Others Flexible Survival [v2024-11-05] [Nuku Valentines]

[jfmherokiller]

Just when I thought QSP was confusing this format takes the cake.

The honest reason why is that this format is oooold ... well its based on an engine from 1979 (it was originally used for infocom games like zork) that has just been updated and extended over the years. While it does run on almost every piece of hardware that has atleast a functioning browser with javascript. its actual native support on platforms is a very mixed bag. (I am still using the git.exe I got from the flexible survival installer, god help you getting it to run natively under osx or any mobile device)

 

[Veilwolf]

The honest reason why is that this format is oooold ... well its based on an engine from 1979 (it was originally used for infocom games like zork) that has just been updated and extended over the years. While it does run on almost every piece of hardware that has atleast a functioning browser with javascript. its actual native support on platforms is a very mixed bag. (I am still using the git.exe I got from the flexible survival installer, god help you getting it to run natively under osx or any mobile device)

Lol the ancient floopy disc era damn, had to install a newish MUI process to run it. It was little confusing at first QSP reminds me of powerpoint for some reason. I am highly familiar with other text based games like Champions of Corruption 1 & 2 as well as Trials in tainted Space which I know are parsed through google docs.

 

[Pandect]

As for the godot port it may happen but probably not by the full set of original writers or developers because many have left and some have even placed legalese saying thier content cant be used anywhere else. Eg you have what amounts to "record labels" attached to content which hopefully dont expire.

For the legalese this also extends to the multiplayer version of the game as well.

So what you're saying is the port is basically never going to happen, or will be gutted of most old content and was just to drive up donations and Patreon numbers?

 

[jfmherokiller]

So what you're saying is the port is basically never going to happen, or will be gutted of most old content and was just to drive up donations and Patreon numbers?

I can't and wont claim anything but from what I remember none wanted to work on the port. And attempting to touch certain characters was met with a kick or ban on the discord and a possible block on github.

 

[MangaKing]

I can't and wont claim anything but from what I remember none wanted to work on the port. And attempting to touch certain characters was met with a kick or ban on the discord and a possible block on github.

I'm guessing that's part of the reason they quietly stopped adding the Engine Work part to updates after June of this year, unfortunate a new engine might've helped this games popularity

 

[nackedsnake]

I'm guessing that's part of the reason they quietly stopped adding the Engine Work part to updates after June of this year, unfortunate a new engine might've helped this games popularity

This got complicated super quick lol.
What jfmherokiller said about the content ownership problem sounds like something exists from the beginning. But they only stopped advertising the port after June as you said, is there a dispute raised only recently?
Were they even planning to do the port, but have to stop due to this dispute?
Or it's never in the plan, just some false advertisement shit since the growing dissatisfaction with existing engine? And only retreated when being caught?
Or it's a totally different reason, like the guy who said to be working on the port no longer plan to?

Not sure about Raising Popularity since it's quite niche, but the port should definitely make this a better game.

Also Just checked their page, they started to advertise their Patreon Cheat (along with other privilege), just as I suggested earlier. Not sure are they watching here regularly.

So what you're saying is the port is basically never going to happen, or will be gutted of most old content and was just to drive up donations and Patreon numbers?

Yeah they are not advertising the port anymore lol.

 

[jfmherokiller]

This got complicated super quick lol.
What jfmherokiller said about the content ownership problem sounds like something exists from the beginning. But they only stopped advertising the port after June as you said, is there a dispute raised only recently?
Were they even planning to do the port, but have to stop due to this dispute?
Or it's never in the plan, just some false advertisement shit since the growing dissatisfaction with existing engine? And only retreated when being caught?
Or it's a totally different reason, like the guy who said to be working on the port no longer plan to?

Not sure about Raising Popularity since it's quite niche, but the port should definitely make this a better game.

Also Just checked their page, they started to advertise their Patreon Cheat (along with other privilege), just as I suggested earlier. Not sure are they watching here regularly.

