Takkatakka

Engaged Member
Nov 11, 2022
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To chime in another opinion about release frequency and story path complexity... I never even considered the fact that several years of development can have a detrimental effect on not only the players patience to hang around/keep supporting the project, but also the developers patience with the project itself. I'm not a huge creative myself, being more into the technical side of things, but I can appreciate the fact that working on a single project for 3+ years can be very mentally taxing, creatively.
I hope I don't open a bad can of worms here, but I suspect that was - at least in part - the reason for DPC to make the somewhat "infamous" Interlude between Ep. 8 and 9 of BaD. He just wanted to make something else with different characters in a different setting.

I think Eternum avoids that simply by the basic idea of the game that it play in considerable parts in a virtual reality, where he can set the story in all kinds of different places and times. So he can make scenes on a space station and scenes at a college party and scenes in ancient Rome all in the same game, without actually breaking the story.

As someone who constantly needs new input myself, I can certainly understand that developers can also burn out at their own game.

people who don't like Hana are fucked.
and rightfully so!

Seriously though: That is just one of the core problems of these types of games that I see in pretty much any VN. And right now I don't really see any way around this except keeping all branches together until very late in the game or just have an outright harem ending. On the other hand that also means that there will be few really meaningful and interesting decisions, because most decisions will boil down to "stay on the path of woman x" or "leave the path of woman x". It is also hampering the immersion when you have like 5 women all fawning over the MC thinking they are in a relationship with him without realizing that there are 4 other women also doing that. So I don't know if there is a "golden path" out of the permutation problem.
 
Last edited:
Sep 10, 2021
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If you have a Hana update, people who don't like Hana are fucked.
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With the more branch-focused updates, I do worry about "wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle" syndrome that might impact player's satisfaction with an individual update.
I'd personally prefer narrow and deep, even if a branch update ends up undesirable due to personal preference. Unveiling more of the story in that branch, accompanied by some hot art/sex is always enough satisfaction. In 4.1 Hana was fleshed out as a character with her lust, Cynthia, and after-sex conversation. The art/sex was also hot. In a potential Vero-focused update, I'd have zero interest sexually, but story elements would carry, like they do in her club events. Besides, your psyop skills might even convert people who aren't fans of a particular girl. Vero's morning scene in 4.1 demonstrates that potential.
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There are unique considerations to keeping players interested in a game like you would an episodic TV show.
With 4.1, there were the 4 morning scenes, Ian's visit, and the Alice/Amber ending. I think you've got the balance down. But for strict-branches, where a considerable amount of players won't be seeing the content, an idea could be to show what's going on with the other characters, without Edwin being involved. It's not used much in PC, but scenes showcasing Kathy+Abel's scheming are always shown this way, and the Alice/Amber ending was as well.
 

ShadowLordV1

Member
Aug 18, 2022
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View attachment 2439931


I'd personally prefer narrow and deep, even if a branch update ends up undesirable due to personal preference. Unveiling more of the story in that branch, accompanied by some hot art/sex is always enough satisfaction. In 4.1 Hana was fleshed out as a character with her lust, Cynthia, and after-sex conversation. The art/sex was also hot. In a potential Vero-focused update, I'd have zero interest sexually, but story elements would carry, like they do in her club events. Besides, your psyop skills might even convert people who aren't fans of a particular girl. Vero's morning scene in 4.1 demonstrates that potential.
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With 4.1, there were the 4 morning scenes, Ian's visit, and the Alice/Amber ending. I think you've got the balance down. But for strict-branches, where a considerable amount of players won't be seeing the content, an idea could be to show what's going on with the other characters, without Edwin being involved. It's not used much in PC, but scenes showcasing Kathy+Abel's scheming are always shown this way, and the Alice/Amber ending was as well.
I personally adore routes, called me old fashioned but there is something so sweet and endearing about being able to focus on 1 singular character. Sure Harems are fun but I think a game should still offer choice, I think Once In A Lifetime did it absolutely phenomanlly.
 

Phase_01

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2021
1,365
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View attachment 2439931


I'd personally prefer narrow and deep, even if a branch update ends up undesirable due to personal preference. Unveiling more of the story in that branch, accompanied by some hot art/sex is always enough satisfaction. In 4.1 Hana was fleshed out as a character with her lust, Cynthia, and after-sex conversation. The art/sex was also hot. In a potential Vero-focused update, I'd have zero interest sexually, but story elements would carry, like they do in her club events. Besides, your psyop skills might even convert people who aren't fans of a particular girl. Vero's morning scene in 4.1 demonstrates that potential.
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With 4.1, there were the 4 morning scenes, Ian's visit, and the Alice/Amber ending. I think you've got the balance down. But for strict-branches, where a considerable amount of players won't be seeing the content, an idea could be to show what's going on with the other characters, without Edwin being involved. It's not used much in PC, but scenes showcasing Kathy+Abel's scheming are always shown this way, and the Alice/Amber ending was as well.
How the fuck did I get locked out of this route, wtf :cry: I'm assuming this is the scene where u invite her over after the event
 
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Takkatakka

Engaged Member
Nov 11, 2022
3,073
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Yessir. You have to invite Veronica over after exhibition 2, which is contingent on hugging her after the tarantula scene. Which I thiiiink you need 25 affection to do in the first place.
That is btw an example for a good and (probably) meaningful choice, because you have multiple scenes that are all kinda precious and important in their own right.

Also pretty work intensive but I would rather have a few of those than many choices that don't really matter after all.
 

Alphaeboy

Active Member
Jul 22, 2019
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View attachment 2439931


I'd personally prefer narrow and deep, even if a branch update ends up undesirable due to personal preference. Unveiling more of the story in that branch, accompanied by some hot art/sex is always enough satisfaction. In 4.1 Hana was fleshed out as a character with her lust, Cynthia, and after-sex conversation. The art/sex was also hot. In a potential Vero-focused update, I'd have zero interest sexually, but story elements would carry, like they do in her club events. Besides, your psyop skills might even convert people who aren't fans of a particular girl. Vero's morning scene in 4.1 demonstrates that potential.
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With 4.1, there were the 4 morning scenes, Ian's visit, and the Alice/Amber ending. I think you've got the balance down. But for strict-branches, where a considerable amount of players won't be seeing the content, an idea could be to show what's going on with the other characters, without Edwin being involved. It's not used much in PC, but scenes showcasing Kathy+Abel's scheming are always shown this way, and the Alice/Amber ending was as well.
I prefer routes tbh than Harem. Sometimes Harems force girls on me that I don't really like or care for. At least with Routes I can decide which girls I want and don't want.
 

Takkatakka

Engaged Member
Nov 11, 2022
3,073
9,917
Or lose epic Kathleen scene/path, or scene with Victoria (not tryed, not interested)
But every path is interesting here, I dunno how to play this game without at least 6 diff saves/playthroughs
So far you could see most important things in the game with one save, in my opinion. But with the end of the current content that seems to change now, we'll see.
 

RC-1138 Boss

Message Maven
Apr 26, 2017
13,505
20,313
I'm gonna kick my past self in the balls for not hugging her wtf :HideThePain:
Kick and the twist them! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Yeah, too bad you lose another great Mina scene if you choose this path, but again: That is what choices should be about.
True. But felt like Veronica needed a lot more after what just had happened. ♥

Can always try following a different route in another save/playthrough later.
 
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