Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[kecap asin]

(also hello fellow Indonesian... or Malaysian idk I have a feeling Malaysian people call kecap asin something else???)

Sry for being cringe gue cuma seneng nemuin orang Indo di forum CoG jadi nggak berasa sendirian bgt wkwkwk

Yeyy iya gw Indo kok wkwk xD
hello fellow indonesian

 

[Parallax]

Why do a lot of these authors like to move to Twine anyway? Personally, I like the cscript UI better. The pictures and sounds used in Twine tend to distract me a lot from actually reading the story (which is the point of making an IF, no?)

Not to mention the annoying templates that authors often choose considering them "aesthetic". Too narrow text windows, problems with choosing the right text size (I want bigger, it's too BIG, I want smaller, it's too small), bad fonts, too bright /dark text and background colors, interface with hidden buttons, no mobile version or that bad that I have to go back to the laptop to read.

I get it the authors may have reservations about the CoG/HG policy, and itch.io and Twine give you control over your game. I've been in this community for years and I really understand, but it's a reader's perspective and the fact is that sometimes I give up on the demo after the first look at its page.

 

[Vamp-kun]

Yesss
I also love flaw character. Miserable wet of the cat character that is going through it. .
I love miserable character that is has some growth. While maybe still has their fair of struggle.

The reason why people tend to go to the two IFs because all of the struggle is well written. Not just all fact like "MC feel sad because bad guy kill their fams" but go way deeper than that. Like you as a reader can feel what mc is feeling.

And its quite comical for me if the IF tries to give you some kind of coping mechanism choices to pove that you MC is struggling (like pulling your sleves, or the popular one ; collecting one night stand for extra smut point). Often or not it just fall into " a 'quirky' little thing you can have :3" (Like seriously, I have one as form of self soothing, and I roll my eyes everytime it come out)

Anyway, my absolute number one favorite flaw, just literal mess of main char is Harry du Bois from Disco Elysium (Not an if but still lol)

If I ever was allowed to write a PTSD ridden character in any novel, I'd make them like the book version of Geralt of Rivia. Gosh how much I loathe it that the books and games are famous now!

Sorry about that last one.... What I meant to say is that I the Forgotten One could have benefited more from a hardy warrior protagonist, instead of what was displayed.

It would have been interesting to see a modern version of I the Forgotten One, without the war plot. War plots need protagonists like Sandor Clegane, not a disturbed individual that needed a healthy pension and healing sessions in the temple of Ilmater...

 

[Sant]

Not to mention the annoying templates that authors often choose considering them "aesthetic". Too narrow text windows, problems with choosing the right text size (I want bigger, it's too BIG, I want smaller, it's too small), bad fonts, too bright /dark text and background colors, interface with hidden buttons, no mobile version or that bad that I have to go back to the laptop to read.

I get it the authors may have reservations about the CoG/HG policy, and itch.io and Twine give you control over your game. I've been in this community for years and I really understand, but it's a reader's perspective and the fact is that sometimes I give up on the demo after the first look at its page.

Don't forget words with effects, like fade-in. Really hate how I do have to wait for skip the page because the dev thought it was a nice idea to put that

 

[Re336]

(also hello fellow Indonesian... or Malaysian idk I have a feeling Malaysian people call kecap asin something else???)

Sry for being cringe gue cuma seneng nemuin orang Indo di forum CoG jadi nggak berasa sendirian bgt wkwkwk

GLAD TO SEE ANOTHER INDONESIAN! Aku orang indo juga btw )). Gak cringe kok, susah nemuin orang Indonesia disini, especially since a lot of us use English to speak with each other here

 

[Re336]

This is like a year late but THANK-f*cking-YOU for this! I wanna laugh cry everytime someone complains about how doom-and-gloom the ItFO MC is like they wouldn't come out worse if they're in MC's shoes! The MC even manage to sort of pick himself up at the end of book one, finally moving on from self-harm, and that is such a hopeful thing imo. Sorry for being so emotional but this story actually got me through some hard times so I'm gonna defend this and Jon Louis to my miserable end.

