VN Ren'Py Layla: Shattered Hopes [Ep.4] [OtB Games]

[OtB Games]

Word of advice, don't take advice from people that complain about ugly bastards, they are a small but very vocal minority that caused many creators to burn out in the past. Just stick to your vision and the game will do just fine.

Thank you for the support! I do take criticism seriously, and I'm actually considering adjusting the storyline to replace her current love interest since he isn't particularly attractive. For now, I think I'll keep him as-is, but with an option to ditch him later.

I’ve got a whole arsenal of beautiful character models (including male ones) saved up, but I’m reserving them for the city storyline. I can’t just cram this dump where Layla currently lives with Leo DiCaprio or Denzel Washington lookalikes—it would completely break the atmosphere.

 

[Edhinor]

She can always have multiple boyfriends.....

 

[OtB Games]

I’ve polished Episode 3—shortened the sex scenes, added more dialogue between them, and fixed a couple bugs. I won’t upload it separately though, since the changes are minor. I’ll release it alongside Episode 4.

It’ll be interesting to see the reaction… If I’m already getting hate for long animations, how much worse will it get when I announce that Episode 4 will have an unskippable 1-minute musical event? Might as well compete for ‘Worst Game on the Site’ at this point. But I’m doing it anyway!

 

[Edhinor]

hahahaha, dude, that sounds good, I must say I really respect that you are open to feedback, and as someone said earlier, do not worry too much and try to cater to everyone, do the game you want to play. I told you I do not like long animations, and still I am looking forward to playing the update and to that 1 minute long musical event (holy shit dude! 1 minute?! ) , I am sure it will be fun

 

[HPZAT]

"I'm not a virgin anymore." Why not? There's no plentitude of ugly/old bastard defloration scenes in western 3D games (hentai 2D of course has lots of them). Especially games with a choice of which ugly/old bastard deflowers the girl are a rarity.

 

[OtB Games]

Sounds like you have you been experimenting with it? UAGC (what Bob69 + others use) perhaps as well? I'm thinking of compressing some big games myself to save space, but don't want to compromise too much on quality. Things like you mention are unacceptable already. Did you manage to find settings that you found acceptable (for your game)?

If you still need help, I found a great solution: I converted all my PNG files to WebP. It saves 70-80% space with only a very minor quality loss—you have to stare at both pictures side-by-side to even notice it. I'm using XnConvert for that.

WebP is a much more modern format compared to the 30-year-old PNG, and it also supports transparency (unlike JPEG). I'm converting my entire game to this format, so don't be surprised by the small file size of Episode 4—I didn't cut anything out

 

[srfsmrf_]

If you still need help, I found a great solution: I converted all my PNG files to WebP.

Hey, thanks for reporting.

I did a little bit of testing of my own a while ago (and wasn't too thrilled either with the quality of the offered compression). One point of concern seems to remain gradients right. There, certainly definition as well.
I also found that good old jpeg sometimes seemed to do a better job (gradients). Did you have a look at

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as well?

Note that Bob's compressed version is webp as well, it just kept the .png extension.
Since you weren't too impressed there, I guess he's using stronger compression(?)

I wonder what the size difference is between png's you compressed (that you're happy about) vs. Bob's?
(If it's not much, perhaps we could convince Bob/SonsOfLiberty to compress a bit less aggressively next time? )

(update: I thought it'd be helpful to attach the images I'm referring to to that post, but I don't feel like downloading 3GB just to get an image (the original) out of the archive ) (I think it makes for a nice test case though (the checkered duvet (definition/lines), the lamp gradient etc) - or perhaps you have some nice test cases of your own?)

 

[OtB Games]

Hey, thanks for reporting.

I did a little bit of testing of my own a while ago (and wasn't too thrilled either with the quality of the offered compression). One point of concern seems to remain gradients right. There, certainly definition as well.
I also found that good old jpeg sometimes seemed to do a better job (gradients). Did you have a look at

You must be registered to see the links

as well?

Note that Bob's compressed version is webp as well, it just kept the .png extension.
Since you weren't too impressed there, I guess he's using stronger compression(?)

