Ren'Py Love Castaways [v0.4.0] [SPkiller31]

[SPkiller31]

I can appreciate that your not filling the game screen with unnecessary garbage, a clean look goes a long way.
But I legit thought you didn't have any ingame screens to look up character stats, till i was finished with the main plot.

I tried to mitigate chance of not-knowing about characters menu via mention at the very start of the game where tutorial says that you can replay events in corresponding tabs in menu. If there is more confusion about UI (Guess I can call it that way) I will do something with that for sure. If I feel like it's needed to present in-game I will do that but so far I don't want to make game looks like WoW plugins.

 

[Fazed]

I tried to mitigate chance of not-knowing about characters menu via mention at the very start of the game where tutorial says that you can replay events in corresponding tabs in menu. If there is more confusion about UI (Guess I can call it that way) I will do something with that for sure. If I feel like it's needed to present in-game I will do that but so far I don't want to make game looks like WoW plugins.

Minimalist UI is great. If it was up to me there wouldnt be a quick menu or a text box(opacity slider please).
But imo, you already point towards it in the intro and its right there in the menu when you go looking for options or anything else. Dont really see the need for more although maybe a small book in the top right corner of the screen wouldnt be too bad.

 

[joryh]

No, sorry but main character has his name "Yamato" that is set and can't be changed. I considered doing customizable MC's name and at one point had in very early version but I just prefer characters that have their different personalities. Players will face many choices, some of them can have very different outcome but Yamato is already a character with his quirks and backstory. I have nothing against systems like Skyrim (or many horny games) with very customizable MC's but I opted for already defined character (like many j-rpgs). He will be quite specific character, specially when his childhood will be presented in future updates.

Welp, that's me bouncing. I can't be bothered to play games where they can't be bothered to let me use the name I use for ALL computer games and online activity since 1994, when I joined my first BBS to play MUDDs via dialup at 14.4 kBaud. And no, it's not this one, sometimes it's already in use. Rarely, but it happens occasionally.

 

[SPkiller31]

Welp, that's me bouncing. I can't be bothered to play games where they can't be bothered to let me use the name I use for ALL computer games and online activity since 1994, when I joined my first BBS to play MUDDs via dialup at 14.4 kBaud. And no, it's not this one, sometimes it's already in use. Rarely, but it happens occasionally.

Hi, as I stated few comments before, due to massive interest in being able to choose name of main character, this feature will be added in few days, maybe even before next week. I have polar opposite opinion on matter of names in video games but as people would like to have it, I have no problem with providing that option.

 

[J'Daremo]

Actually closer than you might think but I'm not saying anything more

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[Simulacrum29]

I tried to mitigate chance of not-knowing about characters menu via mention at the very start of the game where tutorial says that you can replay events in corresponding tabs in menu. If there is more confusion about UI (Guess I can call it that way) I will do something with that for sure. If I feel like it's needed to present in-game I will do that but so far I don't want to make game looks like WoW plugins.

it may be my own fault because I began skipping the intro really fast, because its a renpy game how hard could it be?
just my 2 cent to the matter

 

[spoink1337]

All right! Let's give it a go!

 

[A.K.A87]

game currently requires ZERO grind

Ehhhhh no.
The statement of that line in the Developer Notes is not true.
When a player has to click/roam to find the next scene in a multiple of options is grind for most that hate sandbox games.
As i hate sandbox games with a fire that equals the depths of hell. That alone is a delete and unwatch for me.
You can not cater to everyone's needs or wants but you might wanna add a roam or sandbox tagg to clear things up.

I did give it a chance and played till the end, however i came to the conclusion that i am not your target group with this kind of game setup.

Second thing i noticed was the that you need a proof reader to help with the flow of the conversations. Translate does not really work on a text.
There are a lot of A and THE missing or added for no reason or just got translated wrong and should be your. like: Wondering what (+A/THE) new day will bring. and : I'm glad to have -A (your) company for now.




I wish you luck with your game and i hope the feedback helps.

 

[SPkiller31]

Ehhhhh no.
The statement of that line in the Developer Notes is not true.
When a player has to click/roam to find the next scene in a multiple of options is grind for most that hate sandbox games.

First of all - Thank you for your feedback I really appreciate it.
Secondly - The line about grind is not misleading at all and I would argue that your fragment is not true.
When one performs an act of choosing a location/using World Map in some games, it's not grinding. Grinding is a term used in video games, referring to the act of repeating an action (or set of actions) to achieve something with that "something" being locked behind act of grind. Well I guess if we decide that choosing a location/any option is grind then practically every game is grindy. Repetitiveness is a key component of grind and Love Castaways currently features no mandatory repetitiveness at all, besides the player's will to revisit characters or watching sleep/where-to-go scene. Each story fragment can be achieved freely and besides the limit of weekdays, everything could be seen smoothly in one go. If we count seeing common event for the first time as something new then game can be played without seeing same thing twice as long as the player pays attention to what he clicks. One can be disappointed with the fact that the game features locations and free-roam but calling current build grindy is like calling Witcher 3 grindfest as it forces player to move from location to location.