Yeah they are not advertising the port anymore lol.

yes the content ownership has been an issue since the beginning, and it plagued both the SP and MP game. Initially it wasn't an issue because you had a constant influx of content and an upwell of players. But as the player count/content begins to slow down the locked content becomes more apparent.

 

[Pandect]

yes the content ownership has been an issue since the beginning, and it plagued both the SP and MP game. Initially it wasn't an issue because you had a constant influx of content and an upwell of players. But as the player count/content begins to slow down the locked content becomes more apparent.

And, of course, nobody thought of, "Hey, what happens if we want to shift to a new engine or something, and these people move, lose contact, or fucking die?" they should have made it that as long as the content was only being used for this game and/or a remake, and/or a revamp, they can keep using it, at least then they could import everything.

Stuff made for the project should have stayed stuff made for the project. You can tell them not to use it in the new version, but it should have automatically been a presumption that in the event of something like an engine change, the devs can keep using it. This was stupid of them.

I can't belive nobody considered what would happen if a rights holder died or left the fandom, even back them people died suddenly or nuked everything and left sometimes.

 

[jfmherokiller]

And, of course, nobody thought of, "Hey, what happens if we want to shift to a new engine or something, and these people move, lose contact, or fucking die?" they should have made it that as long as the content was only being used for this game and/or a remake, and/or a revamp, they can keep using it, at least then they could import everything.

Stuff made for the project should have stayed stuff made for the project. You can tell them not to use it in the new version, but it should have automatically been a presumption that in the event of something like an engine change, the devs can keep using it. This was stupid of them.

I can't belive nobody considered what would happen if a rights holder died or left the fandom, even back them people died suddenly or nuked everything and left sometimes.

I doubt they intended for it to happen, I think its is more a case of falling into a pit of your own making combined with the age of the content.

 

[Pandect]

I doubt they intended for it to happen, I think its is more a case of falling into a pit of your own making combined with the age of the content.

I mean, yeah, sure.

But if a project starts to run longer than a year, you should start thinking about what happens if people leave; if it runs for five, you absolutely should start thinking that because people move, have financial troubles, or lose interest or whatever, that might cause loss of contact, at 10 years you need to start thinking about if someone on the team or a contributor dies because health issues can come up fast and ten years is a long time, they didn't think things through. It shows, and that sucks because either it never changes engines, or we lose shit/have two versions to keep up on.

I'm not mad, just disappointed. Isn't this game in its 20s now? This stuff should have been solved at some point instead of ignored or pushed off for the next patch, next version, next year, etc

 

[nackedsnake]

I mean, yeah, sure.

But if a project starts to run longer than a year, you should start thinking about what happens if people leave; if it runs for five, you absolutely should start thinking that because people move, have financial troubles, or lose interest or whatever, that might cause loss of contact, at 10 years you need to start thinking about if someone on the team or a contributor dies because health issues can come up fast and ten years is a long time, they didn't think things through. It shows, and that sucks because either it never changes engines, or we lose shit/have two versions to keep up on.

I'm not mad, just disappointed. Isn't this game in its 20s now? This stuff should have been solved at some point instead of ignored or pushed off for the next patch, next version, next year, etc

Game / Media preservation takes effort and work. (Like what GOG or piracy does)
This stuff happens super often since back in the old days nobody really think about it.
Not sure you blaming them for not having the most defined legalese from start achieve anything.

I don't think They need to preserve all of the contents for new port / remake.
Heck, stuff lost in transaction all the time. It's great if somebody put work into preserve the legacy,
But it should NOT be the excuse for "not moving forward".
IMO they just don't want to put effort and resources into making the changes.
It's even more egregious when you think about them start to monetise the game more now.

 

[jfmherokiller]

Game / Media preservation takes effort and work. (Like what GOG or piracy does)
This stuff happens super often since back in the old days nobody really think about it.
Not sure you blaming them for not having the most defined legalese from start achieve anything.

