Recommending Story-first games

[realjitter]

"Fun fact" about HTFTF, it's been a while, but I do remember someone in the HTFTF thread mentioning that the game is based off of some tv series. Unfortunately I can't recall the name of it, but I remember watching the first episode. And indeed, this game is based on that show. The "funny" thing was that the show was even more out there than the game. For example, at the very beginning after the "MC" won the video game he celebrated by jerking off (no joke). Not only that, when he's about to climax the 2 future people show up and he jizzes all over one of them . I only watched the first episode though....

 

[MrPocketRocket]

"Fun fact" about HTFTF, it's been a while, but I do remember someone in the HTFTF thread mentioning that the game is based off of some tv series. Unfortunately I can't recall the name of it, but I remember watching the first episode. And indeed, this game is based on that show. The "funny" thing was that the show was even more out there than the game. For example, at the very beginning after the "MC" won the video game he celebrated by jerking off (no joke). Not only that, when he's about to climax the 2 future people show up and he jizzes all over one of them . I only watched the first episode though....

Crap! I know exactly which show you are talking about! I have an acquaintance that worked on it. Future Man, right?

 

[jufot]

Did anyone play 2 Sides? I know it's unusual for me to recommend an incest game, but this one has a lot going for it in a way we don't really see in AVNs.

As the name implies, the game is from the POV of two protagonists and you play each chapter twice, once from each perspective. Early on they spend most of their time together, so the differences are minor, but in later chapters we get entire distinct storylines. It's an innovative mechanic used to great effect.

What's it about, then? Mike and Gwen are siblings with a four-year age gap. She is adopted. While studying at uni, they realize they have feelings for each other and passionate young love ensues. That's where things go off the usual AVN script.

As young, inexperienced lovers are wont to do, Mike proposes after only 4 months and she says yes. Fate has other plans, though, as they receive life altering news and the relationship implodes immediately.

After that, they spend more than a year apart, with no contact and completely separate social circles. They get into other, sexual relationships. Yes, even Gwen! How rare is that?

As you might expect, the game thread is full of incel types screeching about NTR, even though you can't have NTR with people who are not in a relationship. Luckily for me, the dev seems entirely unfazed by the peanut gallery, so I'm looking forward to chapter 4!

Does that sound interesting to anyone?

 

[Cskin Games]

I can tell you exactly why it hasn't gotten any attention. Most players don't bother with first few versions of a game, no matter what, and they look at the size of the file to gauge how much content there is...small file, don't bother. (Yes, it is, I'm afraid, my reality too

Yes, but also no. What you're saying is definitely not wrong, but "marketing" (which was touched on in previous posts) plays a huge part in it.

Being able to !!ACCURATELY!! describe your game (So no lying to draw people in!), in a way that also makes it sound appealing, is difficult. It's even more difficult when you try to build slow-burn games, because you don't want to "give it away".

I know it's something I struggle with... (I've actually considered paying people just to come up with something for me!). I've seen some really great games get almost no attention - and a lot of it is how the game is presented - meanwhile I've seen steaming piles of trash get TONS, because they were good at making people go "Oh, ok I'll try that".

Some day I'll figure out the secret. I might even share it, so others don't share my struggle! But I've definitely seen a lot of new devs struggle with the same thing - they make something, it's not half bad, it just gets lost in the shuffle. It sucks, because every now and then you see promising games get abandoned for that reason.

 

[realjitter]

Does that sound interesting to anyone?

Gonna check it out if you say it's different. Is the whole story based around them getting together or are there other options?

 

[MrPocketRocket]

Yes, but also no. What you're saying is definitely not wrong, but "marketing" (which was touched on in previous posts) plays a huge part in it.

Oh, this will be fun. I'm 100% right in my statement. But you are not wrong. There is definitely effort that needs to be put in for a v0.1 to get any traction. Most are second games of known devs. Much like any media, you need good word of mouth and I am certain that you can mold that to some degree...with the right backing. Get a couple of the reddit list makers to put you in their top tier, have drpinkcake promo you (that might be the biggest expense).
Just to be clear, I fully agree with you and am not trying to start something...my war, it seems is on other fronts

 

[jufot]

Is the whole story based around them getting together or are there other options?

It's a kinetic novel.

 

[HogRocket]

Nevard Good start for a new dev and has me intrigued for more. Not sure why it hasn't more attention. A modern fantasy with interesting world building. I find the characters interesting as well.

