Ren'Py Desert Stalker [v0.16c] [Zetan]

[Paz]

Both, actually. The first one is not a deal-breaker if the content is truly very "well-separated", which includes how the dialogue is handled. But I would say that it does lessen the experience, because you may be losing a substantial amount of content, or you could also use the "immersion issues" argument (which also has to do with how the dialogue, and the scenarios, are handled).

It is true that some people dislike the game even if this type of content is said to be avoidable, but you're talking to someone who invested hundreds of dollars in a game (not this one) that had tons of (optional) straight-up NTR content (including netotare), just to give you an idea.

And I have seen it happen, more than once (I can't give examples here because of the cross-promotion rule), which is not as far-fetched as you put it, it's that the game may lose the balance between the two types of content, a lot of time this optional content gets bigger and bigger, maybe because of patrons, maybe because the dev feels like it. It may not be premeditated, but it happens.

I mean, if you are refusing to even make this statement that sharing will never be the priority, or that sharing will be reduced to X amount of content per update, this does raise my eyebrows. Plus the dialogue changes for "consistency", and the addition of that journal entry for the same reason... are also off-putting to me, in a game that started looking like a harem when I played for the first time.

Fair enough. For what it's worth, the whole codex entries thing is -as with other entries- a world-building thing, hence the consistency. Zeta is sexually liberated, you have people fucking on the streets and even a temple for this. You can't have those with a sexually repressed society. And with that casual sex worldview, sharing is a byproduct.
We didn't create the lore to justify sharing, we included sharing because it makes sense in that world.

As for me refusing to make such a statement, there are multiple reasons for this.
1. I am not the main creator, and while I do have input in the game, it's his story (whether you presume sharing is a large part in said story or not is besides the point).

2. The way we approach scenes and the kinks included in them is "does it fit the story and the scene? Does it blend well?". If yes, we try to include it. And that goes for any kink, not only sharing in particular.
That means, while we don't intend for sharing to have any pivotal role in the game, I can't outright exclude that some update among the many might have more of it over the course of the game.
Will it happen? No idea. Will it not happen? Equally no idea.
So, I'm not gonna say that it will appear up to X% in any given update and then we have to scrap a scene because "we promised".
Most updates had 0 of it, others more. It's how it is.

3. Personally, I absolutely loathe the notion that every thread has to have a "No NTR" sign on the front page with big neon letters to avoid "but what if the developer decides to do it????!". It doesn't happen for any other kink and I find it silly as fuck. So I won't be doing anything that propagates this.

I know the above doesn't do much to calm your concerns, nor was my intention to do so. I just wanted to provide a honest view on how we approach making this game.
We've made sure that any and all kinks are completely avoidable for people that do not like it, but that's the extent we'll go.

We are not going to make a statement about the MC not going around pissing on everyone's face in the future in case people not in watersports fear it might happen for some reason, and this here is pretty much equivalent.

 

[muschi26]

Personally, I absolutely loathe the notion that every thread has to have a "No NTR" sign on the front page with big neon letters to avoid "but what if the developer decides to do it????!". It doesn't happen for any other kink and I find it silly as fuck. So I won't be doing anything that propagates this.

That's just a product of it being the most popular “polarizing kink”, I think. If, say, guro or scat were as popular as NTR is, people would likely be clamouring for clear signage there as well.

 

[Cynicaladm]

actually, one way or another, that statement or a version of it has appeared, on multiple occasions, both on here and in the discord...as a matter of intent... and no, I am not going to search the thread to find where. you're welcome to do that yourself.

off the top of my head, one of the times somebody made a big stink about there being sharing was the first time Igor came to visit.. and if I remember well, the actual renders dedicated to it in that particular update amounted to somewhere between 2 and 5% of the content of the update. I would say that overall in the game, the percentages hold true to that sort of range (not factual, I can't be arsed counting panels and animations at this time, but I am confident I am bang on the money or not far of).
if that amount of content dedicated to something they find objectionable is enough to ruin their day and make them question the entirety of the game, I can't say anything else than... that that's their opinion and they are welcome to drop the game altogether if they feel so strongly about it.
I really could not care less if their opinion is borne out of personal taste, or maybe a trauma with regards to being cheated upon, or from being burned by developers doing a 180 on promises they made (I 've heard all of those and more before).

