VN Ren'Py Race of Life [Act 1 v1.02 Steam] [Underground Studio]

[ename144]

It kinda was imo. Allison did fall in love with the ambitious guy who always finds solutions for problems and leads the way out of trouble. For some reason (day to day life?) the mc lost this passion or drive (this is not only stated by allie but by Veronica, or for example William too) and turned into a guy taking the way with the least resistance (in his relationship and when he started working at the university).

Imo its not even about the marterial success or fame, its about achieving something, ambition, acting, being driven.

I guess I disagree, at least to an extent. The problems with their marriage didn't stem from Allison being disappointed in the MC's lackluster career, nor from the MC settling for a humdrum corporate life. If anything, I think the the causality is reversed and the inability to evolve their relationship is what led to the MC falling short of the lofty heights he was "supposed" to reach.

And Jake reflected about their missing communication already and stated what he would have done different at their conversation at the park.

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That's a good thing, certainly, but hindsight is always 20/20. The acid test is what he does going forward... and he sure wasn't doing a good job implementing that insight in his relationship with Veronica. Even if her dinner date in Chapter 1 was the first time she raised the question of their long term future (which I doubt), the MC clammed up immediately and refused to address the matter for quite a while.

I get the MC is still a work in progress, but would it kill them to let us end the relationship ourselves if we really feel it isn't going anywhere rather than let the MC keep stringing things along until Veronica gets pissed?

And btw i strongly doubt that Bates would fire the mc over that (in a avn world), firing him would just be lost money for the university and worst case a negative public scandal and at this point the project is so big, the university has way more to win than to lose from it.

And i don think Bates even really dislikes the mc. Hes just an oldschool hardass, like a sophisticated version of ham dunkirk lol but he ultimately wants the mc to succeed and is merely pissed because he considered that jake didnt had the drive/ambition (to get back to the start of my post) to do it despite the potential.

Spoiler: Bates thoughts about the MC

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Trust me, I get Bates; I'm a much bigger fan of him than the MC. But a) he strikes me as a very Lawful Neutral type, so I don't see him turning a blind eye to the MC fraternizing with his student even if he starts pulling his weight, and b) whatever the truth is, the MC is convinced Bates has it out for him. (The MC has a tendency to blame people for failing to be amused by his own antics, actually.)

 

[Alfred the Fallen]

The game had previously implied Alexa and Kris were FWB, so it's not like this comes completely out of the blue.

I'll keep an eye out for that the next time I play, because I must've completely missed it.

I remember Alexa flirting with Jasmine in the study group, and I remember Alexa sending the drunk photos to you while Kris had your phone. Kris even sees the picture of Alexa's boobs and says something about it, but I guess she doesn't recognize them or her phone number because she doesn't show any sign of recognition there.

 

[LinkBox88]

Ok so how about this (just now imaging)... what if he ends up driving for one of the World Racing League teams like Pinnacle or Brockham? Would that slake your thirst for racing? Just for fun.

Not really. Again, we'd just giving him a conveniently legal path for him to pursue.

If we didn't have the daughter as the primary motivation, I wouldn't care what he chooses to pursue. He would have the flexibility to choose what he wants. But this is not a flexible situation. He NEEDS the money. So I want him to be forced to do things he'd rather not do. To deal with people he'd rather not have to deal with.

Maybe there's a future where he pursues both paths (light path: battery-printing-Pro racing / dark path: street racing/crime) and finds success in both initially. But then both sides start to touch. The illegal stuff puts all his legit business at risk, or the dark side elements learns of his huge invention and it makes unsavory characters target him for what he has. I kind of like having his two worlds colliding as a plot device.

That said. I'm not trying to be too prescriptive. I just want him to face more danger so that the tension remains high.

 

[NadaMucho]

If we didn't have the daughter as the primary motivation, I wouldn't care what he chooses to pursue. He would have the flexibility to choose what he wants. But this is not a flexible situation. He NEEDS the money. So I want him to be forced to do things he'd rather not do. To deal with people he'd rather not have to deal with.

