loveafterdeath-if

[loveafterdeath-if]

there's got to be something wrong with me because I think Athiel is so endearing 😭😭😭 the ice cream scene was so funny lmao

Nothing's wrong with you, anon. Let's be masochist together.

[loveafterdeath-if]

Hi I just want to say that I got to that scene and actually cried, which I don’t often do when I read. Thank you for sharing your writing.

No no no thank you, anon<3

[loveafterdeath-if]

If we choose the option to not be ready to start dating again yet, but also choose all the heart options for a RO, what would it mean for their romance route?

Mmmmh, it’s probably gonna be a slow start to their romances. The game will remember your choices, so the ROs will likely be more… reticent about dating and getting serious, or hesitant to call your relationship more than 'friends' or whatever. They'll flirt, etc., but the ROs will still wonder if it's real, a game or just a pastime for MC.

You'll lock your route in Chapter 2 with obvious options. That doesn’t mean you’ll be all lovey-dovey, but I want to lock the route now so I can start exploring the different dynamics I want for the ROs' routes.

For example, I have the type who is shy and a blushy mess, the warm one who tends to blush but isn't actually shy, the bold one who says or does daring things only to be a blushy mess the next minute, the unafraid bold one, and the oblivious one.

I don’t know if that makes sense...?

[loveafterdeath-if]

A little snippet for y'all!

[loveafterdeath-if]

Your demo is amazing, I wasn't expecting it to be so long for a new release but it just kept going. The heartbreak and void after what happened to El..

I thought about it when MC was having the dream about El but how would the characters react to MC sleepwalking or sleeptalking after El's accident, like they would wander outside like a ghost calling for El or something

Athiel would stand nearby but wouldn’t intervene. They know MC probably wouldn’t want their help, so they’ll just observe and ensure MC doesn’t fall or bump into anything while sleepwalking.

L would press a hand on MC's back to gently guide them back to their room, murmuring soft words to soothe and comfort MC as much as possible.

Ekissa would likely guide them back or, if MC is shorter, carry them to their room, stroking their hair until they’re sure everything is "okay."

T wouldn’t hesitate to take MC’s hands, rubbing their skin gently with their thumbs and softly calling MC’s name to wake them. T wouldn’t allow MC to continue dreaming, especially not if MC is mumbling El's name in a heartbroken way.

[loveafterdeath-if]

I want to say, I love all of the ROs and I'm definetly going to continue playing! ♥️ I think my favs so far are Eki an L. 🥰 Haven't played Athiel, yet. And if you got me so invested in El in such a short amount of time I can't wait for the crushing and early relationship stage for the current ROs!! 😍

But, just as a suggestion... When this project is finished you could make all of your readers very, very happy and write the story in an alternative timeline with El alive as your second game. 😇 I loved the clumsy proposal scene so much!! It was so adorable and it felt so real.

Your writing makes my feelings sky rocket. So, you know, thank you, Echo! ♥️

Hehehe, thank you, anon! I'm glad it brought out the emotions I tried to convey<3

As for the suggestion, I'll think about it once I'm actually done with Love After Death!

[loveafterdeath-if]

“I meant it with every fiber of my being. MC was, is, and will always be their fate”

This comment reminded of an ask so I wanted ask u the same thing :) . If the ROs (+ E) were in a soulmate AU, what kind would it be (red string, black and white world, matching marks, first words on each other’s body, etc)?

Sorry for the late reply! I was staring at this ask for days, asking myself what it was supposed to mean. I was overthinking it with my French brain when it was just a simple question. I knew I was slow, but that left me with a big "?" in my head. (but feel free to correct me if I got it all wrong) Anyway!

El would definitely be represented by the red string. I mean, I can't say otherwise with the design of the banners on the blog and itch.io lol

Ekissa would be about sharing emotions, feeling each other’s emotions. They don't even need that, but it would definitely suit MC and Ekissa

Athiel would fit the black and white world concept

L would be about sharing memories, like flashes of memories from each other

As for T... mmmmh... it would be either the black and white world or red string

[loveafterdeath-if]

Y'know, after El's death, I completely forgot we're supposed to propose to El. So when Athiel said: “Nice ring” I was like: “What ring- OOOH- OOOOH- THAT RING!” And Idk if the ring is supposed to be the proposition (?) ring, but I totally had a breakdown after 😃��

Okay, so, do the ROs know that we were planning to propose to El? I mean, I guess our ✨bestie✨ does, Athiel does too(?) But I don't remember anyone metioning it neither (thooough maybe that'd be putting salt on the wound...)

