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By the way, it doesn't matter if there are people who skip the minigames... the game will be more complete and that will be better, since for most being only one vn seems not to be enough. Then it will be seen if people value it by giving good support for that "extra effort", the important thing is not to have anything to reproach yourself for having done everything that could be done.
Yeah, that makes sense to me. I used to be a VN purist, but after playing like 300+ of them, I definitely see value in some small activities/mini-games, even if they are basic.
 
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JohnF95zone

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Okay, I was saying that pure based on ROI ( return of investment ), as a capitalist, economist, corporation:p. If you develop something that end up not being used by the majority since they can skip it and they will skip it, it is a waste of time for you, the developer. That time would have been better used for other contents. But I agree that it is not a completely and total waste of time too.

Anyway, I just remembered another game that has simple, predictable and yet interesting battle system, MIST. Probably check this one first. What is even interesting is the developer, Theo created the renders and animations using Blender. So, the battle system, the player can use inventory items like kinfe, machete, axe, gun or shotgun. There is primary and secondary weapons. Gun and shotgun has limited ammo per fight ( but players will not run out of ammo ). Probably if player used gun or shotgun, the loud noise will attract other enemies around the vicinity compared to let say using axe. Depending on the type of enemies and MC's 'level', player can predict how many shots and/or melee attacks to kill the enemies. Enemies can e just one or up to 4 ( 4 rounds of battle ). MC won't be dead if loosing a battle but wounded, loose the loot and experience gain for the day, loose the next day because he will be resting for the rest of the day. Additionally, the MC will have 'superpower' that he can shoot 'lightning bolt' from his hand, however it will accelerate an 'infection' or corruption withing himself. The cure for that 'infection' or corruption is sex:sneaky:. Pretty much every player wants that.
 
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JohnF95zone

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I'm still puzzled by the way how this game, Summertime Saga can garner 25K patrons? Or how this VN game, My Pig Princess can garner over 4K patrons? What A Legend, nearly 2K patrons. Our Red String, 2.3K patrons.

Best performing Honey Select adult Ren'Py VN games, Eternum has 4.6K patrons, Harem Hotel has 5.3K patrons, A House In The Rift has 1.8K patrons.

On the other hand, best performing Daz adult Ren'Py games, Desert Stalker only has 1.7K patrons, City Of Broken Dreamers has only 2.1K patrons. Most reputable Daz projects average around 1 ~ 1.5K patrons. The only exception is DPC with 12K patrons.

NLT Media has 14K patrons, but their games are RPGM-based. Complete list can be found .

If anyone carefully study these games and developers, then they can probably figure out the secret formula of creating commercially success adult games:D. There is one notable mention, one game I forgot its name, wasn't really good but due to good PR, marketing campaign and advertisements, it is really doing well on Steam.

Honestly, these data don't mean anything to me because I don't make game. I also only played games that interest me, even if the game doesn't have Patreon, it was just a hobby that the developer make in his spare time. I don't really care about its rating or popularity.
 

Deleted member 2282952

Developing I SCREAM
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Phew, I finally finished my backlog at work, which I was ignoring for way too long.

Big update regarding the game is coming soon. I finished fixing the renders of first 4 Scenes (as you can see from new screenshots on the first page).

I also briefly lost my Patreon subscriber, thought I did something bad, but he came back xD And already 150 wishlists on Steam! Without even having a demo! Big news are coming, I just need to get some sleep...

And now, for the missed messages... [going one by one]

Okay, I was saying that pure based on ROI ( return of investment ), as a capitalist, economist, corporation:p
Ah, a fellow capitalist, I see... The only thing you kinda overestimate is the effort, coding these mini-games is painfully easy, especially in Python.

Anyway, I just remembered another game that has simple, predictable and yet interesting battle system, MIST. Probably check this one first. What is even interesting is the developer, Theo created the renders and animations using Blender. So, the battle system, the player can use inventory items...
Heeh, I quite like itt. It is still pretty basic (mostly a question of how to do it nicely in rendering, rather than code). I don't like the unlimited resources part, bullets should definitely be limited.

