VN Ren'Py Friends in Need [S1 v0.85c] [NeonGhosts]

[Dessolos]

I feel like age has a lot to do with it, as I was the same in my teens and 20s. What I was after in writing and cinema was just.. honestly, simpler (action, sexy chicks, etc.) and I didn't pay too much attention to finer details (logic, structure, dialogue, and so on). Once you start consuming classics or objectively well-written works and also reading and listening to worthwhile critics (who know what they're talking about) go into detail about why a work was in fact compelling or else failed to compel, then you really start to pick up on things you weren't noticing before and inevitably comparing them (by 'objectively well-written', I don't necessarily mean that everyone will personally love it or anything, just that the technical writing and execution is undeniably good). And then you get spoiled for quality and there's no going back after that, really; that's when the cynicism kicks in and everything just starts looking like shit and everyone who has to hear you whine about it thinks you're a snob or w/e

If that's not your case btw, if you're in fact older and still feel the way you do, there's nothing wrong about your viewpoint or anything, hope I'm not coming off as implying otherwise. Hell, I still enjoy schlocky shit like 13 Ghosts and universally panned films like The Men Who Stare at Goats, so obviously it ultimately just comes down to personal taste. But, in general, I think what I've said above rings true for most people.

Anyways, long-story short, I think Friends in Need is ultimately going to become a VN classic. Maybe it'll never be the most popular (which sucks, as quality ≠ profits necessarily), but I feel the writing is undeniably a cut above the competition.

Honestly I wish I could see all of that in writing / dialogue. Sometimes I do get jealous of people that can see the small details like that in things that are well written or are able just to see writing being bad or good and be critical about it. As it does feel weird at times of having the inability to judge writing like that it's something i'm not able to really do.

For me I think it honestly comes down more to my personality as when it comes to things I do for entertainment I have more of a carefree personality so I find it much easier to enjoy things probably more than alot of people. I even enjoy things some would consider bad. That and well I didn't read many books throughout my life just played video games. Still not to old to try to change that but I do think my personality when it comes to entertainment will get in the way of me noticing those things still.

I will say this tho when I last played Friends in Need , the game did feel like it was better than your average AVN out there. So much so that it quickly became one of my top 10 favorites even if it's not a top 10 AVN for me. Might be because of the good wiring and dialogue like you said never was able to figure out why I loved this game so much other than being too attached to Nicki as a character.

 

[TheresiaW]

Great game! I love the various options and styles to play. You can be an angel or the devil...

 

[Machete]

If Nicki & Mason were real
Could guys imagine the love letter I would write them?
It would be so beautiful the angels themselves would weep

I would also send a very strongly worded letter to Viola's landlord
He would also cry but they would be tears of fear

If he hurts her, I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands

I know a person much like Mason in real life.

 

[NeonGhosts]

General FYI: Added 43 renders today. I still need to finish Nicki's opening scene, and then two small 'bridge' scenes -- one that's needed if you left Ashe asleep in your condo, and another featuring Risa.

If I can get those done over the next few days, I'll have everything completed for the first 1/3 of the game. Then it's onto some stuff featuring Risa and Alex. I'm hoping I get through all of Alex's content in time for Christmas, but I'm planning to get through all of Risa's. Anything after that is just a bonus.

Current build is just over 500 images, and I'm still aiming for 800 for the Christmas Day release.

 

[frogbert]

She needs to be treated nicely, not attacked. She's a sweet girl.

I agree, if you go too hard on corrupting a sweet girl like Viola she'll be a cold fish in bed
and you won't be able to get a good rate when you turn her out.

 

[Joshy92]

I wonder what Alex's story will be?
What will be her problem that we can help her with?

 

[ImperialD]

I wonder what Alex's story will be?
What will be her problem that we can help her with?

i got a huge problems she can help me with

 

[jish55]

View attachment 3159962

General FYI: Added 43 renders today. I still need to finish Nicki's opening scene, and then two small 'bridge' scenes -- one that's needed if you left Ashe asleep in your condo, and another featuring Risa.