The Sandbox tag itself was mentioned on f95 a few times already and is still sometimes discussed. It should refer to something with much more freedom than my game and many similar titles, thus it could be misleading but I will probably add it to avoid any misunderstandings anyway. Sandbox means moment in the game when player is not constrained to achieving anything and has freedom limited only by game world/engine. Having and option to go to A/B/C location in any order, specially when all those orders come down to the same main plot point can't be called sandbox if we want to use the correct definition. It is best seen in Mount&Blade franchise or obviously Minecraft and there are certainly VERY few visual novels that could be called sanbox. And even smaller amount of them can be found here.

Both grammar mistakes that you pointed out are already fixed with more than 30 other small fixes. New version of the game will be online quite possibly today in a few hours and will feature option to change MC's name.

Hopefully my answer does not sound rude by any mean but I want to point out that players nowadays pin too many incorrect genres/stereotypes to the games when it's not the case at all.

Once again thank your for feedback, cheers.

 

[SPkiller31]

Boys new Fortnite update just dropped!

Jokes aside version 0.1.1 is officially online and can be downloaded here or from any Love Castaways official site.
Probably the most important feature is the ability to choose the name of main character. Such action appears in opening scene when your father is selecting a name for you. This SHOULD be fool-proof and save compatible. If you already played Love Castaway just move to your room to sleep and before day change sequence you will be asked if you wish to change the name. This SHOULD appear only once and never again. Name supports 16 characters to avoid text clipping in some longer text boxes, let me know if it's very needed to increase it or if such bugs appear.
Disclaimer 1: This update is a small fix: typos, custom name, and some more. Providing you with somewhat decent content is most important and with such logic, this update is available without any time/pay wall and does not affect the development of story update 0.2.0./0.1.5
Disclaimer 2: Game still uses Yamato as default name which is important if one wishes to replay scenes. Sadly making names of your choice persistent in replay gallery is currently bit difficult as it's something disconnected from the save file.
Disclaimer 3: Name changer mod will be probably pinned to the thread for better-safe-than-sorry. I have no idea how it may affect new version.

Please let me know if something is not working as intended even though this small update should be bug-free. I'll try fix anything gamebreaking tomorrow.

As always, thank you all for the wonderful feedback, memes, and comments.
If you appreciate what I do consider joining Discord community, give a game follow on Itch.io or visit Subscribestar site.

 

[Deleted member 113137]

No, sorry but main character has his name "Yamato" that is set and can't be changed.

*sigh*
Normally i wouln't go into the Topic like this, because generally i tend to want Devs. have their freedom and doing what they want with their game (as long as it's not scammy or taking people stuff away - like cutting Kinks or whatever because people mourne about it)... but ngl - this rather annoys me and kills absolutely the mood & interest for the game. Because it's something small and minor like only being able to name the MC (NOT asking for cutting any personality or predefined deep story, only a mere Option that you can change the Name) which can have an huge impact (in terms of self-insert and immersion) to some of us.

I mean this is a Porn Game (not an JRPG which you like to point out) and a lot of people going in - especially in a Dating Sim, to insert themself and to date with that image Girls, than wanking of etc. You get the idea...
But fixed Names makes us to voyeurs(and for that i can watch H-Anime / Porn on Hub), and that can kinda kill the Mood for some players.

And now you might point out - there is an Mod for it... but i dunno, it kinda have an bad aftertaste when you have to fix something like this with 3rd Party Mods...

So you do you, it's your game. I still wish you best luck with your Game, but i'm def. out. (And i didn't think early this morning when i woke up, that i will have an essay about Renpy Datingsim Porngame killing my mood for not having a mere Name-Change functionality)

/Edit: I fucking hate myself, wasting my time to nagg about it, meanwhile you already reconsidered it and added the Option for a Name-Change. Don't get me wrong with my rant, it's not like i don't understand where you are coming from with telling a Story, with a predefined Character and that's okay. Name-Change doesn't exclude that and some Devs even make it in a clever manner, where they highlight what the supposed name is so it might courage some players to use them, but still gives the rest of us the option if we really need to relate (even if it sounds weird because it's merely a "Name" - but it does have an Impact, as minor as it seems).

Now i'll def. give it a try. Thanks Dev!

And by the way, the reason why i didn't delete/hide my rant above - is because i stand to what i said, even if it was on my own stupidity by jumping conclusion in the first few post instead of looking at the later posts and see what's really the deal is and i'm sorry for that!

 

[SPkiller31]

So you do you, it's your game. I still wish you best luck with your Game, but i'm def. out. (And i didn't think early this morning when i woke up, that i will have an essay about Renpy Datingsim Porngame killing my mood for not having a mere Name-Change functionality)

Hi, thank you very much for the lengthy feedback to which I can only agree. As my last comment above yours says, this is already changed and you can freely choose your name, or change it if you already progressed the story in Release Version(alongside many smaller fixes).
I was conflicted about whether or not I should give a set name or option to choose it (at the start of development) but as many people stated, it's something that helps their immersion and so I gladly obliged.