Now... if ItFO, FH, and other good IFs I'm not gunna name (cause I'm a gatekeeping girlboss) are IFs that got me through hard times, these are the list of IFs that gave me a HARD TIME. Starting with: Blood Money, Creme de la Creme, Professor of Magical Studies
All of Zachari Sergy's abysmal creations, Creatures Such as We, Zombie Exodus the first book
The Passenger (love the first half absolutely hate the romance and the second half)
Teahouse of the Gods (I'd rather have a literal fever dream), New Witch in Town
Crown of Ashes and Flames, The King's Hound, Fields of Asphodel, Infamous
Press Play (this one is complicated, I like the IF but not a fan of the author)
Deux a Deux (only like what two chapters in, already opened a patreon and have not been updated since like a year don't even know if the author is still active)
Wayhaven Chronicles, The Northern Passage, The Lost Heir of Daria, A Tale of Heroes (I actually want to romance seeker but noooo)
Fernweh Saga (a long-winded nothing burger), REMEMBER YOU WILL DIE (the author is clearly biased towards Orla, and I hate how we're forced to like her, she's supposed to be some awesome girlboss boss but all I can see is an insecure *****, seriously have so much to say about her but all Imma say is the author don't seem to grasp the concept of show don't tell) Waywalker University, The Keeper series (f*ck you Sera, f*ck you Asstrid, f*ck you Kol, f*ck you all)

There's more but this is already too long lol. Imma save my energy for things I like. Peace out ✌

I really love John Louis. Whiskey four coming out was like finding an oasis in the middle of sahara. It's been a long time since we got a good IF published. From start to finish, I love every moment of it. I also respect him a lot, because the man just get the job done. No tumblr, no patreon (not that I condemn author who does that). It's just rare seeing someone like that in this community lol.
I'm glad to find another who doesn't like Orla here lol. I always play as someone who's obedient to their boss in an IF. But Orla? Nuh-uh. She is one of the reasons I stopped reading this wip. Aside from finding the wall of text that feels rather overwhelming and I just don't bother to read them at all unless something interesting catch my eyes.
Also have you read Honor Bound? I cannot stand that thing . It's too boring and the ending just made me mad. It might be skill issue, but I don't intend to ever replay that game

 

[Parallax]

(f*ck you Sera, f*ck you Asstrid, f*ck you Kol, f*ck you all)

It's so me every time I read that series. I'm just going to kill them in B3. I hope the author will give these options since there's supposedly a villain route.

Press Play (this one is complicated, I like the IF but not a fan of the author)

Now I'm intrigued : P

As for IF I have mixed feelings. So far I read it when there's new update but I don't actively follow the author.

 

[SasariRomanii]

I really love John Louis. Whiskey four coming out was like finding an oasis in the middle of sahara. It's been a long time since we got a good IF published. From start to finish, I love every moment of it. I also respect him a lot, because the man just get the job done. No tumblr, no patreon (not that I condemn author who does that). It's just rare seeing someone like that in this community lol.
I'm glad to find another who doesn't like Orla here lol. I always play as someone who's obedient to their boss in an IF. But Orla? Nuh-uh. She is one of the reasons I stopped reading this wip. Aside from finding the wall of text that feels rather overwhelming and I just don't bother to read them at all unless something interesting catch my eyes.
Also have you read Honor Bound? I cannot stand that thing . It's too boring and the ending just made me mad. It might be skill issue, but I don't intend to ever replay that game

Damn another warga +62

Oof yeah Honor Bound is... I'm not gonna even talk about that one, even with mods it doesn't feel satisfactory (which is okay if that's the author's intention, still not my cuppa tea) And Orla is Orla. She could be a great character if only Mara doesn't choke down our throat every three second about how oh so great she is and how she's better than everyone else and how Jaximus will lick the dirty ground she's walk upon. There are lots of people who also feel the ick towards Orla but of course the author won't post them, only complaining about the existence of Orla haters and that's it. I won't be surprised if Orla is a sort of self-insert

Now I'm intrigued : P

As for IF I have mixed feelings. So far I read it when there's new update but I don't actively follow the author.

There was a bit of drama involving Press Play's author, Obsolete Stars author, and the author of Shatered Oblivion. It starts with Nocifer (Shatered's author) saying that she's tired of romance asks and then the two other jumps in agreeing with him. It triggered an argument on the comments section but imo the authors just come off as whiny at that moment.

