It's definitely a trend because let's be real, most of the devs are amateur writers who just wish for easy money. Most of them don't realize how difficult it is to write proper ending because all they had were ideas. The challenge is how to combined those ideas and sew them together into one flowing storyline. That's why there are tons of games that were abandoned (gave up) or milked (no clue how to conclude the game).
Imagine if someone asked you, "What kind of story will you write if you're a writer?" You'd easily answer with something (let's say "an action story about a guy saving the world"), but then you'd have a much harder task going into detail (who is the main character? what is the threat to the world? why is this main character the one who can save the world? how do they actually save the world? etc). That's what's happening in most games here.
For this particular game, I always felt the problem is the story really is just life with Mary. Just like Seinfeld, it's essentially a story about nothing. Without a goal in the story, there is no ending to aim for, and most endings would be disappointing. If you read Harry Potter, though most of the story is about Harry's school life, you know the end goal is to beat Voldemort. Each book is taking a step closer to reaching the goal. Such thing doesn't exist in this game because it's just a flat day-to-day life with Mary. It's good, but it isn't exciting.
In most games, at least there are obstacles to overcome before MC could get the girls. In this game, there's really nothing MC needs to do because Mary likes him regardless. I'm afraid the same thing would also happen in Haley's story. It's such a shame because both Mary and especially Haley are extremely likeable characters. I wish they could've been accompanied with better storyline for them to really shine.
This, to me, feels like the most accurate of the thoughts expressed.
Having ideas for a VN is easy. In fact every single day I hear one or another person tell me how they have great ideas for a story. And 95% of the time the ideas they have are the barest sketch of an outline, often merely a single scenario. Few even have even a general story arc thought out from start through climax to conclusion. Instead they have an idea of where a character starts from, and maybe a very general idea of a direction to proceed in.
And all of that is just about whether they actually have a story - it does not at all address whether it will be a good one.
If you are pretty sure you have a great story idea ...
... you are most likely wrong.
It all ties into a thing called 'The Dunning-Kruger Effect' and is why the incompetent are usually so confident they are right, while the truly talented are often riddled with doubts and questions. If you don't have the kind of mind that has strong doubts and endless questions about whether you could do any better, then that is an absolute sign that you don't have the mind that could do better.
In any skill, certain talents and insights are needed. Someone who has those talents can recognize what it takes, and all the pitfalls, risks, etc. They will have doubts, and in having them, will be able to spend the time to answer and resolve them. Those without the necessary talents simply can't see how they are used by others, can't value them, which is why they never learned those talents. They will always fail, and always be absolutely convinced that they did everything right, and the failure is down to outside forces - and those who feel they made no mistakes cannot learn from the mistakes. They never improve.
Lots of those types around, as they make up about one third of all people tested for any particular skill. They will also seem more than just a third, as they are the most confident, and thus the most likely to voice their opinions. So, in forums they'll seem like at least 50%.
It's not a criticism as such, simply a fact. We all have our areas where the Dunning-Kruger effect applies to us, as evidenced by the fact we have all at some point been sure we could do something, been sure something was easy, and then spectacularly failed at it.
To have an idea is easy. To think your idea is great is natural. To be able to expand that idea into an actual story arc that has character development, entertainment, and a message, is far harder. But hardest of all is to be right in thinking that your ideas will be just as good for everyone else.
The dev here at least gave it a go, rather than merely ranted about others attempts. But all we know thus far is he is human and didn't pull off the incredibly rare event of hitting a homerun on his first swing. Now we'll see if the dev can recognize his mistakes and improve for his next go, which is how most of the greats got to be great.
The fact that the Dev made a great start is good. That he finished it at all, is also good, and pretty rare - most VNs get abandoned.
