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

[xCalon]

It is much better to think of various theories, than to whine pointlessly about things that never existed, or never was in SG. The only problem I have with many theories is, that we really know almost nothing for sure, we just assume something. And we may attach great importance to insignificant things. But that still makes it a really meaningful discourse.

A few thoughts on the first season, and of course I could be wrong, and I try to not write a wall of text:


There are two characters - the MC and Nami - who are almost completely groping in the dark for some kind of answer. The fact that they are going to the ZPR seems to have been a foregone conclusion at a higher level, and Nami's answer seems to confirm that. (MC - "Do you know anything about the college?" | Nami - "Except we haven't even had a chance to look around for other colleges, no.")


On the first day, the MC and Bella had a fight, because of Bella's sister, then the MC met Ayua at home, he told her what happened, Ayua attacked him, but after the MC's answer, she didn't want to beat him to pulp, even though we know that Ayua seriously protects Bella. It follows that Ayua knows much more.


The MC didn't get an ID, is it possible to avoid attracting someone's attention prematurely?


At least some ZPR staff know a lot more about MC than he does. Miss Marla herself tells Karen that MC doesn't seem to have gotten an ID, but she can be sure he's a student at ZPR. And the small dialog with Coach Hill in the medical room is even more surprising. (
Hill - "What happened?" | MC - "She's just an annoyance..." | Hill - "That's not what I meant. Why did you quit playing in high school?" | Hill - "I know you were playing for Tropics. We monitor promising athletes. But one day you vanished from the team.") Than Coach Hill says one more thing (Hill - "If I don't see your name on the list for the basketball tryouts. I'll take the liberty to put it on there myself.").


It is almost immediately obvious that Amber and Noji have known each other for a long time. The closest they came to revealing this ahead of time was the first therapy session, although the MC could not have noticed it at the time. But Amber speaks to Noji in this order before the session: Miss Miyazaki -> Nojiko -> Nojiko -> Nojiko. Then after the session comes this short dialogue: (Amber - "Noj- Miss-" | Noji - "Nojiko please."). Here they came close to the "unveiling". And another suspicious sentence from Amber during the session: (Amber - "I was looking forward to this since we first met.")


In the fifth chapter, the reaction of the majority of the members in the book club is that they know much more about the MC and Nami, the MC's and Nami's past, and possibly the MC's and Nami's real parents. (Jenna - "Maybe Noji did the right thing after all.")

 

[Mantioxi]

Jacuzzi scene was censored? how other than Namis Butt not showing everything else seemed the same.

Oh, yes it is censored now. Jacuzzi bubbles hide the boobies and Zara, Venessa is censored also. With a damn towel lmao. But yet still he forgot some renders of Nami's boobies at full display. Tbh, I don't get this whole censorship. I don't get it. It is so inconsistent now.

 

[Don Sucio]

I don't think nika and Nami will live at nick's house as they agreed with mila to rent a student house

Yeah, but i would love to stay in Nick´s house, moving with Mila is okay, but stay in the same house with Vanessa and Zara...


If i´m not wrong you can´t decline to go with Mila, i suppose this is for plot reasons but damn, i would love to be able to not move with her

 

[shamtiiomi]

Yeah, that would be mind blown. Alas, unfortunately he's an ordinary Benz
But we know next to nothing about his ex, so...

so his ex isnt leia? or his ex had an affair with william?

 

[yossa999]

so his ex isnt leia? or his ex had an affair with william?

No one knows for sure, it's just speculation plus Vanessa's snake bracelets.
But no, I don't really remember it being mentioned anywhere in the game.

 

[BobTheDuck]

It is much better to think of various theories, than to whine pointlessly about things that never existed, or never was in SG. The only problem I have with many theories is, that we really know almost nothing for sure, we just assume something. And we may attach great importance to insignificant things. But that still makes it a really meaningful discourse.

A few thoughts on the first season, and of course I could be wrong, and I try to not write a wall of text:


There are two characters - the MC and Nami - who are almost completely groping in the dark for some kind of answer. The fact that they are going to the ZPR seems to have been a foregone conclusion at a higher level, and Nami's answer seems to confirm that. (MC - "Do you know anything about the college?" | Nami - "Except we haven't even had a chance to look around for other colleges, no.")


On the first day, the MC and Bella had a fight, because of Bella's sister, then the MC met Ayua at home, he told her what happened, Ayua attacked him, but after the MC's answer, she didn't want to beat him to pulp, even though we know that Ayua seriously protects Bella. It follows that Ayua knows much more.


The MC didn't get an ID, is it possible to avoid attracting someone's attention prematurely?


At least some ZPR staff know a lot more about MC than he does. Miss Marla herself tells Karen that MC doesn't seem to have gotten an ID, but she can be sure he's a student at ZPR. And the small dialog with Coach Hill in the medical room is even more surprising. (
Hill - "What happened?" | MC - "She's just an annoyance..." | Hill - "That's not what I meant. Why did you quit playing in high school?" | Hill - "I know you were playing for Tropics. We monitor promising athletes. But one day you vanished from the team.") Than Coach Hill says one more thing (Hill - "If I don't see your name on the list for the basketball tryouts. I'll take the liberty to put it on there myself.").


