VN Ren'Py Chasing Sunsets [v0.9a] [Stone Fox Studios]

[alex13_zen]

Because players need reassurance, so at every opportunity the MC must be ridiculed.... The rape van, the jellyfish, the healing pee

I don't understand your explanation, players need reassurance for what? (I personally liked the scenes you mentioned, they were all in good fun).

I'm mostly trying to understand the in-game character's motivation.

On a meta level, I know writers can make mistakes and have a character act illogically for various reasons (for plot, for laughs, etc). But I don't want to believe I got a game over because of bad writing, so I was wondering if I missed or misunderstood a scene that would logically explain Tanaka's behavior in-game.

 

[ename144]

Why is chef Tanaka so disrespectful in the beginning? It's strange because she later confesses she respected your mother very much.

If I respected someone who then died, I certainly wouldn't be rude towards their still-grieving child (who actually lost both parents).

I avoided Tanaka as much as I could on my Jaye-only playthrough and this has led to a game over in the last chapter. It's also bc I threw Christian offboard myself, but it just felt weird asking my sister to beat up a guy.

This really sucks, I either need to start a game from scratch or change variables which I know from experience can potentially lead to crashes later on

I don't think Tanaka's initial disrespect is entirely unreasonable. She may have respected the MC's mom, but what she knew of the MC is that he bummed his way around the world on his parent's dime. For a driven, no nonsense woman like Tanaka I'm sure that made a terrible first impression - especially when the MC's first proper interaction with her was to hit on her. Once it becomes clear the MC is capable of applying himself, Tanaka warms to him quickly.

That said, I suspect the real reason Tanaka comes on so strong initially is to give the player a sense of accomplishment when we manage to tame her later. Whether it was a good idea to make that path necessary to complete the game (at least under some circumstances) is a separate question.

 

[xCalon]

But I don't want to believe I got a game over because of bad writing, so I was wondering if I missed or misunderstood a scene that would logically explain Tanaka's behavior in-game.

You got a game over because you totally avoid Tanaka, therefore she don't agree to teach defensive techniques to you. In your playthrough in Ch2 your choice was Show Mr. Mendez off the Sunset, and in Ch7 you did not agree to learn defensive techniques from Tanaka. This two variable together cause the Game Over screen.

 

[Nurikabe]

Why is chef Tanaka so disrespectful in the beginning? It's strange because she later confesses she respected your mother very much.

If I respected someone who then died, I certainly wouldn't be rude towards their still-grieving child (who actually lost both parents).

I avoided Tanaka as much as I could on my Jaye-only playthrough and this has led to a game over in the last chapter. It's also bc I threw Christian offboard myself, but it just felt weird asking my sister to beat up a guy.

This really sucks, I either need to start a game from scratch or change variables which I know from experience can potentially lead to crashes later on

What is known about the MC is that he ran away, and now he comes back and is given the family jewels. Mallory has the same low opinion of the MC before spending time with him. A pretty boy who disappeared and, now that his parents are dead, has returned to take the wheel — or the money.

It is only after getting to know him that those around him fall in love and know that he is a stand-up guy. Chef Tanaka comes from a culture where respect is earned.

 

[felicemastronzo]

I don't understand your explanation, players need reassurance for what? (I personally liked the scenes you mentioned, they were all in good fun).

I'm mostly trying to understand the in-game character's motivation.

On a meta level, I know writers can make mistakes and have a character act illogically for various reasons (for plot, for laughs, etc). But I don't want to believe I got a game over because of bad writing, so I was wondering if I missed or misunderstood a scene that would logically explain Tanaka's behavior in-game.

I am speaking in general, I am not from this game. The MC is usually the most criticised character, but it's not a trivial sexual issue, he's often considered the most stupid, the most selfish, unmanly, unconfident, any flaw can be referred to him. And being the only character we can minimally interact with, I don't think it's a coincidence.

If the MC is somehow downsized, put in its place, it is always well received, with a certain enthusiasm.

In this particular case Tanaka is confronted by her employer, whom she does not know, he may be a vindictive asshole, but she goes hard on him without any problems. Then later it takes very little, almost nothing, for her resistance to collapse and she surrenders herself to him.
Both results were brought home...

 

[Cabin Fever]

There is usually one update every 6 months. So, I would say late November or early December.

