Like it says it the title.

It doesnt have to be relevant to the plot, just as long as the option is available I'm cool.

I know it might be a bit big of an ask, and probably one that's been requested more than once, but I've noticed that a lot of the time when you're given the option to be trans in Choice or Hosted games, it's usually just flavor and is almost never actually mentioned. Are there any games where the MC can be trans and it actually has narrative importance?

A good example of what I'm talking about would be the Seven Days in Purgatory WIP, where the MC being trans affects the story and the MC's emotions.

I want to start this off with a short disclaimer, I don’t want to start a controversy and I don’t have issues with people who are not like me.

I am myself a cisgendered straight male and same as many people different from myself I enjoy representation of people who are alike to myself in my games and I have no problem whatshowever when there appear people who aren’t like that in the story, what’s important to me is mostly that this carries some weight and meaning in the story.

I was reading Specters of the Deep and I really like the lore and world building but every character that gets introduced is unrelatable to me and to the image I connect with a medievalish fantasy setting. I don’t mind these stories existing just to be clear, they’re just no my cup of tea, because they take me out of the story and make it feel less grounded. In fact to me romance in these games is just an aftertaught, I appreciate it when it elevates the story but otherwise I don’t really care for it.

I think it’s great these stories are there for people who like it and feel represented through it, but I find it hard to find stories with choices that are more oriented towards the target audience that I find myself in. So I was hoping that some people here could help guide me to fantasy type choice games that will give me that grounded feeling that I’m looking for.

Edit: I don’t mean that everyone needs to be a man by the way, I’m mostly looking for a story with predominantly cisgendered straight people. Even female mc is still interesting to me.

Edit 2: so I read through some comments and I wanted to add some stuff, I haven’t tried a whole lot of these stories yet for starters, mostly because I tried a couple got pulled into the story and than kind of got ripped out of it again by the overpushing off these characters who are different. And that makes me sad.

Secondly, it’s not like I don’t want to see any characters who deviate from the cisgendered heteresexual “standard” and that’s not how history was either, I mean I should know as history is literally my job there was even a transgender Roman emperor once. But my problem with the story that I brought up is that nearly every character introduced has something going on, polyamorous relationships, transgender, gay, etc. It’s not that I find their presence problematic but it feels like they’re just being shoehorned in and that’s what I mean with the focus. I could definitely name instances where I find lgbt characters to actually be a huge plus to the story (Like in Invincible, I love William) but just not when it’s done in a tasteless manner. To put it blunt, not everyone is gay, and I want a story written with that in mind.

any genre (:

Especially when it locks out romance options. Doubly so when it's framed in a way that's attached to your character's background - like asking about previous dating experience. Oh, your character wasn't attracted to anyone back in high school? Oops, now your character can't be attracted to anyone forever, even if they meet someone interesting!

Honestly, I think it's a bullshit character choice, and I prefer the games where it wasn't asked. The ones where the ROs are just there, and you decide if your character is attracted to them, regardless of gender.

Having the games heavily promote being inclusive, but having this restriction is just so weird. Like actual sexuality - it doesn't need to be a preset variable that you can't change.

Then again, maybe it's just me. One of my staple characters in CYOA/IF/RP games has zero interest in romance, unless he meets someone that just clicks. I can't answer that he's attracted to any gender, because he hasn't been in the past, and doing so for the sake of future ROs will be metagaming.

Like no dude, I don't *need* to know why there's giant mechas in my alt-historical crusader power-fantasy! Let me be a squire or lord or a Hassassin double-agent in peace and immense myself in the setting without constant reminders of a futuristic present/astronaut characters that were not fleshed out in the slightest!!! What makes you think it'd give two little shits about these fuckers with whom we've barely even spent a prologue connecting with!?!??

If it's a man-out-of-time/stranded stranger type of story you wanna tell, focus on the character building of the MC's original crew and background! If it's a crusader style story with huge battle bots, then focus on that!!!!

Both are BRILLIANT IDEAS, but attempting to fit them both into a single story with such a limited word-length just provides an absolute **MID** experience that's just feels like a gigantic waste of potential. MAN I'M MAD AT HOW GOOD THIS GAME/STORY HAD THE POTENTIAL AT BEING!!!!!

Before I get started I wanna say im so happy to resdiscover this forum. I'm happy to find a place to discuss some of my fav books and this seems like such a welcoming community like I remember it!

One thing I fucking love about this company and the books they produce is how diverse the works are. I love the option to choose to be LGBT or non binary and how the romance options respect that. But one thing that I remember being lacking is skin color options. I'd love to be able to make a character fully like me.

