Okay I went back and started a new playthrough of the game and I went the pervy route this time and I am totally floored by how that played out. The end of this update actually made me cry.
Ash is such an interesting character. As I was going through I got invested in seeing how everyone developes and interacts with each other. I hope that we will see Ash and Mikhail again.
Aaryn, such a masterpiece my friend. So indepth and real with the situations that are protrayed in the game. Like being right there in college with them, living the life with them and surviving all the trials and tribulations that come from that sort of setting.
I can not wait for the next update. I am really looking forward to seeing how Zack and Braden deal with being apart for the summer.
thank you. truly. I'm glad you liked both routes. i know i did something different than most people do and i wasn't sure that it would go over that well but i liked the idea and the challenge of it. glad it paid off for you <3
I can't even begin to describe how well thought out, put together, deep, structured and relatable this VN is. I've told all my friends about this story and quite simply because this game changed my life. And I say that with no exaggeration and in full confidence.
In 23 years I've read countless books, watched years worth of TV and Film and never have I emotionally connected to characters the way I've found myself connected to Zack and Braden, the main characters of this piece. Even the side characters I find myself in love with. When the characters were happy, I was happy. When the characters were upset, I was upset. When the characters argued, I was angry. When the characters laughed, I laughed. Yet most fascinating to me is the end of Chapter 9. I won't spoil anything but the story is written so perfectly and the twist at the end of Chapter 9 made me, for the first time in my life, cry genuine tears of happiness. No work of fiction has ever taken me to a powerful emotional place like that, I'm not sure I've cried happy tears at anything ever in fact. Until this story came along.
In these games, it's easy for the 3D modelling to get a little questionable, but in this particular story I found myself fully immersed the entire time, the model work is done flawlessly, I never found myself pulled out of the story because of the visuals.
The clichés in the story are so well done to avoid being eyeroll clichés, the twists and turns really had my jaw on the floor and my hand over my mouth in shock, yet never went so far as to be hugely unrealistic.
Now this is only my opinion of course, I can't say this is going to be the same for everyone, but for me, for me this is the single greatest work of fiction I have ever happened across.
I can't thank the people who worked on this enough nor give them enough praise for creating such a masterpiece.
I know you joined the discord server and you've gotten a chance to process some of this. I appreciate your passion for the project and your support. I'm humbled to have it have such a profound effect on you and to somehow dwarf everything you've tried so far when this is my first attempt at anything like this. <3
Alright, I usually do not make comments about games because it's usually the same old things but THIS game. It's different, I can tell you worked hard on it, so I wanted to comment to talk about what I think.
So, character stories are hard to write. This is because the story is determined by the characters and what they do and how they react to things, there is very little outside forces. It can make it seem like its dragging, but you were able to craft a really well written story and it captured my attention. it's one of the first visual novel type stories where i barely ever skipped. All of the dialogue was interesting but also felt natural and kept me interesting, but the best thing was the characters, so I'll go over the main four.
Zack is probably the best main character i ever seen that's not just you. Usually in games where you are controlling another character, they are either a unnatural goody guy who is unnaturally happy and optimistic about everything and just comes in and fixes all of everyone's problems or a blank board who doesn't have a single personality trait but everyone loves them. But Zack? Zack is real, his problems his emotions are real things that many people face. i was playing the chapter where he confessed that he hated being gay and i bawled my eyes out because I felt the exact same way. At a certain point i started to just root for zack and is happiness because if he could be happy than maybe I and other people could even if he's just fictional lol.Idk, and the QUOTES. i feel my inner walls and resistances collapse around me and run like sand through my fingers. Bro I'm using that, that's top tier writing. Best character by far.
So personally, I don't like the straight dude going gay stereotype that's in every game. Tbh it is what made me take so long to play this game. But for what the stereotype is Braden does it well. I like the fact that he wasn't aggro about it and his concerns about not feeling gay made sense. Anway's yeah, he's hot insecurities in all. I'm really glad you changed his design tho because the twink look is not my type lol. His scenes are great, I love how flirty he is when he's comfortable.
I think everyone here loves ash, i do too. He's pretty unique and his struggles is something i bet others actually deal with. He's funny, a breath of fresh air honestly. we need some breather and comic relief. Yeah Great character
idk how to spell his name now that i'm off the game but zach friend is someone i think everyone needs in life. He's just a good guy, too good of a guy at times. I'm glad we got to see more of his problems in the later chapters so he can seem more real.
I love all the characters and love how they interact together; their dynamic is great. they make for a interesting story.
nsfw scenes, they aren't the main part of the story, they are nice but its more added stuff. honestly tho, none of them was really provoking until the shower scene. That was amazing, I'm really glad that you let us choose and about that. I hope you let us choose if there is a final sex scene where they go all the way. personally for me, i like bottoming and enjoy reading those scenes more. I was a little bummed that braden was a small 'twink' who looked super young and zack said "I'm a top" and the focus was mainly his ass but after zack started accepting he could be a bottom and than braden grew it gave me hope :). If we could pick which position that would satisfy everyone but I'm fine with it if Zack just bottoms lol. Of course not gonna downgrade it if he tops only as well.
My only criticism are pretty simple. I do think the start could use some work. there is no tutorial so when the choices on what to do you are just running around like a headless chicken until you pick all the options. Than this option completely disappears at the end where you aren't choosing what to do at all. i think maybe adding some required story beats in the beginning for direction and slowly working towards more and more would make it less jarring. or maybe any type of prompt in the beginning explaining how to progress.
The rock scene after he catches braden in the wrestling locker room zack talks about a moment where he almost *R word* Braden that i never experienced. I assume it was the choice in the beginning to be respectful or pervy. I picked respectful and it looked like he wasn't thinking about anything or didn't even get close and just went back to sleep. idk if it's supposed to happen on both routes or maybe i just skipped it but just wanted to say it unless it was missed.
Ernie disappeared :( I know that he wasn't really important and i don't really care that much but I did like him lol. I was stuck at the beginning for a while and was just talking to him every day so I got attached.
But yeah, really small criticisms that don't really effect my score on the game. It's really good, good enough for me to want to support you on patreon. so yeah keep doing what you doing, i think if you wanted to you could get super huge, you're writing is better than 90% of this genre for real.
heya, thanks for the lengthy post. I'll admit that i'm always intimidated to try and reply to these so I'll give it a go.
The balance of Zack was tough in the beginning (although i dont like the beginning of the game and it needs work but this is just my pre-alpha rough draft of the story so far). I wanted Zack to be somewhat typical because if i hit everyone with his realism right off the bat, i figured I'd lose people. People are used to the adult/NSFW genre being porny and I wanted to do a fakeout at the beginning and give people a sense that that was the case here. However, trying to balance that with the slow introduction of something deeper here was kinda challenging to me. I basically wanted an adult game that people would eventually have to take seriously as something much deeper that just chose the adult genre because there's no limits on what you can discuss and portray sexually.
Braden's character is a bit tougher to crack and will continue to be in the final chapter. While some could look at him as the str8 boy going gay, it's much more complicated than that and he wrestles with that in a completely different way than zack does. I figured the community was attack him, in fact there's one sub-community of a particular tuber that does relentlessly attack him. But I wanted Braden to stand as the complete antithesis to people who demand that someone admit they're gay when they're authentically not. This story is very much making the case that labels, regardless of how many we try and make, will still be limiting to people. It's very much a journey of finding yourself regardless of what categories people want to place you in or force you to admit to being.
In terms of your criticism, I agree. the beginning is very much what adult games were at the time it started (2017). They were grind and state based so I started there given that I had no experience. Eventually I think i found my voice and said fuck the genre i'm doing my own thing and I think that paid off. I want to reconstruct the beginning as well as update the quality of writing since I got quite a bit of experience with that over the past few years.
Also, the rock scene is only in the respect route.
