I remember playing this game a bit more than half year ago and was saddened that by the fact that is still so little story content was added. I've read a bit of a dev health situation (And I wish him a good health), but I'm still wondering if the situation going to improve for future updates?
I've typing up a storm recently, but I was less focuses on writing for 2 to 4 weeks ago because I was getting the ball rolling with artists (as you'll see, that's of utmost importance).
I also don't quite understand the logic behind the new content being added. We have around 6 or more dialogue options that currently blocked, all of them from Keisuke route and you can encounter them even before day 4. Yet, reading the the dev messages I see new content being added on 8th day! Why is there no consistency? If I encountered few dialogue options and I want to chose different options instead of the ones that is presented now, it's is obvious, that will stop my playthrough until the undeveloped options will be added, so I can play the way that will suit my gameplay style. Of course, for the first time I was ignoring it, but after I noticed that there is too many white spots, I've decided to wait for the new content.
It's art. It's 100% that the two artists we have on commission who share the same art style are very, very slow, and without the CGs that are planned for the scene, writing them is a hollow experience and I'd likely have to rewrite things anyways.
Those Keisuke options are all stuff that needs that art, which is why I haven't written them.
Thankfully, if you scroll up, you'll find a post showcasing the replacement art for the Keisuke dorm room sex scenes, but I also just sent an artist over
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Also, because the art can move at such a glacial pace, this means than when the time comes to communicate with an artist on getting something done, I have to drop what I am doing and make that my focus for the immediate future.
Since time skips are relevant, I have something to explain. The focus of 0.10.7 (the current Backer patron release) being on Zach meeting Britney's theater group was voted on by Patrons. That time skip from Day 2 lunch to Day 8 theater group even explains the reason for time skips in-game.
re:/Dreamer is going to be taking place over a six-month period, but the meticulously-detailed intro to the start of the game likely gives a false impression of the density and the pace of the story.
Once I've established the tone of each friend's route and the fact that Zach is able to survive in classes while disguising his new sex, the story is going to be skipping to a mix of set events common to each route and unique events for a specific friend's route.
For two examples of the former:
- Zach is going to be dragged to a Halloween party in a stereotypical costume and then have his body and part of his personality changed by a re:/Dreamer event (i.e., becoming a vampire dominatrix with a penchant for red wine as a substitute for blood, kissing as a substitute for sucking blood, and a dominant bedroom demeanor).
- Zach going to be taking a trip to Southern California in the springtime with the route partner for a beach trip (you can see the outfit right above you here).
Every route is going to be slightly different with how these common events work (sharing the settings and general plot beats, but changing some details), but for some examples of the unique events for the routes:
- Zach is going to be dragged around by Keisuke to some of his swim meets and end up a de-facto manager/mascot for the university's swim team, all while starting to get fitter, happier, and generally more social from swimming for exercise; there's also a trip down memory lane with Keisuke on a home visit on the winter holidays.
- Britney is going to have a focus on Zach being forced to help her theater department, but she'll also lure Zach to an anime convention later and finally get him to wear girly magical girl cosplay; and Zach is going to spend Thanksgiving break at Britney's place and touted around to her parents as her nice, wholesome boyfriend.
- Rich will be forcing Zach to partake in "rich people" activities (for lack of a better term) such as horseback riding, golf, a yacht race, and a horse derby, all with the explicit goal of corrupting Zach into Zoey, a high-class woman who can't live without the luxuries that Rich can provide her.
Some of these will advance the story by days or even weeks, making this game possible to complete in a human lifetime.
Another thing I was curious about, if you will be able to turn Zoey into slut in Keisuke route? Or it's only planned for the alone route that is not developed?
It's planned for Alone and somewhat for Rich's route.
I kinda not really like this guy and would prefer to win this game relaying on myself. It's also feels a bit strange that you get almost same amount of points doing sexy stuff only with one person, instead of participating in massive orgies, or the most depraved actions that you can think of. It's feels like the game already lost for Zach, if he continue this way.
You're not Zach.
To a point, I agree that Zach's way is inneficient, but he's got a massive complex about intimacy, was a virgin when this game started, has no idea what he's doing, and is terrified of being discovered as a woman. I have toyed around with an Alone bad end where Zach just tries to throw himself into an orgy to get all his points only to be broken by the lifestyle in a way that makes
Emergence seem tame, but Patreon's ToS being what they are, I could never release that on their platform and moving platforms is not viable at this time in any sort of way.
Only if this path does not exist purely for the sake of lovey-dowey with one person. The aspect of jealousy and discovering her new sexuality, could spice the story and make it more thrilling.
Keisuke's route is more light-hearted romance, Britney's route is middle-ground melodrama with some darker tones, and Rich's route is going to get dark with abuse, manipulation, coercion, etc.
Anyway, as you can see, I see some flaws in game, and some of them, that I didn't mention, relates to unnecessary thoughts and dialogues that the Mc so love to produce. But I don't want you to feel like I shitting on your game, if I thought it's a dead case, I would just ignore this thread and move on. So, I like the Mc look (except that i prefer smaller tits) and the writing itself, the way you describe emotions, doubts and environment, it's all nice. I hope there will be more art for the sex scenes, though. And the opportunity to sculpt your own sexual adventure for Zoe.
The artist made her tits bigger than we were planning for (DD-cups) but he isn't a native English speaker and didn't understand what were were asking for when we told him to revise the art, and we got nowhere with reducing her chest size over several revisions, so that's why she's so busty.
Also, the game isn't going to be a sprawling bramble of routes (like
Student Transfer) but a linear story with a lot of options to choose how you get where you are going (the C.H.E.A.T.S. system, tracking variables, outfit choices, etc.)