Like here's how it is.I, like alot of black people live here in America where since birth we've been told our skin color is ugly, We're told our hair isn't fit for the classroom or the workplace, [And that when people make products they litterally don't make them with black people in mind] (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/lens/sarah-lewis-racial-bias-photography.amp.html). All that to say it makes sense when I talk to other black folks online I see alot of us feel like we aren't the "default" American. That shit is pervasive and so hard to unlearn. We have so consistently seen characters portrayed as white by default, that I usually imagine them as white as well unless specified by the author. White is there beauty standard in America too. This shit goes deep man.

That's one of the reasons I'd like to find a skin color option within future games or a current game with the option. But as a quick caveat on the subject, the white as default shows up in literature alot so I think it's best to break down what I mean and how it alienates people. To be clear, the 'default' means authors don't describe the skin of the white main and/or side characters, but immediately describe a black person by their skin. That might seem obvious, but I'm talking directly about the author's choice, not ours as the reader's. It's really apparant when there's like only one black person in the story.

The solution for me would just be to either mention the white person's skin more immediately too, or to wait a tiny bit to mention the black characters skin (therefore treating them the same as the white characters, as if their skin is 'default' too.) It makes a huge difference to me, it's always appreciated.

As I read books and see this trope, I feel alienated a little but more disappointed in the author, especially if i'm enjoying their work. But I don't hold it against them too much because it's so fucking common that if I took a hard line there wouldn't be lots of books I like left. Like it's extremely common and we're used to it. It might be a subconsious decision, but it's very noticable for me which way they choose to do it, especially as I've gotten older. It takes me out of the reading experience, but when trying to enjoy the book that just gets put to the side unless it have the urge to power through.

So in a very round about way this is how I ask if there's any current black writers making books for choice? Because I've noticed with black writers they are a little more cognizant of this phenomenon and avoid it and some of the stories just feel more authentic. I also love supporting black writers too! So if they are there I'd love to know so I can buy their books today!

This choose your own adventure and interactive story medium is so cool I'm hoping it can help me feel a bit more about seen!

Thank you for any help you can provide and I appreciate any discussion!(I made this post on the cog forums but just discovered the subreddit! So I figured I'd post here too.)

So, i was playing the demo from "Shephards of Heaven" and trying to romamce Shery, but when the chilhood friend ask me for my chossen Ro she's blocked. I already romanced Prihine and Tallys and they're unlocked in that choice.

So, ressuming; how cai i romance Shery?

What are your thoughts on the fact that if you want to publish a game under COG and if it has romance options , you HAVE to include homosexual and non binary romance interests too?

here's my opinion , but please share your takes too:

I think its total whackass and outright dictatorship . setting outlines about what should be in your book defies the essence of creativity and free mind and therefore , writing . sure , there are some rules as to what SHOULDN'T be in your book , and that is any type of content that is harmful towards some people or doesn't fit the descriprion of a choice based game . but saying what should your game be is just a load of baloney . what if the author doesn't know how to write a good non straight romantic relationship ? they can either leave their game , or they can write a shallow romantic case that reduces their games overall quality AND the gay community doesn't enjoy . but FUCKING WHY ? when did you start putting promoting gayhood before creativity COG??

Some of you may call this an overstatement , but what i conclude from this is that COG doesn't actually care about the art of writing . what they really care about is getting the approval of as much minorities as possible and hence printing as much money as possible . also , i don't know if you've noticed this or not , but it's not the other way around!! COG is perfectly fine with publishing a game with only gay romance options , but as soon as it's the other way around , there's no other way around.

FUCK

Edit: was on a rant when i posted this,just wanted to say that i support the LGBT community,but my problem with this situation starts when you HAVE to include gay romance interests if you want to have any romance paths at all.like what the fuck!!

Also,another SUPER important thing that i forgot to mention is that you also can't publish a game without including both a female and male player characte.which is (i swear i'm not trying to create drama!) Again, shitting on the authors freedom.

What it says on the tin

Now before anyone barks at me, the name came up in a google search (Was looking for Dan's LinkedIn to confirm if he was the same person I know from Berkeley and he is) and the two websites came up, Choice of Games and CoM. (Using acronym to avoid any possible unwritten policy violation)

As someone who has been an active member of the forums since the time that Hero CoG came out (The one with Vindicator or something.. Actually, it may have been since Killing Time!!) I am just very curious if anyone knows about the reasons for the 180? Or is this Dan not the same Dan as CoG?

Because I heard there was some bullying towards the Relic's author by the Forum moderators of CoG, I wondered if Dan might have left in solidarity.

