#idrellegames

[quietsphere]

Ayy I can finally post the full res cover for the Wayfarer Pin-Up Calendar! Thank you @idrellegames for having me, the whole event was a blast.

[triflingshadows]

I can finally post my piece for @idrellegames' wayfarer 2023 pinup calendar! all proceeds went to the astraea lesbian foundation for justice. i had a wonderful time working on this as well as with the organizers and other artists and i looooooove how everyone's pieces came out

[ethereal-themes]

Completed commission for @idrellegames

[night-market-if]

Such good advice! If you are an IF writer, please read.

Protecting Your Alpha, Early Access & Side Content

It’s an inevitable part of making an interactive fiction game that someone will, at some point, leak your in-progress work.

This sucks. It will feel personal. It will hurt. It’s not a great feeling knowing that something you’ve spent years creating, something that you’ve put your sweat, blood, and tears into is essentially being pirated. Developing an IF is demanding, to the point where many games cannot get off the ground if the author does not have enough funding to make ends meet. This is a full time job to many of us and we are dependent on Patreon and Ko-fi as platforms to make a living. Part of running a platform like that is offering exclusive paid-for content, often in the form of alpha builds, early access, NSFW content, and side stories.  

IF developers are not massive companies with billions of dollars to throw around. We are independent authors, often working alone, often just scraping by, making games that will eventually be fairly low cost to purchase or completely free. Unfortunately, some players are entitled enough to believe they deserve access to free alpha or side story content at no cost to them simply because they want it and they want it now.

These people are assholes. And, quite frankly, fuck them.

If you’re an independent IF developer making your game in Twine and releasing on itch.io, here’s a few strategies to help keep your private content private.

1) Keep Your Public and Private Builds Separate

If you have exclusive content, upload it as a separate copy of the game. Do not put alpha content in the public build of your game. Anything that is in the HTML file can be easily accessed through the browser.

When your game launches, it loads through the iframe, which will display all of the content included in in your game file. This includes your JavaScript, your stylesheet, and the contents of every passage, including ones locked behind a password. Even if you’ve password-protected sections of your game directly in Twine using something like HiEv's Simple Password Hiding, it can still be easily bypassed if it's part of the public build's files.

A solution to this is to make different builds depending on your needs. When you upload content to itch, set your builds that are not intended for public access to Restricted mode.

This will block the project’s page from being viewed by anyone who does not have the password. You can then input a password for your patrons and supporters, which will be properly encrypted by itch.

Restricted mode will prevent your game from showing up in search results and it will also not display on your profile.

In my case, I have three builds for Wayfarer:

Public

Playtester

Alpha

The top one is the public build, which anyone can access. The Playtester and Alpha builds are both in password-protected Restricted modes.

When I do my updates, I compile each build separately (I am usually changing version numbers and a few different things between them, so they contain slightly different information), treat them like three different games, and make three separate ZIP files for upload.

2) Do Not Use Draft Mode to Share Content

Draft mode is another private mode on itch.io. It is intended to be a draft of your game page, so you can get all your information, assets and files together before you hit publish. When your project is in Draft mode, it is unsearchable and no one can access it except those with Editor permissions. However, Draft mode comes with something called a “secret URL”, which bypasses the restrictions. Anyone with the URL can access the game page.

Do not use the secret URL to share alpha or exclusive content. Because anyone with the URL can access the game page, it is essentially a public link. Secret URLs should never be handed to patrons or even your playtesting team. Only use it for situations where you need a second opinion from trusted individuals.  

3) Change Your Passwords Regularly

Passwords can still be shared, so it’s a good idea to change them regularly on a monthly or bi-monthly schedule.

If you run a Patreon, keep a pinned post at the top of your Patreon that has all your current build details, the link to your alpha build (or side content) and its current password. This way it is easy for your patrons to find the access information, as well as any patch notes or game updates they may have missed.

4) Download Keys

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use passwords, you can integrate your itch.io and Patreon accounts and give out access keys to your patrons. Download keys grant permanent access to the restricted project’s page, content, and files. Download keys are associated with a single itch.io account and cannot be shared.

Information about download keys is found under Edit game -> Distribute -> Download keys. You can create keys manually, or configure your settings to generate bulk keys for your patrons based on their tier level.

However, if you do decide to go this route, you may run into difficulties if your Patreon is in a different currency than your itch.io currency. (I ended up removing the integration as the troubleshooting was too time consuming to deal with on a month-to-month basis.)

