chattercap - Tumblr blog

[chattercap]

anybody else in the club feeling this one

[chattercap]

Mythology VN Jam!

Hello, hello everyone! This year I'm running a chill mythology-based visual novel/interactive fiction jam with @chimeriquement, @butter-blanc, and lenlen403! It runs from June 14th to September 15th!

The rules are very relaxed - if you have any ideas relating to mythology, be it a retelling, a meta-story, or a story about your own mythologies, it's allowed! See the link for more details!

If you're interested, please check it out! We'd love to have you!

[chattercap]

AHHHHHH MINDMINDMIND FANFICTION, I'm so honored and flabbbergasted thank you 😭😭😭 it's lovely and SO ACCURATE to Geist's character, it's just uncanny! Please give it a read, it's beautiful 🥹

so, i played this game mindmindmind by @chattercap and i loved it so much! def go play it if you have the means to do so — i doubt this will get as much traction as my other fics do, but i really just had to write this!! also its so odd knowing that im tagging the creator so im extra sorry if i mischaracterize him >.< 

i went forward with my writing assuming (after a thorough mental debate) that geist can interact w the physical world around him, but only when he stirs enough turmoil within you. like there are moments within the game where he touches you and ur phone, but. idk. it feels different somehoe.

while playing the game i really tried to get the ‘good’ ending where you ‘defeat’ geist but he’s so alluring!!1 my goodness if i didn’t melt at the end — man oh man. this is literally word vomit of a situation trying to evoke a similar emotion to that scene near the end where you resist or accept him (trying to avoid spoiling it TT)

quick tw for; meal skipping due to depression, depression and it’s symptoms, negative self image, and just, all around you don’t start or end in a good place mentally., also burns from hot water.  nothing deadly or anything, but like. burns.

honestly i didn’t have many ideas my brain was just kinda rotting over him TT so this is what my sleep deprived  mind came up with. but ykaow its something (also ignore any canon divergence, it's about vibes not canon.. )  not proof read.  1.6k words.

Your body creaks like rusty hinges when you dragged yourself out of bed, the time already reading half past noon.  Too late for breakfast, not that you were likely to have made anything anyway.

There’s a calm in the kitchen, though you can’t bring yourself to fully appreciate it.  At least Geist hasn’t made himself known as of yet.  That’d be just what you needed on a day like this.  (Sarcastic.) 

The electric kettle boils on its socket and you stand too close to it in an attempt to bring warmth to your tired body.  Despite having slept into the afternoon there’s an ever-lingering tired that clings to your whole body.  Only when steam starts to pour from the kettle and you risk getting burned if you remain stagnant for longer do you move to prepare your instant ramen.

Your arms feel weak when you lift the kettle and that’s a sign for what is to come, in hindsight.  Perhaps you should have taken the time to move the styrofoam container to the table and pour your water on a clearer surface than your tiny counters.  You do manage to pour an adequate amount of near-boiling water in the cup, but you also pour an adequate amount all over your counter and clothes.

You hiss out in pain, tossing the (now empty) kettle on a free section of stovetop. 

“Oh dear, what have we here?”  The only thing that can make this situation worse. You can never be the only one to bear witness to your failures, can you?

Gritting your teeth, you pull the steaming clothes away from your skin, making a hurried scuttle to your bedroom.  Luckily the only clothes you bothered to wear to bed last night was a large shirt, one that slips off of your body easily, despite being soaked.  You maneuver to the bathroom, taking in the red hue of your torso.  

“Fuck me,” you groan, running a hand over the skin before hissing at the heat.  It seems you’re being forced to take that shower you’ve been putting off.  You feel a presence in the doorway and ghostly green eyes track your moves to the bath as you turn on the cold water.  

It’s old and stained, and likely in need of a cleaning, but there is a tub attached to your shower, so you’re going to use it.  Steeling the rest of your body, you plug the tub and step into the icy water. You make yourself suppress a whimper at the cold, it doesn’t help that you already had a chill set in your body from hunger.  Your stomach clenches, a reminder of what you’d done and you sink down fully into the water.

Over the rushing of the still pouring water, you hear fabric on fabric and when you open your eyes Geist is sitting on the edge of the tub, regarding you.  His expression is hard to discern, something between cool indifference and pity. He doesn't acknowledge your state of undress, bless him for that.