I agree with most of your suggestions and hopefully i can connect some of those dots when i got back and try and polish some of this. This is very much just a public rough draft of my story
I'm not sure where you're stuck at but you should just be able to download it and then unzip/extract it. The download file is compressed to make it smaller to download. After that, you play it like any other game by clicking the .exe file inside the base folder. If you're still stuck, please post again or if you have Discord, you can pop on there and we can try and troubleshoot with you in real time
This is amazing, simply amazing. Ive been reading a lot of this type of Visual Novel and yours is by far my favorite. Its not just the NSFW stuff which is too notch in its own right, its the absolutely brilliant character development. My heart goes to each of the 4 guys. They are wonderful, beautiful souls.
Max might be the single best person ive ever seen. The utter selflessness he has towards his friend. It makes me cry just thinking about how unfair life was to him. He deserves his own spinoff. It would be crazy, chaotic and heartfilled all at the same time. Just like him.
Braden coming out of his shell and being comfortable with himself is inspiring. He started out almosg crippled by his phobias but his trust in his friends drives him to be better.
So much about this speaks to me. Looking back I can see myself as Zack. Heck, Zack is me! I was and still partially am, that ball of anxiety that overthinks everything. So afriad to make a move and face a potential negative outcome that it paralyzed me from going after what I really wanted. Just like Zack almost faced, I didn't know what was there until it was too late. I hope with all my heart that you give Zack the happy ending that I missed out on. He deserves to be happy and not just a simple end of semester, see you next time ending. The real life changing ending that his character has been building up through whole journey .
I'm glad you enjoyed the arcs. Max is a fun character. I can't decide what I honestly like more: him as a character or just hearing from the audience about how quickly they jumped from hate to love in one chapter even tho he actually never changed anything about himself really.
I'm working on the ending now and hopefully I do it justice.
Will we have to share a dorm? Will I like that person. Will that person like me? Will I likethat person? If I pray to the gay gods will I get a fine specimen of a man for some eye candy? Well in Straight!?, the answer is a big fat YES!
This game is has plenty of FLUFF. And that is why it is so true to what the characters are experiencing--being out of your comfort zone for the first time in your life. Slowly, but surely the begin to get closer. They learn to bond. They become friends. The become intimate and confortable with each other in a way they completely makes sense -- they share a room -- and it's the type of comfort we would all be lucky to have in a friend.
Don't get me wrong, this game is NOT SFW. But it is the blend of Smut and Fluff which makes it so special. We see these characters go from stranger to people who rely on each other, trust each other, and care for each other and learn to understand each other. It is this character development that we witness for the characters, that makes STR8!? so special. You'll laugh with them, cry with them and even I think, be proud of who they become. And if you're anything like me, you'll be thanking AAryn when our str8! boys finally do get together, no cheap pen0r here -because this story, is fucking beautiful.
This literally my favorite game ever. The friendship is so unique and the way Zack and Braden build slowly their reletionship untill getting confortable with all the sex thing is just soo good. Keep going I really appreciate your work <3.
Ps when are you going to upload the next chapiter here on itchio ? Wanna subscribe to your patreon but I can't know but I will soon or lately💗
heya, so thanks for the love. Glad you like the weird dynamic here.
So i post things on the Patreon page first. While i accept donations here, the Patreon page is the primary place where i post devlogs and put out supplemental content for the donations received. Because the game is free and will always be free, I post the newest updates when they're ready for those who donate exclusively on patreon (it's just easier to manage there). 3 weeks after that is when i post it publicly on Patreon as well as here on ichio and one other website.
This was i really good game i thought it was going to be like every other game on this site with their "porn shenanigans" that ends up ruining the plot but this was really good i felt a connection with the story and characters truly a great job on the creators part sure there's NSFW but it would be completely wrong to say this is porn it's so much more this is a story one that I hope never ends 5 stars
unfortunately not hosted on a site that is compatible with itch.io. says 3rd party site... looked like a good vn, but will not try it from a 3rd party site
Sorry you're not able to try it. It's actually really common because Itch.io restricts uploads to this site to 1GB so any projects larger than that are forced to use external links. Up until recently, itch.io forced you to use external photo links with very small size limits to advertise your project so they apparently just don't have the space here.
The links used here are through Mediafire, which I pay for and are the same links that I use from my Patreon site. The only downside to Mediafire is it seems to really suck for download speed in the UK. Unfortunately, as the game has grown and I learned more about development, the image quality increased and this increased the size of the game files. When you spend thousands of hours trying to increase something, the last thing you wanna do is shrink it back down by 75%.
Wow. This was an unexpected experience. Left me very emotional. Wish I had the eloquence of Zack's internal monologue to express just how impactful it was. Looking forward to the conclusion.
One question, since this is in alpha: Is there a preferred method or path back to you for feedback on nits or hiccups spotted?
hey thanks. glad it surprised you. we have a discord for the game and that'st he quickest way to get in contact with me. There's a lot to fix in the beginning part. i had no idea what i was doing and that shows in comparison to the ending chapters but I'm always open to feedback and stuff :)
Heh, didn't expect such a quick response. Sorry this post wasn't more timely. Not enthusiastic about joining yet another online site; Will have to think about that. In the mean time, here is some more-detailed feedback, none of which diminishes the emotional impact the overall story has had so far.
--the following contains spoilers--
I have played the game through three times. First time I played it through, which was prior to my first comment, I made what I thought were sensible choices. Have played it twice through again, once choosing what seemed like respect choices and once choosing what seemed like perv choices.
I was surprised that Zack still apologized at the pond (respect path) for nocturnal creeping even though I as the player actively tried to avoid that path. I even avoided going to the shower to observe Braden's shadow beating. And speaking of that, no mention of the shower wall on that respect path. My expectation there was for Zack to only apologize for the creeping that was beyond the player's control (like the removal of the shower wall.) Otherwise, why give a choice at all?
On the perv route, I had expectations going in that the two would be going their separate ways from the gym, with maybe Zack and Mikhail ending up together. I mean, how many times can Braden forgive Zack's BS. Glad it didn't go that way though. (Of course, it might have been interesting if they had separated only to have Max thrust them back together at the end of Chapter 9, since his plan was already in motion by time of the gym confrontation. Have them deal with each other in the room that first night rather than in the gym. The gym feels too public a forum for that discussion anyway.)
Max also missed a loophole when it came to Braden's phone; Zack was at swim practice earlier on the same night as the swim lesson and fire so the phone could have been left then--by anyone at practice. All Zack had to say was"Oops, I left that at the end of swim practice, can I have it back?" or words to that effect. Though Max's performance during the meeting is beyond awesome.
I also seemed to miss how Zack ends up with Braden's phone. Was that there somewhere?
I feel that some mention of the shower lights is needed since messing with a thermostat might not burn down a dorm but a poor wiring job repairing some commercial lighting definitely could.
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This is getting way too long so just a few questions:
Any significance to to Cody wearing the shirt Braden rejected when shopping? (LOL, BTW, on shopping at Ashley's Boutique)
How much foreshadowing is in the third screen presented to the player when the game first launches? (BTW, I think there should be a way to disable the warning screens after you've started the game the first time.)
Do we ever get optional dialog on:
-Braden's bisexual friend in high school? (so expected this to come up again to the point that maybe it is a Chekhov's Gun detail)
-How Braden's GF embarrassed him enough for the breakup?
---------------
Some but not all of my fav moments
-park after the bar.
-beach shower "I where know your heart is."
-the entire night swim.
-Max breaking the fourth wall by throwing shade on clicky text-base games.
-Max's wave (As someone who knows that ADHD isn't something you grow out of but learn to manage, Max became a fav rather quickly. This scene punched hard.).
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And add me to the list of peeps curious to know what 3D software you are using for your visuals. Because part of what sells your story is the cinematic realism of your 3D assets.
I don't even know where to start. This game hits so damn good, pulls every single string of my heart. I'm not usually that interested in NSFW content (I always find myself skipping through it lol) but this VN is worth every single picture. I seriously can't express (and not being eng-native isn't helping lmao) how muchh this story meant and mean to me. I've found so many similitaries between me and Zack that just that was enough to threw me off. He also kinda looks like me and I'm...speechless. Zack's train of thought through all the events (I'm trying not to be a spoiler beetch ugh-) was so understandable, and I don't know if that's 'cause you're just that good at writing or because I've found myself thinking and acting the same as him. Even just that one thing that happened in the wrestling locker-room, where he thought things were happening between Bradon and his friend, was almost identical to what happaned to me.
