gromtox

New Member
Oct 2, 2018
5
2
13
Maybe it's a dumb question, but are the charactes oryginal or from some other games/shows [i have nothing bad in mind, just asking]? I Swear i saw a lot of them somewhere? In Koikatsu probly?

How did i miss this game? DLing CH1.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cokane0

Wisblade

Member
Jul 2, 2019
295
325
192
Cokane0 Excellent game! Just rushed the two first chapters, starting the 3rd. The amount of animations is, AFAIK, the biggest I've seen in a Ren'Py game. S


If you don't mind, I wish to make you some suggestions...

As you know it perfectly, each chapter is HUGE. I don't mind about bandwidth, but since there is some copy/paste between each chapters... Why don't you provide a separate pack (i.e. one or more RPA, to be clear) with repeatable content, so:
  • You can significantly reduce each chapter size,
  • You can fix chapters and/or repeatable scenes without impacting the rest.
  • It should be easy to limit repeatable scenes chapter by chapter with a global "chapter number" variable, if you don't want to backport new scenes in old chapters.
This shouls reduce some criticisms about the download size, and also reduce copy/paste for you - that's always something bad and not funny to do.


Also, maybe the two "maps" (world & jump) should be merged - and put a better icon for "Back" on these screens, this ugly circular grey arrow one really don't suit the game! :LOL:


The "Love/bio" screen (the one you get from the "Heart" icon) may be extended a little with all girls (several pages, maybe?), and a completion ratio could be displayed for each girl (for example, a "Story: 3/5" or similar display under each portrait). Would be easier than scrolling in replay gallery to check if everything was done, and it could make this screen a bit more useful - honestly, once bio are read, there is absolutely no need to return there, despite its easy access through the icon... While the replay gallery is less accessible, but way more useful.


Last but not least, a little "import/export" function would be nice... It's quite a pain to re-set all nicknames, choices, etc. when you want to continue "your" story, even if it's a nice feature to avoid replay everything from chapter 1 just to change one or two choices.


Thanks for this little gem, I don't know how I missed it, but now I got it! ;)
 

Cokane0

Koikatu Harem Master
Game Developer
Mar 18, 2020
572
2,591
439
Everything you say has merit. Would love to do all of that.
Unfortunately I am smol brain and I have 0 UI/graphic design skills. So rip me. The only reason the game functions as well as it does on the backend or has a some nice features is all do to the work of two f95zone members.

As you know it perfectly, each chapter is HUGE. I don't mind about bandwidth, but since there is some copy/paste between each chapters... Why don't you provide a separate pack (i.e. one or more RPA, to be clear) with repeatable content, so:

  • You can significantly reduce each chapter size,
  • You can fix chapters and/or repeatable scenes without impacting the rest.
  • It should be easy to limit repeatable scenes chapter by chapter with a global "chapter number" variable, if you don't want to backport new scenes in old chapters.
This shouls reduce some criticisms about the download size, and also reduce copy/paste for you - that's always something bad and not funny to do.
Fine idea, split off repeatable content into a separate pack yeah? I don't know what an RPA is because smol brain. This is the same logic of people asking me to do update patches. +1

Also, maybe the two "maps" (world & jump) should be merged - and put a better icon for "Back" on these screens, this ugly circular grey arrow one really don't suit the game! :LOL:
Correct. Should be done.

The "Love/bio" screen (the one you get from the "Heart" icon) may be extended a little with all girls (several pages, maybe?), and a completion ratio could be displayed for each girl (for example, a "Story: 3/5" or similar display under each portrait). Would be easier than scrolling in replay gallery to check if everything was done, and it could make this screen a bit more useful - honestly, once bio are read, there is absolutely no need to return there, despite its easy access through the icon... While the replay gallery is less accessible, but way more useful.
All correct.

Last but not least, a little "import/export" function would be nice... It's quite a pain to re-set all nicknames, choices, etc. when you want to continue "your" story, even if it's a nice feature to avoid replay everything from chapter 1 just to change one or two choices.
I legit had Masterdragonson hand me this code on a silver platter to make save games between the chapters compatible.
So should this be done, yes.

