VN Ren'Py Halfway House [Ep.11 - Bonus 7-9] [Az]

[Sevaroq]

Well, my two cents in the pot, I do feel like the MC is definitely breaking the character mold like ThiccShady has mentioned. While I never expected him to be an "alpha male" kinda guy, I never expected him to also be such a doormat either and just allow himself to get walked on the entire time. He is the epitome of beta male. Not in the sense that he sucks up to every woman he sees, but he literally has no backbone. People mention him being a more mature person than what he was once, but that also doesn't mean maturity goes hand-in-hand with getting stepped on. Maybe with Ashley to some extent, but he can also show some balls and not let her get away with all the crazy shit she says to him either, especially on certain topics. Same goes with Liz and the crazy shit she was doing.

Stand up for yourself and don't let them walk over you. Be a man. Don't have to throw down and slap them around, but at least let it be known they can just do whatever the hell they want with you either. And don't get me started with Ashlyn/Lynn. He just literally followed everything she did like a little defenseless puppy and let her keep insulting him AND his friend Ashley, even if those two are sisters. He can be mature about it and still tell her to back off. Just because she's from a family with power and money doesn't mean he can just let her walk over him and Ashley like that. Especially with all that power play shit Lynn was trying. And at the end where he actually thinks he'd get a piece of Lynn if he helped her keep Ashley from going back? Can he truly think she was being serious about that? That's not maturity. That's still immature behavior, which is what he's always shown. The most mature thing I've seen him do is stand up for Samantha when she was being attacked and if you choose during events for him to be mature.

Other than that, while I understand this is just a VN that's trying to be more story heavy versus sex/porn heavy, the MC is still an immature teen who still only thinks with his dick versus what people really feel. He talks a big game to the girls' faces, but his inner monologues show that he's still only thinking with his dick. I'm not sure why some people think being a "mature man" means not causing any conflict and going with the flow. Yeah, I agree, he's not a leader. He definitely is more like an influencer like the previous poster said. But still, can't convince me that he's starting to "mature" and be a real man, when he definitely isn't.

You and Shady have been saying straight facts so far. These people are associating passiveness with maturity, yet the MC himself contradicts their belief because he has been thinking with his dick for most of the time. As you said, he's essentially a doormat. He's getting walked on. Him defending Samantha was the top of the hill, climax, and it went steadily downhill from there.

You guys saying he's mature for not speaking his mind, or for sticking up for himself/his friends at wrong times. Yet he's doing that for entirely different reasons it seems. Not because it seems like he is maturing, but because he thinks with his dick and has a weak-willed mind for some reason. And tbh, this isn't different from other VNs in the sense of the MC being some type of passive beta doormat. A lot of VNs have been doing this, yet "make up for it" with what seems like sexual acts out of some mix-up between pity and love/lust most of the time.

This MC is getting walked on, no doubt about it. The inner dialogue and actions , or lack thereof, I've seen confirm it. It's all fine and dandy if you're into it, but don't fucking act like this dude is some maturing "man" that isn't getting pushed around.

 

[andyarmageddon]

Yeah a Shiho route would be wonderful. That's the only thing that would throw me off of 100% Emily.

Honestly, it'd be a tough call for me at this point. I, personally, like Em a lot, but Shiho is so goddamn tempting...

 

[andyarmageddon]

Yeah it's not going to be good by any means. The conflict between the sisters, the grandfather, Lynn and people in the house (ESPECIALLY Em) all of it worries me, even if it a game. Honestly, I'd want to do what's right with Ash, but the selfish part of me wants her in the house, where I *believe* she'd be happiest and she can do what she wants, and if it helps the relationship with the MC and Em stay good, that's a sweetener in the deal.

I guess we'll find out how much shit hits the fan when Ep 9 comes out

Judging from the convos here as of late, quite a bit. LOL

 

[andyarmageddon]

oh jeez, this update seems rather... controversial.

troof

 

[andyarmageddon]

This I very much agree with. I had 40/10 with Emily at the time. I was hoping (REALLY hoping) the inner dialogue in this game would reflect how he feels about each of the girls, and not just think with his schlong. My first run-through of this game about a month ago when I read that part at the end I was pissed. He wants to screw everything that moves. Most VNs reflect that somehow in their MC's "inner dialogue," but this one doesn't do that. I sort of want to this this MC grow up fast and I hope, really hope, the following chapters do that.

Yeah I know he was in juvie and his father was an ass and he was a punk who didn't give a shit but going through this game where he doesn't mentally/emotionally improve, not to mention his need for Hooked on Phonics, it'll be a letdown if some sort of transformation doesn't happen. But it was written that way for a reason and maybe by the end of the game or just further down the road, we'll see all-around growth.

Maybe Em needs to slap him around a few times or he needs to have a really good counseling session with Samantha about how he feels, not just about Em, but about Ashley, himself and his life in general there. There needs to be some sort of, no pun intended, turning point for the MC to go from punk kid to responsible, mature person.

I hope we see that here because it really needs to happen.

