Ren'Py Summertime Saga [v21.0.0 wip.5091] [Kompas Productions]

[Senigata]

You can't claim the issue is that the code is a mess cause he didn't know how to code when he started and then not understand that it easier to restart from scratch with the knowledge you have gained from your mistakes than to try to go in and find all the issues one by one and fix them. That process would cause more issues because as you fix the code you will create new conflicts. I'm sorry that that is outside of your understanding.

Restarting from scratch doesn't mean it'll go any faster either, because it's still a game that's been developed for years that you are now starting all over again. Visual novel games can take years to create in Japan, too. And those have way less "gameplay" than Summertime Saga has. Making sure the code is future proof this time around, posing the characters with the new aspect ratio, ect is also a bitch to do due to the nature of the game not being 'one and done'.

But hey, you're apparently the expert, so why don't you enlighten DC with that wisdom of yours? :^)

 

[kioeclipse]

To be fair, they have to basically fix 4 or 5 years worth of bad coding and rework pretty much all the art in the game. Before he decided to do the tech update, his release schedule wasn't that bad for a hand drawn game. The problem is that he really underestimated the amount of work that it takes to fix all those things and said that the tech update would be done in around 9 months. And now 2 years later it's still not close to being finished.

Thats the thing though none of the artwork really needs reworked it was fine and one of the main factors that drew people to the game. Anither issue is he kept releasing these small updates in between the tech update, where honestly he should have just of used that time on the tech. Even then, there wasnt really anything wrong with how the game ran, some transitioms vould be annoying and sex scenes could be smoothed out but outside of that idk.

 

[kioeclipse]

Except he started less than a year ago, so how could he be finished a year and a half ago???

No he didnt the last major update was in 2021. Since that update they have been working on tech but shot themselves in foot by releasing small pre tech updates. It didnt help that the developer that was wrote most of the code and made a roadmap for the tech update left and when they brought a new person in the head to learn and work with hundred of thousands to millions of lines of code they didnt write

 

[bazbj77]

the butthurt is strong here

 

[KingRei]

I can't imagine being one of the people who come to this website, every day, just to post vapid conspiracy theories about how everything is a scam. Some of you are going crazy because you literally look for updates, every single day. Check back once a month and you'll suffer from significantly less hysteria

 

[Count Morado]

Thats the thing though none of the artwork really needs reworked it was fine and one of the main factors that drew people to the game. Anither issue is he kept releasing these small updates in between the tech update, where honestly he should have just of used that time on the tech. Even then, there wasnt really anything wrong with how the game ran, some transitioms vould be annoying and sex scenes could be smoothed out but outside of that idk.

Except that all the artwork needed redone - either transformed to 16:9 or reposed for 16:9 display. That is one of the major aspects of the tech update, itself. To move from 4:3 to 16:9 for better mobile experience.

I agree with your point about the pre-tech updates - and have said so in the past. Also, DC eventually saw the futility of them, himself, and they stopped in October 2022.

It didnt help that the developer that was wrote most of the code and made a roadmap for the tech update left and when they brought a new person in the head to learn and work with hundred of thousands to millions of lines of code they didnt write

It would be difficult to say that one person "wrote most of the code." It started with DC learning coding while creating the content and then there were several he hired in succession who wrote the code in the intervening years with their differing signature on how coding should be approached and written. Thereby, they all created a Frankenstein's monster of 26.2 MB of code through 1600 files. DC has been a part of this all, since it is his vision. He hasn't left. Strayerror, the current coder, has been on the team since mid-2019.

Coders (listed from the wiki)

• Strayerror (Since mid-2019)
• Dogeek (mid-2018 to late-2019)
• NhKPaNdA (mid-2017 to mid-2018)
• Amo (late-2017 to mid-2018)
• Hurfy (mid-2017 to late-2017)*
• Arizona Identities (2016 to mid-2017)*
• Kaosu (2016 to early-2017)*
• DarkCookie (in the beginning... there was darkness)*

* Denotes simultaneous other developing duties (such as posing, writing, etc).

I can't imagine being one of the people who come to this website, every day, just to post vapid conspiracy theories about how everything is a scam. Some of you are going crazy because you literally look for updates, every single day. Check back once a month and you'll suffer from significantly less hysteria

Or... twice a year. Hell, people checking updates twice or three times a year, at most, is a great suggestion for any title on this site.

I, however, come for the popcorn moments.

