Hi Zara,
You convinced me here about that : the comparison between this game and Lords of the ring, if not bad, is not relevant enough to make you grasp my pov.
I just wanted to tell that there are a lot of ways to introduce and build side characters. Having them in "novel-like" events (by novel-like I mean
without means that can change the main storyline) is not a problem, they do not qualify as separate storylines, imho.
Imho, it is not mandatory to "explain" the connection between MC and side characters during their event. It is not a problem as long as the reason they are introduced is "explained" sooner
or later and how they contribute to the main storyline. Again, MC is not always required to be present during such events (building side characters). The fact players cannot understand now the goal of some side characters content, because the link with MC is not established yet, may of course lead some of them to wonder if such content is useless or not, but this questionning does not mean it IS useless...
Just be aware : when I said above *
without means that can change the main storyline*, I do not speak about plot twists on main storyline that go through a side character event... by seperate storyline about a side character, I really mean side character to "take the lead" of the main storyline, instead of MC, for his/her own adventures.
I find your prerequisite (MC to be always present and involved) too rigid a constraint and to stifle (I am not sure about this word) creativity in storytelling.
Here are the two questions I do not understand about your pov :
- Why do you see the content for side characters made in this game as multiple storylines about them ? They do not qualify to be seen as separate storylines imo.
- Why the idea of a link between MC and side characters, not made in an event about those side characters above all, but established later, makes such event still useless for you ? By established later, I mean all the build up made for them to finally makes sense with MC's storyline. The promise of an explanation later is enough for me to wait for it without saying too early such side event is useless.
As I said it, it does not ALWAYS make sense the MC to be there too, far from it, in all situations about side characters and events providing content, that is required for the main storyline.
And some build up about side characters may require their own content to be exposed comprehensively. Here, in this game,
MC is not leading her own corruption so far, her corruption is triggered mainly by side characters as part of the main storyline.
Therefore, it is acceptable to require for such side characters
enough screen time
on their own if it is decided so in the main storyline, to develop their build up...
BUT MC's corruption progression must ALWAYS be the conclusion of their actions, their plans, or whatever content they have on their own.
And
this conclusion can occur later, it is not mandatory for it to be asap.
To back my words about the relevance for a link to be made later instead of inside an event about side characters, please refer to
You must be registered to see the links
.
Of course, I see the storytelling is not perfect in this game : there are irrelevant things that should not be there, but
not side characters entire content in which MC is not present.
In the quote above, the important part I want to highligh is when it says
in act two or three... In other words, later is good too... The bad (in other words useless content) is "never" and I add to that : "very late"... That is clumsy because players can't be asked to remember for a long time things that they can see as small details even if those "details" are not.
Of course, you are right here. And especially when you said
one of the reasons...
I hope you inderstand now why I disagree with that. And I do not say your alternative, Jennifer spying, to be lame... It is just an alternative content that is not proven to be better.
We did not see the same thing here in Gym series of events...
MC had a kind of gloomy face here when on the verge to sepak with redhead gym girl... She did not forget, she rather did not dare to speak to redhead Gym girl and felt bad to potentially trigger an argument between her and her boyfriend when she saw them so happy to be together...
I also saw the Gym MILF shadow behind this cruel dilemma MC had at that moment (the MILF said it was up to MC whether to break their happiness or not) : the Gym MILF is an evil succubus I find fascinating when she weaves intrigues...
I think the dev "waits" for MC to be corrupted enough to resume their relationship... I cannot wait for that...
It is also a form of cowardice that MC showed at this moment : she chose to leave them in a "fake happiness". btw, I remember well (I liked that event a lot) the dev made MC lose Innocence at that moment : a clue the dev knows what he was doing there. Maybe MC is ashamed of that decision and cannot look the redhead gym girl in the eyes anymore from that moment.
She also lives herself in such fake happiness with her own boyfriend she cheats on, explaining why she did nothing : it would be like confessing to her boyfriend that she's cheating on him...
I said it above to you
here, there are intriguing similarities between MC+MC's boyfriend on the left and redhead Gym girl+her boyfriend on the right.
I cannot believe all those similarities to be only a coincidence...
You say it is useless because it has no connection to MC ? I prefer to think it has no connection to MC
yet and such content acts like a teaser for me, it is intriguing and it makes me wonder what will be the link it MUST have later with MC.
Am I right ? Am i wrong ? Who knows...
If the dev never reveals such link, he misses amazing promising content with huge potential and wastes all the good Gym build-up made so far, imho. I cannot believe that the dev made all this build up "for nothing" : he proved as you said it with the introduction of the new Barista in Coffee shop, he knows he has to link his side events with MC.
This scene to be shorter ? For sure... I agree.
The sex scene to be unnecessary ? I don't know... I see a use for it, even if a little one : it shows the strip club to be the place we expect it to be : a very shady place assuming to be one... BUT I think MC will not be involved in it on her own soon : too early for her...
I did it
here.
Best regards.