I cancelled Building Relationships!!
So, Building Relationships has gotten a little bit of shit on tw*tter for being yet another ironic dating sim. And I just want to talk about it a little more!
Is Building Relationships an Ironic Dating Sim?
First off, yes, Building Relationships (at its early inception) took inspiration from games like Hatoful Boyfriend. I understand the gut reaction against absurd dating sims: it feels like the only type of dating sim that gets mainstream coverage.
But I think there is room for nuance!
I try really hard to make romance feel earnest!
There are different minigames accompanying each date: they're different in tone, different in mechanics, giving a more rounded picture of queer romance.
It can get spicy at times, but I do my best to design with consent in mind -- so that players don't feel like they're "punished" for saying no.
It really is not a cash grab
The game doesn't rely on poor writing to pad playtime. There's a variety of side content in the game. It's made by one Thai guy and a composer in the UK. It's not a corporation making an April Fool's joke.
I've also been working on accessibility features like tone markers, no-mashing mode, no input holds, etc.
So yeah, I really hope it doesn't come across as a joke on the genre
I just think that there is room for genuine connection amidst the most absurd of scenarios. A game that makes space for players who love silly games and players who enjoy dating sims.
But yeah, let me know what you think! Does Building Relationships feel like an irony sim?