VN Ren'Py Summer's Gone [S1 Steam + DLC] [Oceanlab]

[Doomyk]

The Holgersons: How the hell did they go so bad from WIAB? Does Zoey disown her brother?

This is just Bella's point of view. There is no need to divide everything into black and white. Bella herself will also be ... an antagonist for many. There are those for whom Nika is still an asshole. I’m already silent about Willy from Wiab. For us, he is the main character. For many, he is a rare beast. Or the same Leia. For us, this is one of the most interesting characters and it will be very nice to see how these two devils (Willy and Leia) go through heads for the sake of their goals. However, if you look from the side of these goals?

 

[Alexanderson037500aa]

I think as more of the paths are revealled, we'll have a hard time deciding which shared trauma we follow. Bella wears her trauma like a trophy, as does Nika: it is evident to everyone that they have some form of dysfunction. Nami's trauma is eivdent, as well as a superficial level of Mila's, Sonja's and Victoria's respective traumas. As the story unfolds and we see each of the LI and support characters on their own merits, I think we'll have a harder time: trauma can't be compared, and each path with be a move towards healing trauma, it's simply Bella's path (and trauma) has been central to the opening of the plot.

I can imagine Damian's trauma being relevant, and the other guy in the basket ball team (Sai) to pushing elements of the plot. It won't only be the LI that have issues that will be explored. I mean, Ayua probably will have high levels of trauma as a legacy from WIAB...

Sacha and Nia are possibly the most interesting to me right now, because their trauma's are not clarified.

List of potential traumas tugging the ol' empathy index:

Ayua: presumably left with all the easter eggs from Miru and Willi, most of which will be a slow burn so Ocean doesn't reveal too much of WIAB ahead of it happining in WIAB. Also, as part of the Zane clan, it might be partially her uni, eventually, guess it depends on how much breeding in WIAB ends up being canon.
Sacha: so much innuendo, the scar suggests many alternative things, yet her interactions with the MC show she has a hard, icy front, with internal gentleness.
Mila: obvious caste traumas, but I'm sure there will be more subtlety about the abuse from her parents, whether or not just simply the abusive situation they find themselves in.
Nia: she's already shown that she hides behind revealing herself, I'd say in some ways she's the opposite to Sacha - a warm exterior hiding fragile heart that has had too many disappointments.
Victoria: the obvious trauma is only the begining, and is almost a plot crutch. I think as we see her inner frailty behind her smiles more, her character will develop complexity. Her and Maja's shared trauma regarding their parents will have a place, considering how the Frohn's were mentioned in the pre-reworked WIAB (considering it was right near the end of that original version, chances are they'll be part of WIAB in some way).
Zara: her competitive nature and feelings of inferiority causing her to overcompensate will be heartbreaking. I dread to think what might happen if a callous MC breaks her heart with infidelity.
Marla: finding out how her trauma develops and why she was seeing Amber already prior to the crash (that's the way I understood it anyway) might also reveal a lot of easter eggs about WIAB.
Nojiko: there will hopefully be some exploration of how she adopted Nika and Nami, as well as the connections to WIAB.
Damian: the abandonment/need to prove himself to his mum.
The Holgersons: How the hell did they go so bad from WIAB? Does Zoey disown her brother?
Aziz: I feel like he might end up having some significance being a support for Nika, having overcome his traumatic experiences with reporters.
Sai: I'm guessing he'll provide levels of conflict with Nika.

Nadia, Vanessa seems to be some of the few LI's without trauma (currently) to explore. I imagine some of the background characters will also be normal enough as this list is already more than enough to really explore.

Long post, but the point I wanted to make is the way the project has grown, these characters are some of the most convincing and genuine characters in any of the VNs. There's no way that they plot can be shortened and still have impact. It'll be done when it's done and I'm glad there are writers who don't think that the sole plot point is "when does the MC get to bang the milf, will there be pregnancy???" or "here's a story of how one penis walks around the entire block without seeing 1 STD". I literally have zero interest in the lewd aspect: I'm completely ambivalent towards it, the story is compelling. No problem with the lewd aspects, but if you removed lewds from most other VN's, you just have an MC walking between rooms or houses, no plot left.

