I think I kinda of answered this in my last reply. I had totally missed this the first time I read your message, lol. Again, something will only be shown if it fits within the story. Nothing will be shown just for the sake of showing it. I say this because at some point I'd like to do a storyline where a chick might be seeing the MC, but has an affair with someone else or a fwb if things with the MC aren't serious. And work that in the guilt of the character, does she tell the MC or keep it hidden. How does the MC respond? Does he accept her or reject her completely. If he accepts her, what issues come up later from this.....it gives me a lot of options as a writer which is why I said if something pertains to the story, all bets are off. I think for the most part I'll have things happen off screen, cause honestly I really don't feel like coming on here and explaining every decision we make, lol. Plus, put yourself in the shoes of these female characters, is it fair that we(The MCs of all the games) get to go around fucking everything while they have to sit and wait til it's their turn? lol Don't answer that, I know what you'll reply, lol. Rest assured though, we will be mindful of how things are presented. Personally, I like the route of suggesting something and leaving it up to the players imagination. I have experienced in some games that I'll like a character a lot, but I make a choice and she winds up banging someone else and they show it full on, it makes me care less about the character. When it has been suggested but I don't see it it actually draws me in more.
ReturnofPoncho
I want to clarify something to make sure i'm understanding you correctly.
If one of the love interest sleeps with someone else, that will be the MC's choice?
Or is it that the female characters wont wait around for the MC to make a move, they will be making passes of their own and hooking up with other men because it feels like a much more rich and fleshed out world?
These are two conflicting ideas, unless you plan on turning it completely sandbox and letting the player decide which relationships he pursues and in what order instead of waiting until they come to fruition in the main narrative.
I get what you are trying to say, I think.
You don't want to handcuff your narrative with promises that the girls wont fuck someone else before you have a chance to get them to commit. That way, if you have a story about the Love Interest cheating and want to do something like: "MC and Joyce are together but never had a discussion about exclusivity, (plus your an MC, you're fucking around too) and turns out, off screen, one of her sugar daddy's got Joyce pregnant! And its MR. Kelly! What will the MC and Joyce do!? Dun, Dun, Dun! DRAMA!" you totally do that and you didn't break your promise. But honestly? I would I hate a story line like this, and if I had no way to prevent a love interest from sleeping around, I'd drop the game.
I myself am a very jealous person, I don't like other men flirting/chatting up the Love Interests even if you haven't gotten a chance to woo them yet, and as I've said in an earlier post, I would HAPPILY murder every other male character in a VN if given the option, both friend and foe, just so they don't fucking touch my women, story be damned!
In you're above example of "Its fine if the cheating is just implied instead of shown." No, no its not. Ever hear the phrase: "Its the not knowing that kills me"? I agree that SHOWING it is way, way, worse but even so, cheating is cheating and I quickly grow to hate a Love Interests that just whores around after she's been with the MC. But that's just me, as I've said, I prefer for the MC to be the only one fucking his Love Interests (aside from other women), even if its completely hypocritical.
Bear in mind ReturnofPoncho, these are just MY opinions, I still support you doing whatever you like with your VN, even if it is something I won't play, i'd never demand you change anything just to suit 1 person. I'm just giving you my opinion as a fan of the work so far. I'll still cheer you on as both you and CodeGuy, even if I eventually decide its not a game for me, as I see you have/are putting alot of work into the VN.