VN Ren'Py New dev looking for tips

[G_Scorpio]

Hey, how you guys doing? So, this is my first post here, also my first game.

I started developing this game called The Wood Cabin, not really happy with the name, might change later...

Anyways, I've been doing it on my free time, learning programming on Renpy, and trying my best to make an acceptable art style.

The game itself focus on a group of 5 that goes on a trip together, spending a summer vacation in the woods, but they encounter some mysteries, that makes them realize that they might not be not alone.

Kinda cheese, I know, but I wanted a somewhat simple game to start, the main storyline is supposed to take place in the span of 2 to 3 weeks, you get to choose which character you want to invest as a side story, while the main story dictates the game progression.

There's still so much to do, but I set my eyes on a working first release, there will be no advanced scenes with the main characters, but there will be a VHS tape you can find in the cabin that has a porno on it, to showcase the game's animation style, which is something that I want to focus a lot, dynamic scenes and such.

I attached some previews of future and current scenes the game has, with the assets I've been making.

What do you guys think? All tips on the story or the art, really any tip is appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[Jack Madrigal]

Hey friend i'm doing great thank you, Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

I'll give you my subjective opinion, it's not law.

No matter how dull you think the premise of your story is, what matter is HOW you tell that story, and it depend on how good of a story teller you are, make clever jokes, be anecdotal, have archetypal characters that peoples can recognize and love and make them interact with each others, some like soccers, others like golfs, maybe he pronounce "parenthesisis". the point I'm trying to make is that you can make them stand out and being loved with little silly things that made the player laugh.

A nice state of mind to be in when you write a character is to imagine them to be heroes of their own stories, it's just that this one isn't about them specifically.

lay down a clear roadmap, I know it's sound weird but the game MUST be finished in your brain BEFORE you start working on it, you can always make adjustment on the way it's part of the process, but you HAVE to know exactly where you're going and don't change course.

another thing specific to porn game, define the fetishes right at the start, and state them for everyone to know, it's the kind of thing that doesn't matter when you're doing a webcomic or any other type of media, but in porn you can't just decide mid-way to force scat or bestiality or ntr on everyone if it's not what they are here for at the start.

as for the art id say you have a decent base to build on, I like the colors but what you should be doing to improve you anatomy is to draw over actual peoples, the best way to do that is to pose a video (so you have a person moving) and draw over that picture, there you have an anatomically correct image of a human performing basic human things.

there's no shame in doing things the easy way, and trust me with the amount of work ahead of you, you will need all the trics to make your life easier !

what matter the most with the art is its consistency, get a style and keep it, and the whole will look coherent, a good exemple I like to use for that is AOLTA by hornblase (on this site) there's a graphic identity and it's no shocking to the eye, (I hope 'm not too vague)

I'd be more than happy to see more of your drawings as you go,and I hope you can find any of that rambling of any use.

I wish you the very best, godspeed !

 

[_Eyia]

I think the guy above here is pretty much right on everything. I like your drawing style though. The imperfectness makes it more unique and it's a fun style. I like the part where the wallpaper hangs out. It's a minimalistic approach overall, but with some characteristic details. More of that I'd say.
In the end it's what you find the most fun, as you'll be working on it for hours and hours.

The out-of-focus camera bothered me a little bit on the first image, feels a bit strange.
And also the lines on the boobs and the car. That feels unfinished.
But you'll get more comfortable with the style, perspectives and proportions as you go I'm sure.

When it comes to the story, the more mainstream/predictable it is the more unexpected surprises you can put here and there.

That's my 50 cents.

 

[| Vee |]

Everything is mentioned above but I would say only one thing, Trust and Transparency are BIGGEST asset of a DEV. Include whatever fetish you like but clearly state this will be in the game and this will not be. You won't sabotage your growth. There are tone of people that will contribute if you're honest about it and people will shit but stick to your vision and be honest. You will gain following.

KEEP GROWING!

GOLDLUCK!

 

[G_Scorpio]

Hey Jack, Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

lay down a clear roadmap, I know it's sound weird but the game MUST be finished in your brain BEFORE you start working on it...

I do have already written down the ending, might change some small things, but overall I am happy with it

...define the fetishes right at the start, and state them for everyone to know, it's the kind of thing that doesn't matter when you're doing a webcomic or any other type of media, but in porn you can't just decide mid-way to force scat or bestiality or ntr on everyone...

Also

I would say only one thing, Trust and Transparency are BIGGEST asset of a DEV. Include whatever fetish you like but clearly state this will be in the game and this will not be.

Great point, as this is a relatively short game, there won't be much space for a wide range of options, am still trying to figure out what exactly I can fit in the game, something that is cohesive with the setting, which also brings up the question, when do the porn aspect of the game surpasses the story I am setting up, I mean, in the end people will play it for the sex scenes, so I should include as much of it as I can right? But also I need to be consistent, make the player work for that scene, start with a loose hand on a leg, and make the players work their way up the latter, not sure if what I said makes sense.

I'd be more than happy to see more of your drawings as you go,and I hope you can find any of that rambling of any use.

Oh, very much so, lots of insight to think about, thanks for the response.

... I like your drawing style though. The imperfectness makes it more unique and it's a fun style. I like the part where the wallpaper hangs out. It's a minimalistic approach overall, but with some characteristic details. More of that I'd say.
In the end it's what you find the most fun, as you'll be working on it for hours and hours.

Thanks, appreciated, the art is one of my biggest concerns right now, I tend to do a lot of rework at my job, and I noticed that if I started doing that, I would never finish this project, the only reason I do finish the projects at my day-to-day job is because I have a deadline, but here I really don't, if I don't deliver, no worries, nobody knew what I was doing anyway. That's also the reason why I decided to post here, get some feedback, make this real, show it to people, get the fluids flowing.


Thanks for the replies!!

 

[RoliMbox]

Tedting sig

 

[Glorified_ignorance]

Hey, how you guys doing? So, this is my first post here, also my first game.

I started developing this game called The Wood Cabin, not really happy with the name, might change later...

Anyways, I've been doing it on my free time, learning programming on Renpy, and trying my best to make an acceptable art style.

The game itself focus on a group of 5 that goes on a trip together, spending a summer vacation in the woods, but they encounter some mysteries, that makes them realize that they might not be not alone.

Kinda cheese, I know, but I wanted a somewhat simple game to start, the main storyline is supposed to take place in the span of 2 to 3 weeks, you get to choose which character you want to invest as a side story, while the main story dictates the game progression.

There's still so much to do, but I set my eyes on a working first release, there will be no advanced scenes with the main characters, but there will be a VHS tape you can find in the cabin that has a porno on it, to showcase the game's animation style, which is something that I want to focus a lot, dynamic scenes and such.

I attached some previews of future and current scenes the game has, with the assets I've been making.

What do you guys think? All tips on the story or the art, really any tip is appreciated!

Thanks!!

Sounds like a well planed plan. Art is looking great. And you clearly look like you know what you are doing.
So best of luck on your progression, and take your time with presentation, I sense a great game.

Good luck o/

 

[TheMagicalGurl]

It's a quirky drawing style (the girl characters hair/boobs need a bit of work but you have a great foundation so far...), but you actually did an excellent animation there. That's an artists biggest battle.

Piece of advice from me to you, work on a good 1st release. Don't let your first release be something you regret in 3 months.