So yeah, the negativity is surprising, as the level of detail and care shows Ocean's detailed commitment to the story. I don't even see WIAB as a separate thing, it actuall feels like it's the real season 1, being co-developed with season 2. I think something to consider is that haters are always more active. The extremes of fans and haters tend to dominate the discourse, but there are more moderate people who don't engage in the discussion, and are happy just to see the development when it happens. Or (unlike me) they have an easier time ignoring trollish comments. I get way too triggered by the radom accusations, and I'm not really invested. I just hate bullshit when it's clear Ocean is grinding away to do his best to find new ways forward, flaws and all.

 

[BobTheDuck]

This is just Bella's point of view. There is no need to divide everything into black and white. Bella herself will also be ... an antagonist for many. There are those for whom Nika is still an asshole. I’m already silent about Willy from Wiab. For us, he is the main character. For many, he is a rare beast. Or the same Leia. For us, this is one of the most interesting characters and it will be very nice to see how these two devils (Willy and Leia) go through heads for the sake of their goals. However, if you look from the side of these goals?

Not just Bella's point of view though - Nika's reason to ask Bella about them is triggered by the way the son has treated Mila, then they raise charges with no evidence against Mila. Also, they're out to dinner with Damian's mum, who seems like a very kind compassionate and upstanding member of society ...so very different from what we've seen in WIAB of Zoey.

I mean with it's name WIAB sets the scene - the plot there is central to Ocean's planned universe.

Other thoughts are how the interactions go - how does the ZPR collective decide to establish a uni in such a short span of time? I think one of the interesting parts of Ocean's overarching plot is that it does have multiple levels of interaction with goals beyond which bed is the comfiest.

 

[Doomyk]

Not just Bella's point of view though - Nika's reason to ask Bella about them is triggered by the way the son has treated Mila, then they raise charges with no evidence against Mila.

I still think that this move was a bit unrealistic.He is antihero. They are egoists and think about themselves first. They can still take care of those closest to them. But take risks and make enemies from very powerful families who can crush you like an ant for the sake of a person you know only a day? What is the benefit in this?

Also, they're out to dinner with Damian's mum, who seems like a very kind compassionate and upstanding member of society

Damian..Damian.If i remember,it's a hobbit,right? Your sarcasm can be understood from his point of view. But we do not know the point of view of his mother. Even during pregnancy, she should have known that he was a dwarf. And the fact that she still decided to give birth, and did not have an abortion, maybe to say that her family forced her. So it is surprising that at the first opportunity she ran away from such a family for the sake of her own happiness?

 

[PaxHadrian17]

...

Long post, but the point I wanted to make is the way the project has grown, these characters are some of the most convincing and genuine characters in any of the VNs. There's no way that they plot can be shortened and still have impact. It'll be done when it's done and I'm glad there are writers who don't think that the sole plot point is "when does the MC get to bang the milf, will there be pregnancy???" or "here's a story of how one penis walks around the entire block without seeing 1 STD". I literally have zero interest in the lewd aspect: I'm completely ambivalent towards it, the story is compelling. No problem with the lewd aspects, but if you removed lewds from most other VN's, you just have an MC walking between rooms or houses, no plot left.

This was a good post with some great potential tie-in's with WIAB.

I'm holding off on restarting WIAB for now, and just focusing on SG.

I think Summers Gone will be one of the most complex AVNs I will ever follow/support/enjoy.

Just picking our first LI - Bella - where could this relationship go or how could it evolve?

There is the straightforward - Bella is all there is, and every choice focuses on solely what is best for a Bella/MC relationship.

If the MC rejects Bella as an LI, what does that look like in CH 10... CH 20?

I think that Amber will be involved in the MC's life throughout most to all of SG, which also means that Bella will be at least in the background if she is not an LI.

We already know that the trip Amber and the MC take to the remote cabin will be pivotal to a number of relationships, but I don't think that the MC's therapy with Amber will end just because of an initial breakthrough at the cabin.

Bella will likely continue to read her mother's notes on her sessions with the MC.

If she feels rejected, does she use this information to try to harm/undermine him, or does she find a sense of peace and his journey of healing helps her to heal as well?

Does their involvement with the Holgersons lead to friendship?

