VN Ren'Py Rick and Morty: Another Way Home [r4.0] [Night Mirror]

[genericbutcoolname]

im bored so here is a funny another way home theory: the reason sexual acts give you a lot more points than regular confident acts is because actions are weighted proportionally to how likely a morty is to perform them (for instance, if many mortys have stood up to a bully but not a lot of mortys have actually fought one, physically fighting a bully would give you a lot more points). therefore, sexual actions give you an absolutely insane amount of points because mortys hardly ever get pussy. our morty is "one in a million" indeed haha

 

[wibbled]

im bored so here is a funny another way home theory: the reason sexual acts give you a lot more points than regular confident acts is because actions are weighted proportionally to how likely a morty is to perform them (for instance, if many mortys have stood up to a bully but not a lot of mortys have actually fought one, physically fighting a bully would give you a lot more points). therefore, sexual actions give you an absolutely insane amount of points because mortys hardly ever get pussy. our morty is "one in a million" indeed haha

The "Confidence phone app" has to be one of the oddest MacGuffins I've seen. Maybe I missed it, but I can't think of any other similar film or TV references (there must be at least one, I'm guessing), so kudos to whoever thought of it.

Things that the average Morty wouldn't do? Whining and complaining has to be quite high on that list. If the app took off points for the latter, Morty would still be struggling.

One thing I'm very curious about regarding the app, and the story behind it ... is how will it conclude? Does F already have an idea or plot line laid out, or is he/his writers just playing it by ear so far? I quite like the idea that I heard someone suggest, that Rick is lying to Morty about being in an alt dimension, and that the one he is currently in, is his original one, with his real family.

I'm showing my "true R&M fan" credentials by even wondering if F knows where he wants to take the story. Only a "true R&M fan" would even waste grey matter on such a thing.

 

[genericbutcoolname]

The "Confidence phone app" has to be one of the oddest MacGuffins I've seen. Maybe I missed it, but I can't think of any other similar film or TV references (there must be at least one, I'm guessing), so kudos to whoever thought of it.

Things that the average Morty wouldn't do? Whining and complaining has to be quite high on that list. If the app took off points for the latter, Morty would still be struggling.

One thing I'm very curious about regarding the app, and the story behind it ... is how will it conclude? Does F already have an idea or plot line laid out, or is he/his writers just playing it by ear so far? I quite like the idea that I heard someone suggest, that Rick is lying to Morty about being in an alt dimension, and that the one he is currently in, is his original one, with his real family.

I'm showing my "true R&M fan" credentials by even wondering if F knows where he wants to take the story. Only a "true R&M fan" would even waste grey matter on such a thing.

i mean, the actions have to do two things: be assertive, and be unlikely for the average morty to do. i guess by my own weird logic negative points would work that way, but complaining isn't particularly wimpy. (also my theory is not very well thought out lol, i was just bored and thought the idea of our morty being like. the only morty to fuck ever was funny)

also, i have no idea where the story is going omg. at first i was a little confused at all the ppl in the comments of porngameshub going "why would morty want to go home ffs, he gets so much pussy here" and like. while i definitely get the appeal of that lol, there's also the friends and family he's known his entire life. he'll never get to see his real parents again etc. but now as the game progresses i realize morty has ppl he cares about in this dimension too, so neither option would come without losing some valuable relationships. but also i mean in the r&m universe, dimension-hopping is quite common so maybe he can alternate between the two? who knows

 

[Night Mirror]

I do enjoy the idea of "Morty is only getting points from sex, because Mortys never get laid." Although, sadly contradicted by the last update, where we see lots of Mortys in a brothel. Still a fun idea

(and now, because I can never just respond with a few words, an unnecessary amount of text about the assertiveness app, and... storytelling? (man, I really do ramble about stuff... (too late now!)))

TLDR: I hate the app, but I do have a story for it (and other things).

I am not really a fan of the app as a "goal" idea. Sure it gets the story rolling (the whole point of a MacGuffin (as wibbled pointed out)), but it's not an aspect of the game the player really cares about (at least in my opinion). Players aren't playing the game to fill a bar they can't see. There is no progression or rewards tied to getting points (*cough* fuck bullshit points), and often (both versions) tend to forget the app even exists, until the plot suddenly needs it for something.