It is almost immediately obvious that Amber and Noji have known each other for a long time. The closest they came to revealing this ahead of time was the first therapy session, although the MC could not have noticed it at the time. But Amber speaks to Noji in this order before the session: Miss Miyazaki -> Nojiko -> Nojiko -> Nojiko. Then after the session comes this short dialogue: (Amber - "Noj- Miss-" | Noji - "Nojiko please."). Here they came close to the "unveiling". And another suspicious sentence from Amber during the session: (Amber - "I was looking forward to this since we first met.")


In the fifth chapter, the reaction of the majority of the members in the book club is that they know much more about the MC and Nami, the MC's and Nami's past, and possibly the MC's and Nami's real parents. (Jenna - "Maybe Noji did the right thing after all.")

Nah go for the wall of text, we all have plenty of time until the next update. Thoughtful points help us understand some of the more hidden easter eggs and red herrings as Ocean loves his cloak and dagger vaudville routines

I'll try to be concise myself though, and respond without spiraling out to the life, universe and everything

I suspect their admission to ZPR is either a form of scholarship or Noji pulling strings via the book club. I highly doubt Noji doesn't already know Elena Petrova. I also wonder if Charlie might not be the Dean. There is nothing saying that the dean has to be one of the families who own the college. Noji has 1 degree of separation at most from every power player it seems. Katie, Amber, Scarlet, Charlie, at least one degree via Katie or Sasha to Elena, the Frohns, if she knows Katie she probably knows Zoey... I'll be interested if we find out the meaning of her tattoo.

Ayua still knows Nami has an earring and she knows what that means even if we don't. She would have known Bella's prank and seens Nami with the earring. If she wasn't observant at college, she'd know it while drawing. 100% she knows what's going on, and gave Nika a free pass only because she knows what's going on.

Nice pickup about the id!

Yep. I also think that Coach hills actions with the handcuffs also bear keeping in mind. There is a chance that their plan from higher up via the Zane's involves Nika, and that's why he's there.

Along with that, there is the potential for Marla and Noji to know each other. Marla wanting to have therapy with Nika, while NOT having therapy with Vic is really quite interesting. Maybe Marla has some other thing with Nika's history via Summer that we don't know yet.

Yep, the bookclub is super interesting. I'd say Jenna, Emilia, Katie, Charlie and Adri at least know what's going on. Also, the fact that Robin calls Adrianna Adri at one point implies that she's well known even if she seems an odd fit to the club, so she's one to keep an eye on also. Someone mentioned that Willi had an aunt Jenna, so that could also be interesting.

Oh, yes it is censored now. Jacuzzi bubbles hide the boobies and Zara, Venessa is censored also. With a damn towel lmao. But yet still he forgot some renders of Nami's boobies at full display. Tbh, I don't get this whole censorship. I don't get it. It is so inconsistent now.

I think some was just to get the percentage of boobs down to prevent an automatic 18+ rating, and Ocean cut less important boob scenes to maximise the boobs where the boobs felt more valuable. ie as funny as Nami's experiments with the nipple pump are, they are less valuable to the story than Nika ripping Zara's top. Some scenes, like Nora and Miriam's make no sense if it was 100% clothed. Bella getting horny and taking her top off shows how quickly she wants to follow her impulses. Vanessa's strip shows she isn't afraid to use her body to get what she wants.

Ultimately Ocean's probably sad that he had to do most of the cuts, but if it allows for a more successful release that provides stability now WiaB's patreon is gone, well, I'm okay with it. WiaB will be the litmus test really. If that releases intact on steam as 18+ (and there's no reason for it not to) the future seasons are all looking a lot more interesting with Ocean doing what he wants not censoring just to keep patreon and licensing happy.

His state is as far as I can tell an amalgam of deep depression/apathy and occasional not to severe panic attacks, so not something as debilitating as I have experienced, which is good, else the story would be dead on arrival and impossible to progress. Most mentally healthy people can't understand these things, not because the lack of empathy, but because it is something unimaginably hellish. Hence, if it defines most of the interactions with them, with time they will turn away from the person. There are two types of mental solitude/loneliness: the solitude of the genius, and the solitude of the madman. Both are very much alike, the later being relevant for mental illnesses. But both have their roots in that the outside world can't comprehend the things the individual is experiencing. So since this one is a very social interaction centric game, if those would be severe attacks, the MC would be left alone. No woman on this world would find that state of mind and body in any way appealing. So it is not just about the reeeeeing ones, but about how the plot would be impossible to advance.

I wish I had a like for thius post, but I'm out. I love hearing a perspective from someone who's lived and survived this.

 

[shamtiiomi]

No one knows for sure, it's just speculation plus Vanessa's snake bracelets.
But no, I don't really remember it being mentioned anywhere in the game.

and what about aziz we know something anout his fater? seems to me very suspicious wear glasses at night and all the time,if you dont want to hide some shit like heterochromia

 

[StingerWolf]

I hope they find the right chemicals to put that under control some time soon. The MC also struggles to talk to people, but more like because he doesn't care or better his brain/body chemicals tell him not to care. He must force himself to do so, but at least he CAN force himself.
And we can be glad that the MC here has only "mild" sympthoms. The "the story doesn't move forward weeeeeeh"-faction would go apeshit if every panic attack ingame would be heavy and you'd only see renders of the MC lying on the floor, shivering in fetal position for 100+ renders.