Nobody knew except Ekissa. L wasn't close to MC and... well, T just met MC haha

Athiel wasn't surprised simply because MC and El were just the kind of couple where you're like, "When's the wedding?" or the baby or the dog or whatever people say when a couple shines too brightly. They were the typical "perfect" couple. It just seemed logical to Athiel that either MC or El would propose.

[loveafterdeath-if]

just played through your if, and I love it?

I was curious if Juliet would ever get some sort of redemption arc ^_^

Firstly, thank you so much!

Juliet won't have any redemption arc, I'm afraid. She's too stubborn to change her behavior, and she tends to believe that everything she does is the right thing.

It's her way or nothing

[loveafterdeath-if]

Hey there! Ekissa's POV is out now! (~2.5k words) HERE

Hope you'll like it, I've already started Athiel's POV while writing chap 2 btw

[loveafterdeath-if]

Finished Ekissa's POV; it will be out in 2 days, if not before!

Just so you know!

Hi there!

Just to let you all know, I'll be off Tumblr for a few days to focus on writing chapter 2 and the POVs. I’ll post small updates on Discord for those who want to see my progress.

I didn’t realize Tumblr could be so distracting! I always want to reply to everyone, and by the end of the day, I don’t get much writing done, hahaha.

btw, chap 2 is at 4k words for now, and Ekissa's POV at 1k words!

[loveafterdeath-if]

❤️

What's New In IF? Issue 28 (2024)

By Brij, Dion, Briar, Jen and Peter

Now Available!

Itch.io - Keep Reading below

If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3

~ EDITORIAL ~

The surprises are just never-ending!

The Halloween Issues are successfully behind us. But don’t worry, there’s still more exciting things to come! Check out the Announcements for more information!

We want some feedback!

As we’re starting to get a hand of things, we would love some feedback from you guys! What you enjoy, want more or less off, how we could improve... Anything goes! We even have a nifty form!

Still looking for members!

The Zine Team is growing, but we won’t say no to more free hands looking to make a little difference in the community!

If you too would like to help us out in a more official capacity, please shoot us a message! You can check out the available positions here, but if you’d like to help in any other way, feel free to contact us as well!

We hope you enjoy this new issue!

BRIJ, DION, BRIAR, JEN AND PETER

~ BE A PART OF THE ZINE ~

THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

WRITE FOR THE COLUMN!

Prefer to be more low-key but still have something to share? Send us a Zine Letter or share a game title for Highlight on…!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Came across something interesting? Know a release or an update announced? Saw an event happening? Whether it's a game, an article, a podcast… Add any IF-related content to our mini-database!

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!

Contact us through Tumblr asks, Forum DMs, or even by email! And thank you for your help!!

~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : BITSY JAM ~

Fuu, already #85?

Bitsy is a little engine for little games, worlds, and stories created by Adam Le Doux that makes game making look easier than ever! I mean really! You can use it to make a game in your browser just by drawing it! Thanks to the simple pixelated graphics and limited colour palette you can make basically anything from simple short stories to complicated masterpieces.

The first jam (with a yummy theme: Breakfast) took place on April 8th 2017. Now it’s a monthly occurrence, each time with a new challenging theme that the creators themselves (or even possibly you) get to vote on.

Petrichor, temporary, intentionally bad, tomatoes, no dialogue, long distances, secret place, bitsy fest jam, lost media and waiting are just the ten most recent ones. This month’s theme is game manual - the theme can be the core of the game, or just a small reference. Anything really. The main point of this jam is to have fun and make something! (Just make sure that your game is made in one of these: bitsy, mosi or bipsi.)

So why not give it a shot?

~ ENDED ~

The Halloween Jam has officially ended and the winners have been announced! Check out the results here.

~ ONGOING (VOTING) ~

The voting for ECTOCOMP 2024 has officially started! To vote and participate as a jury, you must do so by giving between 1 to 5 stars on each entry page of the jam. The voting period ends on November 30.

The 7th edition of inkJam is in motion and you have until the 15th November to vote for your faves. The winners will be officially announced the following day.

