Ren'Py Completed Callisto [v1.00] [Xavster Gaming]

[cxx]

Just found this from the Latest Updates and in a phase where Callisto is cathering the crew. I like it so far, great characters, story so far promising and I am scifi fan.

My question is where this has been hiding from me?

as a scifi fan you'll like this, this has many scifi cliches well made.

you just missed prev. enterings on latest updates.

 

[BGRW2020]

is it in the best interests of the calisto to support Breana

 

[professorx10]

Just found this from the Latest Updates and in a phase where Callisto is cathering the crew. I like it so far, great characters, story so far promising and I am scifi fan.

My question is where this has been hiding from me?

If you're just starting off.... BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE "?" on the control panel and go through the 4 page Captain's Briefing!! You'll understand the Callisto Universe much better and enjoy it as you travel.

And if you are a Sci-Fi fan as you say, do not hurry too much because once you reach the current limit you'll be stuck waiting for the next update like a lot of us. This is an exceptional Sci-fi Game Adventure that deserves to be savored. . . and announced to the world of Sci-Fi lovers.

Happy Voyaging, Captain!
PS: don't forget the Prelude on the Captain's computer...if you haven't watched it already

 

[Hornyowl]

Most of the new main content is time based as a result of the new threat. Just trade / salvage / advance time and they will become available.

Thanks dev.

 

[moskyx]

Spanish translation updated / Traducción al español actualizada - v0.82

https://f95zone.to/threads/callisto-v0-82-xavster.34378/post-4399025

 

[sergesan]

if you ever code this without being a sandbox grinder, then you have a fan more

 

[cxx]

if you ever code this without being a sandbox grinder, then you have a fan more

not that grindy once gets beyond start.

 

[PyoT]

Nice setting, good visuals - aliens could be more alien, bodytypes could be more varied, but I do like how appearances change from time to time, and there's a ton of renders of all sorts of stuff; clearly lots of work going into this, including the environment and such. I do also like the music.

Gameplay loop isn't too interesting and it feels like trade need some spicing up to make it less busywork, but, eh, it's kinda whatever. It doesn't take that long to click around and as far as I know there's really no bad consequences to doing things suboptimally in terms of money.

Unfortunately a huge letdown in terms of writing. All character voices are the same, protagonist has zero personality (of course), with a weak setup in general; the story being rather slice-of-life-ish would be okay, but then the random bits and pieces must be fun enough to be entertaining, and they aren't. Everything's rushed, there's no good narrative flow within the scene, information just gets dumped at the moment it becomes relevant ("we need to get into this compound, luckily I have magically obtained all necessary information inbetween the scenes!"), and then there's smaller problems like the cringe "frak" use (and again, all characters say this, instead of there being any sort of variation. Because clearly even aliens have the same hangups in a game about fucking ...). Praise though for generally solid grammar (if not necessarily making for nice prose, the sentences as far as I've seen are largely correct), same for proofreading. Already puts the efforts ahead of a lot of other games on here.

 

[Xavster]

Nice setting, good visuals - aliens could be more alien, bodytypes could be more varied, but I do like how appearances change from time to time, and there's a ton of renders of all sorts of stuff; clearly lots of work going into this, including the environment and such. I do also like the music.

Gameplay loop isn't too interesting and it feels like trade need some spicing up to make it less busywork, but, eh, it's kinda whatever. It doesn't take that long to click around and as far as I know there's really no bad consequences to doing things suboptimally in terms of money.

Unfortunately a huge letdown in terms of writing. All character voices are the same, protagonist has zero personality (of course), with a weak setup in general; the story being rather slice-of-life-ish would be okay, but then the random bits and pieces must be fun enough to be entertaining, and they aren't. Everything's rushed, there's no good narrative flow within the scene, information just gets dumped at the moment it becomes relevant ("we need to get into this compound, luckily I have magically obtained all necessary information inbetween the scenes!"), and then there's smaller problems like the cringe "frak" use (and again, all characters say this, instead of there being any sort of variation. Because clearly even aliens have the same hangups in a game about fucking ...). Praise though for generally solid grammar (if not necessarily making for nice prose, the sentences as far as I've seen are largely correct), same for proofreading. Already puts the efforts ahead of a lot of other games on here.