His state is as far as I can tell an amalgam of deep depression/apathy and occasional not to severe panic attacks, so not something as debilitating as I have experienced, which is good, else the story would be dead on arrival and impossible to progress. Most mentally healthy people can't understand these things, not because the lack of empathy, but because it is something unimaginably hellish. Hence, if it defines most of the interactions with them, with time they will turn away from the person. There are two types of mental solitude/loneliness: the solitude of the genius, and the solitude of the madman. Both are very much alike, the later being relevant for mental illnesses. But both have their roots in that the outside world can't comprehend the things the individual is experiencing. So since this one is a very social interaction centric game, if those would be severe attacks, the MC would be left alone. No woman on this world would find that state of mind and body in any way appealing. So it is not just about the reeeeeing ones, but about how the plot would be impossible to advance.

 

[yossa999]

and what about aziz we know something anout his fater? seems to me very suspicious wear glasses at night and all the time,if you dont want to hide some shit like heterochromia

Damn r-limit.
By the way, yeah, good idea about heterochromia. His mom, Molly complained that he hid such a beautiful eyes behind his shades. Maybe it was just motherly love, or maybe she really meant something unusal, like heterochromia.
But it could as well be related to the cocaine scandal that bitchy reporter Nicole mentioned

 

[AlexFXR]

well you and me have a different definition of porn. Even before the rework or the even before he censored Jacuzzi scene I never considered this game porn.

What does this have to do with the jacuzzi scene? I'm talking about the scene where MC and his sister were sitting watching porn at home.

 

[John972]

John972 Doomyk minibaer12 have you done a play through without going on the heist? This is new info right?

Spoiler: If you don't do the heist

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A couple of questions to promote thoughts in general now I *think* I've seen every render/done all the paths:

- If Nika has been charged before, was it over the violent incident? Or over Summer? Or one and the same?
- When he mentions to Amber (regarding her question that he blames himself for what happened to Summer) that "it wasn't my fault ...I had no other choice", is this perhaps something he got charged over?
- Have you noticed that immediately after the Summer incident he gets violent at school from being dead inside, but when we enter the story he is depressed: did the violent incident beat the violence out of him?

Regarding Zane relationships:
- Amber and Bella know Zoey, who knows Katie very well, so chances are Bella also is friendly to some part with Katie, especially with her connection to Ayua
- Who is Charlotte really? (Charlie) Jenna mentions that she can set up Nika with Robin, and Molly asks if Robin is Nikas GF if you have the rumour going. It seems Robin is someone important - Molly seemed excited to hear something about Robin. And the venue for the bookclub, is that Charlie's place? Or a hired venue? Or Elena's house? It feels like Robin walked down from her room. But there was also a security guard when NIka walks in, so where is this?
- Robin talks about 'Adri' so Adrianna is a friend of Robin and Sasha's well enough known to have a nickname - I think that's old info, but I didn't notice it before.
- Noji vs all these high society figures, which we already knew, but now the golf course thing is all but confirmed, and I'm pretty sure is said somewhere Noji has played golf with Nick, we have Noji knowing Elena, Scarlet, Katie (by extension Leia as the last time Katie and Leia came to the bookclub was a year ago), Amber, Emilia (all of whom are likely in WiaB), Claire, Charlie, potentially Marla. Also, I think Noji mentions Bella by name before being introduced to her - if you don't go on the heist, she mentions what Nika did to Bella as the reason for sending Nika to AMber. Long winded list, but Noji apparently knows everyone important in Wollust. So there is no hiding Nika from them, we just don't know her connection. Jenna's observations that Noji 'did the right thing' does suggest that all the well to do people know what's going on.

- I've already mentioned goth girl but I also notice her blonde friend stares at Nika quite a few times, and is in the locker room scene if Marla rescues Nika.
- Goth girl highlights the importance of the earring again, so we have Sasha, Ayua, and potentially goth girl wondering about it. If you're not on Bella's path, in ch4 Nika jokes about getting detective Nora on the case (one of the twins) - cute extra fact.

- Dwight as all but confirmed Petrova, because Sasha doesn't have a boyfriend (no NTR in SG according to Ocean's original intent, plus the fact the women at the bookclub tease Nika and Sasha, Kelly's desire to breed Sasha etc.) and she's had a hard time with men recently, plus votes to not have any new male members, so kinda an ice queen. Makes sense that Dwight has carried Ayua home before as Sasha and Ayua are close.

- Demi Hill knowing about Nika's past performance and saying that if he doesn't try out for the first team she'll put his name down herself (crushed balls path), knowing his past. Is part of Hill's plan that's approved from high up to get a new functional team including Nika's past, and that's why Nika and Nami got a scholarship (assuming the reason they didn't have a choice is because they got a scholarship that Noji couldn't refuse). So is Nika's presence actually part of the plan, and they're trying for something specifically involving him?

- Regarding rumours, if you get the locker room incident with Nora, there's new rumours at the training. Not sure if that was there before. So I guess there are rumour meters in the background, the rumours open certain paths, probably affecting the manwhore route.

- is this checklist of Claire's a list of plot devices Ocean will include? LOTS of potential fun there:

Spoiler: Claire's/Ocean's list?

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- If Nika has been charged before, was it over the violent incident? Or over Summer? Or one and the same?
- When he mentions to Amber (regarding her question that he blames himself for what happened to Summer) that "it wasn't my fault ...I had no other choice", is this perhaps something he got charged over?
- Have you noticed that immediately after the Summer incident he gets violent at school from being dead inside, but when we enter the story he is depressed: did the violent incident beat the violence out of him?

Yeah, that conversation implying Nika was charged previously is a big reveal. Having said that, what happened to the charge? Was Nika convicted, was it dropped?