I guess I don't see that happening without another huge and unexpected medical expense. Cooper tooled him up with a big chunk of change before they even went to the conference. Seems like a lot more income will be recognized based on the efforts and contacts from said conference.

I don't deny the appeal of the "whatever it takes" mentality but getting us back into that environment is gonna take "some kind" of plot twist. Maybe he gets robbed of his funds or maybe someone else in his life requires critical help.

All just speculation of course. Still fun...

 

[ename144]

This update confirms that the more you make Veronica jealous, the more explosive she is in the bedroom.

Huh... it's like we're playing as Killian from Pale Carnations. I'd never thought about it that way, but it does kinda fit.

I love analyzing the decisions and paths the creators end up choosing for their stories (though I don't know how often they appreciate my discourse) so I always welcome a challenge of my opinion(which is only an opinion).I agree that the daughter must remain the primary motivation for the MC.

While it might be true for the MC that the battery is a better bet for his needs, I don't think his practical concerns should be shaping the narrative. What would be cool to see should be deciding where the story goes. There's always ways to make it so he HAS to race. What if his friend didn't win all that money but actually borrowed it from bookies at the races? The guy that hit his daughter with the van was like connected to the mob right? What if our MC has to enlist the help of mobsters at the race track in getting rid of him?

The battery development just doesn't present enough conflict and obstacles for the character to overcome. The original premise of the game was ''What would you do (or refuse to do) if you needed to suddenly acquire a bunch of money to save your daughter?''. I find it very easy to relate to the MC and to imagine myself in that situation. It's a bit too convenient and not at all relatable for the answer to be ''I would just find investors for this revolutionary invention I happen to be sitting on?''.

Again. I like the game as it stands, I'm not really trying to criticize what we've gotten so far. But if we're sharing our wishes for the future, I hope the MC will have to get his hands dirty and risk his life/safety. He won't have proven the extent of his love for his daughter if all he ends up having to do is pursue ethical and legal avenues of making money to save her.

I agree that the transition from street racing for comparatively small stakes to founding a revolutionary tech startup has been a bit rocky, but I don't think the venture capital material is as creatively barren as you seem to think. We've already heard about Ham getting outmaneuvered for a WLR team back in the day, and we know all about Ian Freely's over-the-top villainy courtesy of Maggie. There's plenty of drama to be had from the MC trying to hang on to his meal ticket while still getting the money he needs for Lily.

I just wish the MC was at the center of that drama driving things forward rather flitting from one plot thread to another based on whatever the game tosses at him this week.

I'll keep an eye out for that the next time I play, because I must've completely missed it.

I remember Alexa flirting with Jasmine in the study group, and I remember Alexa sending the drunk photos to you while Kris had your phone. Kris even sees the picture of Alexa's boobs and says something about it, but I guess she doesn't recognize them or her phone number because she doesn't show any sign of recognition there.

As I recall it was during the charity banquet: Kris mentions something about finding Alexa if you turn her down. Or maybe it was Alexa that said something about Kris on Jasmine's path? My old saves are broken and I haven't reached the banquet in my replay so it's been a while since I played that part. Honestly, I never had any interest in Alexa (and only a platonic interest in Kris), so it didn't leave too much of an impression.

 

[MrDude1977]

The first time I played through I choose Allie and thought she was a total bitch. However it wasn't too far in, before teaching Bob to "shake paw" when they are on the phone and the below (image) dialog pops up. When I saw that I knew she still loved him, really wanted him to make it work and was struggling with the internal conflict. That one little line put me permanently on her path.

I don't feel like the MC is taking all the blame. I feel like he's treating her with kid gloves because he still loves her and wants to make it easier for her to take the "reconciliation" path. Of course that is all just opinion but it makes me happy to think that way.

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That's what i think also i don't think of it as him admitting he was the blame for their relationship going bad i think it's just him trying to be the better person instead of throwing blame back at her. He's trying to get along with her because of Lily, if he just throws the blame back at her they will just end up fighting and he doesn't want that. So best thing to do is take the blame.

