Ren'Py Harem Hotel [v0.18.2] [Runey]

4.70 star(s) 483 Votes
Discussion Reviews (483)
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Deleted member 289409

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Nov 12, 2017
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clippedwings said:
You're not showing anything new or mind blowing. Those arguments were used by Russian nobility to oppose the abolition of serfdom and by african kings to defend selling slaves to americans (it's the driving force of our economy, it's built into our culture, it'd be too expensive to change, what would those people do without us?, etc). It's a shitty point of view and most people have long since acknowledged that. What the developer did was draw a parallel between irl blm protests and protests against elf slavery in the way they described the protesters, exaggerated the aggressiveness of the police, and talked about defacing historical monuments of an uncomfortable past.

To me that's a bit derivative, and as someone who lives in one of the largest cities on the east coast, I personally saw entire blocks of businesses looted and destroyed because of "they have insurance (probably)" mentality. There was a period of time where every store downtown had wooden planks over the windows to stop people from shattering them. Its not something I want to see depicted herocially in a visual novel. But whatever, this isnt the place to talk about american politics. I just wanted to explain my reasoning since people keep making asinine assumptions.
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Runey

Runey

Harem Hotel
Game Developer
May 17, 2018
3,965
20,023
pgm_01 said:
I fear your own politics are getting in the way of enjoying the story.

There are multiple stories here that represent various paths to try to change the system.

Vanessa represents an ally of the oppressed class, willing to fight the system with non-violence on behalf of those who would face death for the same protest if they were part of the oppressed class. Lin represents a member of the oppressed class fighting back with non-violence and by trying to show the greater society why they should not be looked down on and wants to change the whole society. Nia is a member of the oppressed class willing to use violence, but still works within the confines of the system, by saving others from the worst parts but not focussing on overthrowing the whole system. Lin and Vanessa think they can fight the system and win the war, Nia thinks you can only win selected battles because the war was won by the oppressors a long time ago.


Kali represents the technocratic approach. By signing on to build the elfbot, she is hoping to provide a safer way for elves to survive. They won't be slaves, but they will still be needed. Maria is there to fight for the rights of the half elves, who have no protections in the system at all and can be legally subjected to abuses that elves can't be. She just wants the rights she had before her DNA relegated her to a non-entity in society. Autumn represents the religious approach. Her church doesn't walk the walk, it is just talk, and while they don't approve of slavery, they don't see elves as equals, but Autumn herself is beginning to see that they are. Android represents a true AI, one that could be the answer to the problems or a true destroyer of worlds.

Vanessa is a continuation of the story of the main girls because she is part of the fight for change. Even Moon has the potential to be a key part of the story
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There are hints about the role the twins will play too. The over-arching story is the game.
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This is really well said, thank you for paying so much attention to the story

DigDug69 said:
hmmm, fringe American politics, from 158 years ago.
I do not see any problems at all with a game being based on history.

Although, admittedly, there are some not very bright people in the world, that still refuse to believe that the south lost the civil war, who are expecting it to rise again...
but still, that political issue was resolved 158 years ago, and it is now history.
Fair game for anyone to use as a plot devise in a game, because it is not a current, ongoing issue.

As for how the pro slavery people act?
I think it is spot on, and accurate as hell...
Many people who know that what they are doing is wrong, but they are doing it anyway, get very abusive and confrontational, when they are called out on it.

Look back at some of the documents released by the confederacy, just before the civil war as an example of that.
From the Texas state secession papers, released February 2, 1861.
Just before the start of the Civil War...

Examples of how they acted, and their attitudes.
" We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that condition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable. "

And in this part, they try to explain it all away, as being good for the slaves.
" That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding States. "

Clearly, they react exactly like the pro slavery characters in Harem Hotel...
Quotes from the Texas State Library...
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Harem Hotel isn't about American politics, though it is where I was born so it makes sense that things would be more american centric. Harem Hotel is about imperialism and its consequences (within this context). In other words, foreigners telling you what to do and how to act. Or boiled down to it's basics, Harem Hotel is about Freedom. Every character, whether they are main or side, is oppressed by someone with more power and it's our protagonist's story to take their own power and gain autonomy. Assuming my writing and this story is built off the past 6 years of American politics and not the past 500 years of imperialism only shows a lack of historical knowledge. Social Justice isn't a new concept, it's one of the reasons the Boston Tea Party happened. The colonists had no representation, let alone the natives. It's also one of the reasons the French Revolution happened, or why so many countries abolished monarchies. The People want equality, no one likes feeling like a peasant. If you hear "Social Justice" and your knowledge of the subject only goes back to as far as 2015 with the blue haired college brats, you should pick up a history book. The People just want to be happy and live their own lives free of oppression. (I'm not directing this at you btw, I'm speaking generally)

