VN Ren'Py Hillside [v0.15.1] [DarkBlue]

[AL.d]

Nice renders but after its second update it has less content that most 0.1 demos. Also hopefully dev will figure out in future updates who the actual player character in this game is. Throughout what's available now we have spent much more time as observers in Hillside than actually interacting with the game through MC's eyes.

 

[Ragnar]

Yeah, it's really frustrating to be playing a "game" in which the MC is introduced at the very end of the first installment, the character does nothing, and then we wait until next installment. When the second part comes out we, once again play as the ineffectual mother for an extended period of time, then when we play the MC he can't seem to stay professional even though that was his first thought. On top of which the mom isn't so attractive as to make sense that he lost his cool immediately upon seeing her.

In addition the mother doesn't trust men at all but decides, even though she felt he wasn't very professional when he came to the house, to have the MC sleep across the hall from her very naive and vulnerable daughter. Just because it has an in suite bathroom. Which, of course, angers her oldest "daughter not appearing in this game", rightfully. Instead of putting him in that room she could have explained that he always must go too and from the bathroom fully clothed. Make it a rule. Much more reasonable than her actual decision.

The hands thing is an awkward way to show some emotions, but the other things aren't that hard to figure out.
1- Don't selfinsert, problem solved.
2- The bodyguard is a recomendation from her sister I think, not some random stranger.

 

[AL.d]

1- Don't selfinsert, problem solved.

Ah, this buzzword again that is an actual device used in non-interactive media like literature but keeps getting used in arguments about video games for reasons.

Video games are an interactive medium, and ones with a player-character require "self insertion" as a core gameplay element. You are being put into the shoes of the player character and literally look at the game world through their eyes. Of course it will always happen within the confines of the game ruleset.

Anyone who wishes to be an observing third-party would be better served by media like books or movies.

 

[meduusa]

is it possible to copy the files from the new version for pc to the old version on mac and run it like in some RPGM games?

 

[Trasher2018]

Yeah, it's really frustrating to be playing a "game" in which the MC is introduced at the very end of the first installment, the character does nothing, and then we wait until next installment. When the second part comes out we, once again play as the ineffectual mother for an extended period of time, then when we play the MC he can't seem to stay professional even though that was his first thought. On top of which the mom isn't so attractive as to make sense that he lost his cool immediately upon seeing her.

In addition the mother doesn't trust men at all but decides, even though she felt he wasn't very professional when he came to the house, to have the MC sleep across the hall from her very naive and vulnerable daughter. Just because it has an in suite bathroom. Which, of course, angers her oldest "daughter not appearing in this game", rightfully. Instead of putting him in that room she could have explained that he always must go too and from the bathroom fully clothed. Make it a rule. Much more reasonable than her actual decision.

To be honest - I dont mind the premise ("lexi clone") because compared to other settings, this is still fresh. And I dont have a problem with the style that we dont see the MC that much. At least in the beginning. Its is a nice way to lead into the game and a quite unique approach.

The main problem is the lack of content. When this were the first release - it would feel a lot better I think. And now when we get some alone time with Emma we will be involved alot more - we have to ^^.

But when the dev hopes to garner many patreons he has to increase the amount of content in each update. I cant imagine that many ppl will pay for these snippets.

I agree to you other points.

And I could make a bet .. the "invisible" daughter will have a party when she stays over the weekend and is drunk and enters the MC's room by accident ... and I guess when that is the case, this is the only reason why the MC got that room ^^

All the bashing is a bit sad, because I have fun with the litte we have and hope the dev will continue with the game ... but with the small updates and slow pace (that I do like) this will probably lack support and will get abandoned. :/

 

[RRRS003]

Anyone who wishes to be an observing third-party would be better served by media like books or movies.

...or NTR VNs...

 

[Ragnar]

LOL, you know another way to show emotion? Writing the MC's inner thoughts, which they already did, no need for the creepy holding of the Ice Queens hand.

1) Don't self insert as in I shouldn't play the game as if I am playing the character in the game? Why not? Isn't that the entire point of this POV? So that we identify with the actual character in the game? Same with FPS. It is fun to pretend to be someone else for a short period of time. I don't play these games for porn (there's actual porn for that), I play these games for the stories, the relationships, and if there are some well done renders, but I am not here simply to nut and go. (Technically to self insert means for an author or creator to insert themselves into a story or game, not for the player or reader to do that).

2) She hired the bodyguard for the Ice Queen based on other people's recommendations. He is a random stranger which the Ice Queen has stated she isn't sure about trusting.

I rarely self insert in videogames with predefined MCs also you can't roleplay much in a VN either.
A well known security professional is hardly a random stranger.

Video games are an interactive medium, and ones with a player-character require "self insertion" as a core gameplay element. You are being put into the shoes of the player character and literally look at the game world through their eyes. Of course it will always happen within the confines of the game ruleset.

Yeah, you can input commands to move a character on a screen but he ain't you. You're a third party with metaplot knowledge unknown by the characters, that's why you can see npcs doing shit while the MC isn't there.
It's not your story, It's their story.

 

[AL.d]

I rarely self insert in videogames with predefined MCs also you can't roleplay much in a VN either.
A well known security professional is hardly a random stranger.

Yeah, you can input commands to move a character on a screen but he ain't you. You're a third party with metaplot knowledge unknown by the characters, that's why you can see npcs doing shit while the MC isn't there.
It's not your story, It's their story.

And that's why the term is wrongly used in gaming as gamers can't be the authors of the story. The only one who could (and they often do) is the writer/dev. Still in most narrative games you are navigating your way through paths created by the writer, giving the illusion of playing your "own version" with your choices.

