Ren'Py Harem Hotel [v0.19.1] [Runey]

[TheDevian]

Too bad it's not that kind of sleep, but I'll take what I can get.
I also wonder if the finished release will include more costume options for Autumn, I found some pretty good stuff in v0.18's code but it's still early stages.

Personally, I am happy with that. I actually wanted that more than the sex. lol

Generally, to understand why people hate something, you have to, ya know, ask. Just saying "they are the best" isn't going to help you any.

I have, many times over the years, this is far from the first time, and every time I do, the responses are usually bad...
1) I played one that was bad, so they are all bad!
2) It's too hard!
3)I don't want to think! Thinking is hard!
4) Doing more than repeatedly clicking one button means I might miss something!
5) The UI is too hard! I have to click on things! I don't want to do stuff, doing stuff is hard!

But to me, having things to actually do, are what make it a game and what makes it fun. I like being in control, I like to actually play games, not just witness them. As I said before, if I just wanted to read, I would get a book or a comic, but I am looking for games for a reason.

So that is why I say I don't get it, if you don't want to play an actual game, then read a book/comic. You get the same experience, without the carpel tunnel.

I've got a new computer and will have to start the game fresh. In light of claims that the mod messes things up, I'm really not looking forward to randomly visiting every fucking location every Tuesday at noon to see if maybe an event will happen.

Most events, at least in the early game consist of going to the girl's door, clicking on it, and hitting *TALK*, then waiting 3 days for the next one to trigger.
The ones that are not like that, usually consist of going to the lobby and having it trigger. I am not fond of those, but it's still harder miss them than it is to get them.
There are a few that have requirements, but we also have a wiki and people here to ask when that fails.
As I said earlier in this post, not all sandboxes are the same, just because there are bad ones, doesn't make them all bad. Most genre have 'bad' examples, and things I would never want to play, but there are good ones too.

 

[shadowtempered]

I've got a new computer and will have to start the game fresh. In light of claims that the mod messes things up, I'm really not looking forward to randomly visiting every fucking location every Tuesday at noon to see if maybe an event will happen.

Most events, at least in the early game consist of going to the girl's door, clicking on it, and hitting *TALK*, then waiting 3 days for the next one to trigger.
The ones that are not like that, usually consist of going to the lobby and having it trigger. I am not fond of those, but it's still harder miss them than it is to get them.
There are a few that have requirements, but we also have a wiki and people here to ask when that fails.
As I said earlier in this post, not all sandboxes are the same, just because there are bad ones, doesn't make them all bad. Most genre have 'bad' examples, and things I would never want to play, but there are good ones too.

Game tells you every.single.morning when a new event is ready. Yes, you still have to click the door to find out where/what is involved if it doesn't happen in the room. Yes that can be annoying, but it's not a mountain out of a mole hill kind of problem.

 

[SleepyGamer]

But to me, having things to actually do, are what make it a game and what makes it fun. I like being in control, I like to actually play games, not just witness them. As I said before, if I just wanted to read, I would get a book or a comic, but I am looking for games for a reason.

So that is why I say I don't get it, if you don't want to play an actual game, then read a book/comic. You get the same experience, without the carpel tunnel.

I mean, for me this is the exact reason I don't enjoy 95% of attempts to 'game-ify' AVNs. I spend far more time gaming and reading actual books than I do playing AVNs. AVNs do give me something books don't - visuals, animations, sometimes the sound effects are good, etc. So despite the fact I read a lot of books, AVNs provide something different to enjoy. And are easier to fap to.

The gameplay side, though? I kind of feel exactly the same as you do, but in reverse. If I wanted to play a game, I'd play one that hasn't been roughly jigsawed into an engine designed to... well, spoonfeed people visual novel slideshows. It takes so much time and effort to make 'gameplay' in Renpy and such that's even passable as a game. Harem Hotel is a great example, where things like the gardening were touted as big features but the actual 'gameplay' there is weak compared to early management games from the late 90s.

I do quite like the actual sandbox. I like being able to engage the different girls at my own pace rather than being on rails in a sort of 'oh, it's this girl's turn to be the focus of the story now.' I like things like the shower encounters, the hot springs and the room repeatables. Walking around town is a cool way to splice in events, too. But I barely consider that a 'game' element, that's just different ways to deliver narrative/porn.

