(...) it depends on what the creator's aim is. Do they want solid, character focused writing (better from a narrative standpoint)? Or do they want to please each individual player's whims as much as possible (arguably better from a game-design standpoint, though some would disagree).
(...)
Characters are written with solid personalities that occasionally change believably and naturally based on the consequences of the player's decisions. While other times, they act extremely out of character to serve the narrative the player likely wants.
So sometimes it's solid character. Sometimes it's alternate universe. One or the other would've been the better move here.
Well, i see your argument, but i am not sure if this applies to ORS.
In games which try to actually give their characters a personality and background, like ORS or for instance Pale Carnations, i tend to assume, that even if the realized events are ultimately shaped by our choices, they are still the expression of the characters baseline personality.
So if an event occurs, which is seemingly out-of-character, i would search for traits in that person which allow to realign those events to be consistent with a given personality.
In Alisons case, she asks Ian to accompany her to the weekend trip - which on one occasion he accepts and on another declines -, because she likes him, at least that's the impression i've got (why else would she ask him?).
We have seen on quite a few occasions, that she would prefer Ian over Jeremy, but is always very quick to settle with the second best option, if Ian isn't available. And she isn't discreet about it, which i would kind of expect, if she doesn't want to ruin her chances with him, because not too many guys like sloppy seconds or go for the girl of a friend.
I have no problem with her doing that, she is free to bang anyone, since she isn't in a relationship. That's not my problem here.
However, i do believe her behaviour is only consistent with a character, who quickly acts out if she is displeased or discontent with something like a relationship or an unfavourable outcome (like in her career).
Basically "Look Ian, if you don't want me, there is always J with his BBC i can slave over!" or "I don't get the recognition in my workplace that i deserve, so there has to be an intrigue against me!" or "Why is he talking to that looser Perry, my problems deserve much more attention!"
Which also sheds a different light on her last relationship with Milo, the jealous angry little man, with whom she was unhappy. Like i said before, i am not sure if his jealousy was completely unfounded.
Everyone who prefers Alison over Cindy is by all means welcome to do so, but i believe you need to keep Alison happy at all costs, else she turns into the biggest cheating slut (aside from Lena if we play her that way) in the game.
And i honestly don't know if keeping Alison happy is easier than to accomodate Princess Cindy.
Making Alison happy would probably include to settle down with her and have some babies, which isn't outlandish for a end- twenty something woman, because of course her biological clock is ticking.
But i don't see Ian at his current stage in life to be ready for that. He is trying to get his book published, he has just an internship yet. If he were to become a father this would very likely mean that Ian has to scrap his dream of being an author and has to crawl back to his daddy to work in a job which pays the bills for this family, but which he will hate for sure. This is honestly a recipe for disaster.
That's why in my eyes Alison isn't good girlfriend material in general, and especially for Ian. It's kinda sad we can't ship her with Axel.