Will there be a chance for the MC to have casual flings in college and then find his way back to Bella?

Will she want him as an LI if he's been with a number of other women, including someone like Kate who Bella clearly has an issue with?

It is a challenge to capture the complexity of relationships and represent them well whether in the written word or in an AVN.

These are just some of the possibilities with One of the LIs.

Now Ocean will be adding in all the branching choices for the other LIs, and lewd encounters, and doing this in about 30 chapters.

This feels like he will need to be Very efficient in his story-telling because there is SO much story to tell in the relatively short time 30 chapters represents.


I'm glad that Ocean is sticking to His vision for SG.

We've already had a very hot encounter in CH 4.5 with the Nami/Vic/Mila/MC kissing fest.

That was as hot and meaningful as 75% of the sex I've seen across all the AVN's I've played, and we had one of the three ladies with her girls on display.

That scene fit perfectly with the MC and the relationship he has/is building with the 3 women.

I'm not interested in sexy time that has no meaning.

The evolution of the relationships is big part of what makes SG so good.

Lovemaking, hot sex, and erotic encounters will happen, but I'm fine with waiting until they fit the story.

Now, about that trip to the cabin with Amber...

Cheers!!

 

[yossa999]

[...] Long post, but the point I wanted to make is the way the project has grown, these characters are some of the most convincing and genuine characters in any of the VNs. There's no way that they plot can be shortened and still have impact. It'll be done when it's done and I'm glad there are writers who don't think that the sole plot point is "when does the MC get to bang the milf, will there be pregnancy???" or "here's a story of how one penis walks around the entire block without seeing 1 STD". I literally have zero interest in the lewd aspect: I'm completely ambivalent towards it, the story is compelling. No problem with the lewd aspects, but if you removed lewds from most other VN's, you just have an MC walking between rooms or houses, no plot left.

You pretty much nailed it, my thoughts exactly. The high quality and attention to every aspect of the game, graphics, story, characters, relationship development, dialogue, music and their combination in the game, that's what makes SG unique to me. I've seen a decent amount of games lately where the rendering was almost on par with Ocean, but other aspects are missing and this creates a very strong contrast between SG and these games. Every time I found such a game I was like: “Hell yeah, finally something that I can put in a row with SG!” But after playing for five minutes... In short, I still have not found it.

So yeah, the negativity is surprising, as the level of detail and care shows Ocean's detailed commitment to the story. I don't even see WIAB as a separate thing, it actuall feels like it's the real season 1, being co-developed with season 2. I think something to consider is that haters are always more active. The extremes of fans and haters tend to dominate the discourse, but there are more moderate people who don't engage in the discussion, and are happy just to see the development when it happens. Or (unlike me) they have an easier time ignoring trollish comments. I get way too triggered by the radom accusations, and I'm not really invested. I just hate bullshit when it's clear Ocean is grinding away to do his best to find new ways forward, flaws and all.

But why are you surprised by the negative? It seems to me that this was to be expected, given that this forum brings together people from all over the world, different cultures, different views and beliefs, different ages. Yes, and here they also come for different things, someone wants exciting adult stories, deep characters, emotional scenes, romantic arcs, and someone just came to fap to 3d porn. Would you blame them for not having a common ground?

Another thing is that here, as in any community, there are a lot of... interesting types Have you read the "12 rules" dude post, where he/she teaches the devs how to make a good game? (At the beginning of the thread, these rules are presented as friendly advice to help developers, but later in the thread, it becomes clear that this is not entirely true.)
https://f95zone.to/threads/12-rules-for-a-good-game.156659/
What do you think a person with this set of beliefs would write about a game like Summer's Gone? Especially given their unspoken core belief that they know better than the people who actually make the games

Spoiler

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So I think it's impossible to avoid complaints, demands and insults (which they call "criticism"), but there is certainly a way to stay calm and not get triggered by random accusations: the ignore function is your best friend! It's pity that I realized this too late.