I'd go on and on about every single thing you wrote but I don't want to be the Dante 2.0 so I'll just say: I love the way you write and explain every single thing. I want this VN to never end 'cause it's just that good. Thank you so friggin' much for all your hard work, I hope I can see so many other things from you, and I'll close saying that this little masterpiece you created made me...kinda want to meet and talk to you.
I hope you're doing good and wish you all the best! Thank you, again. You made this not-that-little guy feel something again.
Also, sorry if something is not understandable but, again, I'm an italian mess lmao
Nah, your writing is good and I'm following you. I appreciate this because I never really thought this project would go global. I mean, obviously when you put something on the internet it's global but I didn't expect the world to react the way that they did. It's humbling and it's meaningful to hear that it still resonates with people in other countries that speak other languages. There's a lot of slang in this game so that was something I was honestly worried about-- i didn't think it would translate well.
There's a lot of my personality in these characters. In fact, it's hard for some people that know me to even read it because they can't separate them from me. I'm around on the discord server and talk pretty often if i'm not writing :)
Hey there again my man. Just wanted to tell you that I read your reply to my post and I really appreciate you taking the time to try and reply to as many posts as you can. Especially since you do so on MULTIPLE forums from what I have seen. Your work on the game and on the forums needs to be acknowledged once again. You are a truly inspirational person to someone like me. This game has touched me deeply as I have said before, and it has gotten me into writing my own novel. I wish I was talented enough to make a VN as you are, but I wouldn't even know where to start. I was watching the latest update like a hawk, starving for more content. The update didn't disappoint either. I REALLY hope we get to see Mikhail again though. This update had me really happy, then kinda horny lol, then laughing my ass off at the bar, then crying like a baby at the end. I don't know how you play with emotions the way you do, but you have a real talent. I can't wait for the ending of this story as much as I am dreading it. I'm extremely excited for anything else you have in store for us, in this game and onwards. Please never stop even after this game is over. Your talent needs to be shared with the world.
This post needed to happen a LONG time ago (like 90 days) lol but I'm awful and haven't gotten around to it before now. I procrastinate and dawdle too much lol.
I do try and answer every post that I can. Lately, I've been super busy and the comments over here on ichio have really stacked up so I'm behind. Ironically, you pointed out that I respond to comments when I was the most behind, lol.
The last few updates in the game have all been rollercoasters. I think everything since chapter 7 has been really up and down and I sorta like that. It doesn't feel chaotic but it feels more like the ups and downs of life. I put a lot of emotion into writing it. I have to be in a certain headspace to do the writing part and I really do feel for the characters. Sometimes that slows things down a bit so i get what you talk about with the procrastination. I'm the opposite and just work on it constantly. I'm not sure what my next project will be but I'd like to do something again. There's plenty left to do on this game tho so that's still gonna prob take me a year or more to polish this up.
Love playing this game. I found on Amazon music Eli Lieb an amazing singer. I have a really good soundtrack from him and a couple others. His songs work so well. Makes the experience that much more immersive. When you really lose yourself in the story it's worth it.
I love this game. So well written, beautiful cg and animations. I do hope the story will continue. I ache between every chapter. I long to read more, to follow their development and the love story. And I wish I had supportive friends like them.
:) glad you liked it. I also don't wanna run the story into the ground either. I wanted to tell a specific story here and hopefully I'm able to accomplish that in the last chapter. Glad you enjoyed the writing. not something i knew I was any good at so it's nice to continue to hear things like this. thank you <3
I'm working on it now. it's estimated to be pretty long tho so it's taking awhile. Plus, I try and incorporate something new and learn new things in each update so that usually slows me down. It's all still practice for me. this is just the rough draft of the game.
Really wanted to drop in and leave a comment. I stumbled onto this game a couple of days ago. Not really anticipating much from it, other than a good little gay time. But damn, this game is incredible on so many levels. The story, characters and of course the NSFW side of things too, I haven't been this invested in some characters and a story for a game in quite some time. Which I did not see coming. But every line I am engrossed with.
As someone who writes themselves. The writing in this game is fantastic, it's such a well-written and crafted game, I don't have words to praise it enough honestly.
Just finished chapter 10, as I have been hooked and ended bingeing the game of the past few days, waiting to see the story unfold, some twists I did not see coming either, they actually had me gasping a few times haha.
I can't wait to see what the conclusion brings, I won't lie, I am hoping for a very happy ending, rainbows and unicorns, all that fun stuff. These two characters deserve a happy ending. One where hopefully they'll get to be together forever.
Again, amazing game. Can't wait for the conclusion
One quick question, is there music and sound in the game? As I feel like there was, however when I loaded back up yesterday and carried on from like chapter 5, I had no sound at all. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the game, but wanted to check in case I somehow caused the game to bug out and lose the music and SFX.
But one last time, amazing job to all involved. I have loved every minute of playing. :)
heya. thanks for the kind words. I always love these reactions where people get pulled in thinking the game is going to be fairly shallow. I'm also always humbled by writers complimenting the game's writing considering this is a first attempt for me. So a very humble thank you and I appreciate your words.
In terms of sound: nope. There's no sound or music yet. I have pretty big expectations for that and i'm still learning all the coding and design of this so, if i do add sound/music, it would have to be done right. there's still a lot of work to be done :)
Honestly, it was an absolute joy to play through! I can’t wait for the grand finale!
I would never guess you haven’t written before/don’t do it as a job, it’s very impressive! Might be better than me and I’m trying to make a career out of writing haha xD
Ahh that’s great, thanks for clearing that up, I must of been that invested when I started playing that I didn’t even notice the lack of music. Can’t wait to see what you do with all that in the future then :)
A quick question if you don’t mind me asking? How do you create all your art for the game? Like the characters and backgrounds? I’d love to get into attempting to make a game myself (very inspired recently haha) but honestly have zero idea where to even behind, do you do it all from scratch in a software or is there a software that gives a good starting base to work with?
Again, incredible job, keep up the incredible work and I can’t wait to see what happens with these characters :)
Hey. Once again thanks for a super story. You learn to love these 2 great characters. With their own uniqueness. I've got to chapter 10 and something tells me it may be the end. I'm hoping not, there is still so much more. So I'm sorta stuck do I read till the end. I'm hoping this story will build up into much more, there is so many paths now. I mean college is what 4 years long. And we've only really touched the surface. The story you wrote is buy far the best I've read. Yep said it again. Why not straight 2 even. But anyway thankyou so much. Amazing how a story like this can help someone so much. The ideas behind the story. We all truely struggle with alot in our own lives. And finding a story which comes close to your own. It's very touching. i feel for Zack alot. Dealing with the same stuff for over 40 odd years is tuff. Reading about it does help. I used to be so much worse it would affect my job as well. Coming from that early on you get to see things differently. Read into things way more, and find myself explaining things or what people do to what you would really so in the same situation. I'm constantly doing this watching shows and movies. And people. I now I re read parts of the story which really mean alot. It's a good form of therapy you could say. Not bad for a short story. Thank you. And thank you to all your mates helping you. 🥲
Chapter 10 will be the end. I'm currently working on the last story update although the game will continue to have updates that focus more on the begining chapters to rework them and enhance the graphics now that I've learned a bit more about this process over the last few years.
I've gotten that question before on whether to keep reading or wait to binge-- specifically because the story has focused a lot of cliffhanger endings during the updates. While some people may think this is a gimmick, it was more designed to make you pause and consider where things really were at during the relationship. It forces you to marinate in those feelings for a bit so imo, the ideal experience for this woulda been following it from the beginning and reading each update as a separate "episode." But I also get why some people wanna just binge it too-- 'cause sometimes waiting sucks, lol.
This game is a storm of emotions. It has hit me harder than any other before. Possibly because I've been through something similar or maybe because of the empathy for the characters and their delicate and complex tenderness. There were times when I had to stop playing and cry. But it was alright. Perhaps, I am in a bad moment in my life, and this game has come for some unknown reason to me. I just wanna say to the creators; thank you very fucking much for this piece of art.
