12 min read

Tiny Bytes for 1/23/23

Check out the latest issue of Tiny Bytes for information about visual novels and adjacent games!
Tiny Bytes for 1/23/23
Alfy holding a microphone with a speech bubble next to him that says "Interviews"
Image via Fable Novel

This week, we interviewed Fable Novel! They're the developer behind the mystery games Gidget & The Mysterious Thievery of Hoppity Town, Hummingbird’s Crown, and most recently Panacea: Rebirth! Learn about how the team was formed, their development process behind their different titles, what it was like to write acespec characters for Hummingbird's Crown, and so much more! You can read our interview with them here.

Alfy wearing a suit and bowtie. He's sitting behind a news desk. Next to the desk is a piece of text saying "News and Announcements"

Love Shore, a queer cyberpunk thriller visual novel, is releasing in the spring; new demo released

Image via Perfect Garbage
Content Warning: The demo version of this game contains violence, non-sexual nudity (character wears boxers), and sex toys and sexual nudity in a porn shop. The full game will contain sexual themes and implications that are consensual, body horror and blood, alcohol, drugs, abuse, kidnapping, character death, murder, weapons which include guns and bludgeoning weapons, and drug paraphernalia (weed boxers).

Love Shore, a cyberpunk noir thriller that was a part of the LudoNarraCon Steam event in 2021, will be releasing in spring on Steam and Xbox. The game takes place in Love Shore, a futuristic city that's been struck with a fertility crisis. Struggling to create new life, a company called Life S. has stepped up to help solve the problem plaguing the city by creating life out of raw DNA; these beings are known as S.Humans, and while they share a lot of the same traits humans do, they cannot age. However, shortly after creating 100 S.Humans, the company disappeared without a trace.

You play as either Sam or Farah, who are S.Humans trying to uncover what happened. As you do, you'll meet characters new and old. Some are friendly and may become something more if you play your cards right. However, there are people out there that want to take you out, so, you'll need to carefully navigate the brightly lit city of Love Shore if you want to survive your time there.

You can wishlist the game on Steam. A new demo was also released on both Steam and itch.io.

Visual;Conference is this Saturday! Get your tickets now!

Image via Visual;Conference

If you haven't gotten your tickets for Visual;Conference yet, what are you waiting for? Visual;Conference is the only conference that's created for the visual novel medium and those within the VN community. Those in game development or wishing to get into making visual novels will want to attend this conference, because it is filled to the brim with informative talks from developers within the community. Those developers include sake-bento (Jisei, RE:Alistair++), Shino (Who is the Red Queen?, Lachesis ∨ Atropos), and Arimia (Canvas Menagerie, Lost Lune). For example, Arimia will be talking about making a visual novel in 4 months versus 4 years, while Shino will talk about polishing your game with little features that can improve a player's experience.

If you want to see the full speaker list, you can check it out here. If Visual;Conference sounds like something you would be interested in, you can still purchase a ticket on the website. At the time of writing, you can purchase a single ticket for US $15 or group tickets (five tickets) for $60. The ticket price will no doubt increase when we get closer to the event, especially on the day of, so buy your ticket right now to get the best price for it!

Decorative white and orange text that says "Top New Indie Visual Novels"

Death Trick: Double Blind (demo)

Image via DT_DoubleBlind

Right before the circus' show, their star magician—The Amazing Hattie—has disappeared, causing rumors to pop up about what happened. In reality, she has died, though very few know about that. With how severe the case is, two characters are called to save the day: a magician known as Jackie and Detective Jones. Notably, Jackie was sent a letter by Hattie before her death, the letter saying that something is going on at the circus. Impersonating Hattie, Jackie will go in alongside Jones to try to find the killer.

In order to gather information to help you solve the mystery, you will need to bring up topics, items, and people in conversation, similar to how you would in Ace Attorney. Then, when you find a contradiction, you'll point it out with the information you've gathered.

You can download the current build of Death Trick: Double Blind's demo on itch.io for free.

