Unity A Long Journey [v0.9.4] [Marvellous Lunatic]

[Just Jericho]

Man I really tired of this frustrating and boring saboteur plot with Johannes and Reddick. It's like they were made too capable and the MC too incapable which has caused this story arc to drone on too long. I think I saw a post that mentioned that the first arc is supposed to finally end in the next episode because I am sick to death of both of the antagonists and the MC at this point and man I really hope that's the case.

At precisely no point - from the start up through this last episode - has the MC or Selene had any leverage over Johannes and Reddick. Everything the protagonists has done so far has failed spectacularly, and there has never been a point where the antagonists didn't outthink and outmaneuver the protagonists. Through seven updates the antagonists have been able to sit on ass, hold all the cards, and play the protagonists like marionettes all while keeping the protags completely in the dark about their plans. They have been in complete control 100% with no give whatsoever which makes the MC look extremely weak and stupid. There's no relief or satisfaction. Not even in any small victories because even those small victories don't get anywhere except to further the antagonist's goals.

A big factor for me in finding good VNs is when there are good character relationships and hot sex scenes. While I appreciate when a developer puts time into creating a storyline, I think character relationships and good romances are far more important... and right now because of the saboteur plotline, the majority of the LIs are still stuck in cryo and there have been very limited moments for any romantic progress with Selene. The dev has to use flashbacks and found footage as an excuse to squeeze in more sex scenes. Pia's hot and all, but I can see why people aren't satisfied with flashbacks.

I honestly think I'd even be disappointed if Johannes and Reddick aren't just killed off next episode. They're like robotic cartoon villains with nothing redeeming about them. At the very least it would be an appropriate pay off for all the bullshit. Freeze and shatter Reddick and Johannes with those cryobomb things, and then wake up the girls so the MC can fuck his mom and build his harem like a proper porn game.

 

[MrD812]

Good ideas but I try to argue against it. Not because I don't like the ideas but because like I said I try to create a scenario where they can't just try anything only as an absolute last resort like they tried in the last episode. Otherwise the story wouldn't make sense. So don't take it as offense or something. And one other thing before. I could add these discussions about what is maybe possible and why maybe not in the game but than it would stretch the dialogues even more. And add some point it would become even too much for me.
However, my argument for any trickery like distractions or handcrafted weapons or any sort of that they would have to be absolutely sure that they take out both without risking any harm to Stella or Elios' people. Selene doesn't want her Sister to be harmed under any circumstances and she still thinks / hope (open for interpretation) that Johannes and Reddick keep their word. And a Slingshot or any kind of distraction doesn't strike me as a absolute certain win.
Regarding cosmetical articles, I would again argue that they wouldn't come with flameable content for use on a spaceship. I'm pretty sure that's even now the case for this stuff on the ISS (haven't looked it up but I would be surprised if so).
I get that 'clutching for straws'... that's the same as Elios and Selene should feel... and the 'omnipotent evil' is on purpose as well. It should drive the story. And that you say you whish for Elios that he could do something is basically exactly what I want to achieve.

So, if I don't misunderstand it. You 'feel' what I want the player to experience which makes me quite happy to be honest. Even if you might don't like that feeling.

And regarding Reddick, he shouldn't come as 'stupid gorilla'. I tried to not make him appear just like a meathead and Selene even mentioned that she things that Reddick might be even smarter than Johannes, just in a different way. But I purposely keep him a bit more mysterious. I do have a background story for him in place just like hist reason / ambition for this mission but I keep it for now.



Multiple reasons for that. Selene hat a scene in the previous update and I wanted another scene with Pia (which I also really like just as Selene). My thoughts on that is that they are still tired in the morning and have to keep in mind that they should be in time for report and thus maybe not that keen on 'risking' time. And I don't want Selene to be the type for a quicky.
Two more things on that. I prioritize the story over the sex scenes. However, I also like creating sex scenes but I want them to fit in. And another point which probably doesn't sit well with many but I already said a few times... This is not a community project or community driven project. I create this game purely to my liking and for my own passion so I'll only create what I personally like and want. However, I don't mind critice, quite the opposite I'm happy about discussions like above and if I like ideas I'll include them. Many of the settings and UI enhancements I did were ideas from the community. But otherwise I want to create my own game.
I don't want to create a wank-fest to make a quick buck which I probably could but don't want. If I would want to do that I wouldn't create my own environments from scratch, my own assets, my own music, my own icons, my own framework, my own plugins, ... but I get off-track.
I know there is an audience that would prefer more sex scenes especially with Selene but like I said I prioritize the story and try to have different types of sex scenes and cast for those each update. To have a bit of variation.