Here's the tea: https://www.tumblr.com/obsolete-sta...d-anything-about-it-how-tall-are?source=share
The comment thread with @hauntedsuitcaseranchsoul is the juiciest since it seems haunted's the only one who dares challenged them lol (but srsly the Obsolete Stars author is unhinged, lucky I'm not interested in their IF)

 

[SasariRomanii]

I really love John Louis. Whiskey four coming out was like finding an oasis in the middle of sahara. It's been a long time since we got a good IF published. From start to finish, I love every moment of it. I also respect him a lot, because the man just get the job done. No tumblr, no patreon (not that I condemn author who does that). It's just rare seeing someone like that in this community lol.

I have a feeling that John Louis is Dutch, for some reason.
But yeah he's the GOAT. He doesn't open patreon, doesn't even interact with the forum. He just drop BANGERs IFs and doesn't elaborate.
Which is a big W attitude

 

[Zoklitsos]

There was a bit of drama involving Press Play's author, Obsolete Stars author, and the author of Shatered Oblivion. It starts with Nocifer (Shatered's author) saying that she's tired of romance asks and then the two other jumps in agreeing with him. It triggered an argument on the comments section but imo the authors just come off as whiny at that moment.

Here's the tea: https://www.tumblr.com/obsolete-sta...d-anything-about-it-how-tall-are?source=share
The comment thread with @hauntedsuitcaseranchsoul is the juiciest since it seems haunted's the only one who dares challenged them lol (but srsly the Obsolete Stars author is unhinged, lucky I'm not interested in their IF)

Oh damn lmao I remember seeing this when it went down since I follow the Press Play author on Tumblr. I thought the author seemed pretty cool prior to this, but I'd be lying if I said that their whole attitude about it didn't turn me off the game a bit lol, so I get you. I remember thinking that it seems like a bit of an overreaction back when I saw the post in December, especially considering that the game is still in the early stages.

I didn't see the discussions in the replies or the Obsolete Stars author's additions though so I'm only now seeing them for the first time and bruh wtf, that writer sounds so cringe and try hard. I'd never even heard of their IF before and now I'm definitely never checking it out. When an author acts annoying on social media I can't separate that behaviour from their game and it dampers my enjoyment of it every time lol, I just can't help it. Also yes that one person is the MVP for calling it out and pushing back on the hugbox.

Speaking of music IFs, the Infamous author sometimes can also come off a pretty annoying on social media and bruh idk what it is about band WIPs that make authors become obnoxious lmao, there must be something in the water fr. Shout out to the only non annoying author of a band IF, Twisted Scene, sadly that one seems to be dead. Anyway tho I still enjoy Infamous and Press Play a lot and this isn't necessarily gonna stop me from playing them but yeah, the behaviour of the authors definitely hinders the fun of the games a bit for me sometimes so I had to rant a bit lol.

 

[Raijin_01]

What's going on in this if? I'm thinking reading it if it's worth it

It's so me every time I read that series. I'm just going to kill them in B3. I hope the author will give these options since there's supposedly a villain route.

 

[Parallax]

Honor Bound is... I'm not gonna even talk about that one, even with mods it doesn't feel satisfactory (which is okay if that's the author's intention

If the author's intention was to make the game unsatisfying, I don't know if it is okay I'm a bit tempted to check out HB because of all the negative reviews but uuugh. That plot description was boring and even Royal Affairs which interested me the most wasn't a game I really enjoyed that much. There's something about the writing style of this author..... I can't have fun reading it, I swear I tried.

Here's the tea: https://www.tumblr.com/obsolete-sta...d-anything-about-it-how-tall-are?source=share
The comment thread with @hauntedsuitcaseranchsoul is the juiciest since it seems haunted's the only one who dares challenged them lol (but srsly the Obsolete Stars author is unhinged, lucky I'm not interested in their IF)

Oh, I read Obsolete Stars once when it came out, but I thought it wasn't very well written. And something with MC too, don't remember anymore. Anyway I gave up on it.

As for the drama I can actually agree with these authors and understand their irritation, though. Probably because I'm a person who doesn't care much about romances. I mean sometimes I like to have it in the story if there's some RO that attracts me. But things like RO's favourite ice cream flavor or their *** size are not something I need to know

On the other hand, authors can always close the mailbox if the asks bother them or block the anon option at least - I guess that limits people a bit.

 

[Parallax]

What's going on in this if? I'm thinking reading it if it's worth it

Everyone is pushing MC to sweat blood because it's their duty as the Keeper
But I'll show them how it ends pissing off someone with the Sun artifact...

