Ren'Py Star Channel 34 [Ep. 12] [Akabur]

[MarkKZ]

For any project that steps into the realm of art (Yes, porn games count as art; fight me bitch), there is never a truly objective measure of quality. Everyone has their preferences, and that included in system design. Shocking as it may be to some people, there are people out there who like a degree of grind in their games. Still others who might not like it, but might feel having to go through that to reach the 'objective' adds to anticipation and, for better or worse, that does change the experience.

The other person's response to you mentioned this as well, but if you're going to attempt to take some sort of objective measure of a game's quality, but you base it only on volume of CGs, Scenes, or lines of original script, then you will find near unlimited CG galleries on the Sad Panda that score far higher by those metrics than most actual games would. If you don't care about the game systems and other interactive parts of these games, then I just don't think this format is the right one for you.

Well, I don't care if you like or don't like this game. Play what you like, don't play what you don't. I haven't played it yet so I can't say what I think of it myself, just that your reasoning seemed quite off.

"systems and other interactive parts of these games..." What "systems?" What "Interactive parts"? You press a shittily designed UI over and over until you get enough currency to progress. Then you read a scene, maybe get a new cg, which isn't at all different from these 'unlimited cg galleries' you mentioned (which btw usually come from games, which are both more well written than this, and are sometimes more interactive too, in the sense they have branching stories based on your choices, while this one's completely linear). I don't mind some grind either, but this game just took it to a whole new record where even cheat engine barely helps due to just how bad the UI is and how often many dialogues repeat which you can't speed up or skip.

There ARE different tastes in art and preferences, but ANYTHING, which includes art too, still has objective standards as well, if people are progressively more used to shitty quality in anything, doesn't mean that shitty quality now suddenly became normal and is 'just a difference in taste'. And if a person plays a game by the same person, that functions more or less in the same way, but the new one wasn't nearly as enjoyable because they had to grind way more and listen/watch the same scene a thousand times over and waste hours on simply confusing buttons, or trying to figure out what part of the 20 duplicate buttons to press to get to the required place, buttons that also change from episode to episode, it doesn't mean the game is just not for them, it means there's just too much fucking extra grinding, repeating scenes, and bad ui.

Because again, there's not that much difference between this and princess trainer as far as the game concept goes, except the latter is made with a map that makes much more sense, the ui is way more comfortable, fast and accessible, the skip/fast forward button ACTUALLY WORKS, there's less grind, less repeating dialogue, and the skip button works in that grind and dialogue as well so you get through the scenes way faster too. Oh, and the balance of scenes/cgi to time played is way better too. These are all OBJECTIVE measures which have nothing to do with tastes and preferences, well, i guess unless you have that super rare kink for shitty UI.

 

[JasNom]

As you say, there are different tastes and I don't dispute your opinion, but for me it was an awesome experience. I've started to play the game shortly before Akabur delivered the last episode and I enjoyed every bit of it. From the UI design I can only say I like the way it works and I learned a lot, watching the development of the UI from episode 1 to 12. Also the quality Akabur is delivering is in my opinion always top. The grinding experience could have been lessened by an automated scheduling system for the dancers that would setup all girls not on a mission and with a certain stress threshold, so that the player could keep pressing forward without going into the trouble to set the dancers every round... but for this one weakness I can't rate it as a bad game.

 

[cxx]

automation would work if girls wouldn't get tired so there should be if girl's tiredness is above x then no show etc for next x days and that could delay advancing.

 

[F1forhalp]

wait did i get this right, he's complaining about not being able to use cheat engine?

 

[kark]

Is the game abandoned?
With all my respect to akabur's supports, i hope its abandoned.
Its no really like the game is bad, if you dont count how slow is the development, but it does no feel as good as his other games and i swear i dont have a preference for Jasmine or Hermione. I think its because the story is no focused and there are too many mouths to feed (aka girls), actually, even the story itself looks like a mess, at first, it was some kind of tv show to watch famous girls doing dirty things and them it tuned into some weird harem game in the space with that girls.

Honestly, i didnt play Witch trainer since a year or more but i still can hear in my mind the background music. In another hand, i actually forgot this game even exists until, for some reason, i decided to visit akabur patreon and then i remember this game.

Edited: i said "i hope its abandoned" because i would rather him to stop wasting time here and just go to another project in which he does no repeat this mistake.

 

[Hendrik07]

Is the game abandoned?
With all my respect to akabur's supports, i hope its abandoned.
Its no really like the game is bad, if you dont count how slow is the development, but it does no feel as good as his other games and i swear i dont have a preference for Jasmine or Hermione. I think its because the story is no focused and there are too many mouths to feed (aka girls), actually, even the story itself looks like a mess, at first, it was some kind of tv show to watch famous girls doing dirty things and them it tuned into some weird harem game in the space with that girls.

Honestly, i didnt play Witch trainer since a year or more but i still can hear in my mind the background music. In another hand, i actually forgot this game even exists until, for some reason, i decided to visit akabur patreon and then i remember this game.

Edited: i said "i hope its abandoned" because i would rather him to stop wasting time here and just go to another project in which he does no repeat this mistake.

It isn't really abandoned, the first part of the game is complete. He might come back to this one day to continue the story but he's currently working on a different game which is set in Agrabah but it's not entirely clear to me whether it's a direct sequel to princess trainer.

