VN Ren'Py Being a DIK [v0.10.1] [Dr PinkCake]

[Cabin Fever]

Having peeked behind the curtains, what really intrigues me with the interlude is how DPC will utilize Zoey's DIK score in future episodes. The interlude is completely linear and it serves no purpose to introduce a zoey_dik flag and zoey_dk variable unless it will be used in the future..

 

[hakuna-matata]

The story of the game has already been written since episode 1.

Zoey's arrival was (I think) planned. What has changed is the format of her introduction.

It should have taken the form of a prologue, but DPC decided to make it an Interlude.


Otherwise, I would also have preferred that episode 9 arrive 3-4 months earlier and that what is told in the Interlude be summarized in the prologue.

I mean.... I think it was expected at some point she'd be back. We didn't need a whole episode dedicated to her vacation. Yes, I agree the 5 minute prologue would have been a lot better. Something similar to the Maya and Josy prologue in Episode 4.

 

[mindern]

But being serious...

It always came to the same problem. I think a lot of people should consider that they are not the only players of this thing. While you maybe don't like something other people do. Since the goal of the game is to please a diverse number of players it has more sense to include something than to remove it.

When you ask to remove something you don't like you are being completely indiferent to other people preferences. If you want every scene and all the content for your prefered girls and complain of the girls you don't like and ask to remove them, even if other people like them... that's kind of selfish, innocent selfishness but still.

Instead we should considerer to accept what we don't like, others may do. Yeah, we will get less content with our particular preferences but everyone will get something and that's more valuable than to some people geting everything. Therefore we will share the game with other people.

I don't like sex scenes with Riona or Quinn couse they are not my fetish. But a lot of people love them so I find perfetely fine to accept the next update gets delay two weeks or one month to include content for them. Couse the game is not made to please me exclusively.

If you don't like Zoey, ok. But bro, there are like 20 girls in this game.

Edit: This stament is not aplicable to Madam.

I’m hoping the game starts having characters interact more with one another now we’re locked onto routes.

No I don’t like Quinn… but maybe she can add some great character development with Sage. Bianca came out of the blue but maybe she’s a current day link to Lynette via what I assume is her mother.

With any luck the reduced number of variables means we can get more variety to scenes so there’s more of a chance of seeing something/someone we care about. Sage ended on good terms with the MC. She can be a part of Maya/Josy plot elements (as I’m sure season 3 will open with) regardless of who you’re dating.

My point is even if you don’t like a character maybe they can bring something fun or new to a character you do. Gotta say that “chance” is like 80% of why I’m just “meh” about zoey. I don’t care for her but maybe she can bring out something in the characters I do care about.

 

[Ahx]

I mean let's be honest here i'm on Bella path, where my Bella fans at do anyone thinks that we give a shite on this Zoey girl and we'll ditch Bella for her...

Actually, yeah. All two of them.

 

[Casiope]

Well said. a lot of people criticizing that he added more content to his game, gave our MC one more LI. I find it amusing. I never asked DPC to remove Maya and Josy from the game, even though I don't like them. Even though my MC is included in all their drama even if after all choices I made was to stay away from them. But I didn't ask to remove them from the game. There are some pushovers who love them, so they should have their fun too.

Some people with a small mind being in this forum all day telling DPC on how he should write his VN, when the man is a mastermind who thinks in every detail and does it all by himself. I think poeple don't stop to think about everything that DPC has done for this game, the creativity and the skills to put everything in place. You don't see any other VN that looks like BEING A DIK. And just because he decided to add a new plot to the game people are telling him to remove it, or saying it is shit.

I'm afraid you missed the point: it's not about adding new content, but that this content comes as an extra when much of the characters have empty biographies. Sally has been around for eight episodes and has had somewhat of 40 lines; we wouldn't know Rebecca if she wasn't part of a minigame; and even the main female characters have light backstory. Why not take the time to deal with them first?

And of course we, players and contributors, have the right to deliver our opinion, to say what we like and dislike in Being a DIK, that's the purpose of this forum. I haven't read anyone saying that their view is universal, so don't so easily dismissed it either. I am positive that Dr PinkCake reads these critics and takes them into account.

 

[Heycock]

Yes. Art.