I wonder what the size difference is between png's you compressed (that you're happy about) vs. Bob's?
(If it's not much, perhaps we could convince Bob/SonsOfLiberty to compress a bit less aggressively next time? )

(update: I thought it'd be helpful to attach the images I'm referring to to that post, but I don't feel like downloading 3GB just to get an image (the original) out of the archive ) (I think it makes for a nice test case though (the checkered duvet (definition/lines), the lamp gradient etc) - or perhaps you have some nice test cases of your own?)

Certainly, here is the worst conversion example I've encountered. Previously, any compression over 30% would completely remove the lipstick on the lips and alter the lighting. Also, it's important to note that this is a 200% zoom. In this case, the lighting changes are still present but less pronounced, and the lips are perfectly preserved (Left PNG - 2.51mb. Right Webp - 404kb). These are the settings I use for compression:

 

[srfsmrf_]

@OtB Games Cool, thanks! You should / can you put the comparison png in a zip though, as they get converted & served as AVIF.

 

[OtB Games]

@OtB Games Cool, thanks! You should / can you put the comparison png in a zip though, as they get converted & served as AVIF.

I'm not sure how to do it, and I honestly don't have time to figure it out right now — I'm busy preparing for the release of Episode 4 which is happening in just a few days!

Anyway, here's the entire episode 3: both PNG and WebP versions (images only). Hope this helps!

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[srfsmrf_]

I'm not sure how to do it, and I honestly don't have time to figure it out right now — I'm busy preparing for the release of Episode 4 which is happening in just a few days!

Thanks, I meant simply putting the .png in a zip + adding it to your post as attachment. Good luck prepping for release!

 

[srfsmrf_]

Certainly, here is the worst conversion example I've encountered.

Yeah, for sure the compressors don't have it at 100% This particular image: your version 401 KB, Bob's version 46 KB. (factor 8.7). Have you experimented with less than 100% quality? And what about the filter settings? Compression method 5/6?

Had a look on my (shitty - need to upgrade ) monitor: deffo big difference. The definition (details) in her hair and her top is also lost in the 46 KB version, her skin totally washed out and her jawline is horrible.

When I get around to it I'll do some more experimenting of my own, will let you now when I find something relevant there (Can you attach the zipped 7.png original so I don't have to download 1 GB? Thanks!)

Will you be releasing just the version with WebP?

 

[OtB Games]

Yeah, for sure the compressors don't have it at 100% This particular image: your version 401 KB, Bob's version 46 KB. (factor 8.7). Have you experimented with less than 100% quality? And what about the filter settings? Compression method 5/6?

Had a look on my (shitty - need to upgrade ) monitor: deffo big difference. The definition (details) in her hair and her top is also lost in the 46 KB version, her skin totally washed out and her jawline is horrible.

When I get around to it I'll do some more experimenting of my own, will let you now when I find something relevant there (Can you attach the zipped 7.png original so I don't have to download 1 GB?)

Will you be releasing just the version with WebP?

Have you experimented with less than 100% quality? - No, I tried to preserve the quality as much as possible, especially since the compression is already very good. And if you set it to lossless, the file size hardly changes. Compression method 4

And what about the filter settings? - default

Will you be releasing just the version with WebP? - Yes, WebP only, but I'm keeping the PNGs too, just in case

 

[srfsmrf_]

Okay, so I think you can start re-encoding in

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format already

7-q90-s3.avif: 205 KB, as good as indistinguishable from original to me (still should check in daylight / when I'm fresh )
7-q80-s3.avif: 55 KB, some loss, still quite good (way better than the 46 KB compressed ver. WebP), top still looks better than the 400 KB WebP, at some other aspects the latter seems to be a bit better.

Sweet spot somewhere in between? Note: 's' denotes the 'speed' setting. Setting to 3 can improve results, but encoding takes longer (shouldn't matter much on a fast PC).

HQ WebP still washes out her top (lines/definition) and her hair (see e.g. her left lock).

