VN Ren'Py Wildwood [v0.1] [Voidyne]

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
Hello everyone!

Progress on the Chapter 1 release has been going smoothly, I've been posting weekly progress updates on my Patreon, and today's update included a question I'd like to ask the community. As I work on the script for Chapter 1, I'm coming to the conclusion that it is going to be a MASSIVE amount of content that's going to take longer than I expected to develop. I'm now planning on splitting the current plans for Chapter 1 into two smaller content updates.

My question for the wider community is this: Would you prefer larger content drops that take longer to develop? Or smaller content drops that release more frequently, similar/slightly larger in size to the Prologue?
 
  • Yay, update!
  • Thinking Face
Reactions: Lerd0 and Skeltom

Skeltom

Engaged Member
Oct 9, 2017
2,754
3,318
Hello everyone!

Progress on the Chapter 1 release has been going smoothly, I've been posting weekly progress updates on my Patreon, and today's update included a question I'd like to ask the community. As I work on the script for Chapter 1, I'm coming to the conclusion that it is going to be a MASSIVE amount of content that's going to take longer than I expected to develop. I'm now planning on splitting the current plans for Chapter 1 into two smaller content updates.

My question for the wider community is this: Would you prefer larger content drops that take longer to develop? Or smaller content drops that release more frequently, similar/slightly larger in size to the Prologue?
For me it depends on the amount of content. Overall I prefer more frequent updated as long as they aren't a whapping 15 minutes of content, but larger ones are fine to unless they would take like 9 months to a year. I would lose almost all interest in a game if that were the case.
 

jadepaladin

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2020
1,261
2,593
Hello everyone!

Progress on the Chapter 1 release has been going smoothly, I've been posting weekly progress updates on my Patreon, and today's update included a question I'd like to ask the community. As I work on the script for Chapter 1, I'm coming to the conclusion that it is going to be a MASSIVE amount of content that's going to take longer than I expected to develop. I'm now planning on splitting the current plans for Chapter 1 into two smaller content updates.

My question for the wider community is this: Would you prefer larger content drops that take longer to develop? Or smaller content drops that release more frequently, similar/slightly larger in size to the Prologue?
Without a good sample size to work with, it's hard to say. I'm going to guess that larger content drops will be better for the project you're working on. Sometimes, smaller updates work better but that tends to be a different style of VN.
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
Thanks for the responses! It's definitely something I'm going to keep in mind going forward. In general, it seems like more people would prefer bigger updates that take longer, which makes sense. I think I would also prefer it that way, I just want to make sure I'm finding the right balance between meaningful content updates and prompt updates. The last thing I would want to do is take forever to release an update.

The Chapter 1 release is naturally going to take longer than any other future updates because there are still a few gameplay features that need to be finalized, primarily the eyeStone UI that will contain things like relationship progress and the gallery. For now I'm just going to feel things out and see how long it takes for me to finalize the script. The script is ending up much longer than I initially thought, which was the original reason I asked this question. I think in the large scheme of things it's good that the script is longer, it's just going to affect my original dev-time estimates.
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
Hey everyone! Following today's Wildwood Wednesday I posted a summary on Itch.io of what's happened over the course of the last month in relation to Wildwood development. I'm planning to do monthly updates on all of my non-Patreon communities so here it is word-for-word from the Itch.io post:

This is a brief summary of Wildwood's progress over the course of this past month! For full details and free weekly updates, check out my !

  • The script is currently sitting at 14k words and 92 pages!
  • Script completion is sitting at around 30% (2 in-game days complete out of the planned 7)
    • The first few days are more narratively-dense than the rest of the days, so script completion should progress at a faster rate now that those first few days are finished.
  • Some of the early Chapter 1 scenes have been rendered and implemented.
    • I'm using a new script-writing format that should streamline the process of converting scripts into playable scenes.
    • This means that once the script is finished, it should be a relatively quick process to get all of the scenes implemented into the game.
  • Many character designs have been finalized over the course of the month.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Dumont - Rosaria's parents
    • Jennifer - A mysterious woman who will be dateable
      • You can get an early look at her for FREE on my Patreon!
    • A secret character that I don't wish to reveal yet, but will be VERY narratively important.
That's been the progress so far for this month!

Recently, Wildwood surpassed 500 downloads! Thank you to everyone that's helped me reach this huge milestone and given me your support. It truly means the WORLD to me! Once again, if you wish to see weekly updates, the best way to do so is through my Patreon or Discord server, until next time!

-Voidyne
My next goal is to have the full Chapter 1 script finished by the end of April!
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
Hey everyone! Here's another monthly update, this month was tough for me, but I'm pulling through! Here's a copy of my Itch.io post:

This is a brief summary of Wildwood's progress over the course of this past month! For full details and free weekly updates, check out my !

This month I took a break from script-writing and spent more time working on the game's UI! There is a brand new pause menu that will be used to track your relationships with all of the characters, along with housing the game's gallery and other bonuses! You can see a preview of the new UI on my through and !

A majority of the month was spent on these menus, they took a long time! In terms of script updates, the script is currently sitting at 19k words and 120 pages but that should change drastically over the course of this month as I am now done with the UI and back to script work!

