Return to the sight of your sister's death, reclaim your stolen memories, and resolve the mystery of Bear Creek National Park.
Description
18 years ago, you lost your older sister in the forest of Bear Creek National Park. You are the only living witness to what happened that night, but from the moment the rangers found you, you've never been able to recount the events.
After years of dwelling on the lost pieces of yourself, you decide to finally return - and it just so happens there's a summer camp taking place not far from the trail on which you and your sister got lost. Can you manage your responsibilities as the camp's newest counselor while chasing dangerous memories, or will the forest take even more from you before summer's end?
Features
Step into the role of a gender-neutral protagonist with four main personality types and temperaments.
Define your reputation among young campers and influence the outcome of their summers.
Confide in one of four potential partners who'll join you as your investigation takes dark turns - or fight to keep your secrets hidden.
Build friendship and romance among six characters, or clash with incompatible rivals.
Travel down branching choices that will shape your story, both past and present, as well as the stories of those around you and even that of the forest itself.
As mentioned, I had some things to take care of, but it was all scheduled toward the end of the month, so I focused on getting as much writing done as I could before then.
Aaaaand it was a success! I've finished Danny and Maris' route for Act 5, which was a lot more involved than Kait's. I don't want to give any false impressions; Act 5 isn't super long or anything. There are just more moving parts than you might think. This preview conversation can go sixteen different ways because of your counselor's personality combinations.
Additionally, I started in on Salem and Tasha's route (more on that in next month's log), rewrote some earlier stuff, and worked on romance outlines. If I keep pace, I should be in playtesting stages by July.
Unfortunately I had some life events to deal with, and I've got a bit more coming up. In the meantime, I tackled what I could: some planning, some coding, and minor bug fixes.
There is an important update, though: Episode 1 will be three chapters instead of five.
There won't be any less story; it'll just be spaced out differently. The pacing was off, and I think this solves it. Episode 1 is shorter than the next two, and yet it was planned to have just as many chapters. That ended up making it feel empty and dragged out.
There shouldn't be any delay on the upcoming update due to this, but it'll be an extension of the first chapter now rather than a new one.
Chapter 2 and 3, on the other hand... Those may take a bit longer. I'm unsure if I want to release them in full like I planned, or in halves like I inadvertently did for this one. But that's a question for future me.
Hopefully April is smoother and I can get a lot more actual writing in.
Little preview of one of the name tags, which are definitely sticking around now that I've recruited help from a friend and got this awesome pumpkin out of it.
Hi all! I'm gonna keep this log short because I don't wanna share too much, but here are the main things I've been working on:
Tweaked the textbox. I was never happy with it; now I am!
A very modest name tag creator. Admittedly this was a sudden and half-baked idea that popped into my head while writing so it might not stick around, but I really like it.
A ton of outlining. I fleshed out some character stuff, moved around a bunch of important scenes, narrowed down the timeline... All the really important stuff that doesn't feel like progress but is, lol.
Found a choice meant for the end of Chapter 1 that got lost in my drafts. Embarrassed and baffled about how I forgot it, but that's ready to go.
Added a bit more to Act 1 so it's feeling solid now.
Did some Act 2 writing!
A deceptively big month. I also woke up a few mornings ago dreaming about an argument I was having with myself over where to put a scene that doesn't actually exist, so the story has now fully seeped into my subconscious.
For the sake of adding a photo, here's a preview of the name tags:
Please share - I'm going through a ton of WIP threads on the forum this morning to let authors know about this, but there's no guarantee they'll see and it's best that it's as widely known as possible!
I spent the first week of January working on a prologue for another game (let's call it Project Sky) and I'm really happy with what I was able to get done. It's a much larger project with a ton of moving parts (we're talking 12 different prologues, one of which has 25 variations!!), so I'm taking my time with it and working on it when I can.
Aaaand then I got sick. It wasn't too bad, but I kept insisting I'd be good in a few days only to have a few days pass and feel the exact same, lol. It was just annoying enough that I had a rough time writing. I'm still on the mend, but I'm feeling much better now.
That doesn't mean I didn't get anything done for Camp Maple Wind, though. I wrote one of the four main scenarios you'll be choosing between in Chapter 2.
Aside from hanging out with the counselors (your first real chance to if it's Nick or Maris!), you'll meet two of the four new campers I introduced in the last progress log.
