1. Hi everyone! I write, I make interactive fiction, I study literature and classical antiquity, and I sleep a lot.
2. This is my third round of MFGJ! A year ago I made a demo for my first real dev project, and last summer I learned some skills in a new engine. This time, I don't plan to create a solo project -- I'll be here primarily as a mentor! You can email me, DM me, or find me on Discord now and then if you need help or advice. Unfortunately, I can't be on Discord a ton, but I'll still try to pop in from time to time, and I totally encourage you to drop me a line elsewhere if you need to. I'll also be hanging around the forums hollering happily at all of your projects throughout the jam! I'm so excited to see what everyone makes!!
3. Silent Hill, Soulsborne, Drakengard & Nier, Shadow of the Colossus & The Last Guardian, Baten Kaitos, Okami, and Sunless Sea are some of my absolute favorites and I could sing their praises for years. I love horror games (especially indie horror and classic RPGMaker horror like Yume Nikki, IB, Ao Oni, etc), but I also have a huuuuge soft spot for games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. I just really love video games in general; interactive fiction of all kinds has always inspired me.
4. I have experience primarily with Twine (2.0 & 1.4), Ren'py, and RPGMaker (2003, VX Ace). My projects are typically 2D and narrative-oriented. In the last year, I've worked on about a dozen games and prototypes! I'm currently focusing on WDYTYA and a couple of visual novels.
5. Writing! Narrative structure! Character design! Art! Horror fiction! Weird old stuff people dig up in the Mediterranean! Petting cats!!!
6. Don't be too hard on yourself! The initial vision of any project is usually your ideal vision, and being flexible about its outcome is vital. Everyone's said this, but: keep your scope manageable to prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed or discouraged. Don't be afraid to cut, scrap, or rework things. Like if you start thinking you need to switch engines, give it a try as soon as possible. That fresh start can be daunting, but it'll probably make you more productive, efficient, and comfortable in the long run. Remember that developing a new skill takes time, and what you end up making doesn't have to be perfectly polished. As long as you've learned something new, you're doing great.