Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[Sokrates]

I get that having Kofi to support yourself or buying a new equipment, but putting Kofi to add content to your own story?? Not even a side story but the thing that is fudementally needed for the main story.

Like I still cant get over how adding 'pronoun' is even in a goal list. What in a god name of EA marketing it is. View attachment 22977

Well now that's interesting. I guess I'm going to quit my job and become an IF writer on Tumblr to fund my "needs".

Edit: Lol. It even reached 10%. Well, as long as the fools exist, they are going to be exploited.

Edit 2:I can't believe people are willing to pay for this.

 

[seneya]

lolwut... :')
Also, like, how good of a laptop do you even need to make a text-based IF? Idk man

 

[SasariRomanii]

Ah, guitarist that speaks for itself. If I had to guess, the singer is some idealized RO who gets all the love and fame in history and is the author's favourite.

To hell with such IFs.

The overall vibe is like that, yes.

Just saw an ask on the Tumblr about who write the songs for the band and the answer was a bit confusing as she said "story wise it's the singer/leader, game wise it's still undecided" or something like that.

It seems this one is another case of author already having a story build up (perhaps around the singer and leader of the band) but then decided to turn it into an IF and insert the MC last minute. I hope I'm wrong cause I really want this IF to be good and entertaining.

Why oh why can't IF these IF writers put as much love to the MC as they do to the other characters? Such a mystery.

 

[SasariRomanii]

lolwut... :')
Also, like, how good of a laptop do you even need to make a text-based IF? Idk man

A mediocre laptop is enough, the problem comes when they focus too much on aesthetics and creating some atmospheric bullshit like adding sound effects or animated texts. Things that are not only unnecessary but also detracts from the meat of the matter that is their writing.

 

[seneya]

A mediocre laptop is enough, the problem comes when they focus too much on aesthetics

Eh, it was a rhetorical question, mostly. I coded literally off my phone, but that was with ChoiceScript, I guess Twine would be different.

 

[God]

Eh, it was a rhetorical question, mostly. I coded literally off my phone, but that was with ChoiceScript, I guess Twine would be different.

Kinda, but it’s doable. My friend started a twine IF on his phone and got pretty far this was like 2022? Or 23 so it was possible

 

[purplemirror]

Just played The Porthecrawl Witness, and never did I think I’d want to physically hurt a romance option this much... When Talbot threw the important item—something the MC risked so much to get, and that might literally save lives—into the flames?? Dude. The author did such a good job making me want to punch someone through the screen.

If you want them to be nice or even just polite to you, you have to suck up to them. And if you don’t? On certain paths, they can literally try to murder the MC?? I usually enjoy a good rivals-to-lovers angst, but this is just rival. Like, I did not sign up to be punished for not sucking up to an adult baby with anger issues who pretends to be sexy and mysterious by... not communicating like a normal adult and acting like a maniac.

I’m so pissed off about this character I honestly can’t keep reading.

And being the MC in this story feels so futile. You know nothing—even though you're a journalist AND a member of a secret society. You investigate through eight chapters, and somehow your progress in saving your own town and solving the mystery is barely one step past the starting line. Meanwhile, the RO—who honestly feels more like the real investigator in a CoC or DnD game—shares nothing with you. Like... thanks, I guess? Now I know how to roleplay a pissed-off NPC

Anyway, I’m just gonna pack my bags and drive off with my aunt and my lovely friend Faye. Farewell!

 

[SasariRomanii]

Just played The Porthecrawl Witness, and never did I think I’d want to physically hurt a romance option this much... When Talbot threw the important item—something the MC risked so much to get, and that might literally save lives—into the flames?? Dude. The author did such a good job making me want to punch someone through the screen.

Talbot is very suspect. I have an inkling they're from the same tribe that gives the families the good Porthecrawl and the bad Porthecrawl. And Talbot did say that if we take that book it will harm their friends (nevermind the hundreds of people in the town who are suffering). Honestly what really sets me off about these meddling trio, is that they can just up and leave and pretend the town doesn't exists. They're not tied to Porthecrawl so they can just f8ck sh1t up for their stupid tabloid (it's a book about folklores and history and whatnot but whatever). Don't get me started on that receptionist b8tch who lets the three stooges walk all over her and letting them INSIDE the building when it's clearly PROHIBITED!!!! Gaaaaaaah!

 

[seneya]

The author did such a good job making me want to punch someone through the screen.

That's good writing, imo. I'd rather have 'characters' with flaws and agendas, than a set of 'ROs' whose only purpose is to fawn over MC. (I prefer Asher tho)

You know nothing—even though you're a journalist AND a member of a secret society.

It's a horror game, feeling helpless is also a feature of the genre, I think.

Basically I think your (emotional) responses might be more or less what the author intended lol
Not all fiction is meant to make one feel all fluffy

Talbot is very suspect.

Isn't Talbot's name literally on the list of people who died way back when or something? It's been a while since I played, but I figured they have ties to the cultists who created/keep the wards or smth

 

[ADB446]

I'm starting to see what y'all mean about the septicsaints author. Some of their asks pop up on my homepage, and yikes is all I have to say. Anyway, did any of you read the demo?

 

[Glitch]

Anyway, did any of you read the demo?