It's still too early to say if Summer's disappearance and the violent incident are one in the same. The violence is linked to Nika's lack of impulse control, and Nika all but blames Nami for that, not specifically anything to do with Summer.

In terms of timeline, Summer apparently disappeared between the end of middle school and six months into the start of Nika's first year at High School (Nia mentions asking Nika about the disappearance at High School, and star basketball player Nika unexpectedly quit the team six months in to the school year for reasons he hasn't revealed in the game. The team tanked without him). Besides, if Nika is 18 or 19 at the start of the game, Summer disappeared five years before the start of the game, making Nika 13 or 14 at the time.

It's here we have a disconnect in what we know. For Nika's first six months at High School, he's potentially the star basketball player, so many students there would surely know who he was. How would other students (and ex-team mates) go from viewing him as a star basketball player to just the mystery weird kid?

(Nika to Bella: "Back in high school I used to get into a lot of fights... Like- *sigh* I would be lying if I said that I was completely innocent. At first people used to pick on me because I was so quiet and always buried in my thoughts.. and then I started to pick on them." Amber to Nika: "Do you often get into fights?" Nika: "In high school... everyday. I was the.. weird kid. I didn't talk.. I never laughed.. I was stone cold. I am still.. repulsed by any sort of.. emotion.. but in high school it was on a different level. At first I was just silent... I didn't care what the others said, and I never paid attention to them. I was trapped in my thoughts. It was only words... They didn't attack me physically... As we grew older... Nami became popular. She was the cool red head... Almost everyone liked her.. Especially other guys. We were very close. After the thing with Su-m.. After Summer's disappearance.. Nami and I got very close.. She took pity on me and got very protective. ... People always acted... And I emphasize 'acted' nice towards me. I went from being 'trapped in my thoughts' to observing. I started to study the people around me.. Not because I was interested in them.. but because I wanted to protect Nami at all cost. She always had guys at her feet, and they tried to date her and so on. But I knew that they just saw her as a trophy. I did.. manipulate certain events, yes. She still thinks I never gave a damn about her in high school. I was very distant to her... but I was pulling strings in the background. I was just getting bored so instead of manipulating them from the shadows I turned to a more direct approach. I told them fuck off and leave her alone." Amber: "And this resulted in years of fighting?" Nika: "Correct.")

We know the violent incident caused Nika to suffer two collapsed lungs and other injuries. Realistically, how long would that keep Nika hospitalized and in rehabilitation? I just can't see Nika being a star basketball player only months after that. That suggests Nika either suffered those injuries when Summer disappeared (six months into High School) or much later while fighting other students.

Given the length of hospitalization and in rehabilitation required, I wonder if the violent incident occurred sometime well after Summer disappeared and while Nika was fighting, fighting, fighting. It seems that Nika has been housebound for at least a year, so... did he finish High School? Did he even return to High School after the violent incident?

Regarding Zane relationships:
- Amber and Bella know Zoey, who knows Katie very well, so chances are Bella also is friendly to some part with Katie, especially with her connection to Ayua
- Who is Charlotte really? (Charlie) Jenna mentions that she can set up Nika with Robin, and Molly asks if Robin is Nikas GF if you have the rumour going. It seems Robin is someone important - Molly seemed excited to hear something about Robin. And the venue for the bookclub, is that Charlie's place? Or a hired venue? Or Elena's house? It feels like Robin walked down from her room. But there was also a security guard when NIka walks in, so where is this?
- Robin talks about 'Adri' so Adrianna is a friend of Robin and Sasha's well enough known to have a nickname - I think that's old info, but I didn't notice it before.
- Noji vs all these high society figures, which we already knew, but now the golf course thing is all but confirmed, and I'm pretty sure is said somewhere Noji has played golf with Nick, we have Noji knowing Elena, Scarlet, Katie (by extension Leia as the last time Katie and Leia came to the bookclub was a year ago), Amber, Emilia (all of whom are likely in WiaB), Claire, Charlie, potentially Marla. Also, I think Noji mentions Bella by name before being introduced to her - if you don't go on the heist, she mentions what Nika did to Bella as the reason for sending Nika to AMber. Long winded list, but Noji apparently knows everyone important in Wollust. So there is no hiding Nika from them, we just don't know her connection. Jenna's observations that Noji 'did the right thing' does suggest that all the well to do people know what's going on.

I am intrigued that, although they are connected through many people, we've yet to see any Zanes or Holdgersons together. Why didn't the Holgersons partner in ZPR? Also, Mila says to Nika: "Yup. Zane, Petrova, Revera. It's a wierd clan of these three families." Where do the Holgersons fit in to all this, especially given their blood relationship with the Zanes in WIAB?

- I've already mentioned goth girl but I also notice her blonde friend stares at Nika quite a few times, and is in the locker room scene if Marla rescues Nika.
- Goth girl highlights the importance of the earring again, so we have Sasha, Ayua, and potentially goth girl wondering about it. If you're not on Bella's path, in ch4 Nika jokes about getting detective Nora on the case (one of the twins) - cute extra fact.

Goth girl is seen five times throughout the game. One occasion, she's just in the background when Nami isn't present. The other four occasions, Nami is present, and three times out of four she's seen looking at Nami. It seems to be about the earring, but her interest could be about Nami, if not Nika, or both of them.

I was actually wondering if Goth Girl is a replacement character for the mysterious Cafe woman, who had her own little cinematic in the original Ch 2 (her only appearance in the game). Pure speculation, I know.

