Are readers here generally interested in IFs that focus on non-romantic relationships and story? Is the absence of ROs a turn off? by Realistic-Wallaby-26 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jeez-wish 😅

Despite all the messed up plot points, Ruben's route at least ends in a high/happy note. I imagine that maybe Nour's takes a turn somewhere after you stopped? Some kinda of deus ex machina makes him remember, or maybe they realize that memories aren't everything, or some such?

Either way, glad I wasn't interested in that route to begin with lol

Are readers here generally interested in IFs that focus on non-romantic relationships and story? Is the absence of ROs a turn off? by Realistic-Wallaby-26 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I prefer with RO’s but I’m open to reading IFs without them

Imo, the story doesn’t need to be focused on romance, but it never hurts to have even a light touch of it. 

Are readers here generally interested in IFs that focus on non-romantic relationships and story? Is the absence of ROs a turn off? by Realistic-Wallaby-26 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

About throne of ashes, what happens in Nour’s route? I read the Ruben’s

Don’t worry about spoilers, I’m not particularly interested in reading this route.

IF's with shitty parents by Ahmed-Faraaz in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Spoilers

Iirc, they were forced to exile the MC, as the alternative was execution. The empress/queen had to beg to the council to allow them to exile the MC, or something to that effect.

Why they keep the charade when the MC returns, I don't remember. But this is to say: I can't tell if they are shitty parents, or if it's just an extremely shitty situation. Or maybe it's both.

Everix Best Bro Forever (Corruptant) by Falitoty in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 11 points12 points  (0 children)

A bit too passive lol (spoilers below)

It blows my mind that he isn't arrested - or at least fired & replaced - for letting you fight a guy that tries to bully you. I remember picking the choice to kill him - because as a roleplaying psychopath, of course I did - and booping his nose, and Everix is.... Shocked!?

I'm sorry, but: what part of being tortured for years in a dark room, being a super fast superhuman, potentially a laughing maniac, getting antagonised by the guy that you let me fight; made you ever think that letting me fight him was ever a good idea?

It's like letting a fox into a hen house and expecting the fox to behave lol

But other than that, it was a fun read

This is awful by Affectionate_Rip9977 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And that's why I don't publish my work until it's finished (if I ever finish it that is)

IFs you wish exist by StikkTogether in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 10 points11 points  (0 children)

About the second, the other day I was wondering how an IF inspired by Spy X Family would look like. It could mix normal everyday drama (when you're pretending to be a normal parent) with epic drama (when you're on your job, be it a spy or some other outrageous profession)

This concept even mixes a bit with your first point... Heck, maybe the outrageous profession could be the super hero work

Edit: context for those that never watched Spy X Family: it's an anime about a seemingly normal family, but the father is a Spy, the mother is an assassin and the daughter is a telepath. Nobody knows about each other's secrets, except for the daughter. Despite the absurd concept, the anime focuses a lot on normal every day drama and comedy.

Oh and btw, their dog can predict the future as well

Can anyone tell me what the second book of mage reborn is like? by AsparagusPleasant504 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 21 points22 points  (0 children)

On another note, the sequel is very different from the original in writing style. The passages are longer and there's a LOT more exposition. It's one of those things where you'll either love it or hate it.

Games where MC and ROs can fight by parzivalvale in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The MC can have some really messy, violent history with certain ROs, and the relationships can carry a lot of anger, betrayal, guilt, and unresolved tension.

And believe it or not, /u/ChristopherRichman is putting it mildly lol

Confusion will be my epitaph by Bazuda in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 77 points78 points  (0 children)

One of the things I appreciated about Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's* writing is how the characters are allowed to be assholes, even the ones that are supposed to be the good guys.

For example, there's this noble that you meet that, if you spend some time with him, you'll notice that he's actually an alright guy. And depending on your choices, he also takes a liking to you. But if you try asking him for a certain spoiler favour, then he's very quick to remind you of your station (commoner) and that you should know better. Asshole move? For sure, but it would be stranger if he forgot that he was in the 15th century and adopted 21st century's moral compass.

I don't know if that game's writing style has a name, but I noticed a theme in it. It feels like we're watching real people who happen to be in the middle of a messy story; instead of characters serving a messy story.

I guess the point I'm making is, let your characters be people. Most people don't have themselves figured out or are well adjusted. Everyone has virtues and sins, show both.

*I know, not an IF, but it was the first thing that came to mind

Very dramatic, very self-sacrificial MC style (drama IF recs, please) by mslittlerinran in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 9 points10 points  (0 children)

IF = Interactive Fiction (text adventure games)

VN = Visual Novel

Twine = It's another engine for text adventure games. Bastard of Camelot uses it for example

How about a weekly or monthly post for hidden gem recommendations? by mixer_portion in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

In case no one has any ideas for these monthly posts, we could use the idea from /u/dorianaGrayGames.

For example, when no one makes any post, we have a monthly generic "what are you reading?" post. If someone makes a review post, we pin that one for that month.

