#bbdyap

[where-spar0w-barks]

BBD SHIFT 3 IS OUT!!!🦴

go play it now! the guide is HERE if you need it and dont forget to read the devlog! :3

CHARACTERS PLAYLIST!! 💖

BBD MASTERPOST by @neurthewanderer!! 💖

SHIFT 3 NOW AVAILABLE. - Big Bad Dogs by spar0w

PLEASE DELETE ALL PREVIOUS GAME FILES BEFORE INSTALLING SHIFT 3 TO ENSURE THE GAME WORKS CORRECTLY AND TO AVOID POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH OLD DA

thank you so much for playing and supporting the game! have fun pookies! 💖

NAVIGATION⬇️

[where-spar0w-barks]

Guys I have a theory!

I COULD BE VERY WRONG. ANYWAY SHIFT 3 SPOILERS DNI if u havent played! ESPECIALLY IF U DONT WANNA HEAR ABOUT LANE LORE

🛑🚔🛑🚔🛑🚔🛑

What if Lanes mom remarried/has another guy after his dad? Would explain the “guy” saved on his phone. His mom is saved as mom and the guy as “guy” (It could be just his dad too but idk i like thinking about convoluted things). He replies to “guy” but not mom. Meaning its impersonal, im sensing that he named him that not as a deep grudge thing yknow? He could be his stepdad and hes just naming him “guy” out of spite and misplaced loyalty to his dad.

The last text was a “paragraph” guy sent to Lane. Im assuming guy was defending his and Lanes mom’s relationship and explaining to Lane about what his mom is feeling. (His mom is obviously sad theyre both not close anymore and wants him home for xmas which he didnt go to. Sweet that he displayed the xmas card tho) could be completely wrong about this mind you but stay with me!

In the finding the keys sequence in Lane’s apartment, I found a pic of his dad looking like a police officer with a scar on his cheek, holding Lane (exact replica of Lane mind you! 10/10 would smash) The back of it says best dad ever. Also Lane saved his mom and dad’s wedding CD. Why would you have ur parents wedding CD in YOUR place instead of theirs? Which leads me to think…

Maybe his dad is 💀 or they’re divorced. But ive seen no evidence yet of his dad actually alive. Only his mom. So im leaning more towards dad is ☠️

Maybe hes not over the death and he expects his mom would be single forever but then his mom gets a “guy” and he flips out because hes not ready for anyone to occupy the space his dad left. Lane also has a telling note on his phone about feeling like his family isnt okay and “pretending” to be normal while he isnt over something (dad being ☠️ presumably and getting replaced by a dude in his perception?)

And since his mom is FEMALE lol Lanes issue with women are further exacerbated (my gears are turning!!!)

Tldr Lane being a sad meow meow again. Lane is so soft inside I swear 🥹 he barks the loudest because he has only 1 on his true HP bar and then gets seriously hurt so its all false armor like BB says. I cant believe I still like him more than BB after Shift 3!!! NOOO i was hoping id like BB more!! BB stop being highkey scary so i can like u more than the stupid idiot!!!

EXTREME SPOILER!!!!

congratulations, you are completely right!😸💖💖

thats also why Lane says he "never believed in marriage" in the store scene! :3 he "never" believed in it and yet he still keeps that CD of his parents.💖

[where-spar0w-barks]

is there a scene ur excited to write in the future? also, whats ur process with bbd? what comes first, what are the steps, ur fav/least fav part? i'm curious!!

i am particularly excited to write the scenes in BB's place in Shift 4 because i just got an amazing idea a few days ago.😏 but for now, im writing some ideas and dialogues for RB in Shift 3.5 and i love it!😋

my steps are pretty simple: i just write all my ideas in my notes (dialogues, object descriptions... it can be anything). everything is messy asf but its my mess. xD

then i start writing the scene that im the most excited about and when it bores me, i start another and another etc etc... until i finish writing the whole Shift.😎

i dont really have a favorite or least favorite part because everything is kinda "easy" to do, its just extremely long.

i mean sometimes its hard writing BB's character and finding ideas but as i said its ONLY a matter of time. i got the best ideas for Shift 3 when i was at like 80% completion. xD

so i mostly only trust myself to find the good ideas and the most obnoxious bullshit Lane could say. x)

[where-spar0w-barks]

Laly, I'd really love it if there were an option for those of us who see Bianca as a sexual abuser, or if Lane's trauma could be explored a little more deeply.

You're one of the first writers I've seen portray male sexual abuse in a way that feels this nuanced, and I think you've handled it incredibly well. Because of that, I'd personally love to see that aspect of Lane explored further instead of it feeling like he simply "got over it."

