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String Zero Project

Hello everyone, and welcome to the official String Zero patreon!Publicly available versions of the game are <a href="https://stringzerovn.itch.io/string-zero" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">downloadable from itch.io</a>. (You must be 18 or older.)We also have an in-universe podcast: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@StringZeroVN" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bringing The Heat</a>Follow public news on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/StringZeroVN" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@StringZeroVN</a>Or Bluesky: <a href="https://stringzerovn.bsky.social/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://stringzerovn.bsky.social/</a><a href="https://discord.gg/tTnS8qPZNy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Join our public discord server.</a>Tentative Chapter 4 Release: Feb 2025Tip us on <a href="https://ko-fi.com/maltotiger" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ko-Fi</a>!(Statements on Fan Art and Translations at the bottom.)<h4 style="">What is String Zero?</h4>String Zero is a linear/kinetic 18+ Furry or Kemono Visual Novel set in another solar system, on another world. The game will touch on topics typical of the cyberpunk tradition including: dystopian corporatocracy and class, cultural/international politics, and transhumanism/transformation. It will also includes elements of cyberfantasy and broader science fiction. The goal of this project is to provide a narratively dense experience that explores a number of complex topics in the Cyberpunk tradition.What is String Zero's story about?"Truth is a matter of the imagination. The soundest fact may fail or prevail in the style of its telling: like that singular organic jewel of our seas, which grows brighter as one woman wears it and, worn by another, dulls and goes to dust. Facts are no more solid, coherent, round, and real than pearls are."― Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Left Hand of Darkness"String Zero follows Ravy, a young adult human in a mixed species society who struggles not only with a powerful ability to shape reality, but also a complicated relationship with his enigmatic father, Aerran.Together along with their warrior-nun bodyguard Yuraeli, the three manage exile in the city-state of their home's enemy: a technologically-advanced corporatocracy, run entirely by the monolithic Company and its Chairman.Nu Lios.Rather than the safety they hoped for, Ravy's family instead finds prejudice, corporate infighting, and dangerous truths, ultimately becoming embroiled in the hunt for ancient Jazz technologies that have both countries on the brink of war.Join Ravy on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the dangers of both the city and his past while aligning himself with a curious crew of mercenary "runners," each with their own particular agendas and complicated pasts.<h4 style="">What String Zero is Not</h4>As this is my very first VN, I want to keep the focus relatively simple and production at a reasonable pace, so this will not be a "routes"-based game (though there may eventually be options spread throughout that affect endings and relationships). Instead, this will be a mostly, if not entirely linear narrative experience.This is also not a primarily romance-based game. While there will be romance and related adult moments as part of the game's exploration of themes, these are not the game's primary or sole focus. (Though they will still be explored thoroughly.)Of course, patron feedback and input is critical, and may very well adjust the direction of relationship mechanics and production.<h4 style="">Who am I?</h4>Hello! I'm known online as Maltotiger or Reo and am the creator of String Zero. I've earned two degrees in writing and literature, and have been doing editorial work since the early 2000s. All which means I'd never claim to be an amazing writer, I just theoretically know what amazing writing looks like. 😂Still, I have been writing off and on for a long time—mostly short stories, vignettes, fan fiction and so on—though I've never finished a long-form project outside of academic papers (largely because I don't enjoy the process of writing novels). Ironically, String Zero was originally intended to be a novel, for lack of a better medium. But then I discovered visual novels, and my eyes were opened to new possibilities!This project is important to me because it's the (hopefully) final iteration of a world and story I've been workshopping and worldbuilding since the late 1990s. It's that sticky idea, that inescapable vision I've never been able to shake, and have been dying to express for decades (and have filled up several journals and word docs writing about).However, working full time as an editor does not provide me with all the funds I will need to give this project the artistic attention it deserves, but that's where you can help! All funds from this patreon will be used to commission art assets, illustrations, music, and whatever else I feel will help breathe more life into this project.<h4 style="">A Note on the Release Schedule</h4>To be completely transparent, String Zero will not be releasing on a monthly schedule. The amount of polish that goes into the writing and the fact that all of my art assets must be commissioned means that the timing of every build will be contingent on the speed of test reader feedback and the delivery of all assets needed for the next build.Instead, I will be releasing other String Zero-related content on a monthly schedule, including: Sprite and CG previews and WIPs; samples of new music; additional, patron-only vignettes and details about story characters and background; polls; and more.That said, we will do our best to release new builds on on a 9-12 week or 3ish-month cadence. To keep the project comfortably funded, the patreon will not be paused due to reasonable delays. (If for some reason an unreasonable delay occurs, such as an extended emergency of greater than 6 months, we will then pause the patreon.)<h4 style="">Statements on Fan Art and Translations:</h4>For the record, since these questions have come up a few times now:<ul><li>Fan Art: We welcome any fan art of String Zero as long as it isn't actively harmful (racist, sexist, queerphobic, hyper-violent, etc.) or libelous. You don't need our permission to commission art of your OC with String Zero characters, etc.</li><li>Unofficial or Fan Translations: We welcome any fan translations of String Zero as long as they are labeled "unofficial." Translation projects not labeled "unofficial" will be publicly disavowed.</li><li>Official Translations: Because String Zero is a dense literary experience with a lot of unique words and slang, any official translations will need to work closely with the author. This requires a certain level of trust, and so some vetting is required. If you are interested in applying to be an official translator, please prepare a selection of your past work or translation experience and reach out to us on social media with a link to your work/resume.</li></ul>

Free

Any amount you can offer will help make String Zero a richer experience. If you'd rather give a one-time gift, use our <a href="https://ko-fi.com/maltotiger" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ko-Fi</a> page instead.Tips provide complimentary access to monthly patron update posts, but no other content. The phrase "available to all patreon tiers" does not apply to tips.If you'd like early access to content, see the "Informer" tier.

Tip Jar

The "get early access to all public content" no-frills tier.<ul><li>Early access to new builds of "String Zero."</li><li>Early access to in-universe podcasts, such as "Bringing the Heat."</li><li>Early access to digital OST releases as those are ready.</li><li>Access to the "Informer" role and Supporter channels in the "String Zero" Discord, including exclusive Work-In-Progress content.</li></ul>Upgrade to the "Clubber" role for additional access, such as voting power, special discord access, and many other benefits.

Informer

<ul><li>All previous early access.</li><li>Access to additional writing content, such as short stories and expanded lore.</li><li>Access to early WIP content.</li><li>Access to the "Clubber" role and Supporter channels in the "String Zero" Discord, including exclusive Work-In-Progress content.</li><li>Patreon voting power.</li></ul>

Clubber

<ul><li>Have your name added to the credits of the next build.</li><li>Access to "Behind the Scenes" content.</li><li>Access to the "Ruineer" role and Supporter channels in the "String Zero" Discord.</li><li>Plus previous benefits.</li></ul>

Ruineer

<ul><li>The "I'd like to give more" role.</li><li>Access to early scripts.</li><li>Access to beta builds for Quality Assurance passes.</li><li>Access to the "Jazzrunner" role and Supporter channels in the "String Zero" Discord.</li><li>Plus previous benefits.</li></ul>