No. Dev has a publicly stated target of a release every 90 days. Not that they always make it, but that's what they aim for, and more often than not they are fairly close to that target.

 

[alex13_zen]

Chef Tanaka comes from a culture where respect is earned.

Japanese culture is by default one of the most polite in the world. A normal Japanese would have called MC 'san', not fuckboy.

As for having to earn respect: I've worked with some Japanese people and my understanding is that in a way it's easier, not harder to earn respect. E.g. people are more hesitant (than in the West) to contradict their bosses simply because of their higher position and age, not necessarily because of their competence.

 

[Nurikabe]

Japanese culture is by default one of the most polite in the world. A normal Japanese would have called MC 'san', not fuckboy.

As for having to earn respect: I've worked with some Japanese people and my understanding is that in a way it's easier, not harder to earn respect. E.g. people are more hesitant (than in the West) to contradict their bosses simply because of their higher position and age, not necessarily because of their competence.

I meant as a Chef.
Additional info: Probably true regarding the Japanese culture where the name carries a lot of weight. But in this case, look at how she treated him when she was teaching him to cook. Like he was worthless (and he was for comedic purposes). On the gym floor, useless until he proved otherwise. On the deck of the boat when she met him. Just a pretty rich boy.

 

[VaderExMachina]

No. Dev has a publicly stated target of a release every 90 days. Not that they always make it, but that's what they aim for, and more often than not they are fairly close to that target.

source?

 

[alex13_zen]

I meant as a Chef.
Additional info: Probably true regarding the Japanese culture where the name carries a lot of weight. But in this case, look at how she treated him when she was teaching him to cook. Like he was worthless (and he was for comedic purposes). On the gym floor, useless until he proved otherwise. On the deck of the boat when she met him. Just a pretty rich boy.

I've thought about this some more after remembering that Tanaka is perfectly nice to Mallory and Jaye during the breakfast scene. The most logical explanation I can come up with for her behavior towards the MC is that she's upset with him for having hurt Sarah by leaving.

Ofc it's immature or even cruel to punish someone who's still grieving the death of both his parents. And yet we get a game over if we avoid her (because I'd never make the other saving choice of asking my sister to physically attack a bigger man who's also proven to be violent and unstable and would be in self-defense).

 

[Nurikabe]

I've thought about this some more after remembering that Tanaka is perfectly nice to Mallory and Jaye during the breakfast scene. The most logical explanation I can come up with for her behavior towards the MC is that she's upset with him for having hurt Sarah by leaving.

Ofc it's immature or even cruel to punish someone who's still grieving the death of both his parents. And yet we get a game over if we avoid her (because I'd never make the other saving choice of asking my sister to physically attack a bigger man who's also proven to be violent and unstable and would be in self-defense).

That's a good point.

 

[felicemastronzo]

I've thought about this some more after remembering that Tanaka is perfectly nice to Mallory and Jaye during the breakfast scene. The most logical explanation I can come up with for her behavior towards the MC is that she's upset with him for having hurt Sarah by leaving.

Ofc it's immature or even cruel to punish someone who's still grieving the death of both his parents. And yet we get a game over if we avoid her (because I'd never make the other saving choice of asking my sister to physically attack a bigger man who's also proven to be violent and unstable and would be in self-defense).

which, as things turned out, would be yet another bad behaviour by his parents.

because we know very well that in fact Sara didn't suffer so much from MC's decision, and even externally encouraged it (as well as directly causing the rift between her children when they promised to explain to Jaye why Mc was avoiding her if he ever did) by accompanying him from afar on his pilgrimage in search of himself.

was an opportunity to humiliate MC and show Tanaka as a bad ass, the same was done later with Lisa.

 

[Cabin Fever]

source?

This is from the dev's since-deleted account here:

Last question for the day as my plane is landing: There is one linear central plot. There are multiple arcs within that plot, but the arc the player chooses will change how the central plot is resolved. The plan is to execute episodically. The paths open up after the next update.

As for the size and frequency of updates, the rule of thumb is you can have it fast, you can have it right, or you can have it cheap: Pick two.

Joking aside there is a sweet spot between long waits, big updates, and quality every developer ends up compromising on. In my perfect world, we’d release an entire episode every 90 days. The intro took us 120 days with no experience.

I’ll have a better feel for ambition vs reality after Ch1 drops.

