u/Flameman1234

To prefice, i’m new to game development and somewhat to writing. I’ve been a decent writer all my life and have gotten compliments and appreciation for it, but i’ve never quite been confident enough to really make anything i enjoy, which is games!

While i love all kinds of games, Visual novels just a part of that, i feel like my idea fits in a VN format best. I dont have a lot of exciting gameplay ideas, but i do have a story in my head that i really love. I tend to keep all my stories in my head, which is unfortunately where i run into problems.

I want to be very consistent, or at least as consistent as i can be with my writing. I dont want characters forgetting things or knowing things they shouldnt. I dont want one branching path to not be quite as good as another. It sucks because i have always had the issue of actually just doing it and writing the damn thing, but in an effort to deal with my perfectionist mindset, i really want some advice on how to structure my story.

I have an idea for a VN centered around a main character and two love interests, along with several townsfolk. Both characters have a secret that they’re hiding, both being dangerous monsters. I want to have some branching options or choices that give you a plus to a characters relationship, while others may make them dislike you or distrust you. To keep it simple, i just focus on the two love interests. Only issue i have is, i have only ever really written one-shot type content, or writing a whole short story in one or two sittings. Since this is larger, thats where my anxiety about consistency and the scope of everything comes in.

Have any of you dealt with similar issues, and if so, what writing advice could you give me? I dont really feel comfortable jumping into writing scenes since it’s a VN, and i want to outline what i want and the scenes i need, and then write it in a format that i can just move over into a script for Tyranobuilder or Renpy, and have it be much simpler than trying to write and code at the same time. Tried it, was a bit too difficult and not too motivating😅

I really want to make this game the best i can since i have a good artist in mind, and if i can write it all down, learning the system seems like a way smaller issue and it’d make putting it all together at least seem easier, since i can transfer over my work. I dont really do a lot in my life that seems important, but i do know im good at writing, and if i can make one game and it fails, at least i can be glad that i made it, and if it succeeds, i can do more writing and really be motivated to tell more ideas and stories i’ve had forever.

To be a bit sappy/sad, i dont really get motivated often, and im coming out of a very tough part of my life that im still struggling with, and i feel tired of playing games, and i want to return that favor for all the years of enjoyment i’ve gotten from devs like all of you. I have so many ideas in my head that i dont really follow up on because i know i could never really write them down, and i often feel like im too lazy or paralyzed by anxiety to ever really get them down. Im honestly tired of feeling that way and really want to make something that i can be proud of, even if it’s hot garbage to others.

Im looking for any advice, doesnt even need to be about writing, but i would appreciate anything regardless. Im not expecting some kinda miracle advice or anything, but i do hope that something finally sticks and i can do what i feel like i was always meant to do, and that’s tell stories. I used to love to do that for school or for friends, and i want that fire of creativity back.

Please ignore my sappy writing, i am a bit too tired and a bit overwhelmed by the thought and scope of it all, but i dont want to just drop the idea like i have for so many other things. I may not be able to do a lot, but if i can write a little VN that someone enjoys and becomes a fan of, i’d feel like i made it in the world.

While i love zombie games, i very seldom find myself scared anymore by them. I used to be terrified of Dead Rising (especially the nighttime cutscene when the zombies go rabid), or Dying Light, but eventually i just dont think they’re all that scary anymore. Does anyone have any zombie horror games, specifically not resident evil type games with mutated zombies, just your standard flesh eating zombies, that still spooks them?

For me, the only one that really gets me is an older game, Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddlers Green. For most of the game, you’re alone, and the music coupled with the hordes you face made it an incredibly terrifying game. Most people you could save end up eaten or dead, and even at the end, you know that eventually, the dead will find a way inside your safe haven.

Could anyone recommend a guide for missables or achievements that are difficult to obtain? I've enjoyed Danganronpa and wanted to try this, but i cant really find any good guides that cover everything.

Could anyone recommend a guide for missables or achievements that are difficult to obtain? I've enjoyed Danganronpa and wanted to try this, but i cant really find any good guides that cover everything.

To keep things as simple as i can, i’ve been in a bad period for a bit. I’ve been overdoing it with edibles, been in a generally awful mood, and have been taking it out on others. It’s gotten so bad that my mind has gone to some very bad places, and i even have gone against myself and eaten more than i should when im really trying to lose weight.

