My emotions these days with every non-interactive romance medium I pick up.

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@eishelin
My emotions these days with every non-interactive romance medium I pick up.

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Happy Anniversary Our Life: Beginnings & Always! 🎉
[Guest art by kanincooker on Twitter]
Our Life: Beginnings & Always launched two years ago today 🥳️. It originally went live with Steps 1-3 and two DLCs, an expansion for Step 1 and one for Step 2. In the past couple years we’ve released the Step 4 epilogue, three more DLCs (Step 3 expansion, Wedding, and Derek’s Story), and made that little Cove bonus Moment for the Patreon.
It’s amazing to me how long it’s been and how much has happened in that time. But I think the most incredible thing is that, even after two years, interest in Our Life hasn’t really dwindled at all! Every time we’ve released new content or even just previews, people have been excited for it. I’m so grateful players have continued to enjoy what we’re creating with this story. Thank you so much to everyone who has made a life for themselves in Sunset Bird 💕. And I’m looking forward to what comes for the Our Life universe in the future!
Otome Jam 2022 is now over, and there were 55 entries submitted! Congrats to everyone who participated! (ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧
If you’d like to check out the games, you can download and play them all from here, on itch.io.
If you’re looking to participate in a game jam this month (and potentially the one following, as some are 2 months long), some options for you might be:
SuNoFes 2022
Yaoi Game Jam 2022
Bishoujo Jam 2022
Trans Gal Jam 2022
Winter Visual Novel Jam 2022 ❄
Ever wanted to make a visual novel?
Winter Visual Novel Jam is an annual game jam that runs during the month of December to make a winter-themed visual novel!
It's not a competition- there's no judging, no rankings, and you can start on your VN before the jam starts. Just make a winter-themed visual novel and have fun ♥ Dating sims, otomes, gay games, etc. are welcome as long as they're a visual novel!
I'm one of the hosts of the jam this year and I'm excited to see all the creations from it! If you want to join a team or want to create a team of your own, please use our community section or join our Discord server.
❄ more info about the jam ❄
Review of “Mythic Meetup” by Heartmoor Studios
Third game on my Otome Jam 2022 entry play list was Mythic Meetup by Heartmoor Studios.
TL:DR
It might feel like a tribute to another popular indie otome game at first, but it has a lot more to offer. Featuring some very likable, yet believably flawed characters, cute visuals and nice representation.
Story/Writing
Do you also go around clicking random chatroom invite links are end up in the weirdest places in the middle of the night? No? Just me?
Well, that's what happens to the main character - she (pronouns selectable) - a regular, ordinary (well, maybe not super-ordinary) human ends up in a chatroom filled with mythical creatures. Shenanigans and heart-breaking backstories occur as a result.
Each of the chat participants have a distinct writing style, which definitely makes the game come alive.
The main character is mainly a self-insert, with some little backstory pieces scattered throughout the story and a bit of a snarky personality in the non-choice parts of the story. And choices there are a galore - thankfully the developers have provided handy guides on the right ones to pick to end up in the hearts of the eligible mythics.
There are quite a few choices to make and the developers have provided a nifty guide on the right ones to pick for a happy ending with
It's very enjoyable to see representations on the ace/demi spectrum, including flirty ones.
I really loved the fact that the characters were friends in real life as well and appeared together in video calls and in each other's rooms. It definitely gave
A thing that initially threw me off was the chapters being called days. My initial thought was that the plot of the game is happening over the course of several days, but they're more of a series of snippets of what's happening over the course of a longer period of time. I feel like calling them chapters or weeks would have been more friendly.
Another small issue that I noticed is that while you can select your pronouns, some of the scenes default to other characters referring to the main character as they/them instead, but it might be intentional.
Art
The art is definitely cute. Each of the characters have a different background for their room and they match the characters very well.
As the resident memologist, I enjoyed the meme pictures that were scattered through the chat.
I especially liked the programming of the videochat sprites - there are little wobbly effects happening with their arms, which make them seem more alike. Ditto for mirroring effects.