 

[Senigata]

Thats the thing though none of the artwork really needs reworked it was fine and one of the main factors that drew people to the game. Anither issue is he kept releasing these small updates in between the tech update, where honestly he should have just of used that time on the tech. Even then, there wasnt really anything wrong with how the game ran, some transitioms vould be annoying and sex scenes could be smoothed out but outside of that idk.

Sure, just slap all the old art on 16:9 and see how it looks. And if you're about to ask "Who needs the game in 16:9?" I'll tell you real quick: the patrons, who apparently mainly play on phones. So this you can blame on the moneybags actually paying for this.

 

[kioeclipse]

I agree with your point about the pre-tech updates - and have said so in the past. Also, DC eventually saw the futility of them, himself, and they stopped in October 2022.
It would be difficult to say that one person "wrote most of the code." It started with DC learning coding while creating the content and then there were several he hired in succession who wrote the code in the intervening years with their differing signature on how coding should be approached and written. Thereby, they all created a Frankenstein's monster of 26.2 MB of code through 1600 files. DC has been a part of this all, since it is his vision. He hasn't left.

I wasnt referring to DC when talking about leaving but specifically Dogeek. They were already talking about the game needing a revamp in 2019. He was the primary source for the roadmap/visualization going forward. He was let go/left due to complicatiom and hostile work enviroment.

DC was never really responsible for coding but rather art, story and design, where as Dogeek was the lead coder during his employment

 

[Count Morado]

Sure, just slap all the old art on 16:9 and see how it looks. And if you're about to ask "Who needs the game in 16:9?" I'll tell you real quick: the patrons, who apparently mainly play on phones. So this you can blame on the moneybags actually paying for this.

Those damn developing world markets with ubiquitous mobile device access and growing broadband connectivity.

I blame Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce for the invention of the monolithic integrated circuit. Ever since, we could pack more punch in smaller devices. I also blame Hedy Lamarr for her patent in radio technologies that made Wi-Fi and 5G possible. No longer are we tied to the wall with RJ45's keeping us confined to our homes.

Damn them. Damn them all to hell.

 

[Rickster82]

Still not abandoned? When was the last update? Pre-tech updates doesn't count.

 

[Vernalcash]

Still not abandoned? When was the last update? Pre-tech updates doesn't count.

Apparently it does.

 

[bakasto]

Coders (listed from the wiki)

• Strayerror (Since mid-2019)
• Dogeek (mid-2018 to late-2019)
• NhKPaNdA (mid-2017 to mid-2018)
• Amo (late-2017 to mid-2018)
• Hurfy (mid-2017 to late-2017)*
• Arizona Identities (2016 to mid-2017)*
• Kaosu (2016 to early-2017)*
• DarkCookie (in the beginning... there was darkness)*

Until Strayerror it looked like "Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher position at Hogwarts" situation lol

 

[MurkyTurtle]

Those damn developing world markets with ubiquitous mobile device access and growing broadband connectivity.

I blame Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce for the invention of the monolithic integrated circuit. Ever since, we could pack more punch in smaller devices. I also blame Hedy Lamarr for her patent in radio technologies that made Wi-Fi and 5G possible. No longer are we tied to the wall with RJ45's keeping us confined to our homes.

Damn them. Damn them all to hell.

Just to clarify, Hedy Lamarr's invention

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and there's no clear-cut evidence her work was ever used in any capacity since the radio-guided torpedoes it was invented to assist were only theoretical at the time and were never formally introduced with the advent of electronic controls. Plus, her ideas on frequency hopping

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. Still an impressive achievement for an actress in her day and age, but forgotten pioneer she was not.

 

[eliteplague]

Can't blame this dev, he is playing the system. And people are dumb enough to continue supporting him. I mean, I would do the same if I had a game that I released and people really enjoyed it, saw that it was making a shit ton of money from patreons, so then I would make sure to be really slow with updates, so that I will be set for life and retirement.

He is earning $62,870 per month . Think about that for a second. He is almost making 1 million every year. Why would I end that income by finishing that game if I was him. Why even start a new project? It could end up being a total failure. I'd be making my actual life a Summertime Saga and just fucking women and driving my Lambo.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. He is milking this for every last drop, and we're just sharks swimming around his yacht.

 

[brinith]

Milfy City V2

 

[TGafy]

does anyone know the name of this game?

How is this related to SS?