The scenario I worked on was registration with Neal and Kait, which will probably be the least picked seeing as neither of them are our main characters. Personally I think any screen time for Kait is worth it but I may be a little biased, so I wanted to give people more reason to choose it. Instead of meeting only two of the new campers, you'll meet all four, and the relatives who drop them off. This'll give you an easier chance at a good first impression, as well as a peek into their home lives - two things that might come in handy later down the line. Also, Kait. You get to hang out with Kait.
With any luck, I'll recover by the end of the week and get a lot more writing done by the next log.
I think December has been the longest week of the year, but after coming this close to missing my goal for the month, I finally finished putting together the four young campers who'll be joining the cast in Chapter 2!
Each camper will be tied to two departments (unsurprisingly, Addie's taken camping and sports while Fiona's in art and science), and they all have their own unique endings influenced by the way you choose to lead them. Do you help them discover themselves and grow as people? And can you keep them safe from what lurks in the park -- or will one of them meet the same fate as your sister?
Aside from small things here or there (the gallery, a lil bit of dialogue), fleshing out each kids' storyline was my focus for the month, so I didn't worry much about anything else. Now that they're here, I'm excited to write your first encounters with them.
On a somewhat down note, January will probably not be when a beta is ready for testing. I have some other IF projects I put on the back burner for this one and they keep calling to me so I might take a week to work on those after the holidays and get it out of my system.
Thanks for reading! I hope you're all having a good end of the year. Stay safe, and I'll see you in 2025.
Once it seemed like Camp Maple Wind was a stable release, I took an immediate week off to spend time with friends and family. Then I got to work laying out some parts I hadn't yet outlined, as well as everything I need to do for Chapter 2.
Each episode is going to focus on a different part of the mystery. You'll have to explore the park, remember your sister, and uncover whatever you may have seen on your first night... For a big portion of the month, I kept going back and forth on the order of those investigations and how to pace some key moments. I'm mostly there now, but still have some things to iron out.
As far as the next chapter is concerned, Act 1 is half finished! To kick things off, you'll be able to choose your roommate in the staff lodge, or let some level of RNG decide.
(Background is a work in progress.)
The room's decorations will change depending on your roommate (as usual, Tasha's is my favorite to design), and so will your ability to snoop sneak out explore... It's one more way that Episode 1 is all about laying the groundwork: your partner, your roommate, the departments you work with - they're all choices that'll shape your investigation going forward.
There's also a lot of art on the to-do list for this chapter because not only are you going to see the counselors in their PJs and some of our young campers, I'm going to be introducing our first CGs! Aaaand hopefully going back to add a CG to Chapter 1 that I didn't have time to work on before. (Hint: it's for the twins, and it's very cute. Or it will be.)
Which means I'll also need to get a gallery implemented in the menu, but I'm not complaining. Coding is often the most fun part for me (when I'm not tiredly staring at broken code for four hours straight...)
And that's all I got for November. Hopefully I'll be showcasing the new campers next month, and have a beta ready for playtesting around January. In the meantime, take care!
What's New In IF? Halloween edition! Issue 27 (2024)
By Brij, Dion, Bex and Jen
Now Available!
Itch.io - Keep Reading below
If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3
~ EDITORIAL ~
One Issue just wasnât enough!
Halloween might be over, but not at WNIF! So here it is, u a second Halloween edition Issue! Next to the regular WNIF stuff we included a recommendation section full of the best games to play in this time of the year, so be sure to check it out.
We want some feedback!
As weâre starting to get a hand of things, we would love some feedback from you guys! What you enjoy, want more or less off, how we could improve... Anything goes! We even have a nifty form!
Still looking for members!
Due to the severe changes in the Zine team, we are once again looking for free hands with a couple of hours to kill, and minds, looking to make a little difference in the community!
If you too would like to help us out in a more official capacity, please shoot us a message! You can check out the available positions here, but if youâd like to help in any other way, feel free to contact us as well! (We added a new position, so check it out!)
No Small Talk for some time!
We hope you have have a fa-boo-lous time reading this issue!
BRIJ, DION, BEX AND JEN
~ BE A PART OF THE ZINE ~
THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!
Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?
WRITE FOR THE COLUMN!