 

[BobTheDuck]

You pretty much nailed it, my thoughts exactly. The high quality and attention to every aspect of the game, graphics, story, characters, relationship development, dialogue, music and their combination in the game, that's what makes SG unique to me. I've seen a decent amount of games lately where the rendering was almost on par with Ocean, but other aspects are missing and this creates a very strong contrast between SG and these games. Every time I found such a game I was like: “Hell yeah, finally something that I can put in a row with SG!” But after playing for five minutes... In short, I still have not found it.


But why are you surprised by the negative? It seems to me that this was to be expected, given that this forum brings together people from all over the world, different cultures, different views and beliefs, different ages. Yes, and here they also come for different things, someone wants exciting adult stories, deep characters, emotional scenes, romantic arcs, and someone just came to fap to 3d porn. Would you blame them for not having a common ground?

Another thing is that here, as in any community, there are a lot of... interesting types Have you read the "12 rules" dude post, where he/she teaches the devs how to make a good game? (At the beginning of the thread, these rules are presented as friendly advice to help developers, but later in the thread, it becomes clear that this is not entirely true.)
https://f95zone.to/threads/12-rules-for-a-good-game.156659/
What do you think a person with this set of beliefs would write about a game like Summer's Gone? Especially given their unspoken core belief that they know better than the people who actually make the games

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

So I think it's impossible to avoid complaints, demands and insults (which they call "criticism"), but there is certainly a way to stay calm and not get triggered by random accusations: the ignore function is your best friend! It's pity that I realized this too late.

I love reading anyhow, so I grew up with stories everywhere. Flimsy plots with too many holes (yes, double entendre) are interchangeable; believable characters whose actions match their expressions and words make the plot compelling. We can intuit reactions, and we can imagine them as more than cardboard placeholders, and that gives gravity to any decisions. The story (even with its occasional inconsistencies) is relatively plausible, it suspends disbelief sufficiently. Most importantly though, eyes, smiles etc are not ghoulish or soulless. Facial language and body language really tells a lot of SG.

About the surprise, good points. I have indeed made use of the ignore function now I think there's also an aspect of entitlement and impatience. It honestly doesn't matter to me if Ocean finishes this or not as long as he tells it authentically. If Ocean tries to please everyone why making every character a love interest, the tensions and interplay will feel pretty cheap, like a hundred other VNs. It's Ocean's perverse love of detail that makes this rewarding, and gives me certainty Ocean won't drop it in a rough week. Ocean actually wants to tell this specific story, that is what interests him. On another angle, eroticism is precisely developed through the mental aspects of delayed gratification. Lewd moments will not feel like throw away or interchangeable scenes because of the process leading to them, the tensions etc. Admittedly, this can mean everyone gets disappointed when scenes happen and don't feel as dramatic as we feel they deserve, but more power to someone telling a story on their own terms.

 

[Rhykio]

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Hello,

So, I've recently returned from a forced five-day mountain vacation.

Even though I was set on sitting it out, I came across a very interesting video about mental health, and it said you should treat burnout as if it's inevitable.


No worries, I have no signs of burnout, but I found the video very interesting and should take more precautions. (I already do lots of sports, but I also need time away from screens.)

From now on, I will force myself to take at least a 3-day vacation every 4-6 months.

1. Loan-bibi

31st of August... is the day all tax offices must have submitted the 2021 numbers... And well, I talked about it before that my old tax office is terrible.

I was getting increasingly nervous that they wouldn't make it and I would have to pay a fine. (Which the tax guy would be liable for... But still, that would be so much unnecessary drama.)

So instead of my usual kind approach, where I offer help 24/7, etc... I started threatening them with some thingies, and voila... In less than a day I got my 2021 numbers.

As soon as I get the papers from the financial office of Berlin. I'll get the loan for the workstation. I already talked to my bank and we came up with something.
It takes about 2-3 months to get your papers (Steuerbescheid)... So it will still be a while.

2. 4090
I got a 4090 for SG to see if it could render animations faster... Here are the numbers for those interested.

2x3090
4K Still render = 13:06min
5 Frame animation = 5:56min

1x4090
4K still render = 15:23
5 Frame animation = 5:21

1x 4090 + 1x 3090
4K still render = 9:47
5 Frame animation = 4:20min

By getting the 4090 and pairing it with a 3090, I got a decent boost in rendering speed. It will do until I get the new Workstation.

I now have 2x3090 as backup GPUs if a GPU should die.

