Ren'Py Need some opinions on my game idea

[Infamyxxx]

Note: It's a 2DCG project.

Here's the setting. The player is a therapist with some rather unorthodox techniques which will be the basis for all the sex scenes in the game. For example, he believes that emotional issues like trauma, anxiety, tension etc. require physical/sexual release. He'll also roleplay as a person who's causing or has caused issues to his clients and act out scenes or events with them to allow them to release their emotions (This will allow me to create scenes with certain kinks or fetishes like say daddy issues, sexual inadequacies, jealousy, self esteem issues, past heartbreaks, addictions, etc.).

I mostly wanna focus on the simulation of the sex scenes. All animated by the way. Gameplay will include point n click, item interactions and dialogues with choices will, of course, be necessary for a therapy session setting. For example, Player will try to induce sexual excitations in the girls. Certain line of questions would cause the girls to start getting wet and that would unlock a certain roleplay or kink or sex act etc. (There are lots that can be explored here)

Now, here's something else. I am considering including established IPs like Disney princesses, video game characters, cartoon and anime characters etc. They would provide a lot of materials to work with. I've seen handful of games by devs on Patreon that feature such characters and I'm so tempted ngl. I wouldn't touch Nintendo though lol.

Does this interest you at all? Any opinions and suggestions are welcome.

I've attached some of my WIPs just to let you see my art style and animations.

 

[lfgals1]

Parody games are an easy way to get a built in audience, but the real problem is what it does to your chances of a steam release.

The overall premise sounds interesting. Would you play the premise straight, where the sex therapy works? Or is this a corruption game with a delusional protagonist like The Headmaster? Both work, but I think you need to establish what this game is and is not right out the gate.

As for gameplay, might I suggest looking at detective games for suggestions on gameplay. The whole "collect clues from dialogue and put them together" thing feels like a natural fit. And a "memory sequence" where a character tells a story about something that happened to them and you play it out while doing point and c

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

I like the idea in general, and think, that this can be very successful even without adding foreign IPs. If you are a good story teller, this could really take off like the headmaster did. I also see here quite some similarities. If you haven't played it, you may do it.

Would you play the premise straight, where the sex therapy works? Or is this a corruption game with a delusional protagonist like The Headmaster?

Just wanted to add here, that the headmaster isn't delusional. His methods work in his world (at least, as far as the player knows).

 

[Infamyxxx]

Parody games are an easy way to get a built in audience, but the real problem is what it does to your chances of a steam release.

The overall premise sounds interesting. Would you play the premise straight, where the sex therapy works? Or is this a corruption game with a delusional protagonist like The Headmaster? Both work, but I think you need to establish what this game is and is not right out the gate.

As for gameplay, might I suggest looking at detective games for suggestions on gameplay. The whole "collect clues from dialogue and put them together" thing feels like a natural fit. And a "memory sequence" where a character tells a story about something that happened to them and you play it out while doing point and c

Corruption theme could be worked into it but I wouldn't write the protagonist as delusional though. In my head, the setting calls more for the patients' pov than the player character. So, I assume much of the materials would have to be drawn from the the patient characters and the player mainly poses questions and does analysis of the answers.

That "Memory Sequence" idea sounds awesome although quite intimidating.

Thank you for the response!

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

Corruption theme could be worked into it but I wouldn't write the protagonist as delusional though.

Sounds interesting but for me the Issue is this - the concept is a delusional therapist. You are picking and perverting a real world thing, which in turn makes the MC a pervert. Its actually more creepy when its not acknowledged and played off as 'normal'.

For a real game example GTA is over the top and clearly not real, that's why its guilt free fantasy.

If you were running with your theme & are trying to make it less of a creepy/weird pervy vibe you should dial it up to 11/10, i.e. make a new condition or something that is DOES require this treatment etc. just to make a clear break from reality.

You know like mutant strain of viagra created a disease that effects some people nervous systems blah blah blah, otherwise whether intended or not the MC is gonna be a perv (like others pointed out such as headmaster etc.). If you were doing it as a parody with IP's you could have the MC trying to cure patients who have a bad case of rule34 (kinda a 4th wall break where the 'real' characters are getting therapy for everything they did in rule34 to gain control of themselves in their own world etc.).

