barracuda-shark-games

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Announcement: Chivalry is Dead

Hello! I've been working on a new game alongside Bethroned, while placing both Binary Stars and Bloody Prophecies on an indefinite hiatus. The reason for this is that all three of these games are pretty heavy, and I wanted to do something light on the side for when the writing gets too heavy for me. That way, rather than falling into a slump and spiraling, I am still working and writing. As someone diagnosed with PTSD, writing characters who have it, too, can be cathartic but it can also be very draining, so I'm finding I need to space it out more with Bethroned. (This is also why it's taking a lot longer than I had anticipated -- that and coding is and adventure and I can be a bit of a perfectionist.)

Basically, when I'm in the right headspace for writing the heavy stuff, I write Bethroned; when I'm not, I write for the new project: Chivalry is Dead.

Read the official summary and details for free on Patreon!

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I fear my inbox issues will never be resolved, it seems like Tumblr Support just... is barely functioning and is severely understaffed to the point it can take over a year for them to get to you. :')

Anyway, if you have any questions or bug reports, please report them via Bluesky, email, or CoG Forums!

When I post the chapter 1 update, I'll be sure to update all the links for bug reports.

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Update on Patreon

Click to read more.

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Progress Update 3/10/25

Hello! My inbox is still not working and there's been no word from support. I fear this problem will be indefinite.

The plan is still to release a snippet of chapter 1 this week for Patreon subscribers. Paid members will get access a week earlier; for everyone else, it will drop next week.

Writing is slow and steady... sometimes I need to take a break because the scenes can be so emotionally charged. :')

Stay tuned for a big Eda scene!

-Janus

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Progress Update 2/28/25

February is coming to a close, and my goal is to have a snippet of chapter 1 available to play in early March.

Unfortunately, my inbox is still inaccessible on here. If you have any bugs to report, please report them on the CoG forum post for the game, or you can email me at janusvcruz@proton.me !

Here's my plan for March...

First Two Weeks:

A link will be shared to Patreon of an early version of Chapter 1. This version will allow you to play up to the first 'mingling' part before you arrive at your wedding destination. The only character unlocked for mingling at this time will be Eda. Paid members will get access a week early as a thank you, and it will be available to all other members afterwards!

All Patreon members will be able to play this portion of Chapter 1 for a month before it's open to the general public in April. You won't need to pay for this access (unless you want it a week early for $1 USD).

Following Weeks:

Other mingling scenes will become available and shared on Patreon as they are finished. The other characters will include Ailbe, Kinborough, and Duke Clairmont.

Once all the mingling scenes are complete and have been out for a month, the plan is to update the demo so that it includes Chapter 1 leading up to the wedding itself.

In Summary:

Patreon members will get early access to each character's mingling scene as it becomes available. These scenes will be separate from the game demo itself, so that you can play them without having to worry about replaying the prologue or save files. Once all the scenes are complete, the demo will be updated to include Chapter 1 leading up to the wedding.

Thank you all for your patience and support! <3

Janus

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Inbox Issues

Hey guys, Tumblr won't load my inbox (it's giving me the error where it says it's empty when it clearly isn't, pictured below):

I've submitted an error report so hopefully this gets resolved soon. Until then, I unfortunately won't be able to see or respond to any asks! :(

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Our second edition of the Black History Month Author Spotlight series features beloved author, C.C. Hill (@when-life-gives-you-lemons-if)!

(CC is an absolute institution. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s than by doing a feature of the slice-of-life romance queen herself? CC is one the most inspiring, supportive IF writers out there, and it was a great honor to pick her brain! Read on for pandemic-setting feel good stories and Creole-based spells!)

Author: C.C. Hill

I'm from Haiti, born and raised. I love red wine, ice cream, and I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts.

Games: When Life Gives You Lemons (Slice-of-Life)

Synopsis: You play as an MC starting a new life in a small town called Lemon. It’s a story about self-discovery, love, and parenthood—a comfort story where the love interests want to sweep you off your feet.

Games: The Midnight Saga (Horror)

Synopsis: After finding yourself trapped in another dimension, you and your friends must fight for survival and defeat the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Make sure to grab a weapon as your quiet Halloween night turns into an out-of-this-world adventure!

Quote from the interview:

What mostly inspired Lemon in particular was the need for a feel-good story—a story where the character just needs a break. No magic, no monsters, just going through life and having the romance options fall in love with them no matter what. It was just the need for comfort, for feel-good moments, for romance, and a little bit of drama.

Read on for the full interview!

Tell me more about yourself! What are some things new readers or long-time readers might not know about you?

I'm from Haiti, born and raised. I love red wine, ice cream, and I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts.

Can you tell me a bit about what you’re working on right now and your journey into interactive fiction? What inspired the game/story you’re currently writing?

I'm working on so many things it should be illegal for my brain to operate this way. But mainly, When Life Gives You Lemons. My plan is to focus on the final part in March, do some beta testing, and submit it to Hosted Games in April for my birthday month.

I'm also under contract with Heart’s Choice, writing Spices of the Heart, with hopes of completing it this year. On top of that, I’m working on publishing my first visual novel, The Wedding. It’s close to completion, and I have the third quarter of 2025 planned for publication.