His large, slender hands dip into the water, making it ripple where his fingertips hit. Geist hums as he takes in the temperature.

“What a poor thing you are,” Geist begins. “Can’t even make yourself something to eat without messing up somehow.”

You inhale deeply and close your eyes, attempting to drown out his words. He lets you sit in peace for a few moments, eventually turning the faucet off when it fills to submerge your hot chest.  

“No rebuttal?” He lets out an amused laugh, entirely unfitting of the situation.  “I see how it is.”

You hope the burns aren’t anything serious, even if they were you don’t know if you’d go to a hospital right away.  Some things go away if you ignore them hard enough.  Sadly this logic does not apply to Geist.

Being watched doesn’t make for a very relaxing bath, but you’re only there to cool your body off, and it does. You get on your shaky legs after you’ve deemed yourself far too cold to stay in there any longer and unplug the drain and turn on the shower head to rinse the bath water off (and properly clean yourself).  Geist leaves when you stand up to shower, leaving you to bask in the cool, quiet drizzle from the faucet.

After getting changed into another set of pajamas (as you don’t plan to leave the house and know you won’t change whatever you’re wearing before bed), you find Geist has made himself completely useless, taking up a seat at the small table cornered on the kitchen to form a make-shift dining room.  He’d stepped over and through the mess you’d made, favoring to make use of the scarcely used furniture.

His eyes feel like fire as they track you cleaning the kitchen.  “Are you really just going to watch?”  His eyebrows raise, as if shocked by your sudden question.

“Why, with how cold you’ve been to me I’d assume you’d want me to leave you all alone.” Geist stands, tall form looking far too elegant for his surroundings.  “But, allow me,” he grabs the cup of noodles from your hands and pours them in the garbage disposal.  “Hey-!”  Those noodles were still perfectly edible, not that there was much left in the cup rather than on the floors.

“Surely you can spare ten cents to prepare a new container.” Geist ignores your open-jawed stare, moving to grab a reusable towel and mop up the mix of broth and warm water on the counter, leaving the floor to you. 

By the time your floor is dry and no longer holds the smell of ramen broth you’re too exhausted to bother making a new cup of noodles.  You shuffle back over to your bed and fall back into the covers and try to bury yourself.

Geist stands at the foot of your bed, looking eerie in the low light.  With him carries the lingering scent of ramen.  You look away from him and avert your gaze to the dim glow of your phone.

“I made you your meal.” He can’t even call it lunch anymore, the time on your phone shows its half past four.  The act of kindness catches you off guard and you look at him, eyes dull, expecting him to laugh or throw the food on the ground and sneer, but he doesn’t.  He even has some utensils ready for you.

You slide against your headboard and pull your blankets down past your chest, gesturing that he can hand the cup to you.  He does, beginning to monologue after you take a bite.

“I had waited for you to take action, but it seems you’ve gotten to the point that you’re incapable of doing something as simple as feeding yourself.  I took it upon myself to prepare your meal, truly it’s appalling you’ve made it this far in your life.  What would have become of you if I weren’t here?” He gives a sigh, as if contemplating the horrible conditions you would face if not for him.  “A grown person, unable to properly feed themself, what’s next – do you need me to brush your teeth for you as well?”

You shrink back at the harsh words, face growing hot with shame, realizing he’s right.  You can hardly function, all you do is rot away and he’s the remediator, here to curb your decay.  Despite having plenty of broth, the noodles taste dry in your mouth and you feel the urge to ugly sob, but your eyes do not prick with tears. 

“I’m sorry.” The words come out choked with phlegm and emotion.  

“Oh, now look at you,” Geist lets out a mildly less exasperated sigh and sits on the edge of your bed, lightly, as to not spill your ramen. His hand rests on your ankle overtop of your blanket.  “I’m not mad at you, I’ll still treasure you no matter how incapable you are.”

You finish your – call it what it is – dinner, and Geist takes it to your kitchen to dispose of it.  You shiver, his voice still lingering in the air, his words haunting you.

It’s hard to be alone, it’s even harder when you’re as vulnerable as you are currently, so when Geists asks to join you, you can’t refuse the offer.