Lane shows a lot of behaviors that can be associated with trauma, including his promiscuity. Of course, not every survivor responds that way, but for some people it can be a way of trying to regain a sense of control, which is why they may end up sleeping with multiple partners.

I know Lane may have done things too when he was that age, but he was the younger one. He was just a teenager, so it's understandable that he acted immaturely. From my perspective, though, Bianca was the adult in that situation, so I don't think the responsibility falls on him.

Of course, this is just my personal interpretation, and I completely understand that it's your story and you'll take it in whatever direction feels right to you. I just wanted to share how I felt because I think you've written this topic so well that I'd genuinely love to see it explored more.

Lane was just a kid. :,c WAAAAAAAA

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! im so glad you think ive written it well!🥺💖 and i definitely plan to explore this topic much more later in the story! :3

right now, Lane simply isnt at a point where hed let anyone get close enough to have that conversation. but once he finally lets the MC "in" theyll have a much deeper discussion about what happened.

by then my writing will probably improve so i really want to try giving the players multiple dialogue choices so they can express their own interpretation of the situation. i dont want to force a single conclusion on everyone because i know people will read those events differently based on their own perspectives and experiences. :3

tho i can already imagine Lane reacting very badly if the MC directly tells him "you were sexually abused." but his reaction wouldnt mean to tell the player theyre wrong, itd just meant to reflect where Lane is emotionally at that point in his life which is super interesting!😱💖💖

[where-spar0w-barks]

How are you so good at writing male characters convincingly? In most VN's I've played, the male characters mostly feels like concepts rather than people. And as a woman, this is kinda where I'm stuck too while writing men.

While playing your game, I was very surprised at how good the male characters were written. I was wondering if you could give some tips about how you wrote them so real? Pretty please 💖💖💖

thank you so so much omg🥺🥺💖💖 my writing has improved a lot since Shift 1 and 2 so im still learning but im very touched you think the characters are convincing!😭💕

tbh im not the best at giving writing advice because i mostly write by instinct as i go but there is one thing ive noticed in the VN community! xD (and im targeting ABSOLUTELY NO ONE because i used to do this too when i first started the VN, just sharing some thoughts😔🥀)

i think one of the biggest traps is writing male characters with the player in mind instead of with themselves in mind.

a lot of romance games naturally want the player to fall in love with the love interests (which is fair) so its tempting to sand off their rough edges. but then you start thinking things like "if he says this, players might hate him" or "if he does that hell become less attractive"

and little by little, the character starts making decisions based on what will keep the audience happy rather than what they would actually do.

i try REALLY hard not to do that. xD

when Shift 2 came out, i received a few negative reviews saying my characters were "unlikable" almost as if that was something i should fix. but i never set out to make them universally likable.😅 bc real people are contradictory. they have biases, say stupid things, hurt others without meaning to etc...

but i think thats WHAT makes players become attached to them. because they feel like they have a life outside the player.

so my main advices would be:

- dont write a man whos trying to impress the player. write a man whos just trying to live his life. if he feels like a complete person first, players can decide for themselves whether they love him, hate him or both.

- a bit stupid but: write their logic. once you know what they believe about themselves and the world, you can almost predict how theyll react in any situation.

[where-spar0w-barks]

I think you mentioned about us being able to give Lane a lil smooch on his cheek in the next shift if I'm not mistaken?👀

Lowkeygenuinely cant wait for Lane's NSFW scene in future shifts, but the slow burn and the flirting stage is sooo goood!!!!😭💓

this scene is actually in a hidden click and you only get it if you picked the right choice that leads to the route where it can happen. xD

i already know almost everyone is gonna miss those hidden clicks so ill probably spoil this one for Lane and also one for BB in the guide. the rest will be up to you guys to find! :3

and aaaa i cant wait for the dating stage + future NSFW scenes either!!! the slow burn/flirting phase is one of my favorite things to write tho bc its sooo cute and its what make people attached to the characters. :3 (ALSO LANEY AND BB ARE SOOOO DIFFERENT I LOVE THEIR DYNAMIC WITH MC)

in Shift 3 you can already kinda choose what type of route you want for Shift 4. like whether you want things to progress faster romantically or keep the slow burn going a bit longer! :3

thats also why there are no endings because it kinda prepares what will happen for you in Shift 4. x)

tbh Shift 4 is probably gonna end up being like 200k words. xD BUT SO EXCITED I ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON BB's PLACE FOR A POINT AND CLICK!😱😱