 

[SasariRomanii]

As for the drama I can actually agree with these authors and understand their irritation, though. Probably because I'm a person who doesn't care much about romances. I mean sometimes I like to have it in the story if there's some RO that attracts me. But things like RO's favourite ice cream flavor or their *** size are not something I need to know

I also get their frustrations (god knows romance is hard to get right especially when one's not into it), but the solution to this romance-focused asks is so simple that their (mostly the Obsolete Stars author) reaction is unwarranted and dare I say speaks lots about themselves.

There's something about the writing style of this author..... I can't have fun reading it, I swear I tried.

H Powell Smith's writing is just straight up boring. It feels like it's written by a machine. She has potential on writing darker stories, since the tone of her writing already tends to be heavy but nooo she settles on a boring tepid in-between. The characters are forgetable and those who aren't are just assholes that's just... UUUGGHH

Shout out to the only non annoying author of a band IF, Twisted Scene, sadly that one seems to be dead

The good ones always get abandoned for some reason, it's beginning to feel like a curse

 

[Parallax]

The good ones always get abandoned for some reason, it's beginning to feel like a curse

So true TS was my favourite of the WIPs about being singer. I remember there were scenes focused on the actual making of music.

Little + that the action takes place in England, unlike all the others set in America.

 

[kecap asin]

Please someone make thread about tumblr if drama, I miss all of it since I'm not that active in that hellsite. XD

like this is so dumb.

They talk as if someone who simply enjoy cheesy romance in a story like a serial killer.
Both of the author need to chill. Like yall the one who's lucky that anyone bother to be invested in your mediocre story lmao.

 

[kecap asin]

As for the drama I can actually agree with these authors and understand their irritation, though. Probably because I'm a person who doesn't care much about romances. I mean sometimes I like to have it in the story if there's some RO that attracts me. But things like RO's favourite ice cream flavor or their *** size are not something I need to know

Yeah, sometimes I also get weirded out by the ask. Like the ask is so out of pocket especially the ro reaction asks.

But again, I agree with other person said. This is such a non issues that can be solve by creating a FAQ for the ask that you like to get (which the three authors didn't do despite being that vocal abt it)

Or simply don't answer RO ask. It will dicourage the reader to sent that type of ask.

Can't believe this is all because a stupid height ask. Maybe the real solution is for them to go out and touch grass afterall.

 

[Parallax]

Please someone make thread about tumblr if drama, I miss all of it since I'm not that active in that hellsite. XD

like this is so dumb.

They talk as if someone who simply enjoy cheesy romance in a story like a serial killer.
Both of the author need to chill. Like yall the one who's lucky that anyone bother to be invested in your mediocre story lmao.

Nobody is saying that enjoying cheesy romanse is bad though?

The drama was about people focusing too much on romance in the stories where romance is not the most important element. And that the authors are being bombarded with silly asks about ROs.
They have a point, honestly. You're trying to build a whole world in your game and meanwhile people are mostly interested in ROs sexual preferences xD

 

[Sant]

Didn't liked Obsolete Stars simply because the MC felt too subby, wimpy.

But goddamn I hope that the writer of Press-play didn't put their works on undefined hiatus, I want my Zima...

Edit: nvm they're still active, phew...

 

[SasariRomanii]

Yeah, sometimes I also get weirded out by the ask. Like the ask is so out of pocket especially the ro reaction asks.

This is especially true for more nsfw IFs, like We Wretched Creatures (another Twine IF that looks good at the start but became somewhat meh, the author said it'll be so dark and scary but... meh or maybe I'm just too desensitized lol) the asks on those IFs are UNHINGED, but fun to read if one can stomach it

nvm they're still active, phew...

For now

Mmm this reminds me of some recent IFs that has huge potential to be good but just fade into CoG's void curse, like Arelein, Demon Fireforged (tho this one the author said to still be worked on but DOUBT is all I feel), Cyberpolice (the author kept posting non-progress "progress" updates without really updating the game), and many more

And then a mediocre IF like Fields of Asphodel is getting a sequel... the IF that has committed a most sacrilegious sin of all that is being BORING af. Even Lore of Olympus is fun to laugh at but this? This if is the equivalent of an unpopping bubble-wrap, it is the melted cubes of ice diluting all the flavors in your drink, it is that one white colored pencil that don't do jack **** and it's getting a sequel. WTH.