Sounds cool! I love a good small town mystery. I appreciate the ability to play out a platonic route too.
3 Likes
Doing an interest check for two projects. One is a collaborative project with a friend, and the other is a solo project Iâve been stewing on but havenât fully developed.
Vigilantism 101
For background information, this story is one of the plots set in a world from a collaborative writing project thatâs been in the works for a few years. We were going to just keep it to ourselves, but we wanted to do something with it.
Genres: super powers, school-based, mystery, romance
Synopsis: During the Cold War, America developed the hero system to have a reserve of people with strong abilities in case the country was attacked, and during peacetime, said heroes serve as a crucial part of law enforcement. You live in Halogen Valley, California, the super hero center of the world where it originated, and you attend the Halogen Valley Institute, a prestigious high school where the children of the rich and powerful of HV congregate.
Itâs your senior year now, and in the recent summer, thereâs been a string of concerningly violent deaths plaguing the city. The authorities are investigating, yet the entire city is on curfew. One of the most recent deaths was a famous vigilante, which has re-sparked the debate over the morality of vigilantism. Only trained and certified heroes can use their abilities to deliver justice; anyone who does so illegally is labeled a vigilante.
You discover that a group of the top students have been investigating the most recent death and the distribution of a mysterious ability-altering serum, and some of them are even vigilantes themselves. Now, youâre roped in as they try to play detective or choose to betray them to the villains.
Features
- Play as male, female, or nonbinary and as a character of any sexuality.
- Choose from a list of abilities, which will shape your role in the investigation. Missions will vary depending on the ability type selected.
- Romance or befriend one of the characters.
- Join one or several of the clubs on campus. You will be given X amount of time to spend on extracurriculars, and different clubs will have different time commitments.
- Explore various locations around the city, from a family-owned boutique to the house of the cityâs founder, turned into a historical landmark.
- Attend events like school dances and the annual Hero Convention.
- Investigate the mysterious deaths, the ability-altering serum, or both. Or play double agent and secretly support whoever is behind these incidents.
- Figure out what you want to do after high school. Apply to higher education, the Super Hero Training Academy, or a job. Or take a year off to recuperate.
Romance Options
- Adrian - HVâs Golden Boy. His fatherâs side of the family has a hand in everything, from politics to law to business, but he claims he âdoesnât like to get involved in drama.â Between being the schoolâs most powerful student, a member of a hit local band, the leader of the nationâs best mock trial team, and the tennis team captain, he has a lot to juggle. He wouldnât even get involved if it wasnât for his estranged mother, who got on the bad side of the wrong person, and now they want revenge.
- Amber - the grandchild of Mantis: femme fatale, maneater, first super heroine, and Hollywood actress. Except Amber inherited none of her charisma and all of her anger. Everyone believed her older cousin would become the next super heroine from the family, until the cousin ran away from home. Amberâs left to live up to Mantisâs legacy. Sheâs either terrifying the other students, writing poetry, or leading the schoolâs chapter of Future Hero Professions of America (FHPA).
- Flynn - the grandson of the first superhero. Heâs usually the one that actually organizes things for FHPA, but heâs also vice president of mock trial and in yearbook club. Unsurprisingly, heâs a major hero geek, and heâs probably got all of the super hero trading cards ever printed, but heâs in Adrianâs band so he can say heâs cool. His views around vigilantism are a bit unconventional, and the recent death has caught his attention.
- Juniper - One would think a girl with bright pink hair was an open book, but nobody really knows Juniperâs story, even if sheâs seen around the popular kids. Apparently, her familyâs acquainted with the principal, but her last name is hardly recognizable. Could she be hiding something?
- Kuro - Thereâs near unanimous agreement that sheâs the prettiest girl in the school, but she is a bit of a walking disaster. And her dating history says so, too. Sheâs the captain of the cheerleading team, but one of her other hobbies has gotten her into more legal trouble than she can deal withâbut only if she gets caught.
- Lilium - Her family runs the flower shop, and she doesnât even go to the Instituteâor she wouldâve been eaten alive by the kinds of people there. Except when a mission goes wrong, the group takes refuge inside her shop, and her average life turns upside down.
