I'm sure we'll get to that eventually!More BDSM events please
- Dec 9, 2018
- 4,735
- 6,041
I thought it was tricky getting any sort of feel for their character: I'm picking which characters will form part of the MC's workday, but I don't know much about what they're really like, what they're into, or (crucially) what particular form of content would be involved in each of their story lines. If one of them is a domme, one's a painslut, and a third has a tragic secret that'll appeal to those who like to get emotionally invested, and how their character might work with the MC as I play him.
Choosing which girls to hire (and not to hire!) becomes a bit of a blind guess: I'm not going to manage several playthroughs to hire every possible combination, so right now I'm just worried about what content I'll be missing out on.
Oh, and as m0us3r said, having images to go with the choice would be useful for those of us with a shitty memory for names.
- Dec 9, 2018
- 4,735
- 6,041
I'm ctrl-skipping through the updated build just to see what's new, and telling Lois you could make Kari take the job brings up her stat line.
(
call stats ( kari ) in line 893)In the same choice, I was surprised Lois reacted so strongly to the MC suggesting she was jealous. I read it at harmless flirting/teasing of the sort she and the MC has been doing a lot of, but she clearly took it as harassment or an insult.
Obviously, I'm trying to get across a rough idea of who each of them are in a reasonable amount of time, without making it boring for the options you might not be interested in.
I think it's fair to say that they're intended to be side characters (like quests in an RPG), so it's possible that you might hire someone, follow their storyline and then have them move on, at which point there would be a new opening...
Of course, I'd like to think we'll bring in new options as well.
And, as people have rightly observed, there may be other options, as there was with Tilly - clearly not the best choice for a receptionist but "Oh! We have an opening on the flight crew..."
If you don't choose a particular person now, chances are you'll get another opportunity later, so don't sweat missing out on stuff. In the same way, you'll likely see Ashley again. As always, it's about me finding the time to to everything.
As to a picture-based menu system, I still have a lot to learn about renpy, I'll look into it, but not going to commit to that at this stage.
I'm probably spending 60 hours a week on this. Maybe not in the most efficient way, but it's a learning curve, as you can tell if you compare the first release to the latest.
First one is my mistake, presumably from when I was testing something. Will remove that from next
Second one, on reflection, does seem over the top. I'll give that some thought. More opinions?
Last edited:
Now for something completely different, just looking to get some thoughts/feedback.
Patreon:
Clearly it's not bringing in anything like enough to even cover costs on a project like this. Everything in the game was legitimately acquired from Daz, Renderosity and a handful of other sources, or built by me (a lot of the character morphs, MC's laptop, Kari's belly-piercing) and there's a lot of re-working of commercial products to make them usable (MCs car, for example).
I know there will always be some people who don't understand the concept of "give and take" and I'm not looking to MAKE people pay. So I guess it's fair to consider Patreon a tip-jar, which makes it feel like a kick in the teeth when people cancel the last day of the month.
Personally, I'd rather someone sign up for a dollar than come in like a big cheese only to cancel before the billing cycle. I know you can switch to charging up front, but it seems like people have been burned by developers who've gone that route and then delivered nothing.
Are there better options? Come to that, are there other places to promote the game?
Release Schedule:
I still feel there are areas of the existing game that need to be fleshed out and I also think I've not entirely fulfilled the original premise of a less linear structure, although part of that is to do with the way story lines develop.
So far, I've been trying to do a new point release a month, although it's been more like six weeks on average, I think. That's been based on the concept of adding a week of game time to each version.
Is this working for people? Am I losing people because the expect more and sooner?
Compatibility:
Again, still some issues because of the learning curve for me, but I think we're past the point where saves break between versions. Barring any undiscovered bugs, I think saves from the current game should be fine going into version 0.5.
That said, there will probably be another build (0403) before that anyway.
Patreon:
Clearly it's not bringing in anything like enough to even cover costs on a project like this. Everything in the game was legitimately acquired from Daz, Renderosity and a handful of other sources, or built by me (a lot of the character morphs, MC's laptop, Kari's belly-piercing) and there's a lot of re-working of commercial products to make them usable (MCs car, for example).
