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kannaophelia
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Currently splitting my time here in sunny Australia between polishing my novel, developing my first hobbyist game, reading and playing other people's works, and looking after my one year old son.
Interested in telling stories about alternate but familiar worlds; stories that explore friendship, gender and sexuality; interesting female characters; and just having fun.
Interested in telling stories about alternate but familiar worlds; stories that explore friendship, gender and sexuality; interesting female characters; and just having fun.
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Lessons learned
I hope your game makes progress!
I had this ridiculous but apparently wonderful idea of stealing a mechanic from Imagine: Ballet Dancer (which is a fantastic game, honest)... but INSANE amounts of work for very little added gameplay, when I look at it rationally. I might have to ditch the minigames altogether, reluctantly, if I'm ever to get this playable.
My one year old toddler seems to like "playing" it on my lap, at least! Bright colors will do it every time.
I had this ridiculous but apparently wonderful idea of stealing a mechanic from Imagine: Ballet Dancer (which is a fantastic game, honest)... but INSANE amounts of work for very little added gameplay, when I look at it rationally. I might have to ditch the minigames altogether, reluctantly, if I'm ever to get this playable.
My one year old toddler seems to like "playing" it on my lap, at least! Bright colors will do it every time.
Lessons learned
The worst is that I knew these were traps, and still fell into them. :D But I'm having fun again now.
I'm still learning to code, but not with this game in mind.
I'm still learning to code, but not with this game in mind.
Writing branching dialogue and narrative
Writing!
chivichick, why is it a bad idea particularly where you live? I understand why people are against it in general, just curious about the area. (You don't have to answer, I['m being nosy.) Anyway, best of luck, I hope you find the agent and publisher who are a perfect fit for you.
Unity, thank you! I will! I was so naive about editing, I thought it would be the easy part. I found this book incredibly helpful in editing and strengthening my writing, especially my pacing, if your library has it.
And thank you charblar! I hope it is the first of many, now I've proven to myself that I can write extended plots and subplots.
Unity, thank you! I will! I was so naive about editing, I thought it would be the easy part. I found this book incredibly helpful in editing and strengthening my writing, especially my pacing, if your library has it.
And thank you charblar! I hope it is the first of many, now I've proven to myself that I can write extended plots and subplots.
Writing!
That's one of the reasons I thought pursuing publication would stress me out too much, the need to market stuff as firmly in a genre. I can see how it works for marketing purposes, but otherwise...
Writing branching dialogue and narrative
How would you like to join TEAM ROCKET?
Corpse Party influenced my decision to use RPG Maker, not so much by scenes but by showing how a visual novel--or narrative adventure?--could work using RPGMaker rather than Ren'Py, which would take more original art than I could manage! I like being able to walk around and choose things.
I do have a project that would be more RPG-like held in reserve for the future, and the awesome guy who makes the High Fantasy set even made me a female orc freebie, but I have to admit I'm really intimidated by rpg mechanics.
Corpse Party influenced my decision to use RPG Maker, not so much by scenes but by showing how a visual novel--or narrative adventure?--could work using RPGMaker rather than Ren'Py, which would take more original art than I could manage! I like being able to walk around and choose things.
I do have a project that would be more RPG-like held in reserve for the future, and the awesome guy who makes the High Fantasy set even made me a female orc freebie, but I have to admit I'm really intimidated by rpg mechanics.
Sexuality and Diversity in games
I tend to write lesbian main characters default , because that's what I am, so I genuinely don't think my gay characters are defined by sexuality any more than the straight characters are. In a setting like this, though, sexuality isn't neutral--there are dangers to disclosure, so even self-disclosure becomes risky, let alone when you are on reality tv.
For example, a certain character is outwardly extremely compliant and docile, but will perform secret acts of defiance or break the rules to get what she wants--but only when she is sure she won't get caught. She panics and recants at the first sign of trouble. The only times she overcomes her cowardice enough to show anything like more open resistance is when it involves those she loves. This maps pretty cleanly on how she would deal with being attracted to women in a repressive conservative society, but I don't -think- it makes her defined by her sexuality.
My friend has been really helpful about things that would, to her at least, subtly indicate that a character is Aboriginal rather than just non-white, even in a culturally homogeneous society. And there are always character profiles. Because o certain themes in mid-game, this has to be handled carefully.