- Silas - the heir to one of the biggest luxury brands in the world. Heâs the definition of a rich playboy and is in a sticky situation with Zhalanâs ex. And God forbid you see him in the business club. But his dad is very well-connected, which includes some⊠questionable figures that can give them the information they need.
- Silver - the child of the principal, widely known by their nickname âStuck-Up Silvy.â If the principal herself isnât there to berate you for breaking the rules, Silver will do it in her steed. As the student council president, they get on everyoneâs nerves with some of their decisions. Theyâve been seen around town with a strange kid that they wouldnât be caught dead hanging out with, yet they donât have any siblingsâŠ
- Tatsuo - human supercomputer and exchange student from Japan. Heâs always at odds with Amber, who he constantly gets into fights with. If he isnât brooding in the dark recesses of the computer lab, heâs terrifying all the freshmen brave enough to join Science Olympiad or the soccer team. Although he would rather not be constantly connected to the internet for his sanity, heâs been picking up interesting things others donât know.
- Zhalan - number one vigilante fanboy and the biggest gossip on campus. His mother approved a law that punished vigilantes harsher than any other state, but he religiously follows media sightings of vigilantes and has his own blog. Thatâs not the only thing he writes because heâs the president of the newspaper club as well, but he seems more interested in publishing articles about drama than actual news. Oh, and he sets the school on fire from time to time.
How to Commit Regicide
Genres: royalty, romance
Note: thereâs no particular setting or customs in mind.
Synopsis: After dragging their consortâs name through the mud, the monarch has just divorced the consort for infidelity. It doesnât help that the couple has been married for a few years without an heir. Now that theyâre single, the monarch is looking to remarry. You come from an aristocratic family with a good name, making you eligible, except itâs not that simple. Letâs just say that many people want the monarch dead, and you might become one of them.
This is a character-driven plot, so introducing them first makes things easier.
Characters
- Elliot/Elvira - the former consort. They come from a good family and are a political genius and charismatic socialite, ticking all the boxes for someone worthy enough to marry into royalty. People believed they would usher in a new age of prosperity for the country. Everybody loved them until the cheating infidelity came out. They claim they never cheated, which, if true, could annul the divorce. But their reputation and prospects have been ruined. And was the cheating accusation a cover-up or the truth, especially when a few people have confirmed the monarchâs narrative?
- Linden/Lilith - the monarchâs ex-lover. Everyone knew they were close to the monarch growing up, and everyone was sure they would marry. Until their family was discovered plotting treason, and they were exiled from the capital. Theyâre back, and they blame the monarch for planting the evidence at their estate just to get rid of them. At least, thatâs what they say, but their behavior doesnât make them the most trustworthy. Once a nice, respectable young person, they now constantly fight with the locals and steal from those who are already poor.
- Parker/Pandora - a potential marriage candidate. Although they donât want to marry the monarch, their family desperately wants in on the royalty. And they have the perfect blackmail to get the job done. They know something that the monarch doesnât want to get out. But honestly, theyâre too appalled and just want out of this situation, which is difficult when the monarch genuinely considers them because of their familyâs knowledge. And if that solution is to get rid of the monarch one way or another, so be it.
- Roland/Rosalind - a celebrated war hero. Theyâve always had a bitter relationship with their mother, who sent them off to fight in war in hopes they would die. Instead, they come back in one piece and a national hero. And they seemed⊠perfectly fine. Everyone has different ways to cope with their trauma, right? Thatâs what everybody believed until they started cutting the tongues off their servants, and theyâve still shocked the other aristocrats with their unnecessary cruelty. The common people still parade them as a hero. Oh, and the monarch has been relentlessly pursuing them, but theyâre uninterested.
- Adonis/Adelise - the monarch in question. Their dating history has been quite contentious, to say the least, and theyâve wronged many people. Outside of their love life, their country has been doing well, and most common folk are happy with them. But certainly, they have to be hiding something. Whatâs their motivation for cutting people out of their lives? Whatâs this secret theyâre hiding that just canât anybody else know? And why does everybody want them dead?
