When it comes to queer games, I usually jump at the chance to check them out. However, I also need to know something about the plot and characters before backing a Kickstarter. In the case of Café Mildé, I’m intrigued by what I’ve seen but there isn’t much there. There is a demo available to try out but not everyone is going to download and play it. In today’s crowdfunding environment, potential backers need to know precisely what they’re giving their money to.
Here’s the thing. I want to like Café Mildé. I really do. From what little there is, it sounds like a great premise. My biggest problem is with the pitch. There’s nothing there. All I really know is that it’s a visual novel where you can play as either the male or female lead, and you can romance either men or women. There’s something about supernatural creatures, but beyond that we don’t know anything about the plot. We barely know anything about the characters and their personalities, either.
For a game that seems to focus pretty heavily on LGBT themes, Café Mildé is pretty light in the description department. I had a hard time figuring out what to expect in this regard and I actually had to go outside the campaign page just to find screenshots. Sure, I’ve backed projects with less information but that was back when Kickstarter was still relatively new. Today, backers tend to be a bit more discerning and critical with their pledges.
For $12, I’d expect to see shown off. That said, I’m also more forgiving than most people when it comes to backing a game with promise. For now, I’m going to have to pass on Café Mildé, at least until I download and play the demo.