Yes... Holy shit, that's a pretty good battle system that relates to the story. I wouldn't want to overcomplicate it, probably smth like - you have a gun and 10 bullets in chapter 1, spend them wisely, if not use knife or fists, which has some negative impact on the story. Then you can use superpowers (that all Chimeras have), but overusing them results in things like revealing it to the characters, [some spoilers], etc.

The question would be how to make it mechanically more interesting and challenging.

I'm still puzzled by the way how this game, Summertime Saga can garner 25K patrons? Or how this VN game, My Pig Princess can garner over 4K patrons? What A Legend, nearly 2K patrons. Our Red String, 2.3K patrons. Best performing Honey Select adult Ren'Py VN games, Eternum has 4.6K patrons, Harem Hotel has 5.3K patrons, A House In The Rift has 1.8K patrons.
Give me demographic data and I will tell you exactly why! Based on my industry experience, I see a couple of options:

1) 2D art is sexier and more appealing to paying userbase
2) Daz-based game devs are worse in marketing (unlikely)
3) 2D games are faster to download and access, and reference Japanese culture, specifically, young age
4) 3D games are less appealing to casual adult gaming community

On the other hand, best performing Daz adult Ren'Py games, Desert Stalker only has 1.7K patrons, City Of Broken Dreamers has only 2.1K patrons. Most reputable Daz projects average around 1 ~ 1.5K patrons. The only exception is DPC with 12K patrons.
Depraved Awakening and City of Broken Dreamers are top of adult gaming imo, and the direction I'm going for as well, but a bit more cinematically (more action to sex)

If anyone carefully study these games and developers, then they can probably figure out the secret formula of creating commercially success adult games...
Impossible to analyze Patreon subs due to the lack of available personal Data. If more adult games were to be published on Steam, possible to collect more, but Patreon is the thing that really makes adult games viable (in my slowly growing experience in the space, still learning), so the data would be incomplete.

In the last thing you mentioned, I consider that the "luck" factor also plays its role with this type of game.
It's all luck xD

Small opinion, I think this logo is better (it looks more aesthetic and detailed)
The logo was bad, I was just really short on time :D. This is the final draft I settled for now, after a lot of typesetting:

Library Logo.png

Why do I always go for lowercase letters...

FunDi I leave you a gif format for the patreon profile background (I don't know if it accepts the gif format, I guess not video format), maybe you like it
Yoo, coolm thanks! That version was temporary, though xD I always enjoyed glitch effects, it adds certain 'sci-finess' to noir.

I settled on branding so this will be the poster I will be going with for now:

Poster - 8 faces.png

I have also redesigned some characters because they ended up looking not that great when I tested some renders, pretty happy with the diversity of characters now.

Anyways, will be sending a more official update soon.

___
And maybe will work on the battle system. There are two moments in the Demo where you drive to a location, maybe two battles & checking documentation mini-games in between. Doesn't sound bad... The demo just keeps expanding, but whatever xD

Thanks all!
 

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Ideas for the fighting style you mentioned...
Appreciate the thoughts, this will go straight to my spreadsheet! Been brainstorming, and couple of your points align with what I was thinking about.

Just recovered from a sickness, so need to get back into the production mode -.-

And now, for the update...
 

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Game Development Update: Game Overhaul Completed!

31_KiriShot_Camera (2)_QHD.png

Hey all!

I'm back after getting pretty sick and ready to share some exciting news with you all. Let's jump right into it with some quick bullet points and visuals to keep things clear and concise:
  • The entire game has undergone a successful re-rendering process. Scenes 1-4 are now completed, and scenes 5-7 are currently in development. Here's a sneak peek at some of the updated visuals:



  • I'm thrilled to announce that we've reached 170 wishlists on Steam! Thank you all!
  • The game has received a brand-new look and logo. We've embraced a vibrant 'neon red wine' palette for our branding, while in-game visuals will feature striking, contrasted colors that reflect different stages of the game. Check out these examples:

  • Get ready for even more captivating animations! With a lot more coming!


