Ren'Py Heavy Five [Ch.2RS] [Nottravis]

[Akamari]

Well yes, but we have no reason to assume that these will be the hottest ones in the finished game. I don't think it's very helpful being secretive about visual content at this point. If the game was 0.9 I could agree with you. The question was how to reach out to a broader audience and I guarantee you, tits sells and would draw people's attention. Show off what you've got. Shake your money maker. I also feel it's nice to be up-front about what kind of lewds you can expect.

I disagree. You shouldn't show the best cards you have now. You can show them once you have better cards. If I, hypothetically, saw most of the sexy stuff in the previews I woudn't be too happy about the game not having anything better once I was done playing it. Every revelation needs good timing.

 

[DA22]

I disagree. You shouldn't show the best cards you have now. You can show them once you have better cards. If I, hypothetically, saw most of the sexy stuff in the previews I woudn't be too happy about the game not having anything better once I was done playing it. Every revelation needs good timing.

Well we will have to agree to disagree on that one, though I see your point.

 

[Akamari]

(Only reason to use walkthrough is so we can blame Akamari later if it leads us to a bad path)

Which is why I haven't included the so far only bad end. No threats yet.

 

[Huitieme]

I disagree. You shouldn't show the best cards you have now. You can show them once you have better cards. If I, hypothetically, saw most of the sexy stuff in the previews I woudn't be too happy about the game not having anything better once I was done playing it. Every revelation needs good timing.

Well, there's no point in showing ALL the hottest renders in the preview, but just one or two boobies would bring all the boys in the yard

 

[Akamari]

Well, there's no point in showing ALL the hottest renders in the preview, but just one or two boobies would bring all the boys in the yard

That's what I mean. One or two appetisers. I'd still use this one for example:

Spoiler

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Wanna see more? Play the game.

 

[popabear]

I disagree. You shouldn't show the best cards you have now. You can show them once you have better cards. If I, hypothetically, saw most of the sexy stuff in the previews I woudn't be too happy about the game not having anything better once I was done playing it. Every revelation needs good timing.

Well we will have to agree to disagree on that one

Im with DA22 here. It's early in development and for undecided patreons and other potential fans I think it's important to show the best you can do. First impressions are important. Flaunt it if you've got it. Think of it as the portfolio you'd carry around if you were a visual artist going to a job interview. It's a trade off, of course, but I think the timing heavily favors just shoving amazing tits and gorgeous art in people's faces to get them on the hype train and to maximize the Patreon dollars. When Notty is nr 1 on Patreon I will totally be on your side though.

 

[popabear]

Well, there's no point in showing ALL the hottest renders in the preview, but just one or two boobies would bring all the boys in the yard

Yea, I'm sure there's a middle ground.

 

[Huitieme]

That's what I mean. One or two appetisers. I'd still use this one for example:

Spoiler

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Wanna see more? Play the game.

Exactly. We need to entice the non-believer into our cult appeal to the people!

 

[Akamari]

Im with DA22 here. It's early in development and for undecided patreons and other potential fans I think it's important to show the best you can do. First impressions are important. Flaunt it if you've got it. Think of it as the portfolio you'd carry around if you were a visual artist going to a job interview.

I'd agree in case of a visual artist. But that's not what Notty does. She has a game. A story to tell. Sexy renders are very much part of it. It's much more exciting to see them for the first time in the context of a game.

 

[popabear]

I'd agree in case of a visual artist. But that's not what Notty does. She has a game. A story to tell. Sexy renders are very much part of it. It's much more exciting to see them for the first time in the context of a game.

If you don't think Notty needs to attract investors (Patreons), or that it's more important that she appeases her already-convinced fanbase I would strongly disagree with you on both points. Also I don't agree with the notion that Notty isn't a visual artist. I'm not saying she is only a visual artist, but it's one of her jobs.
I would much rather see a future where Notty is head of Smutress Inc, with employees and millions of dollars in backing than I would see it all become a hipster type fringe cult where she needs to have a second day job to make ends meet. It's more important to me that Notty does well economically and can continue to put out great content, than that content being absolutely perfect and exactly what I wanted.

 

[I'm Not Thea Lundgren!]

From what I gather of those that do the majority like it, some loons -really- like it *wiggles eyebrows*

Loons you say? I think you'll find the preferred nomenclature is actually Nottys or Thealites or ACIO Cult Members.

It's a third completed tho. And it's not like a lot of 0.3s.

Might be stuck then?

How about (and I'll be putting in a suggestion for this to be used forum-wide) some kind of chart or graph showing the expected game completion? This won't work for every game, but for yours, it's perfect; you already know that this will be ten chapters. Maybe something simple for now, like Chapter 3 of 10; it might some an idea of completeness. That could also bite you in the arse if people decide to wait until CH10 is out, but you can't have everything.

Another idea is to have (again, I'll be putting in a suggestion for this to be used forum-wide) some kind of play-time scale; how long can you expect to be playing this game at the level released? For example, CH1 might be 2 hrs, CH2 is 4 hrs (combined with CH1) and CH3 is 9 hrs.

How about a suspense tag?

I agree, previews should not reveal too much, but I fear that the reputation of the game right now is "great writing, but no porn". A few boobies here and there would certainly help.

A few of the Sarah VR renders would definitely go down well

I like it too, but maybe some would get to it in the game, think back that it was highlighted and that assure themselves in some weird ideas they may have? But, you're right that it could attract others who are not touchy about everything.

