VN Ren'Py Abandoned High Life [Ep. 1 Elite] [Erosion]

[Enyos]

3 Months later... "We have a soundtrack!"

I mean, that is really friggin' cool, and extremely unique for a title on this style of platform/genre. Coupled with how high quality the render details are and how choice filled the script is, it will indeed be a one of a kind and push the boundaries and quality a few steps further for future Devs.

I suppose I'm just a bit disappointed with the whole "3 months later" thing. At the same time, it's understandable. The original "Episode 1" was just putting the feelers out there to see how well received the work would be. When Erosion got the support they had hoped for (possibly exceeded from how the Patreon is doing after a single release), they decided to go back and redo everything to an even higher level of quality, being perfectionists. I just hope that now (3 months later) they have a proper outline set for where they want to take the story, assets set for future events, and a proper setup for starting to actually produce the product they set out to do. I'm certain they'll reach their goal very quickly if they can begin to release episodes every month or 2 (max), and retain a very large gathering of fans.

 

[Jim Webb]

Oh wow! an complete soundtrack for an incomplete game, I've never seen that before, I wonder why.

 

[Aust3r3]

Next update after 3 months might be a full biography of every single character in this game.

 

[Ennoch]

if they can begin to release episodes every month or 2 (max)

You know thats impossible right? You do, you just want to see this continue so bad don't you

 

[MrWally]

why release a soundtrack of an unfinished project? And that after, by my knowledge, only 1 update?
i think the have to come of with something of a update at the end of this month otherwise they will loose patreons

 

[Deleted member 1044747]

Woah...

I can understand that people are disappointed because they expected a release of Ep. 2 (I was low-key hoping as well), but what's up with that "useless soundtrack" attitude?

Some of you guys act as if the devs just announced they had spend the last 3 months making music instead of working on the game.

Surprise, they didn't!
Obviously a befriended musician did the soundtrack for them.

So it took nothing away from the development of High Life - it's just a nice plus.

There's just no pleasing some people...

 

[Olivia_V]

I think it's more about how tone-deaf the release is. You bait people with a major announcement, and after so long everybody is expecting the new episode. Then this comes out, and of course most people are disappointed. This soundtrack could have easily been released alongside the next episode with little issue. It's like Diablo Immortal. Its greatest sin (other than being a reskinned Chinese ripoff) was being announced at a time where everybody was expecting and hyping info on Diablo 4.

 

[Walg]

Woah...

I can understand that people are disappointed, because they expected a release of Ep. 2 (I was low-key hoping as well), but what's up with that "useless soundtrack attitude"?

Some of you guys act as if the devs just announced they spend the last 3 months making music instead of working on the game.

Surprise, they didn't!
Obviously a befriended musician did the soundtrack for them.

So it took nothing away from the development of High Life - it's just a nice plus.

There's just no pleasing some people...

Tell that to their patronage. They're fleeing as fast as some UK nationals are at denouncing their UK citizenship and taking up EU ones It's just come down around $300 - $400 USD gross per month from their peak.

EDIT: They actually gained patronage compared to the end of December (Not much but a few) so the above might have been influenced by scammers starting patronage then quickly cancelling. My mistake.

I think it's more about how tone-deaf the release is. You bait people with a major announcement, and after so long everybody is expecting the new episode. Then this comes out, and of course most people are disappointed. This soundtrack could have easily been released alongside the next episode with little issue. It's like Diablo Immortal. Its greatest sin (other than being a reskinned Chinese ripoff) was being announced at a time where everybody was expecting and hyping info on Diablo 4.

Hype and disappointment are major things for sure (And to many they'd totally agree the soundtrack could/should have been released alongside an Ep 2 release). It's also about not listening to their fan base for the first time/blindsiding the fans. The other patron updates were all about the latest update and the talk was about the rendering/story progression and then to hit the fans with something left field doesn't sit well as one certain game found out about perceived blindsiding.

As some have already said, basically they've increased the pressure unnecessarily on the Ep 2 release and the expectations are now that it has to be perfect with 2 - 3 months of content. The drop in patronage just proves they don't like being blindsided.