For example, a certain character is outwardly extremely compliant and docile, but will perform secret acts of defiance or break the rules to get what she wants--but only when she is sure she won't get caught. She panics and recants at the first sign of trouble. The only times she overcomes her cowardice enough to show anything like more open resistance is when it involves those she loves. This maps pretty cleanly on how she would deal with being attracted to women in a repressive conservative society, but I don't -think- it makes her defined by her sexuality.
My friend has been really helpful about things that would, to her at least, subtly indicate that a character is Aboriginal rather than just non-white, even in a culturally homogeneous society. And there are always character profiles. Because o certain themes in mid-game, this has to be handled carefully.
Writing branching dialogue and narrative
I'm so glad if it helps! Can I ask what you're planning?
The specific example I was talking about, Choice of Romance, goes to great lengths to convince you that your choices have meaning, and I spent quite some time on them. The example I gave, I wanted to balance chasing the Queen against ruining my reputation. Even if all it had changed was a single line (the Queen remarking I'm hot, an ultimately meaningless change to my reputation stat (which AFAIK only influences one line in a single scene) mentioning my bosom getting in the way in the tourney... anything.), I would have felt there was some feedback to my choice, however minor. As it was, any choice merely resulted in the same line "An interesting, if risky, decision", paraphrasing.
ChoiceScript is interesting in that false choices are labelled as such in the code, so you can actually go look at how many meaningless decisions you've made. And how many have notes saying "Maybe this should affect something?" too. :|
I absolutely agree with the blogger that it's important to allow frequent interaction, though. It's a balance I am struggling with.
I agree with you absolutely that it has to make sense and flow within teh storyline. I'm working on balancing this with aggressive merging, which is also excellent advice, so you don't end up with a half hour game with more writing that the Lord of the Rings
I think a game that brilliantly combines aggressive merging with meaningful choices is Hanako Games' Ren'Py raising sim Long Live the Queen.
The specific example I was talking about, Choice of Romance, goes to great lengths to convince you that your choices have meaning, and I spent quite some time on them. The example I gave, I wanted to balance chasing the Queen against ruining my reputation. Even if all it had changed was a single line (the Queen remarking I'm hot, an ultimately meaningless change to my reputation stat (which AFAIK only influences one line in a single scene) mentioning my bosom getting in the way in the tourney... anything.), I would have felt there was some feedback to my choice, however minor. As it was, any choice merely resulted in the same line "An interesting, if risky, decision", paraphrasing.
ChoiceScript is interesting in that false choices are labelled as such in the code, so you can actually go look at how many meaningless decisions you've made. And how many have notes saying "Maybe this should affect something?" too. :|
I absolutely agree with the blogger that it's important to allow frequent interaction, though. It's a balance I am struggling with.
I agree with you absolutely that it has to make sense and flow within teh storyline. I'm working on balancing this with aggressive merging, which is also excellent advice, so you don't end up with a half hour game with more writing that the Lord of the Rings
I think a game that brilliantly combines aggressive merging with meaningful choices is Hanako Games' Ren'Py raising sim Long Live the Queen.
Sexuality and Diversity in games
@Irili: God, I hope so. But I have friends who have lost their home through racism, so we have a long way to go.
@burningTyger: Perhaps you are right. It's difficult, though, because background wise there is a strict caste system, in an otherwise homogenous society: having a distinct identity outside your caste group could be threatening. There are also certain spoilery themes which might make it more sensitive. I will run it a certain friends who is both Aboriginal and extremely politically aware on these matters, and take her advice on how best to handle it; if anyone can give me good, no-nonsense advice, she can!
@chivi-chivik: Yeah, I know exactly how you feel. I need to keep out of comments on Kotaku for a start!
@unity: you're too sweet. <3
@burningTyger: Perhaps you are right. It's difficult, though, because background wise there is a strict caste system, in an otherwise homogenous society: having a distinct identity outside your caste group could be threatening. There are also certain spoilery themes which might make it more sensitive. I will run it a certain friends who is both Aboriginal and extremely politically aware on these matters, and take her advice on how best to handle it; if anyone can give me good, no-nonsense advice, she can!
@chivi-chivik: Yeah, I know exactly how you feel. I need to keep out of comments on Kotaku for a start!
@unity: you're too sweet. <3
Sexuality and Diversity in games
By "brown", I'm being purposely non-specific, but it may or may not be worth mentioning that in my head Connie is Aboriginal (Australian). While my family is white-Chinese, my friends' kids deserve to see themselves in games, too, and the lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander characters is striking even (especially) in Australian games.
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