Yeah, it was short, and the personalities do make sense given what the MC has been through. I guess I can add them to the "pathetic meow meow MCs" list, along with Crowny. Still, having only three personality options feels pretty limiting. There’s not much room for variety. Acting stoic one moment and then suddenly switching to charming would probably give the other characters whiplash, it doesn’t come off as natural. So you kind of feel locked into one personality, and it ends up feeling more like you’re just clicking "next" rather than making real choices. That said, at least the personality choices actually get unique reactions from the characters and affect what happens on the next page. Also, it was mentioned that the singer RO, Ash, is the one who “saved” the MC and apparently shares some kind of special bond with them but in the character list, it says Ash already has a partner. I really hope this doesn’t end up being another can’t save your love from dying situation.

 

[SasariRomanii]

Is it just me, or does that Viatica IF feels like the discount Walmart version of Scout? And I don't mean like the author is copying Scout, cause the idea of dryland post apocalypse is already done a lot and everywhere.

Where I was engaged and reading every word written on Scout (despite some flaws cause I really feel like it's rushed and some things can be expanded a little bit more), with Viatica I breeze all the way through the story — it's just meh.

 

[kecap asin]

I would just avoinding the band/rockstar if altogether. It seems curse.
either with the story or the author. Like war theme if game is less toxic that this genre

 

[Zeus]

Am I the only one noticing that almost every new IF has the mc as some sort of secondary character or sucker? Either they got cheated on, powerful but somehow lost all of their powers, most hated, most useless, most boring, stupidest and other **** like that. Most of these authors are trying their hardest to avoid a "power fantasy" and just end up making the mc the least interesting character in the game

 

[Fuffff]

Am I the only one noticing that almost every new IF has the mc as some sort of secondary character or sucker? Either they got cheated on, powerful but somehow lost all of their powers, most hated, most useless, most boring, stupidest and other **** like that. Most of these authors are trying their hardest to avoid a "power fantasy" and just end up making the mc the least interesting character in the game

Ironically, in trying to distance themselves from power fantasy because it was becoming too "cliché" and "overused," they ended up flocking to a new genre (I will call it weakling-fantasy) so heavily that it became even more overused than the one they were trying to avoid.

Even stories with strong MCs are nerfing them on purpose. The POMA MC got nerfed from what people have told me, as in, the MC isn't as unique anymore, and he was nerfed in the latest update. I haven't played POMA in a long time, so I can't check if it's true

 

[seneya]

Ironically, in trying to distance themselves from power fantasy because it was becoming too "cliché" and "overused,"

Not sure if trying to distance themselves from a power fantasy or just trying to make the MC sympathetic tbh
The issue is not starting out as an underdog imo, it's how it's handled by the rest of the story... Like are you allowed to grow and fight back etc.

 

[God]

My problem with this line of thinking is why does it have to be either or? I see it so much in IFs and media these days. It’s either an underdog weak Mc or an OP MC to start off. Why do you have to be a rookie or new person joining the job or etc. We need more MC who start off strong and competent and can grow even stronger? Have any authors ever heard of that? Oh they’re weak and just starting let them grow! I’m tired of the bs my perfect example? Dragon’s Covenant, not only is MC strong and competent at the start we can even grow stronger. We need more IFs where MC has already been doing their thing before the story starts and not just awoken or getting used to new powers or abilities or job.

 

[seneya]

A) easier to explain things to the reader if they learn at the same pace as MC
B) being an Everyman means readers have an easier time relating/self-inserting
C) misery is an easy source of sympathy points, in and out of universe

Mind you, I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here.

Why do you have to be a rookie or new person joining the job or etc.

 

[CQ2205]

Sooo... new band IF just dropped titled Septic Saints
And surprise surprise, the author is another snarky-b1tch™ with mommy issues — yeeeey!

It's not playable yet. But it's there on CoG Demos

And about the mommy issues thing, it could be just an act or it could be real

View attachment 22967

After this she doubled down and posted another angsty quote that goes more or less like this: "In every universe, I should've worn protection"

This second post has been deleted tho (wonder why)

The moment I saw it, I got major Seven Infamous vibes. Lately, every IF about bands seems to give off that same energy.
Either they reach the same deplorable level as Infamous — or they somehow manage to be even worse.
It’s like the writers saw Infamous getting popular (which, honestly… no comment) and thought, “Yep, let’s do that, but messier.”
And whether people like it or not, there will be another famous IF, because apparently Tumblr folks just love problematic characters.

Edit: Just read some asks on the author’s Tumblr and the description. Turns out it’s not just Seven Infamous vibes — we’re also getting R energy from Can’t Save Your Love From Dying.
And once again… why make a character a RO WHEN THEY ALREADY HAVE A PARTNER?! No, seriously, IFs are getting worse and worse. It’s getting hard to find a good one to read.
If you wanna avoid getting frustrated, I'd seriously stay away from any IF about bands right now — before you lose your sanity completely.

 

[Fuffff]

My problem with this line of thinking is why does it have to be either or? I see it so much in IFs and media these days. It’s either an underdog weak Mc or an OP MC to start off. Why do you have to be a rookie or new person joining the job or etc. We need more MC who start off strong and competent and can grow even stronger? Have any authors ever heard of that? Oh they’re weak and just starting let them grow! I’m tired of the bs my perfect example? Dragon’s Covenant, not only is MC strong and competent at the start we can even grow stronger. We need more IFs where MC has already been doing their thing before the story starts and not just awoken or getting used to new powers or abilities or job.

I love games where you start off already seen by the world and its characters as a respected or competent person, like in I the Forgotten One, Whiskey Four, and Within Your Eyes. But I have mixed feelings about IFs where you're seen as competent but get your *** beaten in almost every encounter (like in The Exile)