I know there will always be some people who don't understand the concept of "give and take" and I'm not looking to MAKE people pay. So I guess it's fair to consider Patreon a tip-jar, which makes it feel like a kick in the teeth when people cancel the last day of the month.
Personally, I'd rather someone sign up for a dollar than come in like a big cheese only to cancel before the billing cycle. I know you can switch to charging up front, but it seems like people have been burned by developers who've gone that route and then delivered nothing.
Are there better options? Come to that, are there other places to promote the game?
Release Schedule:
I still feel there are areas of the existing game that need to be fleshed out and I also think I've not entirely fulfilled the original premise of a less linear structure, although part of that is to do with the way story lines develop.
So far, I've been trying to do a new point release a month, although it's been more like six weeks on average, I think. That's been based on the concept of adding a week of game time to each version.
Is this working for people? Am I losing people because the expect more and sooner?
Compatibility:
Again, still some issues because of the learning curve for me, but I think we're past the point where saves break between versions. Barring any undiscovered bugs, I think saves from the current game should be fine going into version 0.5.
That said, there will probably be another build (0403) before that anyway.
- Dec 9, 2018
- 4,735
- 6,041
Definitely. The game has come on in leaps and bounds since the first version I played.
And thank you for assuaging my FOMO. That sounds very reassuring.
- Dec 9, 2018
- 4,735
- 6,041
I think the current structure works fine. And if you're already pouring that many hours into this, trying to push for regular monthly or biweekly releases sounds like a recipe for a breakdown.
This is excellent news.
- Sep 3, 2020
- 4,398
- 30,355
I need you to promise me something I don't want this game to be abandoned
so if you feel like you're going to get burned-out promise me you'll take a break I rather you take a break then this game to be abandoned
I want a game like this with a beautiful love story to be finished for once
and if you need to take a break and get some rest in order for that to happen so be it
just don't go completely radio silence on us
No problem, I'm enjoying it MOST of the time. A bit frustrated with some of the negative stuff at times, but enjoy the back and forth with people who are offering constructive criticism, encouragement, etc.
I'm really hoping to see a decent bonus come Christmas time, which would go into an RTX card, and that would make a big difference.
Talking to people here has definitely changed the game, mostly for the better, I think.
I still think it would have been fun to make more out of the Randy story line. That was based on someone I used to work with, a real asshole. I wouldn't have p***ed on him if he was on fire. The version of the story in the game was embellished, but IRL he loaned one of our interns a chunk of money and constantly harassed her. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure she gave him a bj or two before she came to me about it. I told him I'd give him half the money and a restraining order to go with it or he could just forget the money and move on. He did the latter, but he wasn't happy about it!
I'm really hoping to see a decent bonus come Christmas time, which would go into an RTX card, and that would make a big difference.
Talking to people here has definitely changed the game, mostly for the better, I think.
I still think it would have been fun to make more out of the Randy story line. That was based on someone I used to work with, a real asshole. I wouldn't have p***ed on him if he was on fire. The version of the story in the game was embellished, but IRL he loaned one of our interns a chunk of money and constantly harassed her. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure she gave him a bj or two before she came to me about it. I told him I'd give him half the money and a restraining order to go with it or he could just forget the money and move on. He did the latter, but he wasn't happy about it!
- Sep 3, 2020
- 4,398
- 30,355
good I'm glad to hear it and you did the right thing helping that woman
and because I need more games like this to exist I'm so tired of those games where the MC just fuck every girl
I'm more of a love story kind of man i love monogamy as an option for me
and I can't wait to spend more time with my future wife and baby mama Kari
- Nov 28, 2020
- 499
- 1,472
togs-games, I like your ideas and decisions, and in general the amount and quality of your work.
If I had a few spare bucks, I would likely throw some your way.
lemmasoft.renai.us
and maybe some others..?
Yes, if you think of some appropriate extension, it might be fun.
Like maybe going to court, where he would have almost walked away free, but with proper logic and rhetoric MC could get him jailed for theft, extortion, harassment and blackmailing.
If I had a few spare bucks, I would likely throw some your way.
