Open discussion – slash communities/games
Ok, so there’s been a few slash based games pop up in the last few months, and, predictably, the majority of them died before they even got off the ground. As someone who loves her PSLs (some of which I’ve had going for years!) but also really adores the larger world-building of a game, I find this so frustrating.
So I thought this might be a good time to have a chat, and I’d love some opinions and to get a discussion going to see what could make a game more sustainable.
I guess my biggest question is, as players, what do you think makes or breaks a game?
I mean, you’ve gone and held your face claim. You’ve made a journal and applied. Yay! You’re approved! You’ve been chatting about potential lines here and on the games personal line community...
But then nothing. There are no IC posts, no threads and plots actually happening. Maybe there’ll be a few IC ‘Network’ posts, but they lead nowhere. A week after that, someone reserves a face and the mods don’t reply, marking the absolute death of the place.
Is it a fear of getting started? Not knowing where or how to start? Is it the people you’re talking to for lines? Are you not getting that romance line that you were actually after? Is it something else entirely?
Or do you think it’s the setting?
I’ve found that games are either: Small American town Large American city Gay club/resort Fictional location with a magical or a/b/o theme.
That’s it.
Are we all just over that? Yes, it’s a tried and tested formula, but that doesn’t mean it still works. Is the fact that these games end up failing a result of you, the players, being bored of the same old theme and setting? Conversations about lines being the same? Characters being the same.
Would a different setting and vibe help keep things fresh and force more creative, unique characters? I haven’t seen anything post-apocalyptic, Mad Max-style gang in ages? Or pirates? Zombies? Soldiers stuck in WW2 trenches? Cyberpunk slums? Something weird and different and less Slice of Life? More action and adventure?
Or is it we’re just over the dame old SoL settings? So would something more bottlenecked and contained, like the life and times of employees in a 24-hour shopping mall. Or a hospital or an up and coming adventure tour company for millennials (obviously spitballing SoL concepts isn’t my strong point...)
What concept and setting would you love to see, and then what would make you get excited and motivated to start posting and get your character started?
Personally, I like when the mods have a storyline already in place and when there is a tangible plot to get involved in. I like when there’s an open thread or two with the mods characters that invite people to jump in. Basically, an event already started that forces characters to interact and get involved. I like when there is a greater plot to the game and where the mods use their characters to drive it forward, incorporating players and their muses as they go. I love action and adventure and consider my PSLs as my slashy, romantic dream space, wherein games are about clashing of characters and IC conflict and personalities that I wouldn’t write a private line with.
Anyway. I’d really love to know what everyone’s thoughts are and get a discussion going here. You never know, it may spawn the creation of a game that people are going to love and that works. Ha.