Prefer to be more low-key but still have something to share? Send us a Zine Letter or share a game title for Highlight onâŠ!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Came across something interesting? Know a release or an update announced? Saw an event happening? Whether it's a game, an article, a podcast⊠Add any IF-related content to our mini-database!
EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!
Contact us through Tumblr asks, Forum DMs, or even by email! And thank you for your help!!
~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : BITSY JAM ~
Fuu, already #85?
Bitsy is a little engine for little games, worlds, and stories created by Adam Le Doux that makes game making look easier than ever! I mean really! You can use it to make a game in your browser just by drawing it! Thanks to the simple pixelated graphics and limited colour palette you can make basically anything from simple short stories to complicated masterpieces.
The first jam (with a yummy theme: Breakfast) took place on April 8th 2017. Now itâs a monthly occurrence, each time with a new challenging theme that the creators themselves (or even possibly you) get to vote on.
Petrichor, temporary, intentionally bad, tomatoes, no dialogue, long distances, secret place, bitsy fest jam, lost media and waiting are just the ten most recent ones. This monthâs theme is game manual - the theme can be the core of the game, or just a small reference. Anything really. The main point of this jam is to have fun and make something! (Just make sure that your game is made in one of these: bitsy, mosi or bipsi.)
So why not give it a shot?
~ ENDED ~
The 6th Spooktober Annual Visual Novel Jam is over, the winners have been announced and you can check out the results!
The Revival Jam 2024 is also over and the results are out!
Strip IF to itâs bare bones and all it become beautiful text. Thatâs what The Bare-Bones Jam is about. You can now check out all 14 submissions!
Phantasia Jam is a three month-long game jam to create a fantasy narrative game, with the theme of âHidden Magicâ. Thereâs 17 submissions to check out.
~ ONGOING (VOTING) ~
The voting for ECTOCOMP 2024 has officially started! To vote and participate as a jury, you must do so by giving between 1 to 5 stars on each entry page of the jam. The voting period ends on November 30.
All entries for the Halloween Jam have been submitted and you can now vote for your favourites!
~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~
Disabled Rep VN Jam has a very simple premise but a very important message.
Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales⊠and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam. Itâs running from October 1st to January 31st.
Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted until March 3rd 2025.
Are you perhaps a fan of more somber, melancholic themes? Then check out the Dying Year - Visual Novel Jam! You have until the end of the year to participate.
The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.
Bare your teeth and sharpen your claws because the Monstrous Desires 2024 Visual Novel Jam is here! Dedicated to the love of entities, horrors, and monstrosities, this jam will be full of romantic Visual Novels (VN) that heavily focus on a monster may it be original or from classics, folklore, modern media, etc.
The October Bitsy Jam is here! The theme is game manual and you have until November 11th to submit your projects.
~ OTHER ~
Jams are a great way to find new games! Donât be afraid to check out submissions from previous years as well. There might be some gems hiding between them!
~ NEW RELEASE ~
Trick-or-Treat (Twine) is all about virtual trick-or-treating, grab your costume and have fun! @softest-punk
The Traded Groom (Unity) is a romance story where you marry a man youâve never met. @maneki-mushi
Lydiaâs Labyrinth (RenâPy) is a choose your own adventure where you try to get to the end of the labyrinth. @doublefreegames
The end of an obsession is a fictional sequel work to It gets so lonely here.
The Virus Game HALLOWEEN is here.
In Ghostship Delgado (Amstrad CPC) you find yourself on the quarter deck of a mysterious, seemingly abandoned historic shipâŠ
As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!
~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~
Camp Maple Wind (RenâPy), you saw your sister die there 18 years ago and now you decided to return as the new camp counselor. @tailorfae
Dusk and Dawn (CScript) is a urban fantasy inspired by CYOAâs like Slayers V4. Youâve failed college, what do you do now? @tuskhansworld
Circus Eyes of God (Twine) is a horror interactive fiction where you decide to join a mysterious circus. @circuseyesofgod-if
In Tether (Twine) your an interpreter for a new lord under the occupation of another country. Will you rebel? @runcriedthecrawlingif
Return back to your hometown where you and your friends used to be team of detectives until the incident.... in Return to Misty Cove (CScript) @fluorescent-if
In Red River Academy (CScript) you and your group of friends are murdered in cold blood. But you were brought back, is this a second chance at life? @bratlinwrites
You step out for some fresh air, only to find yourself lost and stranded in the forest overnight in Fickle Solitude (Twine)
In Ice Cream For Love you are a bearfolk ice cream maker. However the newest dietitian-in-training has problems with your product. @atelierursine
In Demon Daycare (RenâPy) youâll have to baby the adult demon prince Belphegor. Hope the money is good!
