Who keeps buying Generational?

October 08, 2024

My first game, Generational: A Story about Stories is sold on a somewhat regular basis on my itch.io page and I couldn't tell you why. 

The game has been viewed 3,348 times of which it has been downloaded 2,958 times (88% success rate isn't that bad). It has 8 five-star reviews (and 1 three-star). There's even a free version of the game playable on StorySynth that walks you through how to play.

But who is playing this game? Who is talking about it with their friends and who is recommending it to others? 

I firmly believe in the game and its potential. It's why I continue to make new iterations. I love games that give credence to the stuff you make up on the spot more than a strict set of how the story is "supposed" to go. But it's not a game for everyone - the three-star review players didn't seem to truly grasp the point of the game. It's open-ended and provides little crutch for a player who is nervous to tell stories outloud. You must kill your darlings and let others control their legacy. Myths are formed and lost so quickly in the vast span of time the game takes place. 

And yet these are not bugs, but features. These are the exact types of storytelling I want folks to experience. The importance that can be missed when we focus on the "hero". 

One of my favorite sections of the rules is called "The Strength and Fragility of Legends". It outlines a simple principle that while stories being told presently should be considered absolutely true, we are prone to forget the important details. In the same way, the players at the table will forget or misremember details of the story you told and that might lead to your story turning into legend or better yet, myth. Is your adventurer a martyr or a tight-lipped stain on history? Is that school teacher still touching hearts or overwhelmed by bureaucracy. That kind of detail is what I feel separates a great world history from a lazy one.

While I still don't know who's been playing my game, I hope they continue to grow in popularity. I kinda wish that a larger actual play podcast would pick-up the game and try it out for a future season of shows. It's adaptable and unique. Hit me up, Brennan Lee Mulligan or Griffin McElroy.

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