If I can get those done over the next few days, I'll have everything completed for the first 1/3 of the game. Then it's onto some stuff featuring Risa and Alex. I'm hoping I get through all of Alex's content in time for Christmas, but I'm planning to get through all of Risa's. Anything after that is just a bonus.

Current build is just over 500 images, and I'm still aiming for 800 for the Christmas Day release.

With this upcoming episode have a decent amount of Gabby content? Cause we haven't seen much of her in the last few updates.

 

[The Anti]

Hopefully Dark path Gabby content

 

[Samsul Hidayat]

That's why it's often an advantage not to be a native speaker, then you don't really notice the worst failures.

Yep. I remembered really enjoying this fanfic a long time back, then I decided to re-read it some months ago. My opinion went from "This some gud shit" to:

You must be registered to see the links

 

[PHIL101-YYouPPHard]

Honestly I wish I could see all of that in writing / dialogue. Sometimes I do get jealous of people that can see the small details like that in things that are well written or are able just to see writing being bad or good and be critical about it. As it does feel weird at times of having the inability to judge writing like that it's something i'm not able to really do.

For me I think it honestly comes down more to my personality as when it comes to things I do for entertainment I have more of a carefree personality so I find it much easier to enjoy things probably more than alot of people. I even enjoy things some would consider bad. That and well I didn't read many books throughout my life just played video games. Still not to old to try to change that but I do think my personality when it comes to entertainment will get in the way of me noticing those things still.

I will say this tho when I last played Friends in Need , the game did feel like it was better than your average AVN out there. So much so that it quickly became one of my top 10 favorites even if it's not a top 10 AVN for me. Might be because of the good wiring and dialogue like you said never was able to figure out why I loved this game so much other than being too attached to Nicki as a character.

Well, I definitely also struggle when it comes to pinning down what a problem is with a work because I really don't have a deep understanding of writing or film, just a greater understanding than I did in my youth; I basically just piggyback on what people who know more than I do say (I don't just blindly agree with them or anything to clarify, but experts are inevitably convincing). But, I do definitely feel when there's a problem. I think everyone at least has that, as you do with this game

While I think that tastes are obviously heavily subjective, I still do think that there are aspects of writing that are completely objective; i.e., it's possible to write something that, no matter what people say or how big of a fan they are, will not grip most people's interest in any meaningful way; and then of course it goes the reverse as well. It can amount to a lot of seemingly minor subtle things all adding up to an important whole that a layman will probably struggle to explain in detail, or it can be some major big-picture things that most people will notice and comment on.

Either way, it's really not a big deal You like what you like and there shouldn't be any shame or regret about that. I know a guy whose range of film he appreciates goes from the Star Wars prequels all the way to The Lighthouse, and he enjoys both of them, which I personally find odd and baffling haha. My gut would think it's one or the other, but nope. Sometimes I wonder if it does actually come down to personality; some people just seem less critical and more easy-going and easy to please. Maybe that's you

 

[katzenstreu]

View attachment 3159962

General FYI: Added 43 renders today. I still need to finish Nicki's opening scene, and then two small 'bridge' scenes -- one that's needed if you left Ashe asleep in your condo, and another featuring Risa.

If I can get those done over the next few days, I'll have everything completed for the first 1/3 of the game. Then it's onto some stuff featuring Risa and Alex. I'm hoping I get through all of Alex's content in time for Christmas, but I'm planning to get through all of Risa's. Anything after that is just a bonus.

