HTML Ren'Py Advice on how should I approach this matter on my first game development?

[RenoirSpiece]

I've already completed 4-5 stories for my projects, intentionally leaving some plot holes for the future.
However, I currently lack the necessary hardware, which is crucial, given that my stories primarily revolve around thriller, mystery and fantasy environments.


I'm thinking about using real porn clips in my games until I can upgrade my computer.
However, this decision is making it more complicated for my mind to process. I've thought of two options

either creating games like A Slut Phone or A Wife Phone using Ren'Py/Python Or going with SugarCube.



What's your take on that??

I'm very thankful to you and any suggestions you leave

 

[Yngling]

I'm not sure if I understand your question, but basically you'll need to decide two things:

1) Game engine / coding

2) Graphics / graphics creation software

In my opinion, 1) is easy. Ren'Py is by far the best choice for a VN. It has all the options you want already built in.

If you don't have a good PC, 2) is a bit more complicated. Normally I'd suggest Honey Select or TK17 as a "quick and dirty" way to produce acceptable graphics. But the " thriller, mystery and fantasy environments " can be a problem. Maybe you can use a modded Skyrim or The Sims. Or HS sprites over a photo background. All pretty substandard, but:

In my personal opinion, graphics become less important if the story gets better and vice versa.

 

[Deleted member 6588195]

My advice is basically go with way more simple game idea instead complex stuffs. You don't need to render the whole scene for example, you can use sprites for general conversations. The most important stuff is keep it this shit as hobby, making money is way more harder than its look.

 

[RenoirSpiece]

I'm not sure if I understand your question, but basically you'll need to decide two things:

1) Game engine / coding

2) Graphics / graphics creation software

In my opinion, 1) is easy. Ren'Py is by far the best choice for a VN. It has all the options you want already built in.

If you don't have a good PC, 2) is a bit more complicated. Normally I'd suggest Honey Select or TK17 as a "quick and dirty" way to produce acceptable graphics. But the " thriller, mystery and fantasy environments " can be a problem. Maybe you can use a modded Skyrim or The Sims. Or HS sprites over a photo background. All pretty substandard, but:

In my personal opinion, graphics become less important if the story gets better and vice versa.

Sorry for not being more clear. I did try using HS 1/2 but it crashes when I load items for creating custom maps or working with basic positioning. I truely want to avoid publishing subpar work and feeling disappointed in myself.


My real question was partially about game engine and using real porn clips

 

[Yngling]

Sorry for not being more clear. I did try using HS 1/2 but it crashes when I load items for creating custom maps or working with basic positioning.

Not sure about that. HS should run on a normal "office type" PC. Perhaps something wrong in the settings?

I truely want to avoid publishing subpar work and feeling disappointed in myself.

My real question was partially about game engine and using real porn clips

Sorry, but unless have a top end machine (or two or three) to render fantastic Daz/Blender images, or can make beautiful hand drawn art, or can pay for real life models to pose for you, most things you will try will be subpar.

In my opinion, that's the honest truth.

But mediocre graphics can be off-set by a superior story or other ways.

I'm not a fan of using existing real porn because you are recycling images / clips which are not made for the purpose. Meaning that, at some point, you want to have a certain scene, but it just doesn't exist. Then you need to use a model who resembles your main model, etc. etc. Just, no. In my opinion.

 

[MarshmallowCasserole]

Starting with placeholder art is perfectly viable. Making a game without art is possible too (HTML games do without just fine).

Assets ripped from real porn won't do you any good for fantasy or horror. If you have to... borrow assets, 2D art is better suited for fantasy

 

[Cosy Creator]

Not sure about that. HS should run on a normal "office type" PC. Perhaps something wrong in the settings?

HS2 studio isn't as light as you might think if you're trying to do anything beyond simple scenes with simple textures and lighting. I have a 13700k/4080/64gb ddr5 system that still chugs and struggles when I push the limit (20+ characters in a completely custom environment) - so a lesser PC is going to struggle proportionally on lesser scenes.

 

[Brosewood]

I've had relative success going artless with Stuck in Sutton (minus the cover picture I bought). Sure, I'm not anywhere close to making a living, but I'm making some money for something I really enjoy doing so I see that as a win.

You could also easily create a phone/chat UI in Sugarcube if you're willing to learn some CSS. The game 'Corrupting a Nun' has a pretty neat chatroom effect. It can also be done in Ren'Py as shown by the games you mentioned. Ren'py's not really my wheelhouse.

I'm not the biggest fan of porn clips as I find it very restrictive creatively. For example, it'd be impossible for me to be consistent at all with my character creation system using porn clips. Then again, you'll probably gain more traction with porn clips than you will with just text.

 

[Lewd Asshole]

Advice on how should I approach this matter on my first game development?

using Ren'Py/Python Or going with SugarCube

SugarCube.
You can't make games with Ren'Py, that's for VNs only.