I mean, I would be totally okay with Em slapping around the MC some more. He might need some more sense slapped into his head, not just that bar of soap. Hell, I half expect Em to kick MC's ass for that whole grope session at the end of Ep. 8. Also, I think such scenarios would actually, in the long run, make the MC's relationship with Em better based on her past history.

 

[Abhai]

Honestly, it'd be a tough call for me at this point. I, personally, like Em a lot, but Shiho is so goddamn tempting...

Judging from the convos here as of late, quite a bit. LOL

troof

I mean, I would be totally okay with Em slapping around the MC some more. He might need some more sense slapped into his head, not just that bar of soap. Hell, I half expect Em to kick MC's ass for that whole grope session at the end of Ep. 8. Also, I think such scenarios would actually, in the long run, make the MC's relationship with Em better based on her past history.

please, do use multiquote whenever possible to avoid similar spamming

 

[andyarmageddon]

please, do use multiquote whenever possible to avoid similar spamming

Noted, my apologies.

 

[!TheRoyalReaper!]

Is there a walkthrough through each Ashley, Emily and Samatha's story to be able to see all their scenes?

 

[bauman]

Is there a walkthrough through each Ashley, Emily and Samatha's story to be able to see all their scenes?

Check the OP for walkthroughs. You can't unlock all scenes on a single playthrough.

 

[Deleted member 3313072]

Is there a walkthrough through each Ashley, Emily and Samatha's story to be able to see all their scenes?

Or there's also a walkthrough mod in the initial post as well.

 

[IRzola25]

Knock²

 

[Math87]

i was thinking of becoming a patreon, but i just want to know , if its monthly update or longer ??? (sorry for my horrible english)

 

[Aristos]

i was thinking of becoming a patreon, but i just want to know , if its monthly update or longer ??? (sorry for my horrible english)

Much longer. The last one took 4 or 5 months.

 

[Havik79]

Almost no game updates monthly, most are 2 or 3 months.

 

[Deleted member 3313072]

i was thinking of becoming a patreon, but i just want to know , if its monthly update or longer ??? (sorry for my horrible english)

Much longer. The last one took 4 or 5 months.

Yeah I believe this last update just came out a very short time ago, and he said he hasn't even started on Ep. 9 yet. Was doing Bonus scenes from what I saw on his Patreon. Not going to see Ep. 9 until AT LEAST mid/late Summer

 

[Aristos]

Yeah I believe this last update just came out a very short time ago, and he said he hasn't even started on Ep. 9 yet. Was doing Bonus scenes from what I saw on his Patreon. Not going to see Ep. 9 until AT LEAST mid/late Summer

The update came out over a month ago and he hasn't even started Ep 9 yet?
And all for those stupid bonus scenes that only a few patrons get, and that IMHO have no interest at all for what I could see after playing a couple of them?
Jeezus!
This guy's making over $4,000 a month. I compare this to Deliverance, Oath of Loyalty or Betrayed , to name just a couple of undersupported devs, and it's ridiculous.

 

[Math87]

It suck for him because i no longer support dev who take that long for updates ... (ive already support deluca new coral city thi years , a real waste of money)

The only dev who i can accept long delay is being a dik because of the high quality

 

[Abhai]

The update came out over a month ago and he hasn't even started Ep 9 yet?
And all for those stupid bonus scenes that only a few patrons get, and that IMHO have no interest at all for what I could see after playing a couple of them?
Jeezus!
This guy's making over $4,000 a month. I compare this to Deliverance, Oath of Loyalty or Betrayed , to name just a couple of undersupported devs, and it's ridiculous.

I would just add there - I particularly love when fans state "it just came out" for an update being around for a month, month and a half...Everything else aside, only that could be enough to justify 6+monthly or even longer developing cycles.
And those bonus renders, extra scenes and such, are just a cream on the cake (though obviously a rather good business plan).

 

[Deleted member 3313072]

The update came out over a month ago and he hasn't even started Ep 9 yet?
And all for those stupid bonus scenes that only a few patrons get, and that IMHO have no interest at all for what I could see after playing a couple of them?
Jeezus!
This guy's making over $4,000 a month. I compare this to Deliverance, Oath of Loyalty or Betrayed , to name just a couple of undersupported devs, and it's ridiculous.

That's what I saw on his most recent Patreon. Hasn't started Ep. 9, Working on Bonus 6, which I think is an Em render. 70% done on that scene. So we have a long Spring and most of the Summer to go.

 

[Smarmint]

I won't reiterate my opinion on bonus scenes. Maybe they bring in lots of Patron cash.

However, I don't begrudge any develper that is still releasing content, their patrons. There are a few developers, that shall remain nameless, who have abandoned their game years ago but still collect monthly checks, which gives all other developers a bad name. However, games like Halfway House are clearly still in development, and very high quality, so if it takes awhile, well, we all expect it by now. Nobody is forcing you to pay every month. Regarding games like Halfway House, or Deluca Family like you mentioned, which are on a 5-8 month release cycle, yes development is really slow, but they are both excellent games in my opinion, way above most here, so donate for one month and then stop if you want. Or just donate $2 per month, so if it takes 8 months, you haven't paid much. In my experience, developers are happy to get anything, so they will be quite thankful even if it is a few dollars a month.