There is a saying, albeit a local one, about advertisement.
"You want a good rep and good press, however failing that, the next best thing is bad rep and bad press, because the worst that could happen to a business is that it remained unknown and invisible."
Basically bad press and reputation is still press and reputation. How you spin it afterwards isn't a problem when the money comes pouring in. This is pretty much the case here. Personally, I believe that ICSTOR has some potential. I'm uncertain how much of the work is done by himself, but I can't ignore the obvious. He hit it big with a title that is nearly as good as "Being a DIK" or "Rocking Robin", and that speaks volumes.
What I am mostly dejected by is his inability to commit. I've had similar dry spells over the course of my career, and what he is currently facing is something akin to a writer's block.
He is seeing loose ends he can't tie, half-finished storylines and characters no longer worth exploring, coupled with no motivation because the incentive isn't given any longer (money), and as a result the progress grinds to a halt.
This is where he is wrong though. Each of the characters in the game have had good growth. I'm fairly sure we all can agree that developing characters are more relatable and are easier to bond with.
- The "mother" has developed immensely. She has become more selfish and tries to live life in a way that makes her happy.
- The "eldest" has grown from an introverted and ambitious shop owner to a courageous big sister that knows what she wants.
- The "youngest" has become more determined and slightly willful.
- The MC has grown into a really outrageous pervert.
Whenever I suffer the same fate, I make a new mind-map and brainstorm for a few days (I love my whiteboard). I explore options and venues and see where I can plant a plot twist, a new location or maybe even a new but mysterious character.
I even enjoy adult games, like the various F95 titles, to fuel or find inspiration for romance plots or erotic scenes. Reading a good book and returning back to my work a week later, also helps greatly. My editor is an understanding piece of hardware. She knows when I can do it and knows when I need some slack.
So what does ICSTOR need? Here's a short list and this is purely my own opinion:
- A master that whips him into action.
- A planner or organizer, because he apparently fails at keeping deadlines.
- A partner that can chip/invest into his business venture, which will ensure that the work is pushed towards the finish line when more than one individual stands to lose something.
Sorry for the wall of text. I hope you all found meaning in what I wrote and I hope ICSTOR resurrects himself to action.
