@TheTypist , yesterday I just complained about the game and didn't offer any constructive criticism. Truth to be told, I fell a bit bad after reading the "If you're thinking about developing or already are, read this." post.
Here are some thoughts:
Renders:
- they look good but sometimes you can still see some small mistakes made by DAZ. For example the breast at d2_22.jpg and the skirt from d2_37.jpg. From what I've seen so far, with DAZ, you need to find a balance for the breast size. Too small and you'll get an arrow in the middle of your chest when you wear clothes, or too big and the clothes start to look strange unless you use something with a lot of cleavage. For the skirt and legs problems, just try to adjust the angle differently.
- this is more of a personal thing, so maybe just skip it. I really don't like Dicktator. If you want to go for a more realistic approach I would rather use the normal genitalia. Usually all the male character will have the texture for the circumcise and uncircumcise so you can have more variety down there.
Assets:
- DAZ3D assets can get quite expensive so if you find yourself in the need of a new character, just use what you have 50% from guy number1 with 50% from guy number2 will result in a new guy. Go in Surfaces change the Translucency Weight or/and Color and you'll get a new character. Also Base Color -> Layer Image Editor can help you if you want to add tattoos (if you are into that)
- You are already using OOT Hair so there is no need to recommend them and I think the same goes for FWSA characters
- I don't know what you use for lightning but if you think that you need something to speed things up, maybe try this
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- And of course, there is the not so legal version of things, where you can get your assets for free by using the power of the internet. But I am sure that you are not allowed to make money out of pirated stuff so this is probably a stupid point.
Development process and coding:
- I don't know how you do your renders, but something like this might really help you avoid those: till 6am moments
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- For someone who had no previous knowledge of programming you did a great job. My only recommendation is: don't be afraid of IF ... THEN ... statements. If you are using vars for love and lust make those points count, don't use them just to show the user that the choice he or she made is on the lust or love path.
- The F95 community usually wants to play a game not to read a visual novel. That being said, in Ren'Py, what separates the two are the choices that user can make and how they affect the story. Don't just preset a certain path in the beginning and then introduce choices that don't impact the story in any way. You can read more about this here
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or just try to play Good Girl Gone Bad.
- Try to avoid similar colors for the character names
Characters:
- Don't make them flat. They are all adults so give them a job, use 1 or 2 lines of dialog to show that they have a life besides going shopping or to the gym. Also give them a goal and something to fear that they will overcome or not completely separately then the sexy stuff. For example: Claire doesn't know how to swim and she is afraid of water. At the party she will get in because you stay close to her and she feels safe. She might get mad because you left her there to get more drink or maybe she will just go out with you. I don't know.
- They are engaged, make them to communicate a bit more. Give them something that they both love doing and no other character in the game likes. Make us care about them and think that their relationship is real. After that you can break our hearts.
Story:
- It might be better if you decide on what point of view you want to use. Is it 1st person for John? Is it 1st person for him and Claire? Right now it feels more like a John 1st person with Clair 3rd person and I would say it's a bit unconventional.
- (personal thing) This is how I wished the story would be (just for NTR)
-> you start the same way talk, she goes to the gym
-> you see an interracial porn and then sleep together
-> you tell her about the dream and give a lot of details
-> she doesn't belive that a black dick can be that big
-> gym shower 1: From the cabin she sees Jason walking naked and in that moment she knew that what she saw the other night was true. Did she just got a bit wet or is it just the shower.
-> After the shower she will talk with Olivia about what she saw
-> John has to go on a business trip, and because he didn't want to leave Claire unsatisfied while he was gone, he encourage Claire to buy a dildo
-> When you get back you see her new toy. It's black, you ask her about it and she tells you that was the only color that she could find. Is she telling the truth, or maybe Olivia had something to do with that choice.
-> You have the party, Olivia will introduce Jason to Claire and you see him flirting with her. How do you react?(Don't shoot him, not yet. They are just talking - sorry for doing this, but it's kind of funny now)
-> Double date: Jason and Olivia go to the dance floor; you go to the bathroom and when you return you see that Jason was now Dancing with Claire.
-> When you get home she will ask you if it bother that she danced with somebody else. You say that you kind of enjoyed it
-> gym shower 2: Claire sees Jason again. This time he goes inside with Olivia. Claire hears them and masturbate imagining she was in Olivia's place
-> Other party, Truth or dare...how far will you let the game go. lvl 1: C and J share a kiss, lvl2: C goes topless, lvl 3: J is naked (J as in Jason not John), lvl4: Olivia has to give John a hj, at one point she will ask Claire if she can give you bj instead, Jason will also add something like everyone knows that a bj is not cheating and we are having fun here
-> After the party, you can't perform, so you use the dildo
-> If a BJ is not cheating, then maybe Claire can use a gloryhole now
-> gym shower 3: Olivia and Jason have a fight or at least this is what he tells Claire after he tries to hide inside her shower...the rest will be the same with your scene
.... something like this. Kind of a mess but in the end what I'm trying to say is that slow might be better
If you want something a bit more crazy.
->Claire's parents never broke up. She (and John) will find out that her dad is a cuck. They will tell you more about this lifestyle
->Claire goes out on a date with an anklet (leg chains 1 or 2 in DAZ)
->She gets a Queen of Spades tattoo ankle, ass, breast..pick one location
->You finish everything up with a normal wedding and after that you show a second ceremony where Claire will look John in a chastity cage(there are assets for this for DAZ), John will give Jason the key, and Jason promise that he will keep it safe until he has a baby boy. He then proceeds planting his seed... The End.
Edit: Jason is supposed to be Daryl, sorry.
P.S. English is not my first language