Up until this point, I have always left the same comment on the game’s submission page (here) and the game itself, but I’m going to break the rule here.
I like the game, as a short emotional piece of VN-work, but as an entry the jam I am less satisfied, because the “one choice” is actually, “play again from the start” or “stop playing” — nothing changes, the choice does not affect the story in any way.
Now, of course, that’s part of the point of the game (There’s a time loop) and the game was also written first for other jams, where the “one choice” aspect wasn’t the focus, but even so, I didn’t feel comfortable not pointing that out.
This is not a criticism of the game itself, to be clear, but just of how it fits in the jam.
Thanks for playing the game! I am glad you liked it! And I see your point! I think it's a valid view on it!
And well as an O2A2 Jam submission originally, I could really only work with limited words and assets so the endings have to be shown through another way, which is the different title screens (+secret ending bonus dialogue)! In this case, the changes shift from being narratively driven to experience driven??? I hope that makes sense haha. So yes, you're right, not much really changes narrative-wise, though what I was aiming for this time was of giving the player a slice of the experience of being in a time-loop and giving them the power to continue being in it or not. Sure they can leave the timeline and nothing will change, but if they followed their curiosity of the glitchy time-travel button and time-travel first and then leave the timeline, they can follow the evolving story told through the title screens! And by doing the process again even without the visual cue this time, the player is then rewarded with the extra dialogue and the face of the sleeping beloved earlier. In my mind it was as if letting the player put their faith in that tiny probability, that tiny sparkle of hope that something may change even though there is no promise of it (and being rewarded with the screen change when they go through with it), which gives a tiny glimpse into the thoughts of the MC, of her silent wish that something may change in her time-loops despite there being no promise of it.
Admittedly, I do wish I could have added more to the secret ending other than the bonus dialogue and the title screen changes but again, jam constraints haha! (Though I'm very happy you found the secret ending!!!)
Again, thanks for playing the game and sharing your thoughts! <3
I totally get the restrictions. My own game would be much better if I could have re-presented the choice at different points, for example (as others have done, maybe I should have done it that way after all). I did appreciate the “Found You” :D
Comments
Up until this point, I have always left the same comment on the game’s submission page (here) and the game itself, but I’m going to break the rule here.
I like the game, as a short emotional piece of VN-work, but as an entry the jam I am less satisfied, because the “one choice” is actually, “play again from the start” or “stop playing” — nothing changes, the choice does not affect the story in any way.
Now, of course, that’s part of the point of the game (There’s a time loop) and the game was also written first for other jams, where the “one choice” aspect wasn’t the focus, but even so, I didn’t feel comfortable not pointing that out.
This is not a criticism of the game itself, to be clear, but just of how it fits in the jam.
Hi! <3
Thanks for playing the game! I am glad you liked it! And I see your point! I think it's a valid view on it!
And well as an O2A2 Jam submission originally, I could really only work with limited words and assets so the endings have to be shown through another way, which is the different title screens (+secret ending bonus dialogue)! In this case, the changes shift from being narratively driven to experience driven??? I hope that makes sense haha. So yes, you're right, not much really changes narrative-wise, though what I was aiming for this time was of giving the player a slice of the experience of being in a time-loop and giving them the power to continue being in it or not. Sure they can leave the timeline and nothing will change, but if they followed their curiosity of the glitchy time-travel button and time-travel first and then leave the timeline, they can follow the evolving story told through the title screens! And by doing the process again even without the visual cue this time, the player is then rewarded with the extra dialogue and the face of the sleeping beloved earlier. In my mind it was as if letting the player put their faith in that tiny probability, that tiny sparkle of hope that something may change even though there is no promise of it (and being rewarded with the screen change when they go through with it), which gives a tiny glimpse into the thoughts of the MC, of her silent wish that something may change in her time-loops despite there being no promise of it.
Admittedly, I do wish I could have added more to the secret ending other than the bonus dialogue and the title screen changes but again, jam constraints haha! (Though I'm very happy you found the secret ending!!!)
Again, thanks for playing the game and sharing your thoughts! <3
I totally get the restrictions. My own game would be much better if I could have re-presented the choice at different points, for example (as others have done, maybe I should have done it that way after all). I did appreciate the “Found You” :D