Yes. Technically it is without a doubt. In a more practical way, regardless of your post-christian prejudices, there is no doubt it requires creativity. And that was my point.

Actually, that's unfair for christianity, you will be amazed on the ammount of pornoraphy there is in medieval classical literature.

That it's the mid/late part of the story, after an uber-duper dramatic choice built up by DCP for all of S2, yet suddenly we're taking a u into ex territory.

You keep describing what happened but you still cannot make a point on how that's bad.

Make it a zombie apocalypse, then, if all drama is good. Or maybe don't, since it'd come out of nowhere.

And that's a succesfull genre, isn't. But anyhow as an anlogy, yours doesn't really work. The problem to insert a zomby apocalyps in the middle of this story it's that change the nature of the story itself and not that adds more drama. Zoey ads conflict but doesn't change the nature of the story, romantic conflict in a college context.
To make Zoey comes back as disruptive element is not only acceptable, its a fucking classic. And it's couse it works. That's why you still can think of a narrative reason to reject this.

In context, i was comparing this character to others, in relation to what your argument that somehow people who are concerned about what's coming are 'selfish' because they'd rather be dealing with the ramifications of the crossway, rather than be shoved in a love-triangle.

Then don't complain about "drama", it doesn't have any sense and it doesn't make your point.

Now your concern has no ground since anyone knows that next episode we will have both.

Because Quinn, like other side-girls, has the most to lose from the introduction of a new major player, or those of a few minor ones.

No, it's because is your favorite. Period.

Again you should considerer there is a world outside the small length of your own dick.

 

[Felicityskye]

I'm afraid you missed the point: it's not about adding new content, but that this content comes as an extra when much of the characters have empty biographies. Sally has been around for eight episodes and has had somewhat of 40 lines; we wouldn't know Rebecca if she wasn't part of a minigame; and even the main female characters have light backstory. Why not take the time to deal with them first?

And of course we, players and contributors, have the right to deliver our opinion, to say what we like and dislike in Being a DIK, that's the purpose of this forum. I haven't read anyone saying that their view is universal, so don't so easily dismissed it either. I am positive that Dr PinkCake reads these critics and takes them into account.

Is it really an extra if it was planned at the start? DPC doesn't write as he goes like most devs. The entire story from beginning to end was already written or at least storyboarded before starting BaDIK. So, nothing is really being added on the fly.

 

[ana sucubbus]

I think I'm just too high to understand the joke here, so please help me...
Is it season 3 of BAD or its a new game been promoted ?

 

[Draal3]

Quinn....while I find her story interesting the truth is she is only out for herself and her true loves seem to be money and drugs. If you bet your money on her be cautious, I wouldn't invest too deeply.

Spoiler: Quinn's Actions

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So be careful with that...

 

[anon2323j]

Because Quinn, like other side-girls, has the most to lose from the introduction of a new major player, or those of a few minor ones. Again, context.

this is 100% Quinn's fault for thinking she stood a chance...

wouldn't know Rebecca if she wasn't part of a minigame;

Literally the only person I've seen refer to them exclusively as "Rebecca" when that's their middle name...

 

[ename144]

So? What's your point here?
Besides being an ode to artistic conservatism...
There is no reasonable reason whatsoever that an artist to limit himself to their previous creation. None. Actually it's the oposite, he should free to create new things.



Drama = story.

Always has been. A story without drama is the most boring, uninspiring thing I can ever imagine. Just imagine Titanic without the fucking iceberg. Imagine Romeo and Juliet if it was a completely ok relationship. Imagine Hamlet with his father alive... anyway.
Every significat character in this story has a purpose as a story character in the way he could generate drama. Quinn for example it's there to antagonize the MC, to generate conflict, therefore drama, with Sage Maya Josy Mona etc.

But drama requires stakes. If the stakes aren't there because DPC is constantly overriding consequences to set up the next Twist(tm), the story won't improve. Imagine if Hamlet, having resolved to slay his uncle and avenge his father, spent the next act distracted by the prophecy of three witches declaring he would be king of Scotland.

Not everything goes together like peanut butter and chocolate.

