Chapter 12 Status Report (11)
This week I've been focusing mainly on the writing, and I've completed all the day-time events of the chapter. Now It's time to move to the night-time events, which will tie up (hopefully) the plotlines and branches that have been developing during the summer house event.
In my last postI discussed the challenge of writing in-between and casual scenes. You mentioned you generally enjoy them, but I'd love to know: what kind of scenes and interactions would you like to see between the group during their vacation? I need some inspiration for ideas, and even if I can't implement them, they might spark some evocative concepts. For instance, I wanted to include a Pictionary minigame in the previous release but had to cut it due to time and production constraints. I also had to cut a pole-dancing mini-game I was planning for chapter 11 for the same reasons. Even though I think mini-games help break the pace of the game and can add fun and variety, they're not integral part of the story and I try to only add them when I can and if they make sense (and I already devoted way too much time to the MMA mini-game, but that was something I had wanted to do since the very inception of this game).
What's your opinion on mini-games, do you think they add to the experience or detract from it? For now, I don't think I'll be adding more, but it would be cool to add the Pictionary one someday...
Comments (34)
Having the collective group play Truth or Dare, Would You Rather, or Most Likely might be a lot of fun. Could be a little challenging to write based on story branching but it would be amazing if there was some variances in the games based on current status in relationships.
Another fun game while gathering around the bonfire would be "marry, fuck and whoring instead of kill" 😋
Truth or Dare type game where they all put their phones in a hat. Loser of whatever game they play needs to show the next text they get to everyone else before they read it.
I think the mini-games can be fun a few times, but it would be nice if you could skip them in cheat mode with a specific outcome (multi-choice) in mind. As far as the interactions with the group: Maybe give Ian a chance to show off his strength based on those gym choices. It could be a fun mini-game, so the better you do, the more reps you can get. It could be basic like push-ups or pull-ups. Maybe a game of "chicken" in the pool with couples (ex., Wade and Cindy vs Ian and Holly). Narrative-wise, it would be nice to see more interaction between characters who haven't interacted much previously. I wish Ivy were more in the mix. The drama building up between her and the others is one of the most exciting things to me now.
Inbetween scene, Seymour starting to have more control over Lena’s everyday life, sending her clothing to wear or a plug to put in. Can you do an outfit with a fur coat, I’d love to see Lena draped in mink or sable by Seymour.
i had full of inspiritions,but i cannot contact with eva,OxO
I hope it's not too late to give ideas... Lena and Ian could visit a nude beach! This scene would play out differently depending on the type of relationship they have 👀 Maybe their friends could join them? I'm not sure if everyone would feel comfortable being naked around strangers though. Maybe the group could engange in nudist activities in a secluded place on the beach instead? Alcohol or weed would certainly help them lose their inhibitions! 😉 I'm a fan of exhibitionism/voyeurism and the beach is the perfect place for these kind of scenes!
Minigames can be fun if they don't spoil the immersion too much. As for events that could take place I see several options. - Boardgames: "The new trend", allowing people to take part in social events without always knowing everyone, and allowing for both introverts and extroverts to have fun. Games like "One Night - Ultimate Werewolf", "Dixit" or "Coup" allow players to get to know each other in a different way. Maybe spice it up with "Sex dice" or "Talk, Flirt, Dare" - A barbeque party with a cosplay theme: A good opportunity to show off some of the characters in different ways than usual - A visit to a carnival/fairgrounds: Could allow for different games such as "whack-a-mole", "shooting airgun targets", "throwing balls in holes to race a horses", "sledgehammering a target to try and ring a bell", "throwing darts at balloons" Can also include riding the ghost train, visiting the funny mirrors, riding the love tunnel etc. Maybe a chance for som kinky action at a secluded spot with the right girl/boy or girls/boys. - An outing on a boat to a deserted island: could include skinnydipping and truth or dare before going back - A visit to a strange museum: eg "Museeum of failures", "Museeum of sex", "Ripley's believe it or not" - A walk on the beach or at the boardwalk - Constructing a lesure couch/hammock or something else: those flatpack instructions are not always easy to figure out. - Karaoke with the friends, involving a lot of liquid courage and maybe loosening some inhibitions. Well you did say you wanted ideas, there you have a few. Use them as you would like.
