Ren'Py A Family Venture [v0.09 V1 Beta] [WillTylor]

[Lookingforthis]

Guess we have different preferences. This seems like the creator tried to make a sandbox game but couldn't be bothered to actually code all sort of outcomes and possibilities so just slaps your hand when you try to do something he didn't finish.

I...have you actually played adventure games before? Like, at all?

The reason why it feels like an incomplete sandbox game...is because it's not a sandbox game nor was it meant to be. One of the earliest lessons that game developers had was that, sometimes, you can limit or outright sacrifice gameplay if it helps set or develop the characters in a game. It's why cutscenes exist at all.

You are, in effect, doing the equivalent of critizising the intro to Half-life 1 because it's 4 minutes of you being "trapped" in a train while the game takes you through a few panoramic scenes of the place where you were going to be playing in. It sets up a few things, like the fact that the MC is theoretical physicist, works in an underground experimental complex, the people in charge have an AWEFUL safety procedures or records, and the the place is HUGE.

You, on the other hand, would be mad because you weren't shooting people within the first few seconds of starting the game.

It's fine that you don't like it and that this is your opinion but none of it is actually legitimate criticism.

 

[strenif]

This is one of my favorite games. But thanks for the recommendation of The Redburns. I will check it out.

The Redburns is a solid game but be warned it's been on hold for a long time.

Guess we have different preferences. This seems like the creator tried to make a sandbox game but couldn't be bothered to actually code all sort of outcomes and possibilities so just slaps your hand when you try to do something he didn't finish.

There's sort of a middle ground between sand box and VN I think the dev was going for but I take your meaning.
I can you that each releases fills out the sand box a little more. The dev has been great about taking suggestions on that point. For example the dialog for the scenes where you peak on the girls masterbaiting in their rooms changes as the story for each girl progresses giving the player a small reward to repeat the scenes (some inner monolog from the girl about recent events).
If you've got some things you'd like to see improved there's a decent shot it'll make it into a future release.

 

[strenif]

I...have you actually played adventure games before? Like, at all?

The reason why it feels like an incomplete sandbox game...is because it's not a sandbox game nor was it meant to be. One of the earliest lessons that game developers had was that, sometimes, you can limit or outright sacrifice gameplay if it helps set or develop the characters in a game. It's why cutscenes exist at all.

You are, in effect, doing the equivalent of critizising the intro to Half-life 1 because it's 4 minutes of you being "trapped" in a train while the game takes you through a few panoramic scenes of the place where you were going to be playing in. It sets up a few things, like the fact that the MC is theoretical physicist, works in an underground experimental complex, the people in charge have an AWEFUL safety procedures or records, and the the place is HUGE.

You, on the other hand, would be mad because you weren't shooting people within the first few seconds of starting the game.

It's fine that you don't like it and that this is your opinion but none of it is actually legitimate criticism.

I think his point was more the options to click on things shouldn't exist unless they do something. For example in the school you can click on Ryan's locker but it doesn't do anything yet. But you are right that the first week is very 'on rails' with the objective being to show the player how the game systems are set up without the player getting lost wondering what to do.

The game being a sand box or not is kind of an interesting question. I'm not sure if there's a term for this type of game or not yet. It's sort of like a sandbox in the sense you can wander around a world map as you please and complete events in different orders. But it's also like a VN in the sense the story is very linear. There are two main 'routes' and to progress you have to complete event chains. You going to be spending your time advancing the story not exploring the world. There aren't any side quests or secret locations behind a waterfall.

So sort of a mix between the two. The player is given more agency of their actions then a VN but is locked into a set of actions unlike a sandbox.

Renpy has a hard time with these sorts of hybrids but it's much easier for a new dev to learn then say Unity.
If people didn't hate RPGMaker so much I'd say that would be the best engine to use. NLT is probably the only dev that can get away with using it and only because he mods the fuck out of RPGM using %100 custom assets.

 

[Lookingforthis]

I think his point was more the options to click on things shouldn't exist unless they do something. For example in the school you can click on Ryan's locker but it doesn't do anything yet. But you are right that the first week is very 'on rails' with the objective being to show the player how the game systems are set up without the player getting lost wondering what to do.

The game being a sand box or not is kind of an interesting question. I'm not sure if there's a term for this type of game or not yet. It's sort of like a sandbox in the sense you can wander around a world map as you please and complete events in different orders. But it's also like a VN in the sense the story is very linear. There are two main 'routes' and to progress you have to complete event chains. You going to be spending your time advancing the story not exploring the world. There aren't any side quests or secret locations behind a waterfall.