 

[NadaMucho]

That's what i think also i don't think of it as him admitting he was the blame for their relationship going bad i think it's just him trying to be the better person instead of throwing blame back at her. He's trying to get along with her because of Lily, if he just throws the blame back at her they will just end up fighting and he doesn't want that. So best thing to do is take the blame.

Well said. Additionally she starts to show appreciation for these actions quite quickly. I know it's weird but I constantly feel like she's dying to forgive him and fall into his arms again... while also being a sincerely pissed off bitch who wants him to pay for his actions. Every time he's cool with her it seems that forgiveness goes up and "pissed off" goes down.

 

[Ilhares]

This update confirms that the more you make Veronica jealous, the more explosive she is in the bedroom.

So the key to a truly explosive night is to have her watch as you rail Jasmine and Alexa simultaneously.

Ok so how about this (just now imaging)... what if he ends up driving for one of the World Racing League teams like Pinnacle or Brockham? Would that slake your thirst for racing? Just for fun.

Or maybe his foamed aluminum chassis and new battery tech become the basis for Kris' new all-electric super racer and she takes the circuit instead?

 

[Krytax123]

I guess I disagree, at least to an extent. The problems with their marriage didn't stem from Allison being disappointed in the MC's lackluster career, nor from the MC settling for a humdrum corporate life. If anything, I think the the causality is reversed and the inability to evolve their relationship is what led to the MC falling short of the lofty heights he was "supposed" to reach.

Again, i dont think it was about literal success, Allison made Miller-Buisness Cards for both of them because she considered them somewhat of a power couple (in their jobs).
I mean he was apparently doing good at his old company (he earned more than nowadays) and very young and able to raise the ranks. Im pretty sure they were both doing good on that part (he mentioned her resenting him for working too much too).

Maybe im just unable to describe it properly in english but imo its about him being driven, being the guy with the solutions.

Their marriage was in shambles and she was used to him finding the solution when things are bad but this time he didnt.

Veronica described the MC when he started at hanford as "diluted" and how much he changed since than (at the conference).

That's a good thing, certainly, but hindsight is always 20/20. The acid test is what he does going forward... and he sure wasn't doing a good job implementing that insight in his relationship with Veronica. Even if her dinner date in Chapter 1 was the first time she raised the question of their long term future (which I doubt), the MC clammed up immediately and refused to address the matter for quite a while.

I get the MC is still a work in progress, but would it kill them to let us end the relationship ourselves if we really feel it isn't going anywhere rather than let the MC keep stringing things along until Veronica gets pissed?

I mean thats life, making dumb decisions and learning from them. They were both dumb young kids when they married, they matured a lot since than (in Jake's case that may depends on the player lol).

Youre speculating a lot about mc's relationship with veronica before we took him over. And after we take him over its very possible to be very very straight forward with Veronica.

Veronica herself tells us kinda a different story tho, apparently the MC was the HOT NEW GUY at college who literally made every single female beings pantys wet at the university. She said he had unlimited options including students and staff yet in the end always choose her. She tells storys how all the stuff is talking about him and the students taking pictures of his ass (lmao).

And it doesnt looks like the MC fucked anyone at college before we took control of him despite apparently having the options.

I mean, i too think hes kinda a asshole and sometimes a dumb horndog but i dont think he's as bad as you deem him to be

Trust me, I get Bates; I'm a much bigger fan of him than the MC. But a) he strikes me as a very Lawful Neutral type, so I don't see him turning a blind eye to the MC fraternizing with his student even if he starts pulling his weight, and b) whatever the truth is, the MC is convinced Bates has it out for him. (The MC has a tendency to blame people for failing to be amused by his own antics, actually.)

Yeah i agree with both of this, he would act according to the rules. I guess i give the story some slack in this regard because its a avn and were playing a prof at a university. It will always not be smart to fuck your students but ...

I'll keep an eye out for that the next time I play, because I must've completely missed it.

I remember Alexa flirting with Jasmine in the study group, and I remember Alexa sending the drunk photos to you while Kris had your phone. Kris even sees the picture of Alexa's boobs and says something about it, but I guess she doesn't recognize them or her phone number because she doesn't show any sign of recognition there.

You only see it when you take Jasmine (and alexa) to the ball i believe. Alexa tries to meet there with Kris and talks a bit about it.