- Dwight as all but confirmed Petrova, because Sasha doesn't have a boyfriend (no NTR in SG according to Ocean's original intent, plus the fact the women at the bookclub tease Nika and Sasha, Kelly's desire to breed Sasha etc.) and she's had a hard time with men recently, plus votes to not have any new male members, so kinda an ice queen. Makes sense that Dwight has carried Ayua home before as Sasha and Ayua are close.

They could be childhood friends. While many things point to them being siblings, there are alternate explanations. I think it's too early to tell. Many people have talked to Nika about Sasha and the Petrovas but not one of them has brought up Dwight as a sibling/Petrova.

- Demi Hill knowing about Nika's past performance and saying that if he doesn't try out for the first team she'll put his name down herself (crushed balls path), knowing his past. Is part of Hill's plan that's approved from high up to get a new functional team including Nika's past, and that's why Nika and Nami got a scholarship (assuming the reason they didn't have a choice is because they got a scholarship that Noji couldn't refuse). So is Nika's presence actually part of the plan, and they're trying for something specifically involving him?

To also brings into question Katie Zane's interest in Nika. Hill and Stahl say that they hatched their plan to usurp the first team coaching staff (which includes Glitter Cunt) with Katie's blessing (stated up to Ch 4.5) and/or ZPR management (in Season 1: Hill "And the highest levels of ZPR have our backs"), and now Hill has revealed they already knew about Nika's past ability as a basketball player. There may very well be other reasons for Katie Zane's interest, but at least one reason not involving lineage had been revealed. PS - playing all the routes reveals that Hill also put Zara and Nadia up to the handcuff prank on Nika. What was Hill's motivation for that? Is she testing his character?

- Regarding rumours, if you get the locker room incident with Nora, there's new rumours at the training. Not sure if that was there before. So I guess there are rumour meters in the background, the rumours open certain paths, probably affecting the manwhore route.

The rumours etc will no doubt play into the thread running throughout the game that rival colleges (MOR and Jackson & Schwartz) will play dirty off the playing field in competitive sports - looking to exploit any negative rumour about or act by opposing players.

Extra thoughts:

Is it just me or has there been quite a few subtle changes to many dialogues outside of the Ch 2 rework? I am getting different vibes from many dialogues that I don't recall from the earlier iternations of the game. I haven't looked yet in the scripts to confirm any major differences.

Nia:

So, it's revealled she once cammed with a male partner but now only cams alone. I wonder what''s the story behind that. There's kinda only two characters in the game whose physical wellbeing I worry about going forward: Bella (because of street racing) and Nia (desparately lonely and possibly suicidal).

 

[BobTheDuck]

Yeah, that conversation implying Nika was charged previously is a big reveal. Having said that, what happened to the charge? Was Nika convicted, was it dropped?

It's still too early to say if Summer's disappearance and the violent incident are one in the same. The violence is linked to Nika's lack of impulse control, and Nika all but blames Nami for that, not specifically anything to do with Summer.

In terms of timeline, Summer apparently disappeared between the end of middle school and six months into the start of Nika's first year at High School (Nia mentions asking Nika about the disappearance at High School, and star basketball player Nika unexpectedly quit the team six months in to the school year for reasons he hasn't revealed in the game. The team tanked without him). Besides, if Nika is 18 or 19 at the start of the game, Summer disappeared five years before the start of the game, making Nika 13 or 14 at the time.

It's here we have a disconnect in what we know. For Nika's first six months at High School, he's potentially the star basketball player, so many students there would surely know who he was. How would other students (and ex-team mates) go from viewing him as a star basketball player to just the mystery weird kid?

(Nika to Bella: "Back in high school I used to get into a lot of fights... Like- *sigh* I would be lying if I said that I was completely innocent. At first people used to pick on me because I was so quiet and always buried in my thoughts.. and then I started to pick on them." Amber to Nika: "Do you often get into fights?" Nika: "In high school... everyday. I was the.. weird kid. I didn't talk.. I never laughed.. I was stone cold. I am still.. repulsed by any sort of.. emotion.. but in high school it was on a different level. At first I was just silent... I didn't care what the others said, and I never paid attention to them. I was trapped in my thoughts. It was only words... They didn't attack me physically... As we grew older... Nami became popular. She was the cool red head... Almost everyone liked her.. Especially other guys. We were very close. After the thing with Su-m.. After Summer's disappearance.. Nami and I got very close.. She took pity on me and got very protective. ... People always acted... And I emphasize 'acted' nice towards me. I went from being 'trapped in my thoughts' to observing. I started to study the people around me.. Not because I was interested in them.. but because I wanted to protect Nami at all cost. She always had guys at her feet, and they tried to date her and so on. But I knew that they just saw her as a trophy. I did.. manipulate certain events, yes. She still thinks I never gave a damn about her in high school. I was very distant to her... but I was pulling strings in the background. I was just getting bored so instead of manipulating them from the shadows I turned to a more direct approach. I told them fuck off and leave her alone." Amber: "And this resulted in years of fighting?" Nika: "Correct.")

We know the violent incident caused Nika to suffer two collapsed lungs and other injuries. Realistically, how long would that keep Nika hospitalized and in rehabilitation? I just can't see Nika being a star basketball player only months after that. That suggests Nika either suffered those injuries when Summer disappeared (six months into High School) or much later while fighting other students.