Mod is still pinned into the thread as I have no idea how it can affect new version but since yesterday, changing MC's name is officially in the game, new version is already uploaded to every L.C. site.

 

[Deleted member 113137]

Hi, thank you very much for the lengthy feedback to which I can only agree. As my last comment above yours says, this is already changed and you can freely choose your name, or change it if you already progressed the story in Release Version(alongside many smaller fixes).

I kinda feel bad (like i mentioned in my Edit in the Post above) that i jumped on conclusions early on because of the first few Post where this is discussed about and missing the ones where you reconsidered it. Again sorry and thank you!

I was conflicted about whether or not I should give a set name or option to choose it (at the start of development) but as many people stated, it's something that helps their immersion and so I gladly obliged.

I mean don't get me wrong, i do understand where you are coming from. You have an Vision, a clear direction where the Story & Lore should which also includes als set character(names) and in general i wouldn't want to take that away from any Dev. I still find however, that esp. for a Porn Game it does help to "offer" an option to set the Name for MC to relate to it / insert themself.

And some devs do it in a clever way that they still encourage to the canonical Name, but also offer that Option (even some JRPG's like think about Pokemon Blue/Red where you had the canonical Names and the option to use your own. And Persona Series kinda too, though the Canon Name often did come from the Anime/Manga Adaption).

 

[SPkiller31]

I kinda feel bad (like i mentioned in my Edit in the Post above) that i jumped on conclusions early on because of the first few Post where this is discussed about and missing the ones where you reconsidered it. Again sorry and thank you!


I mean don't get me wrong, i do understand where you are coming from. You have an Vision, a clear direction where the Story & Lore should which also includes als set character(names) and in general i wouldn't want to take that away from any Dev. I still find however, that esp. for a Porn Game it does help to "offer" an option to set the Name for MC to relate to it / insert themself.

And some devs do it in a clever way that they still encourage to the canonical Name, but also offer that Option (even some JRPG's like think about Pokemon Blue/Red where you had the canonical Names and the option to use your own. And Persona Series kinda too, though the Canon Name often did come from the Anime/Manga Adaption).

Please don't worry about that, it's my fault for not implementing it from the start and I may edit my comments to make it clear that new version has this feature.
As you mentioned, my game also features not only name option but also a canonical name that will be treated as default and during replays of scenes.
Personally I'm more of a viewer than a player type and prefer to see what game prepared for me, instead of trying to project myself into the world but at the same time even I understand that it feels nice to able to say "I helped her" "I changed that". (She wanked me )

Thank you very much for giving the game a chance, hopefully, I will be able to deliver an interesting story and likable characters.

 

[DraxisSilencer1000]

Well... so-so I guess. The game still doesn't have enough to have any verdicts. Withholding for now.

 

[SPkiller31]

Well... so-so I guess. The game still doesn't have enough to have any verdicts. Withholding for now.

Hi and thank you! The game should receive a story update without any delays in March. Hopefully, you will like future content.

 

[SPkiller31]

Small info for those interested in the future content: The first set of screenshots from the upcoming 0.1.5 March version has dropped yesterday on my

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, including photos of a completely new character. Keep in mind that this is only for folks that really want to support what I am doing and no content will be pay-locked. (Unless we count the pre-release access for 5$ and above subscribers.)
All 2$ and above subscribers can already see the first sneak peek.

 

[BlasKyau]

Personally, in harem games I'm not a big fan of the options where you have to choose whether to give points to one LI or another. I get the impression that in the end I'm going to have to choose between several, or that I may fall short with the points of one of the LIs if that type of election is repeated a lot. I sincerely believe that it's best to include several options: give the points to one, the other or both.

 

[SPkiller31]

Personally, in harem games I'm not a big fan of the options where you have to choose whether to give points to one LI or another. I get the impression that in the end I'm going to have to choose between several, or that I may fall short with the points of one of the LIs if that type of election is repeated a lot. I sincerely believe that it's best to include several options: give the points to one, the other or both.

Hi there and thanks for the comment. If you mean moments in dialogue, when you can select on which side you are etc. Those points serve mostly as bonus but choices themself are important and practically each of them serves purpose, like different outcomes of dialogues in future, or different events in far future. In some cases you can get points with every character but it would make no sense with agreeing with character A, would raise affection with character B as well.

I can assure that point system so far, including upcoming update does not lock any content behind and will serve 99% of the time as check for bonus scenes and dialogue outcomes.

 

[BlasKyau]

Hi there and thanks for the comment. If you mean moments in dialogue, when you can select on which side you are etc. Those points serve mostly as bonus but choices themself are important and practically each of them serves purpose, like different outcomes of dialogues in future, or different events in far future. In some cases you can get points with every character but it would make no sense with agreeing with character A, would raise affection with character B as well.

I can assure that point system so far, including upcoming update does not lock any content behind and will serve 99% of the time as check for bonus scenes and dialogue outcomes.

Ok, but I only play once, so if it causes me to have bonus scenes with some characters and not others, then it really annoys me. It's having to choose if I prefer one or the other LI. If I don't like a LI, I prefer to be the one who decides individually and not be forced to choose between them.