Better to post your question here: https://f95zone.to/forums/recommendations-identification.104/

 

[Count Morado]

Can't blame this dev, he is playing the system. And people are dumb enough to continue supporting him. I mean, I would do the same if I had a game that I released and people really enjoyed it, saw that it was making a shit ton of money from patreons, so then I would make sure to be really slow with updates, so that I will be set for life and retirement.

He is earning $62,870 per month . Think about that for a second. He is almost making 1 million every year. Why would I end that income by finishing that game if I was him. Why even start a new project? It could end up being a total failure. I'd be making my actual life a Summertime Saga and just fucking women and driving my Lambo.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. He is milking this for every last drop, and we're just sharks swimming around his yacht.

He has stated since the beginning that as long as people want to play the game, that they have ideas to add to the game, and that they enjoy doing what they are doing that they won't stop developing this. From about 6 years ago:

He's been very up front with this. Also, this is not unlike studios which revisit, revise, recode, reboot major titles.

(EDIT: Also, it's obvious from the interview that his ability to predict timelines and deadlines sucks. No one should have been surprised, especially DC, that his inability to do so would lead to a tech update taking much longer than he initially expected. The man can't predict worth shit.)

You say milking. Patreon subscriptions are for supporting creators in what they are doing, not for product access or product purchase - unless developers say as such. No one needs to pay anything play Summertime Saga. It's available for free to download directly from the developer. The only gameplaying benefit that subscribers get is that they get first access (up to 24 hours before the public) and downloading directly subscriber-only servers. If people only want to play Summertime Saga when there are updates (which were every several months before the tech update but which may not be for another 8 months or a year or more) they can do so without letting loose a dime. If subscribers want to stop their membership, no one is stopping them and nothing is stopping them from accessing the game. How is he milking?

 

[Senigata]

He has stated since the beginning that as long as people want to play the game, that they have ideas to add to the game, and that they enjoy doing what they are doing that they won't stop developing this. From about 6 years ago:

He's been very up front with this. Also, this is not unlike studios which revisit, revise, recode, reboot major titles.

(EDIT: Also, it's obvious from the interview that his ability to predict timelines and deadlines sucks. No one should have been surprised, especially DC, that his inability to do so would lead to a tech update taking much longer than he initially expected. The man can't predict worth shit.)

You say milking. Patreon subscriptions are for supporting creators in what they are doing, not for product access or product purchase - unless developers say as such. No one needs to pay anything play Summertime Saga. It's available for free to download directly from the developer. The only gameplaying benefit that subscribers get is that they get first access (up to 24 hours before the public) and downloading directly subscriber-only servers. If people only want to play Summertime Saga when there are updates (which were every several months before the tech update but which may not be for another 8 months or a year or more) they can do so without letting loose a dime. If subscribers want to stop their membership, no one is stopping them and nothing is stopping them from accessing the game. How is he milking?

You'd probably have to explain the concept of "patron of the arts' first.

 

[MurkyTurtle]

Can't blame this dev, he is playing the system. And people are dumb enough to continue supporting him. I mean, I would do the same if I had a game that I released and people really enjoyed it, saw that it was making a shit ton of money from patreons, so then I would make sure to be really slow with updates, so that I will be set for life and retirement.

He is earning $62,870 per month . Think about that for a second. He is almost making 1 million every year. Why would I end that income by finishing that game if I was him. Why even start a new project? It could end up being a total failure. I'd be making my actual life a Summertime Saga and just fucking women and driving my Lambo.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. He is milking this for every last drop, and we're just sharks swimming around his yacht.

A few points, if only to illustrate the insane range of earnings out in the world:

1. $62,870 * 12 = $754,440. That's considerably less than $1 million.
2. He's gotta pay for a full-time coder and several contractors out of that monthly amount, as well as whatever overhead the website represents. Let's be generous and say when all is said and done he's keeping ~$50k a month gross, or about $600k a year. That's pre-tax, too, so maybe $400k take-home a year once that's handled.
3. What kind of Tommy Tallarico fantasy world do you live in where $600k a year is nothing but Lambos and women? That's a lot of money to an average pleb, but in the world of high-paid professional salaries it's somewhere in the "pretty good" mark. I work with an attorney who comfortably clears in excess of $50k every month for ~100 hours of billables, all WFH.

Plus, it's pretty well documented that most of his free time is spent juggling his wife, three kids, and the various illnesses they keep giving him. Hardly a glamorous lifestyle.

 

[Count Morado]

every month for ~100 hours of billables, all WFH.

That attorney is lazy