Given the length of hospitalization and in rehabilitation required, I wonder if the violent incident occurred sometime well after Summer disappeared and while Nika was fighting, fighting, fighting. It seems that Nika has been housebound for at least a year, so... did he finish High School? Did he even return to High School after the violent incident?




I am intrigued that, although they are connected through many people, we've yet to see any Zanes or Holdgersons together. Why didn't the Holgersons partner in ZPR? Also, Mila says to Nika: "Yup. Zane, Petrova, Revera. It's a wierd clan of these three families." Where do the Holgersons fit in to all this, especially given their blood relationship with the Zanes in WIAB?



Goth girl is seen five times throughout the game. One occasion, she's just in the background when Nami isn't present. The other four occasions, Nami is present, and three times out of four she's seen looking at Nami. It seems to be about the earring, but her interest could be about Nami, if not Nika, or both of them.

I was actually wondering if Goth Girl is a replacement character for the mysterious Cafe woman, who had her own little cinematic in the original Ch 2 (her only appearance in the game). Pure speculation, I know.



They could be childhood friends. While many things point to them being siblings, there are alternate explanations. I think it's too early to tell. Many people have talked to Nika about Sasha and the Petrovas but not one of them has brought up Dwight as a sibling/Petrova.



To also brings into question Katie Zane's interest in Nika. Hill and Stahl say that they hatched their plan to usurp the first team coaching staff (which includes Glitter Cunt) with Katie's blessing (stated up to Ch 4.5) and/or ZPR management (in Season 1: Hill "And the highest levels of ZPR have our backs"), and now Hill has revealed they already knew about Nika's past ability as a basketball player. There may very well be other reasons for Katie Zane's interest, but at least one reason not involving lineage had been revealed. PS - playing all the routes reveals that Hill also put Zara and Nadia up to the handcuff prank on Nika. What was Hill's motivation for that? Is she testing his character?



The rumours etc will no doubt play into the thread running throughout the game that rival colleges (MOR and Jackson & Schwartz) will play dirty off the playing field in competitive sports - looking to exploit any negative rumour about or act by opposing players.

Extra thoughts:

Is it just me or has there been quite a few subtle changes to many dialogues outside of the Ch 2 rework? I am getting different vibes from many dialogues that I don't recall from the earlier iternations of the game. I haven't looked yet in the scripts to confirm any major differences.

Nia:

So, it's revealled she once cammed with a male partner but now only cams alone. I wonder what''s the story behind that. There's kinda only two characters in the game whose physical wellbeing I worry about going forward: Bella (because of street racing) and Nia (desparately lonely and possibly suicidal).

- About the charge: Seeing Jane Laverne was known as a family friend (assuming first name basis, and that Nami called her specifically), and there are two police officers in WiaB close to the Zanes, Mon and Abigail, dropping a charge could be easy if it was in any way connected to Zane interests. Dana could also have a hand, and Elena as a lawyer could have had a hand in whatever it was - but it all depends on who Noji is and who Nika is to the Zanes. It would be easy for the Zanes to make his charges disappear. For Nika to not be on the database with a dropped charge kinda hints that he's off the hook as though it never happened. Further, Laverne could be his truant officer, as Noji is their guardian in effect.

- Nice timeline! My feeling was Summer + Nika = good basketball, Summer's gone = trenchcoat and brass knuckles, figuratively. Then the violent incident = charge, recuperation = wasted muscles, and not doing anything that might get him charged again. As I'm the same, thinking Nika was at the start of high school, when he saw summer last, was when she started puberty. He never saw if Ocean gave her gigantors or not.

- regards the change from stable to anti, if he refused to take interest in basket ball, by refusing to turn up, everyone would think he was weird. The question is why no one other than Nia, Nika and Nami really cared that Summer was gone.

- regards the violent incident: it depends on whether it was a fight or someone being violent to him. ie if Summers dad beat the crap out of him (hypothetically) that would end his basketball career for the season at least. Nika doesn't need to be the instigator of the violent incident, so it can happen at any time. Most LIKELY it's as a result of his beliigerance though, and that put an end to sports, so basketball Nika = Summer's boyfriend. Also, the association of the Summer flashback with her playing basketball - maybe he avoided it after she disappeared? There's certainly negative connotations now.

- The Holgersons: seeing Zoey was Katie's GF, I didn't think there was any family connection, just connected via growing up together. Zoey wanted to start a porn company with Willi, maybe Emilia (who was Zoey's friend in the orginal WiaB I think?) was their first employee, and that's why Emilia's question of Katie is interesting at the book club? We know Zoey is still around, but are Katie and Zoey still together? THe Holgerson's had a 'paper' company in WiaB, I assumed a newspaper. Now Stefan has a golden underpants, and Katie is a fashion designer. Too little to go on so far.

- Goth girl is one of the most interesting new additions for me. I was curious about the pizza scene, but seeing her more, I really want to know. Currently I've noticed her blonde friend pays Nika a lot of attention, but Goth girl mainly looks at Nami - and I really do wonder if she's Leia's daughter. It's be a great reveal.

- I think either childhood friend or childhood 'friend'. Either works for Dwight. Boyfriend seems wrong, and I doubt he's the Revera - as if old WiaB has any truth, Donna was pregnant by Willi, and they're both dark haired without fair complexion. Jake suits as Willi has at least one brownish eye.