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Disabled Rep VN Jam has a very simple premise but a very important message.

Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales… and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam. It’s running from October 1st to January 31st.

Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted March 3rd 2025.

Are you perhaps a fan of more somber, melancholic themes? Then check out the Dying Year - Visual Novel Jam! You have until the end of the year to participate.

The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.

Bare your teeth and sharpen your claws because the Monstrous Desires 2024 Visual Novel Jam is here! Dedicated to the love of entities, horrors, and monstrosities, this jam will be full of romantic Visual Novels (VN) that heavily focus on a monster may it be original or from classics, folklore, modern media, etc.

The October Bitsy Jam is here! The theme is game manual and you have until November 11th to submit your projects.

~ OTHER ~

Jams are a great way to find new games! Don’t be afraid to check out submissions from previous years as well. There might be some gems hiding between them!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

The corpos are after you. The cops are, too. Even your ex has crawled out of the grave to try and get you back. Meanwhile, the fate of the galaxy itself rests on a knife’s edge, and only you can bar the doors of hell in Whiskey-Four (CScript)

In Between Two Worlds (CScript) join forces with a rogue smuggler to uncover the truth of a mysterious cult and foil their plans—but who can you trust in a time of uncertainty and darkness?

It’s natural to hold onto the memory of someone you loved and lost. But when does remembrance turn to fixation? When does clinging to the past begin to warp your present and future? Find out in That Which Surrounds. @blank-house

Blood Moon Rising is a text-based IF where vampires kidnapped your father. Now you need to get him back to safety at all costs.

You wake up in a dark forest, all alone. Who are you? What’s going on? Play The ritual (bitsy) and find your way inside the forest and discover the truth about the mysterious ritual that brought you here…

In Monstrous Brew play as Mae, a cute pastel witch, finding refuge in her bakery. What will she do when a feather flutters into her hand, foreboding a her death?

As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Godsbane: Book One (CScript) Since the day of your birth, everything was nothing short of perfect. So why do you still see this face? Why does it burn so much? @speechlessturtle

Love After Death (Twine) Your past is in the past. And your future is with your lover. No more stress. No more tears, rage, helplessness, or feeling powerless. But isn't it going a bit too smoothly?

In Unneeded Script (Twine) you died in a car accident. Now, it's time to try again in a fantastic setting, but oh wait! You are a villain! Good luck! @unneededscript-if

In When Love and Law Collide (CScript) you are a newbie police officer. And as a police officer, your mandate is simple. Apprehend those who don’t follow the law. But what if you get caught in the rivalry between two warring clans - and two people who make you ignore the laws and follow your heart? @biinthecity

Addy (Ren’Py) - Welcome to Nowhere Tech, transfer student- where you'll meet people, make choices, make mistakes, and make even more mistakes.

Hana's got some skeletons in her closet. For the past few years the hustle and bustle of the city has served as a great distraction, but the time has come for her to view the reality of what happened to her in MINE MEMORY.

~ UPDATES ~

College Tennis: Origin Story (CScript) released Chapter 6 to the public. @collegetennisoriginstory

Cyberpolice (CScript) added the Romantic part of Stillwater one night stand scene to their demo.

Remnants of the Past (Twine) released Chapter 3 of Act 2. @remnantsofthepast-if

The Ballad of the Young Gods (Twine) released Chapters 2 and 3. @childrenofcain-if

Vice Virtue (Twine) added new content to Chapter 1. @dam-peace

Only Flesh and Blood (Ren’Py) updated the demo. @gauloiseblue

The Bureau - Halloween special (CScript) is here. @morbethgames

Crystal Lambs (Ren’Py) released Chapter 4.

Dice & Dungeon Masters (CScript) added new content to their demo.

Hooves & Hearts (Twine) released Chapter 1: Rudolph and Dasher.

~ OTHER ~

The author of The Sword of Rhivenia (CScript) is also back with a remake! Be sure to check out the demo.

The VNture podcast is back with another episode! This time talking about spooky scary monsters.

The wait is over and the Reincarnation Of The Archdemon (CScript) demo relaunch is here.

Chronicles of Taldun: The Remainder Expanded Edition is out. There’s a lot of new content, so be sure to check it out!

~

As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week. We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks.

If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week! And if you know oncoming news, add it here!