Features
- Play as male or female.
- Romance any of the characters (or not).
- Your actions determine the monarchâs fate. Do they die from poison or assassination? Or are they cannon fodder in a military coup or peasant uprising? Do you save them and go through with a wedding? And then, do you kill them and take the crown for yourself or let them be?
- Discover the charactersâ dark secrets.
25 Likes
hello people of COG have a game idea that i can not get out of my head i dont know how anyone havenât made a game like the anime bleach. Its a wonderful anime that can be a wonderful addition for the people that enjoys the anime and also playing Cog or Hg games. But anyway I will like to see if theyâre were anyone who would enjoy such a game or even try to help me out? In a way of any I have no clue how to codeâ:sob: but i can write the whole story out with some help or ideas from anyone it may take some time to finish the whole game but it would help out if someone were to help out it doesnât have to be much i can do most of the work with this project anyway if you are interested helping out with this project of mines please lmk and if u have any ideas for the game lmk. I also have other game ideas like a naruto type game and even a dunes related game(if you guys find that one interesting )but anyway if anyone find any of these ideas to interested you dont be scared to speak out of any more ideas you can think of AND PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP THEN LMK 
and i dont know if any of these can get copyrighted for making a game like this but if yk anything please lmk and if you have any ideas you have or if your available to help out with one of these ideas that can sooner or later actually become REAL GAMES that interest you and other people. That is all i have for right now and hopefully i can start making such ideas like these into actually games for people to enjoy with anyones help in any possible way. I hope everyone have a wonderful day and hopefully find this your way and interest to it BYE! ps.(ik this was kinda long so i do apologizeâ:sob:)
3 Likes
Any thoughts on doing this?
I love royal fantasy stories. If the demo is public, can you send the link?
Did you actually go ahead and make any of these? The zombie one sounded amazing.
1 Like
Hey fellow interactive fiction lovers. Just wondering if there are any completed or WIP games out there that allow you to play as a literal god? As in the main purpose is that you are a god. Iâve already played Divine Ascension and The Aether. If not then never mind. I just thought it would be really cool to play as a god and have kids with mortals Zeus style if you catch my drift. The loint im trying to make is in the two games I menstioned before, you donât really get personal with you mortals or even the other gods. I know the creators are trying to create the feeling of the player being a god and therefore above it all, but even gods irl and even God himself (if you believe he exists) has some form of so called âhuman emotionsâ to a certain extent. It would be really cool to play a god sim where itâs not a one time thing. Iâd love to be able to get attached to my mortals and other gods. Let me know if one exists, either completed or WIP. Thanks guys.
1 Like
Hey! I didnât unfortunately. Life got in the way, and I ended up focusing on my studies and working on non Choice of Games related projects.
I had completely forgotten about this idea until your reply, but itâs nice to know thereâs still interest in it. Perhaps Iâll pick it back up now Iâve got some more bandwidth!
Thanks for the message!
P.S regarding your question about God games, I think maybe Fate of the Storm Gods could be a good shout, but not sure if itâs exactly what youâre looking for.
2 Likes
Thanks for the reply 
So, first off, hello to everybody whoâs reading this.
Iâve been working on an idea of mine for a week or so, and now I figured that it wouldnât hurt to post the idea in this thread and get your thoughts on it.
Tags: Modern-day urban fantasy, magic, special forces, detective, occasional slice of life, romance.
Setting
Some people still remember how their parents used to read stories to them, either to instill a love for reading in them or to make them fall asleep faster. Many of those stories featured valiant knights who fought against wild beasts and wise wizards who were capable of powerful magic.
And none of them were fairy tales.
There was always a place for exaggeration, of course, but magic was an integral part of life back then. Some races â elves, for example â were much more proficient in it on average, and some rejected it almost completely, like dwarves.
But that was a long time ago.
Humans, with their unmatched pace of reproduction, quickly spread across the land and built their cities wherever they could. With time, those cities grew larger and larger until they became gargantuan structures that stretched as far as an eye could see.
