NeonGhosts

Well-Known Member
Game Developer
Mar 20, 2019
1,153
13,481
The new chapter is extremely branchy, more than I expected really. That's not a bad thing, just an interesting contrast to how with many games your paths boil down to "do it or miss out".
I have mixed feelings about it, tbh. I was motivated to do it, because I felt like it's not something I see done a lot and I'd gotten a few reviews along the lines of, "There's the illusion of choice, but it's all linear. :< " So, I wanted to do at least one update where there were some radical divergences in what the player sees.

Buuuut, it kinda reduced the overall length of the average playthrough. Between all five possible openings, there's like 400 images. Nicki's path is like.. 175 of those? So, if you go to Nicki's apartment in the last update, your playthrough will feel longer. If you don't, it'll feel a good bit shorter. Also, it was kind of a pain in the ass to unify all the paths.

I'm sure I'll do something similar again, but keep it to two possibilities, instead of five.

And yeah, I've never liked the way a lot of AVNs are like: Here's your choice, fuck her or don't. I try to even make the friendship/no sex paths interesting in their own right. Gabby's friendship one is a fun example. On her love path, she's angry at you for what she sees as you infantilizing her. On the corruption/dark path she's worried about how you'll exploit your hold on her, to varying degrees. But, on her friend route she's basically like, "Hey, it wasn't cool that you hid this from me," but MC explains (reasonably!) that he's known her less than a week, and didn't think it was his place to meddle in her family dynamic.
 

zedascove

Active Member
Jul 13, 2018
551
1,169
Are you downloading from SubStar or Patreon? Patreon’s files are incompatible.
Isn't Patreon the censored version? Wasn't the patch supposed to work with it instead of SS which I assume is already released with all the content?
 

NeonGhosts

Well-Known Member
Game Developer
Mar 20, 2019
1,153
13,481
Isn't Patreon the censored version? Wasn't the patch supposed to work with it instead of SS which I assume is already released with all the content?
On Patreon the files are edited and removed entirely. So, it’s not possible to enable taboo content.

On SubStar they’re turned off by default, but can be turned on via patch.
 

zedascove

Active Member
Jul 13, 2018
551
1,169
On Patreon the files are edited and removed entirely. So, it’s not possible to enable taboo content.

On SubStar they’re turned off by default, but can be turned on via patch.
Thanks for the prompt reply.

Btw, on the teaser changelog you said there's only Ashe and Nicki content. Is it the same for the full version?
 

NeonGhosts

Well-Known Member
Game Developer
Mar 20, 2019
1,153
13,481
Thanks for the prompt reply.

Btw, on the teaser changelog you said there's only Ashe and Nicki content. Is it the same for the full version?
Sure thing! I try to be especially responsive in the days after an update. :D

There’s a little sexy content with Pepper via webcam, and some teasing content with Britt, but the bulk of the update is non-sexy story stuff.
 

Joshy92

Devoted Member
Mar 25, 2021
11,628
26,105
I kind of find it sexy that Pepper is a webcam girl
Other dudes would be so jealous if she was my girl.
 

Dessolos

Message Maven
Jul 25, 2017
12,549
16,385
I kind of find it sexy that Pepper is a webcam girl
Other dudes would be so jealous if she was my girl.
Don't worry no spoilers ive yet to play the update yet

I really love that about her it's a different take than most LI out there it's rare to find a cam girl LI. Which has a different appeal in it's self for me not cause it's different but it's a different form of sharing which I find really hot and I totally would be with one in real life as well cause of that. Which is weird as I don't know if id share in person if it was real life but over the internet sharing is really hot to me.
 

PHIL101-YYouPPHard

Active Member
Jan 11, 2022
969
1,890
I'd gotten a few reviews along the lines of, "There's the illusion of choice, but it's all linear. :< " So, I wanted to do at least one update where there were some radical divergences in what the player sees.
Just giving my personal opinion here (maybe others might agree): I don't think your game was remotely linear before this recent update; it's almost insulting actually haha, because all of that work on the multiple paths! This recent decision fork is a really fun & interesting way to shake things up, though. But I think decision overload can start to creep in if you go too far. People start feeling like they're missing out on girls/scenes and what not. I definitely agree that 2-3 is the sweet spot rather than 5. (y)
 

Lightaces

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2018
1,445
2,202
Like, in the newest chapter, we see three new girls.

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That's not to say none of these girls will have sex scenes, mind. That's just not the primary function.
All three of those girls would be marvelous targets of a dark path interest. Just saying. The older one clearly doesn't need any light path involvement, though.
 

NebulousShooter

Engaged Member
Donor
Oct 24, 2018
3,811
27,218
Sure thing! I try to be especially responsive in the days after an update. :D

There’s a little sexy content with Pepper via webcam, and some teasing content with Britt, but the bulk of the update is non-sexy story stuff.
Brittani fans jebaited again, I already knew when you moved her in an earlier update than the initial roadmap it was too good to be true... :cry:
 

Ultralazuli

Member
Jul 8, 2018
273
241
That's one of the reasons why I hope the remake will rework the mc to just having strong feelings of friendship instead of unrequited love because it would tie into giving her the money without sex and he can suggest that she dumps Brent without it coming off as because he wants her.
I don't think that's necessary, there've been several options with most of the female cast to broker friendships rather than sexual or romantic relationships, and they seem to be understanding of that (unlike the psychos in a lot of other VNs who effectively won't take no for an answer.) Just look at the situation with Mason, you have the option of telling him that you don't want anything sexual between you two, and it works out fine. The biggest problem is making sure Nikki gets that visual upgrade, henna tatts and all. Because if she splits from Brent then there's barely any reason for her to stay with Brent, considering her feelings about protag-kun.