 

[Redds667]

I'm erect and curious about Maria remade events, but I'm glad Ellen is getting some love, she was one of the first characters and there's so little content with her, when I started playing I expected her to have a lot more.

 

[TheDevian]

I mean, for me this is the exact reason I don't enjoy 95% of attempts to 'game-ify' AVNs. I spend far more time gaming and reading actual books than I do playing AVNs. AVNs do give me something books don't - visuals, animations, sometimes the sound effects are good, etc. So despite the fact I read a lot of books, AVNs provide something different to enjoy. And are easier to fap to.

The gameplay side, though? I kind of feel exactly the same as you do, but in reverse. If I wanted to play a game, I'd play one that hasn't been roughly jigsawed into an engine designed to... well, spoonfeed people visual novel slideshows. It takes so much time and effort to make 'gameplay' in Renpy and such that's even passable as a game. Harem Hotel is a great example, where things like the gardening were touted as big features but the actual 'gameplay' there is weak compared to early management games from the late 90s.

I do quite like the actual sandbox. I like being able to engage the different girls at my own pace rather than being on rails in a sort of 'oh, it's this girl's turn to be the focus of the story now.' I like things like the shower encounters, the hot springs and the room repeatables. Walking around town is a cool way to splice in events, too. But I barely consider that a 'game' element, that's just different ways to deliver narrative/porn.

You know what else provides that experience, comics. They are far easier to fap to, and a lot less clicking.

Don't get me wrong, I am no Ren'pY fan, it is just that my brain needs more than just hitting space to stay engaged, and if I don't stay engaged, I get bored fast.

Personally, I find those repeatables being one of the things I like best. It is not exactly 'game play' per say, but it goes a long way into keeping me invested in the world, and making me feel like I am a part of it, rather than just an observer.

Also stems from the fact that I prefer RPGs to action games or shooters, I like thinking, I like figuring things out, I like taking my time and exploring the world, I don't want it all just handed to me. But then, I am also the type to prefer a Choose Your Own Adventure kind of book over a normal novel too. Like I said, I want to be the one in control of my story, rather than watching someone else's story. If I don't want to be in control, then I read a comic or watch videos.

 

[shadowtempered]

I'm erect and curious about Maria remade events, but I'm glad Ellen is getting some love, she was one of the first characters and there's so little content with her, when I started playing I expected her to have a lot more.

I normally do a fresh run each new version. I skim some of the story beats unless I'm looking for a refresher on something, but this may actually have me pay attention to some of her older story stuff. I'm curious how things differ.

 

[herrderr75]

Personally, I am happy with that. I actually wanted that more than the sex. lol
I have, many times over the years, this is far from the first time, and every time I do, the responses are usually bad...
1) I played one that was bad, so they are all bad!
2) It's too hard!
3)I don't want to think! Thinking is hard!
4) Doing more than repeatedly clicking one button means I might miss something!
5) The UI is too hard! I have to click on things! I don't want to do stuff, doing stuff is hard!

But to me, having things to actually do, are what make it a game and what makes it fun. I like being in control, I like to actually play games, not just witness them. As I said before, if I just wanted to read, I would get a book or a comic, but I am looking for games for a reason.

So that is why I say I don't get it, if you don't want to play an actual game, then read a book/comic. You get the same experience, without the carpel tunnel.

Most events, at least in the early game consist of going to the girl's door, clicking on it, and hitting *TALK*, then waiting 3 days for the next one to trigger.
The ones that are not like that, usually consist of going to the lobby and having it trigger. I am not fond of those, but it's still harder miss them than it is to get them.
There are a few that have requirements, but we also have a wiki and people here to ask when that fails.
As I said earlier in this post, not all sandboxes are the same, just because there are bad ones, doesn't make them all bad. Most genre have 'bad' examples, and things I would never want to play, but there are good ones too.

For a lot of people, having to do endless work, including making money and reading wikis, is neither hard nor fun. It's simply annoying. Most people do not see endless annoying work as a "game" and many people do not want games anyway. In Japan, games and VNs are completely different categories. They just get thrown together and conflated elsewhere.

There are obvious reasons why many people prefer animated electronic media to print media. I'm sure you can think of them if you try. For one thing, 95% of VN fans want choice.

For a lot of people, there is no such thing as a "good sandbox" that involves guessing or working in any way. I can think of one highly rated game that might be called a "fucking great sandbox" because it's basically a VN, but 1) it involves zero work and uses an alert system that removes all guessing, and 2) it allows free roam so you can repeat sex scenes.

