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Ren'Py Desert Stalker [v0.17.1.2 Steam] [Zetan]

4.80 star(s) 640 Votes
Discussion Reviews (640)
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disC0rdia

New Member
Jun 6, 2020
9
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dolfe67 said:
Female Protagonists are not reserved to female readers (on the contrary when you see the average FP game). If you don't self insert you can make her do what you want her to do.

It's like saying Tomb Raider was made for female players
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True. Or Skyrim Characters. But then you are more interested in 'being able to make her/him do xyz' (->actions ->game), and not in getting the story told (->VN) (though you can create 'grey areas'/crossovers, but more to that, see below).
Tomb Raider has a whole different spectrum of posibilities (actions) compared to a VN, especially one based on RenPy (which is great for VNs, but not suited for 'real games' (let alone AAA titles))

I think that's maybe the problem I have with how sandboxing is often (not here though) implemented in VNs:
A (RenPy based) VN is something between a game and a book/comic (with better graphics). But many authors think they can turn it into a full game
(which might be possible, but harder with the limited mechanics and always(!) way more uncomfortable for the reader/player as it would be with an engine thats designed for it and directly offers the mechanics - or even better: a 'real'/accessible 3d world and not a series of images).
It often looks more like a 'hey guys, I was able to program things, that this engine was not primarily designed for' - Which is a bit more challenging in scripting (and therefore maybe more rewarding if achieved by the author), but doesn't always serve the purpose.
(ok, free roaming is not thaaaat challenging to script..... Got it working in a dummy test - probably the more challenging part here is to keep the overview with a project growing)

I personally prefer a good VN with simple plot choices over a half sophisticated tech demo for RenPy with cumbersome mechanics.
And this leads to the point that I don't see the point of 'making the MC do xyz' (like a 3rd person - where you don't put yourself into his/her pov) for VNs.
(actual games might be a different story, but I'm probably a bit too much of a dominant non-sharing male, to find personal enjoyment in this - I mean it's still MY character I'm playing/controling then, and if I lose every empathy with the MC to switch completely out of that pov, I will always lose at least a bit/rather most of the immersion)

But all in all, that's just my opinion here. Everyone is free to play/read/consume a VN however he/she wants :)

(and before anyone gets that wrong: I have absolutely no problem with the way sandboxing is implemented in this VN)


Paz said:
All in all, Shani will not become the centerpiece of DS in terms of "being the MC", it's still and will be Z's adventures by and large.
I fully understand the immersion breaking, but it's something that we feel adds to the game and Shani's journey was always planned to be sort of -if not integral- closely linked to the overall story.
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Nice to hear. Although I had&have quite some confidence, that this game won't get in trouble with this (MC switch/immersion problems).
 
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fortuna95

fortuna95

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Dev update 12.12.2021

We're entering the final stretch of the release and I'm excited to get this update out as soon as possible. One of the scenes is shaping up to be one of the longest yet, if not the longest, and one of my favorites so far. Not many more details can be shared because they'd be pretty deep in spoiler territory. And with that, I'm going back to rendering. See you all next week.

Progress:
Home interactions: 90%
Scene A: 90%
Scene B: 60%
Scene C: 100%
Scene D: 20%
Scene Rework: 80%
 
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disC0rdia

New Member
Jun 6, 2020
9
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vonmott said:
I prefer sandbox games which also have good stories
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Sure, good sandbox games with good story are of course the top. (Leading us to desert stalker, on that I agree)

As I see it, a VN is always centered around the story - which means if the story is bad, the VN is bad - but it also means, that the 'sandboxing' has to fulfil the purposes of the story.
You can pass on sandboxing, but you can't pass on the story, as that is the core element.

That said, I think the differentiation between 'dialogue based VNs' and 'sandbox VNs' is in vain in regards to story aspects. Each of it needs a good story to work.
Being honest: I don't see a good way to implement sandboxing much more than optional
(in desert stalker you mostly use it to access harem, and some easy selections on the map, to show the next superordinate region - which is all in all fine, as there are no/not to many submenus/selections you have to(!) make)
Because if it gets too important for the story, the cumbersome handling of RenPy (in regards to sandboxing) will kick in at some point.
E.g. Having to click 10 times, just to get out of a house, just to recognize, that you are in the wrong place.... klick again 8 times... The time: you are at the right place, but have to recognize, that you have to wait a whole week to trigger the next relevant event for the main story, so you have to klick hundreds of times to skip through the following again and again repeating dialogues with at most insignificant variations.... 7 days. And then repeat everything for the next relevant story step. Or having to klick 10 times to find your way through a forest.... I don't feel more immersion, or more 'being in a forest' by that - in contrast, if I'm ready with that, I have already forgotten what I'm doing there :D

Yes, pure dialogue stories can be
vonmott said:
pretentious and dialog bloated [...], in 99% of the cases, badly written with faulty plotlines, cringey/kitsch dialogues, bad characterization and cinematography
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but if a story is bad, sandboxing doesn't help. Or in other words: Having sandboxing in the VN doesn't make a statement about the story quality.
And [and that is my point here:] if you have a good story, sanboxing is just an additional feature, that can(!) improve things, but also worsen things, if it doesn't serve the story &/or immersion.
(mater: story, slave: sandbox. If it's the other way round it's not a VN anymore. Then it's a strategy/race/fight/puzzle/[...] game with minor story elements)

PS: had a look at the 'Bright Past'-page.... well, maybe I will try it, but at least the page (description/pictures etc.) hasn't really drawn my attention to be honest....
vonmott said:
If you meant any action (and not only sexual action) by 'being able to make her/him do xyz',
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Well, I'm not entirely sure, as it was referred to what dolfe67 wrote, but I assume he/she meant it more with a sexual background
 
