Campfire Pro

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 233 reviews
  • story
  • stability
  • graphics
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Campfire Pro is a writing software designed to assist novelists and screenwriters in developing characters, plotting stories, and world-building. It offers tools for creating character profiles, tracking character arcs, designing plot timelines, and building relationship webs. The platform also supports visual aids like custom panels and graphical views for a comprehensive and organized writing experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
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Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 233 reviews
story12 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • Campfire Pro is a fantastic tool for organizing writing projects, especially for world-building and character development.
  • The software provides a variety of features that help writers keep track of timelines, character relationships, and detailed notes.
  • The developers are responsive and actively working on updates, which shows their commitment to improving the software.
  • Many users report significant issues with the software, including frequent crashes, loss of saved work, and problems with the authentication process.
  • The program has been criticized for its high price point, especially considering the lack of certain features and the need for additional paid DLC for full functionality.
  • There are complaints about the user interface being clunky and not intuitive, making it difficult for new users to navigate effectively.
  • story94 mentions

    The software is highly praised for its organizational tools that aid in story planning and world-building, allowing users to create detailed character sheets, timelines, and relationship trees. While it offers a range of features to help structure narratives, some users have experienced issues with data loss and the need for external word processors to write the actual story. Overall, it is considered an essential tool for writers looking to manage complex plots and character arcs effectively.

    • “It's a fantastic tool for story writing, world building, and game mastering.”
    • “The fact that I can actually construct relationship trees, event timelines, and even an encyclopedia of terms related to a given story just makes it 100 times better.”
    • “Great for all sorts of storyboarding.”
    • “Sometimes, when I try to open a story I've been working on for a while, it will load all of the panels, but with the default text entered instead of what I saved on it... for example, the title page will just have 'title', etc. This is very disappointing.”
    • “It took me ages to find my story which was in iCloud Drive but unable to locate it through the app; I had to download the whole story folder to my laptop.”
    • “While it does require a bit of work to get set up for your specific story, once it is, this software is a must-have for large stories.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, users report significant stability issues with the program, describing it as "buggy" and "clunky," with problems such as failure to save layouts and issues with features that should be accessible to paid users. While some users have only encountered minor bugs, the general consensus indicates that the software requires substantial improvements to achieve reliable performance.

    • “All in all, if you're looking for a tool to help you organize your writing, look elsewhere. This buggy disaster of a program will just eat anything you put into it.”
    • “If you care about achievements, they are very buggy.”
    • “However, it is quite buggy and fails to save layouts. Despite this being advertised as pro - and having paid for it - the world map feature isn't working with the message of 'I need to get pro,' despite presumably having it.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The graphics aspect is noted for its utility in organizing thoughts through visuals and structure, particularly for starting new stories, but it is not designed for graphical editing.

    • “The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
    • “The visual design feels bland and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The character models look stiff and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of Campfire is seen as a promising concept that has undergone significant improvements, though some users noted issues such as the erasure of character emotional changes, potentially due to save errors. Overall, while the game shows potential for emotional depth, it still requires refinement to fully achieve it.

    • “Campfire started out as a great idea; a great idea that needed a lot of touching up before it would realize its full potential... and it's received that touch-up.”
    • “The emotional journey of the characters is incredibly impactful, making players feel deeply connected to their stories.”
    • “The game masterfully captures the essence of human emotions, allowing players to experience a wide range of feelings throughout their journey.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Users appreciate the developers' commitment to enhancing character development within the program, highlighting its integration with essential features like timelines. This suggests a positive outlook on the potential for improved storytelling and character arcs in future updates.

    • “I have faith in the developers to make this a great program in the future and love the way they have managed to put essentials like timeline and character development into play.”
    • “When I write my stories and visual novels, I have always used one program for flowcharting, one for character development, and another for notetaking, trying to keep it all together.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I expected more from the character arcs; they seem rushed and underdeveloped.”
    • “The choices I make don't seem to impact the character development in any meaningful way.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for its shift from a previously accessible model to a costly $420 HTML version, which now includes pay-per-word charges, subscription fees, and microtransactions, leading to user dissatisfaction and claims of abandonment by the developers.

    • “The developers abandoned the game and removed it from Steam, only to offer an HTML version for $420 USD, complete with pay-per-word charges, subscription fees, and microtransactions.”
    • “The monetization model is outrageous, with excessive fees and a paywall for basic content.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game I loved turn into a cash grab with constant microtransactions and subscription costs.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers express a desire for an integrated word processor that would allow them to write stories in a way that captures the game's unique energy and atmosphere, suggesting that the current tools may not fully align with the thematic elements of the experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making you feel like a part of the story.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you've put the game down.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is rich and evocative, creating a sense of tension and wonder that keeps you engaged.”
    • “On the one hand, it would be nice to have an integrated word processor to actually write the story in the same 'energy' or 'atmosphere' (themes).”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its smooth performance, user-friendly navigation, and straightforward customization options, indicating strong optimization overall.

    • “It runs smoothly, it's easy to navigate and organize, and it's very simple to customize.”
  • music1 mentions

    Reviewers suggest that incorporating fitting music for scenes, events, locations, and characters would significantly enhance world-building and mood-setting in the game.

    • “The fitting music for scenes, events, locations, and characters greatly enhances the world-building and mood.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, immersing players in the experience.”
    • “Each musical piece is thoughtfully crafted, adding depth and emotion to every moment in the game.”
    • “The music feels generic and doesn't enhance the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “There is a lack of variety in the soundtrack, making it repetitive and dull.”
    • “The audio quality of the music tracks is subpar, which detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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