I am reasonably confident that I didn't fuck anybody's wife that they didn't want me to, and so far I think we've been more than reasonable and consistent in how we apply and introduce content, and how we manage the modularity and the ability to opt in or out of pretty much every step of every scene we make.... so whatever reasons for that particular strong distaste, I know I am not the person causing that distaste, and odds are ZetanDS did not do that either (the jury is still out on Paz ) so I would like to be given the benefit of the doubt.

if that's not enough, that's on the player, not us... we're making a game with, overall speaking, some strong content.. not a safe place to use as a substitute for therapy or a refuge against whatever it is one does not like. If that makes it not in one's tastes or it makes one feel ways they don't want to feel, that's legit.. they can move on to one of the hundreds of other games more to their taste that are but a click away, and I genuinely wish them well.|

But I would appreciate that the game be correctly represented and claims that it's going to end up like other games or that it's going to inevitably be ruined in some way or another, would carry more weight if they had some substance and weren't belied by the above mentioned percentages and a reputation for consistency that I believe ZetanDS has earned.

as for why certain things came about at a later stage than in the first 1 or 2 releases.. the answer to that is fairly simple.. for 1, I joined the project at a later time, and the library was my idea.
More importantly, the game was just at its infancy and it developed over time, as did the worldbuilding...
by virtue of necessity, it could never represent all of the things that ZetanDS wanted to put in the game in the first couple of scenes. If you feel ambushed by that.. eh.. I don't know what to tell you.
We always strive for consistency in the worldbuilding, the story, the characters attributes, motivations and characteristics.
The content that came about, including the post about hospitality, is tied to the worldbuilding and they both grew organically and were displayed over time because that's what games in development do.

 

[Wolf Larsen]

But I would appreciate that the game be correctly represented and claims that it's going to end up like other games or that it's going to inevitably be ruined in some way or another, would carry more weight if they had some substance and weren't belied by the above mentioned percentages and a reputation for consistency that I believe ZetanDS has earned.

Only if you consider that a game with tons of sharing scenes (or watersport, whatever) is a "ruin". I didn't say that, nor did I make or implied personal judgments about the people that enjoy the kink X or Y.

I addressed specifically the people that dislike the sharing/netorase kink, and yes, the answers that I received didn't change my personal opinion that this game is not worth it to this type of people.

But respectfully, I do appreciate the honesty and the answers.

 

[Yngling]

I addressed specifically the people that dislike the sharing/netorase kink, and yes, the answers that I received didn't change my personal opinion that this game is not worth it to this type of people.

By that logic, this game is not appealing for NTR fans at all either. And, looking at it objectively, I strongly doubt it is appealing to them, really.

But the sexual liberation, including the acceptance of incest, on the other hand, is an integral part of the world building.
Without it, this would be a very different game.

 

[TM | Twisted Games]

that's a bit of a misrepresentation, when you consider you're talking about a grand total of 3-4 scenes in the entire game...
actually, not even that.. it's parts of scenes.. because every one of those scenes can also be played out without sharing... so it's not like you are losing out on a scene if you play it without the sharing. there's no actual loss of content, just loss of options you don't like anyway... much like you can enjoy Asha's scene in the intro and still get to play it even if you're not into watersports, or you can finish on Ain instead of Zahra in the massage scene, if you so choose.

?

It's some of the best content, and adds to the spectacular world building of the game. Good on the dev team for not bowing to the dull and repetitive rhetoric of those who have convinced themselves that because a vocal minority share their opinion, they have some mandate to try and bully creatives into producing only specific kinds of content.

 

[FunFuntomes]

That reminds me: I'm petitioning for Zaton to retire that criminal from public use and take her in as a personal slave.

I am on the fence about adding more household slaves. One one hand, I like the idea of creating a real Ottoman Empire style harem for myself with plenty of concubines, but on the other hand, I don't really want this to turn into a full harem simulator with a villa that is packed full and overcrowded with defeated enemies and slaves. That would be a different kind of game than what we have now which is following the desert adventures of a Stalker and his down time at home. A bloated cast of characters can be difficult to handle and can quickly spiral out of control if a dev isn't careful.

I think a villa of this size is sufficient for the current family and a handful (perhaps half dozen) of slaves/servants but not too much more than that. I don't know. I haven't completely made up my mind on this point, but I am at least open to any possibilities that the dev team offer.

She could just remain a servant and only get maybe one or two more sex scenes for the entire game, but still stick around as a tertiary character. Even in an Ottoman harem, the sultan didn't sleep with every single girl—hell, he probably didn't even sleep with most of them. Although if anyone's capable of handling a huge harem properly, it's definitely the Desert Stalker team lol.

I believe she should be trained to be Ain's bodyguard, a fitting punishment and a chance to give her a better life.

 

[Cynicaladm]

But respectfully, I do appreciate the honesty and the answers.

Feedback is always appreciated even when we disagree with its content, as is conversation that doesn't devolve into name-calling or worse.

 

[GetOutOfMyLab]

By that logic, this game is not appealing for NTR fans at all either. And, looking at it objectively, I strongly doubt it is appealing to them, really.

But the sexual liberation, including the acceptance of incest, on the other hand, is an integral part of the world building.
Without it, this would be a very different game.

I'll add, as someone who does like NTR games, I do like what content we get here. Each scene is crafted so well that it's usually incredibly sexy no matter what your preferences are.

Regardless, and I think more importantly, I don't consider Desert Stalker just a porn game. This is a story about survival, the various factions and how they might all come together (or not), and what really draws me in is how it is influenced by Fallout and Mad Max. This has world building similar to Fallout, which I absolutely love. The last update where Z could read Ivy's log entries on the computer, each telling a pretty neat story...I loved that. I would love more story-telling like that.

