If this game doesn't change in the next update and continues on this path of idiot mc and bitches in power, I'll definitely leave it. I can't stand the path this game is following anymore. I have already had some experience with a game that started with a weak mc with the promise of growth and after a while the truth was that it was a joke that never came to fruition and an absolute waste of time. and by the way, that game was finally abandoned because it stopped interesting everyone
- Thread starter IcarusLabs
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- Aug 9, 2018
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Which is another one of the issues. Basically, so much of the necessary Anna backstory is hidden behind very particular choices. Not sure why that has to be gated behind dropping Ashley for example to find out Anna's state of mind during the High School inciting incident when that should be VERY important. Same with Charlotte and Emma really. So much key information is missable in a single run.
Not to mention the way you drop Ashley adds more to the MC being a bit of a douche.
- Sep 30, 2017
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Contrary to the popular feeling from other users, Ashley is still my main girl. She is my main playthrough.
I actually like the Annie Story and are interested to see how that one play's out. So she's my second playthrough.
I don't like Emma and from what I have read on here the Emma route is a bit rough (Not my liking)
It is obvious that the Dev is trying to write a semi realistic story and that does not include a harem. (Hence the tag is not in the game) I suspect that underneath all the revenge and mayhem is maybe also a sweet love story with your chosen LI.
That would be why part of the choice is now (It might also be that your path to other LI is not fully closed at this stage), but it looks like you the player are starting to make your bed with your choices. In terms of Ashley, hmmm... you surely feel like shit breaking off with her, but is that not also how it goes in RL? Sometimes you need to commit to the bit or let her go.
It's actually more honorable to break-up than keeping a gf on a string with no further commitment.
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Missing most of the point of my post. Harem isn't what I am asking for, or even suggesting. And none of the story is even close to realistic if that is what the author is going for. The game is far more about soap operatics. That can work great for a porn game. Harem or no harem, the structural problems are still there.
That is, key character motivations and information are locked behind very specific gating requirements. Fucking or not fucking Annie isn't the problem, or Emma, or anyone else. But if you don't fuck them, you learn nothing about them, and sans that you are missing key pieces to understanding the messy mix of motivations the game wants you to see.
The talk with Annie in the cabin is an extremely important scene. It's a key point in understanding her, the BS, and everything else. Emma is the same, but to a lesser degree. But if you decide to be with Ashley you get a sex scene and no new information. Any information you do get is repeated (Ashley likes the BS, the MC doesn't, they clash over it.) several times, elsewhere.
But to address your point, there is the question on whether tying the player down in the first third of the game, when they are still learning about the different LIs in the game is a good idea at all. I argue that on balance, it's a bad idea unless the game is of the type where each LI has an entirely unique route, aka Japanese VN style (or Offcuts, if anyone remembers that game). As it stands you just add more negatives to the moral ledger of the MC and crew, while keeping the rest of the characters on a moral high ground.
Especially when it looks like how Ashley responds to the BS will be based on whether you broke up with her or not.
I went back and read all my posts and some of the posts that related to mine and this is my conclusion to this point. The BS had no problem victimizing others in HS through influence or directly depending which character(s) we are talking about and now that it is coming back around they have positioned it to where they are victims again. It feels orchestrated and fake I think they know exactly what they are doing and imo that is the shittiest thing any person can do. But that feels like the narrative of the story be a victim or be a victimizer. Of course there are the followers and the weak. Then of course the MC who has basically started acting just like them be a victim or attack. So basically the characters are more than difficult to like and that's a key element in any story is likable characters. The dev tries over and over to make some characters likable but none of them are. Silent acquiescence in the face of tyranny is no better than outright agreement.” ― C.J. Redwine, Defiance . If I had any person in my life that was even the slightest bit like any of these characters there's no way we'd be friends let alone fucking. Hell I wouldn't even talk to them at all because they are all so half baked as people as far as character growth there is literally no room for it because they are so poorly made. I agree with an earlier comment of burn it all down and be king of the ash pile because there isn't one bridge or olive branch that could possibly make sense in the whole story.
