Ren'Py Big Brother: Another Story Rebuild [v0.07.01] [Aleksey90]

[always86]

It sounds like there will be 4 routes.
1.No Eric
2.War with Eric
3.Real friend with Eric
4.Pretend to be a friend with Eric

there seems to be the assumption that Eric will be gone eventually, even on the friendship path(s).
Is this a fact coming from the dev himself or just a rumor? does he really intend to carry over dozens of branches each and every update? or will he close the Eric chapter in every case and move back a linear story after that?

I think it has been said in the past that the ‘no Eric’ content will make getting the girls harder, and initially would be less developed. My assumption is that act one is Eric and then from there on it will be something different. (might continue what the original did or be totally changed).

Aleksy seems to love the game and characters so presume he will keep playing with them until he feels the right story is completed. I think like many he didn’t like the way the post Eric content played out. We’ll see. He‘s been going for about a year now, hopefully he can get more supporters and more consistency

 

[SDaddy666]

I personally believe this branching will be a bug/logic flaw-fest. Why shoot for the stars and even make "dozens" of subbranches? So far each release had its fair share of bugs in the LINEAR story, why heat it up even further?
all it means you have a ten minute gameplay in your chosen path and the rest is lost on you. unless you read walkthrough and use multiple save games to at least see alternative content in your main story branch.

not my idea of great gaming experience but I will take what I get..

well we've seen what a linear path was doing with bugs. This will indeed be even worse. I personally will wait until enough patches are out.
What bums me with this game and its predecessor is that you never know if you didn't grind enough or if there's abug somewhere and that's nerve wracking.

 

[SDaddy666]

Weeeeell... it's unattainable to move with all three in the future for the developer unless he is willing to have 4-6 month gaps between releases. It is indeed very interesting and I can understand the approach "I want the update to have content for everyone, instead of "Eric_path1 update, Eric_enmity out in 2 months!" but if he goes for that approach it will be a HUGE workload for one person.

Thus, the developer should sit and think if he wants a few "full" updates per year or several "path" updates per year. What also concerns me is that he plans further branching down the path. I mean... what? At some point, and that point is not far, this will become mighty impossible.

Example: Let's say the developer wants a massage quest-line. If Eric is around, things would be different. So, more work.
Now, if the developer wants a Kira-big-quest, things would be different for the massage quest line too. So more work.
But wait, what about Having Kira-big-quest AND ALSO Eric? That affects both of them too. So more work.


And it increases exponentially.

Hopefully he'll get more subscribers and can hire a good coder and more staff to program more frequent and steady updates, but seeiong how other projects are turning, i wouldn't count on it.

 

[armion82]

I think it has been said in the past that the ‘no Eric’ content will make getting the girls harder, and initially would be less developed. My assumption is that act one is Eric and then from there on it will be something different. (might continue what the original did or be totally changed).

Aleksy seems to love the game and characters so presume he will keep playing with them until he feels the right story is completed. I think like many he didn’t like the way the post Eric content played out. We’ll see. He‘s been going for about a year now, hopefully he can get more supporters and more consistency

Sooner or later all routes will go to the route without Eric.Or will reach the end of the game for that route.

there seems to be the assumption that Eric will be gone eventually, even on the friendship path(s).
Is this a fact coming from the dev himself or just a rumor? does he really intend to carry over dozens of branches each and every update? or will he close the Eric chapter in every case and move back a linear story after that?

I think if he is not gone on truth friend path,the game will just reach the end.Way before other routes.

 

[xslayermkdx]

The update was supposed to be released in January what happened?

 

[Ntr Ntr]

The update was supposed to be released in January what happened?

He just need another week to sort out bugs before release. Because there are multiple paths it's taking longer. Looking forward to the update hopefully worth the wait.

 

[Curio81]

I think his intention is to branch the story into multiple paths, that will merge later on, so that different decissions bring a variety to the story without inflating the game disproportionately

 

[fruitpunchflavored]

5.have sex with Eric

Mere words alone would not be able to describe how elated I would be if this ever becomes an option...

 

[Shiva0067]

The time has come for ANOTHER long post. This time we will deal with the number of paths, how I feel they would be best dealt with, and the NEED for Chocolate Chip Cookies.

At this point we have been informed that when dealing with (EVIL Scum) Eric there will be 3 primary paths. These would be the Friendship path where we work WITH the monster, a quick war with him being removed but we will NOT get some content (now and in the future), and the long WAR with more content. This seems to be both right AND wrong. After all, at the start of the 2 war paths they will probably be the same, only branching when (EVIL Scum) Eric is first removed. Now for the Spoilers to save some space.

Spoiler: The Paths

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

I think that at some point (EVIL Scum) Eric WILL be gone no matter the path chosen (War or Friendship). If he remains I would expect that later events (whatever they might be) would become so different that the result would be 2 (or more) games being developed at the same time.

Now for the MOST important part of this post. We NEED Chocolate Chip Cookies!!! Aleksey90 PLEASE add Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know that MANY Devs are AFRAID, but I have faith that YOU have the COURAGE to add Chocolate Chip Cookies to this game.

