Ren'Py Summertime Saga [v21.0.0 wip.5003] [Kompas Productions]

[thedoomerjo]

f95zoneguy indeed made such a graph quite some time ago:

View attachment 998882
By now you'd have to add:
- 0.20.0 may 2020
- 0.20.5 septemer 2020
- 0.20.6 october 2020

Interesting, thank you!

 

[srksrk 68]

Is there a kind of graph somewhere that shows the length of time between updates?

Not a graph, but up-to date:

0.20.7: October 25th 2020 (Odette Halloween) -> 1.5 months
0.20.5: September 7th 2020 (main story 2) -> 4 months
0.20.1: May 5th 2020 (main story) -> 5+ months
0.19.5: December 20th 2019 (Consuela) -> 2 months
0.19.1: October 19th 2019 (Eve) -> 4.5 months
0.18.5: June 4th 2019 (Jenny 2) -> 1 month
0.18.0: May 2nd 2019 (Jenny) -> 4.5 months
0.17.5: Dec 16th 2018 (Daisy) -> 1- month
0.17.0: Nov 23rd 2018 (Diane) -> 4 months
0.16.0: July 25th 2018 (Roxxy) -> 3+ months
0.15.1: April 15th 2018 (teachers) -> 4 months
0.14.5: December 19th 2017 (Debbie) -> 1.5 months
0.14.3: November 1st 2017 (Aqua) -> 0.5 months
0.14: October 13th 2017 (Mia) -> 2- months
0.13: August 21st 2017 (Erik)

The first update that is comparable to the amout of content that DC delivers nowadays has been the 0.15.1 teachers update. From then on, all major updates took around four months, followed by a minor update of around 1 month. The main story took a bit longer, but that was announced by DC before.

 

[MurkyTurtle]

As always, one can do nothing but guess. DC said quite a while ago that the scenes etc. are done and it looks like it's again the writing that slows the whole progress down a bit. Sploosh said himself a while a ago that he feels kinda burnt out by all this main story stuff, which is something I can really relate to. It's been far too much and far too big. Yet, I'd say a release by the end of february can be expected - if they really get it together, maybe a little earlier, given that on paper not much actually seems to be left.

They really should have delivered the main story in smaller chunks with each girl's update. Having the whole thing dumped in our laps in one three-part log really takes away from any interest or intrigue that could be built up by having the MC slowly unraveling the mystery of what happened to his father, and also really emphasizes how compartmentalized the story has become. I know the piecemeal Patreon development doesn't lend itself well to long-term planning, but it would have been cool to see some small clues revealed through interacting with the girls and their stories (like finding info on the Russian thugs through receipts at the tattoo parlor, or having Clyde reveal the location of drug stashes).

The only interesting characters we've gotten as a result of the main story have been Tony and Maria; everything involving the Rumps was drawn-out and annoying, and I basically just gave up and skipped through most of Iwanka and Melonia's dialogue. Also, do we really need fifteen new parody characters in each update that we'll see and interact with once? It feels like we're indulging DC's need to amuse himself by drawing Gordon Ramsay or Keanu Reeves more than we're getting characters that serve an actual purpose in the story.

 

[j4yj4m]

@MurkyTurtle:
Yeah, I'd basically agree with everything. The main story should have been split in 5 to 6 small updates, which could have been released randomly in between other stuff, given that it's new content and seems to be perfectly splittable. That would have meant more updates and it simply would have felt a lot better. About two years ago DC talked about releasing more updates again, and that would have been the chance.

Else I'd also agree that it probably would have been better to simply include fewer characters and in part fewer scenes. Consuela really didn't need 4 scenes and Tina and either Iwanka or Melonia could have been removed from the story without anybody really noticing, just as Nadya sems kind of superfluous - though I'll stay openminded until the update is out.

It really feels like this whole thing spun totally out of control and it went from a "slightly larger than normal update split in two", which should have taken like two times 3,5 months or so, to this monster which now will take 16 - 17 months if you include 0.19.5.