 

[Infamyxxx]

Sounds interesting but for me the Issue is this - the concept is a delusional therapist. You are picking and perverting a real world thing, which in turn makes the MC a pervert. Its actually more creepy when its not acknowledged and played off as 'normal'.

For a real game example GTA is over the top and clearly not real, that's why its guilt free fantasy.

If you were running with your theme & are trying to make it less of a creepy/weird pervy vibe you should dial it up to 11/10, i.e. make a new condition or something that is DOES require this treatment etc. just to make a clear break from reality.

You know like mutant strain of viagra created a disease that effects some people nervous systems blah blah blah, otherwise whether intended or not the MC is gonna be a perv (like others pointed out such as headmaster etc.). If you were doing it as a parody with IP's you could have the MC trying to cure patients who have a bad case of rule34

Can a suspension of disbelief not work in this case? If you wanna remove the creepy vibes, you ought to make it ridiculous, right? Like how in porn, a girl gets stuck in the dryer and the only way to get her out is fucking her. The comedy routine they perform in the scene cancels out the pervy, creepy tone. I guess it's gonna depend on how seriously or light-heartedly I would approach this setting.

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

Can a suspension of disbelief not work in this case? If you wanna remove the creepy vibes, you ought to make it ridiculous, right? Like how in porn, a girl gets stuck in the dryer and the only way to get her out is fucking her. The comedy routine they perform in the scene cancels out the pervy, creepy tone. I guess it's gonna depend on how seriously or light-heartedly I would approach this setting.

Yeh, and whats being portrayed. Suspension of disbelief doesn't mean you dont see whats in front of you - you have chosen a pretty heavy theme (a trusted medical professional abusing their position), so its going to have sinister undertones unless you add that parody/light hearted comedy or over the top aspect - i.e. MC is doing this because he was trained by the grand master of therapy and he alone has the power to stop this new mental scourge etc.

This theme naturally falls on the creepy side, so unless you push it out of that its kinda there to either double down on in a corruptions style game or push it into a silly parody

A good example I suppose would be pick an anime to look at that makes a trivial matter super important (like cooking, suddenly the worlds at stake). That kind of over the top approach blast through to 'this is obviously not real'.

EDIT: Yes, it depends on your approach, but you have to change the default leaning of creepy if that's not what you are going for. Doing it with light hearted is maybe a good idea, because alot of clicks will be looking for corruption & darker themes so a clearly obvious 'this game isnt that' light hearted tone would make a clean break for you.

 

[Infamyxxx]

Yeh, and whats being portrayed. Suspension of disbelief doesn't mean you dont see whats in front of you - you have chosen a pretty heavy theme (a trusted medical professional abusing their position), so its going to have sinister undertones unless you add that parody/light hearted comedy or over the top aspect - i.e. MC is doing this because he was trained by the grand master of therapy and he alone has the power to stop this new mental scourge etc.

This theme naturally falls on the creepy side, so unless you push it out of that its kinda there to either double down on in a corruptions style game or push it into a silly parody

A good example I suppose would be pick an anime to look at that makes a trivial matter super important (like cooking, suddenly the worlds at stake). That kind of over the top approach blast through to 'this is obviously not real'.

EDIT: Yes, it depends on your approach, but you have to change the default leaning of creepy if that's not what you are going for. Doing it with light hearted is maybe a good idea, because alot of clicks will be looking for corruption & darker themes so a clearly obvious 'this game isnt that' light hearted tone would make a clean break for you.

Okay, I think I have found the angle I need. How about I go for a "Controversial" take? Say, a therapist who has deviced this new and controversial technique where he adds sexual elements to his sessions and his patients have to consent to his methods before agreeing to see him. And there are critics from the Psychiatrist community about his method but he practices it still.

This would allow me to dial up any serious tone if needed and may be explore some darker stuffs as well.