Current build is just over 500 images, and I'm still aiming for 800 for the Christmas Day release.

dude, please dont burn out yourself. :-*

 

[RainbowRobo]

I'm starting to judge other games against this one
And when comparing them I find myself dissapointed in the other games most of the time

This game has so many good things about it
Lots of branching and meanigful choices
Beautiful LI
We mostly get to shape our version of guy how we want him

There are plenty of other good things but those are the most important things in an AVN imo

I'll flat out admit this is one of the three games I do compare others to. If I could afford to support all three I would. The meaningful choices here is the gold example. I don't know of many games that have such narrative weight on how you interact across the story.
I'm not so much about graphics, but this one does look good. Great even. But it is entirely the writing and the way choice shakes out.
It's funny, all three games are about the characterization more than anything, the writing of the dialogue mixed with the reactivity of the characters in response. Neon Ghosts could teach a class on that. Maybe should, after finishing this game, of course. Heh

 

[NeonGhosts]

dude, please dont burn out yourself. :-*

No worries! This is pretty typical for my dev cycle. The first two months are mostly writing, setting up scenes, etc. followed by a month of casual rendering, and then one of frantic work.

That said, I am planning to take a month or two off, following the reboot of Chapter One. That's a little ways out still, but at that time I'd like to pause my Patreon/SubStar, and take some time to myself. Between the day job, game development, and managing the social media component of FiN, I do get a bit fatigued. :'D Plus, I'd like some time to work on comics, and my prose novel.

It's funny, all three games are about the characterization more than anything, the writing of the dialogue mixed with the reactivity of the characters in response. Neon Ghosts could teach a class on that. Maybe should, after finishing this game, of course. Heh

That's terribly kind, thank you. I'm always very flattered when people connect with the writing and characterization.

With this upcoming episode have a decent amount of Gabby content? Cause we haven't seen much of her in the last few updates.

So, the original plan for this update was basically to end with a non-sexual Gabby scene. As was set up previously, MC needs to go bail her dad out of jail. So, the sequence of events was basically going to be..

• One of several possible openings, with Nicki, Ashe, Risa/Carolina, or MC alone.
• A Brittani scene.
• An extended Risa scene.
• An Alex scene.
• A Mason scene.
• Gabby's scene.

And of course there's several smaller scenes of MC dealing with this or that. Unfortunately, I underestimated exactly how much work it'd be to do those opening scenes. As a result, I'm over 500 renders in, and haven't even gotten to Risa's stuff yet.

Soooo.. I'm working towards the goal of getting through everything but Mason and Gabby's scene, and doing another Part One/Part Two release. As a result, Part One will likely be 800+ renders, and Part Two will likely be around 350+. I'd rather hold off and do everything at once, but I don't like the idea of waiting too long between updates. So, Part One on the 25th, and Part Two for late January - mid February?

But, I miss Gabby, and I think her first set of big scenes will be worth the wait. :3

 

[Dark Silence]

But, I miss Gabby, and I think her first set of big scenes will be worth the wait. :3

You're not the only one who misses Gabby. She was my first love in this game. Then we met Mason and he needed his own save also.

 

[fashtar]

I may not be a Gabby fan, as admitted before, but my god, I can barely wait for the Gabby scene.

 

[katzenstreu]

No worries! This is pretty typical for my dev cycle. The first two months are mostly writing, setting up scenes, etc. followed by a month of casual rendering, and then one of frantic work.

good good, would be a shame if you wake up one day and think "fuck it, i dont want to do this anymore".
your game is to good for an abandoned tag.

 

[Joshy92]

I'm glad NeonGhosts is taking some time off once the chapter one rework is out
He is one of my favourite devs I don't want to see him get burnt out

 

[Karmadive]

I'm glad NeonGhosts is taking some time off once the chapter one rework is out
He is one of my favourite devs I don't want to see him get burnt out

Agreed. This is a rare gem of a game that the choices really effect the outcome in vastly different ways. I'm one who always goes for the good side of things and I love the story picking the kind options. and yes I like Nicki.

 

[Dessolos]

lol the last week or 3 I been wanting to replay this especially reading how much you guys like the choices in this one. But then I recall the next update isnt to long off.