|
Have you played this game?You can rate this game, record that you've played it, or put it on your wish list after you log in. |
Playlists and Wishlists |
RSS Feeds![]() ![]() ![]() |
About the StoryA cantankerous ex-cop calls in a favor from his old partner.Game Details
Language: English (en)
First Publication Date: October 20, 2014 Current Version: 1 License: Freeware Development System: Inform 7 Forgiveness Rating: Merciful IFID: 3AED9C48-9311-439E-845F-CA9F20C07102 TUID: wfvywkf14yxjatmm Sequel to Taco Fiction, by Ryan Veeder |
Editorial Reviews
Emily Short's Interactive Storytelling
Dial C for Cupcakes (Ryan Veeder)
Dial C for Cupcakes is a short parser-based game (45-60 minutes of play time, probably) with gentle puzzles. It’s a sequel to his comp-winning previous work Taco Fiction, but it plays fine even if you don’t remember all the details of that game, or didn’t play it to start with. It’s light and fluffy without being uproarious, and makes for a nice Halloween treat... (more)
See the full review
Tags
Member Reviews
| Average Rating: ![]() Number of Reviews: 4 Write a review |
Most Helpful Member Reviews


The writing is polished and creative, but somehow it never clicked for me. The game seemed kind of slow.
The puzzles are well-done, letting the PCs motivations lead instead of the player's.
Overall, a pleasant snack.

I came across this work first, then later played Taco Fiction to compare. The two are not related in any meaningful way, so perhaps it's not really appropriate to think of Dial C for Cupcakes as a sequel. Certainly, this piece works well on a standalone basis.
The first act of the story seems almost conscientiously designed around exercising some of the latest features of Inform 7, specifically the ability to do floating point math and to switch the perspective and tense of rendered text. Once the exposition is done, however, it settles into a more typical style of interaction, in a scenario that poses the question: Just how far are you willing to go for friendship, justice, and/or frosting?
The second act is well-paced and entertaining, and it does a good job of demonstrating how careful design of NPC interaction can provide an appropriate level of satisfaction to the player without demanding too much from the author.
With a semi-realistic setting and a story that gives license to be somewhat mischievous, this is one of those pieces that probably has broad enough appeal to hold the interest of casual mainstream players -- or even those new to interactive fiction. I'll be adding it to my short list of recommended pieces for those just trying IF, and I would definitely point it out as a great seasonal piece around Halloween. While it might not quite be kid-safe (since an understanding of certain adult motivations is necessary to complete the story), it's certainly no worse than PG.
See All 4 Member Reviews
If you enjoyed Dial C for Cupcakes...
Related Games
People who like Dial C for Cupcakes also gave high ratings to these games:Dual Transform, by Andrew Plotkin Average member rating: ![]() This game takes place in a single room — but not always the same one. The room contains just one item, but again, there's more to it than that. Experiment and enjoy. |
The Paper Bag Princess, by Adri Average member rating: ![]() Princess Elizabeth is about to marry the love of her life when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps her betrothed. Based on a book of the same name by Robert Munsch, with permission. |
The Ballad of Johnny Croak, by Harry Tuffs, Failbetter Games Average member rating: ![]() A string of horrible murders strikes London, made all the more horrid by their permanence. Who is Johnny Croak, the legendary urchin with the lethal crossbow? What’s his connection to Mr Fires' factories? And what's with all the frogs? |
Polls
The following polls include votes for Dial C for Cupcakes:Fun Halloween Games! by bluevelvetwings
There are already polls for good horror games, and there are quite a few good ones on this site. But I'm looking for ones that fit the side of "spooky" but not "terrifying" - things that make you giggle nervously at the scares, but don't...
Games for Beginners by WriterBob
I'm looking for games that are suited for adults who are new to IF. My purpose is to share these games with friends and let them get experience IF without being frustrated by mazes or guess-the-verb issues. Please avoid children's games....
I'm looking for Easter Eggs.. by morganthegirl
I'm somewhat new to IF and was wondering if Easter Eggs are ever hidden in these games as they are in others? If so, which games have them? If there a lot of them, then which ones are the "best"?
This is version 7 of this page, edited by Ryan Veeder on 10 November 2020 at 8:30pm. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item