  • I've also made significant improvements to the writing quality by utilizing local uncensored GPT models with full context about the game. This has allowed for deep rewrites and a much better reading experience.
  • Upgrading my hardware to an RTX 3090 has been a game-changer. I can now run three different render queues simultaneously, utilizing my laptop (RTX 2070), PC #1 (GTX 1080 Ti), and PC #2 (Evga RTX 3090). This has significantly improved my workflow, although my room is feeling a bit toasty!
  • For the tech enthusiasts out there, I've optimized the game's storage requirements by downsizing it from UHD to HD scale. This has reduced the space needed by a whopping 80% without significant drop in quality for large interfaces. The images will be rendered at QHD, downsampled using AI to HD, and post-processed in Photoshop.
  • I started developing additional mechanics for the game such as checking the documents of Chimeras (Papers Please sort of game), some stoppable mini-games, and the fight system. All of those are secondary, but important for the game to have diverse content.
That's all for now! I wanted to give you a clear update on the progress we've made.

Warm Regards,
FunDi Games
 

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This looks and sounds insanely promising, can't wait to see how it turns out!
I keep delaying and redoing things because people say it looks promising, which sometimes might translate into "such a promising game wasted" xD Definitely learned a lot of skills in a relatively short time.

I would say visuals & music/sound are where I want it to be, but I am taking it slow with text and some additional mechanics so that the demo has enough features to show it is not a pure novel.

Thanks and stay tuned!
 
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Rapid Progress Report - The Completion of Scene 5 is Within Sight

Hey everyone, just popping in with an update - Scene 5 is coming along well, currently sitting at about 70% done. I started taking things slower to regain some energy. It was a good choice, I feel a lot more creative.

This is the part where we dive into "The Inquisition." It's a bit of a turn from the earlier scenes as we start to tread into darker waters. Here, you'll start to run into bigger clusters of characters, which means a whole lot more interaction and dynamics to navigate.

Remember, though, the choices you've been making will start showing consequences. Depending on which faction you've been siding with and how you've been shaping your character, some doors might be closing while others open.

As for Scenes 1-4, those are all wrapped up and looking good. Now I just need to deal with the not-so-exciting job of copying and pasting the finalized text into the game engine. Tried to get GPT-4 to help out, but it seems like it's not too keen on admin tasks.

07_FacesAss_Camera (2)_HD.png
09_LibraryStare_Camera_HD.png
14_TalkCont_Camera (2)_HD.png
19_LilySaya_Camera_HD.png
19_LilySaya_Camera (3)_HD.png

Anyway, that's about it for now. Thanks for sticking around and being part of this. You're the best! More updates are coming your way soon.

Patreon Post:
 

JohnF95zone

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In the first image, while the room is very well lit, somehow there is 'big' shadow over the face of the 2 females:unsure:.
The rest are looking good.
It is not a big deal because none of the major important views are hidden, but I rather curious how it came to be.
I would thought that the female faces are like highlight of SFW scenes like that.
Probably it is to add 'mystery' vibe, or artistic touch/technique that I am not aware of:unsure:.
 

Deleted member 2282952

Developing I SCREAM
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In the first image, while the room is very well lit, somehow there is 'big' shadow over the face of the 2 females:unsure:.
The rest are looking good.
It is not a big deal because none of the major important views are hidden, but I rather curious how it came to be.
I would thought that the female faces are like highlight of SFW scenes like that.
Probably it is to add 'mystery' vibe, or artistic touch/technique that I am not aware of:unsure:.
It is indeed an artistic technique. Called bad lighting! Will fix, good catch, it looked fine on my UHD screen. Once I get some money flowing, I will immediately hire a lighting person - it takes so long to make light inside the buildings x_X

Also, GPT-4 finally works to substitute text straight into the engine. I can finally write text on GDocs and then run GPT to add/replace it automatically, thank the lord.