I've sprinkled a bit more of it throughout, and tried to expand the story around Morty's feelings about trying to go home, but talk about the app is largely absent from the Unity version beyond the first few quests. It only pops back in to "motivate" Morty to do something he wouldn't otherwise "want" to do (but that the player does, which is in conflict (and drives me crazy)).

Additionally, it hasn't really helped Morty grow very much. He is still the whiny bit- *ahem* boy- err adult, he is thirty-five - he was at the start of the game. Want to have a three way? "Oh- geez, oh man- I can't, but I need the points!" just feels, bad. Because as a player, that isn't how I feel in that moment.

And sure, okay, that was fine at the start, but now his response to a three way should be: "...*Zip*" (side note: I am painfully aware a lot of the pregnancy talk falls into this category as well, and it is something I want to go improve at some point)

So, I don't really like the app as a plot device. To quote a reviewer I really enjoy: "It's this misdirection of what the player should care about that really bothers me." As a player, I don't care about points in the app. I don't care about going home. I care about the girls, their stories, and their interactions. I care about Morty and his struggle. (And I care about the sex, because, well, porn game...)

All that being said, while I have no special insight on where Ferdafs is headed with anything (they obviously don't tell me their future plans (if they have them)), that isn't to say I don't have a plan with the story I want to tell. I know what endings I want to put in (in addition to whatever we get, when we get there). I know where I want to go with the (hated) app. I know future moments I'd love to have for certain characters. And I've already snuck in (a lot) my own additional plot points for future stories.

My goal with this project has always been to improve, not just adapt (hard to say if I really have improved it (and some players would say I've ruined it, but w/e, can't please everyone)). As always, with a big asterisks, I don't want to stray so far off the story path Ferdafs is already telling, and most of my plans are flexible enough (I think/hope) to work within the existing story. But, I do have a lot of story I still want to tell.

 

[genericbutcoolname]

I do enjoy the idea of "Morty is only getting points from sex, because Mortys never get laid." Although, sadly contradicted by the last update, where we see lots of Mortys in a brothel. Still a fun idea

(and now, because I can never just respond with a few words, an unnecessary amount of text about the assertiveness app, and... storytelling? (man, I really do ramble about stuff... (too late now!)))

TLDR: I hate the app, but I do have a story for it (and other things).

I am not really a fan of the app as a "goal" idea. Sure it gets the story rolling (the whole point of a MacGuffin (as wibbled pointed out)), but it's not an aspect of the game the player really cares about (at least in my opinion). Players aren't playing the game to fill a bar they can't see. There is no progression or rewards tied to getting points (*cough* fuck bullshit points), and often (both versions) tend to forget the app even exists, until the plot suddenly needs it for something.

I've sprinkled a bit more of it throughout, and tried to expand the story around Morty's feelings about trying to go home, but talk about the app is largely absent from the Unity version beyond the first few quests. It only pops back in to "motivate" Morty to do something he wouldn't otherwise "want" to do (but that the player does, which is in conflict (and drives me crazy)).

Additionally, it hasn't really helped Morty grow very much. He is still the whiny bit- *ahem* boy- err adult, he is thirty-five - he was at the start of the game. Want to have a three way? "Oh- geez, oh man- I can't, but I need the points!" just feels, bad. Because as a player, that isn't how I feel in that moment.

And sure, okay, that was fine at the start, but now his response to a three way should be: "...*Zip*" (side note: I am painfully aware a lot of the pregnancy talk falls into this category as well, and it is something I want to go improve at some point)

So, I don't really like the app as a plot device. To quote a reviewer I really enjoy: "It's this misdirection of what the player should care about that really bothers me." As a player, I don't care about points in the app. I don't care about going home. I care about the girls, their stories, and their interactions. I care about Morty and his struggle. (And I care about the sex, because, well, porn game...)