Harem Hotel's overarching story is actually very similar to One Piece and I've taken more than a few inspirations from it. One Piece is also inspired by american and western imperialism, they have the Marines who police the world, and the World Government who controls it. Almost every battle they have is an ideological one where freedom always wins. In fact One Piece is probably more political than Harem Hotel as they constantly advocate for trans and queer people while painting american imperialism and christian imperialism as dangerous. These things are much more nuanced in Harem Hotel as I focus more on western imperialism (this includes europe and australia) as well as western organized religion. I try to write what I know, and because I come from western culture, this is what I know. It would be uncouth of me to attempt to write something I don't understand.
 
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Kugatsu500

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Feb 20, 2018
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Runey said:
Social Justice isn't a new concept, it's one of the reasons the Boston Tea Party happened. The colonists had no representation, let alone the natives. It's also one of the reasons the French Revolution happened, or why so many countries abolished monarchies. The People want equality, no one likes feeling like a peasant. If you hear "Social Justice" and your knowledge of the subject only goes back to as far as 2015 with the blue haired college brats, you should pick up a history book. The People just want to be happy and live their own lives free of oppression. (I'm not directing this at you btw, I'm speaking generally)
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Thank fuck for this response. People nowadays are acting like concepts of equality, social justice, revolution and etc are new things invented by Twitter in the last 10 years.
A lot of people complain about how "political" things have gotten, but shit has been political for CENTURIES, specially when it comes to art and entertainment and specially when it comes to the concept of freedom and the search for it. The Matrix, Doctor Who (1963), Avatar (James Cameron), Once Piece, Game of Thrones (Both the show and the books), Dune, Code Geass and many, MANY others, are all pieces of art with about 20 years or more of age that are heavily political and many of them have political messages that could be considered leftist in nature.

What baffles me the most is the fact that this person is equating the protest for the liberation of slaves with the BLM protests. I mean, it is the most recent protest right now, specially in the US, so it is a bit understandable to draw comparissons from reality. But in which moment did the protesters in HH commited acts of violence against civilian business and the game portrayed that as heroic? As far as I remember from the game, the protesters came, the cops came, tried to solve shit with violence, as they do (and as they have been doing for centuries, even if not as the modern concept of police, institutions that had the same powers and responsibilities have existed). And then when violence from the coppers broke down, the protesters either dispersed or were arrested. That happens in real life, that has happened all over the world and it is not about BLM, peaceful protests have been curbed by violence, some even by murder. Some people really live in a bubble where history is just a delusion, they only look at their current experience and views of the world and then spout ignorance on the internet.

Honestly, I don't want to really waste any more time on that. It is just an exercise in pointlesness, people like that won't change their worldview, so I would just like to say that the game is great and I hope you keep passing on your message. The fact that all the girls have their own goals that you can support other than just being breeding stock for the MC doesn't negatively influence the game in any way, quite the opposite. It makes me much more interested in them. Half-Elf Maria suffering under opression is sad, yes, but it makes her an interesting character that I want to help come to terms with her new life and help her free her and people like her from the current shitty system. Not to say that slutty camgirl Maria wasn't fun, she was, I already liked the character, but she had much less going on at the time. Same for purely yandere Ashley vs developed traumatic childhood Ashley and that also applies to the other girls.

Don't eat this "the current updates are not about the girls, or advancing the story, it is about twitter social commentary" argument because that is a load of bullshit. All the updates advanced each girl story in one way or another and it also served to deepen MC relationship with them outside of just sex (like the Ashley updates looking for her childhood elf).