Not to be a downer, but I also got unexpectedly fired from my job this week. Long story short, it was a small group that didn't know how to properly run a company. Good news is, I'm now working on Wildwood fulltime while I look for a new job, so expect some BIG progress updates over the course of this month! Not to be that guy, but I think now is a good time to plug my if you haven't already checked it out! I appreciate any support whatsoever, but I could really use a little financial support during this difficult time if you're willing and able to give.

Bottom line is, I absolutely love making Wildwood and I'm hard at work every day to make it the best game possible for all of you! I appreciate any support you guys give me, you're all the BEST! Here's to a very productive upcoming month!

-Voidyne
I mentioned last month that I wanted to finish the chapter 1 script this month, but I got a little burned out and prioritised the UI instead. That goal has now been moved ahead to being my goal for this month!
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
I also post somewhat weekly renders to pair with my weekly updates. This month specifically I made one to commemorate the 1 year anniversary of Wildwood, and I made one to commemorate Easter, I'm very proud of them so here they are!

anniversary.png

Easter 2025.png
 

Sir-Duke

Newbie
Mar 3, 2025
41
18
How to report for a missing "prefix"?
Cause this is correctly tagged as "Visual Novel", and well, IT IS a visual novel.

I've downloaded and tested this "game", with a slight dissapointment, cause I'm an idiot and only read prefixes, not tags.

If it would have been marked correctly with the "VN" prefix, people can easily save time, internet traffic and kinda know what to expect.
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
How to report for a missing "prefix"?
Cause this is correctly tagged as "Visual Novel", and well, IT IS a visual novel.

I've downloaded and tested this "game", with a slight dissapointment, cause I'm an idiot and only read prefixes, not tags.

If it would have been marked correctly with the "VN" prefix, people can easily save time, internet traffic and kinda know what to expect.
Respectfully, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Were you not expecting a visual novel?
 

Sir-Duke

Newbie
Mar 3, 2025
41
18
Respectfully, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Were you not expecting a visual novel?
Thanks, and honestly, no offense.

Most pure Visual Novels somehow get the "VN" prefix.
Kinda lika this:
1747725994286.png

You see, Being a DIK has an orange VN marking, while Desert Stalker has not.

I have no idea, who's giving those away.

With these markings, users can already filter, if the want to see no VNs, or even only pure Visual Novels.
Saves time, you know.

If they don't have this prefix, a decent amount of those Ren'Py games offer a bit more freedom.
Way more Freedom of choice, or where you go next, or who you talk to, offer you a world map or eventually inventory to use.

Sadly, and even sometimes frustratingly quite a lot of Ren'Py games go as pure Visual Novels but don't have that prefix.

So yeah, when I sometimes download those, I do expect a little more then just a novel.
In those moments, I do feel a bit disappointed.
Which is nothing but just a personal opinion.

Still, those prefix markings can save users time, and they know clearly, what to expect.
 

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
Thanks, and honestly, no offense.

Most pure Visual Novels somehow get the "VN" prefix.
Kinda lika this:
View attachment 4856842

You see, Being a DIK has an orange VN marking, while Desert Stalker has not.

I have no idea, who's giving those away.

With these markings, users can already filter, if the want to see no VNs, or even only pure Visual Novels.
Saves time, you know.

If they don't have this prefix, a decent amount of those Ren'Py games offer a bit more freedom.
Way more Freedom of choice, or where you go next, or who you talk to, offer you a world map or eventually inventory to use.

Sadly, and even sometimes frustratingly quite a lot of Ren'Py games go as pure Visual Novels but don't have that prefix.

So yeah, when I sometimes download those, I do expect a little more then just a novel.
In those moments, I do feel a bit disappointed.
Which is nothing but just a personal opinion.

Still, those prefix markings can save users time, and they know clearly, what to expect.
Ahhh I see, thanks for the explanation! I'll do what I can to get that marking added to Wildwood, I'm the developer of the game, but I'm not the owner of this thread. I'll try to see if I can contact the owner and get that fixed. Thanks for bringing up your concern!
 

Lerd0

Message Maven
Uploader
Donor
Jul 29, 2017
12,268
150,710
Ahhh I see, thanks for the explanation! I'll do what I can to get that marking added to Wildwood, I'm the developer of the game, but I'm not the owner of this thread. I'll try to see if I can contact the owner and get that fixed. Thanks for bringing up your concern!
..so?
...u gonna slide in ma dms or not....
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Voidyne

Voidyne

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
12
15
..so?
...u gonna slide in ma dms or not....
Haha I was planning on it, but I got carried away. This is usually the time when I'm working on the game and I was on a roll with the script, I just kept writing without realizing how much time had gone by!

That being said, is it possible that you could add the VN tag to the game? Alternatively, I can ask you through your DMs if you would prefer :ROFLMAO:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lerd0

Lerd0

Message Maven
Uploader
Donor
Jul 29, 2017
12,268
150,710
Haha I was planning on it, but I got carried away. This is usually the time when I'm working on the game and I was on a roll with the script, I just kept writing without realizing how much time had gone by!

That being said, is it possible that you could add the VN tag to the game? Alternatively, I can ask you through your DMs if you would prefer :ROFLMAO:
..already done....
...if game adds sandbox things....it will be removed again tho.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Voidyne