“There we go,” Geist gently moves you to the side of your bed, taking the spot next to you, his cold, cold hands resting on your sides.  “Are you going to be on your phone the whole evening, darling. That is unwise.  You’re tired.”

He’s right.  You are tired.  You let him hold you as you fall into rest, it’s nice to be held.  He holds you and doesn’t let go, even when you wake in the early hours of morning, a wave of clarity and repulsion coming over you.  

You try to push him away, claiming he’s cruel, but you’re no match for a man like him, a man who holds you as you shutter with unshed tears, cooing about how it will all be fine as long as he’s here, and letting you know he’ll stay.  And, maybe, just maybe, it will be okay as long as Geist stays with you – you only need him and as his words echo as you go back to sleep, reassured.  I’ll love you no matter how broken you are. Broken as you may be, you lie with him, knowing deep down he won’t put you back together.

[chattercap]

oops I entered a weekend long visual novel jam and made another VN about cute vampire girls except this time you're trapped with one who's trying to decide if you're her next meal

it's free to play on itchio!

[chattercap]

Extremely Random Business Post

COMPLETELY random post, but for any of my fellow American game devs with registered LLCs - starting this year, you need to file a "Beneficial Ownership Report" with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. If you don't, you're liable to pay big fines.

If you made your company before 2024, you have until Jan 1st, 2025 to register. If you made it in 2024/later, you have 90 days.

Note that you ONLY need to do this if you're a registered entity - if you're a sole proprietorship, no need! Check out the FAQs in the link for more details.

Very random, but I had no idea about this and just learned about it today, so I figured I'd drop it in case it's helpful to anyone!

[chattercap]

Happy screenshot Saturday!! Today I wanted to show the cover art of Potion Pleasing 😊❤️

What kind of potion is Parker making? 🧙✨

Cover art by @kitehaizaki

Logo art by PogoNR

[chattercap]

Amare Fortnightly Bulletin 1/04/24 - 15/04/24

Hi everyone!

Issue #14 of the news bulletin is out now,

We had a bunch of VN news this fortnight which is exciting so make sure to check those out.

Be sure to check it out for several new Kickstarter campaigns too!  Big thank you to everyone who has been checking out the bulletin each fortnight and a warm welcome to new readers.

~Amare News Team

Itch Link for Issue 14 Download -https://amaregames.itch.io/amare-new-bulletin-2024/devlog/715708/issue-14-released-apr-1-apr-15

[chattercap]

WE GO VELOX FORMIDO

VOTE HERE

[chattercap]

Very honored to sit next to crescence's masterpiece, go play Alaris if you haven't 🫡 it looks AMAZING

in honor of all the new love for druk as he deserves

this past weekend, i was really nervous about releasing the new demo. compared to when i first released the og alaris demo, my following had grown because of intertwine. i didn’t know if new fans would like alaris as much as intertwine and generally ive heard demo releases (especially updated/enhanced demo releases) typically don’t do as well compared to, for example, full game releases. on top of that, i didn’t have the additional exposure that comes with releasing a game during a jam like nanoreno or otojam.

all that being said, i tried really hard to temper my expectations for the demo release.

alaris debuts at number five on spotify charts ((shout out to mindmindmind by chatter, it is very cracked play if u haven't already)

but it turns out because you all are so unbelievably supportive, i didn’t have to 😭 within the first day, alaris was the most popular visual novel being played and one of the most popular games period. generally, i try not to put too much worth on metrics since making a game on its own is a huge accomplishment to me. but seeing things like this reminds me how grateful i am to have players give my games a chance and enjoy them. thank u as always for blowing my expectations out of the water. words really can’t express enough how overwhelmed i get by your support 💖

[chattercap]

hi i just played mindmindmind and i really loved it! i haven’t looked much for an answer, but are you opposed to people making fanfic of your work?

Aww thank you so much for playing! 🥹💕 I'm glad you enjoyed it! And I'm not opposed at all; in fact, I'd really love it! 🤭 My only request would be no hateful/bigoted messages (of course), and if you write one, tag me if you feel comfortable, I'd love to read it! ☺️

[chattercap]

making visual novels is great if you enjoy the idea of writing a book while also having to put on a puppet show to keep the reader from killing you with their teeth

[chattercap]

Alaris: A Story of the Stars

Enhanced Demo Out Now

Enter a world of magic—of Fae and Dragon.