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mrttao

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Jun 11, 2021
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IchWeißNichtGenau said:
ayo dudes could someone help me and say how do i get these locked scenes unlocked? View attachment 1546780
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The one here on the left of knowing your place is called "manhandled". During the knowing your place scene you have the option to "show her her place" (what you took) or to let her run to her sister and letting her sister sort it out (the one you did not take which results in manhandled)
 
Kellermann

Kellermann

Engaged Member
Oct 20, 2020
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Cendash said:
What does the MC look like?
Is it the screenshot of the guy with the shaved head, neck and arms and bushy beard that is going for a smooch on the belly-dancer girl?
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Yes, that's him. I've heard people say they don't like his look or his beard, but I think F95 has them conditioned to only approve of a bald faced shota MC. Like the original poster, I'm thrilled to finally have an MC who looks like he is out of adolescence and in his prime. To me, the beard seems proper for the Egyptian setting (and looks badass), but I get that not everyone is a fan of it.
 
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Cendash

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May 30, 2021
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Kellermann said:
Yes, that's him. I've heard people say they don't like his look or his beard, but I think F95 has them conditioned to only approve of a bald faced shota MC. Like the original poster, I'm thrilled to finally have an MC who looks like he is out of adolescence and in his prime. To me, the beard seems proper for the Egyptian setting (and looks badass), but I get that not everyone is a fan of it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply.

Ya, it does match the Egyptian setting I guess. I really don't know about the historical use of beards in Egypt. I also understand that beards are uber-trendy right now, so the look will probably be well received.

I have mild pogonophobia, that makes me itch if I look at a beard for very long. It is like the empathy feeling one gets when you see somebody cut a finger and flinch for them, only it slowly builds. So I guess this game is not for me.

It is interesting that you (and the majority of people lately) think beards look "badass", even as a kid I always assumed men with beards were hiding weak chins. Not sure where I got the idea. I mean, I am sure a lot of guys with small jaws beard-up to balance their look, but just as many guys probably do it arbitrarily.
 
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Kellermann

Kellermann

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Oct 20, 2020
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Cendash said:
Thanks for the reply.

Ya, it does match the Egyptian setting I guess. I really don't know about the historical use of beards in Egypt. I also understand that beards are uber-trendy right now, so the look will probably be well received.

I have mild pogonophobia, that makes me itch if I look at a beard for very long. It is like the empathy feeling one gets when you see somebody cut a finger and flinch for them, only it slowly builds. So I guess this game is not for me.

It is interesting that you (and the majority of people lately) think beards look "badass", even as a kid I always assumed men with beards were hiding weak chins. Not sure where I got the idea. I mean, I am sure a lot of guys with small jaws beard-up to balance their look, but just as many guys probably do it arbitrarily.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I've never heard of anyone with such a visceral disdain for beards, but to each their own. Don't know and never thought about chins, but I know in many Middle Eastern cultures the beard is rather important and can even be considered Wajib. That's why, to me, it makes sense to see some beards in this game setting.

Anyway, just note that a majority of the shots are from the perspective of the MC so you aren't staring at his beard at all times. Also, you mostly interact with women or masked men or monster men so it's not like you're overwhelmed with beards. You're really missing a great game, but I understand if you can't tolerate some of the visuals.
 
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Kellermann

Kellermann

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Oct 20, 2020
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Cryptist said:
I don't know about you guys, but I am asking Santa Claus to bring that day with just Ain that Z promised a while back.
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Maybe you'll get it while Shani is off in the zone for her Stalker trials. It would be the perfect time for them to have some one-on-one "interactions." Got to do something to pass the time, eh? I think his wife said they would have some alone time too...but I believe she said it would be after Shani returned. So until then, it's the Ain show.
 
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Cendash

Newbie
May 30, 2021
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Kellermann said:
Interesting, I've never heard of anyone with such a visceral disdain for beards, but to each their own. Don't know and never thought about chins, but I know in many Middle Eastern cultures the beard is rather important and can even be considered Wajib. That's why, to me, it makes sense to see some beards in this game setting.

Anyway, just note that a majority of the shots are from the perspective of the MC so you aren't staring at his beard at all times. Also, you mostly interact with women or masked men or monster men so it's not like you're overwhelmed with beards. You're really missing a great game, but I understand if you can't tolerate some of the visuals.
Click to expand...

That is helpful info. If a lot of it is from first person, I might be okay. I'm gonna give it a try. The game does look like it is very well done & I hate to miss out just because of hairstyles that I imagine are itchy. haha!
 
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Chagatai Khan

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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Intermittent Coherence said:
In a nutshell, the ancient Egyptians tended to prefer them trimmed or shaved. As Islam took over the area, the cultural preference shifted towards fuller beards.
Click to expand...
Mostly true, though one shouldn't forget the 900 year period of first Greek and then Roman rule, during which time most, but not all, Greek rulers were shaved. From Emperor Hadrian onwards many Roman Emperors (who were considered Pharaohs by their Egyptian subjects) had beards, including the last one to rule Egypt, Heraclius. Whether rulers shaved themselves or not doesn't necessarily say much about what was popular in society at large. It's difficult to say anything about the larger population because of a lack of sources, but we do know that scholars in the Greek speaking half of the Empire (to which Egypt belonged) during that period tended to have beards as they were to some extent associated with age and therefore with wisdom. Also here's a picture I found from the Ptolemaic era with a bearded man:

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4.80 star(s) 640 Votes