Hi, I’m not a “new author” in the IF space since I’ve been making stuff in the Neo-Interactive jams and recently Spring Thing 2025. But this is my first time submitting something to IFComp.
While I know it’s rather irrational, the attention-seeking part of me wants to surprise people with an impressive debut title. This, however, means I’m letting my perfectionism take over my process. I haven’t made any games for IFComp since joining the community.
But it all changed when I was reading/writing about what was happening to Itch and the recent UK laws mandating age verification standards. I needed a way to channel my anger into something creative, and IFComp was just right around the corner. I decided not to make the best first impression ever and instead sought out to make something more politically and culturally relevant to my interests.
I’m still unsure how people will receive 3XXX: NAKED HUMAN BOMBS, an Ink game that imagines a society where people will literally explode if they see a piece of human skin. It’s silly, but I think it has everything I want to say about sexuality and gender. I don’t expect the game to be rated highly since, as I once voted in the genre poll, the game is an “erotic comedic science fiction nonfiction” piece. But I hope it makes an impression on people.
When the IF2025 forum appears, I’ll try to write reviews on new authors like Amanda is doing here. I enjoy being surprised by new voices, so rather than letting me steal valor, I hope other new writers pop up soon!