~ UPDATES ~
Devil's Liminal (RenâPy) released Chapter 2.
Crown of Exile (Twine) Vinia Path is released on Patreon. @ramonag-if
Tales of Wocdes: The Silver Protector (Twine) heritage features have been updated. @tales-of-wocdes
College Tennis: Origin Story (CScript) added halloween bonus to Ko-Fi. @collegetennisoriginstory
Sins of the Crown (CScript) added new content to their demo. @pariahinteractive
The King's Hound (Twine) released a rewritten demo. @the-kingshound
The Mighty Shifter (CScript) released Chapters 4 & 5. @miss-briar-novels
Lucid fate (Twine) released Chapters 3 & 4.5. @lucid-fate-if
Eldritch Tales: Inheritance (CScript) released the final part of Chapter 2.
Saturnine (CScript) added new content to their demo. @satur9-if
Shattered: Oblivion (CScript) reworked their prologue.
Strings of Fate (CScript) released partial Chapter 3.
Text Your Life (RenâPy) added Chapter 2 Day 1 to their demo.
The Good People (Na Doine Maithe) (RenâPy) released the first five chapters of Shae and Maeve's routes. @moiraimyths
Tri City Monsters (RenâPy) released Chapter 3 for Akello. @tricitymonsters
Bridge Ices Before Road (CScript) added new content to their Prologue. @bridgeicesbeforeroadif
Aphni's Quartet: Nightbloom's Veil (Twine) released Chapter 2. @marblesstorystudio
The Brightest Stars (CScript) added the first part of Chapter 3 to their demo. @brightest-stars-if
Weeping Gods (CScript) added new content to their demo. @jcollinswrites
~ OTHER ~
The Kickstarter for Keyframes has started, and even though the main goal has been reached there are still some stretch goals! @blankhouse
The ChoiceBeat Zine Issue 12 is out. We thank them for mentioning our Zine! Go check it out!
Amare Fortnightly Bulletin Issue 27 is here for all your romance needs! @amaregames
Never Gives up Her Dead has released a deluxe version of their game.
The People's House has been officially submitted for publication.
~
As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week. We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks.
If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week! And if you know oncoming news, add it here!
~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~
We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...
Shoot us an email!
~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~
A couple of games that we thought were cool.
Your favourite game here?
Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?
An old or recent game that wowed you so much you spam it to everyone?
Tell us about it! And it might appear here!
H/T = Horror/Thriller H = Halloween themes S = Supernatural C = Creepy
~ RECOMMENDATIONS (COMPLETE) ~
Halloween Scrooge (H)
by Vanade of Hamilton Hour (RenâPy)
A short Halloween spin on A Christmas Carol... and you can flirt with the ghosts!
//submitted by anon//
Killer Chat (H/T)
by @rosesrotofficial (???)
After asking too many murder-related questions online (for your book), you get an invite to a... serial killer chatroom?! What the fuck?
A Zombie Head Went Missing at the Party Full of CUTE MONSTER GIRLS!? (S)
by MaroonDrops (???)
Half gorgon Jade Mason finds herself dragged to a party full of monsters, she doesn't have high hopes.
Therapy with Dr. Albert Krueger (H/T)
by dino999z (Ren'Py)
Has work been feeling more tiring than usual?
Your mood, confusing and uneasy?
Then it sounds like you need our newly patented â DREAM THERAPYâ !
A Series of Interactive Stories Where No Matter What You Do You Are Immediately Killed by a Werewolf (S)
by Luke Burns (Twine)
The name just says it all.
AL - A Choose Your Own Adventure (H/T)
by Gabriel Cornish (Twine)
You are a student going on their first date in a long, long time. Only problem is your apartment is trying to kill you with your own clutter!
Spooble: A Search Engine Story (H/T)
by All the bees (Unity)
Are babies supposed to do that?
Cal's Costume Conundrum!! (H)
by amarvelous (RenâPy)
Which costume is the best? Cal needs to know! Infiltrate her siblingsâ Halloween party, interview the guests, and crown a winner!