Edit: Zeus summons lightning, I make lighting, who made up those words?
 
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JohnF95zone

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It is indeed an artistic technique. Called bad lightning! Will fix, good catch, it looked fine on my UHD screen. Once I get some money flowing, I will immediately hire a lightning person - it takes so long to make light inside the buildings x_X
Yeah, good luck in hiring Zeus God of Thunder ( and Lightning probably ), not sure if he accepts Canadian Dollar or even American Dollar, he probably prefer Australian Dollar though:ROFLMAO::p.

Sorry, I'm just joking:LOL:, had that same mistakes myself a few times before:HideThePain:. No worry though because I think everyone that reads the post understands it, even with typos.
 

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Developing I SCREAM
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Yeah, good luck in hiring Zeus God of Thunder ( and Lightning probably ), not sure if he accepts Canadian Dollar or even American Dollar, he probably prefer Australian Dollar though:ROFLMAO::p.

Sorry, I'm just joking:LOL:, had that same mistakes myself a few times before:HideThePain:. No worry though because I think everyone that reads the post understands it, even with typos.
I thought Zeus was some sort of a lighting person at the forum, and it took me a while to figure it out xD That's what happens if you go to a forum on one screen, watch some show on the other, and work on the third!

I'm pretty sure Zeus would only accept the Euro, Greece is in the EU after all...
 
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Updates & Demo Announcement: This Sunday (I hope, lol)

Hey everyone, been a while!

Just dropping by to give you an update. Let's start with important stuff:
  • I got myself a second cat!
  • I've almost 100% Cyberpunk!
No worries, I've been wasting only my real job time, not the game development :D But alright, let's move on to the good stuff, our game!

I've finally bitten the bullet and set a date for the demo - it will be around this Sunday if I can keep up the pace.

Honestly, I've been adding so much additional content into the demo that I'm losing track. So, I reckon it's about time to put something out there, get your feedback, and make sure I'm not just creating a game that only I find cool.



I've added an additional character to the demo - Luna, a Chimera with mafia ties. The mafia has a special license from the inquisition since they help in hunting down rogue Chimeras and traitors. So, yeah, Luna's a badass, and I wanted to make sure you get to meet her in the demo.





As of now, the demo has about 250 renders, and a ton of divergent gameplay paths. The writing style is a weird blend of a dark metaphorical language that I love, but I've tried to keep it from being too cringe or tough for non-native speakers to follow. It's a balancing act, and it's still a work in progress.

11_Clothing_Camera (2)_HD.png

I'm still cranking out animations and adding fun sandbox elements to the game, to give you all a taste of the fun stuff that's coming. If everything keeps rolling along as it has been, I think we're on track for that Sunday/Monday release. Also, keep an eye out for the new trailer that's in the works.

Thanks for tuning in! I'm stoked to share what I've been working on with you all. Let's get this show on the road!

I'm kinda nervous x_X

And yes, there are still a bunch of things where I need to go back, improve some lights, etc.

Warm Regards,
FunDi Games.
 

JohnF95zone

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I got myself a second cat!
You need to get your priorities right then, your first cat should come first, your second cat second, Chimera: Bloodlines third and yourself fourth:p:ROFLMAO: /just kidding my friend

Anyway, good to hear that the beginning of the end is upon us very soon TM, just take as much time as needed. Everything that had worked on so far, are valuable assets to you even if it won't made into the Demo. Cheers!
 