All that being said, while I have no special insight on where Ferdafs is headed with anything (they obviously don't tell me their future plans (if they have them)), that isn't to say I don't have a plan with the story I want to tell. I know what endings I want to put in (in addition to whatever we get, when we get there). I know where I want to go with the (hated) app. I know future moments I'd love to have for certain characters. And I've already snuck in (a lot) my own additional plot points for future stories.

My goal with this project has always been to improve, not just adapt (hard to say if I really have improved it (and some players would say I've ruined it, but w/e, can't please everyone)). As always, with a big asterisks, I don't want to stray so far off the story path Ferdafs is already telling, and most of my plans are flexible enough (I think/hope) to work within the existing story. But, I do have a lot of story I still want to tell.

FUCK I FORGOT ABOUT THE BROTHEL nevermind

also i think i might be weird in the sense that i do very much care about morty "going home" (even though im not sure whether morty wants that anymore) this is because im obsessed with the idea of "winning" in games: i see an objective of some kind, and i go crazy trying to achieve it. i never got the impression that morty was at all unenthusiastic about the sex (to me it felt like he was very happy abt it, similarly to the player ), so you did a good job of removing that aspect lol

even if he doesn't want to leave this dimension (bc as players we don't because.... ahem, entirely sfw reasons), i think maybe morty is (partially) driven by having the option to do so. being trapped in a strange world and unable to return home is scary because it removes the element of choice. even if you'd choose to stay, it still creates a feeling of powerlessness that's very real for an 18-year-old boy (or 14, or 35, or 69 or whatever age).

 

[Night Mirror]

Slicing completed! (sort of...)

Holy shit, I finished the primary slicing... I- I can't honestly believe it... My brain just won't accept that it's done... I'm sitting here, looking at my task list and thinking... that was 300 hours of my life wasted...

There is still a lot more to do. The images may be cut up, but the game sure as hell won't play those scenes (yet). So, 55 scenes to re-implement back in (Weeks 3 and 4). Then test (and I'm sure they will have errors), and fix, and stuff, so yeah, still a lot of work ahead. (and then maybe on to blinks, but I'm thinking they are a r3.7 task...)

I did want to share some preliminary sizes though (the main purpose of all of this):

1. Uncompressed, images: 1.66GB, down from 6.25GB
2. Compressed, images: MED quality 300MB, down from LOW 622MB.
3. (Video files unchanged but for a completeness: 586MB LOW quality and 808MB MED quality)

So, the current plan stands thus, with r3.6, the main download will be the compressed version with MED quality images, and LOW quality video files, for a size of something around ~1GB (new content tends to be about 150MB after slicing and compression). Individual, optional downloads will be included for Uncompressed Images (~1.7-1.8GB with new content is my guess), and MED compressed Video files (0.9GB - 1GB with new content).

Anyhow... back to work...

 

[Night Mirror]

also i think i might be weird in the sense that i do very much care about morty "going home"...

I think it's very reasonable to want a story conclusion (going home, or staying, or whatever else might happen). My point (if I ever had one) was that, the goal of "going home" isn't what motivates most players to keep clicking into the next line of text. My choices in game aren't focused on achieving that task. Which isn't great for a goal.

i never got the impression that morty was at all unenthusiastic about the sex (to me it felt like he was very happy abt it, similarly to the player ), so you did a good job of removing that aspect lol

Yay! I'm glad to hear that. I have changed so much text, trying my best to dial back Morty's reluctance without crippling the story. While still not perfect (it will never be perfect...), I do feel like it is an improvement? But, I mean, always hard to tell from the inside.

 

[genericbutcoolname]

I think it's very reasonable to want a story conclusion (going home, or staying, or whatever else might happen). My point (if I ever had one) was that, the goal of "going home" isn't what motivates most players to keep clicking into the next line of text.

whaaaaaaaaat that's ridiculous. clearly we're all playing the game strictly for the purpose of helping this poor boy go home. the sex is merely something we put up with obviously

 

[wibbled]

A couple of things spring to mind, regarding the app and going "home" ... in the TV show, Rick and Morty abandon their original (might not be) dimension, after the Cronenberg incident. I add "might not be", because we just don't know how many times Rick has switched dimensions. In season 5, we are led to believe that the original Beth is dead, and hence Rick has already switched once, possibly more than once. Also, the game/VN confuses me slightly when it does the wild Summer story. Wild Summer talks about how "her" Morty abandoned her, which implies that the Morty in game, is not the same as the TV show ... or is he, but he is not telling her for obvious reasons? Also, in the TV show Morty tells (not Cronenberg dimension) Summer that he is from another dimension, that her original Morty is buried in the backyard, which leads to one of my favourite quotes from the show ...