Restore, Reflect, Retry (H/T)
by Natalia Theodoridou (CScript)
This is a haunted game about a haunted game. You've played this game before. You may not remember, but the game does.
Model Employee (H/T )
by Nth Circle (Unity)
If you want to get ahead in your career, you gotta be willing to take some risks.
Contrition (H/T)
by akfedeau (Twine)
As a priest, itâs your job to listen to your parishionersâ darkest secrets and absolve their guilt. But when a sinister stranger comes to the confessional one Halloween night, you realize itâs your soul on the line.
Quoth the Raven⊠(C)
by gamedevillibrarian (???)
Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven', with some spooky ambiance. What else do you need?
Hallowmoor (H)
by Mike Snyder (Twine)
Your quest: infiltrate Castle Hallowmoor, find the potion, and make it out alive.
Keeperâs Curse (H/T)
by CParadis777 (Godot)
Stranded on a remote island after your Lightkeeper duty has ended you must ration and scavenge for supplies while awaiting your delayed relief crew.
Dicentra (H/T)
by caffeine (RenâPy)
You play as Basil, a young boy lost in a forest of watchful trees and unfriendly guides.
Tales from Castle Balderstone
by Ryan Veeder (Inform7)
This is Castle Balderstone, and tonight is the night when the greatest spook-crafters convene to share their hair-raising handiwork with each other.
Muertos
by Medley Games (Twine)
You are a lost undead wandering the Aztec afterlife, only to come across a strange city.
Dawn of the Damned (H/T)
by Melancholy Marionette (Unity)
Anxious to attend your job interview at Aurora Antiques, you arrive to discover a room full of melancholy mannequins. One, in particular, captures your interest, drawing you closer.
Seance (S)
by Alex Rose (???)
A murder case has gone cold, and the NRPD has asked you to help them solve it, on account of your abilities as a psychic medium.
~ RECOMMENDATIONS (WIP) ~
Samsara (H/T + S)
by Amelia (???)
After being killed by the same hands in every past life you decide to take your killer's life instead.
//submitted by anon//
Parasitical (H/T)
by @parasitical-if (CScript)
You grew up under the masked faces of their Exalted, under the stories of Earth past. Rusted metal and cracked plastic; His bone and His flesh. Conflicting worlds, conflicting times, and soon, it might all come to a head.
Seven days in Purgatory (H/T)
by @sevendaysinpurgatory-if (CScript)
Seven days in Purgatory is a psychological thriller ripe with philosophical musings and sensuality.
Taste, hear, think, feel, love⊠Run.
//recommended by Dion [team]//
Did we miss your favourite game? Donât worry, thereâs still a chance! Fill out this form and we will include it in our regular Highlight on.... section!
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN...
Thank you for keep updating! I really don't want to miss any IF updates but it's hard to find everything. So thank you for all the effort.
@waywardartisanoafhound-blog
Have something to say? Send us a message titled: Zine Letter!
As we end this issue, we would like to thank:
our awesome anons!
For sending us their game recommendations!
And a special thanks to Bex [team]
for all the work sheâs done for the zine.
And as always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on last week's issue! What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!
Thank you for cheering us on this journey!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It come with sad news that me (Bex) is having to leave the ZineâŠ.for now at least.
I joined back in August and honestly it was crazy time, especially with the sad passing of Marjorie. I honestly enjoyed what weâve made of it and donât regret it in the slightest. Life has sadly go in the way of me and I just donât have the time to continue you this on. Iâm hoping the New Year will bring peace and with it me back to the Zine.
Love you all âŁ
And we will see you next week in our traditional colours!
Quarter Lake is the larger half of the lake in Bear Creek National Park. It extends north and breaks up into rivers and streams, none of which are publicly accessible. After all this time, I don't plan on letting that stop me.
The 246, pronounced two-forty-six, open 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. It was built six decades ago by a couple hoping to feed the new town developing around them. It's managed to stand the test of time, even if the rest of Bear Creek hasn't.
If someone ever found the shoe box in my closet with old newspapers and postcards, they would think I was fondly remembering a distant past. In truth, I'm not remembering anything, and there's nothing fond about the way I study them every year like clockwork. No one wants me going back there; they think it'll reopen the wound. Maybe if they saw the shoe box, they'd know it never closed in the first place.