For me--
***** Harem Hotel as a "fucking great sandbox" with zero guessing or work but repeatable sex scenes
**** HH as a VN with a gallery to revisit sex scenes
**** HH modded to greatly reduce guessing and work
** HH as is, unmodded

 

[TheDevian]

For a lot of people, having to do endless work, including making money and reading wikis, is neither hard nor fun. It's simply annoying. Most people do not see endless annoying work as a "game" and many people do not want games anyway. In Japan, games and VNs are completely different categories. They just get thrown together and conflated elsewhere.

There are obvious reasons why many people prefer animated electronic media to print media. I'm sure you can think of them if you try. For one thing, 95% of VN fans want choice.

For a lot of people, there is no such thing as a "good sandbox" that involves guessing or working in any way. I can think of one highly rated game that might be called a "fucking great sandbox" because it's basically a VN, but 1) it involves zero work and uses an alert system that removes all guessing, and 2) it allows free roam so you can repeat sex scenes.

For me--
***** Harem Hotel as a "fucking great sandbox" with zero guessing or work but repeatable sex scenes
**** HH as a VN with a gallery to revisit sex scenes
**** HH modded to greatly reduce guessing and work
** HH as is, unmodded

Then they don't want to play games, they want to read comics or watch videos.

If someone thinks that 'there is no such thing as a good sandbox', then block the fucking tag, don't be an asshole, and go in complaining about how much you fucking hate sandboxes on every fucking game. I don't go into games with shit I hate and bitch at the people who like it, that's just fucking rude. You don't like something, don't fucking play it, it's that simple. There are thousands of games here, you don't have to be an ass, and expect every game to be made to suit you. If you don't' like it, move the fuck on. I despise Kinetic Novels, and you know what I do, I avoid that tag, and don't click on those games. What I don't do, is go into those threads, and bitch about how much I hate them, because I know that there are people who enjoy them, hell, I have friends who make them. I have nothing against people who like them, they are just not for me.

This is the internet, comics can have animation too. So do videos. If you don't want game play, this is what you want, not actual games. Games have game play, not just reading.

As for me, mods (including the current one here) break games and make things not work. This speaking as someone who does tech support for a number of games on here, and helps make several of them. Don't get me wrong, I love modding in general, but trying to mod games that are still being made, when you don't know how the game works, nor what is planned, is just asking for trouble. For example, one game I work on, people keep modding it so that they get more points per event. Well, those points control what events are available, so when you change those, you break everything. Even when we tell them these things directly, they won't stop, and we keep having to deal with the players who won't read, and use the mods anyway, breaking their saves. Then they blame us, for making a 'shitty game', when it was them modding it that broke it.

As for this game specifically, I could see it when the mod was adding in removed/new content, and things like that, but just to help find events? I see no point. This game is not that complicated, it's really not. I have been playing it since the very first update. It is a bit more complex now than it used to be, but most events that are not just clicking on their door and hitting *TALK*, are harder to avoid than not. I mean, fuck, I go to the lobby and get spammed with events for days. Really bad when you load an old save for some reason, you just can't avoid them, they are popping up left and right.

I love Runey, I consider him a friend, but I hate the way the gallery works on this, and only use it to get screen shots. It honestly upsets me to use it, and it actively frustrates me when I do so, not even to see the remade scenes.
It works fine in a VN or KN, where you can just replay the old scene, but there are too many variables here, and the gallery ignores them all, so can't see what I want to see anyway. Also, it is not the same as a repeatable event, you are not doing anything again, you are reliving old memories, it feels wrong to me. I just don't enjoy that in a sandbox.

 

[herrderr75]

Then they don't want to play games, they want to read comics or watch videos.

If someone thinks that 'there is no such thing as a good sandbox', then block the fucking tag, don't be an asshole, and go in complaining about how much you fucking hate sandboxes on every fucking game. I don't go into games with shit I hate and bitch at the people who like it, that's just fucking rude. You don't like something, don't fucking play it, it's that simple. There are thousands of games here, you don't have to be an ass, and expect every game to be made to suit you. If you don't' like it, move the fuck on. I despise Kinetic Novels, and you know what I do, I avoid that tag, and don't click on those games. What I don't do, is go into those threads, and bitch about how much I hate them, because I know that there are people who enjoy them, hell, I have friends who make them. I have nothing against people who like them, they are just not for me.