I don't think They need to preserve all of the contents for new port / remake.
Heck, stuff lost in transaction all the time. It's great if somebody put work into preserve the legacy,
But it should NOT be the excuse for "not moving forward".
IMO they just don't want to put effort and resources into making the changes.
It's even more egregious when you think about them start to monetise the game more now.

wait what montization are they attempting now? Last i checked in they were only withholding patreon cheats.

 

[Pandect]

Game / Media preservation takes effort and work. (Like what GOG or piracy does)
This stuff happens super often since back in the old days nobody really think about it.
Not sure you blaming them for not having the most defined legalese from start achieve anything.

I don't think They need to preserve all of the contents for new port / remake.
Heck, stuff lost in transaction all the time. It's great if somebody put work into preserve the legacy,
But it should NOT be the excuse for "not moving forward".
IMO they just don't want to put effort and resources into making the changes.
It's even more egregious when you think about them start to monetise the game more now.

It didn't need to be super defined; just a "If you write something for this, we can keep using it for all versions of this game unless you specifically tell us not to." It would have future-proofed a lot of these problems, and it's not about preserving all content; at this point, enough stuff is held by others that somehow became vital to parts of the game that enough needs to be rewritten to port it that it's pretty much making a new game, and yeah, it seems to boil down to: We fucked up and don't want to do the work to fix things, here's another update to the strained to the breaking point version.

It's just frustrating because I like this game, and I want it to be better, it's the same in some ways as CoC2, there are parts that are great, and there is potential, but the writers want to fuck around and sponge up money.

 

[nackedsnake]

wait what montization are they attempting now? Last i checked in they were only withholding patreon cheats.

Just from their blog: (Don't follow the project so no idea if there's something else)
The wording also indicates they plan to add more Patreon privileges.

Note: The new game file with the added content is available online in the FS Patreon right now, and will be made publicly available here on the blog come December.
We value anyone who contributes to keeping the game running. Besides getting the updated game earlier, further reward options include ingame bonus options available through Trixie, as well as potentially adding your choice of new character artwork or even added content of your choice every month.

Hvn't checked often, it might be there for awhile now. But IIRC they are not really advertising as much in the past.
I really wish to believe they are "trying to make more funds to improve the project", but the fact they redacted the Godot porting part, don't really sit right with me.

 

[jfmherokiller]

One thing I will admit is that this project's progress is now probably heavily cut down due to the advancements in AI.

 

[Dagger15]

One thing I will admit is that this project's progress is now probably heavily cut down due to the advancements in AI.

What do you mean?

That people won't be interested as much in a text game when they can get their fill w/ AI?

I can see that happening. I really want them to transition away from their current system into something more device friendly. But I don't know enough about any of that to speak intelligently.

 

[jfmherokiller]

What do you mean?

That people won't be interested as much in a text game when they can get their fill w/ AI?

I can see that happening. I really want them to transition away from their current system into something more device friendly. But I don't know enough about any of that to speak intelligently.

Not only interest from the user side but also the developer side.

 

[nackedsnake]

Not only interest from the user side but also the developer side.

Now I'm confused. I thought you meant "they are using AI / Their competitors are using AI, But Generative AI is still not good enough to create (Porn) games, Which result in degradation in quality?"
Or "They are busy tampering with AI so the focus is not on FS anymore?"

What do you mean?

That people won't be interested as much in a text game when they can get their fill w/ AI?

I can see that happening. I really want them to transition away from their current system into something more device friendly. But I don't know enough about any of that to speak intelligently.

I don't think they cannibalise each other.
People play text-based game cuz they like the hand-craft experience created by creative devs.
I never interested in "AI Chat", "AI Boyfriend / Girlfriend".
Also don't think people who like those stuff would play text-based game.
If I want self generated stuff, modded Skyrim / Sim4 are way better.