90 days is the goal we set for ourselves, and we hit it with Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is a bit more ambitious in art and story, but we'll do our best to stay on target.

 

[Nurikabe]

Well, that was over two years ago.

 

[ename144]

This is from the dev's since-deleted account here:

As much as the devs may want 90 day development cycles, that isn't the reality. Based on digging through their Patreon release dates, they've only hit the 90 day mark once, and the last three updates have topped 150 days.

Spoiler: Chasing Sunsets Release Times

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I'd be very surprised if the next chapter came out before October.

Mind you, none of this should be taken as complaint. It takes time to make a high quality game, especially in the later chapters when there are a lot of variables to account for. Chasing Sunsets is a very high quality game (my personal nits notwithstanding) and the development time is justified. But there's no point in pretending the time is shorter than it is.

 

[Elduriel]

As much as the devs may want 90 day development cycles, that isn't the reality. Based on digging through their Patreon release dates, they've only hit the 90 day mark once, and the last three updates have topped 150 days.

Spoiler: Chasing Sunsets Release Times

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

I'd be very surprised if the next chapter came out before October.

Mind you, none of this should be taken as complaint. It takes time to make a high quality game, especially in the later chapters when there are a lot of variables to account for. Chasing Sunsets is a very high quality game (my personal nits notwithstanding) and the development time is justified. But there's no point in pretending the time is shorter than it is.

6 months isn't even that long, there are other similar quality games with even longer dev cycles... it's out when it's out, it's gonna be good regardless

 

[Mike Hunt TG]

Does anyone know what VN do the brother/sister couple that Jaye and the MC come from? I love how there is so much cross referencing between devs and VNs. I also noticed Lexi in the shop at one point.

 

[Metal Panic]

Does anyone know what VN do the brother/sister couple that Jaye and the MC come from?

Did you mean to ask, where do the brother/sister couple that Jaye and MC meet come from?

The only crossover names I could find with searching is, Summer Scent, Artemis and Leap of Faith

 

[PaxHadrian17]

I've thought about this some more after remembering that Tanaka is perfectly nice to Mallory and Jaye during the breakfast scene. The most logical explanation I can come up with for her behavior towards the MC is that she's upset with him for having hurt Sarah by leaving.

Ofc it's immature or even cruel to punish someone who's still grieving the death of both his parents. And yet we get a game over if we avoid her (because I'd never make the other saving choice of asking my sister to physically attack a bigger man who's also proven to be violent and unstable and would be in self-defense).

I took the Chef Tanaka intro scene a different way.

Jaye is always busting the MC's chops - his boy band looks etc. I figured that she, with Mallory playing along, told Chef Tanaka a bit about the MC and effectively set him up to be shut down by Chef Tanaka.

That's something my sisters would do to me to keep me humble, especially at that age.

It never crossed my mind that Chef Tanaka was intentionally being cruel to the MC - only that she was predisposed to see him as just another guy trying to score with the hot Asian on the fancy yacht - something I think she's seen before...

There are two paths to success versus the assassin - and training with Chef Tanaka in self-defense is one of the ways that helps you to survive.

I appreciate that the story included another path to survive.

If the MC chose to let Jaye handle Christian - then he knows that she is capable of defending herself against a normal opponent.

This assassin is someone who is Not a normal opponent, and the MC is smart enough to recognize that he might not be up to the task to defeat him solo.

From a pragmatic perspective (and that is how I view this choice), if the assassin wins - we all die (MC, Jaye and Mallory) - so the odds of survival increase if he has two opponents to worry about, especially if one is female - who he is likely to discount compared to the MC.

Would I Want to put Jaye in harms way - No - but if I thought it was the only way she might survive - then Yes - and the MC would be right there with her, taking that risk.

Cheers!

 

[alex13_zen]

6 months isn't even that long, there are other similar quality games with even longer dev cycles... it's out when it's out, it's gonna be good regardless

Thinking like this helps the devs push releases ever further apart which they definitely want: not only do they make more money with a longer dev time, but they also don't need to work as hard daily (or hire an extra person to help).

If other devs make the same mistake it doesn't mean we should encourage it, we should try to keep them honest.

Also, as players, we tend to lose touch with the characters and story after so much time. I definitely care less after 6 months compared to 3 and I doubt I'm alone.