 

[lipe2410]

Sincerely, now i'm not even sure MC and Zoey will meet face-to-face in ep 9. She ends interlude want come back to her home. And she come back to her home. I don't see she leaving her home again and so shortly after come back just to meet MC in B&R. I really won't be suprised if the only interection Zoey-MC in ep 9 were a phone call, since he said to Neil give his new number to her, and a scene in the end as cliffhanger like Zoey take the train to B&R or MC take the train to home to meet her.

 

[MilfyAces]

Maybe it was asked, but how I can open that second sex scene in this Interlude episode? Thanks!

 

[lipe2410]

Maybe it was asked, but how I can open that second sex scene in this Interlude episode? Thanks!

don't take the emma's phone. Calm her down

 

[anon2323j]

Maybe it was asked, but how I can open that second sex scene in this Interlude episode? Thanks!

it has indeed been asked. go for the diplomatic approach.

 

[vogelbeest]

Literally the only person I've seen refer to them exclusively as "Rebecca" when that's their middle name...

Well, fair is fair, you're not gonna be happy being called "Karen" when you're already a nerd....

Maybe it was asked, but how I can open that second sex scene in this Interlude episode? Thanks!

Talk with Emma instead of taking her phone...

 

[herugrim123]

I was pretty excited and caught off-guard when I saw that this Interlude dropped. I think it speaks to the quality of the game/content that it can do that to someone when they see it. I went over here to the forum and I was a little bit surprised by the last few pages and some of the negativity.

I can see merit in some of it, but I for one can simply just not get over the quality of the content. It is one of the few games in this (adult) "genre" that just ticks all the boxes. Well written dialogue, story, music, characters and graphically pleasing.

Prior to the Interlude I didn't care for Zoey at all, was unhappy with the ending previously where she "came back" because I simply had no interest or connection to her. But I have to say, I appreciate the story that has been woven here with her backstory and everything.

I have no idea where the bigger picture story is going and I don't dive into all the theories and stuff, I'm just here to enjoy the ride and I got to say, a wonderful new addition! Keep at it!

 

[Daken9]

Yes. Technically it is without a doubt. In a more practical way, regardless of your post-christian prejudices, there is no doubt it requires creativity. And that was my point.

Actually, that's unfair for christianity, you will be amazed on the ammount of pornoraphy there is in medieval classical literature.



You keep describing what happened but you still cannot make a point on how that's bad.


And that's a succesfull genre, isn't. But anyhow as an anlogy, yours doesn't really work. The problem to insert a zomby apocalyps in the middle of this story it's that change the nature of the story itself and not that adds more drama. Zoey ads conflict but doesn't change the nature of the story, romantic conflict in a college context.
To make Zoey comes back as disruptive element is not only acceptable, its a fucking classic. And it's couse it works. That's why you still can think of a narrative reason to reject this.



Then don't complain about "drama", it doesn't have any sense and it doesn't make your point.

Now your concern has no ground since anyone knows that next episode we will have both.



No, it's because is your favorite. Period.

Again you should considerer there is a world outside the small length of your own dick.

I'll say, that random tidbit about christianity was goddamn inspired.

But anyway, thank you for cutting and pasting at your own distrection twice in a row. And of course for the needless aggression woven in frankly weird preconceptions. For a moment i'd forgotten the kind of cum-soaked brains populating these forums, but now that i'm remembered i can tell you what i should have the first time.

Spoiler

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[always86]

Shazba, you know I love you but I think you're being willfully obtuse here. The problem isn't needing multiple saves; I've got oodles of saves. The problem is that I don't believe any of them will let me make the choices I actually care about.

You quip that the other girls won't be kicked to the wayside just because Zoey shows up but I'm not so sure. Yes, the other girls will definitely have screen time, but I'm not here to rack up lewd scenes; I'm here for the story and the romance. Both of those need not just screen time, they need progression. Zoey, as presented thus far, feels like regression.

BaDIK is a soap opera, so drama is inevitable. And the MC does have his own personality, so some of the drama is going to flow from that. I accept both of those points. But as long as I'm allowed to make choices for the MC, I expect those choices to mean something. If I choose to pursue Maya and Josy to the exclusion of all others, I don't just want the MC to fool around with them when he has an empty spot in his schedule. I want him to prioritize them. That's where DPC dropped the ball in Season 2, and where I'm afraid he's going to do it again in Season 3.