All that to say, i have been through it. I dont know if i sound crazy or it’s my own minds advice, but i was sick yesterday and still a bit high, and i feel like i had a relative, or several, visit me.

My mind had started to spiral about something that set me off and i kept getting worse and worse, all the while i was already sick. My heart raced, my breathing was struggled, ext. in the end though, i felt like something was trying to tell me something through it all.

Maybe it was my own conscious, maybe i was just high enough to not really be all there, but i feel like my mom told me to cut it out with overdoing my edibles. Ive been taking them to numb myself from the death of another relative almost two years ago, and it hasnt helped one bit. I feel like, maybe she saw that and spoke to me or through me.

Sure enough, i threw out what i had, and i dont think i plan on going back for a bit. I had this overwhelming urge or desire today to just let life take it’s course, no matter the pain, and i would make it through. I dont know why i have felt this way, but to explain, it was like finally waking up from a nightmare.

I remember begging them to ask God or whoever to help me through my struggles (im not very religious, i’ve believed in a heaven, but never God or any specific deity). I dont know about any signs they could have sent (nothing fell, nothing flew off the wall, ext), but i feel like that wouldnt have been my moms style. She knew better than to scare me, but i dont know what to think.

Despite this nice feeling, i feel almost bad asking for another sign to prove maybe i was right and i did have someone look out for me. I want to stick with my plan, because regardless of if it’s real or not, i dont want to start taking edibles hard enough that im having delusions, but i just wonder if any of you have ever had something like this happen. What was the sign? How did you know? How can i be sure that it isnt some kind of coincidence or a trick?

Sorry, i have been feeling crazy since yesterday but not crazy enough to not realize how it all sounds. I miss my mom a lot, same with my aunt (the one who died), and i have really been begging for something to finally get me on the right track to maybe following my dreams.

I’m in a much better place, and while the thought gives me peace, i dont want to ask too much. Idk how difficult it is to send a message like they did, but i worry that these negative thoughts could come back and i’ll end up back where i am. I dont want to disappoint them, but i struggle a lot already. Does anyone have any kind of advice? I know, it’s an odd situation all around, but i’d appreciate anything to comfort my concerns.

I’ve always heard it was the best Tales game, and i really want to get 100 percent in it. I know there’s a lot that can be missable like skits, magic lens scans, ext. i really want to try and do it in as few playthroughs as i can, but i havent really found a guide that covers everything. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

For me, i’d really love an upgrade to the transporters to maybe have wagons and carthorses to transport supplies further or faster. If not that, maybe horses just for distant travel in between different villages or maybe so workers can get to further away jobsites without an issue.

Besides that, i love the way some buildings can be expanded like the Churches or Inn/Taverns, and i hope eventually we can update other buildings like the bakery or the windmills to have additional sub buildings to increase production or employment.

I’m not new to therapy, i did it a long while ago when i was a teenager (28 now), but i really have been suffering with longstanding anxiety, low self esteem, and fear paralysis. I want to try and figure out how to get to the root of my issues and solve them or help them with a therapist, but im a bit concerned about where i should start.

I have issues with my weight that stem from self esteem and eating disorders, and my fear paralysis/anxiety has stopped me from driving or really being very independant in regards to actually going out and doing things. I stay at home most times, and if i need to go out, i usually have to ask for a ride or get an uber.

I got tired of it all and before my depression gets worse, or life hits me hard, i want to try and fix these issues with a professional. I dont hate myself, but i certainly dont love myself too much, or at least i dont view myself as a priority in my life.

Does anyone have any advice on what i should start with? What i should explain or how i should go about elaborating on my issues so i can get to the root of things? I know therapists wouldnt be the type to just be like “…just go do it”, as i’ve heard a million times from everyone i know. Im trying hard to not bet everything on therapy, but its among the only things i could think to do besides a pyschiatrist, and i really dont know if my insurance covers that as well.

I’ve always been a big fan of vampires. I enjoyed Twilight, read a bit of The Vampire Diaries, and when i was younger i really loved The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd and Oliver Nocturne. Recently, i started reading Let Me In, and it reignited my interest in vampire stories. Does anyone have any recommendations for good vampire stories, maybe from the vampire’s POV?

I havent read it yet either, but i’ve heard good things about The Strain, though i’ve only ever seen the show and i’m not sure if i’d like the more monsterous/leech-like vampires as much.