This angle doesn't seem creepy now, does it? I mean there are forms of yoga that have sexual elements to them. Doctors literally used to induce orgasm in their female patients to cure their "hysteria" in the past. Psychiatric analysis is also not a material science and opens up a lot of avenues for interpretations, methods and schisms.

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

Can a suspension of disbelief not work in this case? If you wanna remove the creepy vibes, you ought to make it ridiculous, right? Like how in porn, a girl gets stuck in the dryer and the only way to get her out is fucking her. The comedy routine they perform in the scene cancels out the pervy, creepy tone. I guess it's gonna depend on how seriously or light-heartedly I would approach this setting.

I personally don't mind a creepy guy, as long as it doesn't get too dark. So, for me is the most important aspect to make his methods work in his world (for whatever reason). So, that you don't create a delusional bad and/or mad guy, but a "misunderstood good guy" (this actually doesn't work only in porn but also in 'normal' TV Shows (see e.g. 'Ted Lasso' or 'Shrinking')). At least parts of the comedy in this approach will come quite automatically just because of the contrast of reality and your fantasy world.

I personally don't mind, if he is a bit of a perv and drags personal excitement from what he does (this adds actually a bit of reality to the setting and can also be used for comedic effect). But he has to take his patients serious and really try to help them with his methods. When you make a light-hearted approach, his excitement should NEVER be his only goal, but rather a positive side effect of his methods.

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

Okay, I think I have found the angle I need. How about I go for a "Controversial" take? Say, a therapist who has deviced this new and controversial technique where he adds sexual elements to his sessions and his patients have to consent to his methods before agreeing to see him. And there are critics from the Psychiatrist community about his method but he practices it still.

This would allow me to dial up any serious tone if needed and may be explore some darker stuffs as well.

This angle doesn't seem creepy now, does it? I mean there are forms of yoga that have sexual elements to them. Doctors literally used to induce orgasm in their female patients to cure their "hysteria" in the past. Psychiatric analysis is also not a material science and opens up a lot of avenues for interpretations, methods and schisms.

This is similar to the Headmaster games approach, maybe give that game a go then see if you like the tone.

Im just throwing out ideas its your game and up to you, depends how much of the game is going to be anything other than just treating patients... if you followed your own example you could have him 'uncovering' old theories from a dead therapist mentor who died trying to prove them, that would let you add new 'therapies' as you discover more throughout the game (maybe have a couple of branches here you could split down by putting points into certain therapies etc. giving your tradition 'love' or 'corruption' paths). You know the standard 'dear my friend, you have inherited all my stuff' start to a game. Also means the MC is sort of learning at the pace of the player rather than just clicking options that are already known to the MC.

Learn, apply, make money, use money to refine techniques, try new techniques, earn money repeat... Simple game loop and progression there.

One big thing I learnt from a recent poll/discussion I put up about MC's being a self insert or not was that out of character actions for established characters are a big nono for player engagement, so whatever you pick for the MC be consistent.

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

One big thing I learnt from a recent poll/discussion I put up about MC's being a self insert or not was that out of character actions for established characters are a big nono for player engagement, so whatever you pick for the MC be consistent.

Yeah, that's very very important. Same goes for the other characters. There can be changes, but those changes should always have reasons. Means, there should be events that lead to changes in their attitudes. When there is a sudden change in attitude without explanation it feels as if everything you have done/experienced up to that moment is futile.

I never had such a moment where a protagonist behaved totally out of the established character by now in games (at least not that I can remember) but while reading stories and it felt very very disappointing. It was a story with lots of build up and it was the main aspect, that seemed to drive the rationalization of the characters lewd behaviour that changed from now to then when it actually came to lewd acts, so it felt as everything I read before was just futile.

 

[lfgals1]

Just wanted to add here, that the headmaster isn't delusional. His methods work in his world (at least, as far as the player knows).

There's a whole subplot that has been playing out over multiple releases about the MC confronting the fact that he reallyis just sexually corruption young women for a cabal of shadowy elites.

