VN Ren'Py Friends in Need [Ch.1 Remake v0.25] [NeonGhosts]

4.60 star(s) 227 Votes
Discussion Reviews (227)
NeonGhosts

NeonGhosts

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Mar 20, 2019
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PHIL101-YYouPPHard said:
That's smart I think :D That reminds me of a recent VN I tried where the author was literally describing and narrating what he was already showing with the renders... lol... obviously, not comparing that to yours, yours is really well-written and efficient as-is! But god damn, some of these authors, while I have to respect the work they put in, I just don't understand the thinking behind decisions like that. Yours never felt like filler to me personally, but maybe I'll notice a difference in your next update? :)

Anyways, nice update news! :D
Click to expand...
Hah! I definitely felt myself falling into that trap. In chapters two and three, I was kind of using narration as a reminder for what the renders should look like. As a result, I was basically adding descriptive text constantly. Now I stopped being a dummy, and I do it like this:
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Bonus: It helps me eliminate unnecessary renders, condensing and consolidating lots of stuff.

FYI: I finished Pepper's scene today and published an update demo to the $15+ tier. I currently have a checklist of stuff to get done for next week, including adding a little more to Brittani's photoshoot event, and finishing Ashe's first (non-sex) scene. That'll just leave me with Brittani's photoshoot to render, and I'll have enough to put together a solid enough update, albeit not what I had planned.

I'm gonna keep grinding away and see how much I can get done, though. Who knows! Maybe I'll surprise myself!
 
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LWtbo

LWtbo

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Feb 11, 2018
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NeonGhosts said:
Hah! I definitely felt myself falling into that trap. In chapters two and three, I was kind of using narration as a reminder for what the renders should look like. As a result, I was basically adding descriptive text constantly. Now I stopped being a dummy, and I do it like this:
Click to expand...
Descriptive narration is excelent in none illustrated books and games and for the blind infact its essencial to them.
However a well illustrated VN or game can be fe-kin annoyimg done wrong and a lot of Dev's especially new Dev's do it.
But unfortunatly not all of them learn from the mistake and some don't even get it right when being over descriptive.
An example of this is a game I wont name where the Dev writes some thing like
" The MC lays back in his bath and thinks of the day ahead"
While the Render they use has the MC taking a Shower? explain that one to me:rolleyes:.

Another example of too much narration.
The first render shows MC walking out the house saying "I'm off to Aunties house now Mom see you later" thats fne makes sense.
Now the bad part we then get a animated render of the MC in a car with the background moveing past and the narration says.
"The MC jumps in his car and drives to his Aunties":oops:
Why tell us what we already know he said he was gonna drive to his aunties in the render before.
And now he's sat behind the wheel in a moveing car.
What else could he be doing and where else is he likely to going for fe-ks sake.

A better example might be same animated render of the MC in the car with the background moveing past but the narration.
"I wonder if I should of phoned Auntie to let her know i'm comeing over".
At least thats something interesting and makes more sense than just describing what we can already see.

So anyway thats my two unsolicited Penneth's worth on Narration
So If I had any advice to any dev's or anyone else wanting to narrate anything thats not for the blind.
It would be "Stop describing the fe-kin obvious":devilish:.
 
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PHIL101-YYouPPHard

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Jan 11, 2022
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NeonGhosts said:
Hah! I definitely felt myself falling into that trap. In chapters two and three, I was kind of using narration as a reminder for what the renders should look like. As a result, I was basically adding descriptive text constantly. Now I stopped being a dummy, and I do it like this:
You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

Bonus: It helps me eliminate unnecessary renders, condensing and consolidating lots of stuff.

FYI: I finished Pepper's scene today and published an update demo to the $15+ tier. I currently have a checklist of stuff to get done for next week, including adding a little more to Brittani's photoshoot event, and finishing Ashe's first (non-sex) scene. That'll just leave me with Brittani's photoshoot to render, and I'll have enough to put together a solid enough update, albeit not what I had planned.

I'm gonna keep grinding away and see how much I can get done, though. Who knows! Maybe I'll surprise myself!
Click to expand...
Yeah, that definitely makes sense. Like everyone else here I'm sure, I've thought about giving a go at my own VN and that exact workflow was in my head, leaving #notes to describe the scene.

Just to reiterate in case it wasn't clear, I really honestly never found any flaws in your narration when I played through that I could recall... maybe if I really tried I could pick at something, I dunno. I personally thought it was already efficient, so that's why I genuinely am curious how it'll flow after your changes :D I guess the only thing you might have to worry about is putting more render count pressure on yourself if the content feels too short? Or just more dialogue I guess. But, not sure how much your text count has changed, so maybe it won't make that big of a difference.

I think my own philosophy on narration is that it makes sense as long as it's concise and adds something to what the renders and dialogue are already communicating, even if it's just atmosphere or some really sexy wording that helps with arousal or something. I guess that's really, really obvious now that I've put that thought into text, but heh... some authors don't put that into practice unfortunately, and I say that with the best intentions :(
 
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UnamedPluto

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Mar 27, 2018
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NeonGhosts I just tried out the Halloween mini episode and I noticed the big difference for Ashe. I went back a few pages here and didn't see anything, is a redesign in the works for her? The model looked really good in her Halloween picture thing.
 