Of course it's possible to just put the picture with their names, and consider that enough. But actually a picture-based menu system is a trivial task. If you would like, I could make some draft of Ren'Py code for you, like:
Code:
# Define a custom menu screen:
screen choice_pics(items):
frame:
background "#333"
has vbox
text "Now let's discuss..."
hbox:
for item in items:
button:
vbox:
image "images/girls/" + item + ".png"
text item
action Return(item)
# Call that custom menu:
$ girls = ["Aria", "Bree", "Cassie", "Jennie", "Kari", "Kayla", "Mallory", "Rei", "Tilly"]
label recep_choices:
call screen choice_pics(girls)
$ girls.remove(_return)
if _return == "Aria":
#...discussing Aria
if girls:
jump recep_choices
elif _return == "Bree":
#...discussing Bree
if girls:
jump recep_choices
# and so onitch.io
lemmasoft.renai.us
and maybe some others..?
To me, it seems quite reasonable for this somehow ambitious project I'd say.
It was good. The story, the emotions, the payback.
Yes, if you think of some appropriate extension, it might be fun.
Like maybe going to court, where he would have almost walked away free, but with proper logic and rhetoric MC could get him jailed for theft, extortion, harassment and blackmailing.
Last edited:
- Dec 9, 2018
- 4,735
- 6,041
Not to mention barratry, jaywalking, and failing to abate a smoky chimney.with proper logic and rhetoric MC could get him jailed for theft, extortion, harassment and blackmailing.
So now I really feel stupid. I never realized that someone could cancel on the last day of the month and avoid being charged. In some cases that really alters what a game earns. Many games suffer a 20+% fall off at the end of the month that then pops right back up.
Wow. Just wow.
- Oct 5, 2017
- 7,506
- 9,984
One thing that might make people less reluctant to sign up might be switching to a per release payment rather than monthly. That way people aren't worried about you disappearing and them being charged for nothing, and if you do need to go away for a few months due to an emergency people are less likely to cancel and more likely to wait until you come back again. The downside obviously being that depending on release cycle you get less money overall, which will somewhat balance the greater retention.
Really though you should just activate up-front payment, it's the standard for most devs.
Yes, it's probably 25% disappear at the end of the month (usually people who've initially come in with a $10 pledge), and then you get a bunch of new signups on the first, presumably because I haven't charged up front.
So far my "income" from patreon (since April) is about $120. Plus the $19 from itch that I haven't bothered to collect.
Now, with the major caveat that I will make a good proportion of purchases with future ideas in mind, but also that I try to wait for stuff to go on sale, here's the spend on Daz over the same period...
There's a $3.10 and four invoices shown as $0.00 because I bought a $100 gift card when they were on sale.
I guess the spend on renderosity is less, but still a decent chunk of change.
The point of all of which is to say that once you're this invested in something, you're not going to blow it all off at a moment's notice.
Last edited:
Thank you for that, I will take a look later!
You mentioned the lemmasoft forum - wasn't sure if they would accept adult stuff. I'll check.
Thanks!
- May 17, 2020
- 895
- 522
- Dec 14, 2020
- 473
- 1,240
I understand your concern. I guess you've been pouring lots of hours of work and money in this project and a time comes when you start questioning yourself. I hope you don't do that in a negative way. Like I said before I've been following The Roommate since the first version and already saw something there and you even progressed beyond my initial expectations.
I really like this game and don't want to see it abandoned.
What you said about the release schedule... I don't know if that's a positive thing to start forcing yourself to issue monthly updates. Shit may happen and cause delays and so on...
And on the other hand, I think you have more than proved yourself: you share stuff and answers like few others, you make good decisions, your writing is mature and interesting with good humorous moments in the mix and you've give us very good entertainment.
So, the last thing I want is to see you being angry or burnt out. Aaaand you can't neglect your "true" job, the "paying" one! That makes this, for now, a project of personal satisfaction. If necessary take your time and distance yourself enough not to loose enthusiasm or perspective.
I think you should stay true to your original vision. It really is a good concept and broad enough to handle lots of subplots and fun stuff.
And because of all that I'm putting my money where my mouth is! As of today, I'm your newest patron. I even joined near the end of the month (never thought people would do that...) and I'm going to support you for at least a year, whatever your release schedule or plot development. What I dare ask in return is for you to continue as you've been until know.
Who knows, I may even help you to keep buying nice things for the girls...