Lovestruck writers striking for better conditions

[alias_sqbr]

Lovestruck’s mobile game writers on strike over pay, workplace complaints. Updates are being posted to their tumblr.

The writers have asked fans to contact Voltage supporting the demands, and try new stories, especially those about POC and non-binary characters.

The voltage tumblr didn't reply to my message. I tried the first two episodes of the non-binary JD from "Havenfall Is For Lovers". It was very conventional "supernatural romance about a Regular Girl and a Bad Boy Person Immortal snarkily bantering" which isn't a genre I enjoy. But they were cute together, and JD's gender was handled well (by not being mentioned at all, everyone just rolls with their pronouns)

Comments

[22degreehalo]

I've mentioned before on here, but I'm a big BIG fan of Lovestruck - I think it has some of the most well-written, mature, interesting, complex, and genuinely romantic love stories you can find in visual novels these days. The love interests are varied in both diversity and in substance, and I maintain that anyone who enjoys otome games could find at least one love interest they could fall in love with there.

Finding out about all of this was really upsetting. The descriptions of how writers were forced to live to continuewriting for the app are just awful. Voltage's response was cold and callous.

I want to continue supporting the app, because it really does offer things I haven't found anywhere else and because it doesn't help the writers either if this potential source of work goes under. But I'm worried it'll never be the same anymore. Voltage's response smacks of them thinking they can just hire any old new writers and nobody will care, but the app was never JUST about the diverse characters. It was also just has some really, really good writing. It's a sad truth of representation that it's often much easier to find as long as you're willing to lower your standards. To not have to do that is always a wonderful relief.

I hope Voltage will budge for everyone's sake.

Also, I don't want to be super negative here, but... unfortunately this kind of thing is endemic in the visual novel industry. We've heard over and over again about translators being paid that level of slave wage as well, and apparently the Japanese writers for Love 365 are treated about the same as Lovestruck's. If anyone knows of any proven good examples I'll gladly hear them, but I've heard this story over and over again and I'm not sure if 'supporting good companies' is even a real option. :( (Other than buying indie games? Which I LOVE and do, but they're totally different in all sorts of ways from bigger games.)

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah I really hope they budge too, for the writers and the readers!

I'm a hobbyist myself, but I know a lot of professional games developers, and yeah, the games industry in general is terrible as an employer for just about everyone. Even some of the indie companies large enough to hire contractors are pretty bad. I've heard good stories about some large-ish companies that make other sorts of games, but not VNs in particular.

I mean I don't know that ALL the big companies are bad, but I wouldn't be surprised about any individual one. I'll still play their games, but...yeah :/

[lea_hazel]

I stopped playing the Lovestruck games a while back for unrelated reasons, but it's perversely impressive to me to see that Voltage USA treat their writers even worse than industry standard, considering the industry standard is already so low. I hope they manage to open a line of communication with management, and help set a precedent. Seeing more and more game devs and game writers organizing is both hopeful and reassuring, although I know it's a long process.

[alias_sqbr]

it's perversely impressive to me to see that Voltage USA treat their writers even worse than industry standard, considering the industry standard is already so low

Same :/