Hi. I’m Dene (@fluttermind). I created a game some years ago called ‘Incoboto’ (wow - that was a while ago) which people here seemed to like quite a lot. I’m still in dev-hell making BeMuse, but as a little side project I made a game called The Horns. It’s a choice-based narrative game (CYOA) mixed with very light RPG/Adventure gameplay (stats + objects + companions). You take a different path to the horns each time you play, so each story is unique. I made it because I’ve always loved creating worlds and I wanted to see if I could use only text and minimal graphics (along with my trademark weird ambient music, of course) to conjure one up. If you folks want a taste, there’s a free PC/Mac version available here: https://dene.itch.io/the-horns The App is available for iPhone on the App Store here for $1.99. As with Incoboto there will be no sales, no sudden price-drops, no bait-and-switches. It’s just good, old-fashioned ‘premium-ware’ (you know, like socks or coffee) for lovers of weird fiction and strange ambient music. Enjoy, and feel free to ask questions. The Horns Fluttermind LLC It is 1922. All of England is shrouded in a mysterious black fog and horrors stalk its forests, fields and cities. You… $1.99 Buy Now Watch Media DetailsIt is 1922. All of England is shrouded in a mysterious black fog and horrors stalk its forests, fields and cities. You awaken in the dark knowing only one thing: you must reach the Horns. Your journey will take you through a twisted post-apocalyptic nightmare world, gathering survivors and scavenging for objects on your way. The Horns is a choice-based, horror text adventure where no two journeys are the same. What are you prepared to do in the name of survival? Information Seller:Fluttermind LLC Genre:Adventure Release:Feb 04, 2019 Updated:Apr 30, 2019 Version:1.0.4 Size:244.7 MB TouchArcade Rating:Unrated User Rating:Unrated Your Rating:unrated Compatibility:HD Universal Attached Files: 2019-02-01 14.16.55.png File size: 2.7 MB Views: 9 Son of Anarchy likes this. metalcasket Moderator Staff Member Patreon Silver Patreon Gold Patreon Bronze May 24, 2010 11,065 1,342 113 Deepest Circle, Hel #2 metalcasket, Feb 5, 2019 This absolutely works. I don’t know if it’s due to getting lost in the ambient music, but after just a few minutes you transcend the minimalism and it just seems like the words are jumping off your screen and the horror is a real threat. Can’t wait to play some more in my free time, but I can wholeheartedly recommend this right now. Also, if you have any common sense...you see “Incoboto Creator” in the thread title, you just buy. Okay? Asp Well-Known Member Aug 3, 2017 769 196 43 #3 Asp, Feb 5, 2019 ‘s ok. Kind of Lovecraftian so far. Better than socks. On a par with coffee. squarezero Moderator Staff Member Patreon Silver Dec 10, 2008 13,715 1,240 113 Male Chief Strategy Officer Salem, Massachusetts, USA #4 squarezero, Feb 5, 2019 Alright — I bought your new game . Now, could you please, please, please bring Incoboto back for new devices? It probably doesn’t make sense financially, but it’s still one of my favorite games of the decade. I have a feeling that it could find a new audience (I know I’ll push the heck out of it). squarezero Moderator Staff Member Patreon Silver Dec 10, 2008 13,715 1,240 113 Male Chief Strategy Officer Salem, Massachusetts, USA #5 squarezero, Feb 5, 2019 Couldn’t agree with this more! Dene Well-Known Member Dec 11, 2009 247 2 18 Managing director, artist, musician, programmer, d U.K. http://www.fluttermind.com #6 Dene, Feb 5, 2019 Can I use that as a quote for the next update? Dene Well-Known Member Dec 11, 2009 247 2 18 Managing director, artist, musician, programmer, d U.K. http://www.fluttermind.com #7 Dene, Feb 5, 2019 Well there's good-ish news. I gave Inco to another company to get it out there again. They're trying something interesting with how they're packaging it up, so it's going to be alive again in some form. Dene Well-Known Member Dec 11, 2009 247 2 18 Managing director, artist, musician, programmer, d U.K. http://www.fluttermind.com #8 Dene, Feb 5, 2019 Quick tip, folks. Items AND survivors can help in battle, and most items have a 'use anywhere' effect, not just in battle. squarezero Moderator Staff Member Patreon Silver Dec 10, 2008 13,715 1,240 113 Male Chief Strategy Officer Salem, Massachusetts, USA #9 squarezero, Feb 5, 2019 Great news! PM if I can be of any help (with, say, testimonials). Asp Well-Known Member Aug 3, 2017 769 196 43 #10 Asp, Feb 5, 2019 ho ho. Of course, and I deny responsibility for any resulting detriment! Mooro Well-Known Member Jul 13, 2010 198 2 18 #11 Mooro, Apr 15, 2019 I loved Incoboto. And the minute I saw the Fluttermind name I bought this. I love the atmosphere and the story telling here but this is the game that made me realise once and for all that I utterly detest roguelike games. As far as I am concerned it is just laziness from developers to make players constantly have to go over content to make the game appear longer than it is. This game has a