These preventative measures are not guaranteed to work 100% of the time, but it should help discourage easy access to exclusive content. There is always the risk that your patrons and playtesters may abuse their privileges and share links and passwords. Ultimately, if someone wants to pirate the alpha build of your game, they will.

This is where the community comes in. If you are a player, discourage piracy where you can. If an IF dev is trusting you—whether you are a playtester or a patron—with early access, keep it to yourself. Don’t share links, keys, or passwords.

Even if you desperately want access to alpha work and can’t afford it, please keep in mind that IF developers are indie creators struggling to make a living. We are not major game studios. Don’t steal our work and pass it around. It’s disrespectful to us, our games, and our communities.

You are not entitled to early access simply because you like the game and you want new content badly enough.  

[drinkyourvillainjuice]

IF recommendations? I got those!

First up is Golden by @milaswriting! I enjoy the characters, and it's quite an interesting mystery that I can't wait to solve! You play as the child of the mayor of a city with a secret supernatural side, and must uncover the part you play in its future. It's a lot of fun, and I find myself replaying often!

And I cannot not recommend @idrellegames's Wayfarer. You play as a mercenary hired by a mage guild to steal an artifact to try and avert a brewing war. The catch? The entire world around you is magical, and you aren't. The worldbuilding is top-notch and SEAMLESS in its integration. There's a unique mechanic in this game that includes dice-rolls, but even failure moves the story forward in a meaningful way (sometimes I save-scum in order to fail because I like the failure path more shhh). The whole game is beautiful, and it's made by only one person!

Thank you! Here are the links for the IF posted above:

[orzaika]

played wayfarer for the first time yesterday and (obviously) made a guy who is just so so bad at decision making. Hyr i love you but you need to get a braincell

[notsogreatdion]

✶ INTERACTIVE FICTION RECS ✶

✶ Project Hadea - @nyehilismwriting (wip)

✶ The Exile - @exilethegame (wip)

✶ Vendetta - @vendetta-if (wip)

✶ When Twilight Strikes - @evertidings (wip)

✶ The Northern Passage - @northern-passage (wip)

✶ Merry Crisis - @merrycrisis-if (wip)

✶ Diaspora - @diasporatheblog (wip)

✶ Infamous - @infamous-if (wip)

✶ Fields of Asphodel - @chrysanthemumgames (wip)

✶ Eyes of Shan - @eyesofshan-if (wip)

✶ A Comedy of Manors - @sviyaginthegreat (wip)

✶ Wolf Set Free - @wolfsetfree-if (wip)

✶ Honor Amongst Thieves - @leoneliterary (wip)

✶ Thicker Than - @barbwritesstuff (wip)

✶ Soulmates Inc. - @soulmatesinc-if (wip)

✶ Crown of Ashes and Flames - @coeluvr (wip)

✶ Virtue's End - @virtues-end (wip)

✶ You Live and Fern - @beetlebethwrites (wip)

✶ Attollo - @attollogame (wip)

✶ Wayfarer - @idrellegames (wip)

✶ The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - An affair of the heart - @doriana-gray-games (wip)

✶ Superstitions 1, 2 - @13leaguestories

✶ Seven Days in Purgatory (I don't think this one is ever getting finished, but it has a special place in my heart)

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣ ✶

VN'S

✶ A Date with Death - @twoandahalfstudios

✶ 14 Days With You - @14dayswithyou (wip)

✶ Blooming Panic - @robobarbie

✶ ERROR143

✶ The Good People - @moiraimyths (wip)

✶ Our Life: Beginnings & Always - @gb-patch

✶ Our Life: Now & Forever - @gb-patch (wip)

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣ ✶

if recs 2.0 & if recs 3.0 & new projects recs

[deathlooksgoodonyou-if]

hi! while we're waiting for your if to come out (i'm so excited to read it when it does btw!), do you have any ifs to recommend?

COMPLETED.

Fallen hero - @fallenhero-rebirth (hosted games)

I, the forgotten, one. (Hosted games)

Samurai of hyuga (hosted games)

The golden rose - @anathemafiction (hosted games)

Arcadie : second born - @sofia-d-asb (itch.io/steam/playstore)

Blood moon - @barbwritesstuff (hosted games)

Evertree saga (hosted games) (book4 wip)

WIP.