I finished this one not even 5 minutes ago. Completely agree with you. Looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

 

[camube]

I can tell you exactly why it hasn't gotten any attention. Most players don't bother with first few versions of a game, no matter what, and they look at the size of the file to gauge how much content there is...small file, don't bother. (Yes, it is, I'm afraid, my reality too

I'm like that, 100%.

Unless i have a shit ton of free time, at which point, then sure, i'll play version 0.2. But other than that, say from next year, where i don't see myself as having that much free time, I don't see myself playing 0.1 or 0.2 unless:

1) it's highly reviewed. Number of reviews doesn't matter as much as what the review says
or 2) highly weighted rating on f95 ranking (pretty rare for new renpy games)
or the easiest 3) wisdom of the crowd from patreon number
If I see the game has high patreon number then I do check it out. I probably would never check out desert stalker had i not see it has around 1000 patrons.

Since I use Latest Updates, 4) good title and then good banner is also needed.
Second most important is 5) a good, concise and brief overview. Explain the game clearly in less than several sentences.

Deluca Family is an example of brief overview that isn't good, cuz it doesn't illustrate that the game would have eccentric characters

Projekt Passion is an example of a good overview that isn't brief. It does illustrate that the game would probably be funny.

Seeking Closure is an example of an overview that is neither brief nor good. Despite the game's characters being pretty interesting.

As for why I don't play 0.1 or 0.2 unless i have shit ton of time it's because i don't have confidence the dev won't just drop and abandon the game. Since i play for the story, having a game "cancelled" suck. It becomes a waste of time in hindsight when that happen.

At least if i play 0.4 or 0.5, the game should have reached a point where even if it's still far from finished, it's satisfyingly digestible in isolation.

 

[Deleted member 2577953]

It's an innovative mechanic used to great effect.

Yes, even Gwen! How rare is that?

Good mechanics, and the LI/MCs having a life outside of each other?

I'm sold.

Will try it out today and share my thoughts.

 

[jufot]

Good mechanics, and the LI/MCs having a life outside of each other?

Yes, they are not even in the same country, let alone a relationship, for large stretches of time.

I hope you'll enjoy it

 

[EndlessNights]

How to Fix the Future I have never been able to get into. The base premise is quite good. But I can't get over the start where they just treat him like shit when they are depending on him to save the world.

I feel similarly about HtFtF. The MC was straight-up kidnapped and yanked away from his old life. Saving the future is a noble goal, but it was a role that was very much imposed on the protagonist. He wasn't asked or convinced -- he was forced and basically enslaved. I've always felt he should hold some resentment towards the people responsible and approach the game with that mindset, but it doesn't seem to really be a supported or anticipated way to play. For instance, Cathy is very much presented as a main LI despite her direct role in the kidnapping. I've ended up playing a MC who feels pretty alienated from most of the cast because even Chloe and BJ don't seem to miss their old lives much.

It's also one of those games where sex scenes are very abrupt and often happen before any real connection has been established between the characters. It's not a harem game to my knowledge, but it doesn't feel much like romance most of the time either because the relationships are very thin so far.

Nonetheless, I'll stick with it. I'm a sucker for science fiction, and like you said the premise is good albeit not startlingly original. One thing I do appreciate about the game is the dev's ambition. He isn't afraid of weaving serious themes like war, violence against trans women, poverty, and tyranny into his work. The treatment of those topics can be a bit clumsy at times, but I still appreciate the effort to tell a story that isn't just about people who barely know each other having sex.

Did anyone play 2 Sides? I know it's unusual for me to recommend an incest game, but this one has a lot going for it in a way we don't really see in AVNs.

Does that sound interesting to anyone?

That one is a really hard sell for me. The primary enjoyment I get from playing incest games comes from desperately trying to keep family members from banging. Sometimes, against all odds, I manage to succeed though you never know when new, secret relatives will come out of the woodwork à la Chasing Sunsets. Knowing the game is kinetic and the incest predetermined just seems like it would sap all the joy out of the experience for me.

Do you really think there's a chance the brother and sister won't end up getting back together? On the surface, it sounds to me like a really standard romance story where the two people meant to be together are separated from each other by cruel circumstance and misunderstandings. They might temporarily find comfort with other people, but it's just not the same. Something is always going to be missing because they're not with the person they're really supposed to be with. How could they truly be happy being with someone they're not even related to, after all?

