sorry for the length in advance..
Well, the last episode of Secret Summer played, and, in the books, I say the game over all was a great game I looked forward to each episode. I see some liked it and many felt let down by the end scenes. I totally understand this mixed feeling coming from the fans/critics, Dev explained that the end was what it is. And possibility of expansion stories may come from it.
I think the novel became boring and cumbersome to work on. Based on the endings. As you can see the ends were almost there but not quite. But the buildup was, well Great. While I add possible ways, I would end them below it would all be gratuitous pandering to over play a game, that had an in-game time of only a summer long 3 months. So, I understand it was time to end the game. Just a quick thought in fantasy dreams worlds the time is irrelevant. The writer dictates the passing of time. And in this game, it truly did not follow any time in reality. Irene is already showing like she is near the end of the pregnancy yet she is in her first trimester that baby is going to be big lol.
I do feel a simple 2 or 3 renders would have closed the individual ends up a little better. With a couple hundred words. I think what most people are missing and why they are saying the endings are flat is because there is no image of what is next for them. Most paths end just leaving the future hanging out in nothing with no real possibility given to the reader of what is next. dev missed that part the reader needs, if it was there you would want to play the game again and again. Instead, you are left feeling let down. The reader is left to imagine the ending from a place with no direction established.
Nora, for example. Ending it at the climax where we can go raw and that is the last we see of her! All right after conveying a lager plot was possibly planed. This kind of put me out on the end it was like binge watching a new favorite show and after 3 seasons gets canceled mid-season. No cliffhanger or Shane riding off into the sunset. I would have preferred another scene with her. it did end on a high note and intimacy. But why add the “mafia” scene at the bakery if you were not going to use it. The scene added suspense but was not needed to end her path. Her ending needed one that brought all the ladies together and this would have helped the other endings as that brings the summer to a close with everyone together Bar-B-Que. One last pool bikini scene.
Coral, sure the game she and the Mc played “they won” but the buildup was better than the end the challenges had actual game scenes in them so we could feel we were in it with them but the ending of her path was a true let down even the sex was rushed it almost felt like the reader (Mc) was on the outside looking in. Its was the first time I felt I was watching the game instead of being immersed in it. not actually part of this path we should have had renders of game play instead of fuzzy screen and the special prize would have been better if the script had them showing the sim game and getting the mentorship to take it further maybe a scholarship for Coral in graphic design. The game just left her hanging out there like in limbo frozen in time. There was no future to imagine here just WTF comes to mind here is how it was left.
Leanne, her path played out very well (for me), as fans always want more, I would maybe ended it with a future scene of her maybe in a nutcracker play maybe Christmas in July special would have been good a close for her. Or possibly MC sending her off to school with a render from the classroom where she is getting instruction. But her end felt more complete than all the others.
Zoe, Her path ended how I think everyone watching a bad guy movie knows how it should end. the bad guy just gave in the end. I think dev was too light on the script for the Dom Sub script. Too lovely not enough Dom as the script said the Mc read up on it, he was too soft as a Dom. The start was great but his follow through was weak her requesting the punishment is not being a Sub. better option was to spank her ass for punishment then F**k it. That would have been better than the anal scene which was a great lover scene not a Dom/Sub scene. The way the script goes, it was a reward. and I would have used the safe word in the bathroom to get out of telling her or so no punishment making the rest of the script fit correctly.
Irene, I guess it would be very hard to get a good render with them in the waterfall dreamscape of the future. I would have the crib scene here and a second pregnancy with a child in the crib.
All, after each one ended their path, I would have brought them all together for one last scene and had a summer is over party with all the characters saying thank you to the fans. Kink a like a small family reunion. “See you in our next adventure”
I know its not my game, but I needed an end that had meaning not just hung out to dry all alone. I like to feel part of the world the devs create and I was in this game all they way until I felt lost on how to move on in the game from each ending. Dev this one needs you to revisit it after a season do the short you mentioned bounce back and fourth between a few writings build a game to completion while building one you publish like this one you stat as good as this was in the beginning and find a way to keep our attention once its complete you will reach a level only a few have reached