Status report

So... tonight? Just after the midnight, to not meet any deadlines? Can we consider this fashionably late? 😭

I really like the life paths but I can understand why people want new content What I'd like to say is, everyone really likes the game and thinks it's amazing. That's why they're so desperate for it and for new content. They have a right to voice their opinions but don't let it get you down. I'd love new content and a continuation of the story but more than anything I want this project to continue and succeed. I hope you don't get put off by people

I expect nothing good shall come from this decision. In all evidence, this is far from the best way to deal with writer's block, given the author's developer style and its notorious flaws. Either a Lifepath 2.0 version is eventually restored that is as flawed and ineffectual for a linear game as the first one. It pleases or helps no one except the few that like to play it for flavor's sake. Alternatively the effort to make the whole game more open-ended goes nowhere and collapses under its weight, and development eventually has to switch back in a hurry to the main story to salvage the project. We have seen all of that happen already.

First off, ignore the haters. The silent majority is perfectly fine with this. The only thing I would say is that while I enjoyed it, the current life path was rather disconnected from the main storyline. A character’s backstory is important, it determines literally every aspect of that character, but the audience does not necessarily need to see it. I would personally think that making sure every aspect of the life path ties into the main story is paramount. When I played the life path information about high school and such felt extraneous, and I would be more interested if the life path STARTED in college and ended with recruitment. And I don’t even think you would be amiss if you simply started the day before someone reached out to recruit her. James Bond has zero backstory, and that’s the most popular spy series of all time. There are plenty of opportunities to customize the heroine in the same way that the life path handles it, without necessarily starting at the beginning. Retroactive character creation, as it were. I do like how the character creation happens very gradually and earlier than the shower in Malaysia, though. That works great and makes more sense. There is some fat that you could trim in the main storyline, but I only just started this story a week ago and though the fat was noticeable it did not reduce my enjoyment of the story. Instead of trimming fat, in fact, I might recommend you keep the fat and add on the side missions to it, so that the fat serves as a bit of introduction to the meat. If that makes any sense. Also, I must remark on your work ethic that, while, extremely admirable, is probably not sustainable. Working from 0600 till you drop will likely induce burnout, which I believe you’re already experiencing, and you may want to reevaluate your work schedule, or perhaps even institute one lol. I know the spotlight is on you now and people are very demanding and you feel like if you don’t deliver you’re scamming all the generous people who are supporting you, but just take a deep breath and make sure you’re healthy as well. I can feel the stress and doubt in your words but you are making the best smut this side of the Mississippi lol and whether the finished product arrives sooner or later doesn’t matter to me or most likely all of the silent majority. I just pop in every once in awhile to see if there’s an update and if there isn’t I don’t miss a single dollar per month one bit. Taking breaks and taking time for yourself will certainly clear your head and make it easier to write because your brain will have an opportunity to sit on what you want for the story, even if you’re not actively focused on it. Breaks are amazing for achieving clarity. Be well. You are doing an excellent job and your story is going very well. And don’t forget that you’re in charge and you don’t have to people please for the horny masses who just want moar smut and don’t care or even understand the writing process.

Focus on the story bro not lifepath

I've supported this shtick long enough.

Honestly, I do not see all that support in the fan/patron community for the return of the Lifepath right now, since most of feedback here and on discord registered as negative or mixed to me. I think this is a wrong turn on the author's part and he choosing to see what he wants to see and doing what he wants to do anyway, regardless of the prevalent wishes of the fan/patron community. As far as I am concerned, I have no interest whatsoever in the author spending what in all likelihood is the rest of the year and the next year re-writing and re-re-writing existing content to the expense of no progress in the main story. This is not what I am interested about the game and supporting it for. If the author plans to take this ill-advised course, I am seriously considering suspending my contribution until development returns to the main story. Endlessly reworking and tinkering with existing content for years on end, on top of all the frustrating delays this project already got, is far from the best use of the author's time or my money.

Look... Crushstation, you're a damn fine writer. The writing is what gets people hooked on this story, so that's good. But game design is not your area of expertise. And frankly, I don't see this working out too well. As I've stated before, the main story doesn't need a Life Path. Stitching the two parts together will require time; time that will not be spent on the main story. Please reconsider this ill-fated decision.

Im honestly surprised. To me, the feedback on the previous post and on discord have not at all been positive about Lifepath. At best its been mixed. I'll even argue that there has been more posts, upvotes, comments, etc asking for you to not do Lifepath right now.

I've loved all the content you released but you seem to have become crippled by your own doubts and indecision. I've been a supporter for years, and almost a month without a status update is not a good look. Hearing you're probably going to spend the next year re-writing and re-re-re-re-rewriting content that has already been released is a little disappointing.

Well, this is great for people dying to play the first half of the game *again.* I'm excited to see what this next update brings, as always, but I just don't see how reworking what's already finished is a good use of your time or my money. I really want to support your work, but you aren't really delivering, so I'll be canceling my sub after the next update.

I loved the life path. I'm happy to see it return. Yep things that need squeezing in and a preference for them should be a choice rather early. It is for many / was for me. I look forward to the content. Reading the feedback, folks seem to think, smaller updates more frequent would be welcome. Not sure how that happens, but distilling comments I'm getting that vibe. This is one of my favorite female protagonist mental corruption games ever. You were right wanting to add more spy missions to balance the sexy ones. Each added spy mission could be a monthly minor content release that raises the content release schedule while not interrupting your planned story arc. Please keep it up. Huggles!

I'll be happy to see this plan working out, but I'm not counting on it. The current release speed is 3 updates per year for the last 2 years. Lifepath is planned to take 4 releases + at least one to update the rest of the game. This means rewriting / rebuilding till the end of 2025, if everything goes according to plan. But estimation precision diminishes as project scope expands. It's your game and I'll be happy to see it become better, but I don't feel that constant rebuilding / rewriting / rethinking is the way to go. Reflection is important, but it is counterproductive if it replaces action. At least build proof of concept / test versions of your ideas, show them to the public, iterate, don't be locked inside your head. Look at Lust Campus. The development was slow from the start, but there was progress. Then an illustrator left the project, and they decided to remake all the illustrations from the start, to release all the chapters again and make them better while at it. A couple years later they're still at it. And there was not that much content in the game. Why the team did not continue building new chapters with new illustrations while gradually replacing old ones - no idea. When you build software you learn something new all the time, and often you want to go back and redo you previous code, but most of the time it's not feasible and/or not really needed. Just build new stuff with your new knowledge. I hope to be wrong, to see Lifepath integrated at a fast and stable pace, making the game better, more diverse.

This is your novel, you have the final say. But I have the final say about my wallet, so when you return to the main line, when will I recharge.

Although I neglected to say so when you asked it, I do like the Lifepath idea. Will the decisions and preference choices in this portion have an effect (provide more options/alterations etc) during the Bangkok chapters?

Happy to hear and quite excited for the return of Lifepath. Thank you very much

You mention similar things to what I have been thinking when playing the game. It must be very hard to figure out how to weave together the story while giving players the ability to choose things, so I am happy to hear that you are on a good path to figuring it out.

You do you! We aren't going anywhere.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of 1.21 and the 4 part reintroduction of the lifepath. Loved playing both versions and I'm very curious to see how it'll turn out. Have fun and always take the time you need to feel good about the results. 😉🙃🙂