As science progressed and technology evolved, humans soon started to heavily regulate magic: it was difficult to trace, hard to control, and, most importantly, dangerously unpredictable. With strict limitations, which bordered on a complete ban, set in place, the usage of magic began to rapidly decline until it became a shadow of its former self.
While a few races tried to retain their magical roots, most decided to settle in the comfort of human cities, thus leading to their assimilation.
As such, nowadays, magic is seldom used, and it is somewhat rare to see an elf, dwarf, or orc roaming among the human populace.
Premise
You lived a relatively happy life.
After all, you had your family, some people you considered friends, and a passable job. To add to that, you also had a hobby, and it brought you enjoyment. That is already something many would kill to have.
But almost all that happiness was stripped from you in just one day.
And, like dominoes, everything began to fall apart since then as if that day wasnât enough. Your job turned into a slog, and the memories your hobby evoked only made your mood worse. Earning just enough to get by, you spent most of your time trying to cope with your situation.
However, on just another miserable day, a man approached you. He offered you a place in an organization of sorts. You didnât know what he was expecting of you, so you readied yourself to reject his offerâŠ
Until he told you the truth about that day.
A bit of plot overview
You will be a member of an organization that tracks down those who unlawfully use magic.
Therefore, your tasks will often involve:
â detective work, during which youâll be investigating crime scenes that were presumably committed by someone who used magic;
â enforcer work, during which youâll be deployed on a location to forcefully apprehend the suspect(s).
Sometimes, the objective of your mission will require different approaches from the two listed above, so you will have to be flexible in your skillset.
To aid you in your work, you have been taught how to effectively utilize the magic of your own, so that you are capable of using it as either offensive or defensive means. Of course, you are also granted access to an armory and an arsenal of modern guns, which will be your primary weapons.
In between your missions, you are free to spend your time however and with whomever you please.
MC's powers (ways to apply magic)
As of now, four or five ways for your MC to use magic are planned:
- Enhanced physical attributes through magic.
- Telekinesis
- Time Control
- ??? (havenât yet decided)
- ??? (havenât yet decided)
Romance options
There will be three to four romance options, all of which will be gender selectable + playersexual.
You may think that means that Iâm not interested in writing romance, but thatâs not it. The thing is, Iâd much rather focus on quality rather than quantity, so I think having a small number of ROs really helps with fleshing them out and making each of them unique.
Overall, the game will have a dark tone with a lot of mature themes included in it, ranging from topics of depression and loss to overly violent and gory scenes and explicit sexual content (a fade-to-black option is included for sex scenes). Because of this, the demo and the thread will only be posted in the Adult category.
So, I guess thatâs all I wanted to share at the moment. Keep in mind that some of the stuff is subject to change. Let me know if youâre interested in something like that.
11 Likes
Youâve had me on this ever since I read the word âdetectiveâ at the top.
Cliché Cat Café.
Genre: Romance, Slice of life, Contemporary Low-Fantasy.
Play as a scholar, an office workaholic, or a wealthy member of an influential family, and visit the nearest Cat Cafe.
In a place full of Nekomimis, choose whether to date them or annoy them. What could go wrong?
Synopsis
The City of Refugees has become a mere joke in recent decades. The stray Kemonomimis once sheltered by its inhabitants in times past are now reduced to mere pets or slaves. Even those at the bottom of the human hierarchy struggle among themselves, vying to avoid being the lowest rung of the ladder.
At the Cat Café in the Grapes District, the Nekomimi fulfill their role as companion cats for each customer. However, in Lunaris, most middle-class families find it difficult to afford a Kemonomimi, despite the availability of some strays. Consequently, the younger population finds them fascinating. For many, paying for a coffee to enjoy the company of these well-dressed, trained creatures offers a delightful, albeit brief, escape.
As a new customer, you will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy friendly service, or even play with the catboys/catgirls and unravel the intrigues that surround them. Why not take the chance to steal a kiss or two from your favorite companion?
Features
â Play as a scholar in the bloom of youth, a tired office workaholic, or use the cheat mode to be someone from a wealthy family and dabble in some things more easily.