Two lines I can't get out of my head: "Nothing last forever" and "Family isn't blood. Family is who you'll bleed for"
I've got a lump in my throat when I read "to be concluded"....
I'll say that it's a storm of emotions to write as well so I'm glad it spoke to you. Those two quotes are big for me, too. I wish you the best during your rough patch
Honestly, I think this is one of the most well written games I have played. Kudos to the writers for such an accurate representation of anxiety revolving Zach. I really relate to Zach and Braden since I was in the same predicament as them especially since I had dated a straight guy whom only had eyes for me. Amazing NSFW scenes aside, I think I really fell in love with the story and their respective character developments. I can't wait to play more!
thanks a lot for this. i love the fact that it's an adult game but the NSFW stuff doesn't take center stage at all. I wanted it to progress the story and have a purpose rather than the typical you just hopping from one dirty scene to the next.
Currently I'm in the middle of chapter 7. So far, the visuals are amazing, the story is intense and engrossing, though a lot of the time I find myself terribly frustrated with Zach. Not only for being incredibly obtuse but wondering why the hell does he keep holding back from exploring more physical intimacy with Braden. Before, I could totally understand Zach's hesitations, despite the many obvious signs Braden would through as the chapters progressed, but after that first kiss and saying things like it was the best kiss ever, that he would do it again and how sensual he thought it was, and the fact that he continues to strip in front of Zach, invite him to shower with (which he doesn't) then lay his head in Zach's lap and lets him rub him and says how good it feels, that Zach STILL won't go in with another kiss even when he sees that Braden is starting to get hard! It just suddenly goes to Braden becoming "suddenly aware" and freaking out and going back into his bed. Like Zach should have just gone in for that kiss before Braden came too so-to-speak and I imagine how it could have turned out completely different. I'm just left sort of dumb founded with this.
imo Zack isn't really obtuse. If he was obtuse, he wouldn't be struggling in his monologues and explaining a lot of his apprehensions. There's a lot of anxiety there. a lot of mixed signals and a lot of self-hatred that can blind you. His unwillingness to move forward is much more complex than him just being a clueless character. He's purposely that way. He also struggles with a crippling fear of rejection because one false move here that doesn't go well could cost his friendship. I know some people can be frustrated by Zack's slowness to move and that's honestly a huge part of this story because it's something a lot of us do. But we also can't always relate to the anxiety of others because it's there's. people may be slow to act in areas that we, ourselves, may be more comfortable in. I've described this game as an "anxiety simulator" before and i still think it holds true to one perspective on how anxiety can manifest and what it's consequences can be
I get it. Maybe it was hard for me to relate much at first because it's been so long since I had to come out to myself or anyone else. But I can, like most, still know what the fear of rejection is like and getting further into the story I can see their perspectives much more clearly as they confessed their true feelings with one another, and I can see now why Zack would be so confused by all the mixed signals from Braden and I feel most of us gay men can empathize with that and what it's like to be confused with the intentions of a guy we're crushing on but is supposed to be straight or their sexuality is ambiguous. Even if it's just a passing wonder if the dude is flirting or just friendly. I'm definitely captured into the story of these guys and I'm liking seeing new characters being introduced and starting to have more of a role in the plot, beyond just Zack and Bradon. The story does sort of start off slow but it's great to see new backgrounds, visual elements, and characters as you advance your skill with the story application. I would like to maybe see a revamp someday of the first 3 or 4 chapters with these new elements, new visuals and choices to make as well.
There is one quick scene that stands out to me that I would love to have seen more of a deeper emotion happen with the characters, and it was sort of quickly dismissed and viewed as a joke, but I think in real life, would have caused a more serious response. In the car, on the way to the beach, Zack mentions his deceased brother and how he still keeps his old MP3 player because it has his old music on there and Bradon and Mikhail sort of laugh about his silly music tastes, when in reality, I feel like there maybe would be a much deeper reasoning behind Zack's desire to hold on to this part of his brother who he lost and it is like a piece of him. Music is very personal and hearing it can be like a moment captured in time, deeper than a mere memory, but much like a photograph would be. I would have liked to see maybe a flashback of Zack and his brother, or even Bradon just remembering what Zack told him about losing his brother and that would have shut him up really quick, resulting in an explanation to Mikhail and why Zack still holds onto this part of his youth and maybe his fondness for 00's music. I, as someone who would probably be about his brother's age now, and I have younger siblings, I can sympathize with that. Anyways, it's just a thought from some old dude, still stuck on the music of his teen's lol
I completely agree with what you wrote. I've got to chapter 10 2 days ago. I really feel for Zack in those chapters. Sometimes thinking just kiss him. Tell him you love him but funny I know how he feels. I could only find the strength I needed way later in life to accept who I was. Like Zack it takes alot to talk yourself into it.. I still suffer today and hold back alot.. my partner of 6 years doesn't know how hard the struggle is. In later chapters you'll enjoy it. And it's really hit me hard, how much I've missed as my inner self continually stops me. I missed my perfect opportunity with 1 guy, who I do still see occasionally as a friend. Think we both missed out. But that's what happens. Amazing how this story really hits home to alot of people. I'm thankful I found the game
I go through times where I download some scandalous and sexy games off itch and this one was part of that impulse. And honestly? Hot scenes aside... This body-slammed me with emotions. It really resonated with me as a gay man. Thank you for this WONDERFULLY written piece of work. I wish we could all have a Mikhail in our lives! 💕
Thank you. I'm glad it struck you beyond the hot scenes-- least that was my intention. Those are just supposed to move things along and put that aspect of their lives under a microscope. Glad you liked it <3
The game is literally a work of art. It really touches and and takes you to a wild ride. The story is amazing and you really connect with the charactres. I love it. I cant wait to see how things will go with Braden and Zack
I have played this game like 5 times now and no other visual novel has touched my soul the way you have, still go through the emotional rollercoaster every time. I can not wait for the final chapter to come out. Any idea on a time frame for that?
Thanks my friend you have touched my sou in more ways the one.
It's a powerful thing to hear that this "touched your soul." Thank you. It means a lot.
I don't have a time frame. To put it short, with each update I try and learn or try something new. I ran into a few hiccups in that process again but I've adjusted. Even bought a new rig to pump out stuff quicker. This is the end tho so I'm taking it slow. I'm def not a fast writer and I know that sucks for the closure for all of us. It's still gonna be awhile though
I wish I knew how to put into words how this made me feel. So many emotions went through me when reading this.
Trying to avoid any spoiler type lines but man when everything played out and the line from Zack, "...More than anything." during a certain scene.. that still resonates in my head. That was such a little thing but it's those kinds of things that hit home to me.
You've done such an amazing job with this project and I loved every second of it.
thank you. I appreciate this. There's a few lines in the game that still echo to me, too and I wrote the damn thing. I think by the end, we'll all have more. One last rollercoaster to ride
hello aaryn. Pls extend my heartfelt thanks to your co writer blayke. you both created a masterpiece. i mean, .. I am 28 year old gay asian dude and the story of Zach and Braden really hits me hard. Like real sh*t and stuff.
I am crying at some point, then so much inloved and then another second jerking off. God! You guys are real artist. how can you play with so many emotions at the same time?
I honestly love you and to all of your team who created this masterpiece . Please keep me posted if when will be the next update
i still cant believe that the game already ended. I want more, i wish for more ,i crave for more.
I really want to suppport you guys like donate and stuff but my situation in my country is pretty rough too. I am sending my prayers that you continue this art . Pleaseeee. I beg you to continue the game and the story.
Noy, first off...sorry about all the tears. But also kinda not sorry because it sounds like you're enjoying the ride. :P I appreciate your enthusiasm and part of me is a bit jealous that you've gone through the game probably more times than I actually have. I'll also never get over the fact that this project has gone global. It's incredibly powerful to think that I can emotionally touch someone on the other side of the world, who grew up differently than me, and still have shared emotional reactions to these characters. That means a lot to me.