Is there a plausible reason for why the two got together in the first place? If them being (presumed) stepsiblings rather than biological siblings has anything to do with it, I'm already irked without even downloading the game. I'm so sick of family relationships in AVNs being reduced down to blood and genetics as if a shared past of growing up together and a prior platonic familial relationship mean absolutely nothing.

 

[Slick Bean]

PLease be mindful nobody asked Tom Cruise what he felt when the alien time jumping goo spilled on him.
Also, most of the actual working hard people tom Cruise enslaves in Minority Report have literally never even considered any
of the so called violent crimes they are being yanked outta their lives outta, para military kill squad style.
Third but not least, Moon Knight antagonist literally yanks souls outta the bodies of people who have never sinned even.

I feel similarly about HtFtF. The MC was straight-up kidnapped and yanked away from his old life. Saving the future is a noble goal, but it was a role that was very much imposed on the protagonist. He wasn't asked or convinced -- he was forced and basically enslaved. I've always felt he should hold some resentment towards the people responsible and approach the game with that mindset, but it doesn't seem to really be a supported or anticipated way to play. For instance, Cathy is very much presented as a main LI despite her direct role in the kidnapping. I've ended up playing a MC who feels pretty alienated from most of the cast because even Chloe and BJ don't seem to miss their old lives much.

The part of that game that irks you is accepted and cellebrated in wildly sucessful blockbuster productions,
two of those are Tom Cruise -chosen one- male protagonist sole possible savior of the world is Tom Cruise action movies.

 

[Sidartha_6]

Did anyone play 2 Sides? I know it's unusual for me to recommend an incest game, but this one has a lot going for it in a way we don't really see in AVNs.

As the name implies, the game is from the POV of two protagonists and you play each chapter twice, once from each perspective. Early on they spend most of their time together, so the differences are minor, but in later chapters we get entire distinct storylines. It's an innovative mechanic used to great effect.

What's it about, then? Mike and Gwen are siblings with a four-year age gap. She is adopted. While studying at uni, they realize they have feelings for each other and passionate young love ensues. That's where things go off the usual AVN script.

As young, inexperienced lovers are wont to do, Mike proposes after only 4 months and she says yes. Fate has other plans, though, as they receive life altering news and the relationship implodes immediately.

After that, they spend more than a year apart, with no contact and completely separate social circles. They get into other, sexual relationships. Yes, even Gwen! How rare is that?

As you might expect, the game thread is full of incel types screeching about NTR, even though you can't have NTR with people who are not in a relationship. Luckily for me, the dev seems entirely unfazed by the peanut gallery, so I'm looking forward to chapter 4!

Does that sound interesting to anyone?

Wasn't the girl adopted from Southeast Asia or something like that when she was little or was there a blood connection between her and the son in the family?

 

[jufot]

Saving the future is a noble goal, but it was a role that was very much imposed on the protagonist. He wasn't asked or convinced -- he was forced and basically enslaved. I've always felt he should hold some resentment towards the people responsible and approach the game with that mindset, but it doesn't seem to really be a supported or anticipated way to play. For instance, Cathy is very much presented as a main LI despite her direct role in the kidnapping. I've ended up playing a MC who feels pretty alienated from most of the cast because even Chloe and BJ don't seem to miss their old lives much.

This is my primary complaint as well, so I play accordingly. My MC is never nice to Octavia and her zealots. That includes Liu, Cathy, and Olga. I am nice to BJ (who has a reason to be nice), Chloe (who only seems to have fun), Riley (who hates the whole thing) and Daisy (who has no involvement).

The primary enjoyment I get from playing incest games comes from desperately trying to keep family members from banging.

That's a worthy goal, though I reckon you're tilting at windmills. If it helps, I also don't want them to get back together (spoilers).

Do you really think there's a chance the brother and sister won't end up getting back together?

No. As I said, it's a kinetic novel.

They might temporarily find comfort with other people, but it's just not the same. Something is always going to be missing because they're not with the person they're really supposed to be with. How could they truly be happy being with someone they're not even related to, after all?

How indeed

Is there a plausible reason for why the two got together in the first place? If them being (presumed) stepsiblings rather than biological siblings has anything to do with it, I'm already irked without even downloading the game. I'm so sick of family relationships in AVNs being reduced down to blood and genetics as if a shared past of growing up together and a prior platonic familial relationship mean absolutely nothing.