This is the internet, comics can have animation too. So do videos. If you don't want game play, this is what you want, not actual games. Games have game play, not just reading.

As for me, mods (including the current one here) break games and make things not work. This speaking as someone who does tech support for a number of games on here, and helps make several of them. Don't get me wrong, I love modding in general, but trying to mod games that are still being made, when you don't know how the game works, nor what is planned, is just asking for trouble. For example, one game I work on, people keep modding it so that they get more points per event. Well, those points control what events are available, so when you change those, you break everything. Even when we tell them these things directly, they won't stop, and we keep having to deal with the players who won't read, and use the mods anyway, breaking their saves. Then they blame us, for making a 'shitty game', when it was them modding it that broke it.

As for this game specifically, I could see it when the mod was adding in removed/new content, and things like that, but just to help find events? I see no point. This game is not that complicated, it's really not. I have been playing it since the very first update. It is a bit more complex now than it used to be, but most events that are not just clicking on their door and hitting *TALK*, are harder to avoid than not. I mean, fuck, I go to the lobby and get spammed with events for days. Really bad when you load an old save for some reason, you just can't avoid them, they are popping up left and right.

I love Runey, I consider him a friend, but I hate the way the gallery works on this, and only use it to get screen shots. It honestly upsets me to use it, and it actively frustrates me when I do so, not even to see the remade scenes.
It works fine in a VN or KN, where you can just replay the old scene, but there are too many variables here, and the gallery ignores them all, so can't see what I want to see anyway. Also, it is not the same as a repeatable event, you are not doing anything again, you are reliving old memories, it feels wrong to me. I just don't enjoy that in a sandbox.

You're ignoring the difference between VNs and work-games. Having an interest in non-annoying VNs is 100% legitimate and very common.

You're also ignoring the "fucking great sandbox" bit. No, free roam isn't bad. Annoying work and guessing games just aren't popular with everybody.

 

[TheDevian]

You're ignoring the difference between VNs and work-games. Having an interest in non-annoying VNs is 100% legitimate and very common.

You're also ignoring the "fucking great sandbox" bit. No, free roam isn't bad. Annoying work and guessing games just aren't popular with everybody.

The problem is that what people call 'annoying' varies a lot. What I call annoying, is something that won't give me any agency, or forces things on me. I also find game audio annoying. There are a lot of things really.

No, I didn't, but I agree with that part, so I didn't see the need to respond to it.
I mean, I have a high tolerance for grind, it is part of most games I like, and even I have limits. I don't deny that there are bad sandboxes, but the same can be said for every genre, that is not something unique to open world games.

Speaking of Sandbox games, there is a bit more time left on the

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, if you want to support Runey and 25 other devs (myself included). 30 games are in the bundle and you can donate what you want.

 

[moonbaby]

View attachment 10.webp

 

[Fauno36]

Personally, unlike most of the forum, I DON'T PLAY VISUAL NOVELS, with a few honorable exceptions, because they don't meet my expectations of what a game is.
However, as TheDevian rightly says, I don't go into those threads to disqualify said visual novels for not being to my taste.

 

[snapturtle34]

I've got a new computer and will have to start the game fresh. In light of claims that the mod messes things up, I'm really not looking forward to randomly visiting every fucking location every Tuesday at noon to see if maybe an event will happen.

Well after writing withthe other guys, I decided to give the game another shot. Honestly, I really tried but within five minutes, I was already frustrated. The whole sandbox setup just doesn’t work for me (personally). You can click around to visit different places, but the layout feels random, and sometimes locations are randomly locked. I found myself aimlessly clicking, hoping something would trigger, but nothing meaningful happened.
I talked to some of the girls in-game and even consulted the mod. The mod confirmed what I suspected: the game is very non-linear, and each girl has her own route. But instead of feeling engaging, it just felt chaotic. It was like doing a task at work rather than enjoying a game. I had to constantly refer to the mod’s walkthrough just to make any progress.
Honestly, I’m glad others enjoy this game, truly. But I just don’t feel the same. I’ve tried to get into it three times now: once years ago, and twice again this week. Each time, I end up closing it after 5–10 minutes. I just can’t stay immersed when I have to constantly fight with the sandbox structure.