"I’m better than your brother. I’m a version of your brother you can trust when he says 'Don’t run'. Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s gonna die. Come watch TV?"

 

[kenta16807]

The goal in the original seems to have shifted away from going home.

Now, as it should be, the goal is Jessica.(..and maybe a new mattress)

Morty doesn't care which one, if he had the money he would be stuck in the brothel forever.

I've found myself prefering NM's version over Unity, it's more R34 if that makes sense ?

The '300 hours wasted'...we all do what we have to do to stay sane, most people watch TV...

 

[wibbled]

... most people watch TV...

What kind of Luddite are you, watching TV?! I hope you at least have interdimensional cable, as terrestrial TV mostly sucks these days.

From my absurdist nihilist perspective, nothing we do has any long-lasting meaning or merit. We are just passing time until our consciousness once again ceases to exist ... BUT ... if you create temporary meaning for yourself and others, at least you are making the best of it by making something out of nothing. I've "wasted" hours/days/weeks/years on worse things. This game/VN gives me a lot of pleasure, so to me that has meaning, and is not a waste. SO, I do appreciate and thank you for time Night Mirror. If nothing else, it keeps you (me/us) off the streets.

 

[kenta16807]

...interdimensional cable...

Mostly watches youtube these days, basically the same thing...

Does terrestial transmissions still exist ? I thought it was all 'fiber' these days.

Had to look up luddite, still didn't get the reference...not as good at English as I thought

 

[wibbled]

Mostly watches youtube these days, basically the same thing...

Does terrestial transmissions still exist ? I thought it was all 'fiber' these days.

Had to look up luddite, still didn't get the reference...not as good at English as I thought

TBH, I still have access to terrestrial TV and occasionally watch it, but like most people these days, I watch content online. In the UK, at least, terrestrial transmission is still a thing, although it's now broadcast digitally. To pick the signal up, one needs an aerial, not cable/fibre.

Luddite is an old term that is generally applied to people that are not keen on new technology. I'm joking, when I call you it. I do have a friend, a mature guy, who has an ancient crappy laptop and crappy phone, and has only really been using the internet for just over a year. I occasionally rib him, by calling him a Luddite. He deserves it, though.

 

[Night Mirror]

Also, the game/VN confuses me slightly when it does the wild Summer story. Wild Summer talks about how "her" Morty abandoned her, which implies that the Morty in game, is not the same as the TV show ... or is he, but he is not telling her for obvious reasons?

We know that the Morty in the game is not the same one from the show, for two big reasons: first at the start of the Wild Summer event, he says that he and Rick left when they were still bug monsters, not Cronenbergs (this is from the Unity game, and maintained in the Renpy version). Secondly, a LOT more things have happened to show Morty that simply cannot happen to game Morty at this point. Planetina is a good example of this with a show like sequence, but, different.

Again, I can't speak to Ferdafs intent, but I can say that the Renpy Morty isn't C-137. He technically isn't even the same Morty from the Unity game. I think of him as an alternate dimension version of Unity Morty. Similar, but different (as Rick says right at the start of the Renpy game).

I don't like to give spoilers on future story, but I will drop a hint as to a few lines already in game that I don't think (at least I don't recall) anyone has noticed/pointed out. I won't say what the lines are, or what they will lead to, but there are three scenes to possibly look over again: The start of the first Wild Summer event (before meeting her). The start of the Wild Summer Revenge event, before Wild Summer and Morty go back to her home dimension. And Spying Summers (before they start spying). What does any of that mean? For you all to debate... if you want or care...

"I’m better than your brother. I’m a version of your brother you can trust when he says 'Don’t run'. Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s gonna die. Come watch TV?"