~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~

We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...

Shoot us an email!

~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~

A couple of games that we thought were cool.

Sanguine Sky by @sanguinesky-if (CScript)

HEYYYY! for the game highlight, may I please mention "Sanguine Sky" by the amazing @ sanguinesky-if ??? I swear this IF is so lovely, and the ROs always have my heart racing. Not to mention the amazing writing!

//submitted by anon//

Flight by Cidney Hamilton (Twine)

You moved overseas for love. But was it worth it? A short piece of hypertext fiction about leaving a toxic relationship.

//recommended by the Team//

Your favourite game here?

Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?

An old or recent game that wowed you so much you spam it to everyone?

Tell us about it! And it might appear here!

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN...

Have something to say? Send us a message titled: Zine Letter!

Did you miss our Small Talk portion of the Zine? Then you have a reason to celebrate because we’re bringing it back!

You’ve read it right! The interviews are back thanks to our new Team members: BRIAR AND PETER! Welcome to the Team guys, we’re happy to have you! There’s already an interview in the works and we can wait to share it with you!

And we will be interviewing... *insert drumroll here*

LEIA TALON!

Fantasy romance writer, author of the newly released Ink and Intrigue, Their Majesties' Pleasure and The World Tree Chronicles book series.

Send us any question you'd have for her and we’ll ask her for you! Whether it's general or ultra specific, tell us what you'd like to know!

As we end this issue, we would like to thank:

our awesome anon!

For sending us their game Highlight!

As always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on the last issue!

What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!

Thank you for cheering us on this journey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We’re also currently working on a Meet the Team post, so be excited for that!

And see you again next week!

BRIJ, DION, BRIAR, JEN AND PETER

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2024-ISSUE 28

[loveafterdeath-if]

Watch me throw out all of Athiel's things if they bring that Maxine chick home. 😒😒😒

If Athiel brings Maxime somewhere, it wouldn’t be at MC's house. They hate showing their soft or shy side to people, and if they do, they certainly won't show it with others around

As for Maxime, they’re too focused on their career to take Athiel seriously in this kind of relationship. If they can use Athiel, they will, but it won’t go beyond that. It’ll stay platonic with flirts here and there

But you can still throw Athiel's things, maybe that'll help deflate their ego hahaha

[loveafterdeath-if]

I...... hate you. That's all I gotta say. Fuck u for taking my precious El from my even more precious MC. Just..... Fuck you. I hate you. Like in a good way. Probably. I mean I just hate you and your sadistic brain. Man just fuck u.

PS. Hope u know it's just my emotions running on overdrive and I don't mean it.... not totally anyway, also again, just fuck u.🖕

I don't know what's stranger: this love-hate relationship we've just developed or the fact that I'm weirdly happy about this ask.

Thank you, I guess?

[loveafterdeath-if]

Hello! Not a question, just some praise. Your writing is awesome!! I love the many different choices to express grief! It made it feel so much more real. Also, I didn't see the warning and got too attached to Elias/Ellie, but he was too adorable not to get attached too. Also, good luck on this project!

That's it, keep the praise coming

[loveafterdeath-if]

Just so you know!

Hi there!

Just to let you all know, I'll be off Tumblr for a few days to focus on writing chapter 2 and the POVs. I’ll post small updates on Discord for those who want to see my progress.

I didn’t realize Tumblr could be so distracting! I always want to reply to everyone, and by the end of the day, I don’t get much writing done, hahaha.

btw, chap 2 is at 4k words for now, and Ekissa's POV at 1k words!

[loveafterdeath-if]

Damn this hurt (in the good way). I'm going to do the other ros, but definitely doing one where I never do any ros but E. I am delusional and hoping (begging) that E will come back somehow. The nightmare bit only made it worse.

Speaking of nightmares, how would E react if mc just woke up from a nightmare where all of this happened? (Basically, the whole Just A Bad Dream thing where mc wakes up from this and E is actually alive.)

El would've done what they always did, spending the whole night reassuring MC if they had to. They'd try to throw in some jokes here and there to cheer up MC. El would tell MC that they're very much there and always will be, ready to give MC what they need—jokes, love, care, everything.

El would've been internally worried, though. They wouldn’t have been able to stop themselves from constantly reassuring MC over the next days, weeks, hell, even years.