month-by-month news fashion, with headlines and flavor-text stylizing the era.
  • Experience World War II as it happens, with unique careers and events tailored explicitly to it.
  • Dynamic events that focus on a critical era of American history. Will your family fall from grace under the oppressive environment of the Great Depression? Or, will you rise above to snag riches and wealth by pumping the production machines of a US Military Complex?
  • Careers fitting of a World at War. From wartime generals to industrialist buffoons, directly place your thumb on the scales of history as you shape it in your image.
  • Wealth and Asset management fitting of this period in American history. Buy an old-fashioned car as you flaunt the engine rev through the streets. Perhaps you’ll buy a factory and directly influence the next era of American manufacturing?
  • The U.S. reshaped to fit the era. You’ll experience plenty of content, plenty of cities, and plenty of areas to go.
  • Much, much more.

So, here comes my poll. If Once in a Lifetime’s base game is huge, and well built/crafted. Would you be open to purchasing the additional eras as DLC given they’ll essentially be new games in size? They’d be reasonably priced, of course.

  • Yes, if I end up liking the base game!
  • Not a chance.
0 voters

Thanks, everyone!

4 Likes
6870

My opinion is “Yes, if I end up liking the base game”.

6871

Altered the poll to make the Yes option indicative of that more clearly!

6872

I would definitely go for the expansions! Though as someone born in 2002, the 2004 version will probably be my least favorite. There are some “what was life like when…” questions with the other two that simply don’t exist in 2004 version. But I think all versions will be very good and interesting!

1 Like
6873

Hey Anna!

I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what is up my sleeve. I’ve got a lot in the pipeline to be implemented.

On the bright side, the project already has a vast amount of code as I’ve gone to task implementing systems. :slight_smile: So hopefully a WiP will be on the horizon in good time.

1 Like
6874

Good luck making that. You have paid expansions already planned before a demo.

Sus.

6875

I’m planning a significantly expansive base game that’ll take several years to make. Originally, I had wanted to spread this across 3 eras of planned content, but that will significantly pad out dev time.

The point of my poll was to engage the community on their feelings before I even considered that plan. I can split the two eras up into something much more manageable over time when planning them as separate ‘games’. I marked them as expansions because they could be added onto the already existing base.

At least in terms of what my thoughts and ideas were, they’re not any different from what a sequel would be like. Development does have to end at some point on the base project, if that makes sense.

I merely felt that I could package these additional games worth of content into the base game with a tag on it and reduced price compared to what a sequel would be.

I’m open to feedback. :slight_smile:

1 Like
6876

Dont talk about expansions if the base game not even started yet is all.