I think it could be a situation where Brent doesn't take no for an answer when nikki tries to split, protag goes after them with some mercs he paid for, and leaves brent alive but infirm. that would easily set him up as a more established and direct antagonist throughout the game, one whose life becomes terrorizing and ruining the protag's and nikki's life, or livelihood, which is probably in the works as we speak.

As for her visual upgrade, it could be part of brent's revenge, or it could be that brent trfficked her to the artist, and protag-kun grabs her from there. lots of ways it can go.
 
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Joshy92

Devoted Member
Mar 25, 2021
11,628
26,105
Don't worry no spoilers ive yet to play the update yet

I really love that about her it's a different take than most LI out there it's rare to find a cam girl LI. Which has a different appeal in it's self for me not cause it's different but it's a different form of sharing which I find really hot and I totally would be with one in real life as well cause of that. Which is weird as I don't know if id share in person if it was real life but over the internet sharing is really hot to me.
You and I think so similar sometimes it's like we are twins or something.
I just hope we get the option to tell Pepper we don't think any less of her because of her job.
 

qsex

New Member
Mar 20, 2020
4
3
I'd love to support you NeonGhosts - any chance you'll put the game somewhere that takes crypto or provide a lightning invoice to "subscribe" via crypto? I mean after all, MC made bank on crypto..
 

NeonGhosts

Well-Known Member
Game Developer
Mar 20, 2019
1,153
13,481
I'd love to support you NeonGhosts - any chance you'll put the game somewhere that takes crypto or provide a lightning invoice to "subscribe" via crypto? I mean after all, MC made bank on crypto..
I'm looking into opening a Boosty account, which I thiiiiiink takes payment via crypto?
 
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Deleted member 313508

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
519
886
NeonGhosts Just a heads up, I found a few bugs in the new update (I downloaded from subscribestar). Not sure if anyone else has mentioned these. I didn't see them, but might not have gone back far enough.

First off, some missing images it appears on the Ashe romance path.

1703652360018.png

Second, an error here on the, er... non-romance path...

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Anyway, disregard if you already know about them! Liked the teaser! Excited for more!
 

Jonowest

New Member
Nov 25, 2022
2
0
View attachment 2577413

Overview
Friends in Need sees you stepping into the role of a man who made a very bad financial decision, which nearly resulted in your ruin. Years later, the reverberations of that decision echo once more through your life, suddenly enriching you beyond your wildest imaginings. When your best friend and long-time crush comes to you for help with her own financial misfortune, you realize that with nearly unlimited resources, you can be a force for good - or evil.

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Thread Updated: 2023-08-23
Release Date: 2023-08-22
Developer: NeonGhosts - -
Censored: No
Version: 0.4
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Language: English
Other Games: The Student Loan
Genre:
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Installation:
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Changelog:
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Developer Notes:
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Patch Instructions:
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DOWNLOAD
Win/Linux: - MEGA - - PIXELDRAIN -
Mac: - MEGA - - PIXELDRAIN -
Android:
PIXELDRAIN

Vanilla Version
Win/Linux
: MEGA - - PIXELDRAIN -
Mac: MEGA - - PIXELDRAIN -

Patches: -

Extras: Walkthrough - Fan Sigs - Fanart & Assets - (v.0.375) - Character Guide - Gallery Mod - Viola's Short Story

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is there an issue where the sound doesn't work.
 

dinmor

Newbie
Aug 3, 2017
57
40
I have mixed feelings about it, tbh. I was motivated to do it, because I felt like it's not something I see done a lot and I'd gotten a few reviews along the lines of, "There's the illusion of choice, but it's all linear. :< " So, I wanted to do at least one update where there were some radical divergences in what the player sees.

Buuuut, it kinda reduced the overall length of the average playthrough. Between all five possible openings, there's like 400 images. Nicki's path is like.. 175 of those? So, if you go to Nicki's apartment in the last update, your playthrough will feel longer. If you don't, it'll feel a good bit shorter. Also, it was kind of a pain in the ass to unify all the paths.

I'm sure I'll do something similar again, but keep it to two possibilities, instead of five.

And yeah, I've never liked the way a lot of AVNs are like: Here's your choice, fuck her or don't. I try to even make the friendship/no sex paths interesting in their own right. Gabby's friendship one is a fun example. On her love path, she's angry at you for what she sees as you infantilizing her. On the corruption/dark path she's worried about how you'll exploit your hold on her, to varying degrees. But, on her friend route she's basically like, "Hey, it wasn't cool that you hid this from me," but MC explains (reasonably!) that he's known her less than a week, and didn't think it was his place to meddle in her family dynamic.
Not a supporter on anything, but my 2 cents: branching can be ok but I think a fair few people prefer not to play the games multiple times to get through every branch in a route, it'd be like reading books 5 times, or watching a movie 5 times, with a majority of the content being roughly the same, and only parts being different.
I should say tho, if its minor things with small variations, ie do you do x on day 1 or 2? no problem, does it result in closing / opening paths? ehh, becomes a turn-off imo. Maybe Im just lazy tho xD

Ofc, adding something like a "easy" mode or whatev, where branching doesnt happen, is gonna be even more code to write, and probably isnt a worthwhile solution.
 
4.60 star(s) 220 Votes