The adventures of Sherlock homes : affairs of the heart - @doriana-gray-games (dashingdon)

Shepherds of Haven - @shepherds-of-haven (dashingdon)

The bastard of camelot - @llamagirl28 (itch.io)

Mind blind - @mindblindbard (dashingdon)

Wayfarer - @idrellegames (itch.io)

Defiled hearts : the barbarian - @defiledheartsblog (dashingdon)

The northern passage - @northern-passage (itch.io)

Fields of asphodel - @chrysanthemumgames (releasing soon!)

The abyssal - @theabyssal (dashingdon)

Folksaga - @folksaga-if (dashingdon)

Zorlok - @zorlok-if (itch.io)

Infamous - @infamous-if (dashingdon)

Ctos - @collegetennisoriginstory (dahsingdon)

Merry crises - @merrycrisis-if (dashingdon)

Apartment 502 - @apt502-if (dashingdon)

The six that thrive - @the-six-that-thrive-if (itch.io)

One knight stand - @oneknightstand-if (dashingdon)

Project hadea - @nyehilismwriting (itch.io)

Thicker than - @barbwritesstuff (dashingdon)

Drink your villain juice - @drinkyourvillainjuice (dashingdon)

[iredara]

Seven of swords

UPRIGHT: Betrayal, deception

REVERSED: Self-deceit, keeping secrets

Aeran. What happened at the Spire, Aeran. AERAN, TELL US.

My second attempt at the tarot card style to celebrate @idrellegames Wayfarer's third anniversary!

[sofia-d-asb]

Twine/SugarCube ressources

Some/most of you must know that Arcadie: Second-Born was coded in ChoiceScript before I converted it to Twine for self-publishing (for various reasons).

I have switched to Ren'Py for Cold Lands, but I thought I would share the resources that helped me when I was working with Twine. This is basically an organized dump of nearly all the bookmarks I collected. Hope this is helpful!

Guides

Creating Interactive Fiction: A Guide to Using Twine by Aidan Doyle

A Total Beginner’s Guide to Twine

Introduction to Twine By Conor Walsh (covers Harlowe and not SugarCube)

Twine Grimoire I

Twine Grimoire II

Twine and CSS

Documentation

SugarCube v2 Documentation

Custom Macros

Chapel's Custom Macro Collection, particularly Fairmath function to emulate CS operations if converting your CS game to Twine

Cycy's custom macros

Clickable Images with HTML Maps

Character pages

Character Profile Card Tutorial

Twine 2 / SugarCube 2 Sample Code by HiEv

Templates

Some may be outdated following Twine/SugarCube updates

Twine/Sugarcube 2 Template

Twine SugarCube template

Twine Template II

Twine Template by Vahnya

Sample Code and more resources

A post from 2 years ago where I share sample code

TwineLab

nyehilism Twine masterpost

How to have greyed out choices

idrellegames's tutorials

Interactive Fiction Design, Coding in Twine & Other IF Resources by idrellegames (idrellegames has shared many tutorials and tips for Twine, browse their #twine tag)

How to print variables inside links

How do I create a passage link via clicking on a picture

App Builder

Convert your Twine game into a Windows and macOS executable (free)

Convert your Twine game into a mobile app for Android and iPhone (90$ one-time fee if memory serves me right) // Warning: the Android app it creates is outdated for Google Play, you'll need to update the source code yourself

[allieebobo]

Do you have any if recommendation?

Ooh! I have really, really bad memory(!!) but these are current faves that I have played/replayed recently that I can think of. A lot of the authors are also THE BEST HUMAN BEINGS EVER. So, double recommendation.

I probably missed a bunch out, so take this as a non-exhaustive list! In no particular order:

(Edit: Added some descriptions but yeah I got a little unhinged so I'm sorry nothing makes sense or if the quality of the write-up went down over time/did not actually give you any useful info)

WIPs with demos

Citadel, @bouncyballcitadel (I think of all the IFs on this list, this one makes me sweat the most. And I've said it once and I'll say it again: the dialogue is so snappy and well-written, and characters are SO DAMNED LOVEABLE.)

Infamous, @infamous-if (I've been manifesting Band/Musician IFs for the longest time, and then this popped up! I've even played Choice of a Rockstar, that's how desperate I was... Anyway, this is legions better than that. Angsty ex routes are my kryptonite, and Seven is just. Inevitable.)

Defiled Hearts: The Barbarian, @defiledheartsblog (I went into this wanting something juicy and fun/historical—and it's all of those things, but I didn't expect it to be so damned funny, too. The ROs are all impeccable.)