 

[RenoirSpiece]

Update....I did a heck of a ton of practice with Sugarcube and found it to be pretty easy. I also downloaded Koikatsu in the background. I tried it today and created poses and rendered them. it worked okayish (though I didn't try recording)



I'm sorry for being so obtuse but can you guys help me again with what's the best course of action for now?
1. Should I make a Sugarcube game until I upgrade my system, and then switch to Daz? Also would the audience be okay if I switch?

2. Work with Chara Studio until I upgrade my system and then switch to a more realistic approach

 

[RenoirSpiece]

I've had relative success going artless with Stuck in Sutton (minus the cover picture I bought). Sure, I'm not anywhere close to making a living, but I'm making some money for something I really enjoy doing so I see that as a win.

You could also easily create a phone/chat UI in Sugarcube if you're willing to learn some CSS. The game 'Corrupting a Nun' has a pretty neat chatroom effect. It can also be done in Ren'Py as shown by the games you mentioned. Ren'py's not really my wheelhouse.

I'm not the biggest fan of porn clips as I find it very restrictive creatively. For example, it'd be impossible for me to be consistent at all with my character creation system using porn clips. Then again, you'll probably gain more traction with porn clips than you will with just text.

Dude that thing looks so cool.

 

[Brosewood]

Update....I did a heck of a ton of practice with Sugarcube and found it to be pretty easy. I also downloaded Koikatsu in the background. I tried it today and created poses and rendered them. it worked okayish (though I didn't try recording)



I'm sorry for being so obtuse but can you guys help me again with what's the best course of action for now?
1. Should I make a Sugarcube game until I upgrade my system, and then switch to Daz? Also would the audience be okay if I switch?

2. Work with Chara Studio until I upgrade my system and then switch to a more realistic approach

1. Most people seem to like Ren'py more than Sugarcube BUT Sugarcube is a lot more flexible when it comes to platforms. So long someone has a browser, they can play a Sugarcube game (granted, you might want to resize images for Andriod). Whatever you do, I'd recommend finishing a project, even if you want to switch later. It's a much better look to have a completed project under your belt.

2. Whatever art style you choose, I'd advise not switching mid-game.

 

[PTSdev]

Sugarcube is amazing if you put some work into it. You don't have to be super good at JavaScript, but knowing some JS definitely helps.

Some general advice on Sugarcube:
- Think about the UI of your game. It's easy to create text links, but it's also quite ugly and can become cumbersome for players if they have to navigate through a complex web of locations / story elements.
- Learn about how Sugarcube works under the hood. I can't stress this enough. Especially look into the order in which tasks are being executed when passage is loaded. Once you understand WHEN stuff happens, the engine really opens up.
- If you want to create a VN, don't use Sugarcube. It's a text engine at its core. You can use media to add more spice, but Sugarcube's strengths really lie in the manipulation of text.
- Sugarcube is extremely good if your game contains a lot of data, e.g. characters with lots of stats, complex upgrade / item systems etc. Just make sure to lay out a plan for how your data is structured.

And: Do NOT switch platforms / engines mid development. Especially not between Sugarcube and Ren'py. They're completely different, you have to rebuild everything from scrath. Not worth it. Oh, and stay away from Harlowe. It just SUCKS in comparison to Sugarcube.

 

[Yngling]

Honestly I don't really touch anything non-Ren'py anymore. Not unless it comes highly recommended. And think there are a lot of people like me.

But honestly I am not a fan of game elements in porn games / VN's, because it is distracting. I prefer VN's and for that, Ren'py is close to perfect.

 

[PTSdev]

The problem with actual games is that they need game DESIGN and that's harder than people think. My favourite example for perfect game design is the roguelite The Binding of Isaac. it has a lot of interacting systems and is actually quite complex from a mechanical perspective, yet it's extremely simple to pick up. Everything just falls into place, there's not a single useless / boring mechanic in the game.

Meanwhile, lots of porn games with actual mechanics are criminally undercooked which often leads to boring grind and repetition.

 

[RenoirSpiece]

First of all, thank you to all of you for your activeness and suggestions...

Coming back to the topic....
I'm not really into making the UI all fancy cause for me its the reason games become grindy. I'd prefer a simple, clean design that shows stats, character info, and a cheat system in the UI bar and on the main page, at the top I'd add periods and weekdays and maybe a map in the top left corner.

Another point, I'm not very familiar with JavaScript, so I don't think of making anything too flashy.

I'm planning to focus more on the storytelling(and models >⁠.⁠< ), keeping it somewhat linear but with Multiple ending depending on the points.

 

[Rafster]

First, it can be helpful to take a long and hard look on the HTML games (mostly the ones that have +6 months going on) that has the gameplay/structure/interesting UIs and take notes. Staying with the default UI of twine won't attract players. Take your time to do something different, players appreciate it when the UI shows some care, and you have some content in your launch.

Choose one particular actress for each role, and do not switch. People lose immersion when the landlady is blonde when you meet her the first time, and then changes into a brunette with a different face in the next.