Not really. Again, we'd just giving him a conveniently legal path for him to pursue.

If we didn't have the daughter as the primary motivation, I wouldn't care what he chooses to pursue. He would have the flexibility to choose what he wants. But this is not a flexible situation. He NEEDS the money. So I want him to be forced to do things he'd rather not do. To deal with people he'd rather not have to deal with.

Maybe there's a future where he pursues both paths (light path: battery-printing-Pro racing / dark path: street racing/crime) and finds success in both initially. But then both sides start to touch. The illegal stuff puts all his legit business at risk, or the dark side elements learns of his huge invention and it makes unsavory characters target him for what he has. I kind of like having his two worlds colliding as a plot device.

That said. I'm not trying to be too prescriptive. I just want him to face more danger so that the tension remains high.

Its kinda strange, in theory i agree with you and think it would make a better story ... BUT i would be utterly annoyed if somehow now lily gets worse or the project gets randomly stolen/destroyed/whatever. I feel conflicted

But yeah its very true that a lot of things a very ... convenient, you made me laught with your statement how convenient and unrelatable it is to sit on a revolutonary invention in such a situation

But i still think cooper suddenly turning up with 250k was even more strange/convenient. I could become a (annoying) plot where the money creates problems otherwise it would have made more sense when the mc would have just liquidated his whatever he has/had to get this money. Or cooper when its about cooper doing him a solid. It was so random.

The super high tech future invention at least had buildup from the very beginning.

I think its still fine how it is and he probably wont be able to sell equity thiiiiiis fast anyway and probably needs to race for quite some time still (*cough* excuses *cough*) or it will move kinda quickly in a way bigger direction with jasmines racing dream.

And there are still Wyatt & Freely as antagonists.

 

[cooldevo]

The first time I played through I choose Allie and thought she was a total bitch. However it wasn't too far in, before teaching Bob to "shake paw" when they are on the phone and the below (image) dialog pops up. When I saw that I knew she still loved him, really wanted him to make it work and was struggling with the internal conflict. That one little line put me permanently on her path.

I don't feel like the MC is taking all the blame. I feel like he's treating her with kid gloves because he still loves her and wants to make it easier for her to take the "reconciliation" path. Of course that is all just opinion but it makes me happy to think that way.

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It's an entirely believable option... never thought of it as just shouldering the blame to move on. Although she doesn't seem like the person that'll be happy to be handled with kid gloves if she finds out.

 

[LinkBox88]

Again, i dont think it was about literal success, Allison made Miller-Buisness Cards for both of them because they considered them somewhat of a power couple (in their jobs).
I mean he was apparently doing good at his old company (he earned more than nowadays) and very young and able to raise the ranks. Im pretty sure they were both doing good on that part (he mentioned her resenting him for working too much too).

Maybe im just unable to describe it properly in english but imo its about him being driven, being the guy with the solutions.

Their marriage was in shambles and she was used to him finding the solution when things are bad but this time he didnt.

Veronice described the MC when he started at hanford as "diluted" and how much he changed since than (at the conference).



I mean thats life, making dumb decisions and learning from them. They were both dumb young kids when they married, they matured a lot since than (in Jake's case that may depends on the player lol).

Youre speculating a lot about mc's relationship with veronica before we took him over. And after we take him over its very possible to be very very straight forward with Veronica.

Veronica herself tells us kinda a different story tho, apparently the MC was the HOT NEW GUY at college who literally made every single female beings pantys wet at the university. She said he had unlimited options including students and staff yet in the end always choose her. She tells storys how all the stuff is talking about him and the students taking pictures of his ass (lmao).

And it doesnt looks like the MC fucked anyone at college before we took control of him despite apparently having the options.

I mean, i too think hes kinda a asshole and sometimes a dumb horndog but i dont think he's as bad as you deem him to be



Yeah i agree with both of this, he would act according to the rules. I guess i give the story some slack in this regard because its a avn and were playing a prof at a university. It will always not be smart to fuck your students but ...




You only see it when you take Jasmine (and alexa) to the ball i believe. Alexa tries to meet there with Kris and talks a bit about it.