I dont mind if it’s horror, adult, gorey, ext.

Right now i’m running into an issue where my work PC is running out of space, mostly since we deal with large emails that tend to fill up our inbox. My personal email for work that i send from is also getting full from this as well, but i’m wondering if i should start archiving some of my oldest sent stuff or large files, if that means it lowers their size.

My next step is to go to IT or request a new laptop, but i was hoping there is a simpler solution than trying to pick and choose what emails are important enough to save or delete completely. I’ve even sorted by size and got rid of some of my biggest emails already, and i still end up running into a size problem.

So my job has me use New Outlook for all our accounts. Usually, i’ll archive our older emails onto a separate sharepoint folder, about a month of emails at a time, just so we arent hitting our storage limits.

Well, we used to use old outlook, which didnt have a problem with selecting 300+ emails and moving them/copying them over to Sharepoint, but now whenever i’ve tried with new outlook, it doesnt allow me to do this at all.

It’d be way too time consuming to go one at a time, and i’m not really sure of any workarounds, has anyone found a solution to this issue or a different way i could be doing this so i’m not having to quadruple my workload?

I’d even bite the bullet and maybe try copying them to my computer and then sharepoint, but even that would probably take forever. Was this a feature they just decided to drop?

Never touched a bit of Witcher stuff besides watching an episode of the show. I have heard great things about The Witcher 3, but im a bit put off starting it since not only is it the 3rd game, but there's also tons of lore and books that i wasnt even aware of. What should i know going into the Witcher 3 so i'm not confused?

I’m going to a Round1 for my birthday tonight, and i really want to try and shoot for something good from the prize shop. Are there any games that are good for getting a lot of points/tickets? I have also seen the crane games have some cool action figures which i want to try for, but i’d rather try a different game, i’m not very good at them 😅

To begin, this is assuming these girls are who i believe they are, and it could explain their powers in the movie that rival a demon like Homura. Also forgive my formatting, i couldnt do paragraphs in bullets and it looks a mess.

Many point out that both of these girls are the MG forms of the witches Quitterie, from Madoka Portable, for Selma Theresa, and Paola, from Magia Record, for Choka. i want to analyze their potential witches and the characters themselves:

• Selma Theresa - From trailers, we see she is a younger magical girl who is themed around sewing. She has needles in her hair, a pincushion skirt, and a weapon that appears to be a staff. Based on the trailers, we see that she likes Kyubey, seen cuddling with him in the concept art/cover art, and holding him close. She also seems to be somewhat interested in Nagisa, possibly sharing a love of cute stuffed animals. She does also seem a bit forboding, with an eerie shot of her from one of the recent trailers, and i dont think it's wrong to assume she might either be out for Homura, or out for her own benefit.
• Choka Shi - An intelligent looking magical girl with a strange bouant looking outfit, and a magical staff as a weapon. From stills and trailers, she seems intelligent and put together, with a distrust or dislike of Homura for what she's done. Honestly, we dont see quite as much of her to really make a judgement of her character, but i think she's fair in distrusting and disliking the state of things and is rightfully trying to set things straight.
• Quitterie - The Witch of Needles, with a devoted nature. Her description explains her as what's left of a magical girl who'd given up everything for the universe, and even as a witch, believed she was doing the right thing. She is a witch that is a sewing dummy made up of needles, though she dons a disguise her whole fight: a Kyubey mask and a dark purple cloak. She exists only in the extra dungeon of the Portable game, which either makes her very powerful, or very elusive, as she is second only to Itzli, an incredibly elusive witch that never shows herself. Her familiars are even sewn kyubey dolls, who are "so excessively adorable that it's impossible to point a blade at them."
• Paola - The Rubber Witch, a witch who drowns humans to consume their souls. She can do a great many things, but she is so clumsy and does nothing, hiding on her familiars to stay afloat. Her familiars are Bonas, inflatable innertubes with legs that stay afloat on the rolling waves of her infinite ocean of a witches labyrinth. Her familiars burst easily when pricked. She is a small samalander-like witch with a flag on her head, but is never seen without her familiars. She exists only in Magia Record and Exedra, appearing during rare times of season changes at the beachside resort the girls visit.