In terms of financial support, please don't worry about it. I've been more than blessed through this project and people have been generous. I release it for free because tons of people aren't in a position to contribute. I want people to enjoy the story and if it really speaks to them, I don't want them to feel guilty for having to steal it. Please, be safe and take care of yourself and those you care about. The game will be free regardless and your prayers matter a lot more than money ever will. Thank you <3
thanks aaryn. Am sorry if i'm so emotional about it. it's just that, it is my first time to encounter such masterpiece that reflects my own experiences in life. Soo relatable.
I Cant thank you and your team enough. i love you guys always. ♥️😘 Love lots from the philippines.
I don’t even know how to start this comment after playing Str8!? I rarely ever comment on things but my heart, and my head were pulled in so many directions that I honestly don’t think I could explain it without writing a VN myself. and, just to clarify... I. Loved. Every. Second. Of it.
Because, I just stumbled across this. Thinking not much of it, I read it was a slow burn story and thought "mm okay seems interesting, mite have a look" I love story driven content and, oh man.. am I glad I did.. I got hooked, with the line, the sinker, the boat and an anker dropped on my head while being glued to my computer, all while my heart... just.. my heart...
Aaryn and Blayke, Thanks. Many people have already said the things I think and feel before me, and I agree with them completely. Wonderful storytelling, great characters, visuals, character development. It is emotional, suspenseful, heartbreaking, exciting, joyful, meaningful.. an awesome rollercoaster, and the progress from you both over the course of VN/game is awesome as well, actually kinda adds to the story.
Like I said, I could write a VN to explain it all but I’ll try and keep it short..ish..? I related to it… a lot, honestly, a lot more than I ever thought, on a few levels. I fell in love with the characters, the story & I found myself emotionally attached to Zack and Braden, wanting to find out more. Worrying about them, hoping, wishing, laughing, shedding a tear and rooting for them just wanting to click the next page, over and over, along with my anxiety rising and falling with Zacks, sometimes pausing to contemplate life, reminiscing on my own, even commenting out loud or making the same facial expressions as Zack and Braden haha. I could compliment yous’ all day because I genuinely, really, enjoyed this a lot and have but only, one complaint.. (not really) my heart…
Your nailing the emotional aspect. The story & the wisdom. The truthful side of life & it definitely makes the scenes more powerful with my heart pulled from one to the next. I can’t say I struggled to much with my own but I relate so much with Zack, overthinking and some of the struggles & situations, although Straight!? hit more because I had friend, very, very similar to Braden, both friendship, personality, looks and situation but unlike Zack, I never did over come my anxiety. In tern, I lost a best friend, without being my true self or taking the risk. I enjoyed it and enjoyed sharing Zack and Bradons passion & growth, along with yours as you write/develop it. I’m defiantly excited/scared for the last chapter.
and I really hope, that not everything comes to and end, just yet, Semester 2? Eventually, haha.
On a lighter note, I wish I could help make this into something like LIS2 because that complexity of, choices & visual story telling would be awesome! I’d even love to see a follow up story from, say Braden or Ash's perspective because one; id love to see how you write their internal dialog and two; could be a good way later on to delve into the others internal struggles. I’m excited to see the finished story and visuals once you go back over it but even as it is now, I love it.
heya. thanks for the support and I'm glad the game spoke to you. I'm with you on the anxiety parts. I know that some people have been frustrated by Zack's overthinking or his reluctance and doubt. But, to me, that's real life and it's something that a huge number of people have dealt with and I wanted to depict that in a frustrating but innocent way. I also doubt fault you for needing your own VN to react to this one--cause this story is friggen LOOOOOONG. I still got some ideas left on it. I also respect your emotional reactions, including bringing up the best friend from the past. I truly hope you find peace with that. Sometimes those kinds of lessons are the hardest to learn. they have been for me anyway <3
Just read the most recent update. You've done it again. It had me emotional one moment, turned on the next, filled with such joy and later wanting to cry. Such an amazing story.....I'm only mad that I have to wait for more but I guess that's the thing with great story telling. If I was watching this as a TV series I know I would hit even harder. To hear the emotion in their voice would just make you block out the world due to complete immersion. Hell, I already do that to a degree just from reading it. This story really connects with me in so many ways as I listen to the main character's thoughts. To read something that makes you feel so many emotions at once and it flows well. GRADE A material. Keep up the good work.
I sometimes think of it as a tv series and it sorta helps me keep things more episodic. Although seeing it live action would be pretty cool with the right people (although I'd be picky af I'm sure). Thank you. I'm glad to have ya on this crazy rollercoaster :)
I wouldn't blame you for being picky because the actors would truly have to bring those characters to life. Especially Ash. LMAO. Legit my fav other than Braden of course.
Sometimes I think we all need a friend like him so we can remember to just enjoy life without overthinking things. I would also say we all need a friend like Mikhail so that we can simply learn to accept ourselves. We all are unique and can't keep expecting to fit any particular criteria.
hello aaryn. Pls extend my heartfelt thanks to your co writer blake. you both created a masterpiece. i mean, .. I am 28 year old gay asian dude and the story of Zach and Braden really hits me hard. Like real sh*t and stuff.
I am crying at some point, then so much inloved and then another second jerking off. God! You guys are real artist. how can you play with so many emotions at the same time?
I honestly love you and to all of your team who created this masterpiece . Please keep me posted if when will be the next update
i still cant believe that the game already ended. I want more, i wish for more ,i crave for more.
I really want to suppport you guys like donate and stuff but my situation in my country is pretty rough too. I am sending my prayers that you continue this art . Pleaseeee. I beg you to continue the game and the story.
Thank you for an amazing story. I came across this by pure chance on another site, read by someone truly amazing at story telling. The last 2 weeks I've watched about 50%. The worst part is it's the last part. So emotional, and close to home as it seems with many. It's now really different stating at the story from episode 1. Only hearing what happened in the past through the later eps, it's almost unbelievable that these 2 will get together. Mind I've just started.
Q. I saw the game is downloadable on Android. I'm guessing it works well on a phone. If so how big is the game. I don't have a computer of my own so I'd love insight.
I'd love this whole raw draft, even if the story is complete and better.
I don't think it could get better. The story line is so powerful. Tears a plenty here.
Keep up the great work. I've already talked to friends about it.
Heh, there is a lot of emotions in this. Hell, there's a lot of emotions that go into writing it so I'm glad they resonate on the readers' end as well. So the Android port is very new but I haven't actually played it. I switched over to an iPhone about a year ago but I've installed Blue Stacks and I'm gonna try and mess around with it at some point to see if I can get more information about it. However, people say that it works and we've had several people use that format to play. Great to hide in the bathroom for 15 hours and play through the whole thing praying your legs don't go to sleep on the toilet. I will say the beginning of the game is very rough and it's taken me some time to get into this writing thing so I'm gonna go back and fix that part as well as update the graphics. This is just the rough draft so it will definitely get better.
I wish I had the words. What you've made is truly amazing. I've never connected with any literature as much as I have with this. I'm honestly lost for words. What you've made is so real. And what you say is so true. It's hard to find the words to describe one's feeling and emotions and experiences, but everything I've felt before you've managed to find the words for. I genuinely care for these characters (and I'm actually in love with Branden) and you've given them such truth and depth. But even more than that, your philosophical insights, your way of exploring these deep thoughts and drives and emotions and putting them into words, just rings so true. Your words make me feel like I feel when these things happen for real. It's genuinely magical. Thank you. (I hadn't donated before, but you totally deserve it now.)
Thank you. You're very kind and I appreciate the support. I'm glad it's resonated with so many people and I continue to be humbled by the people who are willing to see this project for what it really is rather than look at it as just some porn game. I'm just happy that it means so much to people. Thank you back :)
This VN is absolutely amazing and I'm totally hooked!
I love the the dialogue and the graphics (particularly the detailed attention given to body hair). Everything just makes the characters so lovable and relatable. And Braden ... is it crazy to love a fictional character?
