They seem to be very good friends

Yoyo [[Play -> Puzzlescript Game]] [[Watch Inspirational Video -> Video]] [[Read Designer's Thoughts -> Design]]

While playing the game (if you haven't done it before reading this, do it!), you might have wondered why the rules are not the same regarding love/intimacy for everyone. Well I wonder the same in real life. I've had friends of "the opposite" gender of mine throughout all of my childhood and teenage years, and people would assume we were in a romantic relationship just because we were friends. (Scroll down - there's more!) <img src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/6d/de/1e6ddeeb1166c7e6fb3100da90e6e2b1.jpg" width="400" height="600" alt="Two foxes"> This is why in the game, as soon as a man and a woman are side by side, they're read as in love. [[Read Part 2 -> Design2]]

People of the same gender can be platonic friends to the eyes of our society. They can enjoy each other company, spend a lot of time together and share a lot, and still be considered just friends. However, as soon as men show any sign of intimacy, they're G A Y (N-word coming up; the person telling the story is black himself) <img src="https://scontent.fymq3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/78606103_136537681094289_1466344135987298304_n.png?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=xIUs34h_l0UAQkTMxcvsBRYIJna98q1vlf3NSC8De8BZw_zWtBVuB7eIg&_nc_ht=scontent.fymq3-1.fna&oh=3bef035781a96382c2abd3a72bf839f0&oe=5E9FDC3F" width="400" height="600" alt="Two foxes"> <img src="https://scontent.fymq3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/78424615_136537724427618_1566164621964869632_n.png?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=8Ian8wE5YIEAQksoduSU0MQcHc5YKucB6fcJZqsMtrgFp9WF9FOHKNceQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fymq3-1.fna&oh=d607b1e0ac7f972ea7affb7c822187b1&oe=5E6935C5" width="400" height="600" alt="Two foxes"> [[Read Part 3 -> Design3]]

Ok, so women and men can't be just friends, men can be friends until they share any intimacy... what about women? Well, they can never, EVER be intimate enough to be in love. <img src="https://pics.me.me/congrats-to-oitnbs-samira-wiley-and-lauren-morelli-on-finally-31906752.png" width="500" height="600" alt="Two foxes"> Just gals being pals, you know. [[Read Part 4 -> Design4]]

As for the messages throughout the game, I think they speak for themselves, but they basically express my disappointment at how we depict love as the most desirable thing in the world, and as something big and unique and that should drive you crazy. Love doesn't have to take over all of your life. Love shouldn't make all your other relationships meaningless. Love doesn't have to be shared with just one person. Your shouldn't sacrifice everything for your "significant other". Love is overrated. Platonic intimacy is underrated. [[Read Final Part ->DesignFinal]]

So that's it. I find the "rules" around intimacy between folks silly, and I thought it was fun to deconstruct and put into a game form. Because social norms and games are both just a set of rules at the end of the day, so one translates well to the other. Plus I love making (link: " games where you have to match people.")[(open-url: "https://rafiki.itch.io/intrepid-cupid")] (Yes I'm ending these notes on a shameless autopromotion)