First Act Demo is Available Now!



The demo is now out! 

If you encounter any bugs: Please contact me directly (BrightOakGame@gmail.com) with where you encountered the error, and include a screenshot if at all possible! I've been playtesting quite a bit over the last week, so hopefully there aren't any major issues lingering-- but if there are, I'd love to know exactly where so I can fix them! 🛠️

Bright Oak was made using the open-source Ren'py engine. As a heads-up, Windows will occasionally flag Ren'py downloads as "suspicious". If this occurs, please know that the most suspicious thing packaged in your Bright Oak download is... Jasper.

Lastly: my Ask box is open on Tumblr, should you have any questions! I hope that you enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. ✨

Files

bright-oak-osx.zip 1.1 GB
Version 1.1 Nov 13, 2023
bright-oak-win-linux.zip 1.1 GB
Version 1.1 Nov 13, 2023
bright-oak-osx.zip 1.1 GB
Version 1.0 Jun 24, 2023
bright-oak-win-linux.zip 1.1 GB
Version 1.0 Jun 24, 2023

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Comments

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(1 edit) (+1)

I'm in ch 5 right now and just thought of something that would be interesting to add to later updates. When you are running to get the tech it would be a cool idea to add some alternate dialogue/narration if you previously said your skill was a six minute mile. If MC said they are a runner then it would make sense to add that in as a factor in the story telling. So in coding there would be an alternate narration for, If "runner" == True. This works as well for other traits to add variation and depth to the story; wherever they might com into play with storyline, instruments, typing, etc.

Ooh-- I like that idea! ✨ There are impacts (big and small) for many choices in the game as it stands, but it's also an ongoing battle between Adding More Fun Things / Maintaining Balance Between Options / Actually Finishing The Game. I do hope to include more if I can, though, and I appreciate the suggestion! 🌿 Thank you for playing the demo, too! 

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That's totally valid.  Every variation adds a bunch more work. Even if its only small changes to the narrative part it still ads annoying complexity and work time to the coding aspect. 

Excited to see more of this game. The narrative is easy to get sucked into, that characters are all precious BBs, and the world is immersive. Love everything I've seen so far. Keep up the great work, but everyone take care of yourselves.

Also, I love the choice for watercolor style backgrounds. It was a surprise but I like it and the contrast between the character art style.

I definitely also make use of generalized flavor choices in the first act, but I mostly tried to gear choices towards building the version of the story a player will experience: one of my primary inspirations for Bright Oak is a Wired article about a font that gradually changes and degrades with use, and so I fell in love with the notion of examining a set situation through multiple lenses, and how that will alter an outside perception. Not every choice will reveal the ultimate ramifications in that first act / the demo-- but I do hope that every single choice in the game will  fulfill my own version of the William Morris adage to keep nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. Bright Oak is the truest iteration of my home, and I hope that its furnishings help make others feel at home, too. 

Ahh, and I forgot to remark: I am so very, very grateful you mention how much you enjoy the backgrounds! To be completely honest, they are a necessity rather than choice: I could not afford to commission an outside artist for them, and the very talented watercolorist friend that was to collaborate with me encountered health issues that precluded their involvement. I have spent the last year giving myself a crash-course in how to create the backgrounds I want with the limited skills I have, and it makes me immeasurably proud that they work well enough to earn commentary such as yours. Thank you so much for seeing my work and approving it! I appreciate it more than words can say! 

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YEAHHHHHHHH

🎉🎉🎉