VN Ren'Py Isabella - Chasing Shadows [Ch. 4.3] [badtimetales]

[badtimetales]

badtimetales Congratulations for this peace of art (in my opinion). The Renders are great, the Animations astoundly and the Story is exciting ! I really look forward to the next update (sadly in a few months, I presume ?) I hope the Quality of this Game goes not down with Time, better if we must longer wait and the Quality stays (or goes up) than the other way around...

Thank you!


I can assure you that the quality will NOT go down.
If the GPU prices will go down I could do even better, but that's whishful thinking and not happening in the next 12 months.

I will not give any numbers for an update period.
Too many dev's have been grilled alive after they didn't met the timeline.

After Chapter 1 each chapter will be split into 3 parts, with 20-30 minutes in game time each.
It's ready when I reach this time AND like the content, story wise and technically (renders, script and so on).

 

[badtimetales]

I like this game in general and it's story. It's convincing so far but I'm yet to finish this chapter.
I don't like that I'm in a sort of relationship with Alex. Plus, I don't like her, her hairstyle, her piercings, her appearance in general nor her attitude. She, and her relationship with the MC, makes it hard for me, In a Personal level, to stomach this VN. The story is what keeps me going since I'm more story focused than on lewd content. I consider abhorrent any VN that forces the MC to have relations without the players consent. This one makes it even worse by making the MC get into a relationship without the players consent. I'll try to soldier on but something's normally gives and I quit.

Thank you.

Sorry to hear that, but in that case it's just not the right game for you.

Alex is and will be a part of the MC's life.
You will be able to break up with her and go for a solo route with Isabella.
But I don't think you want to play a few dozens updates until you have the chance to do so.

And to answer the not yet asked question:
She's in the game

- because I really like the girl she was created after
- I threw the player in a story and she is an important part of the story (even though the game is called Isabella)
- what do you think would have happened with 40-60 minutes in game time without any sex?
This is not a "choose the 10 girls you like from 20 girls at all to have sex with" game.
You will be able to have sex with other girls (if you want to), but Alex and Isa are the main LI's.


If you watch a movie ....
Do you stop watching because you don't like the wife/husband of the main character?

Thanks for the feedback, nevertheless.
Even negative feedback helps!

 

[Boehser Onkel]

Sorry to hear that, but in that case it's just not the right game for you.

Alex is and will be a part of the MC's life.
You will be able to break up with her and go for a solo route with Isabella.
But I don't think you want to play a few dozens updates until you have the chance to do so.

And to answer the not yet asked question:
She's in the game

- because I really like the girl she was created after
- I threw the player in a story and she is an important part of the story (even though the game is called Isabella)
- what do you think would have happened with 40-60 minutes in game time without any sex?
This is not a "choose the 10 girls you like from 20 girls at all to have sex with" game.
You will be able to have sex with other girls (if you want to), but Alex and Isa are the main LI's.


If you watch a movie ....
Do you stop watching because you don't like the wife/husband of the main character?

Thanks for the feedback, nevertheless.
Even negative feedback helps!

dang .. put that in a spoiler lol

 

[Raife]

Sorry to hear that, but in that case it's just not the right game for you.

My most earnest wish is that more devs reacted to this sort of criticism from players the way that Badtimes does here, in other words: (1) it's my story, (2) you are along for the ride, (3) I'll allow you some degree of agency and choice in governing the MC, but only to the extent that it does not interfere with the story I'm telling or the characters I'm creating.

That's spot on... so spot on that you've earned some instant cash from me, Badtimes... even though we're three days from the end of the month.

If Badtimes had given the player what he wanted, it would have destroyed the integrity of his story... his MC

Spoiler

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which would undercut the integrity of his own story and personality... and of Badtimes's wider narrative. That happens all the time in response to demands from players on this hellsite... and virtually always blows up the quality of the game in question.

So, well done, Badtimes... and good luck with your next update.

 

[badtimetales]

My most earnest wish is that more devs reacted to this sort of criticism from players the way that Badtimes does here, in other words: (1) it's my story, (2) you are along for the ride, (3) I'll allow you some degree of agency and choice in governing the MC, but only to the extent that it does not interfere with the story I'm telling or the characters I'm creating.

I don't know how many VN's I've played in the last two years.
A few hundreds.

Some people like story based, some like a "fuck them all".
But the VN's I still remember, even after years, are the ones where the dev sticks with his story, makes the characters believable, gives the game some depth.

I'm not talking about actual games, but one example was Lexi. May Chatterbox rest in piece.

That's what I wanted to create.
And that's not gonna work if I jump on every "i don't like this or that" posting.

That's spot on... so spot on that you've earned some instant cash from me, Badtimes... even though we're three days from the end of the month.

Wow. Thanks a lot! You are really helping me!

And ... I didn't activate charge upfront. So you have time till 2022/1/1 to change your decision

(not sure if that's a mistake, though)

 

[D3xzalias]

Don't get me wrong but when i play a new VN i always have low expectations
But This is actually pretty good, Liked the story and characters have good background development.
No unnecessary filler to stretch the episode out. Animations were nicely done and were just a nice add-on to the scene
Story was well written doesn't make you skip untill you get to the next good part

Kudo's to you
Badtimes
Wish you all the best with this VN

 

[NoI'mDirtyDan]

Loving it so far, just not a fan of Alex and being in a relationship with her. I understand she's a part of the story though and I know we'll be able to break things off with her. Just wanna know if we'll have to wait till the end of the game to do that, hopefully not, or in a some chapters soon.

 

[kartolas]

Sorry to hear that, but in that case it's just not the right game for you.

