Actually, the developer has done this before with another game, back in August of '20 [2nd Chance, not to be confused with Second Chance or Second Chances]. He puts up a text-based game, promised to make all sorts of animations and full scenes....and then ever does so. He's since started a Patreon account and a second season of the aforementioned game....still with text, so I guess he can now make promises to get an artist, animator and proofreader...and not actually do that.
Again.
At least two other members of F95 offered to help with the proofreading, and - judging from the text in this version - never contacted them.
The story is good, but its like listening to a Wikipedia article about an action movie - its missing a lot of the stuff that would make it good, and the dev cannot be bothered to make the effort. And the pictures in the game screenshot? Oh, those are not in the game, either. It has all the earmarks of a con, tbh.
What's wrong with you?
I has worked on this for 3-4 years now and I still hope to one day be able to afford to hire someone to do art work for my games. Last year I managed to produce a pilot for The 2nd Chance with great pictures. The pilot is 1 day of gameplay and had around 250 pictures. It took us around 6 month to make. Based on the pilot I made the assessment that I will need around 6000 pictures to produce the entire story. I heard with some artist and the best offer I got was 500 euro for 80 renders (37.500 euro for 6000 renders.) This was just renders so if I wanted someone to do animations as well it would probably be a project that would cost me around 50.000 euro . You may call me cheap, but the fact is that I don't have 50.000 to spend on this project. In an attempt to raise some money I have followed your advice and started a Patron. This gives me a income of 22 euros each month...
I'm really trying my best to provide you pictures to this game, but unless some artist want to be a part of this project then there really isn't anything that I can do.
I have had proofreading on this game so instead of just criticizing their work and effort it would be better if you told us what they have missed. We have put thousands of hours into creating free stories. We have no intention of making any money and would love if we get the opportunity to get the games illustrated some day.
First, I have to say that I respect you for addressing my criticisms directly; not many developers would do that.
That having been said, I know that you didn't start a Patreon account just because I mentioned it; you created it for season 2. And the reason that you haven't garnered a lot of patronage is due to your game missing the key components that make a visual novel successful. To be pointed, it needs visuals. You are utterly aware of this; you chose art renders to represent your characters. The problem is that you think placeholder images are going to carry your story sufficiently. I think your Patreon account monthly donations is clearly demonstrating that you need more.
A lot of my disappointment in your game is because your story is quite well done and compelling, but the use of placeholder images absolutely tears the story down - the reader/player is constantly being reminded that the images being used are not indicative of the events taking place in the story. It looks cheap.
And I am sorry, but the fact that you have not been able to find a budding artist who is interested in rendering is not an adequate excuse for releasing what is seen as a half-cooked game. I get that some of the artists here in F95 [and judging from some of the fan art pages of games, there is a lot of talent out there], there is artistic talent to be found outside F95 as well. As i m just a writer and not a game developer, I have no real idea as to how to go about finding an artist. DeviantArt.com, Behance, Dribbble, CGSociety, and ArtStation spring to mind. There are artists everywhere. And in the unlikely event that none of them meet your criteria, you should do what virtually every other developer here has done in similar situations; they rolled up their sleeves and they learned how to do the renders themselves. I am not saying that you have to do the same; I am simply saying that arguing that the artists are asking too much rings pretty hollow.
And I know this is all harsh, X. If I thought your game was utter shite, I'd simply shake my head and walk away. But the truth of the matter is that you have something really good here, and you are not giving it the attention or output it deserves.
- May 29, 2017
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I like your games... I enjoyed them more than I thought I would with just placeholder art. I would very much like to see them completed but I see your struggle. You don't have artist. You can't affored to hire one. You can't raise money via patreon without one. I hope you find someone to team-up with. Good luck.
Jenny is getting inducted into The Higher Society!
I think they are more about very simple description's. Have you played Dungeons and dragons without a good dm? There's nothing to imagine without some details to go off of. If you can't animate you can't animate but if you're going to make a game without animation be descriptive and paint the picture for your audience.
- Dec 1, 2019
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No doubt (and yes, I've experienced varying degrees of awful as DMs). However, even in that broken state, D&D is still a game, that is all I was saying.
This is a text-based game. If I add a 3dcg tag then people will expect pictures...
Not sure, but my guess is that you have played the illustrated version of the game: https://f95zone.to/threads/the-higher-society-illustrated-v0-1-xxerikxx.99159/
Ah, that would explain it. That's it. I thought I was losing my mind.
Hello, sorry i m new here. Why you want to hire someone ? Why you don"t make your renders yourself ?
- Jul 10, 2017
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Maybe he lack the skills, and stick figures wouldn't make anyone excited... It's a bit like ask you; Why don't you make a nuclear missile...
I think he has made some good renders before. Meaby is the equipment that he is lacking.
but like this one, is much much better that some you will find within the forum.