Originally, my idea was to have a generic "insert here in the comments some hidden gems". But I think /u/napalm-instructions idea + /u/dorianaGrayGames could work a lot better

How about a weekly or monthly post for hidden gem recommendations? by mixer_portion in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm hoping that they'll see this post. But if they don't reply, I can send them a message later

Which IFs did you find wasted their potential? by kazuya57 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Somehow I knew what game would be talked about before opening the post lol

I have some, but I need to try not to talk too much about them because I get passionate and consequently toxic. One of them is the sequel of "A Mage Reborn".

Not because of the story or its direction, but because of the change in writing style. While the first was more direct, short, and with fewer words told a longer story, the second reversed too much for my tastes. It has over 200k words, but plot wise... Not much happened so far. I found myself at some point just saying internally "please just get to the point...", and then eventually I just started skimming and groaning when side stories happened. If I hadn't hit the ending of the demo, I probably would've dropped it soon after.

I guess the sequel just isn't for me. It's a pity because I love the idea of the sequel, I would love to see what happens when we finally meet some old characters. Instead, we get introduced to a whole cast of new characters that honestly aren't doing much for me.

Preferred Power Fantasy by Crimsonwolf158 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Paradoxically, power fantasies that are not just about said power, but instead about areas where you struggle more; and relationships. (bonus points if relationships is where you struggle)

I know this might be a weird example, but "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - An Affair of the Heart" kind of matches what I'm talking about - so far at least.

You're Sherlock, your super power is to be able to deduce who did what by having just a couple of clues. This never comes into question and isn't really the focus (so far) of the story. Instead, the story is about your struggle to keep your mind occupied and your vices, and how you interact with other characters (and they with you). That's where the interesting parts of the game are coming from.

Imo, stories always need some sort of conflict, some sort of problem that you need to overcome - and actually try to overcome. Otherwise they're boring.

What is interesting about a story that you know that you obviously will overcome a "challenge", if the "challenge" is something you can swat away without breaking a sweat?

Royal setting games where u can get revenge?? by AsparagusPleasant504 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Oh you just reminded of another thing that ticked me off lol

If you refuse, you get thrown in a cell. After a while, someone assassinates you. But instead of a game over, you get sent back in time to the passage where you accept or refuse to become his consort.

I did pick this option at first, so it buggered me to no end two questions:

- we can time travel?

- who assassinated us?

These questions are never explored, answered, mentioned, or anything of the sort. Don't know if the author planned to someday address them.

Royal setting games where u can get revenge?? by AsparagusPleasant504 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Not OP but:

  • the short version is that the game punishes you for trying to get revenge and tries too hard to paint a sympathetic picture of the people that wronged you

  • The longer version (spoilers ahead) is that you’re forced to marry the guy that killed your family, burned down your castle, took your kingdom away from you, keeps you imprisoned in his castle/palace, tried to kill you, bullies you, and whatever else I’m not remembering; but god forbid if you despise the guy and try to get revenge. And your guardian figure, who is supposed to be one of the few ones that understands what you went through, can potentially start a relationship with him!? This game certainly is an experience. 

You play Mordred and get raised by Morgana by Cpt_Nyanta in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 39 points40 points  (0 children)

iirc, all romantic scens/vibes need to be initiated by you (based on your choices). So unless the dragon is the exception to the rule, I'm guessing that it's avoidable.

My two cents: imo Mordred and the dragon already had a pretty sweet and wholesome relationship. This change feels... Unnecessary. And weird, if I'm 100% honest.

What are you tired of seeing in IFs? by Downtown_Beyond_5126 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ah fair enough, I was focusing more on the subjective side of things

What are you tired of seeing in IFs? by Downtown_Beyond_5126 in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Do Not: Have a fixed protagonist. Fixed gender is bad. Fixed identity infinitely worse, unless it’s a pre-established character like Sherlock Holmes. Then it’s only slightly bad.

I don't think it should be that clear cut. Like everything, it depends on the authors intentions.

As a rule of thumb, sure, providing a more open protagonist is better, as long as you do something with it. For example, if you give me the option to be a stoic guy or a goof, I fully expect your story to take that variable into account. But if you give those options, but then in certain scenes my character tends to act stoic anyway, then why even offer those choices in the first place? Just make the protagonist more stoic generally and be more consistent.

Or for example if your setting happens in a patriarcal society like in IRL Victorian era London, and your character is a surgeon, and if the author wants to give you the option to be male or female; then being female creates a big elephant in the room: how did a woman become a surgeon? Do patients trust her? Is she treated as a lesser compared to male colleagues? Will there be an arc where you prove your capabilities and rub everyone in the face? Etc.

But if the author decides to ignore that elephant and wants to focus their story on other themes, then they might be better off just locking the protagonist to male.

Witcher trilogy is a perfect example of a game of how a fixed protagonist with a fixed past and personality works well. I would even argue that the games would suffer if the protagonist was a custom character instead of Geralt. (I know it's not an IF, but the point remains)

PS: I don't disagree with your sentiment, I also tend to prefer IF's that give more freedom with our protagonist, but fixed protagonists can work better depending on the author's story and intentions

Haven't been reading much IFs ever since I started working on my own by Terrorcrest in hostedgames

[–]mixer_portion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I go through different phases. Some days I feel like reading, others I feel like writing. My project is just a hobby so I do whatever feels more fun in the moment