VN Ren'Py Race of Life [Act 1 v1.04.5] [Underground Studio]

[SnakeInTheGrass]

The only thing that really bugs me about this game is its lengthy "educational" content. I play AVNs for the interpersonal drama (yes, and for the kinky stuff), not to learn about healthcare or advancements in science. I can see that the author has spent a lot of time researching these subjects and can form coherent ideas based on them, but I'd really just like to get the gist when it's a plot hook, not the full scientific paper.

(Edit: Oh, and add the whole car lingo to that. It makes total sense for the story, but it's a bit too in-depth for me when to me it reads like the technobabble from Star Trek. And the ingame codex is not much of a help there.)

 

[oosinoots]

The only thing that really bugs me about this game is its lengthy "educational" content. I play AVNs for the interpersonal drama (yes, and for the kinky stuff), not to learn about healthcare or advancements in science. I can see that the author has spent a lot of time researching these subjects and can form coherent ideas based on them, but I'd really just like to get the gist when it's a plot hook, not the full scientific paper.

(Edit: Oh, and add the whole car lingo to that. It makes total sense for the story, but it's a bit too in-depth for me when to me it reads like the technobabble from Star Trek. And the ingame codex is not much of a help there.)

Personally I love it. Adds depth to the story. The good part about it is that if you're not interested you can always skim and click through. However if it were not there, no world-building and no amount of clicking will add it.

 

[SlapE]

The only thing that really bugs me about this game is its lengthy "educational" content. I play AVNs for the interpersonal drama (yes, and for the kinky stuff), not to learn about healthcare or advancements in science. I can see that the author has spent a lot of time researching these subjects and can form coherent ideas based on them, but I'd really just like to get the gist when it's a plot hook, not the full scientific paper.

(Edit: Oh, and add the whole car lingo to that. It makes total sense for the story, but it's a bit too in-depth for me when to me it reads like the technobabble from Star Trek. And the ingame codex is not much of a help there.)

Hard disagree, just skip over those sections, no one forces you to read every line of dialogue. There are plenty of basic games out there with no depth in story and writing.

 

[Steuan]

Natalya already knows everything about him; she's let it slip several times. She knows what happened to his daughter, knows he desperately needs money, but so far, she doesn't seem to care. She's continuing with her plan to get close to him and his project.

Whatever, man. I'm not a big fan of Natalya, but she doesn't give me the evil woman vibes.

Huh, y' know I'm not even sure she is a spy, an agent or something. Like you said she is too dumb to be a spy. They're just using her to get infos about Jake's battery project. She is smokin' hot, and only that kind of woman can get what she wants from a man if y'know what I mean.

Besides the queen Jasmine will still be working with Nat in the lab all the time. I don't think she will let Nat do something stupid like sabotaging the project or leaking test results. Don't you worry, Jasmine always watches Jake's back.

 

[SnakeInTheGrass]

There are plenty of basic games out there with no depth in story and writing.

That's an odd remark. I didn't say that I seek "basic games [...] with no depth in story and writing." It's quite the opposite. And I'd argue that said depth in AVNs is mainly achieved by strong characters and their interpersonal relationships and conflicts, not by elongated exposition containing scientific minutiae.

Luckily, this game does have great characters and interactions and that's what keeps me playing and eagerly waiting for updates. As I wrote, the technobabble merely "bugs" me, it's not a showstopper for me.

The good part about it is that if you're not interested you can always skim and click through.

I do that, it just robs me a little of the immersion and the flow of the game. I get that I'm playing a competent character who knows his stuff, but I'd rather he didn't have to explain it in detail along the way. Maybe a "skip" button? A "give me the gist" button? I don't know.

I get that you two (and certainly a lot of others) see that differently, and it's cool that you enjoy the game that way.

 

[Dessolos]

The only thing that really bugs me about this game is its lengthy "educational" content. I play AVNs for the interpersonal drama (yes, and for the kinky stuff), not to learn about healthcare or advancements in science. I can see that the author has spent a lot of time researching these subjects and can form coherent ideas based on them, but I'd really just like to get the gist when it's a plot hook, not the full scientific paper.

(Edit: Oh, and add the whole car lingo to that. It makes total sense for the story, but it's a bit too in-depth for me when to me it reads like the technobabble from Star Trek. And the ingame codex is not much of a help there.)

same those parts bored me especially cause the car stuff cause I don't know jack about cars so I didn't understand very much of it but I don't skip dialogue I dislike. At the same time I see why it's needed could maybe simplified the medical stuff but I do think not so much about the car talk , as it makes it more immersive and gives off the impression the characters actually know what they are doing and talking about.

 

[oosinoots]

I do that, it just robs me a little of the immersion and the flow of the game.

I understand what you mean. I guess I'd feel the same if I was not passionate or curious about the subject matter but seeing that I am, my opinion is obviously biased. While a skip button seems a bit disingenuous to the dev's efforts, it's possible someone mods it in. I still maintain that it's better to have it than not because if I don't like it, I can set 'skip through unseen text' and hold ctrl through exposition segments.

 

[SnakeInTheGrass]

I understand what you mean. I guess I'd feel the same if I was not passionate or curious about the subject matter but seeing that I am, my opinion is obviously biased. While a skip button seems a bit disingenuous to the dev's efforts, it's possible someone mods it in. I still maintain that it's better to have it than not because if I don't like it, I can set 'skip through unseen text' and hold ctrl through exposition segments.

I'm not a fan of that either. Ideally, this whole thing would be wrapped up in more of a "show don't tell" way. Like, instead of having the doctor explain her whole method in an exposition, she could show the MC around the hospital to where the patients are treated and drop some info here and there. That would make it more engaging at least. But I understand that that means additional renders, so it's cheaper to resolve the info dump in an exposition.