Love the work but please tease us more with some unseen art/scenes! 😜
I even liked the "stupid lines" minigame early in ORS, with Ian, his friends and Cindy. Made me laugh because the jokes were good. But what to to about the beach house? Because you laid out the characters so well, many of my ideas would feel out of place or totally constructed. Not an easy task. For the non-sexual options: I would love for Perry to be able to relax and talk nicely to Emma. Maybe (almost) confess his love for her. I would love for them to sing, drink, eat together and get even better friends. Maybe even them teaming up for Lena and help her a little financially (even though this would be contra-productive for a upcoming "I need money, I have to"... schema). I would love to see Perry chill, relax and enjoy the view (of the girls?). A follow up to the "it wasn't me"-scene (Ian, Wade, Perry) would be nice. Singing, making fun, having a good time. A time-based minigame? Having to do 5 things but only got time for 3 - what do you chose? I would hate so see it happen to my friends, but someone stealing? Spiralling down into an abyss ;) because of the fear and mistrust? In a softer version: Stealing some panties? Having morning wood and making some girls horny unintendedly? But erotically: What about someone accidentially drugging a girl (thinking, the pills were for headache, ...) with the option to keep the drugged girl save, try something funny/mean with her like letting her eat 12 eggs in a row or, you might have guessed it, taking advantage of it? What about playing a drinking game with "forced" phone confessions: Lena having to call and confess to Ed that she got horny when he painted her or Wade calling Cindy having to tell her that she should go out with someone. Cindy joining in order to break up with wade (but being stopped by the others (another chance for wade) or even won over again by wade? Or being seduced by Ian or even Jeremy? What about the bum-friend of Seymore that begged Lena for some money? Could he appear at the beach and raise sorry in Lena? Perry sending Emma or Ian sending Lena to Wade in order to cheer him up (and maybe somthing stupid can come out of this?) Perry's parents coming back unexpectedly forcing the rest to hide nude in the cellar for a day ;) ? Someone spying/filming them and blackmailing them? Maybe Lena being (seemingly) untrue? Not one good idea, but I hope, it could at least spark some inspiration.
Truth or dare or spin the bottle keeps the game interesting and adds to the story for future relationships and/or hook-ups later on. Those are the types of games I wouldn't mind seeing more of. I appreciate the work you put into the tournament though, I know that had to be hard and time consuming.
I love the MMA and the cards against humanity type game, and the fighting in general. I think some drinking games, maybe never have I ever and this could help reveal character or two truths and a lie. Roasting marshmallows and hot dogs on a bonfire. burying each other in the sand. Maybe they could play some music if Lena brought her guitar. Improve story since you have creative people like where everyone adds a random line, like madlibs. Whatever you come up with will be great!
Oh yeah some blind test. Or more accurately a strip and dare blind test 😜
A Time's up game ! But might require lots of drawing as characters try to make impersonations :D
Not a fan of mini-games so I agree on adding a skip/insta-win option if they are in the game.
Mini games are great , I love the wrestling. Defintely adds something to the experience. I think a pole dancing mini game for Lena would be great to balance it out with Ians wrestling but either way having just 1 mini game I bet would be time consuming to make and I love it how it is anyway.
I personally enjoy mini-games, but I would suggest adding a "instant win" button or an option to turn off the minigames for them as DON'T find them enjoyable. Wish I could say the content I want to see beyond some storylines of Ian, Lena and Holly sitting down and figuring things out, but I trust that will come at some point. Maybe a game of "never have I ever?"
I'm also rooting for a strip poker game or a "two lies, one truth" (or is it "two truths, one lie"?)
Perry and Wade naked would be cool. Dad bods are hot too!!