[where-spar0w-barks]

hi sparrow I just wanted to say how much I loved your game when I played it, it was so atmospheric it comforted me especially lane I loved him…which leads to my personal issue with the new updated chapter as a woc/poc myself it was really insensitive and hurtful when lane had made that racist “dark humor” joke. I completely understand that he’s supposed to be an asshole and all and this was the 2000s I get that but I thought this was a vn where you’re supposed to insert yourself into the game literally. I don’t get how I as a black woman can enjoy this beautifully made game properly if the male lead is borderline attacking potential poc y/ns. That line all and all just really disappointed me this is all I have to say, that might not mean anything to you because you might be racist yourself but I’ve said all I’ve wanted to say.

hi! thank you for taking the time to write this. i appreciate that you shared your perspective, especially since you also said you enjoyed the game overall. im really sorry that line made the experience less enjoyable for you.

i completely understand what you mean about playing as a self insert protagonist. i can totally see how those kinds of comments can feel directed at the player when youre imagining yourself as the MC.

i wanted to explain a little why i wrote Lane that way, not to invalidate your feelings but to give some context about my intentions as the writer.

Lane is intentionally written to be immature, insecure and someone who hides behind "dark humor" edgy jokes and performative masculinity. he says sexist, racist and homophobic things because thats genuinely who he is at the beginning of the story, not because i think those attitudes are acceptable.

one of the biggest themes in the game is watching flawed people slowly change.

BBD isnt a story where everyone starts as a good person. its a slow burn and that applies to the romance just as much as it applies to the characters themselves.

Lane isnt meant to be someone the player immediately agrees with or admires. hes someone with a lot of emotional baggage, unhealthy coping mechanisms and views that come from the environment he grew up in.

for me, those flaws are important because theyre connected to his development later on. theyre not random shock value. they become relevant as the story progresses, especially through the people around him.

for example, his casual homophobia becomes much more meaningful when someone very close to him is bisexual, and his assumptions about foreigners are challenged through his relationships with characters who arent from his country.

those moments are part of his growth, and removing those flaws from the beginning would also remove a significant part of the journey i want to tell.

the game is also set in 2009 and i wanted the dialogue to feel authentic to that time. that DOESNT mean i think the attitudes common in that era were okay.

rather, i wanted the characters to feel like products of their environment instead of speaking with the awareness many people have today. my goal is to portray flawed people honestly not to endorse the things they say.

but i do think your feedback highlights something that i could have handled better.

one thing im already planning for future updates (Shift 3.5) is expanding the MC's customization and reactions. i think it would have been better if the player had more opportunities to respond to comments like that in a way that reflects who they are, instead of feeling like they just have to silently accept it.

i think that would make the experience feel more personal while still staying true to Lane's character and i shouldve done this before releasing Shift 3.

i know that wont necessarily change how that scene made you feel and i completely respect that.

not every story will be for every player and i never want anyone to feel obligated to continue something that makes them uncomfortable.

but i also dont want to write characters who begin their stories already having all the right opinions, because for me, watching people confront their flaws and change is one of the main reasons i wanted to tell this story in the first place.

thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. even when i dont end up changing something, i still value hearing how different people experience the game and i appreciate you taking the time to explain yours.

[where-spar0w-barks]

hi laly!! i was wondering if bb and amy would work together? they seem to be like polar opposites but it just kinda feels like they would be great friends or even something more, like i feel like they would agree on certain topics so i was just really curious how that dynamic would work

i get what you mean!! xD💖💖

yes theyre A LOT different! so i think Amelia would initially find BB really weird. shed probably be suspicious of how overly polite he is around women because from her perspective shes seen enough men who perform being "one of the good ones" when they want something.

but IF Amelia spent enough time around him, shed eventually notice that hes consistently like this with women in general. hes not trying to impress her specifically, hes just genuinely respectful and awkward.

her interest in him would come from getting to know him and realizing hes actually a decent person despite being kind of strange.

if anything romantic ever developed, i think it would be a veryyyyy slow burn because Amelia would get easily pissed off by how clueless BB is, while also secretly thinking its kind of cute.

tho BB would mostly think shes kind of rude and sharp toward other people, which he doesnt appreciate when its undeserved. its kind of common in the Fostman family tbh. xD

so BB would probably NEVER develop any romantic feelings toward her, but Amelia COULD potentially fall for BB.

their friendship would probably be more interesting anyway. Amelia would roast him, be suspicious of him and occasionally test him while BB would mostly just be confused by her. xD