â Customize your character in name, gender, physique, personality and background.
â Flirt indiscriminately with all the Nekomimi or fight for a permanent romance with one of them.
â Focus on the romance or stick your nose in the dirt that goes on behind the scenes at the Cat Cafe.
â Experience the possibility of in-game death as a result of a bad ending.
â Every aspect of your character, from your physical appearance, gender, personality, and background to your clothing, will affect how easy or difficult it is for a RO to fall in love with you.
â Move from room to room in the cat cafe until you find a Nekomimi to your liking.
â Once you have established a romance route with one of the ROs, you will be able to experience a variety of different endings for each RO, with choices that affect their lives and yours in a negative or positive way.
â More than 20 endings in the game (itâs recommended to save games to not lose too much progress if you go to a bad ending early).
ROs
Nao:
19yrs | Boy | Bisexual.
âCold and aloof black cat with emotional wounds, yet soft on the inside.â
As the newest member of the Cat Cafe, he was rescued from the streets, escaping both hunger and the cold. Despite being assigned to this location, he is still adjusting to his new surroundings and hasnât taken on any significant role at the cafe. Maintaining his distance from everyone, he rarely speaks and hisses if anyone attempts to touch him.
Romance type: Slowburn and fluff with a hint of hurt/comfort. Man, he literally just needs affection but the things arenât easy and fast for MC.
Amor:
26yrs | Gender-Selectable (F/M) | Bisexual.
"The prettiest cat in the worldâat least, that's what the customers say, along with many other compliments like charming, lovely, and beautiful.â
The most devoted lover of pink. They may not be the most popular Nekomimi in the Cat Cafe, but those who have chosen Amor as their Companion Cat speak very highly of them. Itâs unclear how long theyâve been here, as the only one who could answer that question spends the day sleeping.
Romance Type: Welcome to your toxic romance where you will probably end up dead if you choose the wrong option.
Amis/Amice:
31yrs | Gender-selectable (F/M) | ???
âBig sleepy cat.â
As the oldest member of this particular Cat Cafe, they have witnessed the business thrive and grow, along with several Nekomimi coming and going, either transferred to other branches or for less pleasant reasons. They may have stories to shareâpersonal ones and those of othersâbut lack the energy to talk much. They certainly donât intend to be an active Companion Cat, a reliable listener, or a comforting presence for the other Nekomimi at the Cat Cafe. Much less do they wish to take on the role of a server in this establishment.
Romance Type: A LOT of sexual tension. AHEM. And romantic too, of course.
Alannah:
22yrs | Girl | Lesbian.
âPrototype of the Ideal Companion Cat.â
Extremely popular with customers. When the Cat Cafe opens its doors, Alannah knows itâs going to be a long day filled with giving her best tirelessly. Her only breaks come during her sleep; for the rest of the day, she strives to please the humans. She always remembers their names, concerns, preferences, dislikes, and little details. A sociable girl, she has a way with words and is an attentive listener.
Romance Type: Ah⊠Actually this is a healthy relationship unless you pull some strings.
Elysian:
28yrs | Boy | Antrosexual.
"A cat with origins in selective breeding, the humans around him attribute his outstanding work to it.â
The only one in the Cat Cafe who was not adopted but purchased. A great investment, according to the owners. Elysian is the most skilled waiter, with an excellent memory for large orders and a friendly service that adapts to customersâ needs. He walks a fine line between professional and personal with most of the ladies at the tables he serves. He is also the most popular Nekomimi in the Monopolize Time system.
Romance Type: Slowburn and hurt/comfort.
Inmaculada ConcepciĂłn:
24yrs | Girl | Pansexual.
âA noisy, affectionate and clingy kitten. An ideal pet for some, a perfect nuisance for others.â
The Nekomimi most desperate to get out of this place. She would throw herself into anyoneâs arms to escape, but she is a terrible complainer. The fantasy of walking into a cat cafe and having a beautiful Nekomimi sigh and beg you to take her out sounds charming, as she promises to be at your feet, ready to give herself body and soul. But she longs for a life filled with luxury and comfort that only a wealthy person can provide. Inmaculada ConcepciĂłn is transparent about her desires; she will not settle for a loser and will tactfully make this clear.