 

[ankhtar]

This feels like the pineapple on pizza argument applied to games. I loathe it, the mere thought of it makes me gag. Others say I'm not 'doing' pizza right without fruit on it. It is what is is. Different tastes and all that.
I also have to agree with TheDevian here. Don't purposely walk into random pizza places (or game threads) and lecture people who have different tastes than you about how wrong they are. Not only is it rude, it also makes you sound like an unbelievable douche.

Before I get mobbed, I'm not addressing anyone in particular, I just figured I'd drop my general opinion on the matter.

 

[snapturtle34]

This feels like the pineapple on pizza argument applied to games. I loathe it, the mere thought of it makes me gag. Others say I'm not 'doing' pizza right without fruit on it. It is what is is. Different tastes and all that.
I also have to agree with TheDevian here. Don't purposely walk into random pizza places (or game threads) and lecture people who have different tastes than you about how wrong they are. Not only is it rude, it also makes you sound like an unbelievable douche.

Before I get mobbed, I'm not addressing anyone in particular, I just figured I'd drop my general opinion on the matter.

For sure, Again it seems like many people like this game according to the reviews. Thats cool.

 

[moonbaby]

 

[torresm]

I also wonder if the finished release will include more costume options for Autumn, I found some pretty good stuff in v0.18's code but it's still early stages.

Reckon I'd follow up on that since there isn't much going on while we wait for the release. Along with the code I also found these unused images for Autumn's room idle poses in the game files.

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[TheDevian]

Well after writing withthe other guys, I decided to give the game another shot. Honestly, I really tried but within five minutes, I was already frustrated. The whole sandbox setup just doesn’t work for me (personally). You can click around to visit different places, but the layout feels random, and sometimes locations are randomly locked. I found myself aimlessly clicking, hoping something would trigger, but nothing meaningful happened.
I talked to some of the girls in-game and even consulted the mod. The mod confirmed what I suspected: the game is very non-linear, and each girl has her own route. But instead of feeling engaging, it just felt chaotic. It was like doing a task at work rather than enjoying a game. I had to constantly refer to the mod’s walkthrough just to make any progress.
Honestly, I’m glad others enjoy this game, truly. But I just don’t feel the same. I’ve tried to get into it three times now: once years ago, and twice again this week. Each time, I end up closing it after 5–10 minutes. I just can’t stay immersed when I have to constantly fight with the sandbox structure.

Well, like I said before, at least at the start, almost every event triggers exactly the same way, wait a few days, then go to the girl's door, and click *TALK*. It is literally one of the simplest triggers in all of gaming. It gets a bit more complex as it goes, but not a lot. The only real exceptions to that, are the new events that were recently added, like where you can wander in town and do events there, but very little of that is required, other than meeting Eris and finding the park, but that is not needed until you want to do gardening, so it's not a rush either.

The key is to take your time, and just try to enjoy the world. If you try to rush...

 

[snapturtle34]

Well, like I said before, at least at the start, almost every event triggers exactly the same way, wait a few days, then go to the girl's door, and click *TALK*. It is literally one of the simplest triggers in all of gaming. It gets a bit more complex as it goes, but not a lot. The only real exceptions to that, are the new events that were recently added, like where you can wander in town, and do events there, but very little of that is required, other than meeting Eris and finding the park, but that is not needed until you want to do gardening, so it's not a rush either.

The key is to take your time, and just try to enjoy the world. If you try to rush...
View attachment 4939218

Heh, I guess… but honestly, I don’t find it funny or exciting. I lose almost all interest the moment I see it’s a sandbox game of this kind. It’s one of those grind-heavy types. I’m just not into grindy sandbox games, especially not VN ones.

 

[POne1]

Heh, I guess… but honestly, I don’t find it funny or exciting. I lose almost all interest the moment I see it’s a sandbox game of this kind. It’s one of those grind-heavy types. I’m just not into grindy sandbox games, especially not VN ones.

I'd suggest trying it again with the Walkthrough mod installed. It really simplifies the progression of things and you can check what to do with different characters. You can even cheat with the mod if you don't feel like all of the grinding to earn money for buying outfits and other things.

Personally I think some sandbox games if they take a certain amount of effort or needing for you to take notes or snap a picture of instructions, they should absolutely have some form of a hint system or even a way to cut some of that grind out. I'd absolutely grind for a game like Final Fantasy but not for a porn one in my opinion.