Recommending Story-first games

[GershGersh]

I am fortunate enough to not need to make a living from this (though our games are Mortze's sole source of income, so I can't ignore the money entirely). Since I don't need them to pay the rent, I'm free to make games that I want to play, and I focus on that above large audiences.

I'd be happy if a lot of people enjoyed my games, but I'm not willing to make games I don't like to chase that kind of "success."

Since I'm doing story games about adults in a field driven by porn logic games about high school students, I don't expect to appeal to a large audience. (That said, the original "Getting to know Christine" has been played by a million people.)

I have had (a smallish number of) people tell me that my games have had a large (positive) impact on them. That always makes me extremely happy.

I'm pretty sure that if I had to actively choose between "popular but not memorable" and "super impactful to 100 people" I'd choose the latter. But, again, I'm not making that choice. My choice is to make games I personally enjoy. Everything else falls out of that.

All that said, I really enjoy people talking at length about my games. I used to get that more in the old days on Sharks Lagoon.

Tlaero

I'm glad to hear you have had a taste of the three outcomes and now that just leaves the holy grail of outcomes- having a baby named after you, and you can finally retire; nothing left to accomplish.

Its so obvious i didn't even consider it, to make games you would enjoy playing. It makes a lot of sense as a starting point. i'd always believed that stories or art in general is an ethereal viral infection, and you're forced by some ghost to translate the unkown into the physical or you would die. Making things you enjoy is a much much better way to go about things.

Thank you for playing! There have been a number of things in the Elsaverse since the Omnibus. Links to all of them are here:

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Tlaero

I dont know why i was fixated on the idea that you had stopped making games until i finished LCFK last night and got to the post scene. This has to be the most active retirement return run ever, looks like i have a helluvalot more games to play this week or maybe month... Yay!

First off, thank you for your kind words. Though, since it's all hand drawn, I'm betting it'd take me decades to release 10 games lol

Secondly, I would mostly answer the question the same way as Tlaero . I don't do AVNs for a living, which frees me up to do whatever I feel like. Which means I doubt any of the games I have in mind will appeal to many people, including the one I'm developing first. But I would obviously prefer to deeply impact ten people than to mildly entertain a hundred thousand. Who wouldn't?

And obviously I'd love for people to be so into something I made that they were pages upon pages of theories and discussion about it. Again, who wouldn't? That's a no brainer lol.

Hand drawn? Now i'm really looking forward to your game. You better have some reliable wrist guards for 10 years of games . At first, i thought the "deeply impact people" or "conversation magnet" would be the preferable outcome but i wonder if it might not become too much pressure and responsibility at least to you the creator. like it may take the fun out of it and you might start to prefer a high 5 and a nod instead of a thesis each time your work comes up.

____

Now, i dont want to hijack this thread to what seems to be more a development related direction, i may create one if the courage catches me just right. But thank you both so much for your answers and indulging my selfish curiosity. I didnt think i would get such wonderful insight when i first posted. I really appreciates you.

_____

In order to earn my keep here let me throw in a recommendation. Have any of you played DiscipleOfVirginia games- Of Birds And Bees and Holly Smiles At The End? They make me think there should be some sort of honorable mention section to the list for games that are well written, well paced, phenomenal art, but with an ever so slightly weird direction (If slight could be used to mean extreme). The bizarre, the strange, the absurd and maybe even the scary. These two games especially have a beautiful coherence to the incoherence- think David Wong, Carlton Mellick III and/or David Lynch.

 

[jufot]

I've been meaning to replay the entire Elsaverse since Past, Present, and Future was released, and I realised I had forgotten some major plot points.

I finally managed it over the last week or so. With months and years between games, it's easy to miss details that are relevant to the bigger picture. But when you read it all in a week, you notice a lot more, so I'd like to share some thoughts.

Before I start, though, this playthrough reminded me why I find Tlaero's couples so compelling. With rare exceptions, they always consist of an emotionally strong man and an even stronger woman. It remains true even if he saves her. It's a wonderful dynamic that's frequently missing from fiction.

Beware spoilers for the whole Elsaverse - games, short stories, novellas, even Patreon posts.

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If you have thoughts on any of this - especially disagreements - I'd love to read them

 

[Finuee]

I've been meaning to replay the entire Elsaverse since Past, Present, and Future was released, and I realised I had forgotten some major plot points.

I finally managed it over the last week or so. With months and years between games, it's easy to miss details that are relevant to the bigger picture. When you read it all in a week, though, you notice a lot more, so I'd like to share some thoughts.

Before I start, though, this playthrough reminded me why I find Tlaero's couples so compelling. With rare exceptions, they always consist of an emotionally strong man and an even stronger woman. It remains true even if he saves her. It's a wonderful dynamic that's frequently missing from fiction.

Beware spoilers for the whole Elsaverse - games, short stories, novellas, even Patreon posts.

Spoiler

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If you have thoughts on any of this - especially disagreements - I'd love to read them

I don't dare to open the spoiler as I haven't played the Elsaverse games yet. I find it so hard to find the time to play games...

 

[Tlaero]

I've been meaning to replay the entire Elsaverse since Past, Present, and Future was released, and I realised I had forgotten some major plot points.

Thank you Jufot! That was an incredible read! Thank you for taking the time to play all the games again and write such an insightful post.

Two quick comments:

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and

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Tlaero

 

[jufot]

Thank you Jufot! That was an incredible read! Thank you for taking the time to play all the games again and write such an insightful post.

I always worry that my posts are overwrought and meandering, so I'm glad you liked it! And thank you for giving us stories worth reading again and again.

Let me know if you want a hint.

Yes please! If the hint isn't enough, I'll gladly ask for a spoiler.

Darkness Falls: Signals will answer some of your questions.

Yeah, I figured that would be the case. Can't wait

 

[Tlaero]

Yes please! If the hint isn't enough, I'll gladly ask for a spoiler.

Hints in increasing amounts of spoilerness.

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Tlaero

 

[jufot]

Hints in increasing amounts of spoilerness.

Oh, that was so difficult and fun! I knew, of course, that Elsa's ancestor was from the other universe but I completely forgot about Dream Master. It doesn't explain everything, but it's another clue. It also confirms to me that others came to this universe before Morland. Though maybe I should have known that already?

I also forgot about Xara being in this. It's probably the first missed opportunity (of many) she had had of stopping Morland.

I wonder if Hunter is actually a shapeshifter and is also Elsa's cat, or if Stalker is a descendant of Hunter's? Stalker's reference to "elders" in Beginnings suggests that Elsa isn't the only living descendant of Troi and Mary. Hmm

 

[Geigi]

did any of you guys played myhusbandboss? a kinetic ntr/cheating story.
I cant really ellaborate in a well manner but, is good. Renders on point in the emotions, not the sex act per se.
the woman looks real, the husband and his dillema.

The author is doing a kinetic to portray his vision, just by this is already 99% better than most patreon poll funded ntr games.

I love the game. One of the few NTR games that have an actual NTR and well written. Seeds of Chaos is still unbeatable in terms of NTR genre.