With that info, i had a few theories for why these girls match these witches, why they could have powers or abilities that'd rival a god, and what their reasons for doing so are.

• Selma Theresa, i believe that yes, she is the witch Quitterie, without a doubt. Her ominous nature and strange obsession with Kyubey make me think she isnt just an average girl of average potential. She is much more, i believe that Selma Theresa is the reason Kyubey and his race appear as they are. I believe the Incubators are far from a standard alien. Strange cute cat like beings that by just his cute appearance isnt too unsettling. He can emote, he can be cute, but i believe that is by design, and initally, his race was far from adorable. Selma could have been a rich girl who had an obession with stuffed animals, and when approached by a repulsive or horrifying alien creature, she listened to its explanation of all things MG, made a wish that did something rare. I dont know what the specific wording of her wish might have been, but "I wish that you'd never looked this way, i wish you had always looked cute like my stuffed animal" could have done something cool. It rewrote history once, changing the incubators to cute animal-like aliens, still with the same goals, but now so many more girls would be decieved. Selma would retroactively have so much potential from this, it would probably have made her a strong enough MG to rival a demon. That and it would explain why Quitterie shows up as a semi-final boss in the final dungeon and isnt just a randomly added witch to the story like Albertine and Gisela, she is that strong. I believe that through whatever life as a MG she had, eventually she ended up as a witch, we dont know why or how. I believe that she was a girl that understood and saw the value of the MG to Witch cycle, and was willing to protect it. It provided so much energy to the universe, it'd save so many lives, but if it cost her life, that's fair. As a witch, she doesnt even show up in her own labyrinth, instead using Itzli's(assumed) Labyrinth background. I believe she accepted being a witch, if that's even possible, therefore it makes her that much more powerful and in control of it's form. Why would she rival Homura? Well, the only way to return things to how they are is to beat her. The creators have even mentioned that if Homura had been saved, Kyubey would eventually be able to understand Madoka's new form, and control it. If she can get Homura saved, she can return things to how they had been, or back to how they should be, in her eyes, or she can sneak away, kill the LoC or break it further, and bring back witches. She's using Bebe as a shield, a way to sneak her way in and get close enough to get what she wants. She's even willing to use someone desperate, someone just like...
• Choka Shi, is also, you guessed it, probably Paola. I believe that she is a magical girl that wished for something simple. "I want to know everything." I believe that even someone with limited potential, if given all the knowledge they could possibly know with the potential to understand more could somehow influence their potential. An already high potential girl who was intelligent, high in her class, who struggled with one thing, she wanted to know it all, to understand. Eventually she too became Paola. A witch that bounces from place to place, gathering what she can from others. Their souls, their everything. It's possible that she doesnt hibernate, and is possibly appearing on any beachy area possible around earth, just barely staying til she can return to her labyrinth, her true labyrinth, housing...Nasuka Sokotsune. Maybe she became a witch upon finding out the truth, and that took the form of a library, with the knowledge of every witch ever, who they where, why they became a witch, and what became of them. She wanted to know everything and she sunk deeper into despair upon finding out that truth, and she hides and hibernates there where she can be around the thing she had wanted to know, the truth of MGs. Maybe she was a student council president that'd lost her seat or was constantly being thwarted for awards or prizes by magical girls wishes. Eventually, her wish to know why, to know every reason why she constantly was losing was explained. Here is the history of those magical girls and why they made those wishes. Maybe it's mundane, maybe she asked for something more like knowledge of the universe, but i believe it had to be tied to magical girls, and that's the reason that library exists in Walpurgis Rising. She is a girl who the law of cycles saved, just like Selma, and wants to stop Homura from taking over Kyubey's role and stealing away Madoka and the Law of Cycles. I believe her true motivations are to set things right, have Homura be executed or saved, but ultimately, maybe she knows the witch cycle will return, or HAS to return. She has knowledge of all witches, so it's possible she sees the ones that would exist in a future where Madoka and the LoC is controlled. She knows that, regardless, this is her chance for salvation for MG for at least a few thousand generations before witches come back, and maybe by then suffering wont be that needed or there would be another solution. She's even willing to work with someone like Selma, who made her wish for the cycle to be so dangerous to begin with and cause so much more despair. Choka/Paola could possibly even know of witches that exist in other timelines through whatever wierd witch magic she had. She is too desperate to find a solution, and too quick to blame Homura rather than see her out or maybe come to find a better solution.

