Tiny Bytes Issue #5
Visual novels took over Queer Games Festival 2022
Earlier this month, the Queer Games Festival showcased the different LGBTQIA+ games that were submitted to them. This year, the festival had over 80 titles in their showcase, many of them visual novels. You can check out the full list of titles here.
Plenty of visual novels also made the shortlist, such as YAGS: Falling For You by bobcgames, Vivica's Heart created by Cerise Makes and the Vivica Team, Wrong Number developed by WitPOP, and As We Know It from Jaime Scribbles Games.
Some games took home awards as well. One of the two Bronze Medals went to Buy Hyacinths, made by Cow Children, where you play as a sheep going to a human university.
Winning the Jury Award was He Fucked the Girl Out of Me, a game about sex work and trauma developed by Taylor McCue. He Fucked the Girl Out of Me has an in-game trigger warning list that you can view at the beginning.
Taking home the Gold Medal was talking to my dad by hatimb00, a short game about a a father and son talking to one another during a car ride. All the games that won awards, got on the shortlist, and were featured in the overall showcase are deserving of your attention. So set some time aside and play some of the games that we featured this year!
PLAYISM will publish from Madness with Love, set to release in Spring 2023
Content Warning: Strong language, sensitive topics, violence, horror, unreasonable scenarios, intelligible nonsense, and very loud noises.
From the same company that published Gnosia, Ib, and Mad Father comes another localization, called from Madness with Love. Described as a dating sim, you're sent to a new school after your previous one was burned down. Here, you meet four suitors who you can woo. As you get closer with them, you'll encounter challenges and uncover their secrets, which could break your relationship with them... Despite all of that, it is possible to have a happy ending with one of them if you play your cards right. The game is set to release in spring of 2023, according to an announcement made by PLAYISM.
You can wishlist the title here. It's important to note that while the game does seem cute, it does have heavy content in it, according to the warnings located at the bottom of the game description; we've put them above, exactly how they're written on the store page.
Experience a heartbreaking story with Elfie
Content Warning: Religious trauma, homophobia, and suicide.
The game begins with Elfie at choir, but unlike the others, she unable to join in singing praises to God. Shortly afterwards, she meets her childhood friend Abelone, who is relatively quiet and avoids looking at Elfie. From there, you experience a tense and heartbreaking story of two girls who are stuck in a town that won't accept them, and how this and religion affect them, mainly Elfie.
You can download Elfie for free on itch.io.
Experience the world of Touhou Project in Touhou: Fading Illusion
Content Warning: Contains scenes of violence or murder.
For those unaware, the Touhou Project is a video game series that consists of mainly bullet hell shoot 'em ups created by Team Shanghai Alice, made up of one member, ZUN. The series has a quite the following, and due to its popularity has spawned many fan projects based off the property. One such game is Touhou: Fading Illusion, made for fans, though newcomers are welcomed and encouraged to give it a try. In this game, you'll explore the different areas featured in the series, such as Former Hell and Gensokyo, while meeting the various characters, which this game features over 50 of.
The game is currently in development as a Steam Early Access title for free, so you'll be able to play the game in its early stages and give feedback to the studio to assist them with development. If you are interested in playing Touhou: Fading Illusion, you can download it here.
Uncover your forgotten memories in Loose Ends
After being forced to leave his dormitory, Aiden returns to get his things. As he gathers his items, which range from old photographs to video game posters, he begins to remember the times he spent with his friends Luke and Gabi. He hasn't seen them in a while, and as he begins to navigate the campus, he realizes that his friends have changed since he was last there.
The game is currently in development. If you would like to play the game and share your feedback with the developer to help them improve Loose Ends, you can download the game from itch.io.
Get unnerved with Harvester's newest game, Burnhouse Lane
Content Warning: Occasional strong violence and gore, strong bad language, some sexual innuendo and adult themes throughout including alcohol and drug addiction, domestic abuse, animal cruelty, depression, and suicide.
Harvester Games, the team behind The Cat Lady, Downfall, and Lorelai, have released a new disturbing horror game called Burnhouse Lane. On the verge of death, Angie Weather is given another chance at life if she's able to complete the five tasks given to her. She'll be forced to travel to different areas to solve puzzles and sometimes fight for her survival if she wants to live again.
You can purchase Burnhouse Lane for US $14.99 on Steam.
Get a friend and solve a murder together in Antioch: Scarlet Bay
Content Warning: Crimes, violence, mention of domestic violence, mild sexual content, mention of drugs, strong language, and a single mention of a potential pedophile
In this online experience, you and another player will take the roles of two detectives trying to solve a murder that happened in Antioch. You both decide how the game will play out, where to go, who to talk to, and more. For those who've played games like As Dusk Falls, another interactive story where you and your friends help shape the narrative with your choices, you may enjoy Antioch: Scarlet Bay. This game is multiplatform with crossplay (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS), so while you may be playing the game on your computer, the other player is free to play on any one of the listed platforms.