NeonGhosts

NeonGhosts

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Mar 20, 2019
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Hey, hey! I updated the
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with new art, new dialogue, a new ending, and a new mini-event where you can peep on Madison in Chapter Two -- assuming you stay until she comes home.

Cover.png

tuskedkibbles said:
NeonGhosts I just tried out the Halloween mini episode and I noticed the big difference for Ashe. I went back a few pages here and didn't see anything, is a redesign in the works for her? The model looked really good in her Halloween picture thing.
Click to expand...
Hey! Thanks for playing! Since that took place on a previous Halloween, it's safe to say it won't be a permanent look for Ashe. But, I was actually playing with the idea of having Ashe adopt the new hair for her Chapter Four date with Guy. The idea was that she'd have her old hairstyle if she was neutral or hostile towards Guy, and have the new style of she liked him -- since she wants to show off a little.

Tease002.png Tease003.png

But, it'd make rendering an already involved scene kind of a pain in the ass.. So, I may just put it to a Patreon vote, to see if she gets new hair.
 
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botc76

botc76

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I admit, I was hoping for a bit more of a chunkier update. Something to really sink my teeth into.
I might just skip the Halloween special and wait for the full update if it is really coming in November.
Very much looking forward to it, you are making great strides so far. Really aiming for those 5 stars, aren't you? :)

I actually replayed the game each time a new chapter hit, not because I had to, when I had to, but also just because I wanted to check it again.
 
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GG Jack

GG Jack

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Apr 5, 2018
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Go File's download said images.rpa is corrupted and wouldn't decompress that file
new content from the go file's download has no images
 
"CJ"

"CJ"

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Mar 6, 2021
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Friends in Need [v0.34] [NeonGhosts] crunched

Original / Compressed Size PC*: 1,11 GB / 374 MB - FriendsinNeed-0.34-pc-crunched.zip
Original / Compressed Size Mac: 1,07 GB / 339 MB - FriendsinNeed-0.34-mac-crunched.zip
= ~33,7% of the original size, image quality 80% (png 90%)

Download (PC*/Mac):
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(y) My compressious likeses! (y) Give them to us you filthy little pervertses! :p

This compression is unofficial and untested, use it at your own risk.
The compressing process reduces the quality and can break the game.

*PC = Win+Linux
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NeonGhosts

NeonGhosts

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Mar 20, 2019
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botc76 said:
I admit, I was hoping for a bit more of a chunkier update. Something to really sink my teeth into.
I might just skip the Halloween special and wait for the full update if it is really coming in November.
Very much looking forward to it, you are making great strides so far. Really aiming for those 5 stars, aren't you? :)

I actually replayed the game each time a new chapter hit, not because I had to, when I had to, but also just because I wanted to check it again.
Click to expand...
That's fair! That's why I was initially reticent to even advertise it. But, I figured I might as well let people know about it, especially since it provides a few code improvements and bug fixes, and provides a bridge into Chapter Four. It directly stems from the calendar idea you discuss with Brittani, in Chapter Three.

Plus, it's an opportunity to get it in front of some eyeballs ahead of the next full release, which never hurts.

Phegor said:
>the game you like just got an update!
>it's Halloween / Christmas / New Years mini-update that's completely unrelated to main plot
Click to expand...
Not so! It's actually designed to function as both a Halloween special, and a direct bridge between Chapters 3 and 4.

I am sorry anyone's bummed out it's not a full update, but I literally did it in two days, while I was writing Chapter 4. So, it didn't significantly impact the development cycle for Chapter Four, and I'm still on track to deliver an update this month, fitting my basically-bi-monthly release cycle.

Oh hey, and while I'm thinking of it, if anyone's curious to get a sneak peek at some of the NSFW content for next chapter, I'm doing
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where I tease NSFW renders to all patron tiers.
 
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consumptionist

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Aug 7, 2019
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botc76 said:
I admit, I was hoping for a bit more of a chunkier update. Something to really sink my teeth into.
I might just skip the Halloween special and wait for the full update if it is really coming in November.
Very much looking forward to it, you are making great strides so far. Really aiming for those 5 stars, aren't you? :)

I actually replayed the game each time a new chapter hit, not because I had to, when I had to, but also just because I wanted to check it again.
Click to expand...

i read the update info in the OP and burst out laughing....honest :LOL:

i truthfully cannot think of a worse advert for reputation promotion, something all small devs need for increasing funds, than the smallest numbers of any update i have seen since i started using this site when the site was still new. i was incredulous with laughter :LOL:

and why bother with holiday specials?
is there a Christmas special halfway through in fallout, halo or the Witcher games? no. possibly there is a bloody good reason big devs don't do it. they just get on with the main game development and save wasted time

i agree with you fully that updates should have enough content to sink your teeth into, even if it requires longer update times, as supporters will wait longer and appreciate much more, an update they can spend time on. so long as the wait is justified.

it's funny to see developers give so little thought to perception when it is their stock and trade
 
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4.60 star(s) 227 Votes