VN Ren'Py Abandoned Kingdom of Deception [v0.14.2.2] [Hreinn Games]

[r34X]

From what I've seen they usually go radio silent after uploading maybe 1-2 hot fixes for latest patch and are MIA for like 2 months before they make a post about upcoming version and how great it will be.

And then 1-3 months later they upload the latest version but punt most of the more interesting features to a future version and underwhelm with newest version.

They really should have stuck with RPGM or something. Ren'Py games usually underwhelm in general imo.

 

[Anita Deek]

They really should have stuck with RPGM or something. Ren'Py games usually underwhelm in general imo.

I think what you mean, if I may, is that this happens because there's not much you can add to a renpy engine technical content-wise that would wow the audience. Content-wise the exceptions would be art and writing.
Personally, I haven't seen a renpy game that stands out with its technical side from the rest of the renpy games, they're all the same in almost everything else but the CG's and story-telling.

 

[Dragon139]

From what I've seen they usually go radio silent after uploading maybe 1-2 hot fixes for latest patch and are MIA for like 2 months before they make a post about upcoming version and how great it will be.

And then 1-3 months later they upload the latest version but punt most of the more interesting features to a future version and underwhelm with newest version.

They really should have stuck with RPGM or something. Ren'Py games usually underwhelm in general imo.

You're forgetting the bonus pack they do. A post a few weeks after the release, a month of silence and then its release followed by silence till the "almost ready post".

 

[pinkscott]

Remember future releases are supposed to be faster by now. LOL

 

[Jinsoyun]

Remember future releases are supposed to be faster by now. LOL

At this point they can still take another 4 months and still be faster than the last time.
On that note, does anyone know how long it usually takes for the bonus pack to be released?

 

[Dragon139]

At this point they can still take another 4 months and still be faster than the last time.
On that note, does anyone know how long it usually takes for the bonus pack to be released?

In the vicinity of a month, often on the longer side.

 

[Deleted member 584847]

I dont know... Ive played this game like a year ago, maybe a bit sooner and i was completely taken away by it.

now? ... sorry but to me, it looks like someone else wrote the content after the warchief kidnapping. The content before that is really great but after that? Uninteresting, confusing, small number of choices you can make, forcing, less nasty, even some of the new npc's looks worst then others (the merchants and the bartender in the new village).
like, literally.. at most places i can visit, the only option i can do there is "go back" ..

 

[Xill]

I dont know... Ive played this game like a year ago, maybe a bit sooner and i was completely taken away by it.

now? ... sorry but to me, it looks like someone else wrote the content after the warchief kidnapping.

Well, that's kinda what happened.

 

[Deleted member 584847]

Well, that's kinda what happened.

new ppl making this?

 

[Ragnar]

new ppl making this?

Sierra Lee is no longer involved with this project.

 

[Deleted member 584847]

Sierra Lee is no longer involved with this project.

sorry mate, i dont know who that is. I guess the one who originally came up with this idea of game?

 

[Ragnar]

sorry mate, i dont know who that is. I guess the one who originally came up with this idea of game?

She was the original writer.

 

[Deleted member 584847]

She was the original writer.

I see.. well, that really unfortunate, she did really good job.

thank you for the information

 

[Jinsoyun]

new ppl making this?

For unknown, but speculated reasons, the original writer left the team and so had to be replaced. There are two important things to note here. The first one is the fact that as far as we know, 0.5, "the raid patch" was the last one confirmed to be written only by the first writer. Everything afterwards is either a mix or solely done by the new one.
And two, Nomo, the artist is the one who wrote the story and designed the appearances and personalities of the characters all along, he just can't or doesn't want to write the text itself.

Now, in my personal opinion, the problem with the last two patches were rooted in the structure and not the writing or the story itself. Good counter examples are the Arena and the Horned god's night events. One event in one patch, from start to finish. Well structured, well written and coherent.

The Warchief's disappearance started an uproar in the camp, which is as of now left open, we instead went to investigate and start another thread with the bandits, which is also left open, and the 0.9 patch followed it up by setting up another 1-3 new threads of story and over a dozen h-scenes. Basically since the arena we haven't closed any narrative threads and the last two patches started way more new ones than what they advanced further.