Raiders of the Caravan and Apartment 3-3, @leftski-if (A'ight listen, fantasy slice-of-life is my fave genre, and these are IT. Like, everything I never knew I needed in my life, and SO cozy/wholesome, with a cast of characters that I want to befriend in real life.)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: An Affair of the Heart @doriana-gray-games (First off, the customization in this game is INSANE, and the branching too. I've replayed a couple of times and the little variations I discover each time just blows my mind. Secondly, it's so funny and written so well. Ngl I'm not a Sherlock fan but that's just testament to how amazing this IF is.)

When Life Gives You Lemons, @when-life-gives-you-lemonssss (Modern slice-of-life with an adorable kid, a bunch of hot ROs, CC. Hill's humor, what can I say?)

Golden @milaswriting (Really interesting world-building, one of the coolest fictional cities I've read in an IF, AND I'm obsessed with the ROs, in particular K de la Renta. Also Mila is such an awesome writer, I'm beyond excited for @beyondthegame.)

A Tale of Crowns @ataleofcrowns (This game is beautiful, polished, and SO exciting. Honestly, it looks like the kind of game created by a whole-ass game studio and would cost $50 to buy, it's that good. I really got swept up by this IF—probably played it all in one go.)

Rougi @rougi-if (Again, another game with scrumptious visuals/UI and also is just so well-crafted. I love the premise too, it's so original and fresh.)

Scout: An Apocalypse Story @anya-dev (Unfortunately this one might be on hiatus but I am/was really, really obsessed.)

Wayfarer @idrellegames (Love the game mechanics of this one, and the visuals. Probably controversial, but I like the D&D / random dice effect. And I also like the fact that it feels like an old-school RPG.)

Chop shop @losergames (The premise is all I needed to be sold, really—I'd always wanted to buy GTA as a kid but my parents were like NO WAY. Anyway, this IF did not disappoint, and let me live all my childhood dreams.)

Edit: AHH! How could I forget, one of my recent faves, Folksaga @folksaga-if (Lush atmospheric writing, super unique premise—norse mythology, plus I'm head over heels for Katla).

Completed IFs

Butterfly Soup 1 and 2 @brianna-lei (these are completed and I will never not promote them. Honestly the most adorable, wholesome, funny sports/coming-of-age IF I've read)

Elsinore: After Hamlet @lapinlunairegames (Insanely cool premise, insanely cool execution)

The Thick Table Tavern @manonamora-if (I love bar/tavern games, and this one actually lets you mix drinks! Instant fave.)

Other HGs/COGs I love: Slammed, Tin Star, Fallen Hero, If it pleases the court, A Player's Heart (these last two are so underrated, though I guess cause it's mainly wlw)

[kemsyne]

Wayfarer Prompt - Rock Bottom.

And then they went to Rona.

Wayfarer IF and the king of jokes Aeran Kellis are created by the one and only @idrellegames

[interact-if]

Hello! Might I ask if there are any recommended IFs where you can play explicitly as an asexual MC without being locked out of romancing characters? Becuase there had been times where chosing to play as ace resulted in some games removing all romances completely, Thank you for your time!

Hi Anon! Here is a list of what you're looking for:

Completed:

Crème de la Crème by @hpowellsmith

Royal Affairs by @hpowellsmith

Demos:

Attollo by @attollogame

Birds of a Rose by @reinekes-fox

Checkmate in Three Moves by @checkmatein3moves

Coffeelock'd by @perpetualnovelboyfriend

Crown of Exile by @ramonag-if

Drink Your Villain Juice! by @drinkyourvillainjuice

Our Life: Now and Forever (VN) by @gb-patch

Shepherds of Haven by @shepherds-of-haven

The Exile by @exilethegame

The King’s Hound by @the-kingshound

The Northern Passage by @northern-passage

The Spirited: Origins by @yuveim

Wayfarer by @idrellegames

When Twilight Strikes by @evertidings

Please let us know if you know others that fit this list as well, thank you so much!

[lilas]

Marked by complete magical immunity, Wayfarers wander the world, fighting magic. Where will your choices lead you?

Happy third anniversary @idrellegames !

[sunshinemage]

Repostober - Wayfarer Edition

A collection of my fave art I made for the IF Wayfarer by @idrellegames 💙 Also, little late to the party, but Happy Birthday Wayfarer 🥰💙

[rainhowls-arts]

A Fannarl 💙

For @idrellegames Wayfarer’s 3rd anniversary.