 

[MiltonPowers]

Whatever, man. I'm not a big fan of Natalya, but she doesn't give me the evil woman vibes.

Huh, y' know I'm not even sure she is a spy, an agent or something. Like you said she is too dumb to be a spy. They're just using her to get infos about Jake's battery project. She is smokin' hot, and only that kind of woman can get what she wants from a man if y'know what I mean.

Besides the queen Jasmine will still be working with Nat in the lab all the time. I don't think she will let Nat do something stupid like sabotaging the project or leaking test results. Don't you worry, Jasmine always watches Jake's back.

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If this were a Hollywood script or a novel and the writer was trying to tell an engaging story and keep the audience interested to the final page/screen, 99% chance the spy/bad guy is Jasmine. No way it's the obvious Nat or possibilities like Maggie or Alexa. It's the one you're not expecting.

Are these Devs creating mystery and suspense?

Or are they just putting the story out there?

 

[Dessolos]

If this were a Hollywood script or a novel and the writer was trying to tell an engaging story and keep the audience interested to the final page/screen, 99% chance the spy/bad guy is Jasmine. No way it's the obvious Nat or possibilities like Maggie or Alexa. It's the one you're not expecting.

Are these Devs creating mystery and suspense?

Or are they just putting the story out there?

this made me think of something interesting for a what if scenario as I know it won't be the case. But what if it was Allie that was pulling strings behind the scenes to get back at her Ex and after the accident she was in to deep to stop what she set into motion. Now I know this won't be true at all or anything close to it but thought could also be an interesting scenario if Allie was the mastermind behind whoever the spy is working for haha.

 

[MiltonPowers]

this made me think of something interesting for a what if scenario as I know it won't be the case. But what if it was Allie that was pulling strings behind the scenes to get back at her Ex and after the accident she was in to deep to stop what she set into motion. Now I know this won't be true at all or anything close to it but thought could also be an interesting scenario if Allie was the mastermind behind whoever the spy is working for haha.

Most Devs can't write a plot, so in most cases the bad guy will be Nat, or maybe they'll try a 'clever' switch to Maggie or Alexa that just about everyone saw coming.

But what if these guys can write a intricate plot. While we're watching the obvious, Allie is pulling the strings in the background, or Jasmine has used sex to cleverly work her way into his trust, or V has been the spy from the start.

I've just been thinking about where it was going and the detail that has already been put into it, they just might not be going the obvious route.

 

[Dessolos]

Most Devs can't write a plot, so in most cases the bad guy will be Nat, or maybe they'll try a 'clever' switch to Maggie or Alexa that just about everyone saw coming.

But what if these guys can write a intricate plot. While we're watching the obvious, Allie is pulling the strings in the background, or Jasmine has used sex to cleverly work her way into his trust, or V has been the spy from the start.

I've just been thinking about where it was going and the detail that has already been put into it, they just might not be going the obvious route.

yeah and while im probably in the miniority last episode starting to make me less sus about Nat tbh for some reason. Even tho being our student now is kind of a red flag but just the way the scenes played out and dialogue making less suspicious of her for whatever reason. So yeah im kind of hoping it's the less obvious choice tho if it has to be the obvious one wouldn't mind if it was Alexa never liked her anyways. But I think it be a bit weird if she was with how she acts and everything.

 

[Steuan]

If this were a Hollywood script or a novel and the writer was trying to tell an engaging story and keep the audience interested to the final page/screen, 99% chance the spy/bad guy is Jasmine. No way it's the obvious Nat or possibilities like Maggie or Alexa. It's the one you're not expecting.

Are these Devs creating mystery and suspense?

Or are they just putting the story out there?

Could be. But thankfully the writer of this AVN is not from Hollywood. They can't write anything good these days...

I think we're overthinking this. I mean, it is not even clear whether the project will be successful. That's why Jake keep racing on the streets, right?

Though, I'll admit Jasmine's being a spy would be a mind-blowing plot twist. Any other girls? Maybe... Patricia?

Speaking of Jasmine, she can spy me anytime and anywhere she wants... She def looks out of this world.

 

[MiltonPowers]

Could be. But thankfully the writer of this AVN are not from Hollywood. They can't write anything good these days...

I think we're overthinking this. I mean, it is not even clear whether the project will be successful. That's why Jake keep racing on the streets, right?

Though, I'll admit Jasmine's being a spy would be a mind-blowing plot twist. Any other girls? Maybe... Patricia?

Speaking of Jasmine, she can spy me anytime and anywhere she wants... She def looks out of this world.

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I know which head you are thinking with!

 

[Steuan]

I know which head you are thinking with!

 

[flaviopaganini]

I know which head you are thinking with!

I only played the first two episodes; I'm waiting for more episodes to play. Did this spy issue come up at some point, or is it just the players' intuition?

 

[MiltonPowers]

I only played the first two episodes; I'm waiting for more episodes to play. Did this spy issue come up at some point, or is it just the players' intuition?

That's a really good question. I can't think of a single scene or dev announcement that there is actually a spy at all.

 

[Virtual Player]

Yep, I got raked earlier for liking Natalya and everyone who replied spewed some nonsense about spies and espionage. I'm like "Did we play the same game?"

 

[flaviopaganini]

That's a really good question. I can't think of a single scene or dev announcement that there is actually a spy at all.

It was just to know if it was in this last chapter, or if I missed something. Because I didn't imagine this situation and wanted to replay paying attention to where I could leave this evidence.

 

[TonyMurray]

I only played the first two episodes; I'm waiting for more episodes to play. Did this spy issue come up at some point, or is it just the players' intuition?

Intuition. She just seems a bit suspect and is the daughter of a foreign official. She conveniently seems to know too much and have a hard-on for MC and is desperate to join his team within seconds of knowing there is a team.