Progress Update
Uploading Beta version 0.4 for our Patreon today. This version introduces the Status mechanic, though without UI indicators, as I feel there's no need to refine this design further.
I need to announce that, after playtesting, we will be reverting to the original gameplay design (pre-Slay the Spire node map). I believe this approach has reached a dead end. Allow me to explain my reasoning below...
The new design feels overly brainy and disrupts the pacing. When people play this game, they're in a state of 70–95% horniness and 30–5% boredom. The pacing needs to align with the rhythm of our blood flow, if you catch my drift ^O^. Our goal is to solve two main problems: horniness and boredom. But the more I analyze it, the weight leans heavily—81% horniness, 19% boredom.
Our main motivation for this pivot was to lower our "porn grade" from 80 to 73, while increasing fun from 65 to 87. However, after extensive playtesting, I'm less confident in achieving either.
On the fun side, the new design barely reaches 40 at best. To push it from 40 to 87, I estimate it would take five months just to reach 58, and another four months to climb from 58 to 70. Balancing this is beyond my tiny brain's capacity.
As for the porn aspect, I've tried, but without a substantial amount of new graphical assets, reworking game flow, and redesigning transitions and pacing, I just can't make it work. The only content I feel we should focus more on is thrive scenes.
My apology for wasted yet another a month and a half. Sometimes, you just don't know until you try. But through this experiment, I now have a much clearer vision of what we need to enhance our original gameplay—and we're already working on it. I’ll share the final concept of our game in two days.
Comments (7)
I don’t even know how to play this game and there are no quests or tutorials.
I think you should add a non-porn gameplay aspect. Something that involves tentacles in a non porn way. Like a building mechanic, combat and exploration that has meaning and rewards. Like cosmetics, changes to her home. I've always been interested in sneaking into the castle to get her old clothes and such haha. Maybe attending some sort of festival?
The game is still in the early works of being redeveloped, as such, trial and error for new gamestyles isn't a shock to me. As such, you have learned and get to grow from it, so no need to apologize. Sure, it may feel like a let-down, but the game is still being worked on, so no issues on my end. All in all, good luck in building and furthering this game! I'm excited to see where everything progresses from here on out. Though, for me, I do like some relaxing thought-invoking things, such as if crafting and building things while progressing through the game (kinda like the original flash version). However, that's just me.
Sorry if I sound impolite. I think 18+ games should (MUST) focus on 18+ content. That's the main content that attracts customers. A few riddles or surprise events mechanics sound good, but they should only play a role as "spice", not a "main dish". We play 18+ games because we want to feel horny, not "tactical". If I want to play tactical, there are tons of tactical games on Steam that can easily beat your game. And "tactical" make brains work, it's supper supper supper bad for "horny". When my brain is working, my d..ck shrinks. We can't both be "horny" and "think", you know... Why would you even bother about "tactic" when your 18+ scenes even not complete yet (duplicate many scenes on each level of bonding)? Conclusion & Suggestion: eliminate tactics, add some "spice" and make more more and more 18+ scenes. Hope your game shines even more. Good luck !!!
nice call
I definitely appreciate the attempt at the new game style. It was certainly worth the shot, but I agree with your assessment. In the end, TT was always best as a chill experience rather than brainy and tactical
I’m so excited!! Was personally partial to the original design anyway since my brain struggles with tactical stuff. However I’m glad that you all tried something new to see if it would work! It was fascinating to watch. Falling down and getting up to try again is part of being human, so please don’t apologize. Thank you for sharing this progress update, very excited to see the final concept 💜