Does your sandbox have a main storyline, or many long storylines with different Love interests? mine is kinda like the second type, and I'll release as soon as I finish the full storyline for the first LI.
The central story line is a very simple "Don't go broke". It is often ignored or irrelevant when other storylines are at play, or things are going well. It only become a significant factor in the "story" when they fall behind and must make hard choices, or extreme events, out of desperation. In this game it is not the story that drives the game or sets the direction. The direction is chosen by the player, who is driven by goals more often than story.
I intend for many secondary storylines though. Many which will play into different kinks or sexualities. The player will not always be pushed, or drawn into them, but opportunities will be waiting.
If you have reasonable content on the main storyline, and some optional, I say go for it then. The main complain with the sandboxes here, is the "empty sandbox" syndrome, v0.0000001 released, with only the MC creation screen and a couple screens and that's it...or with only 2 or 3 places without content on it.
One of the differences I am trying for is to avoid having any grind at all. I am trying to make every step of the game, a part of the game, and not just 'button clicking' to get to the next screen. So days where nothing interesting happens can be passed with literally one click. No, "Get Up" "Go Downstairs" "Go School" ... etc. You can even jump forward a month, or year at a time. I have also eliminated the move maps that many other games use, in favour of a simpler and more straightforward interface that shouldn't have many "pointless clicks" or aimless hunting.
This way, almost every button click is to actively do something, that will matter, and somehow further the game. The "grind" becomes the game, and the "story" becomes an icing on top. An additional element that adds to the game, instead of being the entire game. Or at least, that is the goal.
I've played a bit through your 0.7 version...and it is a different type of sandbox, more like a management game. It's difficult to judge....and I thought mine was hard. I would play further...but it's not my type of game.
Yes, very much a management game, but blended with live-world/breeding/and story-events.
Out of curiosity what does it have, or lack that makes it not your type? With these kind of games I think we largely have to pick an audience and lean into it; you can't please everyone. But I am making an effort to be as inclusive as I can.
I recently added a "Trans" character because I realised that programmatically it would be easy to do. It is not a personal interest of mine though, so it is unlikely to get much more than basic unique content. But there should be enough shared content available to make it worth playing for someone who is into it. That's what I'm guessing, anyway.
I think your statement at the beginning of your thread is correct, you are near competition already. I say...release it at 0.8 or 0.9
It's at 7 of 100, not 7 of 10. I think I might be a lot more ambitious than you realise. I am a long way from the finish line, and there are still large portions of the game I haven't even started. Job-skills, Prostitution, Hiring process, Training, and School for the children, are some of the big ones.
It's gonna be a while