 

[Erosoft]

I would, personally, only enjoy this kind of game if the "therapy magic" took a strong mind control or hypnosis angle where the girls are being compelled into doing something they otherwise wouldn't. Would also be great to see some crafty dialogue choices that allow you to take advantage of the personal issues you mentioned: self esteem issues, addiction, etc. In other words, I'd prefer to play the role of a corrupt therapist. That's just me though; if dev time permits, it would be doubly interesting to allow the player to choose whether they want more lovely dovey/magic seduction options, or more coercive and realistic options.

 

[HornyMonsterGirlEnjoyer]

I think the therapist in this situation works better as someone who has a license to practice, but is trying a new way to heal. Kind of like Patch Adams. In this premise it works if others feel like his practice is unorthodox because it is. Like the MC is trying to see if "sexual healing" actually works. This removes the creepy feeling some players get when they start *ahem* "healing" their patients.

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

There's a whole subplot that has been playing out over multiple releases about the MC confronting the fact that he reallyis just sexually corruption young women for a cabal of shadowy elites.

Yeah, one of the subplots is definitely the headmaster slowly realizing what Mykock and the persons behind him plan with the girls, and yeah, it is also hinted, that not all girls are there because of their grades (see e.g. Priti). But this doesn't reflect whether the Headmaster's methods actually have a positive effect in the world he lives. That's rather shown through the development of the students. In the end, the headmaster will probably help all the girls graduate (the main aim) and (despite being a perv through and through) even fight back against Mykock and the elites to allow the girls to make their own decision (whether to stay with him or not? => what they probably all want, so he or the player has to decide in the end if they go a way independent from the headmaster or stay in his harem.)

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

I think the therapist in this situation works better as someone who has a license to practice, but is trying a new way to heal. Kind of like Patch Adams. In this premise it works if others feel like his practice is unorthodox because it is. Like the MC is trying to see if "sexual healing" actually works. This removes the creepy feeling some players get when they start *ahem* "healing" their patients.

haha, not sure if 'sexual healing' from a dude dressed as a clown would really gets rid of the 'creepy vibe'

Yeah, one of the subplots is definitely the headmaster slowly realizing what Mykock and the persons behind him plan with the girls

The MC in the Headmaster is totally a creep, half of what he does isn't required to get the results, he just wants to get clothes off to appease his benefactors (the benefactors that seem to have killed the old headmaster for not being a creep).

Either way my point wasnt to get overly into another game other than to say for the OP to play it and vibe check if thats the angle they were going for or not.

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

haha, not sure if 'sexual healing' from a dude dressed as a clown would really gets rid of the 'creepy vibe'



The MC in the Headmaster is totally a creep, half of what he does isn't required to get the results, he just wants to get clothes off to appease his benefactors (the benefactors that seem to have killed the old headmaster for not being a creep).

Either way my point wasnt to get overly into another game other than to say for the OP to play it and vibe check if thats the angle they were going for or not.

I'm not saying, that he's not being a pervert. He is definitely a pervert. But his methods work in his world, what makes him not delusional. So, he's not depicted as someone seeing things that are not there.

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

I'm not saying, that he's not being a pervert. He is definitely a pervert. But his methods work in his world, what makes him not delusional. So, he's not depicted as someone seeing things that are not there.

But normal methods work as well, thats why its so funny. The MC has invented alternative methods to achieve the same result but he gets his end wet doing it.

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

But normal methods work as well, thats why its so funny. The MC has invented alternative methods to achieve the same result but he gets his end wet doing it.

I highly doubt that Emily would ever have found her inner nudist with normal methods *cough* .
But yeah, Altos does definitely a lot of things right in the way he creates this game to make people shake their heads, getting excited and laugh at the same time. The game is definitely worth being studied, when one tries to create something that goes in a similar direction.

 

[Infamyxxx]

I would, personally, only enjoy this kind of game if the "therapy magic" took a strong mind control or hypnosis angle where the girls are being compelled into doing something they otherwise wouldn't.

One issue here is that Hypnosis is against Patreon's adult content guidelines.