- Agreed about the coaching plan. I think Nika and Nami had no choice in college because of the plan. I think it was a scholarship that couldn't be refused. And yes, I think Hill was testing Nika's ability to take a hit for the team, or deal with the consequences. A star player who can't will just get bulldozed.

- LOTS of subtle changes. I'm not even going to try to work it out. This is now all there is, and if I load WIP SG, I know it's non canon. Same as WiaB - it informs intent to remember where it went, but that's no longer the entire direction.

- I will go on Nia's path most likely because fuck... he life is hard enough, being a friend is the least anyone can do. People will defend Bella while she's a criminal (street racing, gun, soft drugs, theft, vandalism), but Nia's doing something legal in most countries and people find her distasteful, her family have shut her out. Even before the reveal I felt shitty over the way Nika treated her in the gym. She and Vic are maybe the two gentlest people in the game. It might be because I know a few ex cam girls and I've seen what it did to them. It really does make them lonely once they stop, and rarely do they become successful. All that stigma, and still broke.

 

[John972]

And indeed, it's funny to hear excuses about Bella from Nika who takes an active part in her actions that reach crime activity. He sounds awfully hypocritical. I could consider this as a plus to the plot, because now we have a pseudo-moralist protagonist. But I wonder if Ocean actually sees it.

Nika IS a hypocrite and he also displays an astounding lack of self-awareness at times.

One one hand he is quick to white knight for, care for, understand, and support new friends. On the other hand, he will coldly contemplate screwing over and/or manipulating other people - often to alleviate his own boredom - with about as much regard for those people as bugs under the sole of his shoe. Nika thinks he's such a great observer, but he doesn't yet comprehend the dichotomy of his own behaviors/actions.

The problem isn't Stefan and his family, the problem is Nika and Bella.

We don't yet know Bella's full motivation for hating the Holgersons.

Nika's reason for wanting to hurt the Holgersons is blindly obvious (IMHO), yet many people miss it.

For Nika, the Holgersons are now surrogates for Summer's parents/family. Nika witnessed the Holgersons treat Mila like Summer's parents treated him. Thus, all that hate and rage Nika still feels for Summer's family will be manifested against the Holgersons. There is nothing rational behind it.

We've seen time and time aqain in Nika's interactions with people that he dispises those who look down upon or mock others deemed less wealthy or of a lower social class.

 

[Adhdclassic]

For the steam release does anybody know the total of cinematics there are?

 

[John972]

- About the charge: Seeing Jane Laverne was known as a family friend (assuming first name basis, and that Nami called her specifically), and there are two police officers in WiaB close to the Zanes, Mon and Abigail, dropping a charge could be easy if it was in any way connected to Zane interests. Dana could also have a hand, and Elena as a lawyer could have had a hand in whatever it was - but it all depends on who Noji is and who Nika is to the Zanes. It would be easy for the Zanes to make his charges disappear. For Nika to not be on the database with a dropped charge kinda hints that he's off the hook as though it never happened. Further, Laverne could be his truant officer, as Noji is their guardian in effect.

- Nice timeline! My feeling was Summer + Nika = good basketball, Summer's gone = trenchcoat and brass knuckles, figuratively. Then the violent incident = charge, recuperation = wasted muscles, and not doing anything that might get him charged again. As I'm the same, thinking Nika was at the start of high school, when he saw summer last, was when she started puberty. He never saw if Ocean gave her gigantors or not.

- regards the change from stable to anti, if he refused to take interest in basket ball, by refusing to turn up, everyone would think he was weird. The question is why no one other than Nia, Nika and Nami really cared that Summer was gone.

- regards the violent incident: it depends on whether it was a fight or someone being violent to him. ie if Summers dad beat the crap out of him (hypothetically) that would end his basketball career for the season at least. Nika doesn't need to be the instigator of the violent incident, so it can happen at any time. Most LIKELY it's as a result of his beliigerance though, and that put an end to sports, so basketball Nika = Summer's boyfriend. Also, the association of the Summer flashback with her playing basketball - maybe he avoided it after she disappeared? There's certainly negative connotations now.

- The Holgersons: seeing Zoey was Katie's GF, I didn't think there was any family connection, just connected via growing up together. Zoey wanted to start a porn company with Willi, maybe Emilia (who was Zoey's friend in the orginal WiaB I think?) was their first employee, and that's why Emilia's question of Katie is interesting at the book club? We know Zoey is still around, but are Katie and Zoey still together? THe Holgerson's had a 'paper' company in WiaB, I assumed a newspaper. Now Stefan has a golden underpants, and Katie is a fashion designer. Too little to go on so far.

- Goth girl is one of the most interesting new additions for me. I was curious about the pizza scene, but seeing her more, I really want to know. Currently I've noticed her blonde friend pays Nika a lot of attention, but Goth girl mainly looks at Nami - and I really do wonder if she's Leia's daughter. It's be a great reveal.

- I think either childhood friend or childhood 'friend'. Either works for Dwight. Boyfriend seems wrong, and I doubt he's the Revera - as if old WiaB has any truth, Donna was pregnant by Willi, and they're both dark haired without fair complexion. Jake suits as Willi has at least one brownish eye.

- Agreed about the coaching plan. I think Nika and Nami had no choice in college because of the plan. I think it was a scholarship that couldn't be refused. And yes, I think Hill was testing Nika's ability to take a hit for the team, or deal with the consequences. A star player who can't will just get bulldozed.

- LOTS of subtle changes. I'm not even going to try to work it out. This is now all there is, and if I load WIP SG, I know it's non canon. Same as WiaB - it informs intent to remember where it went, but that's no longer the entire direction.

