Jackkel Dragon
@jackkel-dragon.bsky.social
Writer and Game Designer
Nightshade, Kigenishi, Tarishu
Main Site WIP: https://jackkeldragon.wordpress.com/
Nightshade, Kigenishi, Tarishu
Main Site WIP: https://jackkeldragon.wordpress.com/
Sometimes I forget how many projects I have going at once, because I just did an update post on my WordPress site and didn't even bring up everything I have going on behind-the-scenes.
December 2025 Progress Update
As we near the end of another year, it’s time for me to do a few quick updates on what I’ve been working on. A few things finally got finished earlier this year, specifically: The Last …
jackkeldragon.wordpress.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Sometimes I forget how many projects I have going at once, because I just did an update post on my WordPress site and didn't even bring up everything I have going on behind-the-scenes.
Checking a new trending search on Google should not look like opening the notes file of my angst porn dystopian story concept. It feels like my country's government wants to one-up my concept of a broken society.
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Checking a new trending search on Google should not look like opening the notes file of my angst porn dystopian story concept. It feels like my country's government wants to one-up my concept of a broken society.
Seeing "speedrun guides" for a kinetic novel makes me wonder if it was worth the years of effort to create.
November 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Seeing "speedrun guides" for a kinetic novel makes me wonder if it was worth the years of effort to create.
Having made a bit of progress in my development projects recently, it occurs to me how different they might seem from the outside, even beyond the placeholder art in the newer project. One certainly has more "gameplay" than the other, for sure.
October 22, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Having made a bit of progress in my development projects recently, it occurs to me how different they might seem from the outside, even beyond the placeholder art in the newer project. One certainly has more "gameplay" than the other, for sure.
I managed to get around to doing some scene drafts for a story that has been on my to-do list for a while. While I was working on that, I decided to see how some of the scenes would look in-game.
October 12, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I managed to get around to doing some scene drafts for a story that has been on my to-do list for a while. While I was working on that, I decided to see how some of the scenes would look in-game.
I might end up putting out an update for Blooming Nightshade and Flowering Nightshade to use the UI updates ported from another project. I'd like to finish the story that was meant to be part of FN v8 first, but maybe I'll release it as a patch later on.
October 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I might end up putting out an update for Blooming Nightshade and Flowering Nightshade to use the UI updates ported from another project. I'd like to finish the story that was meant to be part of FN v8 first, but maybe I'll release it as a patch later on.
Finally made some more progress on a story that has been in the works for a while, getting it to a full draft. Hopefully soon I can start sharing more about it...
October 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Finally made some more progress on a story that has been in the works for a while, getting it to a full draft. Hopefully soon I can start sharing more about it...
It's always funny to see people act like their favored mythological details are empirically proven, then get into arguments where neither person seems to even notice they aren't discussing the same thing at all.
("Vampires drink blood!" vs. "Vampires [Jiangshi] drink life force [qi]!")
("Vampires drink blood!" vs. "Vampires [Jiangshi] drink life force [qi]!")
October 4, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It's always funny to see people act like their favored mythological details are empirically proven, then get into arguments where neither person seems to even notice they aren't discussing the same thing at all.
("Vampires drink blood!" vs. "Vampires [Jiangshi] drink life force [qi]!")
("Vampires drink blood!" vs. "Vampires [Jiangshi] drink life force [qi]!")
Reposted by Jackkel Dragon
200+ visual novels. 100+ developers from across the globe. 1 week.
have you fallen in love with your next story yet? there's even more demos to try not and 50+ discounted visual novels, so find your next favorite story today ✨️
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
have you fallen in love with your next story yet? there's even more demos to try not and 50+ discounted visual novels, so find your next favorite story today ✨️
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
September 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
200+ visual novels. 100+ developers from across the globe. 1 week.
have you fallen in love with your next story yet? there's even more demos to try not and 50+ discounted visual novels, so find your next favorite story today ✨️
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
have you fallen in love with your next story yet? there's even more demos to try not and 50+ discounted visual novels, so find your next favorite story today ✨️
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
I don't want to get too into the weeds on something where the people who need to be convinced have decided in advance to be upset, but...
If you're going to insult a 2026 remake of a game from 2003, don't use footage from the 2012 remake and claim it's from the original. It makes the tourism show.
If you're going to insult a 2026 remake of a game from 2003, don't use footage from the 2012 remake and claim it's from the original. It makes the tourism show.
September 27, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I don't want to get too into the weeds on something where the people who need to be convinced have decided in advance to be upset, but...
If you're going to insult a 2026 remake of a game from 2003, don't use footage from the 2012 remake and claim it's from the original. It makes the tourism show.