Its kinda strange, in theory i agree with you and think it would make a better story ... BUT i would be utterly annoyed if somehow now lily gets worse or the project gets randomly stolen/destroyed/whatever. I feel conflicted

But yeah its very true that a lot of things a very ... convenient, you made me laught with your statement how convenient and unrelatable it is to sit on a revolutonary invention in such a situation

But i still think cooper suddenly turning up with 250k was even more strange/convenient. I could become a (annoying) plot where the money creates problems otherwise it would have made more sense when the mc would have just liquited his whatever he has/had to get this money. Or cooper when its about cooper doing him a solid. It was so random.

The super high tech future invention at least had buildup from the very beginning.

I think its still fine how it is and he probably wont be able to sell equity thiiiiiis fast anyway and probably needs to race for quite some time still (*cough* excuses *cough*) or it will move kinda quickly in a way bigger direction with jasmines racing dream.

And there are still Wyatt & Freely as antagonists.

I'm not totally sold that the Cooper money will end up being that convenient. For one, our MC just tossed it in the closet before his trip. It could already be gone somehow. Even without that, I'm not discounting the possibility that Cooper lied (did we see it happen in the previous episode I don't remember?) about how he got it and that it might have strings attached. Even if it's all as it seems, it could just be an asset they are forced to give up or trade down the road for whatever reason. I can't accept that the writer just threw our MC some cash to take some of the pressure off.

 

[Krytax123]

Well said. Additionally she starts to show appreciation for these actions quite quickly. I know it's weird but I constantly feel like she's dying to forgive him and fall into his arms again... while also being a sincerely pissed off bitch who wants him to pay for his actions. Every time he's cool with her it seems that forgiveness goes up and "pissed off" goes down.

Yeah she wants him to prove her wrong from the very beginning. Shes says she will never forgive him but what she truely means is "find ways for me to forgive you!!!".

Jake doesnt understand that tho, and takes her by her word, he doesnt even understand how much he humiliated her which makes her even more angry/frustrated with him

He sincerly still thinks allie dislikes him after his presentation at the conference (on the perfect allie path) and is only there for lily. He's a bit slow when its about her

To be fair, their circumstances are kinda unqiue

 

[ename144]

I mean thats life, making dumb decisions and learning from them. They were both dumb young kids when they married, they matured a lot since than (in Jake's case that may depends on the player lol).

Youre speculating a lot about mc's relationship with veronica before we took him over. And after we take him over its very possible to be very very straight forward with Veronica.

You can (eventually) be straightforward if you decide to pursue a relationship with her. You're annoyingly indecisive if you want the MC to stop leading the woman on. It's an important distinction that can really color our interpretation of the MC if we have a cynical mindset, especially given how thick the MC pours it on if we do pursue Veronica.

I don't think we're supposed to think the MC is deliberately manipulating her to get better sex, but the whole "cheating makes the sex hotter" path isn't exactly fighting that impression.

 

[Krytax123]

I'm not totally sold that the Cooper money will end up being that convenient. For one, our MC just tossed it in the closet before his trip. It could already be gone somehow. Even without that, I'm not discounting the possibility that Cooper lied (did we see it happen in the previous episode I don't remember?) about how he got it and that it might have strings attached. Even if it's all as it seems, it could just be an asset they are forced to give up or trade down the road for whatever reason. I can't accept that the writer just threw our MC some cash to take some of the pressure off.

Nah its safely in our bank account already (however we laundered that money). I already bought 4 upgrades for deliah with the money, the full 250k are already avaiable to use in the newest chapter when you use Kris shop. You see it when you open you bank account thingy too, its all there


But no we didnt saw cooper win the money. But he would turn into a really hated character i imagine if he gets the mc (and therefore lily) in even more troubles, im not sure the devs want that

I know, this doesnt make it better, im sorry. Lets not think too much about it

 

[NadaMucho]

Yeah she wants him to prove her wrong from the very beginning. Shes says she will never forgive him but what she truely means is "find ways for me to forgive you!!!".

