This will sound like i'm defending them.
Pure speculation of course, but I would guess they've had to scrap and redo everything from zero at least a couple of times. Probably getting hung up restructuring the game to allow for easier implementation of the dating system in the future. Not really sure how that all would have worked spliced onto the old game.
It probably wouldn't have, and I share your speculation on multiple restarts. I suspect the primary reason they haven't changed engines to something more friendly is because they'd be sacrificing easy Android support in the process. Since they've said in the past that a significant portion of their audience is mobile users and that removing the black bars on the phone screen was a major impetus for switching to widescreen, they're stuck trying to modify Ren'Py into something it was never designed for.
bro... what the fuckity fuck are you talking about? i am genuinely curious...
Ren'Py was designed as an engine for visual novels, i.e. linear stories with occasional branching paths. Using it for a sandbox game like Summertime Saga has already taxed the engine to its limits, and the existing build has so many ugly hacks in it (like the pregnancy system) that the current devs have said it some cases it only works by accident. The Tech Update is trying to not only re-engineer the current systems to work properly, but also to prepare it for future new ones like the dating system. A more fully-featured engine like Unity could handle things, but like I said Unity builds don't play as cleanly with Android cross-compatability as Ren'Py does.
I'm not sure I agree with this. Ren'Py is actually fairly well-suited for this game. The dev isn't trying to render anything 3D or even trying to use complicated shaders, all the art is pre-drawn. The sandbox concept works great in Ren'Py if you are using a map that you point and click to travel or clickable parts of interiors to move throughout (which STS does).
Funny thing, i actually saw his art style in an AI site called "CivitAI", couldnt believe it at first but there it is.
Pretty much any art can be replicated.
Miura was next level. Its impossible to create his later art style because he started drawing pixel by pixel. Even then the new team is doing a very good job. If they can do it, so can a bunch of artists who can replicate the art style. I just got into Berserk and honestly its a feast for the eyes. I have never seen art so captivating and beautifully drawn.
Every monthly summary he's working or improving Jenny stuff