When we read or watch a story, we enjoy episodes or chapters because those naturally mark points where you can stop for the day and feel satisfied. And these checkpoints seem to be missing from the recent updates.

 

[Deleted member 584847]

For unknown, but speculated reasons, the original writer left the team and so had to be replaced. There are two important things to note here. The first one is the fact that as far as we know, 0.5, "the raid patch" was the last one confirmed to be written only by the first writer. Everything afterwards is either a mix or solely done by the new one.
And two, Nomo, the artist is the one who wrote the story and designed the appearances and personalities of the characters all along, he just can't or doesn't want to write the text itself.

Now, in my personal opinion, the problem with the last two patches were rooted in the structure and not the writing or the story itself. Good counter examples are the Arena and the Horned god's night events. One event in one patch, from start to finish. Well structured, well written and coherent.

The Warchief's disappearance started an uproar in the camp, which is as of now left open, we instead went to investigate and start another thread with the bandits, which is also left open, and the 0.9 patch followed it up by setting up another 1-3 new threads of story and over a dozen h-scenes. Basically since the arena we haven't closed any narrative threads and the last two patches started way more new ones than what they advanced further.

When we read or watch a story, we enjoy episodes or chapters because those naturally mark points where you can stop for the day and feel satisfied. And these checkpoints seem to be missing from the recent updates.

While I agree with you in the matter of the structure, I disagree with the fact that the problem isnt in the writing but of course, every player looks for different things in the games and got his own opinion on how things should/should not be.

Personally, I didnt feel intrigued by ANY of the events since the kidnapping, literally i cant find a single one that cought my eye. Some MIGHT be solid, but the way there were written totally killed them.
I can write detailed description why each and single one of them are not interesting but that would only result in a large debate and it wouldnt change the fact that each player looks at the events differently so i wont do it.
Sadly I had to change my rating, for in my eyes this no longer deserves 5 stars.
Ive heard that new update might be comming up "soon" so I hope they will come up with something new...

 

[sam1545654]

For unknown, but speculated reasons, the original writer left the team and so had to be replaced. There are two important things to note here. The first one is the fact that as far as we know, 0.5, "the raid patch" was the last one confirmed to be written only by the first writer. Everything afterwards is either a mix or solely done by the new one.
And two, Nomo, the artist is the one who wrote the story and designed the appearances and personalities of the characters all along, he just can't or doesn't want to write the text itself.

Now, in my personal opinion, the problem with the last two patches were rooted in the structure and not the writing or the story itself. Good counter examples are the Arena and the Horned god's night events. One event in one patch, from start to finish. Well structured, well written and coherent.

The Warchief's disappearance started an uproar in the camp, which is as of now left open, we instead went to investigate and start another thread with the bandits, which is also left open, and the 0.9 patch followed it up by setting up another 1-3 new threads of story and over a dozen h-scenes. Basically since the arena we haven't closed any narrative threads and the last two patches started way more new ones than what they advanced further.

When we read or watch a story, we enjoy episodes or chapters because those naturally mark points where you can stop for the day and feel satisfied. And these checkpoints seem to be missing from the recent updates.

Thats a big word up on that one. Structure. I will never give up on this game but i do miss the feeling of the earlier patches where each branch off off the main "story" had finality to them, and you choices up to that point also felt like that had more weight. However, while i wholly agree that structure is key, i would hope that at this point sub and dom routes would start reflecting more on the character. whether it be physical appearance (clothes, tattoos, brands, piercings), Choices available, reaction to harassment, basic dialogue and demeanor etc.

 

[baneini]

How many cycles of people asking about Sierra Lees departure and having it be explained is this thread going to go trough?
There needs to be like a F.A.Q on the OP about it at this point.

 

[MarshmallowCasserole]

As long as people play the game they're gonna notice that writing changes significantly at some point of the game. So... yeah, we're stuck answering this question for a long time.

 

[Deleted member 582765]

I no longer belong to the group of patrons, the communication is terrible, the last update was to be an extension of the game, and it was not. Story should have different paths, but everything is based on the same repeating pattern.

 

[Kerlon]

honestly the best for them would be to cancel the game and restart from scratch on a new project, the situation as it is now is not really helping them, there are some major flaws all over the project. Nomo needs someone who takes him by the hand and leads the way, he should stick exclusively to making the artwork.