VN Ren'Py Completed Chasing Sunsets [v1.10a] [Stone Fox Studios]

[PaxHadrian17]

Quick Patreon Update -


All,
This is just a quick housekeeping update: I wanted to share a bit about what to expect for content delivery when Chapter 7 goes live.
As Chasing Sunsets has met and exceeded the Mega 5GB download limit for free accounts, and pirate sites have grown increasingly unscrupulous about bandwidth theft, we've been forced to reevaluate options for content distribution that will prioritize your launch day access.
We've identified an S3 cloud host that should offer rapid download speeds globally without inconveniencing players with download limits. In fact, it's live already!
Further, we've partnered with

You must be registered to see the links

to act as our distribution front end for Patreon. Don't worry, this portal works even you do not have an Itch account.
You will notice there is now a single download link in the stickied post and welcome note. This will validate your membership before directing you to a personalized download link:
While we're under no illusion this will have any effect on piracy, it should ensure you're not competing with non-supporters for release day access to the latest content.
We will announce our Subscribestar solution on that site when it is finalized.
We've partnered with Imatag for passive proliferation awareness, but we have no plans to add active DRM, nor will our software ever transmit data (anonymized or otherwise) back to the mothership for any reason. (The sole exception being SteamAPI for Achievements and platform integration.)
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ping us below or in Discord.
Thanks!
Stone Fox Studios

Thanks for sharing this Patreon update.

I support via SS so I'll wait for them to provide the SubscribeStar supporters with their solution.

For those on F95 who complain about the speed of development of great AVNs like Chasing Sunsets, this helps to illustrate why content delivery had to slow down.

Stone Fox Studios never said that they were trying to stop the free release of the latest rev of Chasing Sunsets - even though they have a significant free download where they add more of the story to that free download as the content grows.

What they did say is that those who actually support them with $ have the right to download what they paid for First, without competing with those taking bandwidth to download the latest rev for free.

So the devs have had to spend time and $ away from the creation of Chasing Sunsets in order to protect the ability of their paying supporters to download their creation first.

I don't recall seeing anyone who complained about the speed of the development of Chasing Sunsets complaining about this, even though it forces the devs to slow down their AVN development.

I'd call that being a cake eater, but that's just me.

Pirate sites can have bad behavior that threatens their sites (Rule 7 anyone??) and moderators have every right to crush that behavior for the greater good of the site.

Stealing bandwidth does not rise to that level but it can have a longer-term impact far beyond just this thread.

Much like English privateer activity prompted the Spanish to institute convoys protected by armed escorts, Stone Fox Studios has to institute protective measures to guard their Patreon and SS supporters' access to the content they are actually paying for.

They are part of the AVNCU - so obviously they are sharing their findings with every other dev participating in the AVNCU.

Any creator watching trends will also be paying attention to these kinds of activities and noting both their success and the tools they are using.

So expect to see more devs working to protect their creations, whether it is just their download bandwidth or going much further with active DRM.

 

[Tremonia]

Sadly, as a German i can't buy it on Steam.

Doch, kannst du. Einfach irgendein billiges Spiel für ein paar Cent in den Warenkorb legen, beim Bezahlvorgang dein Land von Deutschland auf z.B. Niederlande umstellen. Als Bürger der EU darfst du selbstverständlich, wenn du im EU-Ausland bist auch online in den dortigen Shops einkaufen. Nach Abschluss des Einkaufs des Cent-Spiels, kannst du bequem Chasing Sunsets in den Warenkorb legen und alle anderen AVN, die Steam für Deutsche gesperrt hat, weil Steam zu faul ist ein Altersverifizierungssystem zu installieren und eine uralte erzkatholische strunzkonservative Schachtel aus Oberbayern alle Online-Händler über ihren Anwaltssohn abmahnt.

English version of the german text above: Yes, you can. Just put any cheap game for a few cents in the shopping cart, change your country from Germany to Netherlands, for example, during the checkout process. As a citizen of the EU, you can of course also shop online in the local shops when you are in another EU country. After completing the purchase of the Cent game, you can conveniently add Chasing Sunsets to the shopping cart and all other AVN that Steam has banned for Germans because Steam is too lazy to install an age verification system and an ancient, arch-catholic, stubborn conservative trout from Upper Bavaria sues all online traders via her lawyer's son.

 

[Retrofire]

Some devs have mentioned that Steam seems to have come to an accord with the German government, since they've been asked to update their adults-only form for German audiences. Here's hoping, anyway...