The story transports me to a world of what could have been for me, and sadly reminds me of what i have missed out. I am really shipping Zack and Braden but I've got a sinking feeling they'll be torn apart in the future. Nothing lasts forever ....
Can't wait for the next update, but dreading it at the same time!
Amazing work Aaryn & Blake - when your audience starts having feelings for the characters (I know I do!), you know you're story/game is truly next level.
thank you. i really appreciate this. I'm honored you've grown to love them and that it's had the ability to tug on some of those heartstrings, I know they've driven me crazy over the past few years. We'll have to see how the ending goes. Seems you're picking up on some ominous tones there
Having followed the development of this VN for almost two years and thoroughly enjoying the story, I am sorry that I haven't provided any kind of feedback until now. Where should I begin? Would mere words suffice to commend this masterpiece? Zack and Braden are not only very relatable but they have helped me put things in perspective in ways I cannot describe here. Aaryn, Blayke, thank you very much for giving it to us "straight" ;) I am not in the habit of being hyperbolic and unctuous and so, I am telling you this with utmost sincerity when I say that Straight!? as a mainstream paperback has the potential to become a greater classic than Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. My overeager, imaginative mind is already inventing dollops of delicious drama involving the (possibly homophobic?) parentals and life after college. I am looking forward to the last chapter and all your future endeavours. More power to you!
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the long term support and following--no worries on waiting to post or react to things. I'm glad that it meant something to you and that it resonated with you over the past few years. I still admit to being worried initially that people would think the game too "preachy" but I'm glad people have accepted Zack's own journey on things and I'm always honored when people say that they took something away from that. Idk if it'll be a classic or not but it doesn't have to be at the top of the mainstream lists to mean something to us. I know the journey has meant something to me. Thank you for the support and I hope I do the ending justice :)
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Okay I went back and started a new playthrough of the game and I went the pervy route this time and I am totally floored by how that played out. The end of this update actually made me cry.
Ash is such an interesting character. As I was going through I got invested in seeing how everyone developes and interacts with each other. I hope that we will see Ash and Mikhail again.
Aaryn, such a masterpiece my friend. So indepth and real with the situations that are protrayed in the game. Like being right there in college with them, living the life with them and surviving all the trials and tribulations that come from that sort of setting.
I can not wait for the next update. I am really looking forward to seeing how Zack and Braden deal with being apart for the summer.
thank you. truly. I'm glad you liked both routes. i know i did something different than most people do and i wasn't sure that it would go over that well but i liked the idea and the challenge of it. glad it paid off for you <3
I can't even begin to describe how well thought out, put together, deep, structured and relatable this VN is.
I've told all my friends about this story and quite simply because this game changed my life. And I say that with no exaggeration and in full confidence.
In 23 years I've read countless books, watched years worth of TV and Film and never have I emotionally connected to characters the way I've found myself connected to Zack and Braden, the main characters of this piece. Even the side characters I find myself in love with.
When the characters were happy, I was happy.
When the characters were upset, I was upset.
When the characters argued, I was angry.
When the characters laughed, I laughed.
Yet most fascinating to me is the end of Chapter 9. I won't spoil anything but the story is written so perfectly and the twist at the end of Chapter 9 made me, for the first time in my life, cry genuine tears of happiness. No work of fiction has ever taken me to a powerful emotional place like that, I'm not sure I've cried happy tears at anything ever in fact. Until this story came along.
In these games, it's easy for the 3D modelling to get a little questionable, but in this particular story I found myself fully immersed the entire time, the model work is done flawlessly, I never found myself pulled out of the story because of the visuals.
The clichés in the story are so well done to avoid being eyeroll clichés, the twists and turns really had my jaw on the floor and my hand over my mouth in shock, yet never went so far as to be hugely unrealistic.
Now this is only my opinion of course, I can't say this is going to be the same for everyone, but for me, for me this is the single greatest work of fiction I have ever happened across.
I can't thank the people who worked on this enough nor give them enough praise for creating such a masterpiece.
I know you joined the discord server and you've gotten a chance to process some of this. I appreciate your passion for the project and your support. I'm humbled to have it have such a profound effect on you and to somehow dwarf everything you've tried so far when this is my first attempt at anything like this. <3
Alright, I usually do not make comments about games because it's usually the same old things but THIS game. It's different, I can tell you worked hard on it, so I wanted to comment to talk about what I think.
So, character stories are hard to write. This is because the story is determined by the characters and what they do and how they react to things, there is very little outside forces. It can make it seem like its dragging, but you were able to craft a really well written story and it captured my attention. it's one of the first visual novel type stories where i barely ever skipped. All of the dialogue was interesting but also felt natural and kept me interesting, but the best thing was the characters, so I'll go over the main four.
Zack is probably the best main character i ever seen that's not just you. Usually in games where you are controlling another character, they are either a unnatural goody guy who is unnaturally happy and optimistic about everything and just comes in and fixes all of everyone's problems or a blank board who doesn't have a single personality trait but everyone loves them. But Zack? Zack is real, his problems his emotions are real things that many people face. i was playing the chapter where he confessed that he hated being gay and i bawled my eyes out because I felt the exact same way. At a certain point i started to just root for zack and is happiness because if he could be happy than maybe I and other people could even if he's just fictional lol.Idk, and the QUOTES. i feel my inner walls and resistances collapse around me and run like sand through my fingers. Bro I'm using that, that's top tier writing. Best character by far.
So personally, I don't like the straight dude going gay stereotype that's in every game. Tbh it is what made me take so long to play this game. But for what the stereotype is Braden does it well. I like the fact that he wasn't aggro about it and his concerns about not feeling gay made sense. Anway's yeah, he's hot insecurities in all. I'm really glad you changed his design tho because the twink look is not my type lol. His scenes are great, I love how flirty he is when he's comfortable.
I think everyone here loves ash, i do too. He's pretty unique and his struggles is something i bet others actually deal with. He's funny, a breath of fresh air honestly. we need some breather and comic relief. Yeah Great character
idk how to spell his name now that i'm off the game but zach friend is someone i think everyone needs in life. He's just a good guy, too good of a guy at times. I'm glad we got to see more of his problems in the later chapters so he can seem more real.
I love all the characters and love how they interact together; their dynamic is great. they make for a interesting story.
nsfw scenes, they aren't the main part of the story, they are nice but its more added stuff. honestly tho, none of them was really provoking until the shower scene. That was amazing, I'm really glad that you let us choose and about that. I hope you let us choose if there is a final sex scene where they go all the way. personally for me, i like bottoming and enjoy reading those scenes more. I was a little bummed that braden was a small 'twink' who looked super young and zack said "I'm a top" and the focus was mainly his ass but after zack started accepting he could be a bottom and than braden grew it gave me hope :). If we could pick which position that would satisfy everyone but I'm fine with it if Zack just bottoms lol. Of course not gonna downgrade it if he tops only as well.
My only criticism are pretty simple. I do think the start could use some work. there is no tutorial so when the choices on what to do you are just running around like a headless chicken until you pick all the options. Than this option completely disappears at the end where you aren't choosing what to do at all. i think maybe adding some required story beats in the beginning for direction and slowly working towards more and more would make it less jarring. or maybe any type of prompt in the beginning explaining how to progress.
The rock scene after he catches braden in the wrestling locker room zack talks about a moment where he almost *R word* Braden that i never experienced. I assume it was the choice in the beginning to be respectful or pervy. I picked respectful and it looked like he wasn't thinking about anything or didn't even get close and just went back to sleep. idk if it's supposed to happen on both routes or maybe i just skipped it but just wanted to say it unless it was missed.
Ernie disappeared :( I know that he wasn't really important and i don't really care that much but I did like him lol. I was stuck at the beginning for a while and was just talking to him every day so I got attached.
But yeah, really small criticisms that don't really effect my score on the game. It's really good, good enough for me to want to support you on patreon. so yeah keep doing what you doing, i think if you wanted to you could get super huge, you're writing is better than 90% of this genre for real.
[Generic Spoilers Included In Below Response]
heya, thanks for the lengthy post. I'll admit that i'm always intimidated to try and reply to these so I'll give it a go.