wonderful atmosphere and an intriguing story but as I find myself back at the beginning again after numerous play throughs I just can't be bothered any more. It's a pity as I would like to see what happens. Dene Well-Known Member Dec 11, 2009 247 2 18 Managing director, artist, musician, programmer, d U.K. http://www.fluttermind.com #12 Dene, Apr 19, 2019 Hey Mooro, Thanks for your honest comment! Sorry the difficulty of the game is not for you. I obviously *do* like roguelikes, which is why I made this! If there's one thing I can promise you it's that rogue like developers are not lazy. I've yet to meet a developer of a finished game who is lazy. If they were, the game would never have been released. The Horns has 6 months of solid content writing in there. You may have seen a couple of repeats, but there's a solid game reason for this: - What you might be able to do in each situation changes from game to game, moment to moment - What you might *want* to do in each situation changes from game to game, moment to moment Like Reigns, the same situation can look quite different when you're bleeding to death, alone, or holding a rope. Multiple peopled finished The Horns on their first go, and told me it was far too easy. They said they didn't feel any reason to try and achieve one of the other eight endings. I adjusted the difficulty to something encouraging people to play the extra-content-rich first part of the game to alter their in-game stats. I *may* have pushed the game into a Dark Souls level of challenge, so I welcome the comments! Son of Anarchy likes this. Dene Well-Known Member Dec 11, 2009 247 2 18 Managing director, artist, musician, programmer, d U.K. http://www.fluttermind.com #13 Dene, Apr 28, 2019 Just watched my friend complete it twice. I think the balance is fine... if you're suitably brutal in your approach. (You must log in or sign up to post here.) Show Ignored Content Share This Page Tweet Your name or email address: Do you already have an account? No, create an account now. Yes, my password is: Forgot your password? Stay logged in
This absolutely works. I don’t know if it’s due to getting lost in the ambient music, but after just a few minutes you transcend the minimalism and it just seems like the words are jumping off your screen and the horror is a real threat. Can’t wait to play some more in my free time, but I can wholeheartedly recommend this right now. Also, if you have any common sense...you see “Incoboto Creator” in the thread title, you just buy. Okay?
Alright — I bought your new game . Now, could you please, please, please bring Incoboto back for new devices? It probably doesn’t make sense financially, but it’s still one of my favorite games of the decade. I have a feeling that it could find a new audience (I know I’ll push the heck out of it).
Well there's good-ish news. I gave Inco to another company to get it out there again. They're trying something interesting with how they're packaging it up, so it's going to be alive again in some form.
Quick tip, folks. Items AND survivors can help in battle, and most items have a 'use anywhere' effect, not just in battle.
I loved Incoboto. And the minute I saw the Fluttermind name I bought this. I love the atmosphere and the story telling here but this is the game that made me realise once and for all that I utterly detest roguelike games. As far as I am concerned it is just laziness from developers to make players constantly have to go over content to make the game appear longer than it is. This game has a wonderful atmosphere and an intriguing story but as I find myself back at the beginning again after numerous play throughs I just can't be bothered any more. It's a pity as I would like to see what happens.
Hey Mooro, Thanks for your honest comment! Sorry the difficulty of the game is not for you. I obviously *do* like roguelikes, which is why I made this! If there's one thing I can promise you it's that rogue like developers are not lazy. I've yet to meet a developer of a finished game who is lazy. If they were, the game would never have been released. The Horns has 6 months of solid content writing in there. You may have seen a couple of repeats, but there's a solid game reason for this: - What you might be able to do in each situation changes from game to game, moment to moment - What you might *want* to do in each situation changes from game to game, moment to moment Like Reigns, the same situation can look quite different when you're bleeding to death, alone, or holding a rope. Multiple peopled finished The Horns on their first go, and told me it was far too easy. They said they didn't feel any reason to try and achieve one of the other eight endings. I adjusted the difficulty to something encouraging people to play the extra-content-rich first part of the game to alter their in-game stats. I *may* have pushed the game into a Dark Souls level of challenge, so I welcome the comments!
Just watched my friend complete it twice. I think the balance is fine... if you're suitably brutal in your approach.
