VN Ren'Py The Roommate [v0.11.03] [togs]

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

kevcolqaz said:
Maybe he should have made the game simpler and that way this schedule, phone, and horny meter fucks up the game, this way the dev can concentrate on the character renders and story, which would make fewer bugs and just give a simpler path where lover of harem or corruption path, or solo path.

I think complexity is fine, if it also has depth. It's this depth that I'm missing. There's no real communication, it seems we have to pick LI based on what they do, or how they look, not who they are.

If I had to rate the game at this point, it wouldn't be more than 2 stars. Mostly because it plays like a sandbox game without the sandbox.

kevcolqaz · Feb 21, 2024

Quetzzz said:
I think complexity is fine, if it also has depth. It's this depth that I'm missing. There's no real communication, it seems we have to pick LI based on what they do, or how they look, not who they are.

If I had to rate the game at this point, it wouldn't be more than 2 stars. Mostly because it plays like a sandbox game without the sandbox.

Yeah sure the complexity is fine, but this game has many errors and the choices don't matter because the game has too many bugs that combine the routes and make the game harder for the devs to continue, he might want to start into a simpler game in his first try and then go for more complexity with next project.

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

kevcolqaz said:
Yeah sure the complexity is fine, but this game has many errors and the choices don't matter because the game has too many bugs that combine the routes and make the game harder for the devs to continue, he might want to start into a simpler game in his first try and then go for more complexity with next project.

Oh right, yeah, I can agree with that. I did think the whole "I want it so complex that it's impossible to create a WT" was either inexperience or hubris (seeing how trivial it is to read the code)

At the same time, I appreciate that the player has 2 or 3 chances to get on Kari's route before she starts whoring. It's rare to see this in an AVN.

gregers · Feb 21, 2024

Quetzzz said:
Edit: It seems like the Karaoke evening is a mess in general. I didn't hire Bree or Kayla, yet they're still there. Also, no idea who Rei is.

Everyone turns up for the karaoke night regardless. In-fiction, the reasoning is that even if the MC doesn't hire them, they may still work elsewhere in the company, or in the case of the two young ones, still be living at the Foundation-run orphanage, so they're part of the general orbit. Same thing with the Saturday barbecue.

Outside the fiction, it's to save the dev from having to make too many variations on the group scenes by just assuming a core group will always be hanging around.

Rei is one of the two young Foundation girls from the job interviews (Kayla's the other one). They're obviously unqualified, but the MC can bring one of them on as interns.

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

gregers said:
Rei is one of the two young Foundation girls from the job interviews (Kayla's the other one). They're obviously unqualified, but the MC can bring one of them on as interns.

Thanks for the reminder! I'm fine with everyone showing up, but the dev/writer could've explained it in a few lines. For instance, I wouldn't be surprised if Aria was friends with the teens, or they kept in touch. Sure, there would be quite a few variations, but that's by the dev"s own doing.

jI11jaCksjAkk · Feb 21, 2024

kevcolqaz said:
Maybe he should have made the game simpler and that way this schedule, phone, and horny meter fucks up the game, this way the dev can concentrate on the character renders and story, which would make fewer bugs and just give a simpler path where lover of harem or corruption path, or solo path.

I definitely get GoT vibes with this game in that it feels like the story hit a roadblock a while back, and instead of pushing through it a bunch of mechanics gimmicks and sudden inexplicable character changes were thrown in as distractions. This was once one of my top games, but I'm not sure I will play again until it is completed, and even then it will probably wait until there is a lull in updates from games that are holding my interest better. Oh well. There are 8 billion games out there, so some of them are bound to get better as they go and some not so much. And which are which depends entirely on who you ask because we all like different things.

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

jI11jaCksjAkk said:
I definitely get GoT vibes with this game in that it feels like the story hit a roadblock a while back, and instead of pushing through it a bunch of mechanics gimmicks and sudden inexplicable character changes were thrown in as distractions. This was once one of my top games, but I'm not sure I will play again until it is completed, and even then it will probably wait until there is a lull in updates from games that are holding my interest better. Oh well. There are 8 billion games out there, so some of them are bound to get better as they go and some not so much. And which are which depends entirely on who you ask because we all like different things.

I don't mean to be facetious... but what story? I'd love this game if it actually had a story and character growth. Right now it plays like an algamation of side stories.

I do think the game would be helped by less gamification and more story. That the MC can jerk off invalidates the whole horny-system. I've used the phone twice, only could call Kiki and got the same convo twice. Why we can't reconsider Kari for a secretary job is beyond me. Seems it's whore or nothing, in her case.

Concerning Kari, I don't think it goed against her character. She does give her reason: "you don't want me so why would you care". The issue here (I think) is that we never really get a chance to know her. The only side I saw was her trying to manipulate the MC using her body. Would've loved her using her brain instead.

SlapE · Feb 21, 2024

Quetzzz said:
Seems it's whore or nothing, in her case.

Well this just isn't true, working at a bar with a short skirt and top showing cleavage as the work uniform, doesn't make her a whore. I mean I can understand people's perspective not being a fan of this, however, it doesn't make her a "whore". Sure, she doesn't need to work there, because her boyfriend whom she lives with is super rich and already takes care of her. Though, she's an adult and can make her own decisions, if the player isn't happy with this, it would be nice if togs added an option to end the relationship with her after finding out she will keep working there. (I don't believe there's an option to at least)

That's the main issue with this game, is making choices without context and having very little control of future elements that we as players aren't privy to. I know not everything can be a choice, but when something is controversial, and we done made a choice in the past that leads us to this controversial thing, that we had no way to foresee, it can feel shitty. That's why with anything that is widely or commonly seen as controversial, it's best to: A. make it optional entirely, or B. give proper context to certain choices that can lead to something seen as controversial, that way players can make informed decisions to avoid seeing such content.