Deleted member 2282952

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You need to get your priorities right then, your first cat should come first, your second cat second, Chimera: Bloodlines third and yourself fourth:p:ROFLMAO: /just kidding my friend

Anyway, good to hear that the beginning of the end is upon us very soon TM, just take as much time as needed. Everything that had worked on so far, are valuable assets to you even if it won't made into the Demo. Cheers!
Oh man, it's only been a week, and they can't spend more than 10 minutes without breaking out in a fight, which I of course have to stop quickly, destroying my productivity xD

My priority in life has been clear from childhood: 1) girls, 2) cats, 3) games, 4) friends, 5) whatever

I also finally spent some time going over this forum and "borrowed" a couple of good case practices from aesthetically good games. Especially when it comes to text and image animations.

It also made me realize that my code structure is pretty good lol, almost everyone I saw just has a huge RenPy file with all text in it, must be tough to navigate.

Side note, I've come to the sad realization that I've already played most of the good games on this forum and can't find anything to just enjoy. Long Live the Princess looks cool tho.
 
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JohnF95zone

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Oh man, it's only been a week, and they can't spend more than 10 minutes without breaking out in a fight, which I of course have to stop quickly, destroying my productivity xD
:ROFLMAO:Haha yeah, they say cats and dogs are pretty bad ( they 'fight' each other ) but same with cats and cats, which is why typically any new addition is 'quarantined/separated' from each other until they are very familiar with each other scent I think. Anyway, congrats on the new family member:love:.

My priority in life has been clear from childhood: 1) girls, 2) cats, 3) games, 4) friends, 5) whatever
Spot on!

I also finally spent some time going over this forum and "borrowed" a couple of good case practices from aesthetically good games. Especially when it comes to text and image animations.

It also made me realize that my code structure is pretty good lol, almost everyone I saw just has a huge RenPy file with all text in it, must be tough to navigate.
That's great! Structuring code early is a very good indication how experienced a developer is and that this is going to be for the long haul. When I see game that just has a single script file, it is as if the developer is not really sure where his/her game is going, but it is understandable for first time, noob or beginner developers.

Side note, I've come to the sad realization that I've already played most of the good games on this forum and can't find anything to just enjoy. Long Live the Princess looks cool tho.
:ROFLMAO:First world problem, no solution in sight, or is it? Probably because it is not released yet:sneaky:.
 

Deleted member 2282952

Developing I SCREAM
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That's great! Structuring code early is a very good indication how experienced a developer is and that this is going to be for the long haul. When I see game that just has a single script file, it is as if the developer is not really sure where his/her game is going, but it is understandable for first time, noob or beginner developers.
Don't get me wrong, structure is the only thing I have going for me, what I neglected to mention is that my optimization isn't the greatest... It would be funny to see when someone opens my code and sees the spaghetti ways I built my custom choice systems and various status checks for dialogues :D

The way I built my Chimerapad is another story altogether. It's the sort of thing that makes sense to me, but show it to someone else they'll be like - what the hell is that??

It seems like all experienced devs have some magical way to do image loading and management to save space, but it's kinda a hassle to figure this out for the demo.

:ROFLMAO:First world problem, no solution in sight, or is it? Probably because it is not released yet:sneaky:.
It's really hard to enjoy your own games cause you replay the scenes like hundred times xD

Like just now, finished another very slow playthrough to find bugs - and for the first time I thought - damn, it ain't that shitty anymore.

Side ramble, for my real job, I'm currently developing an AR game - and holy shit, there is nothing more tedious to test than the damn AR games, especially if they are supposed to be played outside but you test in the apartment... Game dev life.
 
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JohnF95zone

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Just a heads up, Eternum 0.6 is released today, which will probably be leaked soonTM, and members on this site go bananas when it does, so 'no one' will most likely pay any attention to other games during the ~10 days of release:HideThePain:. Some providers of cloud storage also reportedly suffered higher than usual traffic during such time:p.

Just take that into consideration when determining when is the right time to release. On the other hand, it is also a good opportunity to 'promote' your game without promoting simply by making posts on that game thread for example:whistle:.