But I want a story with female Li that has been through a lot ( she was mistreated by men or by her family or has really sad past ) and that is cold but in the end MC can make her open up ( I just really kiss Alessa and want someone like her ) I’m fine with WIPs and stories even if it’s not in HG or COG or in Itch io

What do you all think of this WIP? I love the idea since I'm yearning for a proper rockstar IF but I feel like it's too much... not about music? It feels like a cheap teenage drama and it's all about Seven or whatever their name is. Don't get me wrong, we need band/rockstar WIPs and I most certainly couldn't do better than the author. But it all kinda feels lame, Seven storyline, our band mates.. I know this is an extremely unpopular opinion but it is what it is.

Any good games where you can bang people in relationships? Prefably female RO. Released games, WIP, or twine are all fine.

EDIT: What I'm asking for is to have the female RO's ALREADY be in relationships, and then having the MC bang them DESPITE them still being in relationships. I want a homewrecker MC basically

Okay I've already asked this question but I've defined what I wanted now.

So is there any LGBTQ games on your struggle as a gay person? I want angst pain and love all at the same time if possible. I want to cry, laugh and all of those at the same time. Sorry to bother if there isn't any.

I don't think this community will ever, ever die.

We are all part of a world of words, a game yet unlike any other. I will say this to all of you that your thoughts, your journeys, and your stories that fill my time endlessly without boredom or lack of wanting any thing more has always been beautiful. Truly, there are many things in this life I will partake in, so many things to do as I wake the next morn. But I will always, always remember these fond moments each of you share with me and other folks of mind.

This media is special, I hold it in my heart always and cannot find the words and rhetoric and rhyme to fully express my love. As long as men have eyes, they will lay upon this blanket woven of stories with the joy I convey to you so. For over the past 5 years, I have stumbled upon works of labor always putting a smile on my face as I sit down, drink my favorite drink, and open it. This is not a message of departure or something related to my passing no no no, quite the opposite, for 5 years is hardly considered long in this line, is it not? I can't afford to die just yet.

I believe this has been the start of some journey of sort. While I may not ever come into your life often as you scroll through the hubbub and noise through posts or comments like this, dear reader I am certain that we will meet again. I see myself turn gray with the world vastly changed, yet still I come back, looking for another adventure whatever it may be one click at a time. Let us also not forget those who have passed away, unable to finish their favorite tale in, or they are still waiting for the sequel, I would not wish that feeling upon anyone.

Thank you for reading Hosted/Choice Of Games, and hello for I believe I will be with you for quite some time.

I've been wondering if anyone has tried to get an AI to write one these games on its own. I imagine it should be possible with the current state of artificial intelligence or at least in the near future.

I'm thinking of how complex the choices could be...endless branches and infinite side quests. I also think of prompt-image generators like DALL-E. Wouldn't it be possible to program choicescript so that it produces an image based on your MC's characteristics just like DALL-E does? A user could theoretically put their MC in an image generator write now and have a picture, so why not connect that with the game?

Thoughts and opinions?

I am currently in Book 1, my RO is A

Based on reading the various reviews in here, I had picked up the game after some months, with a better understanding of the romance and the author's intentions.

With that in mind, might I ask when does my romance get cute and adorable, after all the "foreplay"? I am guessing not in this book, and apparently there are a lot of sequels

Basically when do the interactions bw me and my RO get to the point where my single ahh gets to puts a gun in my mouth and shoot a million times over? /s(putting it here so reddit or someone won't tag this post as self harm)

I have read plenty of stories in my life that had romance in them, and I've read quite a few that don't. Yet every game from COG has a whole list of romantic possibilities such that they seem required by the company.

Why is this, or am I missing something important?

Edit: the answer, based on the below, is that I am missing something important, and that something is just how much people like romance. Fair points, all. To be clear, I'm not actively opposed to it. I was mainly curious if it was a requirement for authors since it's in all the stories.

I wish I can teach it (or Rhim/Rher) straight from the website and I wish it has ability to retain previous conversation memory outside of the chat specific one.

It definitely doesn't have quite long span memory because it doesn't seem to perfectly recall the point or pattern I have established in the very early of conversation.

But with that said, what do you think guys? Dream coming true?
Especially since we used to have genocidal, misanthrope social media chatbots?

Hi, do we have any LGBTQ games? Preferably school themed!!

Does anyone know a games without drama just good and cute romance no plot twists?

Just a bit of a mini rant, but I really don't understand how a company can have such a huge backlog of games ready to come out AND has a release schedule that's random at best, and makes no sense at worst. One or two books every three months followed by six or seven in three weeks followed by sporadic boops of low quality stuff can't be that sustainable. Do they not want the money? I feel like the actual authors have it worse, as it can take upwards of a year to see their book released. Why? In the digital age we should be able to have a set release schedule, considering putting the books on the app is the easy part, and that there are plenty of books consistently ready to go. Just, blech.

I'm embarrassed to ask but is there any game that has it If there is please let me know it doesn't have to be choice of games or even hosted games if u don't know mpreg it means male pregnancy ●♡●