Also, about "blue haired twitter girls". I actually like Vanessa and hope to see more of her. Is she a bit aggressive in trying to convey her point? Sure. But her point is an anti-slavery position, so I can't say I disagree with her. She is also very active in protests and has a podcast that is trying to convey the message out there, at the cost of her own freedom and safety. Sure, she is not Robespierre leading the revolution and chopping of heads, but she is much more than just an "armchair social warrior from twitter". Keep it up, Runey, I wait the next update with anticipation.
 
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henk1

Newbie
Dec 12, 2019
83
86
Runey said:
Things have settled down on my end though. I've fully moved to Europe and can start working.
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Very cool big man, welcome to our neck of the woods! I'm glad that things are going better for you. I hope that Europe is good to you.
 
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DigDug69

DigDug69

Engaged Member
Jun 29, 2019
2,656
5,332
Runey said:
DigDug69 Thanks for the review! Proper reviews are always appreciated. Which continuity issues have you run into?
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I had a few a while back, but I believe that they were self inflicted, because I focused more on some girls than others.
I mainly mentioned it in the review to counter what the previous viewer had said, that had made such issues seem to be far worse than they were...
I figured that explaining such things as that and how helpful the other players can be, and the search feature, in the review, might help someone who is considering playing the game in the future.
 
shadowtempered

shadowtempered

Active Member
Aug 22, 2020
907
1,769
Runey said:
Things have settled down on my end though. I've fully moved to Europe and can start working. I'll let the rest of you deal with the 2024 election :whistle:
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I've been tempted, but with my folks getting on the older side and me trying to change careers, not sure I'll ever get the chance now.
 
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Swifthand

Newbie
Aug 4, 2019
31
74
Runey said:
This is really well said, thank you for paying so much attention to the story



Harem Hotel isn't about American politics, though it is where I was born so it makes sense that things would be more american centric. Harem Hotel is about imperialism and its consequences (within this context). In other words, foreigners telling you what to do and how to act. Or boiled down to it's basics, Harem Hotel is about Freedom. Every character, whether they are main or side, is oppressed by someone with more power and it's our protagonist's story to take their own power and gain autonomy. Assuming my writing and this story is built off the past 6 years of American politics and not the past 500 years of imperialism only shows a lack of historical knowledge. Social Justice isn't a new concept, it's one of the reasons the Boston Tea Party happened. The colonists had no representation, let alone the natives. It's also one of the reasons the French Revolution happened, or why so many countries abolished monarchies. The People want equality, no one likes feeling like a peasant. If you hear "Social Justice" and your knowledge of the subject only goes back to as far as 2015 with the blue haired college brats, you should pick up a history book. The People just want to be happy and live their own lives free of oppression. (I'm not directing this at you btw, I'm speaking generally)

Harem Hotel's overarching story is actually very similar to One Piece and I've taken more than a few inspirations from it. One Piece is also inspired by american and western imperialism, they have the Marines who police the world, and the World Government who controls it. Almost every battle they have is an ideological one where freedom always wins. In fact One Piece is probably more political than Harem Hotel as they constantly advocate for trans and queer people while painting american imperialism and christian imperialism as dangerous. These things are much more nuanced in Harem Hotel as I focus more on western imperialism (this includes europe and australia) as well as western organized religion. I try to write what I know, and because I come from western culture, this is what I know. It would be uncouth of me to attempt to write something I don't understand.
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What a fucking amazing response.

Y'know what? Expect at least one new Patreon subscriber by the end of the year.
And if you happen to be in Germany, i'll invite you to a beer or two
 
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Okami_12

Member
Dec 1, 2017
158
27
how do you actualy use cheats? tried the 'secret' phone app and the patereon code option at Dibela's shop but neither work
 
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WatchmanW

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Apr 4, 2020
42
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Guys, can you please send me v10.rpa 17.2 for pc file? Mines corrupted for some reason. And its really hard for me to download this game in browser with this size. And whats worse - everything works perfect except sexy scenes ;( would much appreciate it
 
TheDevian

TheDevian

Svengali Productions
Game Developer
Mar 8, 2018
15,420
36,490
WatchmanW said:
Guys, can you please send me v10.rpa 17.2 for pc file? Mines corrupted for some reason. And its really hard for me to download this game in browser with this size. And whats worse - everything works perfect except sexy scenes ;( would much appreciate it
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Um, okay, here you go.
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4.70 star(s) 483 Votes