At least I'm really looking forward to Rhonda, Annie and Judith and I'll be happy once this whole main story thing is just over.

 

[Omnikuken]

Not trying to bitchslap you dudes, but splitting the main stuff into other girls' routes could lead to a bunch of fail if you skip 1 of them and suddenly you're either stuck or you get a godly revelation that somehow a part you missed was the answer to everything all along and you never knew anything about it.

Is the current format the best choice ? Probably not, but it's still a better option to dump everything at once and be done than split it into cryptic and missable parts you'd have to go out of your way to find in other random girls' route you probably never expected to have anything to do with main story (like finding out MC's dad worked with the mafia by doing the teachers' routes would feel a bit weird).

 

[j4yj4m]

Not trying to bitchslap you dudes, but splitting the main stuff into other girls' routes could lead to a bunch of fail if you skip 1 of them and suddenly you're either stuck or you get a godly revelation that somehow a part you missed was the answer to everything all along and you never knew anything about it.

Well, not into other girl's routes, but simply into small solo updates which can be released in between other updates. To me it seems easily possible, to for example stop 0.20.0 at the point where you have to fuck Tina before having to impregnate Maria or so, then do Rhondas update (or by now the tech stuff), then release the rest of what now is 0.20.0, then do Annie, then release another part of the main story with Iwanka, etc.

Given that the main story isn't connected to any other story, there shouldn't have been an issue. As long as you place the right cliffhangers, people will know how what's going on and you'd have had a good mix of character and main story updates. At least in hindsight that would have been a way better approach.

Is the current format the best choice ? Probably not, but it's still a better option to dump everything at once and be done than split it into cryptic and missable parts you'd have to go out of your way to find in other random girls' route you probably never expected to have anything to do with main story (like finding out MC's dad worked with the mafia by doing the teachers' routes would feel a bit weird).

As said, I think they could have easily split it into 5 to 6 instead of the 3-4 updates we got now. Not too small, but not too big and not for 16 months without interruption.

 

[srksrk 68]

They really should have delivered the main story in smaller chunks with each girl's update. Having the whole thing dumped in our laps in one three-part log really takes away from any interest or intrigue that could be built up by having the MC slowly unraveling the mystery of what happened to his father, and also really emphasizes how compartmentalized the story has become. I know the piecemeal Patreon development doesn't lend itself well to long-term planning, but it would have been cool to see some small clues revealed through interacting with the girls and their stories (like finding info on the Russian thugs through receipts at the tattoo parlor, or having Clyde reveal the location of drug stashes).

The only interesting characters we've gotten as a result of the main story have been Tony and Maria; everything involving the Rumps was drawn-out and annoying, and I basically just gave up and skipped through most of Iwanka and Melonia's dialogue. Also, do we really need fifteen new parody characters in each update that we'll see and interact with once? It feels like we're indulging DC's need to amuse himself by drawing Gordon Ramsay or Keanu Reeves more than we're getting characters that serve an actual purpose in the story.

I cannot completely agree. I like the Rumps' story very much. The arrogant but lonely MILF and the Paris-Hilton-like Daughter had just the right amount of humor for my liking.

I get your point wrt/ parodies like Keanu Reeves or Gordon Ramsay. But why not? I found the priest funny before I knew it was a parody. If DC finds satisfaction in such things, and I find it funny, I don't have anything against it.

 

[Morasaky]

well, all we have to do now is wait for the main story to end and look forward to the other chars updates

 

[Omnikuken]

Onward to the next empty debate : Ronda or Rhonda

 

[srksrk 68]

Onward to the next empty debate : Ronda or Rhonda

I did a code search for you:

"Rhonda": 0 hits in 1442 files.
"Ronda": 305 hits in 1442 files.

I guess we have a winner here. Now somebody must tell DC how to write that name correctly

Edit: Similar picture on Google: Rhonda vs. Ronda -- 65 Mio vs. 159 Mio

 

[j4yj4m]

I know it didn't matter for the game, but there's an actual jamaican track athlete called "Ronda Whyte" who represented Jamaica at the 2017 olmypics.