Similarly a great shoutout to the CG programming - I know that under jam limits we work with a very limited set of VN assets and the ending CGs were utilized to the fullest with their panning and other effects.
Music and Voice Acting
There is an original soundtrack and it matches both the scenes and characters very well, without being overpowering and distracting. Everything loops seamlessly, there are relevant sound effects scattered through the game. I also liked the music room which was added in.
All of the videochats are fully voiced and it has good sound mixing. My favorite was Vera Tan's rendition of BestieBB, but honestly - they're all good.
A nice feature that's very, very easy to miss - if you click on the side character's profile and click on the little speaker icon if it's there - it's gonna play a line from them from a few random lines. It was very cute and helped to put a voice behind some of the chat avatars.
GUI/Usability
There is a cute custom GUI and I generally liked using it, especially all of the little bits and bobs that you could click to go to different screens and such. It really made the game feel very immersive.
After some fine-tuning I found the right text speed for me for the autoplay and just watched the chat go on. A little thing that I felt was missing with the autoplay system was a hard pause at the end of the chapter. Once or twice I found myself scrambling to reload saves because the last message of the chapter was quite long and the day change happened before I got to read it.
I'm usually an avid history reader and there were some overflow issues there.
The font size is pretty good if playing on large-screen devices and the font is quite readable for the chat. Increasing the font-size would have been nice for playing on devices with smaller screens (like the Steam Deck) though. Reading white text on yellow for the videochats did get a bit straining on my eyes, but I work with code all day, so they're pretty sensitive come evening when I have time to play games.
Playthrough notes - here be slight spoilers

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Review of “Adopt a Boyfriend” by lunamakio
Second game on my Otome Jam 2022 entry play list was Adopt a Boyfriend by lunamakio.
TL:DR
Fun, fun, fun. Super-relatable main character, believable struggles with both life and relationships, positive attitude towards kinks, good sound direction, pleasant voice acting and a distinct art style really make this game shine.
Story/Writing
Don't you just hate it when you get drunk and mail-order an animal-folk boyfriend at 3AM? No? Just me?
Well, that's Riley's story - she (pronouns selectable) makes this one-time decision and due to a glitch in the system two eligible bachelors appear for her to choose from.
The story definitely starts out whimsical and a bit silly, but doesn't shy away from darker and angstier themes, which it handles in a very respectful way. Throughout the game, both Riley and the two love interests share their likes, dislikes, hopes and insecurities and they're very believable and relatable to the average reader.
I mean - who isn't sad that they don't have a shiny GTX 3080?
There are not a lot of choices, but they all feel impactful and the separate good/bad endings are quite long, so going through the bad ends too feels worth it.
There's a fair bit of romance and sexual tension, but it develops gradually.
I loved how the game not also didn't stray away from kinks, but also didn't portray them in the usual "I'm so damaged and/or ashamed" way. Instead the conversations come naturally and things just... Happen. Which I adored.
Art
The art fits the game well - it's right there in the middle between cutesy (bright colors, exaggerated expressions) and angsty (heavy lineart, darker accents), just like the game is. It also uses clever screen and sprite tinting for certain scenes, to make them blend in with the backgrounds better.
I also always appreciate when otome games give their LIs nipples.
Music and Voice Acting
There is an original soundtrack and it matches the scenes very well. I really appreciate how much it deepens the immersion in the game.
There's a lot of voice acting - what feels like 50%? Also a lot of the rest of the lines are covered by small expressions. I'd say both voice actors and voice director did an awesome job. The direction in more intimate scenes is definitely commendable.
All of the sounds are very well balanced and their volumes are customizable.
Game design and GUI
There's plenty use of animations to make the game feel more alive - blinking, moving around the screen, etc.
The GUI is highly customized and is definitely gorgeous. It's cutesy and responsive.
However, for me it impaired the playability a bit. The default text is quite small and the textbox has a texture reminiscent of optical illusions. As a result, I wasn't able to keep reading for long without my vision starting to blur. It was mitigated partially by using the inbuilt Ren'Py accessibility menu to change the font and increase the text size. I also wasn't able to turn off the text scrolling option and sometimes found myself clicking through to the next textbox.