Alex is and will be a part of the MC's life.
You will be able to break up with her and go for a solo route with Isabella.
But I don't think you want to play a few dozens updates until you have the chance to do so.

And to answer the not yet asked question:
She's in the game

- because I really like the girl she was created after
- I threw the player in a story and she is an important part of the story (even though the game is called Isabella)
- what do you think would have happened with 40-60 minutes in game time without any sex?
This is not a "choose the 10 girls you like from 20 girls at all to have sex with" game.
You will be able to have sex with other girls (if you want to), but Alex and Isa are the main LI's.


If you watch a movie ....
Do you stop watching because you don't like the wife/husband of the main character?

Thanks for the feedback, nevertheless.
Even negative feedback helps!

You don't have to be sorry mate because as I said it's my personal taste. Those were just some thoughts. I always thank devs for their work whether I enjoy it or not.
I don't mind her being in game, but relationship? I would like to have a choice on that.
I will breakup then.
I'll definitely try to play them.
What do I think would have happened? For me nothing, as I said, I don't play these for lewd. Do I want 40-60, without any sex or Alex? I would prefer no sex. I know, more work for you.
Not a choice between 10 girls... Good, I love monogamy. I always take just one, sometimes none, in VNs.
I will have sex with them if Isabella is not my LI and if I like them (monogamy).
Movies aren't about viewers choices. These VN mostly are.

Even if I loved everything about Alex, It would still had annoyed me like hell the same way for not having the choice. The choice of who to have relations/relationships is paramount TO ME. But I understood in the first chapter why you did it and I came for the second one. So yeah, that's the Only criticism I have so far.

Again, thank you for your work mate and best of luck.

P.S. Btw, I just had my mind blowned a couple of hour ago by a romantic tragedy VN with zero lewd it it about the French revolution

 

[badtimetales]

Loving it so far, just not a fan of Alex and being in a relationship with her. I understand she's a part of the story though and I know we'll be able to break things off with her. Just wanna know if we'll have to wait till the end of the game to do that, hopefully not, or in a some chapters soon.

Not in the next ... don't know 10-20 updates.

As in Chapter 2.1 I let the player decide if he want's to have sex with her or not.
I'll keep it that way, if that's enough for you.
But you WILL miss some important story elements.

 

[DonkeyFace]

Hmm. What is this? An adult game that's actually geared toward adults?. That's kind of rare actually.

I'm really enjoying this. I can see allot of effort being poured into this game, with the animations, sound effects, and perfect choice of music in each scene to help set the intended mood, be it melancholy, jovial, ominous or suspenseful. Pacing seems just right, as well as the dialogue, not overly wordy or under worded, the dev. uses facial expressions and body language to convey a thought or mood rather needing to spell it all out with words. He seems to understand the visual novel medium well.

I adore Alex, she's a sassy, petite little brown-eyed firecracker (Not a bitch). You can tell she's a decent person, just has a colorful personality. Her getting a bit jealous at the end of this chapter was endearing. We'll see what Isabella has to offer when she is developed a little bit more. But she has an uphill battle if she is going to tear me away from Alex.

Anyway, an intriguing story, looks like it's going to be a memorable one as well. I hope this VN makes it to the finish line. It has already catapulted it's way to the top of games I find worthy to support.

 

[delacroix2]

Nice update I love the story, characters and music. #Isabella . Thanks!!.

 

[Magician5513]

Great story!!!! (also great lewd scenes)... One quick question (maybe it is asked before?) : Is there something wrong with the gallery? I noticed that it stopped after the first part?

 

[badtimetales]

Great story!!!! (also great lewd scenes)... One quick question (maybe it is asked before?) : Is there something wrong with the gallery? I noticed that it stopped after the first part?

*cough cough*

DEV, get over here, you need some slaps!
Damn, that's me.

Ya, I realized a few hours ago that I was so concentrated on getting the update done for the announced date....

That I just forget to code the gallery.
I'm really sorry.

Not sure if I do an fix release or just deliver it with the next update.

Again, sorry about that.

 

[NoxLaw]

I didn't really have high expectations but this is actually pretty good so far. One thing I didn't like is that Alex is forced on the MC, I just don't like her at all.

 

[NoI'mDirtyDan]

Not in the next ... don't know 10-20 updates.

As in Chapter 2.1 I let the player decide if he want's to have sex with her or not.
I'll keep it that way, if that's enough for you.
But you WILL miss some important story elements.

I'm fine with being given a choice, I'll still check out the scene to see whats being missed though, but I'm gonna probably pick no in my actual playthrough lol. If you don't wanna continue with the choice though it's fine since I understand it's for the story.

 

[Rectory]

Some are saying here that Isabella's story should be slow burn, that means they are saying that MC will sex with her only after tons of updates. One girl is forced sex in the first update itself and another girl is 10-20 updates may be?

Dev, can you please say something about this? I know some players don't like fast paced sex and scream "porn logic", but there are another half of the fanbase who like fast burn. You may say "that's why i given two LIs, one for fast paced fanbase and one for slow burn fanbase", but The problem is not because of slow burn or fast burn. The problem is also with the girls. Because, just because i like fast paced, doesnt mean i like sex with alex in every update Or just because i like Isabella, doesn't mean i like slow burn with her.

Is it possible to have both slow and fast options to both girls, and let players decide themselves on which style they want to follow? You also have Domination & submission tags planned. So.. u know..

 

[John 13]

Nice game

 

[delacroix2]

Alex is very important in the story, she helps the MC to overcome a difficult time in his life

 

[SpaceBall1]

Nice models.

 

[jufot]

Wow. Thanks a lot! You are really helping me!

Yeah, after your reply to Raife, I'm sold too. You just got yourself another subscriber