Never aspire to mediocrity, always aspire to greatness. That's a good selection of games you have there for inspiration but I do hope you keep it more on the lighthearted side. There's a lot of "tragic=more deep" attitude in those
Also 10 main LIs ?
Megan Jen Elizabeth Ellie Zoe Nicole Amy
+ Carol and Alice
Who's the last? Sophie? MCs left hand?
And which one is your favorite/least favorite so we know when you're phoning it in
Thanks for that. And yes, aspiring to mediocrity is never a good thing. I hate to see it in all its forms. Going a little off topic from AVNs, but it feels like it is everywhere these days. Authors are increasingly being encouraged to write trope-driven, cookie-cutter books at a rapid pace, with a focus on earning notice through the volume of work rather than originality. In cinema and TV series, samey sequels and paint-by-numbers TV shows are all that a nervy and profits-focused Hollywood will put out. Across the board, it feels like 'OKAY' has become the default and the bar creatives are encouraged to aspire to in the creative world.
And yes, I am trying to be mindful of keeping Lust Theory's humor intact. While I want to deepen the series and the emotional stakes at play in the story it has never been my intention to abandon the humor and absurdity that was one of the key joys of S1 and 2.
As for 'favorite/least favorite characters' would it be too cheesy to profess I don't have one?
And that is a personal and professional choice I have tried to cultivate in my writing, not just in Lust Theory, but also in writing L Bound, and in my other works that came before joining the Inceton team.
This is a bit of a deep dive into my writing process and philosophy, but as the writer, having favorites is counterproductive to a good story, especially in a game that thrives on having multiple, unique LIs with their own fan bases.
As a writer, I feel it's my responsibility to love and find the joy and connection to all the characters I write. It's often said that one of the major strengths of a good writer is the ability to get into another person's head and see the world through their eyes. I like to think that doesn't just mean being able to inhabit the minds of the characters I write, but also trying to put myself in the shoes of the readers themselves, too, to appreciate and see the story and what pulls them in through their eyes.
Of course, there are limits to this. The adage, 'You can't please everyone,' rings true here, and even among individual fan bases, there will be differences of opinion on where a character's story should go next and what is wanted.
But in the main, I try to cultivate a mindset that avoids favoritism, seeking to see and show the best of each character and their story.