Swamptown: Visual Novel Series

A visual novel about 3 reptile friends who have to escape a lab with their lives - and their friendships - in tact 🦎 WISHLIST ON STEAM ❤️ DEV: @coco--rock

[swamptowndc]

WIP scene for my visual novel, “Swamptown: Animal Testing” (which you can wishlist here)

In this scene, Sasha wakes up and finds herself in a terrarium prison of some sort. She doesn’t know where she is. The choices she face are limited… wait for help, or find a way out.

“Swamptown: Animal Testing” is about three reptile friends trying to escape from an animal testing lab with their lives - and their friendships - in tact. Countless choices, several different endings

You can wishlist it here !

[swamptowndc]

One of the biggest mistakes I made in development of my game “Swamptown: Animal Testing” is giving players choices that don't actually feel like choices. Here's what I've learned while writing a branching visual novel....

Not "Left or Right?" (Though, I do have that option in there in the beginning...) Instead: "Who do you trust, yourself or someone else?" "Do you risk it?" "Tell the truth or lie?"

Sometimes the best choices don't pay off until an hour later. When a decision comes back in an unexpected way, players realize their actions really mattered. And TBH, it’s my favorite kind of choice to plan when writing.

A choice doesn't need to split the story into two completely different games. Maybe it changes dialogue. Or a character remembers what you said. Maybe it unlocks information later. Small differences add up.

If one option is clearly the good choice and the other is clearly the bad choice... most players won't hesitate. Interesting choices happen when both options have strengths and drawbacks.

My visual novel Swamptown: Animal Testing has a steam page where you can wishlist my upcomig game. Three reptile friends. One animal testing facility. Countless choices. Can you escape before it's too late?

[swamptowndc]

[swamptowndc]

I hate drawing backgrounds ❤️

[swamptowndc]

When I started writing my visual novel, “Swamptown: Animal Testing” I thought the hard part would be coming up with ideas. I was wrong. The hard part is making hundreds of scenes feel like they're all part of one coherent story, no matter the branch. Here are the biggest lessons I've learned...

Not every decision has to change the ending, but every decision should make the player feel like they mattered. If a choice doesn't affect anything, ask yourself why it's there. Is it for a reveal of information? Is it just there as a funny moment?

I used to jump straight into scenes. Now I spend much more time outlining. It's a lot easier to fix a flowchart than rewrite ten scenes because one decision broke the story. However, I make it a point not to overproduce outlines, as one can get too caught up in it... and it can bog down the writing process.

One choice becomes two. Two become four. Four become eight. You see my demonstration on basic math? If you're not careful, you'll create a story that's impossible to finish.

Characters. Character’s individual designs. Character’s color palettes when creating sprites. Flags. Variables. Variables of Variables. Relationships. Future callbacks. You'll thank yourself later.

My visual novel Swamptown: Animal Testing has a steam page where you can wishlist my upcomig game. Three reptile friends. One animal testing facility. Countless choices. Can you escape before it's too late?

[swamptowndc]

I am currently developing a visual novel, "Swamptown: Animal Testing"

Three reptile friends. One animal testing facility. Countless choices. Can you escape before it's too late?

It would mean the world if you could wishlist this on Steam! If you're a fan of thriller/comedies, this might be the game for you. These are characters I have worked on for years, and the plan is to also have it fully voice acted. I'm so excited to bring you this project!

[swamptowndc]

Hey!! This is my visual novel!! I would appreciate if my followers could go check this out!! All of my characters are reptiles (gee i wonder who inspired that haha)

[swamptowndc]

I am currently developing a visual novel, "Swamptown: Animal Testing"

Three reptile friends. One animal testing facility. Countless choices. Can you escape before it's too late?

It would mean the world if you could wishlist this on Steam! If you're a fan of thriller/comedies, this might be the game for you. These are characters I have worked on for years, and the plan is to also have it fully voice acted. I'm so excited to bring you this project!