Ratings War (2015)

Step into the future of journalism in Ratings War, a 2015 interactive novel by Eddy Webb. Set in the dystopian city of New Angeles in the year 2061, this story places you at the forefront of a cutthroat media industry where your choices shape every outcome. In a world where cybernetic enhancements give journalists unprecedented abilities, you implant cameras in your eyes to capture every moment, navigate complex criminal investigations, and dominate the ratings war of the future.

Immersive Interactive Storytelling

This 80,000-word interactive novel is entirely text-based, offering a deeply immersive experience fueled by your imagination. Without relying on graphics or sound effects, Ratings War allows you to live the story from your own perspective, making critical decisions that influence the direction of events. Your actions determine how stories unfold, which leads to multiple possible endings based on the choices you make throughout the narrative.

Rise in the Media World

As one of the first reporters equipped with cybernetic eyes, you gain a unique advantage in uncovering major news events. Your ability to capture live footage gives you the power to break stories as they happen. Navigate the competitive landscape of New Angeles’ top news networks, outmaneuver rival journalists, and strategically manage your career to increase market share and dominate television ratings. The choices you make directly impact your reputation and influence in this high-stakes media environment.

Investigate and Solve Crimes

Beyond career advancement, your role as a cyber-enhanced journalist immerses you in the darker elements of society. Investigate a series of murders, uncover criminal conspiracies, and expose human trafficking operations. At every step, you face moral decisions: prioritize factual reporting or sensationalism for personal fame. Decide whether to work independently, following your own code of ethics, or adhere strictly to the network’s guidelines. Each decision affects both the storyline and your character’s development, making every playthrough unique.

Challenge Ethical Boundaries

Experience a future-noir setting where ambition and integrity often clash. As a reporter, you must carefully balance the need for captivating stories with ethical responsibility. Determine which facts reach the audience, how they are presented, and whether breaking the rules is worth the potential gain. Your investigative choices, including daring escapes from illegal operations such as underground organ farms, test both your strategic thinking and moral judgment. Successfully airing exclusive footage can cement your place as a top journalist and define the outcome of the Ratings War.

Character Customization and Relationships

Ratings War offers extensive character customization, allowing you to play as male, female, or non-binary. Explore a wide range of interpersonal connections with straight, gay, and bisexual romance options. Develop your character’s personality, professional style, and relational dynamics as you navigate both the competitive newsroom and the dangerous streets of New Angeles. Each relationship and decision shapes the narrative, providing a personalized and dynamic experience for every player.

Key Features

• Fully interactive, choice-driven narrative of 80,000 words.
• Text-based gameplay that engages the imagination without graphics or sound.
• Futuristic setting in dystopian New Angeles, 2061.
• Cybernetic enhancements allow for unique investigative opportunities.
• Complex moral decisions: fame vs. facts, independence vs. network loyalty.
• Investigate murders, uncover conspiracies, and expose criminal enterprises.
• Multiple endings determined by your choices and reporting style.
• Character customization: male, female, or non-binary with diverse romance options.
• Play a future-noir story blending mystery, crime, and corruption.

Experience the Ratings War

Immerse yourself in a thrilling world where every choice counts. Navigate the high-pressure environment of a media empire, tackle investigative challenges, and explore moral dilemmas that will define your career. Ratings War challenges you to become the ultimate journalist in a society where information is power and every broadcast can change the future.

"Ratings War" is a gripping and smart interactive novel that puts you right in the middle of a dark, futuristic world. Your choices really matter, shaping how stories unfold and how your career rises—or falls. If you love stories full of twists, moral dilemmas, and strategy, this game delivers.

It's all text, so don't expect flashy graphics or sound effects. But the writing is strong enough to pull you in and keep your imagination busy. The world feels alive, the characters are compelling, and the branching paths give real replay value.

We recommend "Ratings War" for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking storytelling and tough decisions. It's clever, tense, and satisfying. If you like to think, plan, and explore consequences, this is a game you'll want to play.