Writing trans characters in Honor Bound and future projects
A year ago I slipped and accidentally wrote a huge post elsewhere about how I wrote trans characters in Honor Bound. Then I wrote this up and never posted it. Here's an expanded and edited version.
I'm coming to this with a focus on long-form interactive fiction with customisable player characters, of the kind that I publish with Choice of Games, but it's applicable to other kinds of narrative game too, or worldbuilding in general.
A year ago I slipped and accidentally wrote a huge post elsewhere about how I wrote trans characters in Then I wrote this up and never post
An adventure game about old computers, community, creativity, fandom, gender, and the internet. Alex Cole is a teenage trans girl in 1999 wh
I like to call it "Internet Egg Simulator: 1999" because that's literally the premise...
Trans girl, who's an egg, on the internet in 1999.
Despite being a 90s internet period piece, I felt at least some similarities relatability (besides the trans stuff).
Like, I don't think I was ever chatting with like 3/4 people at the same time, but there have been several occasions on discord when I'm literally having two different discord text conversations at the same time so that felt familiar.
Lol I wonder if like, the 2040s people will make like, video games based on the internet nowdays... Gosh I'm going to feel old when that happens xD!
And for the trans experience stuff, I can at least say (without spoiling anything) there were at least one or two things that were relatable to me when I was an egg... (Maybe I'll go into it if I ever make like a "hey here's my experience discovering my transness! on my YT channel that currently has nothing... Likely will save it for a subscriber special or something...
Oh my gosh I think I saw a video on this game years ago... Like, back in my denial filled egg days... why just a second I need to scream into a pillow over trans repression/denial related trauma...
[aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!]
ANYWAY! Its very short but I recommend the game, especially if your trans! (just pay attention to the CW could be triggering for some folks.)
Halfway through Snow's Songbirds 3e (also while listening to her playlist on YouTube, great pairing).
Just thinking about death and rebirth and character arcs and doing regular boring shit in-between adventures. The layout is very paired back and playful. Loving it 💖
“This is a good idea! Also, you can spend your money on games by trans devs. In fact, let's make it a thread. Feel free to reply with your suggestions - store-links help!”
Here is a thread of games you can and, quite frankly, SHOULD be buying instead of shitty wizard game about Blood Libel.
