Devlog #11 📚 “Gameplay”

Hiiiiii devlog time

In case you just stumbled upon this devlog, I am Adrienne, also known as insertdisc5! I am the creator of timeloop RPG In Stars and Time, and now am working on my next game, memory visual novel Truth Scrapper. It’s gonna be a good one.

For this month, I’m gonna talk about “gameplay”, and about how they call me"decision fatigue girl"

📚 "WHAT'S A VISUAL NOVEL"

But before we get into it, here’s some visual novel context. If you know about them novels you can skip this but also I have friends who read this devlog who don’t know anything about visual novels ok

Most visual novels are similar to “Choose your own adventure” books. You get a prompt (“Do you want to go right or left?”), a couple choices (“Left”, “Right”), and each choice will bring you to a different path. The game keeps a log of your choices, and those usually determine which ending you get. Or what general sort of story you’ll have. Choices are great

So, depending on the game, those choices might be about all sorts of different things. Is your character courageous, or a coward? Are they strong, or agile? Do they like this love interest better, or this one? Does the love interest like you back, or not? The choices you made will impact the story in all sorts of ways!

Steam post image (A very important choice from my game Serre)

So, when I decided I wanted to make Truth Scrapper a visual novel, the dreaded question came to me. WHAT’S THE GAMEPLAY LIKE?!? WHAT WILL BE THE CHOICES?!?!

After thinking about it for a while, I decided that, actually, the game will not have classic choices, where you are prompted, the game stops, and only keeps on going when you pick one. I decided to make the main character, Sosotte, a character that makes her own decisions, and you’re just along for the ride.

You cannot change Sosotte’s actions or choices, but what you CAN change is what our amnesiac protagonist decides to remember from day to day.

📚 MEMORIES AS CHOICES

Every day in-game, you, as the player, can decide which three memories she’ll remember for the day. Some will be about what she can see, hear, smell. Some others will be about important moments that happened during the day. And some will be about your two love interests. Of course, what Sosotte remembers will impact the story. Does Sosotte prefer to remember other people, or is she centered on herself? Does she like to observe people’s clothing, or maybe pays more attention to their Saturated Items? Is Sosotte more interested in Amour, or Betz? YOU CAN CHOOSE. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE

And, of course, depending on who she remembers most fondly (and on other things…), you’ll get a different ending. Overall, I intend for the gameplay part to be simple, and it won’t ask for too much brain power or anything like that. But, in case you want a truly on-the-rails experience…

Once you unlock one ending, you will get access to the Timeline screen. With this map, you’ll be able to find exactly how to get which ending! So, if you get stuck, you can just check here and enjoy the story!!!

📚 “But Adrienne, in an age where video games pride themselves in offering “10000+ choices that impact the story for sure”, how dare you offer me an “easy” experience?!?”

Listen. I understand. I have gotten this feedback from a couple playtesters too. The game should have more choices. It should be more responsive. But also. Listen to me. LISTEN TO ME!!!!

I don’t like to play games that are too big and ask too much out of me <3 They call me “decision fatigue girl” <3

I understand people who want The Most Story In Their Game And It Responds To Every Decision You Make. But that’s not for me. And that’s not the kinda game I wanna make! I want to make a game where you have a big arrow that says “AMOUR PATH HERE”! I want a game that tells me clearly “hey this is the last moment to make your choice and then your choice will be locked in”! I want rails!!! I want a game that’s for the girlies who make too many decisions IRL and now they want a nice game with nice images!!!!!!!!!!! A GAME FOR ME!!!! MY GAME!!!!!

Some playtesters wanted more choices, but some were SO HAPPY to hear that the game will have a Timeline Screen so you don’t have to use your precious power to figure out how to see everything. And. Can instead use that power. To make a grocery list

Of course, while each memory you choose to remember will tell you what it’ll impact, that doesn’t mean the choices themselves will be easy to make… Wink Wink Nudge Nudge… But again, that’s what the Timeline screen will be for. If you want

📚“YAY I LOVE NOT THINKING AND JUST EATING POPCORN”

Me too girl

📚“OK BUT WHAT DID YOU WORK ON THIS MONTH”

Writing amour’s script. it’s going so well

thats it bye

DON'T FORGET TO WISHLIST THE GAME ALSO IT REALLY HELPS BECAUSE STEAM’S ALGORITHM IS MORE LIKELY TO SHOW OFF GAMES WITH A HIGH AMOUNT OF WISHLISTS THATS THE REASON WHY GAME DEVS ALWAYS ASK TO WISHLIST!!! OKAY BYE!!!!

Links! 📚 Official Website 📚 Join the Discord 📚 Sign up for my mailing list 📚 Follow Truth Scrapper on Bluesky 📚 Follow ME on Bluesky