Thanks for taking the time to submit feedback. As a query, could you clarify the following:
1) How far have you managed to get in the game? You can see the event list by pressing the light button.
2) Are you familiar with the map interface?

This is my first game, hence I have been learning during the development of the game. As such, the later portions of the game should be far stronger than earlier sections. Hence interested to see whether your comments reflect early content or is based upon exposure to the entire game.

PS: Frak is a 'tip of the hat' to Battlestar Galactica. On reflection, not the greatest game decision I have made.

 

[Avaron1974]

and then there's smaller problems like the cringe "frak" use

That's from Battlestar Gallactica.

 

[PyoT]

Thanks for taking the time to submit feedback. As a query, could you clarify the following:
1) How far have you managed to get in the game? You can see the event list by pressing the light button.

You've implicitly gotten at the heart of why I wrote a comment, not a review I'd say I paid for the most part decent attention until the end of "Liberation of Dione" main story; then I clicked through a bunch more main story stuff (New Power 2 is where I'm stopped right now). Most of the Misc events, all bit one character backgrounds, 1 sidequest, and the reporter event.

2) Are you familiar with the map interface?

I assume so? Presumably you mean the "Google Maps" marker left of the light bulb? That's why I said I didn't think the gameplay loop was such a big deal (as so many complain about the game being grindy); you can fast forward, click on which planet to travel next, and it shows optional and story events ... works well, convenient to use, no complaints from me in that regard.
... however, it doesn't really change that "trade" is effectively looking at a column of numbers and spotting the biggest gap between what you can buy where you are and what you can sell in either of the other two options. Not that interesting.

As such, the later portions of the game should be far stronger than earlier sections.

I accepted that the Prologue might be variously rushed, a sort of "okay, let's get to the real story quickly" (I'd have recommended a more vignette style backflash prologue here though; roughly as, uh, Casting Director handles its intro at the beginning, to get to the actual game) - otherwise, tbh, I might have stopped then and there. But I can't say I found a notable improvement in the script as it goes.

Again, visuals and such are fine. And I don't really have a problem with the story beats per se. It's really about how they are written.

PS: Frak is a 'tip of the hat' to Battlestar Galactica. On reflection, not the greatest game decision I have made.

I've encountered this in a few scifi series, especially mil-scifi ones, so it's not that I'm unfamiliar with it (but I guess not being a BG fan it just doesn't warm my heart ^^). I probably wouldn't have had a problem with (perhaps pointedly only) the humans saying it, or specifically a nerdy character, or maybe some alien that learned human culture through watching classic human culture (winkwinknudgenudge ... yeah, that's all cliché territory too, but I'm not saying I expect you to write the next Tolstoy novel).

But, effectively, it's just a good example of my "same voice" issue. The alien from a remote planet uses the same vocab as a soldier with a questionable history or an ex-stripper or a porn actress turned doctor. That's just not good. And while it's most obvious with that bit, it's really true for everything they talk about.

Well, anyway. That's all just my take; going by reviews it doesn't seem to be a too common complaint.

 

[Pinsel]

thx for the last update, it was nice. To chose Kara at the Gala was very satisfied.
Next step would be knock it up

 

[cxx]

thx for the last update, it was nice. To chose Kara at the Gala was very satisfied.
Next step would be knock it up

pretty much every1 should be preggo by now.

 

[Xavster]

But, effectively, it's just a good example of my "same voice" issue. The alien from a remote planet uses the same vocab as a soldier with a questionable history or an ex-stripper or a porn actress turned doctor. That's just not good. And while it's most obvious with that bit, it's really true for everything they talk about.

Firstly thanks for the clarifications. It's the finer detail that makes a difference in the critique. This gives me something specific to address and seek to find a better alternative.

In specific reference to the "same voice", it's something that I too have identified. In my next game, one the planned main characters will be a crusty foul mouthed gnome-like character. Have done some work in construction, hence am familiar with the sort of dialogue that is used.

Having each character exhibit a style of speech is a really hard thing to do well. It's even harder when you are the only writer. I could probably write in a few styles, however covering all of the races / characters would be a struggle. There are a few people that help out with the game, each from different backgrounds. I may see if they will be interested in taking ownership of a character and rewrite their dialogue to fit with language style they are very familiar with.

