I don't wanna spoil anything, but you got a lot of things right. Many of what you said I actually had planned for the game already, especially about the MC and his internal struggles, and the way it's gonna be different for those who want to embrace the "dark" side of the story and those who want to struggle against it, and hope for a better future. I do like the way you describe things!
Yeah, being a first-time developer, the beginning of the game had A LOT to do with figuring out what works and what does not. There was A LOT of testing on the game mechanics and A LOT of feedback helped me to figure out things like "Hey, that's great! You should continue doing this!", and "Hmm, that's interesting, but it's not so funny, perhaps if you add this...", and finally "This shouldn't be in a game at all. It's just annoying."
I mean. I like to hear good feedback, bad feedback, anything really. I can find useful information anywhere. And if I can't, then there's no point in breaking a sweat for it. Whenever it's just utterly hateful rubbish, then I just choose not to be a part of it and move on.
And I do intend the sandbox elements to add to the story instead of it being just a grinding element to make the game longer. I intend to make every interaction with the girls inside the school have a different scene that will advance their stories, instead of grinding relationship points. It's pretty ambitious and a lot of work, but I think I'm figuring it out.
At first, I had to present the girls and the different places around the school, and the only way I thought about making this right is kinda having a linear path that directs/helps the player through it. And the hint system was a nice suggestion from the feedback.
I do want to change a few things in the early in-game days, but I'm so into the story right now that I'd just wish to add more content rather than spending the update time making small tweaks and breaking the current workflow. But I do want to review a few things later.
By the way, thanks for the typo call, I fixed it!
And thanks! I really appreciate it!
Nice! Where are you from? (If you don't mind me asking.)
And thanks! I appreciate it!
It's really alright! Don't worry about demotivating me. As I said earlier: I do want to change a few things in the early in-game days, but I'm so into the story right now that I wish to add more content rather than spending the time I've got to work on the game, making small tweaks and breaking the current workflow, which is making me feel good about the story right now. But I do want to review a few things later.
You're right, the brain surgery thing was a bit unorthodox
It could be better executed, OF COURSE! But the whole setting is exactly what I wanted for the scene. Someone got hurt because of HIS problems. And even if he was not the one who caused the girl harm, the MC feels guilty about it and tries to help her in the only way he knows how. He's not used to going to the hospital, or the police, or anything circling the conventional means. So he brings her home, and he himself takes care of her while showing he's actually skilled in anatomy (which has a purpose later on). It also adds to his internal struggles like "Hey, I've done a lot of shit. But perhaps I can use some of what I've learned for some good, after all."
As I've said, it could be better executed, but the core of the scene itself is what I wanted.
Same thing with Kayle. Let's break this scene into parts. It's alright if you don't agree with everything I say, but perhaps I can give you a different view.
The gun thing. It was not known there was a gun until things got physical. At that point, it's not known to the player if kayle's boyfriend knew about the gun. But what we know is that he's surrounded by 4 dudes bigger than him. Most people would freeze in such a situation. I'm not saying my view is the MC's view. But to the MC, who's used to life-threatening situations, and it's also used to overcoming them, he was being a pussy. It's normal for people to not react rationally in situations of stress. And the MC was pissed he left the girl alone. And of course, I see no other scenario where the kid would not end up dead had he confronted the thugs.
And I do not know exactly how people are with guns around the world. I know different cultures and social-economic situations may change their behaviors around guns. There are a lot of real places where hearing gunshots is normal. But let's just say that, in the city where the game is set, a gunshot in the street would bring A LOT OF HEAT to everyone. It would be investigated, the surroundings would be swarmed with cops, and they would most likely end all in jail or dead. So it's more used as an intimidation thing rather than a weapon itself. And when he sees someone in the street calling the police, he decides it's better to just bail and de-escalate the situation.
And what a normal person would do? "This girl was harassed? The right thing to do would be to call the cops, get her to the hospital in case she freaks out and hurts herself, or something along these lines."
But the MC is not a normal person and is still learning how to behave in a normal society. He brings the girl to an abandoned place outside of any gang's territory because in his mind that's a safe place to be. Not in a police station, not in a hospital. Just away from everything. Kayle follows him because she's in shock, and people don't make sense when they're in shock. And when her boyfriend is mentioned she kinda breaks from it and starts freaking out.
I'm sorry about the long message, I'm really passionate about the game.
But I do agree that better execution is needed. I still got a lot to learn in terms of storytelling, rendering, and even coding. But I think I'm improving over time.
And I hope you guys enjoy it!
Edit: Oh shit, forgot to say.
There's also why this whole scene exists in the first place. From the narrative perspective, it's supposed to show his internal struggles. When he's thrown into a violent situation, the MC's persona changes, and usually the "dark side" of him takes control. The second time this happens is in the subway, and it doesn't happen right away because he's struggling since the encounter in the building where the "Evil MC" takes control without his permission.
In Kayle's scene, the evil MC serves as a part of the MC telling him "man, what the hell were you thinking? I know you wanted to help the girl, but you've fucked up. BADLY. You can't keep doing shit like this. You put yourself in danger for nothing." etcetera. etcetera
Then there's Ava's scene. Where she's hurt and the MC "kinda" learned from his mistakes. He's not taking her to somewhere abandoned. He gets her home because it's the safest place he thinks there is. And of course, the evil MC also scolds him for acting recklessly in this "pursuit" of redemption. In my opinion, it just adds to the overall setting of the game. Most of the MC's decisions aren't ENTIRELY rational because the guy is struggling with his mental challenges. But his decisions do serve their purposes in the story.
Heey! Thanks! I really appreciate it, man!
I mean... Perhaps you used UnRen? If that's so, you can see there are a few renders/videos of a few scenes with Ashley and Ava. They're not in the game because I was testing a few things. They are not meant for the player to see, because it's an unfinished product really. Even Ava's scene I think about deleting it completely. Now I imagine her first NSFW scene entirely different.
But there's nothing blocked or unfinished in both routes right now.