The balance of Zack was tough in the beginning (although i dont like the beginning of the game and it needs work but this is just my pre-alpha rough draft of the story so far). I wanted Zack to be somewhat typical because if i hit everyone with his realism right off the bat, i figured I'd lose people. People are used to the adult/NSFW genre being porny and I wanted to do a fakeout at the beginning and give people a sense that that was the case here. However, trying to balance that with the slow introduction of something deeper here was kinda challenging to me. I basically wanted an adult game that people would eventually have to take seriously as something much deeper that just chose the adult genre because there's no limits on what you can discuss and portray sexually.
Braden's character is a bit tougher to crack and will continue to be in the final chapter. While some could look at him as the str8 boy going gay, it's much more complicated than that and he wrestles with that in a completely different way than zack does. I figured the community was attack him, in fact there's one sub-community of a particular tuber that does relentlessly attack him. But I wanted Braden to stand as the complete antithesis to people who demand that someone admit they're gay when they're authentically not. This story is very much making the case that labels, regardless of how many we try and make, will still be limiting to people. It's very much a journey of finding yourself regardless of what categories people want to place you in or force you to admit to being.
In terms of your criticism, I agree. the beginning is very much what adult games were at the time it started (2017). They were grind and state based so I started there given that I had no experience. Eventually I think i found my voice and said fuck the genre i'm doing my own thing and I think that paid off. I want to reconstruct the beginning as well as update the quality of writing since I got quite a bit of experience with that over the past few years.
Also, the rock scene is only in the respect route.
I agree with most of your suggestions and hopefully i can connect some of those dots when i got back and try and polish some of this. This is very much just a public rough draft of my story
This novel is a gem.
Applause for creators. It's Life is Strange level of an atmosphere. Ur very talented.
It's an art. Thanks.
thank you soo much <3
how do you play it I have downloaded it but now what?????????? sorry its my first time using with website.
I'm not sure where you're stuck at but you should just be able to download it and then unzip/extract it. The download file is compressed to make it smaller to download. After that, you play it like any other game by clicking the .exe file inside the base folder. If you're still stuck, please post again or if you have Discord, you can pop on there and we can try and troubleshoot with you in real time
This is amazing, simply amazing. Ive been reading a lot of this type of Visual Novel and yours is by far my favorite. Its not just the NSFW stuff which is too notch in its own right, its the absolutely brilliant character development. My heart goes to each of the 4 guys. They are wonderful, beautiful souls.
Max might be the single best person ive ever seen. The utter selflessness he has towards his friend. It makes me cry just thinking about how unfair life was to him. He deserves his own spinoff. It would be crazy, chaotic and heartfilled all at the same time. Just like him.
Braden coming out of his shell and being comfortable with himself is inspiring. He started out almosg crippled by his phobias but his trust in his friends drives him to be better.
So much about this speaks to me. Looking back I can see myself as Zack. Heck, Zack is me! I was and still partially am, that ball of anxiety that overthinks everything. So afriad to make a move and face a potential negative outcome that it paralyzed me from going after what I really wanted. Just like Zack almost faced, I didn't know what was there until it was too late. I hope with all my heart that you give Zack the happy ending that I missed out on. He deserves to be happy and not just a simple end of semester, see you next time ending. The real life changing ending that his character has been building up through whole journey .
Let me see what could have been through him :)
I'm glad you enjoyed the arcs. Max is a fun character. I can't decide what I honestly like more: him as a character or just hearing from the audience about how quickly they jumped from hate to love in one chapter even tho he actually never changed anything about himself really.
I'm working on the ending now and hopefully I do it justice.
Is it continues to another chapter. I am looking to the continuation of this novel
The new update is in progress. the are still working on it
my guess is its comes around august
Current Progress on v0.21
Outline v0.21: 100%
Rough Draft Writing: 70%
CGs: 65%
Draft Revision: 0%
Peer Feedback and Final Editing: 0%
We've all imagines going to college.
Will we have to share a dorm? Will I like that person. Will that person like me? Will I like that person? If I pray to the gay gods will I get a fine specimen of a man for some eye candy? Well in Straight!?, the answer is a big fat YES!
This game is has plenty of FLUFF. And that is why it is so true to what the characters are experiencing--being out of your comfort zone for the first time in your life. Slowly, but surely the begin to get closer. They learn to bond. They become friends. The become intimate and confortable with each other in a way they completely makes sense -- they share a room -- and it's the type of comfort we would all be lucky to have in a friend.
Don't get me wrong, this game is NOT SFW. But it is the blend of Smut and Fluff which makes it so special. We see these characters go from stranger to people who rely on each other, trust each other, and care for each other and learn to understand each other. It is this character development that we witness for the characters, that makes STR8!? so special. You'll laugh with them, cry with them and even I think, be proud of who they become. And if you're anything like me, you'll be thanking AAryn when our
str8! boys finally do get together, no cheap pen0r here -because this story, is fucking beautiful.This literally my favorite game ever. The friendship is so unique and the way Zack and Braden build slowly their reletionship untill getting confortable with all the sex thing is just soo good. Keep going I really appreciate your work <3.
Ps when are you going to upload the next chapiter here on itchio ? Wanna subscribe to your patreon but I can't know but I will soon or lately💗
heya, so thanks for the love. Glad you like the weird dynamic here.
So i post things on the Patreon page first. While i accept donations here, the Patreon page is the primary place where i post devlogs and put out supplemental content for the donations received. Because the game is free and will always be free, I post the newest updates when they're ready for those who donate exclusively on patreon (it's just easier to manage there). 3 weeks after that is when i post it publicly on Patreon as well as here on ichio and one other website.
Ok thank you i really love your work keep going !!
I love how the game doesn't get right into the sex. It makes the eventual sexual scene even better. ESPECIALLY THE RECENT ONE
I think things matter more when you're invested in them and there's value in it :)
Exactly
I love it
<3 thank you.
I'm suprised how good this game is. Actually loving the story and the fact of nsfw growing slowly, step by step. Keep up the great work, man.
I'd actually love to subscribe to you on Patreon. Just keep creating games like this.
thanks a lot. surprising a few people lately. glad you liked it <3
This was i really good game i thought it was going to be like every other game on this site with their "porn shenanigans" that ends up ruining the plot but this was really good i felt a connection with the story and characters truly a great job on the creators part sure there's NSFW but it would be completely wrong to say this is porn it's so much more this is a story one that I hope never ends 5 stars
thanks a lot. i'm glad it surprised you :)
unfortunately not hosted on a site that is compatible with itch.io. says 3rd party site... looked like a good vn, but will not try it from a 3rd party site
Sorry you're not able to try it. It's actually really common because Itch.io restricts uploads to this site to 1GB so any projects larger than that are forced to use external links. Up until recently, itch.io forced you to use external photo links with very small size limits to advertise your project so they apparently just don't have the space here.
The links used here are through Mediafire, which I pay for and are the same links that I use from my Patreon site. The only downside to Mediafire is it seems to really suck for download speed in the UK. Unfortunately, as the game has grown and I learned more about development, the image quality increased and this increased the size of the game files. When you spend thousands of hours trying to increase something, the last thing you wanna do is shrink it back down by 75%.
Wow. This was an unexpected experience. Left me very emotional. Wish I had the eloquence of Zack's internal monologue to express just how impactful it was. Looking forward to the conclusion.
One question, since this is in alpha: Is there a preferred method or path back to you for feedback on nits or hiccups spotted?
hey thanks. glad it surprised you. we have a discord for the game and that'st he quickest way to get in contact with me. There's a lot to fix in the beginning part. i had no idea what i was doing and that shows in comparison to the ending chapters but I'm always open to feedback and stuff :)
Heh, didn't expect such a quick response. Sorry this post wasn't more timely. Not enthusiastic about joining yet another online site; Will have to think about that. In the mean time, here is some more-detailed feedback, none of which diminishes the emotional impact the overall story has had so far.
--the following contains spoilers--
I have played the game through three times. First time I played it through, which was prior to my first comment, I made what I thought were sensible choices. Have played it twice through again, once choosing what seemed like respect choices and once choosing what seemed like perv choices.