This is just my perspective, if the dev decides to keep making these vague or confusing choices, and/or giving lack of context to certain choices and such, that's his call. I mean my interest in the game has been waning, though I do still play it. I'm just hoping it doesn't get to a point where I lose interest completely, because I do like certain aspects of the game a lot.

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

SlapE said:
Well this just isn't true, working at a bar with a short skirt and top showing cleavage as the work uniform, doesn't make her a whore.

No it doesn't, I didn't say that either. But accepting money for a blowjob does. When you catch her doing this, there are 3 options. One will have you talk sense into her, the other option will make her describe her pricing, including gangbangs, you can pay her $100 for a fuck. The 3rd option will have her say that this blowjob was the first time she did something like this, and the MC will consider hiring her for events. (It's possible I'm mixing up a few options in the dialog tree, but that's the gist of it.)
(NB: She won't do this if you're in a relationship with her.)

SlapE said:
This is just my perspective, if the dev decides to keep making these vague or confusing choices, and/or giving lack of context to certain choices and such, that's his call. I mean my interest in the game has been waning, though I do still play it. I'm just hoping it doesn't get to a point where I lose interest completely, because I do like certain aspects of the game a lot.

Right, with enough characterization, players can predict how someone will react given a situation. When Kari moves out and whores herself out to put money on the table, that's a decision that undermines the whole friendship with the MC. There's no lead-up to it, no way for the MC to prevent it (like offering her an actual job instead of an internship. He's been finding ways to provide for the most random of people, but not for a friend like her.)

SlapE · Feb 21, 2024

Quetzzz said:
No it doesn't, I didn't say that either. But accepting money for a blowjob does. When you catch her doing this, there are 3 options. One will have you talk sense into her, the other option will make her describe her pricing, including gangbangs, you can pay her $100 for a fuck. The 3rd option will have her say that this blowjob was the first time she did something like this, and the MC will consider hiring her for events. (It's possible I'm mixing up a few options in the dialog tree, but that's the gist of it.)
(NB: She won't do this if you're in a relationship with her.)

Right, with enough characterization, players can predict how someone will react given a situation. When Kari moves out and whores herself out to put money on the table, that's a decision that undermines the whole friendship with the MC. There's no lead-up to it, no way for the MC to prevent it (like offering her an actual job instead of an internship. He's been finding ways to provide for the most random of people, but not for a friend like her.)

I just misunderstood you, I thought you meant in general, not on the specific path. I do agree that giving the player an option to hire her for some position, not even necessarily for his company, would have been a much better approach imo.

Quetzzz · Feb 21, 2024

SlapE said:
I just misunderstood you, I thought you meant in general, not on the specific path. I do agree that giving the player an option to hire her for some position, not even necessarily for his company, would have been a much better approach imo.

Yeah, that's what I meant with "whore or nothing", though I agree that I should've been more specific about the path I'm on.

Early on there was a hint of a story about getting the board to approve higher pay and/or the city bonus for interns. Even after that HR chick returned, it was never mentioned again. I was assuming that Kari got the bonus after the predator was fired, and that living for free with the MC + her 2nd job would've enabled her to build up her savings.

On a sidenote, seeing what Kari did at the bar, how patrons are offered sexual services, makes me reconsider the investment I made. My MC footed the entire bill of 500k for taking over the bar & renovations... In return, he only wanted 40% of the shares, with another 40% going to the 38GG and then 1% each for every employee. Meaning he gave away 300k, including 5k in shares to Kari, and she repays him by turning it into a whorehouse.
This makes me even less inclined to give Kari a shot on a next playthrough because I'm assuming this behavior is part of her character regardless of path. There's an inconsiderate nymph in there who'll act out if the MC wrongs them.

SlapE · Feb 21, 2024

Quetzzz said:
Yeah, that's what I meant with "whore or nothing", though I agree that I should've been more specific about the path I'm on.

Early on there was a hint of a story about getting the board to approve higher pay and/or the city bonus for interns. Even after that HR chick returned, it was never mentioned again. I was assuming that Kari got the bonus after the predator was fired, and that living for free with the MC + her 2nd job would've enabled her to build up her savings.

On a sidenote, seeing what Kari did at the bar, how patrons are offered sexual services, makes me reconsider the investment I made. My MC footed the entire bill of 500k for taking over the bar & renovations... In return, he only wanted 40% of the shares, with another 40% going to the 38GG and then 1% each for every employee. Meaning he gave away 300k, including 5k in shares to Kari, and she repays him by turning it into a whorehouse.
This makes me even less inclined to give Kari a shot on a next playthrough because I'm assuming this behavior is part of her character regardless of path. There's an inconsiderate nymph in there who'll act out if the MC wrongs them.

I know that her whoring herself out didn't really make sense considering her character, it was definitely non-sensical. However, she definitely isn't like that regardless of path (as someone who is on her GF path), which makes it even more surprising. This is also why I never view a character or base my opinions of a character on a path I don't even play, to me it exists separately. In some cases, I've even seen devs say specifically that routes are independent from one another and are basically different realities altogether. The difference is, is that the dev usually makes the differences in characterization make sense, in the case of this game, the dev has failed to make it sensical.

SonsOfLiberty · Feb 21, 2024

The Roommate [v0.10.09] [togs]

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