Regarding the long time between updates, I'm aware of that but I don't want to rush things. This is still 'only' a hobby of mine and for me. This is not my main source of income and I don't treat it like that. I still want to do this for fun and not because 'I have to'. And even if the release here on f95 was longer I had split this update in 3 parts (for each day of this update) for my patreons. So my patreons had incremental updates / beta releases for this episode. But the first 2 were without major lewd scenes. And I don't think a update without any lewd scenes wouldn't be much welcome on this board anyway.


I usually tried to make sure they sleep between 6 and 7 hours but I may could reduce that a bit more. That's maybe not a bad idea. Even so, they than work from morning till night under psychological stress. I know this doesn't sit well with people who work in physical labour but these long working hours are exhausting too. In a different way but still extremely tiring.
But it's true, I could have something like coffee scenes in the morning.


Thanks, that's nice to hear. I posted some of them in a dedicated public channel on my discord. At the moment they are only available by direct link from there as I haven't made them public on youtube yet. I only wanted to do that when I created a simple video for each track. But at the moment I have other priorities than those videos.

Johannes and Reddick are the real reason i gave up on this title, for myself personally.
Can relate with Ottoeight 's view points and the female brutality/abuse, unacceptable in any form.
Could be easy to printout high frequency lasers, remove the bullies heads, problem solved.

Better things to focus on, with every thing else on such an adventurous journey ahead.
Then two jackass bullies whom don't deserve to breath air AND their redundant shit.
Little to zero tolerance for the likes of their kind.

Gets tiresome very fast.

 

[Elduriel]

When I saw in the comments that Pia's got that long scene I thougt about skipping the update but then thought, well, I'd have to click through it anyway. So I did it now.

I said it before, I loved the way how the dev built the relation(ship) between Selene and MC, I called him Tom. I can also buy the story with the two idiots euhm baldheads to a degree, I mean, they give all the ship systems to a system developer and don't even get the idea he might be able to turn the systems against them? They behave like total amateurs. But MC and Selene aren't better either. Johannes pointed his back at Selene severl times getting the fluids, there were plenty heavy things around. As a normal human being you'd never ever do that with your death sworn behind you. But okay.. I get that this will end soon, so be it. Selene and MC, MC and Selene.

But then Pia again?! THAT excessive?! MarvellousLunatic said it would make sense later but really, what the heck do you, dev, like about Pia to make such a (passionately developped) scene? She's honestly just annoying, she doesn't look hot at all, she has no sympathy points, she's just there for the banging. (Btw the japanese porn slurping sound was disgusting It's such a turn off) At that point in the story the whole sex scene is exactly what you said you wouldn't want to make: forces sex scenes. It's just that, a sex scene that isn't needed and seems to be there just, well, to be there. I would have loved some kisses or caresses during that shower scene but Selene didn't even get or give a peck. Just some horny smirks.

I don't like Pia, I guess that's obvious But I want to make clear that I don't intend to "rant" here =) It's your decision and I love pretty much everything else. But I just don't understand the Pia stuff.

I sorta understand the Pia inserts for story purposes. But I don't like her either. I'd rather have those efforts spent on Selene

 

[Toni891]

oh damn, sry, I wanted to re-formulate the whole thing and make it sound less "attacking" so I deleted it... crap... but the quote is still there so be it.

Jup, this effort on Selene or story progression would have been great. Selene (and her sister) is just dead gorgeous.

 

[Aristos]

Last week's progress update:



[Episode Izar] Progress Update I
April 21

Greetings,
last week was a bit cramped again but I worked on some of the animations that are to be added to the scene of last episode. I'll continue to work on them through next week and hopefully will be able to do a bit more this time.
I sketched the whole episode and started to work on some dialogues but I'm still not happy with how some scenes tie together. I don't want to miss or even create obvious plot holes so I try to come up with some ideas that don't involve having to change past events. That's really only the last resort I want to take.
I also continued a little bit on another small environment that I probably need. 'Probably' because that's one of the scenes which I have a bit of trouble to tie in in a senseful way. Next time I'll continue to work on the environment I'll also stream it again.

Current Status - Episode Izar

• 5% Writing

Current Status - Episode Hamal (Animation Update)

• 10 Animations

 

[battali0n]

Probably yes. But it will be some time until this options will take place.

Hi,

Thanks for your previous response. I have been waiting for you to decide whether you will be making the lesbian content optional.
I am interested in your game but I have no interest in getting invested in the story and characters only to have it ruined for me because of an unavoidable fetish.

Have you had any further thoughts on it?