Then again, as far as I recall she was called indeed Rhonda at first until somebody changed it. DC said it wasn't him, so it was probably Sploosh? I guess we'll see which names wins in the end. Once she get's her update we'll know for sure.

 

[Evans15]

Anyone knows why some people on DC patreon are asking for Iwanka and her mom to keep her pregnancies? Does DC said he plans to take it away?

 

[mrpopo69]

The chance to see more politicians after the main story finishes is probably close to 0 - and that's a good thing.

We should remember that Rump was in the game before Trump won the election and he would have been the major even if Hillary had won. The fact that he actually won and that the main story features right now is hardly more than a coincidence.


As always, one can do nothing but guess. DC said quite a while ago that the scenes etc. are done and it looks like it's again the writing that slows the whole progress down a bit. Sploosh said himself a while a ago that he feels kinda burnt out by all this main story stuff, which is something I can really relate to. It's been far too much and far too big. Yet, I'd say a release by the end of february can be expected - if they really get it together, maybe a little earlier, given that on paper not much actually seems to be left.

jesus christ it's been five years just like that snap.... what the fuck

 

[Omnikuken]

Anyone knows why some people on DC patreon are asking for Iwanka and her mom to keep her pregnancies? Does DC said he plans to take it away?

They are the only girls (so far) who can deny their preg if you let them. They'll call MC and tell him they got preg'd, but there's a few dialog choices to go through and you can have them aborted if you choose to (or fail and they just laugh at you)

 

[srksrk 68]

They are the only girls (so far) who can deny their preg if you let them. They'll call MC and tell him they got preg'd, but there's a few dialog choices to go through and you can have them aborted if you choose to (or fail and they just laugh at you)

That' also the case for Grace, and (AFAIK) Eve.

Edit: I was wrong about Eve, no choice there.

 

[It Was I DIO]

I agree that the main story shouldnt have been such a focal point at the moment. Theres no rush, there was no need to get it out if you ask me. I think if the developer had just kept getting the girls content out and their stories people would still be just as content. Instead we have a story thrust into our face that, sure we dont have to do right away but when content with other girls is the same as it was for years? months? People will jump at the new content no matter what it is.

In a ideal development cycle the main story would be the last thing the developer puts all his attention on, after Rhonda/Principal/Judith/Latina Twins/etc are done. Lets face it, we are gamers here and what do gamers usually do? We complete all the side quests first then we complete the main story lol, we dont beat the game then go back and just wander around over-powered completing fetch quests.

 

[Omnikuken]

All fun and dandy until you find out this is pron with a story, not a game with lewds. Then you find out the 1st choice you make is to remove the grind, defeating the entire purpose of your point and leaving you over-powered before you even start on day 1 .....

 

[j4yj4m]

@It Was I DIO:
To be fair, the game always had two main objectives. One is to find out what happened to MC's dad, while the other is to find a prom date. And right now it does indeed look like the prom will be among the last things added, so there's still enough important content left to be added.

I don't know about everybody else, but I always cared much more about the prom/schoolgirls than about the actual "main story" anyway. Or to put it slightly different, to me the "main story" is more or less a side quest that happens besides playing the other stories.

 

[Squark ⚧❤️]

I've just realised how realistic a character Annie is.
She deeply resents being the Principal's carpet cleaner but puts up with because it will be advantageous to her in the long run. However, it does cause her to take out her aggression towards her situation on others and being a strict authoritarian as if she doesn't rigidly uphold the rules, she might lose that advantage.

It's been quite some time since I played SS so if this has already been stated or is already in the game, slap me silly and paint me purple.

 

[Omnikuken]

You deduced all that with the ~6 lines of dialgue she has in the entire game ? Nice. Most people stopped at "stuck-up bitch who licks the principal cause reasons". Maybe in 2+ years when her route gets done we'll know more about her. And her very furry mom. And the mega-slut in chief known as Smith. And get them all preg (let RNGesus have mercy on us for that though)