 

[Tremonia]

Some devs have mentioned that Steam seems to have come to an accord with the German government, since they've been asked to update their adults-only form for German audiences. Here's hoping, anyway...

There's no accord with the government needed and the gov wouldn't do this anyway. Consumer protection and data protection are holy cows in germany. They don't make an exception for a store who don't pay taxes in germany. Steam just have to implement an age verification system like thousands of other stores and services have done it. Steam just don't want it because they have to invest in software, some server and most badly for them hire people and pay them.

 

[Ancandune]

Am I the only one bothered by the hair physics(or lack thereof)?

Haha! Keep your reality out of my fantasy!

 

[NebulousShooter]

Haha! Keep your reality out of my fantasy!

No need, there I fixed her. I give you Spider Jaye.

 

[Tulrek]

No need, there I fixed her. I give you Spider Jaye.
View attachment 2504213

 

[greenjf]

JUST NOW

Unlocked
Chasing Sunsets Chapter 7: Beta Soon!

With Spring, uh...Springing, we're tearing into the final stretch here with our development cycle.
This week I will be working on feature integration, achievements, and refining dialogue while Kent goes ham on the remaining art.
Over half of the animations are complete, and so far are turning out to be the best yet.
The three scenes with remaining art are are roughly the same size, so after the first one is complete, I'll feel comfortable projecting a release date.
As of right now, the chapter is playable from front-to-back with three scenes (and associated animations) pending, and the triggers missing for points and unlocks. Sound and music are outstanding as well.
This stuff tends to fall into place relatively quickly at the tail end of the development cycle, so nothing here has me worried other than the normal pre-release jitters.
More updates soon!

 

[mightybored]

Homegirl has the "surprise murderknife" look on her face.

 

[SamualHand]

Homegirl has the "surprise murderknife" look on her face.

Confirmed, only 1 LI remains, that must be the game over paht.

 

[Penfold Mole]

Looks like Jaye-Bear is bear-hugging Mallory there. Either she's groping her ass.

 

[AliceXxDawn]

Thanks for sharing this Patreon update.

I support via SS so I'll wait for them to provide the SubscribeStar supporters with their solution.

For those on F95 who complain about the speed of development of great AVNs like Chasing Sunsets, this helps to illustrate why content delivery had to slow down.

Stone Fox Studios never said that they were trying to stop the free release of the latest rev of Chasing Sunsets - even though they have a significant free download where they add more of the story to that free download as the content grows.

What they did say is that those who actually support them with $ have the right to download what they paid for First, without competing with those taking bandwidth to download the latest rev for free.

So the devs have had to spend time and $ away from the creation of Chasing Sunsets in order to protect the ability of their paying supporters to download their creation first.

I don't recall seeing anyone who complained about the speed of the development of Chasing Sunsets complaining about this, even though it forces the devs to slow down their AVN development.

I'd call that being a cake eater, but that's just me.

Pirate sites can have bad behavior that threatens their sites (Rule 7 anyone??) and moderators have every right to crush that behavior for the greater good of the site.

Stealing bandwidth does not rise to that level but it can have a longer-term impact far beyond just this thread.

Much like English privateer activity prompted the Spanish to institute convoys protected by armed escorts, Stone Fox Studios has to institute protective measures to guard their Patreon and SS supporters' access to the content they are actually paying for.

They are part of the AVNCU - so obviously they are sharing their findings with every other dev participating in the AVNCU.

Any creator watching trends will also be paying attention to these kinds of activities and noting both their success and the tools they are using.

So expect to see more devs working to protect their creations, whether it is just their download bandwidth or going much further with active DRM.

I don't understand. Is someone who paid for early access posting the early access link somewhere where it isn't supposed to be and therefore the link gets overloaded? I get how it is THEFT but how is it bandwidth theft? And why would this make the game take longer to make?

 

[Joshy92]

I Really hope there is a path where You can just be with Jay i really don't want any of the other women (well for a first playthrough anyway)

 

[Vopeco]

I Really hope there is a path where You can just be with Jay i really don't want any of the other women (well for a first playthrough anyway)

Same, and I'm 99% positive there will be, we have 4 chapters left so the beginning of the end will be starting this next update from the sounds of the way Stoya has been talking in his posts, choices will really matter what ending you get, in fact at the end of chapter 6 I think the choice you make after you and Jaye bang all night will impact what kind of ending you get with her, whether you told her you want "All the things" or not, and how high your trust and love points are with her will probably also factor in maybe.

The Devs have said there will be multiple endings for both Mal and Jaye and then of course probably endings for not going on either of their paths, and fooling around with the other side girls too.