EDIT: To me, I'm indifferent about it and I'm not a patron so

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[Pantisocrat]

It doesn't anger me - I can wait - though I understand why people are annoyed.

More than anything, I find it amusingly pretentious. I'm picturing hipsters 20 years in the future with a shelf full of vinyl OSTs from incest porn games.

 

[Deleted member 1044747]

I think it's more about how tone-deaf the release is. You bait people with a major announcement, and after so long everybody is expecting the new episode. Then this comes out, and of course most people are disappointed. This soundtrack could have easily been released alongside the next episode with little issue. It's like Diablo Immortal. Its greatest sin (other than being a reskinned Chinese ripoff) was being announced at a time where everybody was expecting and hyping info on Diablo 4.

It's sort of funny, because yesterday after the announcement I made a post similar to yours (albeit in a more balanced tone - it even included the Diablo Immortal comparison), but then deleted it, because I thought it didn't sound appreciative enough.

But after reading some of the derogative posts above, I had to intervene in the soundtrack's defense.

So right now it somehow feels like a reverse front... But back on topic:

Yeah, it was definitely not a smart move to make an announcement of an announcement regarding the soundtrack - and hopefully the devs will learn from this and be more cautious with what and how they announce things in the future.

But then - don't bash the soundtrack, blame the devs for... being perfectionists and taking their sweet time?
Well, I can't really blame them - heck... I admire them for doing their thing and creating one of the best games so far.

...More than anything, I find it amusingly pretentious. I'm picturing hipsters 20 years in the future with a shelf full of vinyl OSTs from incest porn games.

Well, High Life is definitely more than a simple porn game - a sophisticated coming-of-age story, which also includes lewd content.

 

[Olivia_V]

I don't mind an adult game with ambition. If Erosion can pull off an adult "Life is Strange" anchored around hipster music you've never heard of, then awesome. I'm sure the soundtrack is great.

I just hope they remember not just what their ultimate product is, but who their audience is as well.

 

[Deleted member 1044747]

Yeah, Life is Strange - even though I never played it - definitely comes to mind.
(Shameless excuse to recommend playing

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, which is based on LiS).

And the scene with the unknown girl at the night club reminds me of Blue is the Warmest Colour.
Although the movie was (probably rightfully so) heavily criticised for its unrealistic lewd scenes, there still were those magic moments I'm craving to find in a good adult game like High Life.

 

[Mark17]

"keep your expectations low and you will never be disappointed" - Kratos

 

[UncleVT]

Tell that to their patronage. They're fleeing as fast as some UK nationals are at denouncing their UK citizenship and taking up EU ones It's just come down around $300 - $400 USD gross per month from their peak.

Are you sure you're talking about this creator?

 

[Ragnar]

They're making 1k more or less, being their first demo isn't bad at all, but if they want to gain traction and supporters better start releasing new updates soon and fast or really big ones with plenty of content.
There are too many 0.0.1 around already.

 

[Arden4702]

They're making 1k more or less, being their first demo isn't bad at all, but if they want to gain traction and supporters better start releasing new updates soon and fast or really big ones with plenty of content.
There are too many 0.0.1 around already.

That was why I left love the game and really wanted to support it, I support 5 at $20 a month each. Every month they dont release an update I take away a step till I find a new one. Or if they go in a direction I hate IE Acting lessons. I posted on pateron to them asking hey any idea of a release date 2 times never got a response so I was out

 

[Petro28]

I hate IE Acting lessons

What was that? I am just curious

 

[Enyos]

What was that? I am just curious

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[UncleVT]

For this VN, they lost 27% of the monthly revenue over the "soundtrack" announcement in a 24 hour period.

Well, the Patreon page doesn't show that. Have they another source of incomes?

 

[Enyos]

Well, the Patreon page doesn't show that. Have they another source of incomes?

Maybe I'm mistaken then. I swore it said $1300 monthly early yesterday (before the reveal), and then was $941 when I checked today. I was in private message with another who saw something similar.