Anyways, still not sure how it all ties together with Walpurgisnact, Madoka or Homura that well. I really cant figure out what's up with Bebe, Sayaka, Mami or Kyoko either, but hopefully we get at least one more trailer that shows them off more! I'm really not sure what Walpurgisnacht could be or who, but i've always loved deep diving into witches lore and i'm hoping that Nasuka Sokotsune (might) possibly explain that! Please let me know what you think, or if i might have something wrong, most of my knowledge is off the wiki.

I really loved the choices of making a king/queen, or getting to pick a bard, clergyman, knight, doctor, ext. not only that, you get to improve your overall kingdom while doing quests that fit your character.

While i havent been able to really find anything that scratches my itch, im wondering what others have enjoyed.

I really like the idea of having a small medieval town or village that i can improve and upgrade/expand while also focusing on a main quest or side quests. Some place that can run on it’s own while giving me things i can buy or supplies i can use on my next outings.

Some examples i can think of:

Fallout 4: Not a great example, but you can build your own base or several at different locations and have citizens work at gathering money or creating supplies.

Darkest Dungeon: Your findings during expeditions allow you to upgrade various parts of your village to give you advantages on your next run.

Foundation: An excellent city builder but not so much by way of jobs or quests, but you can continuously upgrade buildings and add onto them while also expanding your village.

I know Code Lyoko was primarily 3d animated, but im wondering if the 2d animation was done using cels or digitally. I’d imagine it’s too new of a show to not have been done digitally, but i never bothered to look and see if anything like that exists for the show.

If not that, is there any unique collectibles you all have gotten over the years? I really want to get something for my shelf for Code Lyoko, and besides maybe an action figure, a cel was my best idea.

So i’m 27m. I have never been formally diagnosed, but just based on my own life experiences and what ive learned about autism, i feel like it’s something i may have.

I dont have the similar issues my friends who do have autism have (trouble with crowds, needing to isolate, ext), at least not to their degree, but i find myself struggling with my emotions constantly.

I have mood swings, i have intense bouts of depression, and i feel like i just cant understand why i feel so overly emotional at times or so easily hurt or offended by shit that shouldnt offend a normal person. Maybe i’m just sensitive, but im wondering if this is common with anyone else? If so, how can i start handling it? I really cant keep up with the constant negativity i feel when much of it shouldnt really affect me, but it does.

As i get older, i start to feel strange about dying. I’m still young, but death comes for each and every one of us eventually, and nobody has ever beaten it. I dont try to view it as morbid, but from a young age, i always felt that death isnt an end but just a change.

It’s sad, we lose our forms here and either move on as energy/spirit, or there is nothing and we’re wormfood.

I dont try to be constantly optimistic about an afterlife either, since it messes with my views on morality, and i dislike viewing Heaven as a reward for good behavior, and more like a place you can access by accepting your spirit. I dont want to do good with the idea that eventually it’ll earn me a halo, i want to do good because that’s what makes life on earth easier for everyone, or at least makes someones day better.

Maybe i’m simple but i view it in video game terms or story terms best. When you finish your life, as traumatic or happy as it may be, you’ve finished your level. Now, you get to move on, with whatever negative effects or positive effects on yourself as a way of being ahead in that next world or life.

I dont really know if that means as humans we’re destined to relive our lives until they fit our destinies or our souls missions perfectly, or if maybe we get to move onto some new life with a new form and handle those next challenges, but it’s always amazing to wonder.

When i think of death, or at least my own, i constantly feel a mix of emotions. I’m sure everyone does, but i feel scared of what might come next, curiosity of whaf that next step may be, excited and happy to finally reunite with family and friends i’ve lost, and sad that i would leave behind so many people i care about. I’m not sick or ill, but as a pretty depressive and anxious person, wondering about what comes next is what i do often.

Im curious what everyones view of death is, and what you imagine or have come to understand comes after. I’m not asking for any proof of course, but i do like to hear others ideas!

To give an example, most games with photo modes have different filters, and i’ve loved seeing games like red dead or even just screenshots with different filters to give it a classic movie feel.

There are plenty of other games that have it built in as part of the artstyle, but i’m more curious about games you’ve enjoyed that had optional filters or effects options that you found make the game more fun or beautiful to look at.