Also my favorite quote of the show. In fact, this was the moment I knew the show was going to be for me. Up until this point I was iffy on it, but once they did this scene, saying yes, what we do will matter, it won't just be one off episodics, I became much more interested in the series.

 

[Kane_Freeman]

Also my favorite quote of the show. In fact, this was the moment I knew the show was going to be for me. Up until this point I was iffy on it, but once they did this scene, saying yes, what we do will matter, it won't just be one off episodics, I became much more interested in the series.

That's one of my favorite lines, too. But my number one favorite is: "When you know nothing matters the universe is yours."

 

[genericbutcoolname]

my favorite is "lick, lick, lick my balls"

 

[wibbled]

We know that the Morty in the game is not the same one from the show, for two big reasons: first at the start of the Wild Summer event, he says that he and Rick left when they were still bug monsters, not Cronenbergs (this is from the Unity game, and maintained in the Renpy version). Secondly, a LOT more things have happened to show Morty that simply cannot happen to game Morty at this point. Planetina is a good example of this with a show like sequence, but, different.

Again, I can't speak to Ferdafs intent, but I can say that the Renpy Morty isn't C-137. He technically isn't even the same Morty from the Unity game. I think of him as an alternate dimension version of Unity Morty. Similar, but different (as Rick says right at the start of the Renpy game).

I don't like to give spoilers on future story, but I will drop a hint as to a few lines already in game that I don't think (at least I don't recall) anyone has noticed/pointed out. I won't say what the lines are, or what they will lead to, but there are three scenes to possibly look over again: The start of the first Wild Summer event (before meeting her). The start of the Wild Summer Revenge event, before Wild Summer and Morty go back to her home dimension. And Spying Summers (before they start spying). What does any of that mean? For you all to debate... if you want or care...


Also my favorite quote of the show. In fact, this was the moment I knew the show was going to be for me. Up until this point I was iffy on it, but once they did this scene, saying yes, what we do will matter, it won't just be one off episodics, I became much more interested in the series.

Yea, definitely not the same Morty, but I'm used to the identity confusion from the TV show, so it doesn't bother me. The game Morty is still "our" Morty.

I don't have time to replay the scenes you mention, but I definitely will later, and see what I can spot.

my favorite is "lick, lick, lick my balls"

Haha, it reminds me of one of my fav lines from season 5 ...



... also, Summer in a tight wetsuit ... WOOF!!!

 

[genericbutcoolname]

can i mention how much fascist dimension summer kicks ass. she's smart and strong enough to start a whole rebellion and she hates nazis enough to betray both her parents for it. also she looks super hot in the outfit AND her lines are awesome. best minor character imo

 

[genericbutcoolname]

omg omg is this the clue for before we meet summer (either that or the "signal interference"? suspicious suspicious)

 

[Night Mirror]

can i mention how much fascist dimension summer kicks ass

I think Summer has so much potential that the show very much under utilizes. When we do get glimpse of her true nature (possibly with the potential to be as smart as Rick (instead of disinterested teenager)), she can be a total badass. See s3e2: "Rickmancing the Stone", which has the line "Just kill me...", "Okay, but not because you told me to.". Or s5e1 "Mort dinner Rick Andre" where she (in the background) fights/kills her way to get the magic conch (also, side note, I really, really, dislike the episode names all forcing Rick and Morty into the titles).

Keeping on theme for the rest of this reply, in the Rick and Morty comics (yes, that is how much of a nerd for this series I am, is anyone really that surprised?) she has some truly great moments that certainly elevated her character (for me at least). Sadly this game doesn't give any version of her that much extra to do beyond sex with Morty, but she still has a few good moments.

omg omg is this the clue for before we meet summer (either that or the "signal interference"? suspicious suspicious)

No, but you did find a very (very (very)) subtle Easter Egg. This one is an insanely obscure and is not (at least I don't plan for it to be) NOT plot centric. The reference Rick is making here is to the story in Lost Legends where Mabel falls through a portal into a universe full of herself,. A few lines before that Rick says "Are there a bunch of other Mortys standing around you?". As I said, I have scattered references to Gravity Falls throughout the game, and this is one of them.