Remember, it was DPC who amped up the 'crossroads' to 11 in Episode 8. The MC supposedly realized that showing undiscussed affection to multiple girls was unfair and either committed to a single relationship, or to making it clear that he *wasn't* interested in a relationship at this time. I was willing to chalk the MC's histrionics over the Maya/Josy crisis in Episode 4 up to him being a young, horny kid. But now we've been explicitly told that he's matured, so I expect him to handle both his relationship and any adversity differently in Season 3. DPC called the tune and he needs to pay the piper.

Just to be clear, that doesn't mean Zoey can't return or that the MC can't have complicated feelings towards her. It's fine for her to create additional drama... *as long as it flows from my choices*. That's the key. DPC can't just assume direct control and make drama happen simply because it looks good on paper. Not after he forced us into a supposedly heartfelt choice. New drama needs to flow from the new situation, otherwise the impact of both the choice and the drama is negated.

Which brings us back to Zoey. Again, the MC supposedly just committed himself to either a single relationship, or to avoiding a relationship until he was ready to take it seriously. If that decision is to have any meaning, the MC can't just abandon it the first time a 'new' girl has some chemistry with him. If an MC who committed to one of the main girls doesn't prioritize her/them over Zoey, he obviously wasn't taking the choice seriously in the first place.

Sure, he has a history with Zoey. But as the Interlude shows, that history was extremely shallow. Even his lame discussion with Bella about elephants (except, you know, the really, really obvious one) was more significant than drawing Zoey's Z-Chord. Zoey will always be special to him, but she's not in some privileged position relative to the other unchosen girls. Asserting otherwise won't amp up the drama, it will deflate it.

Now, there are ways to add Zoey to the mix that don't run afoul of the crossroads. Unfortunately, they require that Zoey's impact vary considerably based on our choices. In an Others run, for example, Zoey would be a reason for him to rethink his decision; we could get some drama out of the MC deciding whether playing the field is worth blowing his one shot to patch things up with her. In a M/J or Bella run, Zoey could be a problem not because the MC wants to reunite but because he can't explain his secret relationship to her; how far will he go to protect that secret? In a Sage or Jill run, on the other hand, the drama would be limited to letting Zoey down easily.

If DPC is willing and able to tailor Zoey's role in that manner, I'll be happy to admit I was wrong to panic over the Interlude. But I hope you'll forgive me if I'm not optimistic based on what we've seen so far. Giving Zoey her own Interlude doesn't suggest she's going to be a minor player in Season 3. And having an MC who didn't fuck Jade still hide in the Burke's bathroom doesn't suggest DPC has learned not to force the drama.

Everything I see suggests that Season 3 will be to all the LIs what Season 2 was for M/J: a long digression that ultimately leaves us making the same choice all over again at the end rather than developing that choice. Sure, Season 4 will probably be different when we finally get there, but that's a long way off. So yeah, I remain worried about Zoey and frankly, I think you should be, too.

tl;dr:
I'm not worried Zoey is going to steal the other LIs' lewd scenes, I'm worried she's going to steal the focus that should be theirs in the wake of the crossroads. And no number of saves can help against that unless DPC is willing to dial down Zoey based on our actions. I'm not holding my breath.

I think the role Zoey is designed to fill is one the other LI’s can’t. Say your or the Bella path okay Jill might be shocked/ upset but she isn’t going to intervene, Maya and Josy have each other and aren’t likely to find out in the near future, and Sage see’s MC as a bro. On the other hand, if on Maya and Josy path, Bella intellectually understands why they broke up, while Jill is friends with Josy and Sage sees the MC as a bro.

Zoey comes in completely outside that equation. She doesn’t care about the other women, only MC. That will allow her to aggressively pursue MC in a way other characters can’t. I don’t think that will mean we have any more or less choice. I don’t think we’ll have to do anything with Zoey (Other than socialise). She will want MC back, whether the MC goes for it or not is up to him.

 

[lipe2410]

Also, i really doubt Zoey will jump to sex or try get back to MC right after they meet again. Was clear for me that Emma/Bret storyline was made to mirror MC/Zoey relationship. So i really doubt Zoey will want jump in MC's big cock since she can be affraid to make thing between them mora akward than already are. For me, MC/Zoey's relationship wll be a "mid-burn" during season 3.