3. Victoria cinematic Chapter 1

I mentioned that I would remove the scene where MC has the choice to shoot Marla and replace it with a cinematic.

The music artist now signed the contract, and I can get started on it shortly. I will include it in Chapter 5 Beta.

4. Treats

I haven't done Treats since Dev Log #8's Nadia treats.

And I still haven't finished a set but I had a few renders lying around from sets I canceled a while ago... Three renders to be exact... So instead of letting them rot, I'm just gonna post them today.

You must be registered to see the links

(Deep Cleavages & legs)

5. Previews (4K is attached.)

I primarily focus on Chapter 5, but recently I did a few more Chapter 2 Rework renders. Here are two comparisons.
Old CH2

New CH2

Old CH2

New CH2

I put up a Chapter 5 Preview block. So no more previews until the release... But here's one I can probably still show...


I'll see you in two weeks with most likely great news...

- Ocean​

 

[xCalon]

The high quality and attention to every aspect of the game, graphics, story, characters, relationship development, dialogue, music and their combination in the game, that's what makes SG unique to me.

Just a thought for your sentence. In some cases, a few dialogue are quite confusing or funny, I don't even know which is the better term. When I translate the text into my native language in my head, some words and sentences are so foreign that I have to throw them into Google Translate and figure out what the dialogue really means. Regardless, Summer's Gone is one of my favorite AVN, for exactly the things you listed.

Another thing is that here, as in any community, there are a lot of... interesting types Have you read the "12 rules" dude post, where he/she teaches the devs how to make a good game?

Yeah, those so-called "rules" are totally ridiculus. Especially the first (you are NOT a real writer), the second (No long dialogues, don't waste players' time with nonsense) and the tenth (Read the comments, especially the negative ones). When I read those rules, I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. No long dialogues? WTF? How should be told a story, especially the presentation of the characters and the environment, if not with long dialogues?

So I think it's impossible to avoid complaints, demands and insults (which they call "criticism"), but there is certainly a way to stay calm and not get triggered by random accusations: the ignore function is your best friend! It's pity that I realized this too late.

I agree with you, it is impossible to avoid complaints, and almost impossible not to respond some accusations. Sometimes I really want to reply to a post, but as I'm writing, I realize it's a waste of time.

 

[F.L.HX99X]

Can someone post the Sonya treats that was posted along side the chapter 5 update?

 

[PaxHadrian17]

We have two Sonya treats and 1 'friend of Sasha' treat:







The first two pics only add the allure of the lovely Sonya!

Miss red and gray hair is looking Sweet as well!

Now I have to go turn the temp on my AC down to avoid overheating...

Cheers!!

 

[xCalon]

Miss red and gray hair is looking Sweet as well!

Another redhead beauty, and she is incredibly adorable with those freckles...

 

[Srimanta]

We have two Sonya treats and 1 'friend of Sasha' treat:

View attachment 2872629

View attachment 2872634

View attachment 2872640

The first two pics only add the allure of the lovely Sonya!

Miss red and gray hair is looking Sweet as well!

Now I have to go turn the temp on my AC down to avoid overheating...

Cheers!!

HOLLY MOTHER OF GOD

 

[the_needlesss]

Old CH2

New CH2

I

is it just me or old one looks better?

 

[Turret]

is it just me or old one looks better?

Depends on which point of view the players should focus on. The old one is better if it is meant as an overview of the Holgerson garden/entrance area. The new one is better if the player should view the scene as if being there.

 

[mitymity]

Release soon, maybe even before summer's gone

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

is it just me or old one looks better?

It looks like the global lightning has been reworked, plus he added depth of field.

 

[Alexanderson037500aa]

We have two Sonya treats and 1 'friend of Sasha' treat:

View attachment 2872629

View attachment 2872634

View attachment 2872640

The first two pics only add the allure of the lovely Sonya!

Miss red and gray hair is looking Sweet as well!

Now I have to go turn the temp on my AC down to avoid overheating...

Cheers!!

 

[Kassandara]

View attachment 2872640

No words to describe my feeling so here is a visual presentation:

 

[m111m123]

is it just me or old one looks better?

You beat me to it, I wanted to write the same thing.