I stand by my original statement, made 4 or so years ago, that the production quality is extremely high compared to the competition. The latest chapter was very good by all accounts. Anyway, I have some constructive thoughts.
I stand by my original statement, made 4 or so years ago, that the production quality is extremely high compared to the competition. The latest chapter was very good by all accounts. Anyway, I have some constructive thoughts.
I've been waiting a bit to replay the latest chapter, but my initial thoughts were similar. The pacing and progression that had been slowly building seemed to be thrown out the window. For example with the youngest "ward", the shower (and kitchen table) scenes had been progressing steadily, with the previous chapter ending in almost, but not quite backdoor action. I expected that to "climax" in this chapter, with her preserving her other "virginity" for after marriage. Instead, bang
...and ridiculous scenes like the Ferris wheel rolled along.
The total change in pacing and style in this chapter made it seem like any outline of what was supposed to happen was discarded, and events spiraled into the rather bizarre result that we ended up getting. My initial reaction to the update was extremely negative. I found it rather absurd and silly, and really a let down after such a long delay in production. I'm hoping after a bit of time and a second play through it will come across differently.
Previously the chapters have been either really great or just good for me, almost alternating every other release. I loved chapter 6. I'm hoping chapter 8 will rebound the game to greatness..but I honestly don't know where it can go from here.
I stand by my original statement, made 4 or so years ago, that the production quality is extremely high compared to the competition. The latest chapter was very good by all accounts. Anyway, I have some constructive thoughts.
Rather than say that the MC is a plaything, I view it more like him being either the new guy in the relationship or the one with much more experience that want his partners to go at their own pace.
I see it more as the MC letting the girls lead for those first experiences. Yes they go fast, but like Naughty said once a certain threshold is met people let go of their inhibitions and simply go for it all the way. If you have been taken aback by how forward the girls have been, imagine the MC, he does not benefit from the third person view of the reader. So it might be even more of a shock for him than for you. that way it might feel like he is a leaf to the wind simply going along with the flow. An other perspective which is not incompatible with the first, is that he already went through the motion with Charlotte, so he know all about the dance before Denise and Macy attempt it. Preferring letting them take the lead to go at their own pace. Pace that might have been faster than he thought. I can easily see in the next chapter, or the one after if Naughty bless us with one, the MC taking the lead and a more active role in the action.
Sex is also an intimate moment. An intense one, I admit, but that does not exclude more tender moment in the future or that sex will always have to be this intense performance sport, it can also be a tender and calm moment simply pleasuring one an other. Eating pop corn while watching a movie while leaning on one an other or a deep and intimate discution while on the road from work will still happen. those moment can not have an ulterior motive or be sensual and raise sexual tension in the air. That is for the player to choose I suppose with how much Naughty let us make.
I like that the MC felt like he was lead on in that chapter, as if the events unfolding were overwhelming, because as a reader it is a bit how I felt. We don't always feel in control in our own lives, for once it was not a bad thing. There will be moments where as the MC we will feel more of that control and where the other characters will rely on us. It takes maturity to assume that responsibility when it falls on us, but also, and sometime it is harder, to let go of that responsibility.
Now I am hyped for the next chapter even if it is really early in development.
Thanks for the reply. I can't argue with your logic, if the Wards are a package deal. But Macy and Denise both did things with the MC that were just between them. So it's not a hard-and-fast rule. They were, in fact, separate relationships.
Maybe this was poorly phrased on my part. I also have to remind myself this is not a game, it's a Visual Novel. The player doesn't control events so much as open/close paths. But, for me, I never really felt that the MC was a romantic lead who was driving any of the events, so much as being dragged along with them. In typical Romance novels, there is a give and take (as in real relationships). But usually the romantic male lead has some drive to initiate romance. This is besides the point, anyway.
Thanks for the reply. I can't argue with your logic, if the Wards are a package deal. But Macy and Denise both did things with the MC that were just between them. So it's not a hard-and-fast rule. They were, in fact, separate relationships.
Maybe this was poorly phrased on my part. I also have to remind myself this is not a game, it's a Visual Novel. The player doesn't control events so much as open/close paths. But, for me, I never really felt that the MC was a romantic lead who was driving any of the events, so much as being dragged along with them. In typical Romance novels, there is a give and take (as in real relationships). But usually the romantic male lead has some drive to initiate romance. This is besides the point, anyway.
Thanks for the reply. I can't argue with your logic, if the Wards are a package deal. But Macy and Denise both did things with the MC that were just between them. So it's not a hard-and-fast rule. They were, in fact, separate relationships.
Well, one could say that some of those scenes haven't climaxed yet and there could be more to come. But I have to correct you on the assumption that additional scenes for those existing situations would be easy to make.
The amount of time going into setting up the set and basic lighting scheme is a half a day's of work or so. In the total effort of creating a lewd scene, that's relatively minor.
The real time sink is in the posing of characters. And having a first pose done doesn't really make second in that series easier either.
So the time investment is substantial, regardless of the set already existing or not. A simple one stage lewd interaction might take a week to produce. Something with multiple stages to it, over a month. That half a day for setting up the set is a relatively small in comparison.
And so that word investment brings us to another point, which is that we're really picking our battles here with what to implement and what not, and it's getting more problematic.
Light of my Life has never been a runaway success commercially. I'm sure I'm to blame for a large part of that, as I hardly put any effort into promotion or publicity, and instead prefer to put all my time into creating the game, so whatever fame it's achieved, it's in spite of me rather than because of me.