 

[godscoper]

I was not sure if going to enjoy the game but the story is pretty good so far

 

[kingdevil31]

Need save pls

 

[filochard]

I am not sure why but i lost all my saves...does someone have an save from the end of the last version or the one before?

here a save from version 0-7-3

 

[Quie]

here a save from version 0-7-3

Thanks!

 

[Tulrek]

French translation done for 0.8.1

Here: A Long Journey [Marvellous Lunatic] French Translation

 

[I Fart Loud and Stinky]

Hello
Does it already contain incest?

 

[Woodalicca]

Hello
Does it already contain incest?

 

[Knight_of_the_lance]

Hello
Does it already contain incest?

The characters that would make it incest are still in chryo.

 

[as22]

The dev constantly blows his load with the sex scenes, giving them the opposite effect they should be having.

Dev, when making a sex scene in a VN you don't make them long fuckfests with the two parties engaging in every position from start to finish.
You need to spread them out so the readers can build up anticipation for what's to happen next.
There's a reason why in most VN's characters usually only engage in rudimentary acts for the first few scenes then build up to intercourse over the course of the story. This gives us readers breathing room, and allows buildup.

If the characters are getting dirty and going the full course in the first scenes you show us, then where do we go from there?

People would be more amicable to Pia if she was teased, and scenes were spread out. But instead, she jumps your dick and we have to sit through scenes with a character we don't know or care about.

Also, the dirty talk in the scenes is way to mechanical and stiff. It's just not hot. When was the last time the dev actually had sex with a girl?
You can overcome this by putting the describing factors in internal thoughts, whilst having the characters act naturally.
So they don't need to be saying "I love having sex with you my sexy man with a nice big dick. It really increases the enjoyment of sex please have sex with my sexy body"

 

[Just Jericho]

The dev constantly blows his load with the sex scenes, giving them the opposite effect they should be having.

Dev, when making a sex scene in a VN you don't make them long fuckfests with the two parties engaging in every position from start to finish.
You need to spread them out so the readers can build up anticipation for what's to happen next.
There's a reason why in most VN's characters usually only engage in rudimentary acts for the first few scenes then build up to intercourse over the course of the story. This gives us readers breathing room, and allows buildup.

If the characters are getting dirty and going the full course in the first scenes you show us, then where do we go from there?

People would be more amicable to Pia if she was teased, and scenes were spread out. But instead, she jumps your dick and we have to sit through scenes with a character we don't know or care about.

Also, the dirty talk in the scenes is way to mechanical and stiff. It's just not hot. When was the last time the dev actually had sex with a girl?
You can overcome this by putting the describing factors in internal thoughts, whilst having the characters act naturally.
So they don't need to be saying "I love having sex with you my sexy man with a nice big dick. It really increases the enjoyment of sex please have sex with my sexy body"

This might be the first time I've ever seen someone complain about a sex scene being too long in a porn game.

 

[as22]

This might be the first time I've ever seen someone complain about a sex scene being too long in a porn game.

What a stupid comment. There's another poster complaining about the scene literally on the previous page.

 

[Just Jericho]

What a stupid comment.

I mean the sex scenes are probably this VN's redeeming factor when it comes down to it. That and Selene's booty.

 

[as22]

I mean the sex scenes are probably this VN's redeeming factor when it comes down to it. That and Selene's booty.

Come on.... I'll admit they're well rendered but the majority is playing this game for the mystery space setting. I think the only other similar game is toro7.
Maybe there would be more tension if the dev gave the MC amnesia. Then the flashbacks would have had other purposes.

 

[Just Jericho]

Come on.... I'll admit they're well rendered but the majority is playing this game for the mystery space setting. I think the only other similar game is toro7.
Maybe there would be more tension if the dev gave the MC amnesia. Then the flashbacks would have had other purposes.

The saboteur plot line has droned on too long and at no point did it feel like the MC and Selene made any kind of significant progress against Reddick and Johannes. There's a point when it just gets boring and repetitive. So much so that I've just about lost all interest. Three years of development now and the majority of the cast of characters are still in cryo... in an alleged "harem" game... all because the dev can't figure out how to resolve a couple antagonists that he made too capable and effective. Honestly, they really need to be taken out of the picture entirely... like next episode. Otherwise the story isn't going anywhere. Porn games are supposed to emphasize character relationships and romances so that the MC can get on with fucking his mom and sisters, after all. No one wants thousands of renders of a fucking edgelord in a turtleneck drinking a cup of coffee.

But Selene and Pia do have nice tits and ass and the sex scenes are decently animated and posed (ignoring the derpy facial expressions of course). So the sex scenes really are the least of the problems with this VN.