Romance Type: Romantic Comedy.
Winter:
29yrs | Gender-selectable (F/M) | Demisexual.
âA boring cat as a companion, but a great help for students who are struggling with their schoolwork by simplifying complex problems.â
They were privileged to receive a proper academic education, unlike many other Kemonomimis and some humans from middle and lower classes. Winter is a favorite among high school and college students, often found at the Cat Cafeâs large table. Thanks to their recommendations, the most popular desserts are what they are today, as the students trust their judgment when suggesting what to order.
Romance Type: Slowburn with many unhappy endings.
This thing is influenced by Otome games, itâs still in development, but I have the stable plot basics, a map of developing romance routes and MC influence on it, also a lot of ideas for different endings. The WIP will go into the adult category once the first demo is done. I donât know if this needs to be clarified, but the game is focused on romance.
Edit: I just discovered the Hobby Project subcategorie, so I will post the WIP there, as I donât intend to publish it with HG or profit from it. The WIP thread should be created by the end of December or mid-January.
14 Likes
yesssssssss! send me the link please when created
So after much thought, I am excited to be starting out on my first big IF project! I would very much love to hear any thoughts/critique the wonderful folk here might have on it as I myself are far from flawless. I hope that you will like it!
Tags: Modern Day, Low Fantasy, Mystery, Romance. M/F/NB inclusive (basically name is set, but you choose your gender, appearance, etc).
*Trigger Warnings: Crude lanuage, alcohol and drug abuse, discussion of addiction, NSFW elements (optional), death, violence, discussion of religion, toxic dynamics.
âHow art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, child of the morning!â
Morningstar
What harm can a few questions do anyway?
Premise
A lot. The answer is a lot of fucking harm. Curiosity drove Eve to take a bite off that forbidden fruit. Curiosity drove you to question your Motherâs ineffable will. It got the first ever mortals exiled from the heaven on earth that was the Garden of Eden and it got you exiled from actual heaven.
Or perhaps the flaming sword you tried to plunge into her heart was the final straw that broke the camelâs back. Itâs a little difficult to ask Her what in particular ticked Her off when She has not answered your damn calls in literal millenia.
But oh well. What is done is done.
You are Lucifer Morningstar. Lightbringer. Godâs most beloved child, supposedly. Satan. Ruler of Hell. The Antichrist. Your titles go on and on, but mainly you are everything that is bad and rotten and sinful about humanity itself.
Most humans denounce you as a trickster, a deceiver, a seducer. Just as many seem to think blood sacrifices are your bread and butter. Your own kin and friends in Heaven revile you as the traitor, the great enemy. All of those assertions are correct to varying degrees, albeit not in how most people would envision them.
In truth, you are temptation and executioner alike. As punishment for your little stunt, your Mother has condemned you to the singular most dreadful duty in the Earth, Heaven and Hell. The punishment of sinners and wayward souls.
A rather stressful job in all honesty. Being conscious of every messed up thing humanity has ever put its mind to is not pleasant. Plus the paperwork is horrendous.
And so you have chosen simply not to do it for a while. You have left the fiery depths of hell and exchanged them for the only slightly less suffocating heat of Los Angeles, USA. For a brief moment, you can close your mind off and merely bask in all the luxuries miracles can provide you.
âŠthat is until Archangel Gabriel appears on your doorstep, white suit stained with golden blood, declaring someone has killed Godâs youngest child, Uriel. A child that should be impossible.
Asking questions did not get you very far the first time.
And yet you cannot resist repeating the same mistakes again.
Features
- Play as literal Satan!
- Customize your Lucifer. Gender, appearance, how you feel regarding your fall from grace and your reign over hell.
- Put your detective hat on and solve a murder mystery of supernatural proportions.
- Redeem yourself or seek vengeave for all Heaven has put you through.
- Maintain balance within your own realm in Hell while archdevils plot in your absence or shoulder that responsibility off to someone else.