At this point though, support is definitely in decline (I put a more detailed write-up on the future of Light of my Life up on
You must be registered to see the links
and
You must be registered to see the links
, as public posts). And while my aim was never to get rich doing this, it's hard to justify spending a few more years on this one project instead of wrapping it up in a proper and respectful way, and moving on the the next one, when, on an hourly basis, you're netting about (local) minimum wage, while the numbers are only going down, not up (and have been for a number of chapters now, so it's not just chapter 7).
So at this point, we're on the clock (although its still up in the air how much time is on that clock), and the choices for where I get to put the remaining development time are even harder than they were before. With lewd scenes being the major time sinks for this game, that's where the hard choices are going to come down hardest.
I must say, the thought of having to kill some darlings I've been looking forward to implementing for a long time is weighing a little heavier on my thoughts than I'd like to admit.
Well, one could say that some of those scenes haven't climaxed yet and there could be more to come. But I have to correct you on the assumption that additional scenes for those existing situations would be easy to make.
The amount of time going into setting up the set and basic lighting scheme is a half a day's of work or so. In the total effort of creating a lewd scene, that's relatively minor.
The real time sink is in the posing of characters. And having a first pose done doesn't really make second in that series easier either.
So the time investment is substantial, regardless of the set already existing or not. A simple one stage lewd interaction might take a week to produce. Something with multiple stages to it, over a month. That half a day for setting up the set is a relatively small in comparison.
And so that word investment brings us to another point, which is that we're really picking our battles here with what to implement and what not, and it's getting more problematic.
Light of my Life has never been a runaway success commercially. I'm sure I'm to blame for a large part of that, as I hardly put any effort into promotion or publicity, and instead prefer to put all my time into creating the game, so whatever fame it's achieved, it's in spite of me rather than because of me.
At this point though, support is definitely in decline (I put a more detailed write-up on the future of Light of my Life up on
You must be registered to see the links
and
You must be registered to see the links
, as public posts). And while my aim was never to get rich doing this, it's hard to justify spending a few more years on this one project instead of wrapping it up in a proper and respectful way, and moving on the the next one, when, on an hourly basis, you're netting about (local) minimum wage, while the numbers are only going down, not up (and have been for a number of chapters now, so it's not just chapter 7).
So at this point, we're on the clock (although its still up in the air how much time is on that clock), and the choices for where I get to put the remaining development time are even harder than they were before. With lewd scenes being the major time sinks for this game, that's where the hard choices are going to come down hardest.
I must say, the thought of having to kill some darlings I've been looking forward to implementing for a long time is weighing a little heavier on my thoughts than I'd like to admit.
Thank you. I'm still hoping to get a little reprieve so I can spend a little bit more time on it, so that decision isn't entirely set in stone yet.
(for those not reading that post on patreon Joshy mentioned (see also my post above that), the question is whether or not the next chapter of Light of my Life is to be the last one, and that's not entirely settled yet)
Just recently discovered this and I am enjoying it. Good stuff so far dev and I will see about giving you some support when I get paid.
I have only one critique so far and it is that depth of field effects blow and I hate them in all things. Our eyes do that naturally so we don't need to further obscure our vision. /endrant
I have only one critique so far and it is that depth of field effects blow and I hate them in all things. Our eyes do that naturally so we don't need to further obscure our vision. /endrant
Depth of field in games is literally recreating the old limitations of film cameras. In games it is entirely unnatural and causes migraines for a lot of people.
Cool that you like it but this isn't the same as photography.
Depth of field in games is literally recreating the old limitations of film cameras. In games it is entirely unnatural and causes migraines for a lot of people.
Cool that you like it but this isn't the same as photography.
That's your opinion, but it shows you don't know much about photography.
A shallow depth of field is not a limitation of a film camera. On digital cameras it works just the same. It's all about the optics. (Mind you, I'm not talking about camera's in phones where the shallow DOF needs to be emulated by software). Using it, or not, is an artistic choice, whether it is in photo's, film or games.
I also find it very difficult to believe that this would cause migraine for a lot of people. Have you got a reliable source about that ?
That's your opinion, but it shows you don't know much about photography.
A shallow depth of field is not a limitation of a film camera. On digital cameras it works just the same. It's all about the optics. (Mind you, I'm not talking about camera's in phones where the shallow DOF needs to be emulated by software). Using it, or not, is an artistic choice, whether it is in photo's, film or games.
I also find it very difficult to believe that this would cause migraine for a lot of people. Have you got a reliable source about that ?
Yeah my doctor it increases eye strain. Aside from all that I don't need an in-depth knowledge of photography to think it looks like shit and dislike it. I also stated it was *recreating* an old limitation.
Many others feel the same as I do you can do a Google search if you don't believe me.
My opinion is what is it is so kindly accept it and move on.
Thanks.
Cheers for the kind words. The depth of field is here to stay though.
I don't really see the issue; it's a natural part of every type of real life imaging, and I've personally never heard of people that avoid live-action movies or regular photography, or film studios going out of their way to avoid it for degrading the audience experience. Which is not to say it's a non-issue for you, and perhaps you do avoid those things, but it's hardly as universally reviled as is suggested.
On the flip side, I personally strongly dislike when 3d rendered images do not employ depth of field, as I feel it makes the images look flat and unnatural, and I much prefer the images with depth of field for aesthetic reasons.
Anyway, I have some constructive thoughts.
