Is there an explanation on what the harem mode is more specifically that I can read up on? I tried some googling but couldn't get much more than patreon-locked posts. I don't mind dropping some cash if it's my jam. But what exactly do they mean by multiplayer? Will there be other players in my sessions? Also how would that work with the VR variant? etc.
TBH, I don't know if the devs themselves even know at this point.
The latest Patreon post clarifying some stuff can be found
here.
It started off as "scenes involving more than two characters will be harem mode exclusive, which will be multiplayer and you control the character you want". I'm sure they implied at some point that for example a MFM threesome would have two players controlling the males independently (just think of how you have control over the speed, but then both players have their own slider).
There were some concerns so you would be able to turn off displays of other people, so they appear as NPCs (but are still players). Free roaming the station was also planned at some point, something like being able to explore the station and see a bunch of orgies going on in different rooms or so. I think I also read something about a 16 slot player cap per session or something.
My guess of their plan for the whole multiplayer setup is:
- You have a bunch of players on a server, the server has a limited number of slots, those correspond to rooms on the station.
- Each player will have control over 1 or more rooms
- The players setup scenes in their rooms (like the ones in the gallery right now)
- The interactive part of the multiplayer experience is limited to other people setting up the scenes they want
- Accessing rooms/scenes has no interaction with other players (you don't need two players for a threesome)
- If you like how a room is setup, you give it a like
Those are my current expectations (and hopes) for the Harem Mode after following their updates on for almost a year now.
I'm guessing they're gonna limit (hopefully) interaction between players as much as they can, which will also make it easier to implement. Set pieces in rooms set up by players can easily be played back locally. So if a player is 'playing' a scene, no one but that player actually sees what's happening (none of that voyeur stuff).
My 2cents, since you're already late for the "discounted steam key", I suggest waiting for the next patreon post that explains exactly what it is. Harem mode is still at least 3 months away.