If you're going to insult a 2026 remake of a game from 2003, don't use footage from the 2012 remake and claim it's from the original. It makes the tourism show.
The #FallinLoveFestival is live, so be sure to check out all the romance games being featured there!
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
If you're on a budget, there are lots of demos and free games to try out too, including Blooming Nightshade!
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
If you're on a budget, there are lots of demos and free games to try out too, including Blooming Nightshade!
September 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The #FallinLoveFestival is live, so be sure to check out all the romance games being featured there!
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
If you're on a budget, there are lots of demos and free games to try out too, including Blooming Nightshade!
store.steampowered.com/sale/fallinl...
If you're on a budget, there are lots of demos and free games to try out too, including Blooming Nightshade!
The #FallinLoveFestival starts today, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Reconnect with Misaki in Eldritch University, and shape how the relationship develops!
Reconnect with Misaki in Eldritch University, and shape how the relationship develops!
![Fall in Love with... Misaki Asahara [麻原岬]
- Polite, loyal, stubborn
- Former extrovert
- Childhood friend
(Eldritch University)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreigmlken52vjw2gdeawhzy3hezohjnwmpwrpujg32ajp7p55b7767y@jpeg)
September 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The #FallinLoveFestival starts today, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Reconnect with Misaki in Eldritch University, and shape how the relationship develops!
Reconnect with Misaki in Eldritch University, and shape how the relationship develops!
The #FallinLoveFestival starts tomorrow, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Cho in Eldritch Academy, or check out Life as Designed to see Yue all grown up!
Meet Cho in Eldritch Academy, or check out Life as Designed to see Yue all grown up!
![Fall in Love with... Cho Fukuda [福田蝶]
- Casual and laid-back
- Enjoys comics
- Costume designer
(Eldritch Academy)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreih5any3udrvfb7pnc6dtnio45ahzcfr43xzf75sh2abl5ymbqjvlq@jpeg)
![Fall in Love with... Yue Ishikami [石神ゆえ]
- Cynical and sarcastic
- Enjoys quiet moments
- Patient with children
(Life as Designed)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreiembeh7fndde6zuhktbusrhl3yc6j22ry2icn2pposffds4j74xbm@jpeg)
September 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The #FallinLoveFestival starts tomorrow, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Cho in Eldritch Academy, or check out Life as Designed to see Yue all grown up!
Meet Cho in Eldritch Academy, or check out Life as Designed to see Yue all grown up!
The #FallinLoveFestival is coming up soon, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Kagami in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
Meet Kagami in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
![Fall in Love with... Kagami Nakayama [中山鏡]
- Calm and reserved
- Polite speech register
- Artist and gamer
(Eldritch Academy version)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreifs4zc6xfoskrploi4fsuawibgp5hiqllqa4xf5t7muyjmfqpcbia@jpeg)
![Fall in Love with... Kagami Nakayama [中山鏡]
- Calm and reserved
- Polite speech register
- Artist and gamer
(Life as Designed version)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreid25kzreuycgd6tgan72ohqxai3fcejghyquapbcel4hpg4bn5mny@jpeg)
September 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The #FallinLoveFestival is coming up soon, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Kagami in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
Meet Kagami in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
The #FallinLoveFestival is coming up soon, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Akomi in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
Meet Akomi in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
![Fall in Love with... Akomi Miyazaki [宮崎亜子美]
- Playful and teasing
- Big eater
- Loves anime
(Eldritch Academy version)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreibb3zi7ko5ncar7t7ujgv2ojfedgkprkmg4vypzranuds2s42yvla@jpeg)
![Fall in Love with... Akomi Miyazaki [宮崎亜子美]
- Playful and teasing
- Big eater
- Loves anime
(Life as Designed version)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bgwnec3tbafubabnnmn67ymi/bafkreico77ecggimkhesfgqnfu6pz5uutmt4tm6j4ekbpl56jcczqkevwe@jpeg)
September 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The #FallinLoveFestival is coming up soon, featuring lots of romance-focused visual novels! A number of my own games will be on sale during the festival period, so be sure to check it out!
Meet Akomi in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
Meet Akomi in Eldritch Academy, or see what she's like all grown up in Life as Designed!
Started posting a nearly-finished fanfic I've been writing, and I feel like I accidentally discovered the final boss of AO3. Every icon in the warning label is red.
September 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Started posting a nearly-finished fanfic I've been writing, and I feel like I accidentally discovered the final boss of AO3. Every icon in the warning label is red.
I'm told that Ghost Recon Wildlands is way better than Breakpoint, but I'm a huge fan of Breakpoint when it comes to being able to open the game on Windows 11. I find games more fun when they don't grab half of my RAM and then just idle indefinitely.