You can purchase Antioch: Scarlet Bay on Steam, Google Play, or the App Store.
Talk back to the ocean with handmade instruments in Resonance of the Ocean
Resonance of the Ocean is a relaxing game that has you picking up items which have washed up on the shore and making instruments out of them. You then use these instruments to respond back to the mysterious sounds coming from the ocean. It's a beautifully done game that can be completed in 10 to 30 minutes.
You can download the game on itch.io or Steam for free.
Go from past to present in the summer tale Once Again
In Once Again, Sia wakes up after his birthday to find himself in an unfamiliar place but finds himself in the presence of a girl who seems familiar...though he's never met her before. The two decide to spend some time together, bonding over photography. What kind of memories will these two make together, and just who exactly is this girl?
You can purchase Once Again on Steam for US $6.99. There is also a free demo available, if you wish to try out the game before buying it.
Find love in your once-beautiful town in Crush Penguin
In Crush Penguin, a clear parody of the the online game Club Penguin, you've returned to your hometown of 'Berg, where corruption and pollution have taken over and destroyed your once-beautiful snowy town. Though you're not going to let the upsetting changes get you down! There are four penguins you can romance: Alex, Bailey, Joey, and Tommy. Who will you fall in love with, and what secrets will you uncover during your stay in 'Berg?
You can buy Crush Penguin on Steam for US $0.99.
Keep your school life in order and make new relationships in High School Daze: Junior Year
In High School Daze: Junior Year, you play a high school junior entering their second quarter. In a year where you're forced to start thinking about colleges and a standardized test that stresses every junior out, your character decides to try and make this year not all about grades by making new friends and rekindling old friendships. Of course, there is the potential for one of your friendships to blossom into something more. Will you be able to handle school and a social life at the same time?
You can download High School Daze: Junior Year on itch.io for free.
- Game Off 2022 (ended December 1st)
For Game Off 2022, the participants had to make a game based off the jam's theme, which was "cliché." There were two visual novels that caught our eye from this jam that we would like to give a quick shout-out to!
It's Not Me, It's You
It's time to break up with your toxic partner, and the only way to do that is besting them at a card game!
You can download or play It's Not Me, It's You in-browser on itch.io for free.
Bread Judge
As the greatest baker and the judge of the God of Bread, you need to judge four different breads and decide whether they're guilty or not.
You can download Bread Judge on itch.io for free.
- Yuri Jam 2022 (ended December 8th)
Another jam that concluded this month was Yuri Jam 2022, which aimed to have developers create more games featuring WLW relationships. Here were some that caught our eye this year!
Not Meow Purroblem
After being turned into a cat, Iris explores her surroundings in her new body but realizes how her wish might be affecting the one most important to her: her girlfriend, Maggie.
You can download Not Meow Purroblem for free on itch.io.
Useless Demon Lord
Going from unemployed shut-in to becoming the next Demon Lord, Lucille is asked by the demons to bring them back to their glory days.
You can purchase Useless Demon Lord on itch.io for US $4.69.
Your Lucky Charm
The unluckiest woman, whose presence seems to give everyone else good luck, meets three women who might finally put her unlucky streak to an end.
You can download Your Lucky Charm on itch.io for free.
Last week, we interviewed two members of NoBread Studio, Nayru and Xolf; you can check out that interview here! Next week, we'll be talking with Gabmag from Two and a Half Studios. Expect a lot of talk regarding The Divine Speaker and a bit about their upcoming title, Dreambound. You don't want to miss it!
The Beginner's Guide to Visual Novel Development by Two and a Half Studios
People are scared to get into visual novel development because they don't know where to start. In Two and a Half Studios' blog post, they outline what you should do: choose your engine, outline your story with basic details and then expand upon it, project management, and more. They list various resources that can be helpful for development, like the different engines you can use and books, videos, and sites that can help you with your writing. This post is filled to the brim with helpful information that will aid any first-time developer in getting their idea from something in their mind to an actual product.
VN Dev Resources and Links by PixelsAndPins
PixelsAndPins, also known as Ashe Thurman, has made a collection of resources for visual novel development. This page includes distribution platforms, engines, text editors, and more.
How to use choices when writing visual novels by Neo Tegoel Games
In this blog post, Neo Tegoel Games, who developed Gloom and Doom, details five different kind of choices you can make. Not every choice you include in your visual novel needs to be plot-branching or have a profound impact on your story. By reading their blog post, you'll find out the different ways you can utilize choices and help enrich your story.
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