Milk Tea Talks

In Milk Tea Talks, you play Aillium, who is out with their friends Matteo and Cephane, who are dating. The two get into a fight and they ask our protagonist for advice. You need to hear out both characters separately, see what is the root of the issue, and help the two come to a resolution. However, with four endings, it is possible that the conflict won't be solved and it'll end in Matteo and Cephane separating. So, will you be able to help the two lovers see eye-to-eye?

You can download Milk Tea Talks for free on itch.io.

Monster Office

Image via TheHoodieGremlin

After trekking through a forest, you finally arrive at your new office job. The job description was pretty vague on the details, and you find out why: your co-w0rkers are all monsters! Monster Office is a short, cute comedy visual novel with characters who, although they might be monsters, you can't help but be charmed by. How will your first day at your job go, and will you continue your time there?

You can download Monster Office on itch.io for free.

Prism (demo)

Image via Gazpins

Waking up in a cell, Cypress is introduced to a man in a lab coat named Walter. Aside from knowing their name—which they only found out due to Walter saying it—they don't know anything else about themself or about where they are. It's revealed to them that they committed a crime, but the memory of it has been erased from their mind. What did Cypress do to land up in a cell? Is there a way out? Just who exactly is Walter, and is there more to him than meets the eye?

You can download the current demo of Prism on itch.io for free.

Alfy playing a video game with decorative pink text next to him. The text reads "Other New Games You Might Like!"

Ash of Gods: The Way (demo)

Image via AurumDust

In this turn-based story-driven game, you play as Finn, who is sent on a mission in hopes of stopping a war. However, it won't be easy. You'll have people who will get in your way of achieving peace, while also having individuals forcing you to challenge your own worldviews and beliefs. You'll be faced with turn-based combat where you use a combination of attack and support cards to win the fight. Those who've played Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre, and most recently, Marvel's Midnight Suns will find this gameplay rather familiar. In addition to these fights, you'll also be making critical choices that will change the flow of the story and how it will end.

You can download the demo of Ash of Gods: The Way on Steam and itch.io for free.

Children of Silentown

Image via Daedalic Entertainment

In this dark but cute-looking adventure game, you play Lucy. She lives in a village that's deep in a dangerous forest inhabited by monsters. Every night, the scared children of the village hear the monsters' roars, and of course, being right next to the monsters, it isn't uncommon for someone to go missing. Despite being scared of her environment, Lucy feels like she is capable enough to investigate what lies out there in the forest. However, will she be able to come back, or will she just be yet another missing person?

You can purchase Children of Silentown on Steam for US $19.99.

Persona 3 Portable

Image via Atlus
Content Warning: This game contains blood, death, sexual themes, violence, and partial nudity.

Originally exclusive to the PSP, critically acclaimed RPG Persona 3 Portable has recently been remastered and released on modern systems. In this iteration of Persona, you play as either a male or female high schooler who discovers the hidden hour known as the "dark hour," where monsters known as Shadows attack and your school turns into a giant, looming tower called Tartarus.

Just like the other Persona games, you must carefully balance your schedule: deciding whether you should spend the day raising your stats, building up your social links, or going into Tartarus to fight shadows to level up to prepare yourself for the next big boss fight. What makes this game unique compared to modern Persona games is that, as mentioned earlier, you can play as either male or female. Both have different music and social links, making the game worth playing through twice just to experience what both have to offer.

You can purchase Persona 3 Portable on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4/5 for US $19.99.

A decorative poster in shape of a treasure map with a red gem in the middle. Layered on top of the poster is text that says "Hidden Gems You May Have Missed"

talking to my dad

Image via hatimb00

talking to my dad won the Gold Medal at the Queer Games Festival 2022 for its carefully crafted and tense narrative. You play as a young man who is riding in the car with his father. It's very clear that the pair aren't close, with how short the son's answers are and the fact that the dad doesn't know much about his child, asking about old friends the son doesn't really talk to anymore. From the deafening silence, you can tell something is weighing on the son's mind, but it's hard for him to get it out. The game is anxiety-inducing and reminds me of the awkward car rides with my parents up to college, and conversations that I never had with them because I was afraid of what they would say. This game is very real and it's fantastic.

You can play talking to my dad in-browser on itch.io.