A global crisis that only continues to escalate. A dangerous run-in with a shadowy stranger. And a mysterious word that won't stop gnawing at you. How does everything tie together? And what role could you possibly play in all of this? 

Features

Aside from my blood and remnants of my soul, the New Alaris Demo contains:

A Customizable Protagonist: Choose your name and pronouns (including a whole new Expanded Pronouns system)

Personality: Shape your personality with four different traits and watch how the world interacts with it. Punch people, scare people, live your life how You Want!

Free Time: Choose from four locations and go on a date of your choosing with any of our love interests.

Affection & Stats Screens: Check how much the LIs are interested in you and what your personality looks like!

Communicator Interface: Improved messaging and calling features

Energy Vision: Tap into one of the MC's special abilities to see the different auras of the cast.

Memories: Revisit free time dates and let our love interests woo you as many times as you'd like.

Extended Music Room: Listen to the custom Alaris OST

Partial Voice Acting: Hear the characters come to life through the talented cast for the LIs

Updated Art Assets: All new sprite, CG, prologue, background, and GUI art (basically Everything looks Different).

If you played the old demo, the new one is Very Different! While the general story is the same, many features have been revamped to create a New Player Experience.

❝ Not all mysteries... ❞  

Some mysteries, beyond man, have no logic, have no fate. In the face of such, keep your wits close, but do not trust them.  Trust not yourself, nor your senses. Your time, nor your wit.

For where time has stopped, but its flow has no end.  For when passion calls, but hate runs deep.

Heed this warning, and do not wait.  For laws of nature and laws of man.  Have no logic, and have no weight."

❝ ...can be explained by the logic of man. ❞

[chattercap]

MindMindMind is a slice of life story if all of the cozy parts were replaced with 👻stress🌺 and a ghost that mocks you for breathing! It's available now on itch, and you can wishlist it on Steam!

✨show off your visual novel in 4 screenshots!✨

I want to see your VNs!! share 1 of your VNs with 4 screenshots to show it off and give a lil blurb~

this is Asphodelium, a gay lite horror slice-of-life VN about doppelgangers and stopping cults.

feel free to make this a reblog chain or make your own post!

[chattercap]

AHHHHH THIS IS SO LOVELY 😭😭😭, thank you very much for the beautiful art 🥹 💕💕 (the concept and composition are both SO good)

Used a translator.

I played Karamu yesterday. It's was Great! and I was surprised by the twist in the story.I don't know if I should be appalled or amazed by Nelli's determination.

Karamu is created by @chattercap

[chattercap]

What is Josei Jam?

Josei Jam is an annual visual novel game jam held from May 1st to June 30th on itch.io with the goal of making games meant for women! A game jam is an event where participants have a limited amount of time to make a game- sometimes these have themes, but the only theme for Josei Jam is to make a game for women.

While our sister jam Otome Jam requires entries to be a romance game with a female lead and at least some male love interests, Josei Jam allows participants to make stories with boys love, girls love, and even non-romance! As long as the game is intended for women, you can enter it. You can learn more on our FAQ.

If you’ve never made a visual novel before, we have a list of resources & guides to get you started. We also have a Discord server where you can find people to work with and share your progress.

[chattercap]

Are you comfortable with fan art?

AHH yes, of course! I would love it actually 🥹

(My only request would be not to use my works for art containing hateful/bigoted content, but that's about it!)

Edit: And ohh please tag me for any fanart; I'd love to see it!

[chattercap]

Thank you very much! 😭😭😭

I don't like making "metrics" posts like this, but I wanted to thank everyone who played MindMindMind. It recently hit the #1 spot for visual novels on itch and #8 for all games; I honestly never expected anything like that at all, and I was shocked when someone showed me the screenshots.

This game was very personal, and I wasn't sure if people would enjoy it, so I'm humbled and honored by the support. Thank you very much💜

(If you want to play my anxiety-fueled fever dream where a British ghost insults you for living, MindMindMind is available here, haha!)