Easily one of my favorite games where I look forward to each release, no matter what kinks are explored in that particular release.

 

[Voez1999]

The game's been out for years. Why are people having the same recycled argument about ntr still XD. Don't like it? Easy just play something else. Bitching here isn't gonna do anything. The dev has been consistent throughout the years and i hope he maintains the quality. Like damn a hell lot of the good scenes overshadow the sharing scene by a huge margin not to mention it is completely optional so what's there to bitch about?
Just turn it off you ain't losing anything lol.

 

[Trickstar]

The game's been out for years. Why are people having the same recycled argument about ntr still XD. Don't like it? Easy just play something else. Bitching here isn't gonna do anything. The dev has been consistent throughout the years and i hope he maintains the quality. Like damn a hell lot of the good scenes overshadow the sharing scene by a huge margin not to mention it is completely optional so what's there to bitch about?
Just turn it off you ain't losing anything lol.

Because the people who love to scream how ntr is the worst thing ever expect everything to cater to them. They are your typical incels that like to harass devs and brigade threads if a game has ntr or plans to have any. Instead of acting like actual adults and just not playing games they don't like they have to act like that and it's truly pathetic and sad.

 

[Kellermann]

You mean questionable like fucking your own daughters but not wanting to see them fuck other people? Weirdo.

Glass houses mate. I'll bet there is some "weird" shit in your porn game library.

I believe she should be trained to be Ain's bodyguard, a fitting punishment and a chance to give her a better life.

I could get on board with that, but I really want Shani to at least go on a few more desert missions. Ain clearly needs all kinds of close supervision.

 

[Nobles]

I only like NTR when its the MC comiting it, corrupting and stealing (hypercritical as it sounds, But its the same argument of love winning and hate loosing ), But people scream about that too <.<
But funny enough, I dont want to NTR the wife sister back, I want to humiliate them more by showing them both how much their rebellious daughter loves and moans with us ^_~ Having the wife sister watch as her daughter recieves her cream pie. More content towards this would be apricated ^_~

So far the sharing scenes in this game (as far as I have played) I have really liked. He has the right conditions. Feel the like the dev hits the nail on the head. It proves harem and sharing can work. That one when the MC can offer his daughter for a friendly guesture of reward/friendship? , but when he started getting carried away, she really told him off. Reminded him shes not his bitch, but a gesture from the alpha ^_~.

 

[Antera]

Do we know when will be steam release?

 

[Mfka5]

I feel like the devs are testing how far they can go with sharing. Like the Ain and Igor one, imagine if he got the main course, you could expect at least 10+ pages of speculation and fighting. Not to mention Zahra lmao

 

[Phase_01]

I just make a save, fap to the sharing scene, then go back to my "every girl is mc's girl" route, I'm sure the silent majority is pretty similar
Its so simple to just not look at the content, instead of arguing over having it vs not

 

[Yngling]

I feel like the devs are testing how far they can go with sharing. Like the Ain and Igor one, imagine if he got the main course, you could expect at least 10+ pages of speculation and fighting. Not to mention Zahra lmao

No, that wouldn't fit the game.

The MC shares (if the player choses so!) from a position of power, not from a position of weakness like in NTR.

For example, Ain clearly doesn't want to get shared, but does so because her father orders her.

It seems as if Zaton doesn't get anything sexual out of it either. But, the game lore does imply that alliances are important and friendship between more or less equal men can be cemented by sharing women. It's a political thing, not a sexual one.

Edit: a somewhat similar practice:

You must be registered to see the links

 

[Voez1999]

See? Some of them cant even reply and just keeps spammings reacts pathetically
Because the solution is very simple, just turn it off and canonically it never happens. But for snowflaks just avoid it completely. Dev already has a vision in mind and he ain't gonna change anything just because a couple of feeloaders here are whining about it. It's completely optional and doesn't even force you to do it.

but damn I hope we'll be making progress with Pepper and Yuna soon. Dev has significantly improved with designs when he introduced them. Even Kitty is cute asf.

 

[The Senior Perv]

It's the first time I'm going to play this game and I find this discussion. I hate sharing or the ntr but it's completely optional and doesn't happen in the story canonically if you choose to (unlike some shitty games where you don't see it but the story takes it as happening lol). The only fear with this kind of game is that suddenly the dev decides that it's not optional and say something like: It was already in the game, don't complain. I remember that something like this has already happened in other games and it would be a kick to the balls of those who want it to be completely optional xD. It's always a risk in these types of games haha.

Then why even try to play DS if you are always going to fear that ¨sharing will become forced¨?

 

[Blackowl97]

Then why even try to play DS if you are always going to fear that ¨sharing will become forced¨?

Because from what I read from several reviews, the game has a good story and good porn, taking out the sharing scenes that I don't like (for me obviously). And on top of that, it's relatively long, which most games here aren't lol. And I'm done playing all the games I had saved .