So sort of a mix between the two. The player is given more agency of their actions then a VN but is locked into a set of actions unlike a sandbox.

Renpy has a hard time with these sorts of hybrids but it's much easier for a new dev to learn then say Unity.
If people didn't hate RPGMaker so much I'd say that would be the best engine to use. NLT is probably the only dev that can get away with using it and only because he mods the fuck out of RPGM using %100 custom assets.

You don't need to catogarize this as a hybrid. There is already a genre that perfectly encapsulates this mix of social interaction, item management and overworld map control.

The Adventure genre.

Now, they have fallen by the wayside since the 90's, and this game is nowhere near as sadistically player unfriendly as the Sierra games of old were, but as the name of the genre implies finding what to do and what you should be doing is the bread and butter of the Adventure genre. That and nonsensical puzzles, which A Family Venture has thankfully omited.

 

[Subversesuxx]

When we can expect _real_ content for Jackie?

 

[strenif]

You don't need to catogarize this as a hybrid. There is already a genre that perfectly encapsulates this mix of social interaction, item management and overworld map control.

The Adventure genre.

Now, they have fallen by the wayside since the 90's, and this game is nowhere near as sadistically player unfriendly as the Sierra games of old were, but as the name of the genre implies finding what to do and what you should be doing is the bread and butter of the Adventure genre. That and nonsensical puzzles, which A Family Venture has thankfully omited.

Oh god, Sierra games.
Man that takes me back. 7th Guest and The 11th Hour were amazing for the time.

When we can expect _real_ content for Jackie?

The upcoming release is focused on Jackie. It will have more than one part but you can expect lots of 'real' content.

 

[kcaldw]

Update is when? I want Jackie!!!!!! MC want's and needs to finally firtalize his Moms pussy in ways that his old man couldn't. And I'm sure that after he plant's his big dick in her she won't want anyone else. She's already been fantasizing about it anyways. Please give us Jackie.

 

[Fckjoch]

Oh god, Sierra games.
Man that takes me back. 7th Guest and The 11th Hour were amazing for the time.




The upcoming release is focused on Jackie. It will have more than one part but you can expect lots of 'real' content.

To bad, not into old tarts mammy stuff.
Guess I'll wait till around '24 '25?
Thinking about that.... By then this game must look to come out of the Stone age.
To bad, remember one girls was pretty hot and the redhead okay-ish.

 

[strenif]

To bad, not into old tarts mammy stuff.
Guess I'll wait till around '24 '25?
Thinking about that.... By then this game must look to come out of the Stone age.
To bad, remember one girls was pretty hot and the redhead okay-ish.

While Jackie will be the focus of .08, based on the previews the dev has posted, Sidney, Camie, and possibly Mandy are getting scenes as well.

 

[MaxTheDark]

I...have you actually played adventure games before? Like, at all?

The reason why it feels like an incomplete sandbox game...is because it's not a sandbox game nor was it meant to be. One of the earliest lessons that game developers had was that, sometimes, you can limit or outright sacrifice gameplay if it helps set or develop the characters in a game. It's why cutscenes exist at all.

You are, in effect, doing the equivalent of critizising the intro to Half-life 1 because it's 4 minutes of you being "trapped" in a train while the game takes you through a few panoramic scenes of the place where you were going to be playing in. It sets up a few things, like the fact that the MC is theoretical physicist, works in an underground experimental complex, the people in charge have an AWEFUL safety procedures or records, and the the place is HUGE.

You, on the other hand, would be mad because you weren't shooting people within the first few seconds of starting the game.

It's fine that you don't like it and that this is your opinion but none of it is actually legitimate criticism.

Don't simplify my opinion to 'I cant do anything so it sucks'. I played The Redburns and I think it was amazing, despite having very little choices. I admit, I am more into games that allow some sort of freedom (massive fan of Lab Rats 2), however I don't mind some narrative story telling. The problem here is with what the sandbox setting does. The purpose of a sandbox game is to give freedom and variety, while in this game the sandbox setting only serves to give player a runaround between bits of storytelling. What is the purpose of giving me multiple options, if none of them does anything bar one that's meant to be clicked?

Also, I do complain on terrible writing and characters constantly acting unnaturally. Like, if I was told my dad is in jail, I wouldn't be taking time to ogle my mom's tits even if I was incestous, I would be too busy FREAKING OUT THAT MY DAD IS IN PRISON.

So to reiterate, you claim my problem is I played an adventure game and expected sandbox, my problem is the game is adventure game yet pretends to be sandbox. As if the dev wanted to have a sandbox game, but couldn't be bothered putting the effort to fill it with content.