September 4, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I'm told that Ghost Recon Wildlands is way better than Breakpoint, but I'm a huge fan of Breakpoint when it comes to being able to open the game on Windows 11. I find games more fun when they don't grab half of my RAM and then just idle indefinitely.
Trying to think of tags for a fanfic to make sure it can be found by those interested in it, while also serving as content warnings for the uncomfortable stuff.
Ended up deciding to include "Attempted Genocide".
...Makes it sound like a more intense story than it is.
Ended up deciding to include "Attempted Genocide".
...Makes it sound like a more intense story than it is.
August 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Trying to think of tags for a fanfic to make sure it can be found by those interested in it, while also serving as content warnings for the uncomfortable stuff.
Ended up deciding to include "Attempted Genocide".
...Makes it sound like a more intense story than it is.
Ended up deciding to include "Attempted Genocide".
...Makes it sound like a more intense story than it is.
Reposted by Jackkel Dragon
I find it morbidly interesting that the one way to get people to pay attention to my least-viewed game was to have it be under threat of removal from the itch store... but that wasn't enough to drive any new sales.
Too horny to be "SFW", too tame to be popular?
Too horny to be "SFW", too tame to be popular?
August 3, 2025 at 3:37 AM
I find it morbidly interesting that the one way to get people to pay attention to my least-viewed game was to have it be under threat of removal from the itch store... but that wasn't enough to drive any new sales.
Too horny to be "SFW", too tame to be popular?
Too horny to be "SFW", too tame to be popular?
Reposted by Jackkel Dragon
If you want to help out indie game devs & creators aside from buying their work, there's 2 great ways to help:
1. Leave reviews for their work on store fronts (Steam, itchio, Amazon, etc) as reviews really help
2. Recommend their works to your friends as word of mouth is super important!
1. Leave reviews for their work on store fronts (Steam, itchio, Amazon, etc) as reviews really help
2. Recommend their works to your friends as word of mouth is super important!
July 31, 2025 at 3:36 PM
If you want to help out indie game devs & creators aside from buying their work, there's 2 great ways to help:
1. Leave reviews for their work on store fronts (Steam, itchio, Amazon, etc) as reviews really help
2. Recommend their works to your friends as word of mouth is super important!
1. Leave reviews for their work on store fronts (Steam, itchio, Amazon, etc) as reviews really help
2. Recommend their works to your friends as word of mouth is super important!
I cm'd KushiroJin to illustrate a scene featuring Yue from Life as Designed, and I love how it turned out!
I like this scene, where we see that Yue is much more patient with children than her peers or seniors. While she's usually harsh on people, she doesn't hold anything against kids.
I like this scene, where we see that Yue is much more patient with children than her peers or seniors. While she's usually harsh on people, she doesn't hold anything against kids.
July 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I cm'd KushiroJin to illustrate a scene featuring Yue from Life as Designed, and I love how it turned out!
I like this scene, where we see that Yue is much more patient with children than her peers or seniors. While she's usually harsh on people, she doesn't hold anything against kids.
I like this scene, where we see that Yue is much more patient with children than her peers or seniors. While she's usually harsh on people, she doesn't hold anything against kids.
Reposted by Jackkel Dragon
Steam and Itch taking down games they host is a problem for game preservation - and of course, I'm not a fan of people trying to censor what creators can express.
This is one of the many reasons Ren'Py is free, and why its license means I can't censor what is made with it.
1/2
This is one of the many reasons Ren'Py is free, and why its license means I can't censor what is made with it.
1/2
July 24, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Steam and Itch taking down games they host is a problem for game preservation - and of course, I'm not a fan of people trying to censor what creators can express.
This is one of the many reasons Ren'Py is free, and why its license means I can't censor what is made with it.
1/2
This is one of the many reasons Ren'Py is free, and why its license means I can't censor what is made with it.
1/2
In the process of going through those old files, I found some of the early details for the story that became Eldritch Academy. The idea originated in late 2013, but so far most of what I can find is from summer of 2014. It's interesting which things are the same versus what changed...
July 22, 2025 at 3:35 AM
In the process of going through those old files, I found some of the early details for the story that became Eldritch Academy. The idea originated in late 2013, but so far most of what I can find is from summer of 2014. It's interesting which things are the same versus what changed...
Decided to collect as much of my unpublished fanfic as I could find into my current writing program. 86k words just for Nightshade characters alone. If only I could reach that output in stories that were more marketable...
July 22, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Decided to collect as much of my unpublished fanfic as I could find into my current writing program. 86k words just for Nightshade characters alone. If only I could reach that output in stories that were more marketable...