In the end, it's nothing serious and I was able to finish the game, but these parts did make me struggle a bit.
Playthrough notes - here be slight spoilers
theo taking care of an overworked mc 🥺
Hey Anon! Theo's writer has a little gift for you:
“... and after six hours of that, I was on the phone with the German factory for three and a half hours, and we still didn't come to a conclusion. Argh, sometimes I hate this job!” I fall face-down on the couch in a dramatic manner.
Theo kneels down next to me and lays a comforting, warm hand on my shoulder. “Well, that certainly sucks. Do you want to vent some more or forget about it?”
“Please, just make me forget about all of it.”
Theo nods and heads upstairs while I continue my laydown on the couch. How come there are no coins under the cushions to play with?
A couple of minutes later, Theo returns carrying a little stack of clothes. “Put them on.”
“No…” I whine. “Can't we just stay here on the couch, eat chocolate, and wallow in pity?”
“No. You said you wanted to feel better. Now put them on and be outside in five minutes.”
I watch Theo disappear in the kitchen while I change my usual dress for a pair of jeans and Theo's… “No,” I correct myself, “...my hoodie.” Grumbling, I drag myself outside where Theo is already waiting by his car, a thermos in hand. He waves at the car: “Get in.”
“Where are we going?”
“To get your mind off of things.”
We turn on the highway, then soon turn to a local road. As the light slowly fades, we go on a gravel road, then a dirt road heading into a forest. If I didn't have Theo next to me, I'd be seriously spooked out. As is, the change in scenery is already stirring up my urge to get back into our usual jokes.
“Okay, I’ve got to ask - will this be in the news tomorrow? A loved car-part dealer found dead in the woods. The boyfriend is under custody.”
He reaches a hand over and playfully ruffles my hair. “I already see the headlines. The last to hear from her was a tiny, luxury car part manufacturer in Munich.”
We laugh as Theo parks the car by a small clearing in the woods.
As I wonder what we're doing here, Theo grabs a small bracelet out of the glove compartment and puts it around my wrist. “This will keep mosquitoes and ticks away.”
I follow him out of the car as he rummages through his trunk and pulls out a huge insulated blanket and a pair of sleeping bags.
“Do you just carry those things in your trunk?”
“I took my brother's kids camping last weekend, remember? Now come; let's find a good spot.”
We find a level spot in the clearing and put down the blanket. As I'm ready to plop down, Theo shakes his head and extends his hand: “Your phone.”
A real look of terror crosses my face, and I cradle my phone to my chest. “No! What if the Germans call…” I didn't even realise it was in my hand, but now I'm reluctant to give it away.
“That's the point. They can call on Monday.” He gives me a stern look, and I pout as I hand my smartphone over.
He turns the smartphone off and pockets it. He does the same with his own. After that, we lay down on the blanket and huddle together under the sleeping bags. The nights are starting to get chilly, but Theo is radiating enough heat to keep us both warm.
“What now?” I ask.
“Just look up. And try to let it all go.”
“Now that's ridiculous. How am I supposed to do that?” I think, as I look up while Theo starts humming a song under his breath. Twenty million thoughts are rushing through my mind; it feels like they'll never stop. But ultimately Theo is right - as I let all of my worries pass over me as a wave, they seem to recede one by one.
After what feels like an hour, my hand stops subconsciously trying to find my phone. A couple more minutes pass, and the thoughts of the manufacturer I had the heated discussions with slowly fade from my mind. It's just me, Theo, and the stars around us. The clear night allows us to see the numerous stars in the sky, including the arm of the galaxy.
“What do they call it? A morning filled with four hundred billion suns.”
I turn my head towards Theo and scan his features. I wonder what he's thinking. Probably something along the lines of my bike is making a strange sound and I don't know why.
He notices my look and turns towards me, offering his trademark smile.
“So, feeling better?”
“Yep.”
“Wanna head back?”
I shake my head and scoot myself closer to him. “A couple more minutes? I'm enjoying this.”
