New IF: Dormant Star
DORMANT STAR is an interactive fiction story set in a superhero filled world in the year 2030. You play as an investigative TV news reporter balancing a career with the responsibilities of raising your teenage child.
SUMMARY:
SAN JUSTO, CA has cultivated a reputation for being a magnet for the anomalous.
Magic, extraterrestrials, failed experiments, and infernal incursions found its way to the the city. Fortunately, the city is not without its defenders: sanctioned golden heroes, and of course, on occasion, a handful of canny brooding vigilantes (funnily enough are character models for those spicy young adult novels).
You built your career in pursuit of reporting on the extraordinary. Meticulous to a fault and relentlessly annoyingly persistent, you made a profession from doubt and the unknown, you deliver stories and facts live on TV; everyone’s watching you… even your neighbor’s cat.
Four years ago, you lost your spouse, leaving the responsibility of raising your teenage child alone. The two of you became a team, learning (although imperfectly) to rotate the way the Earth turns through the darkness and light, building stability despite the loss.
But this is San Justo. and what would you expect in an unordinary city.
Lately, your attention has been consumed by the city’s newest rookie superhero who appeared out of nowhere, known as Pulsar. The public is enamored with this young (really young) hero, but you can’t help but find them somewhat… familiar. Weird.
At the same time, a more immediate concern has begun to take shape in your own home. Your child has changed. Unusually absent-minded and muzzy, gaps in their schedule that don't line up with anything they tell you, and coming home in odd hours— behaviors that are wholly out of their character.
You attempt to rationalize it. After all, Adolescence is inherently unstable with the rising hormones taking place (you should know since you’ve been through that song and dance before).
Yet, you can’t help but feel that something is off.
You have spent your life discerning when stories fail to be consistent. That instinct, honed through years of work is now turning inward, now directed at your own life. You are too close to the subject to remain objective.
Whatever has been lying dormant is beginning to ignite.
FEATURES:
✦ Play as a telegenic investigative news reporter as you raise a teenager with secrets.
✦ Customize your news reporter: name, appearance, and gender. & customize your kid: name, and gender.
✦ Find love with one of the two strange but single romantic options or stay as a hot loyal widow/er carrying a torch to your really dead 6 ft under spouse (your spouse won’t come back to life,I’m a writer— not a miracle worker ;3).
✦ Get an interview with the newest super of the city who seems very familiar.
✦ Investigate strange incidents across the city that might put you at risk (but who cares you are a risk taker!)
✦ Judge your kid’s life choices and embarrass them in front of their crush(?) or are they just friends??
✦ Go on a blind date and maybe adopt a really weird but cute dog.
✦ Maybe get in a potential brawl with that evil and entitled HOA president!
CURRENT FEATURES:
✦Insult a weird blue psycho.
✦Almost die and get rescued.
✦ The first to fall in love loses (meet that loser).
Current Wordcount: 10k
(AUTHOR'S NOTE) The demo is here! I was supposed to release it on July 7 but the UI I had made was really bad so I had to start over and recode it. Chapter 1; part 1 (that’s where the most of the customization are) was supposed to be released alongside it but I didn’t have time to code it to the new template considering I am way past the deadline. Sorry for the delay and hope you enjoyed it.