October 2024's Writer Support Thread

[Eiwynn]

I’m not sure how to answer this because there are two customary ways of getting feedback at this point. First is the Interest Check Thread found here:

Interest Check Thread

This thread is for anyone that wants to do an interest check. If you have yet to make a demo, post in this thread rather than making a new thread. Once you have a demo, you make a thread for your game specifically (either by clicking the link button at the bottom of your post, then selecting “New Topic”, or by just creating a new post in the #hosted-games:works-in-progress catagory.

The second way is to make a demo and then create a Work in Progress thread.

Here are a couple of threads that might help you understand when to do this:

Master List: Links for Beginners

Since this gets asked a lot I thought I’d try and create a master list of links for beginners. If anyone wants to add links to the list please feel free to since I’m making this wiki format. Start here for newcomers The Wiki ChoiceScript Basic Tutorial on wiki RETowers’ Tutorial by @RETowers Lglasser’s Tutorial by @Lglasser Dedicated ChoiceScript Development Tools You do not need to download or update ChoiceScript when using either of these tools. Chronicler Visual Code Editor by @Ben…

and

Help with First Game in ChoiceScript

If you’re looking specifically for feedback sent directly to you, maybe it’s worth making a WIP thread to ask for private beta testers when you have a working demo of your game. Or make a WIP thread with the link to your game so people can see that you’re making a game.

Here is some general advise we have concerning making a WiP thread:

Making a WiP thread

Hosting Your ChoiceScript Project:
DashingDon.com or Moody.ink at https://cogdemos.ink/

DashingDon is a completely free hosting site for ChoiceScript projects. There are no fees whatsoever.

Making A Demo Topic

To make a demo topic, first you should figure out which section your game might fit best in: the Hosted Games WIP section or the Hobby Projects section. The difference between them is that the Hosted Games WIP section is for games that are intended for publication, and the Hobby Projects section is for games that are not intended for publication for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s a fanfic of an IP you don’t own, or you’re simply using the game to practice ChoiceScript, or maybe you just don’t intend for this specific project to be published.

Please note that if you ever change your mind on publishing a Hobby Project, we can always move it to the WIP section, or even make a brand new WIP thread and close the Hobby Project thread (unless it is a fanfic, then none of that is possible).

When you’ve chosen which section to make it in, just click on the button that says +New Topic at the top of the page, below your avatar.

Introducing Your Game

The only requirement of what should go into a first post is a link to a demo (it will be locked if it doesn’t have the demo link. Outside of that, it’s really up to you. however, readers really appreciate a summary of the plot, features, characters, and romanceable characters (if you have any).
It’s also a good idea to include a small list of the kind of feedback you’re looking for, as that will help in getting feedback that is actually useful versus generic statements of approval (“i liked your game”).

Here are some links to what I think are the very best examples of a first post, though it is not expected that emulate them completely.

The Seven Heirs of Ophaesia: Part One (WIP)

Shepherds of Haven (WIP) (DEMO UPDATE: 3 Aug 2021)

Mind Blind (04/30 Demo Update. A Story Where You Are NOT The Chosen One!)

And if you need figuring out how they did things like hide text, make words larger, etc, here’s a topic on the markup language that can be used on the forum.