it's all about morality. will MC do X in this situation or will they do Y. only dev knows how things will turn out and who the characters really are
ok so who is the moral person in the story? I haven't seen anyone fitting the description of a moral person have you?
morality is difficult to explain. everyone thinks they're moral while others think they aren't moral. you can say that you are moral for taking revenge on someone that did something horrible like a drunk driving accident. others could say you aren't moral in your pursuit of revenge. it's all about how people view something or someone. in this case we could say MC is moral but others could argue he is anything but moral
Yes but that's the issue isn't it? The moral ambiguity is so overdone to the point of it's almost the only trope we've seen so far which is what makes all the characters including MC unlikable. If you take the forgiveness path he's just a loser who accepts the blame for everything as if everything is his fault or go full revenge and he's a raging deplorable. It's off balance.
fine. don't play the game so we don't have to hear your constant complaining. problem solved
Relax. It's a discussion forum. People discuss what they like and what they don't.
I was complaining earlier I'll admit that, but after I reflected as stated in my start to this part of the thread I placed what I thought was a well thought out review and evaluation in hopes the dev would see his only asset at this point is unlikable story and characters in hopes they would also reflect because unlikability is a huge factor in marketing. So I'm sorry if my reflecting and admission that I did complain beforehand has offended you. I do think with some tweaks the dev could make a story that isn't so off balance, but they don't have to. But isn't reflection what leads to realization and in some cases possibly change or improvement? It's ok if you don't like my thoughts or ideas but is it wrong for me to hope that the dev will consider input even if they don't use it?
- Jul 25, 2017
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Hi everyone!
I'll call this the "weekly" dev update this time since I missed last week lol.
I ended up getting sick and then I got REALLY busy at my day job, so I lost a bunch of free time. Honestly, my efforts on this game are taking up way more time than it probably should. I can't help it though, it is in me and just wants out!
The good news is that I am planning on a 3/3 date for the top tier release of EP 3.5. This episode keeps expanding and I need to limit it because the size is making delays! So having a target release date will help me focus, I think.
I've attached a couple of preview images since I missed the post last week.
- Sep 30, 2017
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While I agree with you, and I love discussing game points, characters etc. (See my multiple posts already on this thread) It sometimes does feel like people keep on posting in threads about games they don't seem to like. Some even "threatening" the dev that his game will fail due to him not changing certain aspects of the game.
At some point it can get a bit much. At the end of the day, the dev wants to tell his story and we the players needs to decide if we are on board the story or not.
So critiquing a game or discussing certain aspects you like or not is fine, but at some point, you need to re-evaluate if a game is indeed for you and if you want to continue playing the game, if you dislike just about everything in the game.
It can then get a bit much if someone that clearly stated multiple times how they don't like a game keeps on posting about how bad the game is. And other players that likes the game can then rightly ask why you keep on posting in a threat about a gmae you hate.
NB!! in no way am I implying that this applies to WastedTalent . I have not followed their convo that closely. But, after a wile, in general I sometimes get irritated by people that keeps on posting about a game they clearly dislike (My bugbear is mostly anti-NTR users posting in a game thread where multiple male characters are having sex.)
Fair enough and just for the record I don't think I mentioned the three letters and I will be an adult and try not to post anything that I don't think is a well thought out opinion moving forward. I admit on this thread I have probably over shared my thoughts and if that has irritated you my apologies I understand that dev's face a huge amount of criticism constructive or not. As far as not liking the vn... I will say I like your art and animations in some stories that's enough, but here you wrote a prologue and opening that was designed to get a good amount of players interested in the MC's perspective and then so far crapped all over that perspective. That's all I'm gonna say but it means your prologue and introduction was great... after that as I said earlier I'll check out two more updates and see... and I know I'm not the end all you have a lot of following here and I'm sure on other forums as well. Do I hope the introduction has more traction in these updates? yes... the creative decisions though are yours good luck moving forward.
- Sep 30, 2017
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I'm not the dev. Just a normal fan of the game.
My observation was not targeted at you specifically. Just an observation in general. (Some posters keep on posting in threads of games they appear to dislike)
One of the best games I played, especially storywise! Keep up the good work!