SIGNALIS

Image via rose-engine
Content Warning: This game contains blood, body horror, dismemberment, glitchy viusal effects, gore, and violence.

In this cyberpunk survival horror game, you play as Elster, a Replika—a humanoid—who does not remember much besides two things: that she's made a promise and that she will do anything to keep it. You'll explore a dark world full of monsters and other Replikas with limited resources to your disposal, so you can't waste your ammo on everything and constantly replenish your health to heal minor wounds. As you solve puzzles and get further into the game, you'll uncover Elster's memories of who she was prior to the game and who exactly she made this promise to. The game features multiple endings based on your performance (i.e., how many enemies you killed, how long you played the game, etc.), similar to the Silent Hill games.

You can purchase SIGNALIS on Steam and Nintendo Switch for US $19.99.

Threads of Magic

Image via bkomei
Content Warning: This game contains mild implied transphobia and internalized transphobia.

Created for Release the Magic! A Queer Magical Girl Game Jam, Threads of Magic is about learning where those amazing costumes that we see magical characters wear in media come from. Turns out, a tailor makes them! You take control of Wing, a tailor who makes costumes for those who are given the powers of magic. You'll need to make the perfect costumes for each client so they can transform and save the world in style!

You can download Threads of Magic on itch.io for free.

Decorative text with a jar of jam in the middle. The text reads "Alfy's Jam-Dar!"

Ludum Dare 52

The latest edition of Ludum Dare has ended. The theme this time was "Harvest." Let's check out the visual novels and narrative games that were released for the jam this time around!

Internet Detective Club

Image via Studio Sonant

Join the members of the Internet Detective Club on an adventure!

You can download Internet Detective Club on itch.io for free.

Menagerie Street

Image via Evan Charfauros

After having your crops stolen, you'll need to recover them in time for the Harvest Festival. Find them by talking with your very weird and secretive neighbors!

You can download Menagerie Street for free on itch.io.

Nut Another Harvest Game

Image via Fabi

Assist a squirrel in finding a nut so it can have food for the winter!

You can download Nut Another Harvest Game for free on itch.io.

Today I'm Harvesting You!

Image via robobarbie

Tired of being single and poor, you're headset on changing both of those things and will do anything for that happen.

You can download Today I'm Harvesting You! for free on itch.io.

Alfy with a technical grid with the text "Insightful Developer Content" next to him.

Five fast ways to let backgrounds boost characters by Simon Lindenthaler

It's the little things that can really improve something. That's how the saying goes, and it's true for all facets of life, including art. Backgrounds are essential to your game and giving a sense of belonging to your world. If you want to make your characters stick out from your backgrounds in CGs, for example, you may want to look at this tutorial from Simon Lindenthaler. They list five ways to bring out your characters so they don't get lost within your backgrounds.

What we've linked above is the video version of the tutorial. If you would like a text version, you can check that out here.

What to know before hiring a marketer for your game by Arimia

If you're not confident in marketing and you have the funds to do so, you can hire a marketer for your game. However, "marketer" is a very general term. There's a lot to marketing and specialized roles within it, such as content managers, copywriters, and influencer marketing, just to name a few roles.

Arimia, who is a freelance marketer, wrote a blog plot explaining this exact thing. She goes in-depth about what each role does. Given the many roles a marketer can do, she advises that marketing shouldn't be left to one person and should be a collaborative effort. Since you're the team lead, you should help the marketer by providing information about your game, since you know your project best. That way, your marketer and other members of your team can come up with ways to help market your game. After all, certain subgenres work better with certain marketing strategies than they do with others. We recommend taking a look at Arimia's blog post so you can become more informed about what a marketer does.

Google Fonts (Twitter Thread) by Clayton Notestine

Google Fonts is an excellent place to get your fonts. Many of the fonts on there are free to use for both personal and commercial use without any strings attached. Not only that, but the site has a wide selection to choose from. Twitter user Clayton Notestine, who is a visual design educator, made a Twitter thread containing his recommendations that were added to Google Fonts last year. He explains why he likes each font. If you're looking for fonts, we recommend checking out his thread and Google Fonts in general.

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