Have you been on some of the threads on here? People not touchy! We are very lucky here on this one

Well a good way is if you can make a deal with one or two other devs that like your game to give a shout out for your game on their patreon page. If you could get someone like Philly to do so, you would get a lot of people at least trying the game or checking it out.

I agree; if you could get one or two of the really popular devs (sorry Notty, you are still our favourite! ) like maybe Runey or CheekyGimp or maybe someone who interacts with their followers with a similar sense of humour like Domiek ?*


One last thing... Definitely, definitely, use lines you like from reviews or comments made on the thread! This my personal favourite so far!
"Heavy five is, definitively the Visual Novel Harrods would sell you ."
That's the sort of line you would put on the DVD case if you were selling it in an actual shop.

Anyway, that's all I have for now, laters *poofs off for a cuppa* I'm think I'm getting that hang of that now






*Sorry, not sorry to those devs if I brought you here for a shameless plug.

 

[Akamari]

If you don't think Notty needs to attract investors (Patreons), or that it's more important that she appeases her already-convinced fanbase I would strongly disagree with you on both points. Also I don't agree with the notion that Notty isn't a visual artist.

Sorry, but it seems you are missing all my points. How did you even reach those conclusions?

This isn't about established fanbase at all. What is on the main page at F95zone doesn't affect them whatsoever. This is about new players. Like I said, it's better to see the best stuff in the context of the game. They may download the game thinking there will be more, but if it turns what they've seen already is the best thing there is to see, that's rather disappointing, no? Would they pledge after that? This is of course simplified as there is a lot more to the game than just visuals.

Does she need to "sell" her game cheap? Attracting patrons is one thing, but you should do it smart. It's better to entice and then show your best in the best conditions. Sure you may get more people to play, will you get more people to stay?

As for the visual artist, I was refering to someone who does ONLY visual art. It's all they have to offer. There is no story, there is no game. What they showcase, is what people get. And even then many visual artists show for example only one picture of the set. And not the best one or the hottest one. Want to see more? Here's my patreon.

I love Notty's art. I think she's very talented. You can read my review here, if you want to know what I think.

 

[Nottravis]

 

[popabear]

How about (and I'll be putting in a suggestion for this to be used forum-wide) some kind of chart or graph showing the expected game completion? This won't work for every game, but for yours, it's perfect; you already know that this will be ten chapters. Maybe something simple for now, like Chapter 3 of 10; it might some an idea of completeness. That could also bite you in the arse if people decide to wait until CH10 is out, but you can't have everything.

Another idea is to have (again, I'll be putting in a suggestion for this to be used forum-wide) some kind of play-time scale; how long can you expect to be playing this game at the level released? For example, CH1 might be 2 hrs, CH2 is 4 hrs (combined with CH1) and CH3 is 9 hrs.

A guesstimate on average time for a playthrough is definitely a great idea. Both for the content that's already made and for what the completed game should be like. Most normal game reviews comment on how long it takes to finish the game, it's only natural that we adopt this.
A "% completed" bar would also be nice. Right now I go by the version number (for example if its 0.4 I would expect it to be about 40 % completed) but not everyone follows this convention. Making it clearer is a good idea.
This could run into trouble for those who don't have the whole project planned to perfection though, and projects often go awry in some way. By chapter 8 for example, a developer might realize that it would be better to make it a 12-chapter story than the originally planned 10. Even if this is best for everyone involved I can see how it could piss some people off who thought they were promised a complete game at X date. Maybe some developers style is just to plan 1 chapter ahead and see where the story takes them. I know some major heavy hitting authors work this way (Steven King is one example). It's called the "gardening" approach. It would be counterproductive to scare these people off by forcing them to take on a set project structure. Maybe we should just encourage this kind of discussion and that would be enough? Like an author foreword where they explain their style and what their plans are.

 

[Huitieme]

Calm down, boys and/or girls (did I just assume your gender?).

I think we can all agree that Notty's work is fantastic AND that spoiling everything in the preview would be counter-productive. This is not what is asked here. We (the regal "We") merely suggest that the previews show a little more booty so that the curious player may be enticed to see more. As of now, the first three chapters suffer from the lack of sexual content, and even though it doesn't seem to bother us who are already members of the fanclub, it is prejudicial to the game's fame around these parts :/

 

[I'm Not Thea Lundgren!]

View attachment 352885

I must still be tired, I actually looked up at the ceiling!

 

[Akamari]

Calm down, boys and/or girls (did I just assume your gender?).

I think we can all agree that Notty's work is fantastic AND that spoiling everything in the preview would be counter-productive. This is not what is asked here. We (the regal "We") merely suggest that the previews show a little more booty so that the curious player may be enticed to see more. As of now, the first three chapters suffer from the lack of sexual content, and even though it doesn't seem to bother us who are already members of the fanclub, it is prejudicial to the game's fame around these parts :/

Oh, it's just a friendly discussion. Nothing more.

 

[Nottravis]

I must still be tired, I actually looked up at the ceiling!

You just missed me. Also I think you've a spiderweb in the left-hand corner.

My left. So the side of the room near the window.

 

[Huitieme]

Oh, it's just a friendly discussion. Nothing more.

Of course it is, but it would be sad to see two Nottheads (name still pending ) at each other's throats for what's ultimately the same goal: make Heavy Five more popular

 

[I'm Not Thea Lundgren!]

You just missed me. Also I think you've a spiderweb in the left-hand corner.

My left. So the side of the room near the window.

That's just creepy! And the spiderweb is where Boris lives; we have an understanding; he stays on his side of the room and I don't burn the place down when he isn't there anymore.