It's an open-world game with RPG elements and a main focus on freedom. There's plenty of linear games pretending to be open-world while they could be created as VNs instead. MC changes her responses based on her LW stat (0, 50, 100, and rarely also 25 & 75), so some scenes play differently when she's at 0 LW or at 100 LW. It's impossible to achieve what you are asking in open-world game, because games like Fleeting Iris had to lock your whole game onto one path to make it work. Making linear storylines would be inconsistent with rest of the world, because there's no way to track and program different outcomes based on other choices mid-events and their storylines (Baldur's Gate 3 is seriously one of the very few games that tried something like that, and a solo indie dev would never have resources for such a thing). I'll be doing some changes and put more emphasis on storylines & plot in the upcoming remake, but the game will still mainly stay as free-roam type of a game. Cheers!
I don't normally partake in these types of discussions, but I felt it'd be a shame not to say something here. You took the time to write an answer, and I appreciate giving us insight to how you think and work. So I'll take the time too, as a sign of respect.
It seems to me, from the outside looking in, you're misunderstanding the guy you're replying to.
Nobody is asking for Baldurs Gate level of complexity, but there's something in between that, and locking an open-world game to be linear, which is clearly not where you wanna go.
But there's a fundamental issue in making the game world make sense. You're playing as a 21-year old kinda blank slate. But she does say she's never lived outside her parents home and she's never had a boyfriend. So you'd assume she's somewhat inexperienced. Her commentary reinforces this belief.
But then her reactions to events are very odd and nonchalant. Rape and molestation that would leave most people traumatized, without character build-up, makes me scratch my head on how casually she takes it.
The amount of cock she has to walk past anywhere is wild. Pick up a penny? Penis from the sewer. Check a hole in the wall? Cock from hole or behind or both. Walk past the bathroom? Erect cocked dying guy suck to save????
Who'd be that gulible?
Locking certain events would do a ton for immersion. You can have an open-world but still need 50 lockpicking skill to explore it all.
The guy you're replying to even gave an example, a game called
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. I'll give two more.
Pizza Hot. It's a development mess, but the 1st hour or two are a great example.
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has the same gradual introduction to the main characters escalating lewdity.
This is all with the fundamental assumption the main character IS an inexperienced and innocent girl just trying to make it in a big city. Partially because that's what little we know about the character. She could be a blank slate, but isn't quite.
If you disagree with what I've said or harbour any ill will towards it, that's perfectly fine. It's your game, your project and your direction.
But at least then we could disagree with each other while understanding the others side, instead of just talking past one another.
