"There are no "routes" when you are on MGs roads?" I do not know about that. After the cheat points system was implemented, I prefer not to take any chances. It doesn't seem to me that choosing a girl as a love interest in Ep.8 was a final choice until the rest of the game.
There are 2 possible checks & punisments system for cheating in a future. Some of the choices which adds cheating points, doesn't save any variables. They just increasing the "TC" var counter. Other choices also saves some variables for certain MC actions, which make this actions "addressable" - like with whom MC is cheating with, etc. For example MC with DIK affinity can grab Mel & Sarah asses when he greets the arrived HOTs. This only increases TC var value, but doesn't save any variable, so it's "unaddressed" cheating. But saying "hello" and licking Tiffany at shots competition are doing both - adds cheating points and save specific variable (or better to say "activates" variable, since this or any other variable are always present, but their state - False or True is important). So hugging Rio is ok, because on MG road it's only a supportive action, it doesn't change interaction with her and doesn't affect her "major choice" options. You can use guides (official or non official ones, the latter are better, because official will not warn you about cheating points) or you can your head when making such decisions for a blind play joy. If you kiss somebody behind your LI back - it's one thing, if you cheer up girl, which looks sad at the party - it's another thing. The same for "words & mind" cheating - telling Josy that you still think about her or telling Heather that you may fuck her later, if things will change for you. Etc. Cheating during photo shoot is done by saving photos numbers var (sexy pose with Sage, grabbing Mel & Sarah asses, etc). Grabbing Bianca ass has it's own var, since it's not visible on photo, but must be tracked by the game anyway.
Now that you mention it, it does seem like the MC is on the fence about picking a girl in Ep.8. He even tells Riona that he's trying to figure out if he's a relationship type of guy.
Game creator gives you an opportunity to fuck up - that's all. Whether it will be unintentional or on purpose depends only on you. Completionists will do it for gain any possible game endings and outcomes. Blind player may get this in a natural way by doing some bad choices and decisions.
That's what I'm talking about. See Jumbi's response to JB's question. The meaning of this choice was not clear. I'm with you on this, I believe saying that Zoey is just a childhood friend makes the MC look like a liar, as everyone who heard that Zoey was at the party mentions Zoey as his ex-girlfriend. I didn't understand the existence of this choice, no matter what the MC chooses to say to JB, when he is talking to Zoey on top of the roof he will refer to her as his ex-girlfriend.
ep9_jb_gf = True / False
For me, it's clear that talking about it with JB is an excuse to confide in a friend and brother or an attempt to hide your past, and a quite stupid one, considering that half of the party guests are aware. The real important choice (mad on her or not) with Zoey taking place in bench scene, when they meet for the first time after a long separation.
Talking with Derek about who is best friend to MC is mostly affecting his attitude with Derek only, since he is arguing with Zoey later anyway and their dialogue doesn't change.
