At first I thought he was taking it slow to "milk" his patreons , but based on his replies , I actually think he trying to reconcile his thoughts paradigm to that of his heavy paying donors. Thats why the updates are slow and little. He still trying to create an epic story to overcome the blood ties and make a romantic encounter viable . I truely appreciate what he trying to do , but he is just wasting his and everybody else time.IMO I believe as much as we were all disappointed with how much content was in this update, I strongly believe that DS put in place the right pieces needed to further the story in certain story paths. For example I think the whole Ann finding out it was Max the whole time is a lead up to sharing the bed in a future update. Just my opinion. I'm no story writer but it just seems to fit ... in my mind anyway.
I can see where DS started the "romance" ...buuuut I know how hostile this forum gets so I'll just keep that one to myself.
I still think the game is pretty good. Yeah a bit grindy but honestly what game isn't?
Most of the so call romantic routes callers are just indoctrinate by neo-western porn , where the porn star learn the basics in porn boot camp yelling "its big/its feel good , give it to me baby!!" repeatly . As long as its consensual (the porn star keep yelling how much she enjoy the big cock) , it doesn't matter she is MCed , a sex addict , or just simply a sucker for big cocks. DS can finish this story in 1 update ending this travesty and while fulfilling all the "romantic" demands.
E.g
1)Ann is lonely , Max wave his big schlong , Ann decided Max's schlong fill her life loneliness-> have passionate sex (Romantic end)
2)Alice is a bad girl , saw Max's big schlong , decided she wanted to be a good girl for Max sake -> have passionate sex (Romantic end)
3)Lisa never have sex , saw Max 's big schlong , decided thats the only schlong she ever need for her rest of her life -> have passionate sex (Romantic end)
3end = harem end -> everyone happy.
Instead he trying his best to come out with a plausible story to reconciled his beliefs with his major donors demands Resulting in a slow and painful progressive release. And now he got tagged unfairly saying he just trying to milk his donors.
Using GOT as an analogy
He build a GOT type of game with lotsa shocking plots and actions , but being a progressive releases controlled by donors instead of a post production release , now he ended up with a GOT where all the Starks are alive and well , Cersei , Joffery , Ramsey fell down the stairs and broke their necks and night king got struck by lightning and burn to death the following episode after their appearance. You can't drag 7 seasons with this , end this now. Just do the above "romantic endings" and spare everyone and himself from the pain train and end this on a happy note.
Start a new game
Learn from the experience , if high paying fans come first ,
1)Create the correct base for "romantic" encounters harem games
or
2)create a GOT type game where nothing is taboo but insisting your ideas