No, the reasons for the initial get together aren't anything special. You might call it trauma bonding, but even that would be a stretch. But if you accept the conceit, that they did get together for whatever reason, everything that follows - at least till now - is not something I've ever seen in an incest game.

Wasn't the girl adopted from Southeast Asia or something like that when she was little [...]

Something like that, yes. At least initially. We later learn that that was a lie.

 

[jufot]

Chapter 2 of Courtship: A Dance with Love is out on

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[bacienvu88]

Chapter 2 of Courtship: A Dance with Love is out on

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!

And Mad World got a new release as well!

 

[vneotpolemus]

My thoughts on Corporate Culture 0.6.

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[realjitter]

Did read "Little Regina" (Spoilers ahead)

In my mind you can't really evaluate this AVN until you've seen the ending here. I basically have to trust the developer blindly that he turns this into a real story. It's not same as if you're watching a tv series/movie where you just can relax and follow along because you don't have to worry about anything since it's written by, at least every now and then, someone who's competent with the subject matter. In an AVN you, unfortunately, have to prepare for the worst often times because AVN's operate on their own rules and logic, but I digress.

So what's Little Regina all about?. It's a about an ex military guy who's served in Afghanistan. He got captured and brutally tortured until he eventually got rescued. Of course what he experienced left him deeply traumatized, he's plagued by what he went through back then and the way he's trying to cope with it is violence, extreme violence that is. Which is understandable from a psychological standpoint. He wants to get revenge on something he can't get revenge on. So basically what he does is, he vents off his dark urges on people who "deserve" it. I mean, they do deserve it, but that's obviously not the way to overcome your own problems, it's the opposite.

At first glance it reminds you of something like dexter, a serial killer who targets other serial killers to satisfy his needs. Here he doesn't necessarily targets serial killers, he just goes for all kinds of human scum. Rapists, murderers, super meanies who'll all conveniently show up in his every day life. All men, outside of his old military friends, are evil sumbags!. The game is borderline sexist in that regard, but whatever . We are better than this!! =). Anyhow, well, I for one would rather call this a twisted version of natural born killers and i'll explain why later.

Later in the game Jack (the MC) meets Jessie who's the "forced" main LI. A 18/19 yo girl who he rescues from some meanies. She pretty quickly falls for him and they eventually become a thing. This is where the game starts to become pretty complex and that's also where it will get decided if this turns into a real story or just an AVN version of it, aka a waste of time. I'm calling it a potential waste of time because of all the serious topics at hand here. If this game ends with some sort of a showdown where the MC and his mini harem just simply trail off into the sunset afterwards, that would be just so disappointing imo...

I'm sure that some of it's audience interprets their relationship as some form of healing or whatever. And why not, right?. He, after all he's been through, rediscovers his sexuality and eventually also love while making the world a better place alongside... Well, if it only would be so easy, if only whe could fuck away our problems. Wouldn't that be nice?. Depression?, just fuck the depression away.. PTSD?, just get yourself some lovin...

I think their relationship is more of a tragic one and I also think that they're pretty poisonous for each other with both of them being on a road to absolutely nowhere. Jessie may appear like she's reflecting on herself and the MC, but she does it pretty inconsequently imo. Might be due to her age or because of how smitten she is by him..., who knows. It's pretty twisted because on one hand you really want things to work out for the protagonists, but on the other hand this story is heading straight towards disaster, if it weren't for the fact that this is an AVN.

There's a scene in which Jessie lies to the MC about some guy in order to get him into trouble which is why I made the natural born killers comparison. It should be telling for what's to come going forward... I could come up with a lot of things who're going to happen later down the line, but this is also where i'm gonna stop talking about this AVN, because if this turns out to be just another big pile of nothingness at the end, shame on me...

Anyhow, potentially a great story, but there's also a lot of uncertainty regarding it's intentions. Will it be just some weird ass, violent, white knighting, sex fantasie by some developer or will it be an actual story?.

Well, you'll also have to be prepared to cope with some extreme violence before diving into this one, that's for sure.

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I chose the first option...

 

[bacienvu88]

And Mad World got a new release as well!

Should note that the update is "just" a bonus update with a date with Chloe and some ... interesting ... aftermath of said date. No main story progression.

But I really like the update nevertheless. The chemistry between MC and Chloe is great.