- Tempt a folk or two into selling their soul. (what kind of devil would you be if you did not even think of it?
Romantic Options
- Archangel Gabriel/Gabrielle (gender flexible)
Where you failed, they succeeded. Where you fell, they flourished. It is fair to say that nowadays they are Mommyâs favourite little angel, incapable of doing anything wrong.
You might have been close friends once or maybe not. Then again, just perhaps you might have been even more. It matters not now. You have not so much as seen their face in centuries and you doubt they would have any interest in wasting their pracious time on a traitor.
And yet when their eyes meet yours, you only see affection reflected in them. You wonder perhaps if you are misinformed. Or maybe they are just better actors than you though.
They are just so⊠soft. Kind and unblemished by the cruelty of the world, protected by the pearly gates of heaven. It makes you want to protect them.
Or does it make you want to corrupt them yourself instead?
- Lillith (female)
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. You are quite certain that quote was intended for Lillith, if not created directly by her as some strange inside joke. Lillith was one of the first to join your side and perhaps the only one to have done so as a partner rather than a subordinate. A demonic sorceress of incredible power whose wits and wiles sent shivers down your spine even.
During your holiday, she has been acting as second in command, ensuring that order is maintained in Hell. Apparently, she has not been doing too good of a job at itâŠ
Though you have spent long aeons with Lillith by your side, you have never managed to pin her down and you doubt that you ever will. Lillith wants to be a mystery with no answer. You know only two things about her for certain: she wants to see Heaven burn and she might just be the one person who can threaten your hold over Hell.
She will either be the end of you or you will be the end of her. Maybe both.
- Caine (male)
You do wonder sometimes if this fuckerâs face is really just permanently stuck in that sneer. Perhaps killing your brother does that to you.
Caine wears his heart on his sleeve and his heart is a minefields of toxins and venoms and sarcastic remarks so you are not certain that is a good thing. He has been an ever consistent presence during your vacation, a loyal guard dog and a much appreciated vallet, and he shall remain that for as long as you possess his very soul.
Caine believes he is good liar, but indeed he is not. The desire glowing in his eyes when he gazes up at the open sky is clear. So is the way his heart thuds painfully when he deludes himself into believing he has seen familiar features amongst crowded rooms. In the darkness of the night, you hear him calling out for the sheep-keeper sometimes, frantically searching for his twin brother.
Some small part of Caine that he has pushed deep deep inside wishes for absolution.
Shame neither of you will ever be granted that.
- Detective Dakota (gender flexible)
The stoic, skeptic detective that does not even believe in God is frankly the last person that should be getting involved in any of this business involving Heaven or Hell. Alas, after baring witness to Urielâs murder and its peculiar circumstances, Dakota has taken on the case and you are not certain how you would get rid of them even if you wanted to.
Dakote has been presenting themselves as the picture perfect image of cold professionalism, but the needlemarks on their arms imply a more complicated story than that. You know a troubled soul when you see it and you suspect they are more of a sinner than they let on.
Despite it all, their experience and attention to detail might prove helpful in your search. As long as you manage to distract them from the supernatural elements all around them, it should be fineâŠ
It is pleasant in a way to have someone look upon you and see merely a blank slate.
If you all find this at all interesting, I would love to hear any thoughts you might have! Particularly if there are any mechanics/features you would like to see or any other romantic tropes that could be intesting to explore through the story.
Thank you for your time!
13 Likes
I am creating a new type of Choice Game. Although, there is a very large story here, there is also artwork provided to enhance the story telling. I donât know how this will go over in a community of writers who want to read and choose vs. having the artwork too. I am providing some screenshots below.
Follow them from top to bottom to see what the current flow is like. The last three screenshots are from the game so you can see it will have different results based on outcomes that are using the random number generator to make selections for both results; Win or Lose and Images.
I am using the ChoiceScript IDE to develop all of this. Let me know if this might appeal to you so I know whether to continue on with the idea or do something else.
âMay you live your life in moments, may those moments find you treasures, may those treasures sustain you all the days of you life in happiness!â
Three Possible Outcomes for Puzzle Game
You Won - Next Round - Dark Master
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It looks nice, but it is a unique challenge to pull off these features without damaging what makes these sorts of games special.