Okay, umm so now that I've agreed with all your very well put together thoughts on how to fix these dumb design choices I'm just gonna throw out my shitty reasoning as to why none of this is done already.

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
 

Wisblade

Member
Jul 2, 2019
295
325
192
Everything you say has merit. Would love to do all of that.
Unfortunately I am smol brain and I have 0 UI/graphic design skills. So rip me. The only reason the game functions as well as it does on the backend or has a some nice features is all do to the work of two f95zone members.
Why rip you? That's only suggestions, not orders nor complains... :unsure: Or did I understood something badly? English is not my native language...

Fine idea, split off repeatable content into a separate pack yeah? I don't know what an RPA is because smol brain. This is the same logic of people asking me to do update patches. +1
RPA are Ren'Py Archives. A way to pack together several files together (scripts, images, music, videos, ...) in one single file. You add the RPA to the game, the Ren'Py engine read it and add what it contains to the game - in particular scripts. And unlike separate files / folders, if you replace it, it will also "delete" unneeded files since the whole archive is replaced with the new one.
The purpose was mostly to reduce / split downloads for most people who seems to care about this factor, and simplify also your own work. As long as you can set the repeatable scenes in separated, optional files, then you can do a RPA with them.

You can even use this technique to create an "unique" game with all chapters inside it - one chapter, one RPA, with common parts in others RPA.

Okay, umm so now that I've agreed with all your very well put together thoughts on how to fix these dumb design choices I'm just gonna throw out my shitty reasoning as to why none of this is done already.
That's understandable too. Capitalizing some elements for each chapter is also a way to reduce workload, therefore to give you more time - "invest a little, get a lot" principle - and that's all.
As I said, I don't mind bandwidth, unlike most people here... I don't ask for compressed versions, and as long as it's hosted on Mega, I don't really look about archives' sizes. I also have enough terabytes on my hard drive to store any games I want. This suggestion was mostly to help you and reduce criticisms.

I however firmly stick to one thing: this grey arrow icon is absolutely ugly, especially when compared to the overall graphic quality of the game... :LOL: A simple "Return" text would be better than that.
 
  • Heart
Reactions: Cokane0

Cokane0

Koikatu Harem Master
Game Developer
Mar 18, 2020
572
2,591
439
Why rip you? That's only suggestions, not orders nor complains... :unsure: Or did I understood something badly? English is not my native language...
Lmao, you're good bruv, I'm just memeing. I'm native English and native English speakers often don't understand me either. My bad lol.

I however firmly stick to one thing: this grey arrow icon is absolutely ugly, especially when compared to the overall graphic quality of the game... :LOL: A simple "Return" text would be better than that.
Lol I agree. And I really do want to see these things done as much as you. I'm just aware of my skillset, I'm barely a competent coder for renpy and I have zero graphic design skills. But let's knock this one issue out right now yeah?

So 20$ USD to the first person who posts ITT or in the Melatonin Magiks discord with a competent replacement for returnbutton1.png and for worldmap_return_But.png
I'll let you know where to invoice me and get paid. Paying people to do things is so much easier than doing them myself :WeSmart:
Bet this will go fast, make something someone.
 

Chaosborn

God of the Chaosborn
Game Developer
Jan 25, 2020
898
795
200
Lmao, you're good bruv, I'm just memeing. I'm native English and native English speakers often don't understand me either. My bad lol.



Lol I agree. And I really do want to see these things done as much as you. I'm just aware of my skillset, I'm barely a competent coder for renpy and I have zero graphic design skills. But let's knock this one issue out right now yeah?

So 20$ USD to the first person who posts ITT or in the Melatonin Magiks discord with a competent replacement for View attachment 1595291 and for View attachment 1595292
I'll let you know where to invoice me and get paid. Paying people to do things is so much easier than doing them myself :WeSmart:
Bet this will go fast, make something someone.
Bzzt... lazy
 

Wisblade

Member
Jul 2, 2019
295
325
192
So 20$ USD to the first person who posts ITT or in the Melatonin Magiks discord with a competent replacement for View attachment 1595291 and for View attachment 1595292
I'll let you know where to invoice me and get paid. Paying people to do things is so much easier than doing them myself :WeSmart:
Bet this will go fast, make something someone.
Free of charge.