If mini games are fun, not too stressful for the player (no timer), not time consuming for you to develop and, most importantly, fit the setting and improve on the immersion (even when you play them on the fifth playthrough), then yes - I'm very interested. Any of the games others suggested before me would probably work. But if it wouldn't fit the requirements I listed... well, let's just say some (or a lot?) of us would prefer for you not to waste too much time on that. Ian's MMA mini-game is different though as it's integral to his storyline and should be more difficult to play, just as it is. After all, it's core elements could be used also in his fights elsewhere (like maybe his potential fight with Axel or Mike down the line?). If you made something similar for Lena, say, for her pole-dancing path - that would be awesome in my opinion.
One of my favourite scenes in the whole game is Ivy's game in Chapter 7. If there was one thing I'd have loved to have seen in the beach house chapter, it was a game of spin the bottle or strip poker or something. I think that could be fun, character-lead, and potentially pretty hot
The can be fun especially on a first playthrough. But i think if you have multiple playthroughs (i have 10+) mini games that have no story ties may overstay it's welcome.
Yeah, I felt so with the "build your lyrics"- and "write your story"-minigames, though I still hope they will get some meaning in the very last chaper: Lena on the brink of getting famous singing the wrongly chosen lyrics and loosing it all - Eva laughing about tricking us into not taking it serious enough 20 chapters ago :D . And Ian getting a famous writer because of my good chosing ;) . But I have to say: I really enjoyed them a lot when I played them for the first 3 or 5 times.
Some kind of truth or dare game! Ivy's spin the bottle game was hot af 😀
True. WIll be hard to recrate and at the same time bring something new to it, but games like this certainly are fun. I expecially liked it that it felt not like a child's game because Ivy used it in a manipulative way to anger Lena's friend. There was some real tension in it and not simply "kiss someone", "tell the truth".
As long as I don't get stressed by them because I have to hit timings or frantically click my mouse, I'm fine with mini games. If they do tend to stress me I have to be able to skip them with a result that I want. I already had games which I stopped playing for good because I was forced into a very challenging mini game. "Simon Says" with punishments is a nice casual game that they could play and could still carry plot with it, by the way
Thanks Eva for the summary. I find mini-games exciting, especially if they fit into the story. The Mini Games billiards is nice. I also like learning the ability to fight. I also really like the "game" between Ian and Ivy with the mix of real life and cell phone eroticism. I would like a kind of truth or dare with high commitment as Gem says. Maybe also with characters that don't come together otherwise - Cindy & Lena, Cindy & Alison, Lena & Alison ...but also Wade& Perry with Ivy& Alison. ⚜️
I think mini-games adds to the fun. But they are time consuming to make, so I can see why you are focusing on the main story. That said, I would like to help you with some of the mini-games. I'm fooling around with a "Lena-geting-dressed-mini-game" at the moment. Love to share that with you. For ideas you shouldn't miss out on the opportunity for Lena to stroll on the beach with a skimpy bikini. All while Ian get problems hiding his booner as other men/women are ogling her. And ofc play on Ians insecurity later at night. Big fun!
Oh strip poker.
Can stan be invited to the vacation later on maybe? One of the routes Lena has the option to encourage him to get more fit, or be more social. I know its alot to backtrack chapters, but maybe he can show up as a surprise visit? She runs into him at the beach. For minigames, maybe Volleyball at thr beach, I know you did truth or dare in your past game, I know it's kind of 12 year old'ish but maybe "Spin the bottle?".
That would be super awkward for him to show up at Perry's family's beach house. He wasn't invited and isn't friends with any of the core members for that friend group
"Never have I ever" is another drinking game that can set up some fun history reveals. It's a good way for your friends to embarrass you around a new SO, if you get my meaning.
Can't go wrong with card-based mini games. They're easy to script and you can change them to "strip poker" style if you want. High/low card drinking games if you want to set the stage for some drunken debauchery.
For me a truth or dare with some high stakes would be nice for example truth and dare with wade Cindy and Ian in the same setting would be interesting overall a social interaction just as a social interaction would just be just that but a social interaction like truth and dare or any other games. Doesn't even have to be mini games would be interesting and fun.