Emma: A Lady's Maid [GxB/G][Steampunk Romance] DEMO OUT NOW!

[Steamgirl]

Thanks to amazing help from Greeny, who created custom choice code for Emma, the game options are now 200% more awesomesauce.



Greeny has really been an amazing help - check out Greeny's Ren'Py Services if your project needs some awesomesauce too!

---

You're probably right about that. At that point, neither of them has grown enough yet to realize the merits of the other. Your example reminds me of Jane Eyre, now that I think about it. If Jane had accepted Mr. Rochester's invitation to elope and be his lover, she'd be throwing away her honor and her common sense in pursuit of completely unrestrained passion.

Precisely! I think in a game it's important to give the player the option to throw away the protagonists honour or throw themselves onto a love interest too soon - it creates a more meaningful experience when you do decide to restrain passion.

I'm just as inexperienced, but I hope that, as the owner of a second pair of eyes, I'm able to help you in some way.

I am certain your insights will be incredibly valuable, Ms Editor!

[Mad Harlequin]

Ooh, love the choice screen!

Damn and blast! I just realized that I made a disgusting error in my previous post. "Neither of them have" should be "has." I've gone back and corrected that now, but it's been immortalized in the quote. *hangs her head in shame*

Have you ever played any interactive fiction by Emily Short? She's really great about offering the player dialogue choices and actions to take in her work. I seem to remember seeing an interactive fiction version of Mr. Collins's proposal from Pride and Prejudice wherein the player, as Elizabeth, can choose how to respond to his silly overtures. I believe one can play from his perspective as well. I haven't played it yet because it's commercial, but I think I will pick it up eventually.

[Steamgirl]

News - Release Date Delayed
I had to delay the release date of chapter 1 until next Sunday, as I underestimated the size of the chapter - and to be honest - added quite a few more choices. The current stats are 7,438 words and 29 menus (including tutorial) - a choice dense game with about 250 words per decision. Not bad, right?

On the upside - two endings have been implemented as a result of this, and they have taken me by surprise. One of them is a pretty "bad" ending, and the other is... Well I don't want to spoil it too much!

-----------------------------

Damn and blast! I just realized that I made a disgusting error in my previous post. "Neither of them have" should be "has." I've gone back and corrected that now, but it's been immortalized in the quote. *hangs her head in shame*

Don't worry I do that all the time! So I edited it out of history.

Have you ever played any interactive fiction by Emily Short? She's really great about offering the player dialogue choices and actions to take in her work. I seem to remember seeing an interactive fiction version of Mr. Collins's proposal from Pride and Prejudice wherein the player, as Elizabeth, can choose how to respond to his silly overtures. I believe one can play from his perspective as well. I haven't played it yet because it's commercial, but I think I will pick it up eventually.

No, I haven't! But this sounds right up my street so I'll definitely have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Mad Harlequin]

Thanks for catching the mistake-that's-not-a-mistake.

I should note that most of Emily Short's work is free. You just need an IF interpreter.

[Cith]

A browser is all that's required for 'First draft of the revolution'.

http://lizadaly.com/first-draft/

[Mad Harlequin]

Yes, I know about that one, and you're right.

[Steamgirl]

News - Release Date Delayed Again
Okay, Chapter 1 is definitely going over budget in terms of wordcount! I expected somewhere between 8-10k, but it's looking more like 12-15k. Then add the fact that I'm in crunchtime at my day job at the moment...

So the release date is moved yet again - this time to the 16th. However, I think I'm pretty close to finishing and if I work hard I might even do some additional art for the game. I'd like to make the front end menu prettier.

-----------------------------

@Mad Harlequin & Cith
Thanks for the recommendation & link! Very interesting read - great inspiration.

[Mad Harlequin]

All right. I'm ready to go on the draft when you're finished.

[Steamgirl]

Update!

I am resuming work on this game, but I want to take it into a different direction.

1) I am scrapping huge parts that have already been written. The introduction of "the problem" was taking too long and the scope of the project grew to epic proportions - beyond control!
2) The original plan was to make the game episodic so I could release something every month. But with my current lifestyle, I think I'd rather write a single, larger, self-contained story.
3) It's going to be less Adventure and more Romance.
4) There are going to be less/different romance options.
5) The plot is going to change significantly. I'm not 100% sure yet how, but each romance option will have their own thread rather than being interwoven as originally planned.
6) Love interests will be introduced much sooner (currently they barely make it into chapter 1!)

But most importantly - this project is back in action!! Yay!

[Laiska]

Ooh, congrats on getting back to this! Hit me up if you need any assist!

[Seigetsu]

I noticed that the female scientist part is crossed out...does that mean we don't get a female scientist as a romance interest? Personally, I'd be a little sad about that, because I was really looking forward to it...but anyway, glad to see that this is back in action. Best of luck to you!

[Steamgirl]

Basic plot structure finished! Each of the elements has their own flow chart, so this is not really representative of choices you make inside the game or anything. Where the plot splits into four, it's basically a whole storyline with a specific love interest, where depending on your actions, you may or may not progress your romance with them. One of the four routes doesn't involve romance, so you can play through the game without pursuing any love interest, if you want. This route will build a friendship with Miss Eveline instead.

Ooh, congrats on getting back to this! Hit me up if you need any assist!

Hehe, thanks!

I noticed that the female scientist part is crossed out...does that mean we don't get a female scientist as a romance interest? Personally, I'd be a little sad about that, because I was really looking forward to it...but anyway, glad to see that this is back in action. Best of luck to you!

I wasn't sure about the female scientist (or any of the romances) when I decided on the overhaul, but now that I've come to grips with the plot she's firmly back on the radar! Watch this space!

[Seigetsu]

I wasn't sure about the female scientist (or any of the romances) when I decided on the overhaul, but now that I've come to grips with the plot she's firmly back on the radar! Watch this space!

That's good to hear. I was just reading through the backgrounds part of your introduction. Personally, I don't really care too much about backgrounds, but in the case that a single background might be a little bland, I think you can probably find some public domain or creative commons resources to use. I just did a quick google search and found this:

http://www.oldbookillustrations.com/

...not sure if this would be any use, but it'd probably be pretty easy to colour behind the line-art of these old, public domain illustrations for some simple backgrounds or objects to use for the game. Like the other person who commented above, I'd be happy to assist if you need it

[Writer16]

Ooh, this looks nice. From what I've seen, the writing looks good, and the art looks wonderful. Decisions determine outcome? Count me in!

[Steamgirl]

That's good to hear. I was just reading through the backgrounds part of your introduction. Personally, I don't really care too much about backgrounds, but in the case that a single background might be a little bland, I think you can probably find some public domain or creative commons resources to use. I just did a quick google search and found this:

http://www.oldbookillustrations.com/

...not sure if this would be any use, but it'd probably be pretty easy to colour behind the line-art of these old, public domain illustrations for some simple backgrounds or objects to use for the game. Like the other person who commented above, I'd be happy to assist if you need it

Ohhh that's super duper useful, thank you! I will pillage what I can!

Ooh, this looks nice. From what I've seen, the writing looks good, and the art looks wonderful. Decisions determine outcome? Count me in!

Ooh, thanks Writer! Welcome aboard!