I only started writing interactive fiction in 2020. When the pandemic hit, I needed something to keep my brain occupied, and five years later, I’ve published three games and still have a ton of projects in progress.What mostly inspired Lemon in particular was the need for a feel-good story—a story where the character just needs a break. No magic, no monsters, just going through life and having the romance options fall in love with them no matter what. It was just the need for comfort, for feel-good moments, for romance, and a little bit of drama.

How has your identity, heritage/background, upbringing, or personal experiences influenced your storytelling or writing process? OR How does your work feature aspects of your identity / experience?

My first game, The Midnight Saga, was heavily inspired by my background and where I'm from. The story itself is based on an old Haitian folklore about not staying outside after midnight—if you do, the Keeper of Midnight will eat you. I took that idea and built the characters around it.

I even managed to include some spells written in Haitian Creole. It was a lot of fun to write, and even though Book 2 is currently on hiatus, this story has a special place in my heart because it was my first game. The characters are a representation of my people and the struggles they’ve gone through. I’m really happy that it was my debut story.

What are some of the most rewarding or challenging aspects of writing Interactive Fiction for you?

For me, it’s branching and being able to write an MC and other characters in a way that readers can truly connect with. Lately, I’ve been writing a lot of feel-good romance and slice-of-life stories, and I’m starting to feel like this is my comfort zone—and I want to stay here forever.

I never want to create a romance option that is inherently bad or purposely deceitful. My biggest challenge is writing characters who are flawed and complex—where readers can love them or hate them—but making sure they aren’t just villains for the sake of it. They’re simply existing in the world they were created in.

What does your writing process look like? Any rituals or habits? Any tips, tricks, philosophies or approaches that have worked very well for you?

My writing process is a mess. My brain gets pulled in so many directions. When I get an idea, I have to code it, shape it, and give it life—otherwise, it’s going to bug me forever. That’s why I end up with so many WIPs. I need to see them through, at least to a short demo, to see if they make sense.

My desk is also full of notes, and I basically write on anything—pieces of napkins, tissue boxes, whatever is nearby. One weird habit I have is that some of the best changes I’ve made to my games, those "spark" moments, happen when I’m in the shower. It’s weird and strange, but it works.

What’re you excited to tackle/implement/work on next? Or anything you’re looking forward to in the year ahead?

Keep writing romance and feel-good slice-of-life stories. Get When Life Gives You Lemons published this year. Focus on doing this full-time. Publish my visual novel.

Overall, just stay busy and be productive.

If you were to say one thing to your readers, other authors, and/or the interactive fiction community: what would it be?

To the readers—us authors don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, we start writing a story and end up forgetting certain plots or characters, which is easy to do when writing interactive fiction. So yes, we often write ourselves into a corner and just put a period there so the story can progress.

To the authors—write stories you love, something you would want to read. It makes it easier to keep going because if it’s a story you love, you’ll want to see how it ends, and that will push you to persevere.

This-or-that segment: (red = CC's pick)

Coffee or tea?

Early mornings or late nights?

Angsty or Cozy romances?  

Steady progress or frenzied binge-writing followed by periods of calm?

Introvert or extrovert?

Plotter or pantser?

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Code Snapshot 2/13/25

MC when asked how they're doing, according to their reaction at the banquet:

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fucked up hurt/comfort. the person who stabbed you tends to your wound. the person who killed your loved one helps you grieve.

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"If only Kinborough was a romance option..."

-me @ me, applying clown make up

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“She was to be a shooting star; she flickered briefly in the void, she continued the inevitable trajectory of the meteor, downward.”

— Angela Carter, from “The Cabinet of Edgar Allen Poe”, Black Venus

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Code Snapshot 2/10/25

On today's episode of Behind the Code, the MC mingles with Princess Eda.

Under the cut for significant code & lore spoilers! Read at your own risk. (No significant story spoilers, however.)

Fun fact: the game begins with Eda hardened. There is a single, very specific opportunity to unharden her in the prologue. Mingling with her in chapter 1 will give players a second chance to unharden her. :)

Some non-romanceable side characters in Bethroned have a hardening mechanic (Duke Clairmont and Ser Kinborough are two other examples). Their status as a hardened character will impact their role in the story as well as their interactions with the MC.

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Code Snapshot 2/9/25

In today's episode of Behind the Code, a bit of a puzzle for you...

Your relationship score with a certain RO determines how your character responds to flirtation... but it isn't as simple as whether or not you've flirted with them???

Under the cut for moderate code spoilers.

(Screenshot is cut off from the right, I'm not giving too much away!)

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My Charming, Flirtatious and Optimistic MC right now. I'm single and ready to mingle, LET'S GOOO!!! 🕺💃✨

And then their mingling options are: their sister, two relatives of their dead lover/best friend, and Ailbe. :'D

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Code Snapshot 2/8/25

For today's episode of Behind the Code...

After days of travel, the MC will soon arrive at the temple where their fated wedding is set to take place.

Cursed with a wandering mind and nothing but time to pass and sand to gaze upon until then, the MC is left with a single question:

To mingle, or not to mingle?

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Hello, since the story is set in time of war, does that mean most people would have grey/white hair earlier on because of the stress? I can image MC having full white hair because of losing Sadie, force marriage, being general and having to deal with family drama 24/7 :')

Hi! Yes, this would make a lot of sense. The War aged a lot of the characters involved considerably, which will come up -- especially when the MC reunites with their brother, who may be in for a shock! ;)

I do plan to let the player set how the War changed some aspects of their appearance and mannerisms.