 

[Lookingforthis]

Don't simplify my opinion to 'I cant do anything so it sucks'. I played The Redburns and I think it was amazing, despite having very little choices. I admit, I am more into games that allow some sort of freedom (massive fan of Lab Rats 2), however I don't mind some narrative story telling. The problem here is with what the sandbox setting does. The purpose of a sandbox game is to give freedom and variety, while in this game the sandbox setting only serves to give player a runaround between bits of storytelling. What is the purpose of giving me multiple options, if none of them does anything bar one that's meant to be clicked?

Also, I do complain on terrible writing and characters constantly acting unnaturally. Like, if I was told my dad is in jail, I wouldn't be taking time to ogle my mom's tits even if I was incestous, I would be too busy FREAKING OUT THAT MY DAD IS IN PRISON.

So to reiterate, you claim my problem is I played an adventure game and expected sandbox, my problem is the game is adventure game yet pretends to be sandbox. As if the dev wanted to have a sandbox game, but couldn't be bothered putting the effort to fill it with content.

What about the game is Sandbox?

The fact that it offers an overhead map with different triggers and events depending on how much you have progressed the game?

Spoiler

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Oh, look at that, an overhead map where you can switch locations at any time whose scenes and events are locked behind triggers and story progress.

Source? Lucasarts' Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.

Your criticism that it's a poor sandbox game is hollow because it's not a sandbox game. So I am still wondering how and when did it pretend to be a sandbox.

The lack of freedom here is absolutely the point, since the game is a puzzle.

I am not touching on the criticisms of character writing since I am not personally bother by it. It's valid but, man, the bar to justify porn in porn is quite low. If movies can get away with pizza delivery guys getting the sex instead of getting a tip, then this game can get away with the Main Character being a horny sociopath with an Oedipus complex.

 

[strenif]

Looking for realism in a incest themed porn game would be a really bad thing imo. Cuz that shit is damaging as fuck in RL.
The game is pretty tongue and cheek but grounded enough to not be pure smut.

While I liked Lab Rats, I can not stand Lab Rats 2. Game has no soul for me.
You might enjoy Defective Sexbot Chop Shop Max. I did some render work for that game and it's full of choices and options.

 

[Evangelion-01]

What about the game is Sandbox?

The fact that it offers an overhead map with different triggers and events depending on how much you have progressed the game?

Spoiler

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Oh, look at that, an overhead map where you can switch locations at any time whose scenes and events are locked behind triggers and story progress.

Source? Lucasarts' Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.

Your criticism that it's a poor sandbox game is hollow because it's not a sandbox game. So I am still wondering how and when did it pretend to be a sandbox.

The lack of freedom here is absolutely the point, since the game is a puzzle.

I am not touching on the criticisms of character writing since I am not personally bother by it. It's valid but, man, the bar to justify porn in porn is quite low. If movies can get away with pizza delivery guys getting the sex instead of getting a tip, then this game can get away with the Main Character being a horny sociopath with an Oedipus complex.

To be Fair:

 

[strenif]

To be Fair:
View attachment 1628874

I think F95 mods add thous tags?

 

[Evangelion-01]

I think F95 mods add thous tags?

Point is he is correct to expect a Sandbox game... the Tags are only indicators as long time users know... sometimes they are missing other times there are Tags that make no sense towards the game... but anyone going by tags can get confused and maybe frustrated

 

[drpavelcia]

Also, I do complain on terrible writing and characters constantly acting unnaturally. Like, if I was told my dad is in jail, I wouldn't be taking time to ogle my mom's tits even if I was incestous, I would be too busy FREAKING OUT THAT MY DAD IS IN PRISON.

I don't disagree about the dad thing, unless the dad was absolutely terrible at being a dad, I'd expect the whole family to be freaking out about it.

 

[A.C.H.B.]

I don't disagree about the dad thing, unless the dad was absolutely terrible at being a dad, I'd expect the whole family to be freaking out about it.

Iirc he actually is a shit father. You'd learn this only a few seconds into the game when you play through the tutorial and click on his image on the family photo.

 

[strenif]

Ya Tony was a pretty shitty father and husband as I recall. Plus him working for the mob would make his arrest less shocking.

 

[Kai Andersen]

Friends, father, this is father. Whatever he was. Daughters may not help him, but the son is obliged. This has been the case in normal families, and I hope it will continue to be so. Real men don't leave theirs. In this matter, MaxTheDark is right.

 

[strenif]

Normal families

I think it's safe to say Ryan's family is far from normal.