And any game that spends more time with NPCs instead of the PC doing shit on screen, is most definitely a bad game.

 

[messerschmied]

lookin' good.

 

[Avaron1974]

I don't...

MC, ex military, professional bodyguard. Spent years building his reputation and working for all manner of clients.

Goes into this meeting saying he's a professional and has standards to maintain.

Upon meeting one of the women in the house "her hand is so soft, I can't let go ... oh, she has boobs"

So by professional he meant horny teenager that has never seen a woman before.....

 

[Trasher2018]

I don't...

MC, ex military, professional bodyguard. Spent years building his reputation and working for all manner of clients.

Goes into this meeting saying he's a professional and has standards to maintain.

Upon meeting one of the women in the house "her hand is so soft, I can't let go ... oh, she has boobs"

So by professional he meant horny teenager that has never seen a woman before.....

To be fair - that describes 90% of all MCs - unrelated to their profession, education or training ^^

But yeah - the MC needs some work ... sure he can fall in love with her and even say that it might be love on first sight - but he should be professional enough to dont show that.

 

[monksims]

If I was a dude that was sitting in a bar waiting for a call, I shouldn't know anything what happens in "Hillside" at the Lloyds. So far this story seems to be more about "Charlie", Emma and Lucy than about "my" journey dealing with them and the stalker. At one time, it felt like I was playing "Charlie" instead.

Her name is Emma, so I have to protect her! Who was the Emma MC was thinking about? What happened?

After being played through 0.1 and 0.2, the protagonist feels like a nobody from the street instead of the main character (MC). When I played 0.1, I felt it was okay to give us some background why the MC was called to be interviewed and I expected the story to start in this (0.2) update. But instead, only about 25% of the new content was about the MC and the rest was about conversations that MC never knew about. 0.1 was promising but 0.2 fell short of low expectations I had. But it's still promising start if the story starts to involve the MC more. Let's think of this 0.2 as an extended demo.

 

[Nightless]

Does not look bad so far, a bit too much blonde for my taste but at least the mom is hot ^^ And yeah not really that much to tell for now I think, needs a few updates for me Keep up the good work

 

[Deleted member 1776160]

I like the natural homey previews. To the list it goes!

What is the list? If you're not on it, don't worry about it!

 

[PhoenixRage23]

I know it's only the second release of the game, but talk about a short game. I got
through it in less than 10 minutes. Hopefully the dev doesn't draw it out per update
or he won't get much support on patreon. The renders look pretty good and hopefully
the storyline and dialogue improve with each update. Having great models is fine, but
without a good storyline it's just not much to it.

I might check back on the game in a few months when there's a decent amount of
content. Good luck to the dev and hopefully it won't be an abandoned game.

 

[Raptus Puellae]

I don't...

MC, ex military, professional bodyguard. Spent years building his reputation and working for all manner of clients.

Goes into this meeting saying he's a professional and has standards to maintain.

Upon meeting one of the women in the house "her hand is so soft, I can't let go ... oh, she has boobs"

So by professional he meant horny teenager that has never seen a woman before.....

that I could slide, nice hands are really mesmerizing...
what pissed me of was Emma's insecurities about being pretty... I know women get that, but come on! in her whole life she never had a mirror in front of her?

 

[Avaron1974]

If I was a dude that was sitting in a bar waiting for a call, I shouldn't know anything what happens in "Hillside" at the Lloyds. So far this story seems to be more about "Charlie", Emma and Lucy than about "my" journey dealing with them and the stalker. At one time, it felt like I was playing "Charlie" instead.

Her name is Emma, so I have to protect her! Who was the Emma MC was thinking about? What happened?

After being played through 0.1 and 0.2, the protagonist feels like a nobody from the street instead of the main character (MC). When I played 0.1, I felt it was okay to give us some background why the MC was called to be interviewed and I expected the story to start in this (0.2) update. But instead, only about 25% of the new content was about the MC and the rest was about conversations that MC never knew about. 0.1 was promising but 0.2 fell short of low expectations I had. But it's still promising start if the story starts to involve the MC more. Let's think of this 0.2 as an extended demo.

I have to agree.

It's a similar thing to Lexi, bodyguard of a girl with a stalker getting creepy letters.

Major difference.

With Lexi you got introduced to the MC. Who he was, who his family was, what happend to him and why he was working as a bodyguard THEN Lexi was introduced and what the plot of the game is.

Here we got introduced to a woman who's daughter is being stalked. We get a lot of conversations but we still don't know much about them besides she hates men to the point of parody and her daughter is the most sheltered thing i've ever seen in a game.

Then we meet the MC who just has an interview.

I found out from the woman that he was ex military and I still know nothing about the MC. 2 updates in and nothing has been fleshed out.

 

[KeiNineX]

that I could slide, nice hands are really mesmerizing...
what pissed me of was Emma's insecurities about being pretty... I know women get that, but come on! in her whole life she never had a mirror in front of her?

That's not how it works tho. Just because a girl is pretty doesn't mean that she thinks that she is. And her being constantly locked up home and overlooked at school doesn´t help it.

 

[Raptus Puellae]

That's not how it works tho. Just because a girl is pretty doesn't mean that she thinks that she is. And her being constantly locked up home and overlooked at school doesn´t help it.

and the part about guys ignoring her?

 

[Raptus Puellae]

Like why do they ignore her if she is pretty? Because she is shy, insecure, introverted girl with overprotective mother that hates men. But that's just my guess....

you're making valid arguments... my point is that in many games the prettiest girl is a clueless virgin that never did as much as holding hands with a guy... just look at WTHI for example