Just a thought.

P.S. The above are just some of my thoughts, I do NOT know if any of this will be part of the game (but I have HOPE).

 

[Erwin_Smith]

Are we expecting a lot of content this update? more than the last?

 

[HVS3]

Are we expecting a lot of content this update? more than the last?

• #7,873

 

[truerty]

It sounds like there will be 4 routes.
1.No Eric
2.War with Eric
3.Real friend with Eric
4.Pretend to be a friend with Eric

I just want to know, as a person who despise even the mere presence of Eric, which path would be best suitable for me while getting all the girls!

 

[alefrago77]

you dont get any girls here...you play a game... for some wondering whats next when and if eric decides to leave the house(will be sure after a long time at real time), i would bet a lot after or with eric, there will be another and another new persons, characters, challenges to choose every person his own path ....i dont think you will ever see here maxi( play with him or not) to be alone in the house eating choco, relaxing the sofa, killing spiders at the yard, choosing silly his next victim

 

[troll822]

there seems to be the assumption that Eric will be gone eventually, even on the friendship path(s).
Is this a fact coming from the dev himself or just a rumor? does he really intend to carry over dozens of branches each and every update? or will he close the Eric chapter in every case and move back a linear story after that?

The "dozens of branches" is my concern too. This will balloon out of control if he adds paths.
I hope the Eric chapter is closed or for-all-intents-and-purposes closed and then something else.

Someone above spoke about "Act1" etc. I really hope it goes like that. With Eric dealt with and then different activities.
But in update 0.7 we're promised... a massage parlor. Which means Aunt Kira (and potentially the girls) would also take part. I honestly doubt we'll have Eric dealt in a single update. That's not possible IMO. So... I am afraid it will be:
Eric-friend
Eric-Frienemy
Eric-Enemy
+ Massage parlor that will open more branches.

And as mentioned each branch would probably affect the other ones from a bit to a lot. I.e. I expect the girls would react different to the massage storylines if Eric is driving them to the massage parlor giving Max a thumbs up and a essential oils to put them in the mood and different if Eric is fighting Max and different if Eric is not in the picture.

That is not attainable.

I honestly hope that it goes by Acts.

 

[greenymph]

I don't know why everyone is so worried about multiple paths and story branches. If done right, it elevates the game to another level than just a visual novel, and creates replayability. I believe its just up to his coding ability, but take the example of evakiss's good girl gone bad, the dev didn't had much experience either but was able to complete the game with a gazilion player choices that matter a lot, had consequences and influenced the story.

Lets just give Aleksey some credit, to me i'm up for player choice driven stories Be it with Eric, or important choices regarding the girls.

 

[Shiva0067]

I don't know why everyone is so worried about multiple paths and story branches. If done right, it elevates the game to another level than just a visual novel, and creates replayability. I believe its just up to his coding ability, but take the example of evakiss's good girl gone bad, the dev didn't had much experience either but was able to complete the game with a gazilion player choices that matter a lot, had consequences and influenced the story.

Lets just give Aleksey some credit, to me i'm up for player choice driven stories Be it with Eric, or important choices regarding the girls.

I agree that a choice of paths can be a good thing. My only fear is that with this being the first game Aleksey is making the workload may become to much. I like most of the game so far (I DO NOT like (EVIL Scum) Eric so don't like that part ) and look forward to seeing what is to come. Mostly I throw out wild ideas (Add Chocolate Chip Cookies darn it) and try to suggest ways that MIGHT help. Hopefully, with the next update enough of the programing work will be in place that development will be mostly the story (good so far) and art (VERY good and getting even better), with just the needed programing to make it work.

I guess that the reason I worry about the programing is that I KNOW it is all EVIL Magic. Alright, I worry because I don't know anything about it (it's MAGIC I say).

Just a thought.

 

[armion82]

The time has come for ANOTHER long post. This time we will deal with the number of paths, how I feel they would be best dealt with, and the NEED for Chocolate Chip Cookies.

At this point we have been informed that when dealing with (EVIL Scum) Eric there will be 3 primary paths. These would be the Friendship path where we work WITH the monster, a quick war with him being removed but we will NOT get some content (now and in the future), and the long WAR with more content. This seems to be both right AND wrong. After all, at the start of the 2 war paths they will probably be the same, only branching when (EVIL Scum) Eric is first removed. Now for the Spoilers to save some space.

Spoiler: The Paths

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

I think that at some point (EVIL Scum) Eric WILL be gone no matter the path chosen (War or Friendship). If he remains I would expect that later events (whatever they might be) would become so different that the result would be 2 (or more) games being developed at the same time.

Now for the MOST important part of this post. We NEED Chocolate Chip Cookies!!! Aleksey90 PLEASE add Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know that MANY Devs are AFRAID, but I have faith that YOU have the COURAGE to add Chocolate Chip Cookies to this game.

Just a thought.

P.S. The above are just some of my thoughts, I do NOT know if any of this will be part of the game (but I have HOPE).