A while later, as we pack up everything and get back to the car, I take a peek in the backseat and then glance around. We’re in a secluded spot, it’s the middle of the night, no cars have passed by at all…
“Say, Theo…”
“Yeah?”
“I've got something I've wanted to strike off of my bucket list for a while. Would you say that the backseat is big enough for two people?”
I watch as confusion is replaced by realisation, then by a small smirk. “Why don’t we go and find out?”
Look, mom! I'm writing fics now!
Review of "Teachers: With Love and Passion" by Honey Bunny
I'm on a little quest to at least attempt to play all of Otome Jam 2022 full-length entries and the first I chose was Teachers: With Love and Passion by Honey Bunny. They were one of the first to launch their game and it has been very well received.
TL:DR
It's an amazing game for a jam project. Even outside of the jam scope, it's a very, very good game. I will definitely replay a certain route in the future.
Story/Writing
Tale as old as time. Hanna (name changeable) has just finished her teacher studies and is starting out at a new school, which is filled with suspiciously hot and single teachers. She pursues her new career and has a choice to also pursue a love life.
Up for grabs for the latter are four very different bachelors, each with their own personality quirks and each harboring a dark secret... (it's not as bad as it sounds).
Hanna's emotions are very relatable, not only for teachers, but for every young professional starting out in their career - the impostor syndrome, the anxiety, the overachieving in the first weeks. We've all been there, and this game definitely makes the player feel validated in those feelings.
The game is a very solid, medium-length. It took me around 10 hours to play through it, while live-tweeting my reactions and chatting with friends on the side. There is a long common-route (~60% of a single play-through with some differences based on which character you're going for) and a relatively short character based route.
It's often said that if a piece of writing makes you hate their villain with a passion - it's good quality. This was extremely true for Teachers. Around 1/4 of my live tweets were about hating the villain character in this game.
The writing style is consistently engaging. I never found myself bored or skipping descriptions, which is an achievement.
I usually take screenshots of lines and scenes that I like and/or find very fun or funny and I took more than 300.
There are some small typos, but they're not jarring and I feel that I only noticed them, because I've been going through another game with a fine-tooth comb for more than a month.
Personally, I would have loved to hear more about Hanna and her story before this game. We know that she's 30 and this is her first teaching gig out of school, but it's never explained why - did she switch careers, did she travel the world before going to Uni for her degree, is she just from a country where it's customary to become a teacher after longer studies?
Art
The amount of custom-drawn things is mind-boggling. There are 12 distinct backgrounds, with multiple variations each, 12 full-size CGs (with variations) + some chibi ending CGs and 10 sprites with multiple expressions and outfits. I had a bit of an adjustment period to the artist's style (it is quite distinct), but when I got over it, I started noticing all the small details and was completely blown away. The rendering is amazing and on-par with big-budget titles.
The only nitpick I have with the art of the game is that all of the character sprites are close to the same height, even though their descriptions mention some characters being 15+ centimeters apart in height.
Music and Game Design
The game has a solid soundtrack, sourced from CC resources, and it fits the scenes quite well. The sound and music levels are perfectly balanced, everything is about the same apparent volume. At some parts of the game I noticed that the music isn't looping - I'd move to chat with friends on Discord and the song would end and I would play the next several scenes in silence. It's no big deal though, if you're playing the game in one-go.
There are some great accessibility options in there, the most prominent being the ability to enable audio cues for SFX's, which was quite useful for me after I turned off the music/sound when wanting to play a route with my own soundtrack. There's also plenty of alt-texts for players using self-voicing and it is very detailed.
The game also mentions how to bring up the default accessibility menu, which allows you to change text scales and fonts. For most part it works very well.
The phone/messaging system design is gorgeous. However, I encountered some usability issues during the scenes with the phone. First of all - there's no quick menu available there with all the options. Second - I often found myself not noticing the menu or understanding how to continue.
I was able to get most of the endings (except for Edgar's bad end with the CG) without a guide, so that's also a plus.
Playthrough notes - here be slight spoilers