Random results, have the potential to damage the playerâs belief that their choices matter. Likewise one of the strengths of a text based system is that you have a lot of flexibility as to what text to display. That flexibility generally doesnât stretch itself to images in the same way. For instance, describing the PC at dinner with their friend is much more workable compared to drawing itâespecially since you may not know who either of those characters are at the time.
Avoiding these sorts of issues can encourage making the choices have less impact. Player choice having impact however, is whcih distinguishes story in Choice of Games style titles from everything else.
If you keep those challenges in mind, Iâm sure youâll find a good way to integrate these elements into your story without damaging the impact of player choice.
Good luck!
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I quite like the premise, it sounds well suited to a time system, where you can focus your efforts on, or neglect different areas that are drawing your attention, and reap the related rewards and consequences. Metahuman Inc. comes to mind as a choice title where your attention was being stretched between various goals in the face of time pressure.
I have two concerns about this game. The first, is that the temptation aspect is likely to be especially divisive, needs careful handling, and a clear purpose in the story, such as empowering investigative abilities. The second, is hearing the words supernatural and mystery together is always dangerous. Using logic to investigate something where magic is likely involved must be quite difficult. Magic needs hard rules you can learn to work in a mystery setting, so watch out for that.
I quite like mysteries, and settings that explore a wide range of interactions, so I feel like it could be a fun experience. Good luck!
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As long as images donât pop up every few sentences Iâm okay with it. It shouldnât disrupt the flow of reading. I chose to read a text based game after all, not a visual novel.
Also a heads up. CoG will not publish any games with AI generated images. Not that long a go a game got pulled back from sales, because of this exact issue. Something to keep in mind going forwards with this project.
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I donât think the artwork in your examples actually enhances the storytelling on the pages shown. Also, the different styles between the images kind of grates me.
As others have said, this will feels like itâd be hard to do in a way that doesnât break immersion. And it adds a layer of polish to your project that you should not underestimate. Iâm not saying donât do it, but I would suggest making sure the story stands on its own and then going back and working with a dedicated artist on enhancing that.
I appreciate the input as each of you have provided me with valuable input and perspectives. This was simply a concept on my part. More than anything I am a creator. A creator of what you might be curious to know: Across my almost seventy two years of living and in my current moment a creator of: Stories, Lore, Poetry, Philosophy, Artwork, Lyrics, Composer, and Applications.
I am okay with leaving this concept behind, it was a seed to plant, grow a little, and see whether it could take root. It did not so I am off to my next idea. I will say, and I say this with all sincerity that if you want to reference player agency, choices, and the power of the written word then whoever owns the code base for ChoiceScripts should consider modernizing it to better support what you propose you are.
My perspective is that in its current form, it does not provide for true player agency where I can immediately see the results of my choices. Providing one or two side panels where variables such as your character stats could be seen as you make your way through a story would add immeasurable value for the person playing the game.
Yes, I understand you have a Stats and Achievements button that can be pressed at any time but I propose that is not the same. It takes you out of immersion as I transition from story screen to state screens that show this is where you are. Having the ability to post updates to a couple of panels or even a single panel so I can see results as I transition through the storytelling then I am all in.
I have read the responses that everyone has given to people who propose changes such as these. "We have a large community of writers who understand the current tools and ways to create, we donât want to break anything, what about backward compatibility, and so on. "
With over thirty years in Information Technology having achieved impossible results that produce outstanding outcomes for user communities I say to you âPure Political Politenessâ. In other words, your using vague politeness to state that we are not planning on changing the code base because it works for us."
I would say in response, âAs a company, I can understand that position, but as a creator and technologist I would say to you. But have you considered how it works for us, the consumers, the writers, the creatorsâ
I wish all of you the best with ChoiceScripts but I am off like to create my own to better flush out this idea of dynamic player agency and interactive fiction where the results of my choices can be seen in near real-time, and future decisions can be based on something that is much closer to life and less fiction."
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