 

[OtB Games]

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Change Log: Episode 4 — "The Last Chance"​

1. Anxious Beginning
Layla tries to prepare for an important day, hoping the evening will be calm.
An unexpected encounter with a café client leads to an awkward situation on her way home.

2. On the Threshold of a Dream
A path filled with hopes and doubts.
A decisive moment that will determine her future.

3. A Blow of Fate
A collision with a harsh reality that tests her self-belief.
An ambiguous encounter forcing a difficult moral choice.

4. A Heavy Decision
Returning to the starting point with a new burden of experiences.
Agreeing to terms that change the rules of the game.

5. An Unexpected Turn
Interference from the past reshapes the balance of power.
A forced alliance born of desperation and necessity.

⚖ Key Choice: Where to Go?
Option 1: Trust and Leave
Risk relying on someone who has already failed her once.
Take a leap into the unknown for a chance at a new life.
Confront her deepest fears.

Option 2: Stay and Endure
A conscious choice to embrace familiar suffering.
The illusion of control over her own destiny.
Temporary moral compromise as payment for a brighter future.

Branch 1: Trust and Leave

6. New Reality
Transition into the unknown with changed surroundings.
️ A fragile truce and first steps toward new horizons.

7. After the Storm
A peaceful respite after the emotional turmoil.
An evening of doubts and cautious hope.

Branch 2: Stay and Endure

8. First Test
Layla makes a difficult decision and endures a humiliating client service procedure.
The walls of a roadside café’s restroom, dim lighting symbolizing moral descent.

9. Conversation with Jeff After
An unexpected bonus for the first "trial shift" — a comparison with past earnings and the beginning of an internal conflict.
A lost part — what was given up today cannot be reclaimed.
A cracked mirror — her self-image shattered into "before" and "after."

 

[pr0n]

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[SpeedyGDOG]

Thank you for the support! I do take criticism seriously, and I'm actually considering adjusting the storyline to replace her current love interest since he isn't particularly attractive. For now, I think I'll keep him as-is, but with an option to ditch him later.

I’ve got a whole arsenal of beautiful character models (including male ones) saved up, but I’m reserving them for the city storyline. I can’t just cram this dump where Layla currently lives with Leo DiCaprio or Denzel Washington lookalikes—it would completely break the atmosphere.

the ugly bastard has his charm. thas why is the ugly bastard. there is an entire kink around this. donk flonk out bc some pussy ass bitchs that cry for their pixel GF. give us some kinky shit. dont go for usualy porn crap. bc for that we will watch porn instead. we come here for the kink. let ugly bastard take advantage of her maybe put her in some more humiliating situation and go slow on the corruption if posible. makes the game better.

 

[shavone1]

Come on Layla don't look at us with those eyes when your giving a blow job, it's honest work and easy money. In the words of Rob Schneider; "You can do it all night long!"

 

[OtB Games]

the ugly bastard has his charm. thas why is the ugly bastard. there is an entire kink around this. donk flonk out bc some pussy ass bitchs that cry for their pixel GF. give us some kinky shit. dont go for usualy porn crap. bc for that we will watch porn instead. we come here for the kink. let ugly bastard take advantage of her maybe put her in some more humiliating situation and go slow on the corruption if posible. makes the game better.

Don't worry, the 'whore route' will have plenty of that. The very nature of the place implies such characters, and there will be no shortage of them there.

For everyone else, there is the City Route, which will begin to unfold in Episode 5 (which I'm currently working on). I highly recommend playing this branch as well; in my opinion, it's turning out to be wonderful. Don't ignore it!

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By the way, on October 4th, an updated version will be released, including on this wonderful site, which will fix bugs, adjust some poses, slightly tweak animations, and completely redo all the black screens and long transitions starting from the very beginning of Episode 1 —they are now shorter and faster. I also reworked and added animations to the event with the guys in the jeep.

I take the game very seriously and continue to improve even what's already been created.

 

[shavone1]

Those ladies in the modelling agency were top tier beauties, great choice in character & design. I hope we see more of them in future update.