Bard Simulator 2K21
Content Warning: This game contains strong language and graphic depictions of violence. Seriously, it gets pretty gory.
This is a game about being a bard in a medieval fantasy world. Write your own poems from scratch to wow peasants and nobles alike! Share your creations with your friends and express your creativity! Try to avoid getting into trouble with the aristocracy!
This is a short, largely linear proof of concept and prototype. If people like it, I may spin it out into a more substantial game (hopefully with a less meme-y title, too). Right now gold does nothing and there are no real fail states, though the story is a complete little arc and I hope you play it through to the end!
Made for the Valentwines Day Poetry Jam 2021. See the about page for complete credits. It's recommended you leave the sound on, I think it adds a lot to the experience.
Not mobile friendly.
Note: This game was previously de-listed for certain reasons. I'm putting it back up and I plan to leave it up for the foreseeable future.
Download
Install instructions
Extract files. Run index.html in your favorite modern web browser, like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Comments
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this is so cool! am so curious how you coded the audience rating system, even if it's simple on the backend it makes the game feel so complex
I'm going to sing you something
I'll be showered with stones or bling
In the name of the lord
Join my epic discord
If you need stuff, give me a ping
...got me a 100% approval rating in the noble district
i don't even have a discord
great game
I had to replay the game just so I could write cryptic poetry that foreshadowed the ending I received, and it all got received well. Cassandra if she were a bard. Definitely a fun experience, and one I thoroughly enjoyed throughout both playthroughs!
It was fun using the AI model from our game to make the poems to play the Bard Simulator (it kind of worked with some extra help with synonyms and syllable counting). Great concept and implementation!
I really like your game and it amazes me how you made the rating system with the poems, can't even imagine how it works! Even as a non-native english speaker it's a fascinating game mechanic/story idea or maybe that is the reason I'm fond of it: really makes my brain work to come up with the poems. Hope you continue fleshing out the story and maybe add a bit more rpg elements to it!!
Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked it! I do want to spin this out into a fuller experience, and I agree RPG elements are a good fit.
when i encountered the guards i said this.
how about you let me pass.
they said it was beautiful.you absolute piece of ass.
awesome idea
Lovely Amazing story, amazing idea! I even put it in my collection of really good games!!!
I will try writing something now
Hello, I am a bard I am scared, full of fear I might play some cards to wipe away my tears (So dramatic ;-;)
I just discovered you can say "a a a a a a" call it a poem and get 100%
> I just discovered you can say "a a a a a a" call it a poem and get 100%
uh oh. I'll look into that. anyway, thank you for the kind words!
edit: I couldn't get "a a a a a a" in any combination of lines to perform very well. may have just been a weird hiccup
ugh, let me say more
go to the haiku level and say
a a a a a
a a a a a a a
a a a a a
I tried it again and got 98%
ok, thanks. I'll fix that.
I'm not really much of a poet
So if I play this game, I might blow it
But I'll try my best
Maybe write a jest
Or a rhyme that sounds legit
Rhyming aside, this was a fun, short game! I enjoyed having to switch between different poetic styles to suit the tastes of different audiences.
Nice limerick :)
Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it!