RESOURCES & TIPS
This is a post with resources and tips for participants who are creating their own entry (solo or otherwise.)
Tools [Ren’Py-specific]:
- Pronoun tool by npckc
- Caption tool by npckc
- Content warning tool by npckc [note: for game pages, includes a pop-up and drop-down menu, like above for placing warnings inside]
- Ren’Py accessibility add-on by minute [note: allows player to change text, sound and images]
- Custom pronoun system by oneirocritica
- Ren’Py font mod by teatime [note: allows players to add their own custom fonts!]
- FeniksDev’s entire library has a variety of tools, some for accessibility some to extend Ren’Py’s abilities
- A contrast checker for colours created by WebAIM (there are loads more online too- this is not a tool exclusive for Ren’Py-users)
If you are using other engines (such as Godot or RPGMaker) there are likely lots of pre-existing plugins or projects that showcase similar features (e.g. subtitles, captions, etc.) I am most familiar with Ren’Py, so if you need help for another engine it would be worth joining a discord or forum for them!
Tagging and putting warnings on your game page [Ren’Py]
- I recommend using the Content warning tool listed above by npckc to create a pop-up or drop-down menu on your itch.io game page, which will contain any content or trigger warnings which might apply to the entry
- For inside of game warnings, you could create a splash screen (video tutorial, Ren’Py documentation) which shows before any gameplay.
- Or, you can start the game off with a playable warning section if you prefer (i.e. once the player clicks start/new game they will be guided through an label with an NPC explaining them the types of content in-game.)
Differences between Trigger and Content Warnings [General]
- Look at the table below to see some examples of what topics/actions counts would go under a content warning VS. a trigger warning. This is not a full list, just a few examples if you need some direction on what kind of content falls into what space!
[Alt: A table with two columns, on the left it is titled ‘content warning examples’ with a list of examples (Gore, blood, vomit, insects, alcohol use, drug use.) On the right is a similar list, titled ‘trigger warning examples’ with a list of examples (sexual assault, verbal/physical violence, child abuse, self harm, non-consensual use of drugs or alcohol). /EndAlt] - Entries with sensitive content, which do not contain any sort of warnings on the game page and/or inside the game, will be removed and disqualified from submissions.
- Trigger/content warnings are essential to the safety of the players and consumers, even if we have an idea of what kind of content we are going to engage with might be upsetting.