If done well, different speech patterns would really add to the game. If done poorly, it could feel like a train wreck. Examples such as the Scottish accents for belters in 'The Expanse', sort of works, however it is a bit of a weird selection. At least they didn't pick Welsh! The robot in the original 'Lost in Space' is a rather cringeworthy experience, however in the time in which it was made, probably worked.

 

[Xavster]

... however, it doesn't really change that "trade" is effectively looking at a column of numbers and spotting the biggest gap between what you can buy where you are and what you can sell in either of the other two options. Not that interesting.

From what I can gather, you have not procured a sensor and experienced the salvage mechanic at all. This is a more interesting system than trading. There was originally more alternatives planned, however they didn't make it to implementation. What was added, was the piracy, which improved both the trading and salvage experience a little.

I accepted that the Prologue might be variously rushed, a sort of "okay, let's get to the real story quickly" (I'd have recommended a more vignette style backflash prologue here though; roughly as, uh, Casting Director handles its intro at the beginning, to get to the actual game) - otherwise, tbh, I might have stopped then and there. But I can't say I found a notable improvement in the script as it goes.

The prologue v0.10 was written as my first attempt at a VN. It was my introduction to Ren'Py and was a linear story. Whist I did have an intent to continue development to a real game, I wanted to gauge interest first. The pacing is forced in order to establish the crew, such that they environment could be constructed. My knowledge of Ren'Py and game design has since progressed, hence with the next game, new characters and world will develop with each version. This gives me the time to refine each of these, prior to introduction.

Version 0.20 was by first real attempt to program in Ren'Py. It was a success in terms of creating a navigable environment and also the implementation of a trading system. Little things that were achieved, such as switching out the space background based on sector and having the hold contents match what you purchased, were items I am still happy with. Unfortunately the story / interactions are a bit of a train wreck. This was predominately a result of focussing on getting something functional, rather than planning and story writing. I also created a nightmare in terms of interaction points (locations + times), that were too numerous to ever fill with something meaningful.

I have been receptive to user feedback and have included such features as the map interface in v0.30 and then the quest tracker / helper in v0.40. I have also experimented with systems such as the relationship wheel, with differing degrees of success. Whilst I am committed to completing the current game, it really has been more useful to me as a learning process than anything else.

 

[Spamwise]

Just as a thought, sprinkling some more technical jargon in Alice's lines, and stepping up Tiffany's bubbliness would work wonders. Kara is one of the more distinct already, she talks with confidence and poise, and that could be honed further.
You might want to think if anyone has a noticeable accent, and change some of the phonetics accordingly.

 

[Dragon59]

PS: Frak is a 'tip of the hat' to Battlestar Galactica. On reflection, not the greatest game decision I have made.

I guess you could have gone with "gorram," "pigu," "gǒushǐ," or "húndàn" from Firefly.

 

[DaedusWolfe]

It's been a while since I played the game so I downloaded the latest version and am just getting started. Just something I wanted to point out; On the first day we are docked at THE major trade hub in the Pleiades Cluster but there is no trade data available so purchasing anything from the trader is likely to be fruitless unless we are going to waste precious time and fuel trying to find someplace to sell it at a profit. It would be helpful to have that trade data unless you have a reason for us not to do a trade run right off the bat.

 

[professorx10]

It's been a while since I played the game so I downloaded the latest version and am just getting started. Just something I wanted to point out; On the first day we are docked at THE major trade hub in the Pleiades Cluster but there is no trade data available so purchasing anything from the trader is likely to be fruitless unless we are going to waste precious time and fuel trying to find someplace to sell it at a profit. It would be helpful to have that trade data unless you have a reason for us not to do a trade run right off the bat.

What you point out is true and one of the reasons the game is a little difficult to make credits at first. The only help you get & I can give is to go to the Captain's Computer and look at the Sector information. It tells what commodities each trading station sells and buys. Its not perfect but it prevents wasting a lot of time losing credits while trading. After you go far enough into the game, you get help from a crew member that solves the trade data issue.

Also, I will once again remind all starting players, if you haven't clicked on the "?" on the control panel and gone through the 4 Captain's Briefing pages, you're missing a lot of clues and how to play and get the most from the game.

Good luck!

 

[Xavster]

It's the start of bikini week on Callisto. Just an opportunity for Patreons to vote on their preferred outfits for one of the events in v0.90. Script is done and image creation is already underway. If you want to get involved Alice poll was created on Patreon earlier today, with a new girl each day this week.