 

[Loosecannon308]

Is the game abandoned?
With all my respect to akabur's supports, i hope its abandoned.
Its no really like the game is bad, if you dont count how slow is the development, but it does no feel as good as his other games and i swear i dont have a preference for Jasmine or Hermione. I think its because the story is no focused and there are too many mouths to feed (aka girls), actually, even the story itself looks like a mess, at first, it was some kind of tv show to watch famous girls doing dirty things and them it tuned into some weird harem game in the space with that girls.

Honestly, i didnt play Witch trainer since a year or more but i still can hear in my mind the background music. In another hand, i actually forgot this game even exists until, for some reason, i decided to visit akabur patreon and then i remember this game.

Edited: i said "i hope its abandoned" because i would rather him to stop wasting time here and just go to another project in which he does no repeat this mistake.

I would say it’s not abandoned, it’s finished. He gave the vague promise that maybe he’ll do a sequel in the future, but I doubt it. I don’t speak for all creators, but whenever I work for a really long time on a project, once it’s finally finished I want to move on to other things. I suspect that’s how he’s feeling too.

 

[darkdepths]

I would say it’s not abandoned, it’s finished. He gave the vague promise that maybe he’ll do a sequel in the future, but I doubt it. I don’t speak for all creators, but whenever I work for a really long time on a project, once it’s finally finished I want to move on to other things. I suspect that’s how he’s feeling too.

I also don't think he will go back to the game.
Akabur took a little break from it in the past when he decided to make Mating season, imo that was already an indicator that he was getting tired of Star channel.

Personally I would be happy if he completely abandons SC34, the first few episodes were exciting but latter the story and pacing were all over the place. It seemed more like a sandbox where he played around with some ideas instead of making a coherent game.

I prefer his focused trainer games, these are the ones where his Wittling, humor and artwork really shines.


At the same time I would have loved to see a different setting than Agrabah.
An Ashlyn trainer would be nice or maybe even more exotic - he did make Simpsons artwork in the past after all.^^
hmm, Marge Simpsons trainer would be something.

 

[cxx]

this was quite trainer too since needed to get girls to do more lewd things.

 

[Loosecannon308]

I also don't think he will go back to the game.
Akabur took a little break from it in the past when he decided to make Mating season, imo that was already an indicator that he was getting tired of Star channel.

Personally I would be happy if he completely abandons SC34, the first few episodes were exciting but latter the story and pacing were all over the place. It seemed more like a sandbox where he played around with some ideas instead of making a coherent game.

I prefer his focused trainer games, these are the ones where his Wittling, humor and artwork really shines.


At the same time I would have loved to see a different setting than Agrabah.
An Ashlyn trainer would be nice or maybe even more exotic - he did make Simpsons artwork in the past after all.^^
hmm, Marge Simpsons trainer would be something.

I admit that of his work, SC34 was my favorite. I liked Witch Trainer but mostly the Silver Studios version. And try as I might, the whole Aladdin theme isn’t my thing. I’d love another SC34, although I agree that at a certain point, the updates sort of deviated from what I initially loved about the game, though I can’t explain why.

An Ashelin trainer… now that would be something. She was my favorite part of the whole game— corrupting a bad ass soldier chick. I’d definitely be in favor of something like that.

 

[TheDevian]

I admit that of his work, SC34 was my favorite. I liked Witch Trainer but mostly the Silver Studios version. And try as I might, the whole Aladdin theme isn’t my thing. I’d love another SC34, although I agree that at a certain point, the updates sort of deviated from what I initially loved about the game, though I can’t explain why.

An Ashelin trainer… now that would be something. She was my favorite part of the whole game— corrupting a bad ass soldier chick. I’d definitely be in favor of something like that.

Yeah, Ashe was my favorite from this one too.

That said, some of the things he said he has planned for Queen Trainer do sound interesting at least.

 

[triple_aaa]

Okay does anyone has guides for the game? Started playing it today and Jasmine stress is at 100%. She can't do jobs if her stress at 100% no? General guide is welcome too.

 

[Conrad-N7]

i really love the old april design especially with his art style... pretty sad there wont be more of her anymore. pretty much my main reason for playing this lol

 

[TheDevian]

Okay does anyone has guides for the game? Started playing it today and Jasmine stress is at 100%. She can't do jobs if her stress at 100% no? General guide is welcome too.

Just give her time off. If you don't make her work 24/7, she won't be stressed.

 

[cxx]

Okay does anyone has guides for the game? Started playing it today and Jasmine stress is at 100%. She can't do jobs if her stress at 100% no? General guide is welcome too.

just let her rest and other humanoid girls too, if in need of money put l.o.l.a on booth.

 

[privitude]

I would say it’s not abandoned, it’s finished. He gave the vague promise that maybe he’ll do a sequel in the future, but I doubt it. I don’t speak for all creators, but whenever I work for a really long time on a project, once it’s finally finished I want to move on to other things. I suspect that’s how he’s feeling too.

Did he say it's done? Shouldn't this thread have the completed tag?

 

[TheDevian]

Did he say it's done? Shouldn't this thread have the completed tag?

Part one is done now, anyway. He started a new game (Queen Trainer), and may or may not come back to this one.

 

[cxx]

Part one is done now, anyway. He started a new game (Queen Trainer), and may or may not come back to this one.

"started". not much has happened since beginning.

 

[TheDevian]

"started". not much has happened since beginning.

Starting to make a new game takes time.

 

[cxx]

Starting to make a new game takes time.

and in akabur's case that time is multiplied.