Spoiler: Click for Pics

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[Krytax123]

You can (eventually) be straightforward if you decide to pursue a relationship with her. You're annoyingly indecisive if you want the MC to stop leading the woman on. It's an important distinction that can really color our interpretation of the MC if we have a cynical mindset, especially given how thick the MC pours it on if we do pursue Veronica.

I don't think we're supposed to think the MC is deliberately manipulating her to get better sex, but the whole "cheating makes the sex hotter" path isn't exactly fighting that impression.

Uhm sorry but i have to disagree, thats on day 1 of the story:



I would like the possibility to entirely break up with her sooner too tho but more straight forward is barely possible.

 

[ename144]

Uhm sorry but i have to disagree, thats on day 1 of the story:

View attachment 4349972 View attachment 4349973

I would like the possibility to entirely break up with her sooner too tho but more straight forward is barely possible.

I guess we look for different things out of a relationship, since she's obviously unhappy with that statement and goes on to push the boundary of just "having fun" several times over the next few days. The MC draws a line in the sand, but isn't willing to enforce it.

I'm not saying that the MC is responsible for how Veronica feels, but to me this is the same "ignoring a lingering problem" issue that torpedoed his last relationship - even if the desired goal is inverted. I'd like to see him take it a little more seriously this time. Instead, it's Veronica who has to put on her big girl pants and force them onto the same page (again, assuming the MC isn't willing to commit to her).

 

[Krytax123]

I guess we look for different things out of a relationship, since she's obviously unhappy with that statement and goes on to push the boundary of just "having fun" several times over the next few days. The MC draws a line in the sand, but isn't willing to enforce it.

I'm not saying that the MC is responsible for how Veronica feels, but to me this is the same "ignoring a lingering problem" issue that torpedoed his last relationship - even if the desired goal is inverted. I'd like to see him take it a little more seriously this time. Instead, it's Veronica who has to put on her big girl pants and force them onto the same page (again, assuming the MC isn't willing to commit to her).

I mean he puts his cards on the table when you Play him like that.

He plainly says I don’t want a relationship and am not made for it.

Now its her turn to decide if casual hookups are enough for her or not.

I consider that open and honest communication.

Shes a mature woman who can make her own decisions

Its not compareable as he simply doesnt consider it a real relationship on this path

He will just enjoy having fun together until she breaks it up or gets serious with someone else

thats kinda how casual fuckbuddy relationships work

And nobody forced her to have sex with him while not being serious/exclusive

 

[Mr_Mister]

Mc should get a PHD on dumbassery !, the fact that he can't put 2 and 2 together to conclude that Nathaly is a corporate spy and for some reason even Maggie rub me the wrong way (pun intended) , all that drama about her mother and her stepfather sounds like hogwash , Maggie and Nathaly are two faces of the same coin.
it wouldn't surprised me at all if Lily's tragedy wasn't an accident at all , maybe that was the only way to make the Mc vulnerable so he let his guard down and be an easy prey for Maggie or Nathaly , so either can steal the battery thing.

 

[cooldevo]

Mc should get a PHD on dumbassery !, the fact that he can't put 2 and 2 together to conclude that Nathaly is a corporate spy and for some reason even Maggie rub me the wrong way (pun intended) , all that drama about her mother and her stepfather sounds like hogwash , Maggie and Nathaly are two faces of the same coin.
it wouldn't surprised me at all if Lily's tragedy wasn't an accident at all , maybe that was the only way to make the Mc vulnerable so he let his guard down and be an easy prey for Maggie or Nathaly , so either can steal the battery thing.

The mysterious guy at the house on Maggie's questline implies it wasn't actually an accident, based on how I read it. I can't recall if Wyatt says anything at that time, other the getting upset if you beat him up.

When you find Wyatt, after the above scene, he's waiting at your car after the one race, I *thought* he said something along the same line as well.

If it's Wyatt, it seems more like his obsession with Allie and wanting to get Jake and perhaps Lily out of the picture. But he's obviously "in" with whomever the mystery person on the Maggie questline is... as the guy says he can control Wyatt, but obviously can't as he shows up at the race afterwards to threaten Jake.