- I will go on Nia's path most likely because fuck... he life is hard enough, being a friend is the least anyone can do. People will defend Bella while she's a criminal (street racing, gun, soft drugs, theft, vandalism), but Nia's doing something legal in most countries and people find her distasteful, her family have shut her out. Even before the reveal I felt shitty over the way Nika treated her in the gym. She and Vic are maybe the two gentlest people in the game. It might be because I know a few ex cam girls and I've seen what it did to them. It really does make them lonely once they stop, and rarely do they become successful. All that stigma, and still broke.

Nice analysis.

On the question of Summer's age when she disappeared...

Nika tells Nami that Summer's breasts were just starting to develop when he last knew her - so the onset of puberty.

I have assumed Ocean chose to use something approximating the US school system in SG - Elementary School (ages 5-10), Middle School (ages 11-13), and High School (ages 14-17). Assuming Nika's at least 18 by the start of the game, Summer's disappearance (five years prior) puts Nika's age when it happened around 13-14 years.

 

[Deleted member 6168082]

No sex boring

Get a gf or go watch porn.

I'm talking about the scene where MC and his sister were sitting watching porn at home.

Lol, I knew when you mentioned "porn in the game" you meant when they were watching porn on ze laptop. I mean, you can watch porn on your own laptop if you miss it that much. You are a silly jester. I rather focus on the main characters.

Also, someone mentioned hating or not liking that the scene with Mila smoking a cig is gone. I think the removal helped more than not. Since in the old version, your choices were (smoke the cig with her or say no and leave) this new scene works out better, to me anyways.

 

[Razrback16]

I don't think Nika is on Stefan's radar (other than as a curiosity - does he/his family matter in the games of power).

I think Vanessa is the dangerous one (from a perception and observation POV).

I think any Nika/Bella time at Nick's house when Vanessa is able to observe them will give her insights into each of them and them as a couple - insights they don't necessarily want her to have.

For now, she is neither ally nor enemy, but I think Vanessa would like it if Nika owed her favors... and he might not enjoy paying them back...

There is the couple's situation... imagine Vanessa and Mario meeting Nika and Bella at Nick's house.

Or - for more fun picture - imagine Nika and Bella naked in the jacuzzi, just talking and catching up - when suddenly Mario and Vanessa, also naked, round the corner to get in the jacuzzi.

Nika - in a quiet who of dominance - just stands up and stretches, then greets Vanessa.

Mario jumps into the hot tub and damn near drowns himself trying to hide the fact that he's using a butt plug.

Once he's 'safely' under the water, he notices that Vanessa is still standing there, fully naked, and taking her time getting under the water.

Bella's face shows that she does not like the 'show' Vanessa is giving Nika and Mario does not either.

Nika is meeting her eyes and not looking at the rest of her body, while the same cannot be said of Vanessa and then Mario notices where Vanessa is looking and ....

Ocean could have a lot of fun with a certain dichotomy between Nika and Mario if he chooses to.

Once Amber's cabin visit therapy gets Nika 'firing on all cylinders' - this dichotomy will be Much more pronounced...

Cheers!!

Hah, yeah right now Stefan doesn't give a crap. I think when suspicions begin on the Amber route that the MC and her are getting "close" he's going to have a friggin' meltdown.

 

[BobTheDuck]

Nice analysis.

On the question of Summer's age when she disappeared...

Nika tells Nami that Summer's breasts were just starting to develop when he last knew her - so the onset of puberty.

I have assumed Ocean chose to use something approximating the US school system in SG - Elementary School (ages 5-10), Middle School (ages 11-13), and High School (ages 14-17). Assuming Nika's at least 18 by the start of the game, Summer's disappearance (five years prior) puts Nika's age when it happened around 13-14 years.

Just on that, the last time Nika saw Summer, she was just growing breasts. Seeing he saw her once after the cabin, there could be a case for (Summer+Nika+basketball) > (Cabin/disappearance) > (Antisocial violent Nika) > (Sees Summer/Violent episode/charged) > (hospitalised/apathetic Nika). The last time he saw her doesn't have to be close to when she initially left his life. And what is said to Amber "I had no choice" means he was active in whatever did happen to her.

Get a gf or go watch porn.



Lol, I knew when you mentioned "porn in the game" you meant when they were watching porn on ze laptop. I mean, you can watch porn on your own laptop if you miss it that much. You are a silly jester. I rather focus on the main characters.

Also, someone mentioned hating or not liking that the scene with Mila smoking a cig is gone. I think the removal helped more than not. Since in the old version, your choices were (smoke the cig with her or say no and leave) this new scene works out better, to me anyways.

Exactly - Nami still talks about watching porn with Nika, so in essence the scene is still there just without the pixels on the laptop screen, but it shows us Nika's awkwardness and Nami's horniness better through their dialogue. And there are still cigarettes if you're on Nami's path, but they're seen as a sign of massive stress.

 

[eternum_racer]

What the difference between Summers_Gone_Chapter_5_BETA and this ?
This has more content after?
Also why doesn't show the saves from Chapter_5?

 

[turbojoe]

What the difference between Summers_Gone_Chapter_5_BETA and this ?
This has more content after?
Also why doesn't show the saves from Chapter_5?

Read here https://f95zone.to/threads/summers-gone-s1-steam-dlc-oceanlab.29981/post-13754413 last part