Since I used one of your pictures to do it (intro_fastevil_66.webp), I would have big guts to claim money... :LOL:
Consider it as a contribution. You have full-res one, and two with the same exact sizes - I would seriously consider to use the full-res one only.

return_button_alyssa_hand.png
 

Cokane0

Koikatu Harem Master
Game Developer
Mar 18, 2020
572
2,591
439
Free of charge.

Since I used one of your pictures to do it (intro_fastevil_66.webp), I would have big guts to claim money... :LOL:
Consider it as a contribution. You have full-res one, and two with the same exact sizes - I would seriously consider to use the full-res one only.

View attachment 1596016
You're a world champion my fren. And no no no, principle. I'll DM you with a paypal email for an invoice. I can't force you to send an invoice but you should. Point being, I have/can/will pay people to do things I'm unwilling/unable to do.

I'll heavily look into making RPA archives if this is the solution to people getting easier update patches.
 

Wisblade

Member
Jul 2, 2019
295
325
192
(y) You're welcome, pleasure mine.

I'll heavily look into making RPA archives if this is the solution to people getting easier update patches.
For doing patches myself in my own job - not Ren'Py projects, but patches anyway - I can give you some advices:
  • Worst thing you can do, for a patch, is to DELETE A RUNNABLE FILE. Don't do it. You don't need a script anymore? Leave it with only a comment like "Stuff moved to file XXXXX.rpy". Don't need an executable anymore? Replace it with a one displaying a dialog box saying "This executable isn't needed anymore, see XXXX instead".
    Otherwise, when the player put the patch in his game folder, both the old AND the new version will be loaded, and it will result in a broken game, with old code loaded at the same time as new code.
  • Second worst thing is reworking on old parts: it will implies to redistribute "previous" RPA. You rendered a new intro? Fine, but you'll need to redistribute all involved RPA, including some for a minor thing. But it's also why several RPA are better than a gigantic one: you won't need to redistribute the "big one" constantly.
  • Don't need an image anymore? Leave it. It takes space on end-user disk, true, but it's harmless. Same for music/sound files. You'll clean that in final, standalone version. Not in patches.
  • RPA archives allows you to manage a whole set of files as one single entity. For example, all your scripts weights only 5 MB, compiled ones included. So it will be a very small RPA, and you can replace them fully on each update - it will also handle scripts deletion, since the RPA will be replaced.
  • Resources' RPA: 1st method (my prefered)
    • For images: do a RPA with all current images, with an explicit name (like "images_ch3_0_1.rpa"). For next update, put all your NEW images in another RPA ("images_ch3_0_2.rpa"), and so on.
      Easy way to test that: always add new resources DIRECTLY in the "new sub-RPA".
    • Music / sounds / other resources: same as images, one RPA per type of resource, with current version.
  • Resources' RPA: 2nd method
    • Put all resources in a RPA for this version ("resources_ch3_0_1.rpa").
    • Put all NEW resources in a RPA for the update ("resources_ch3_0_2.rpa"), whatever these resources are - but scripts, keep them separated anyway.
  • Obviously, an update can lack some elements: you may not need to add any music for an update... You can also number the RPA not with the game version, but with an incremental number.
  • Other elements should not be modified between updates (ex: "lib" and "renpy" folders), and anyway, they aren't so heavy - 80 MB maximum, uncompressed - and can be distributed unconditionnally.
You only need to take care of which files you modify for an update, so you know which RPA / folders you'll have to distribute. If you use a SCM (Git, SVN, ...), it can be extremely easy to get this between each update. For example, I've set up a SVN server on my NAS just for keeping track of changes on my own, personal stuff: it's a recovery in case my PC fails, and I can keep track of changes - and why I did them. But adding new files with a procedure, directly in a RPA, will also works.

If you need advices, we can start a private conversation about this subject. Software development is my job for 20 years, so I may have a few tricks up my sleeve... ;)
 
  • Star-struck
Reactions: Cokane0
4.40 star(s) 45 Votes