 

[Joshy92]

Same, and I'm 99% positive there will be, we have 4 chapters left so the beginning of the end will be starting this next update from the sounds of the way Stoya has been talking in his posts, choices will really matter what ending you get, in fact at the end of chapter 6 I think the choice you make after you and Jaye bang all night will impact what kind of ending you get with her, whether you told her you want "All the things" or not, and how high your trust and love points are with her will probably also factor in maybe.

The Devs have said there will be multiple endings for both Mal and Jaye and then of course probably endings for not going on either of their paths, and fooling around with the other side girls too.

Cool yeah i'm the kinda guy who likes to stick to one love interest in these kinda games i could never be with multiple women in real life or share my girl with anyone man or woman.

 

[Elduriel]

I Really hope there is a path where You can just be with Jay i really don't want any of the other women (well for a first playthrough anyway)

I mean there clearly is... you can shut down all other women even Mallory if you want to (except for Fiona and Tara but those events took place before the game actually starts so that doesn't count)

 

[PaxHadrian17]

I don't understand. Is someone who paid for early access posting the early access link somewhere where it isn't supposed to be and therefore the link gets overloaded? I get how it is THEFT but how is it bandwidth theft? And why would this make the game take longer to make?

I don't claim to be an expert on all things F95, but here is my understanding about how the upload process is intended to work (and if someone who normally provides these uploads wants to clarify/correct - please do!):

An uploader takes the compressed file for an AVN and loads it to multiple upload sites: MEGA, Gofile, etc.

These uploads have whatever limits that the upload site normally imposes (like 5 GB for the free rev of MEGA or download speed).

The links are then posted on pg. 1 of the thread for access by F95 visitors.

If someone takes a link directly from the Patreon site and posts it here - and, for example, the dev is actually hosting that content on a server that they are maintaining (their supporters are effectively paying for this service) so that there is no MEGA limit for example, then pirate downloads are competing directly with supporter downloads.

This means that those people who are paying to support an AVN could run into download issues (access/time to download) if they are trying to download something they are effectively paying for while those on F95 are taking the same content from the same server and using up that bandwidth.

I caught enough of the discussion to see that F95 has a process for handling the upload of a rev for an AVN so those on F95 can access it. Others may come along once that content is posted here and post other ways to access that content (Torrent, for ex.)

A Patreon link was actually provided (I don't remember if it was provided ahead of the upload of the new rev or if it was provided after the upload was already made and links posted on F95). I believe that the way it happened was accidental - no harm was intended - but it did impact the devs and their supporters.

One of the devs severed his relationship with F95/this thread over what happened.
____________

So - to your question about why the above would make Chasing Sunsets take longer to make:

The net result is that the devs are now spending time working to protect the access to their content - which takes away from the time they are spending on creating that content - which is why I said that this slows content delivery. They are now spending time and $ to protect that content and, so far, they are not pursuing the active DRM route.

You may not have encountered this but there are devs that embed ads in their AVNs - not active DRM but definitely immersion breaking.

There are more harsh, active DRM actions that can be embedded in an AVN but, my opinion, that tends to start a flame war where the dev, if they were active participants on F95, ghost F95 once people set out to actively hack and undermine their hard work.

If this happens - everyone loses - because we may still be able to get content, but it will be less content than before/more slowly delivered than before due to the time being spent protecting that content versus just creating that content and any friendly discussions with the dev stop.
_____________________________

Again - if an experienced uploader wants to correct/clarify any of my 'F95 how we upload content' above, please do - I'm certainly up for learning something new.

I hope this answers your questions!

Cheers!

 

[Cabin Fever]

I don't understand. Is someone who paid for early access posting the early access link somewhere where it isn't supposed to be and therefore the link gets overloaded? I get how it is THEFT but how is it bandwidth theft?

If I recall correctly, someone DID post the official paid subscriber download link here and caused bandwidth issues with the official link, not to mention incur additional cost to the devs to pay for the pirate traffic. And this following part might be my hallucination, but the offender then proceeded to argue that he did nothing wrong.

And why would this make the game take longer to make?

Did you not even read the post you replied to? The developers had to spent time away from developing the game to work on additional safeguards to prevent the same problem again. Time not spent on developing game = longer development cycle. Which part of that is hard to comprehend?

 

[SolarWindCatcher]

Active DRM.. hahah.. yea lets go devs, install Denuvo on AVN

 

[cheesetriangles]

Active DRM.. hahah.. yea lets go devs, install Denuvo on AVN

There are VN's that do this actually.