Welcome to Dorian Academy—where your passion for storytelling and game creation meets the opportunity to build a thriving business! Whether you're new to the scene or a seasoned creator, Dorian Academy is your go-to resource for turning your creative ideas into interactive experiences that don't just captivate audiences, but also generate real revenue. With our expert-led courses, insider tips, and hands-on guidance, you'll learn everything you need to launch and grow your own game business on Dorian. Unleash your potential, master the art of game development, and start making a living doing what you love with Dorian Academy!

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BECOME A DATING SIM MASTER

Looking for guides on how to getting started?

Don’t miss our comprehensive creator wiki!

Creating your game!
Creating in the engine!
Bringing your own art!

Got a question you want a fast answer to? Expand the question to see the answer below!

  • We see that most successful games use a transparent self-insert character, ideally with ambiguous or choosable pronouns.

  • It's up to you! Some people prefer to write fully self-insert characters which tend to be more of a blank slate, while others prefer a more defined personality.

    One thing you can do is set up three personality "tracks" for your MC, then design choices that allow the player to always express themselves that way. For example, you might always have a snarky, a sweet, and a blunt choice.

  • As many as you can! Players love making choices on Dorian. We recommend ideally one every 10-15 lines but at the most no more than 25 lines between choices.

  • If you feel your players can't start your game without a "Star Wars Crawl" style setup, it usually means you are starting them somewhere confusing. For example, a player might not understand what it means to hold the Light-bringer sword as a crowd of Orcs attack, but they would know what it feels like to be having an argument with a sibling, or just have been dumped. Can you put them in a more relatable situation to start so you can slowly introduce your world elements?

    If you're struggling, try using our story design exercise to isolate the most important pieces!

  • Dorian has a team of experts that are happy to help you learn what you need to make a hit game! If you're interested in some targeted feedback while preparing your pilot, one of the best things you can do is get your episode 1 in engine. Then, connect with @Asrabounding or @Jess on the Dorian discord to get a review!

  • We see that in most successful cases, romantic tension & excitement appears early in the progression! If your characters can't connect yet, are there ways to create moments of intimacy through the worldbuilding? For example, a magic that makes the characters attracted to each other, or a fake dating trope that forces them into close contact, or perhaps a mistaken identity that leads to a kiss?

  • We see that successful games can run for 30+ episodes, so we recommend you don't plan for a short season! Ideally you can design your game like a tv show with a plot that can be expanded.

  • We'll be sharing a full module with a video on this topic shortly!