I don't think that people on long war with Eric,after getting rid of him,will start to get same scenes as players on quick war with Eric.After all Max will be already in sexual relationship with the girls before Eric is gone.No point to going back at the start of the quick route.

 

[jan.spam]

I don't know why everyone is so worried about multiple paths and story branches. If done right, it elevates the game to another level than just a visual novel, and creates replayability. I believe its just up to his coding ability, but take the example of evakiss's good girl gone bad, the dev didn't had much experience either but was able to complete the game with a gazilion player choices that matter a lot, had consequences and influenced the story.

Lets just give Aleksey some credit, to me i'm up for player choice driven stories Be it with Eric, or important choices regarding the girls.

the reason we are concerned is because you are incorrect: it is not a VN - this is a SANDBOX game. in a Real VN like Good girl gone bad branching out does not requires extra coding skills and the gaming experience for each branch can be controlled and polished. it is essentially a pre-set sequence of pictures. A sandbox game is like a riddle, you roam freely and need to do certain things at certain times sometimes in a certain sequence in order to progress. So each player shuffles the set of pictures according to his individual progress on the opportunities. Hard enough to keep that bug free on a linear plot line (just check the thread here after every update). hard to keep the plot/logic consistent on a linear plot line (just check the thread here "why does Alice cover her breasts at 13.00 but she is cool with Max peeping in the next scene, same day?") because a dev can not control how an individual player’s plot unfolds when he progresses.

Now multiply these challenges with the "dozens" of paths/variations, the game already has hundreds of variables, all this handled a single dev in his free time, without coding experience who already needs an 6 months update cycle.

Yupp, I am still worried.

 

[alefrago77]

the reason we are concerned is because you are incorrect: it is not a VN - this is a SANDBOX game. in a Real VN like Good girl gone bad branching out does not requires extra coding skills and the gaming experience for each branch can be controlled and polished. it is essentially a pre-set sequence of pictures. A sandbox game is like a riddle, you roam freely and need to do certain things at certain times sometimes in a certain sequence in order to progress. So each player shuffles the set of pictures according to his individual progress on the opportunities. Hard enough to keep that bug free on a linear plot line (just check the thread here after every update). hard to keep the plot/logic consistent on a linear plot line (just check the thread here "why does Alice cover her breasts at 13.00 but she is cool with Max peeping in the next scene, same day?") because a dev can not control how an individual player’s plot unfolds when he progresses.

Now multiply these challenges with the "dozens" of paths/variations, the game already has hundreds of variables, all this handled a single dev in his free time, without coding experience who already needs an 6 months update cycle.

Yupp, I am still worried.

are you anxious? more coming soon, 0-07 ...

 

[khumak]

the reason we are concerned is because you are incorrect: it is not a VN - this is a SANDBOX game. in a Real VN like Good girl gone bad branching out does not requires extra coding skills and the gaming experience for each branch can be controlled and polished. it is essentially a pre-set sequence of pictures. A sandbox game is like a riddle, you roam freely and need to do certain things at certain times sometimes in a certain sequence in order to progress. So each player shuffles the set of pictures according to his individual progress on the opportunities. Hard enough to keep that bug free on a linear plot line (just check the thread here after every update). hard to keep the plot/logic consistent on a linear plot line (just check the thread here "why does Alice cover her breasts at 13.00 but she is cool with Max peeping in the next scene, same day?") because a dev can not control how an individual player’s plot unfolds when he progresses.

Now multiply these challenges with the "dozens" of paths/variations, the game already has hundreds of variables, all this handled a single dev in his free time, without coding experience who already needs an 6 months update cycle.

Yupp, I am still worried.

It's actually not as complicated as it sounds unless the dev makes it needlessly complex. The majority of all of the scenes can be mostly or even entirely the same regardless what path you take. The parts that would be different would only really have to be the scenes that included Eric in them (this would also work for other significant plot divergences).

So for instance if you pick the friend path with Eric then whatever naughty scenes are available for each of the girls would have Eric as the star and Max just watching (or being locked out of the room or whatever). If you picked the "long war" path then any naughty scenes involving the girls would have Max as the star and Eric would be otherwise occupied somehow. Most if not all of the scenes that didn't include Eric could be identical to the other paths, up to and including simply using the exact same event and code for all of them. If you picked traditional war path then there would be a short series of events leading up to Max permanently getting rid of Eric. So initially the scenes involving the girls would play out similar to the long war path with Max being the star and Eric being blocked somehow and then transition to Max being the star and Eric just being gone.

So using the above examples, some of the naughty scenes with the girls would potentially need 2 or 3 separate versions coded into them until either Eric is gone or the game ends. There's no need for creating entirely unique storylines for each branch or compounding divergent choices onto other divergent choices so you wind up with dozens of separate storylines. That's when things would become unmanageable.

The key to doing it right (from the standpoint of keeping dev cycles manageable), is to set it up where major plot divergences reconverge back to the same path (or at worst, 2 or 3 major paths) and most events can be common to all paths. So on days/times where Eric is not present, for most events it wouldn't even matter what path you're on, although on the friend path the girls might not let Max do much with them even when Eric is not there.