I was surprised that Zack still apologized at the pond (respect path) for nocturnal creeping even though I as the player actively tried to avoid that path. I even avoided going to the shower to observe Braden's shadow beating. And speaking of that, no mention of the shower wall on that respect path. My expectation there was for Zack to only apologize for the creeping that was beyond the player's control (like the removal of the shower wall.) Otherwise, why give a choice at all?
On the perv route, I had expectations going in that the two would be going their separate ways from the gym, with maybe Zack and Mikhail ending up together. I mean, how many times can Braden forgive Zack's BS. Glad it didn't go that way though. (Of course, it might have been interesting if they had separated only to have Max thrust them back together at the end of Chapter 9, since his plan was already in motion by time of the gym confrontation. Have them deal with each other in the room that first night rather than in the gym. The gym feels too public a forum for that discussion anyway.)
Max also missed a loophole when it came to Braden's phone; Zack was at swim practice earlier on the same night as the swim lesson and fire so the phone could have been left then--by anyone at practice. All Zack had to say was"Oops, I left that at the end of swim practice, can I have it back?" or words to that effect. Though Max's performance during the meeting is beyond awesome.
I also seemed to miss how Zack ends up with Braden's phone. Was that there somewhere?
I feel that some mention of the shower lights is needed since messing with a thermostat might not burn down a dorm but a poor wiring job repairing some commercial lighting definitely could.
----------
This is getting way too long so just a few questions:
Any significance to to Cody wearing the shirt Braden rejected when shopping? (LOL, BTW, on shopping at Ashley's Boutique)
How much foreshadowing is in the third screen presented to the player when the game first launches? (BTW, I think there should be a way to disable the warning screens after you've started the game the first time.)
Do we ever get optional dialog on:
-Braden's bisexual friend in high school? (so expected this to come up again to the point that maybe it is a Chekhov's Gun detail)
-How Braden's GF embarrassed him enough for the breakup?
---------------
Some but not all of my fav moments
-park after the bar.
-beach shower "I where know your heart is."
-the entire night swim.
-Max breaking the fourth wall by throwing shade on clicky text-base games.
-Max's wave (As someone who knows that ADHD isn't something you grow out of but learn to manage, Max became a fav rather quickly. This scene punched hard.).
------------And add me to the list of peeps curious to know what 3D software you are using for your visuals. Because part of what sells your story is the cinematic realism of your 3D assets.
I don't even know where to start. This game hits so damn good, pulls every single string of my heart. I'm not usually that interested in NSFW content (I always find myself skipping through it lol) but this VN is worth every single picture.
I seriously can't express (and not being eng-native isn't helping lmao) how muchh this story meant and mean to me. I've found so many similitaries between me and Zack that just that was enough to threw me off. He also kinda looks like me and I'm...speechless.
Zack's train of thought through all the events (I'm trying not to be a spoiler beetch ugh-) was so understandable, and I don't know if that's 'cause you're just that good at writing or because I've found myself thinking and acting the same as him.
Even just that one thing that happened in the wrestling locker-room, where he thought things were happening between Bradon and his friend, was almost identical to what happaned to me.
I'd go on and on about every single thing you wrote but I don't want to be the Dante 2.0 so I'll just say: I love the way you write and explain every single thing. I want this VN to never end 'cause it's just that good.
Thank you so friggin' much for all your hard work, I hope I can see so many other things from you, and I'll close saying that this little masterpiece you created made me...kinda want to meet and talk to you.
I hope you're doing good and wish you all the best!
Thank you, again. You made this not-that-little guy feel something again.
Also, sorry if something is not understandable but, again, I'm an italian mess lmao
Heya Phree,
Nah, your writing is good and I'm following you. I appreciate this because I never really thought this project would go global. I mean, obviously when you put something on the internet it's global but I didn't expect the world to react the way that they did. It's humbling and it's meaningful to hear that it still resonates with people in other countries that speak other languages. There's a lot of slang in this game so that was something I was honestly worried about-- i didn't think it would translate well.
There's a lot of my personality in these characters. In fact, it's hard for some people that know me to even read it because they can't separate them from me. I'm around on the discord server and talk pretty often if i'm not writing :)
Hey there again my man. Just wanted to tell you that I read your reply to my post and I really appreciate you taking the time to try and reply to as many posts as you can. Especially since you do so on MULTIPLE forums from what I have seen. Your work on the game and on the forums needs to be acknowledged once again. You are a truly inspirational person to someone like me. This game has touched me deeply as I have said before, and it has gotten me into writing my own novel. I wish I was talented enough to make a VN as you are, but I wouldn't even know where to start. I was watching the latest update like a hawk, starving for more content. The update didn't disappoint either. I REALLY hope we get to see Mikhail again though. This update had me really happy, then kinda horny lol, then laughing my ass off at the bar, then crying like a baby at the end. I don't know how you play with emotions the way you do, but you have a real talent. I can't wait for the ending of this story as much as I am dreading it. I'm extremely excited for anything else you have in store for us, in this game and onwards. Please never stop even after this game is over. Your talent needs to be shared with the world.
This post needed to happen a LONG time ago (like 90 days) lol but I'm awful and haven't gotten around to it before now. I procrastinate and dawdle too much lol.
Heya :)
I do try and answer every post that I can. Lately, I've been super busy and the comments over here on ichio have really stacked up so I'm behind. Ironically, you pointed out that I respond to comments when I was the most behind, lol.
The last few updates in the game have all been rollercoasters. I think everything since chapter 7 has been really up and down and I sorta like that. It doesn't feel chaotic but it feels more like the ups and downs of life. I put a lot of emotion into writing it. I have to be in a certain headspace to do the writing part and I really do feel for the characters. Sometimes that slows things down a bit so i get what you talk about with the procrastination. I'm the opposite and just work on it constantly. I'm not sure what my next project will be but I'd like to do something again. There's plenty left to do on this game tho so that's still gonna prob take me a year or more to polish this up.
thank you for your kind words, though <3
Love playing this game. I found on Amazon music Eli Lieb an amazing singer. I have a really good soundtrack from him and a couple others. His songs work so well. Makes the experience that much more immersive. When you really lose yourself in the story it's worth it.
oh for sure. I have a playlist I use when I'm writing. music makes all the difference for sure
I love this game. So well written, beautiful cg and animations. I do hope the story will continue. I ache between every chapter. I long to read more, to follow their development and the love story. And I wish I had supportive friends like them.
:) glad you liked it. I also don't wanna run the story into the ground either. I wanted to tell a specific story here and hopefully I'm able to accomplish that in the last chapter. Glad you enjoyed the writing. not something i knew I was any good at so it's nice to continue to hear things like this. thank you <3
When will the next update be up?
I'm working on it now. it's estimated to be pretty long tho so it's taking awhile. Plus, I try and incorporate something new and learn new things in each update so that usually slows me down. It's all still practice for me. this is just the rough draft of the game.
awesome I can't wait ur story Is really good can u please let me know when u update it
Really wanted to drop in and leave a comment. I stumbled onto this game a couple of days ago. Not really anticipating much from it, other than a good little gay time. But damn, this game is incredible on so many levels. The story, characters and of course the NSFW side of things too, I haven't been this invested in some characters and a story for a game in quite some time. Which I did not see coming. But every line I am engrossed with.
As someone who writes themselves. The writing in this game is fantastic, it's such a well-written and crafted game, I don't have words to praise it enough honestly.
Just finished chapter 10, as I have been hooked and ended bingeing the game of the past few days, waiting to see the story unfold, some twists I did not see coming either, they actually had me gasping a few times haha.
I can't wait to see what the conclusion brings, I won't lie, I am hoping for a very happy ending, rainbows and unicorns, all that fun stuff. These two characters deserve a happy ending. One where hopefully they'll get to be together forever.
Again, amazing game. Can't wait for the conclusion
One quick question, is there music and sound in the game? As I feel like there was, however when I loaded back up yesterday and carried on from like chapter 5, I had no sound at all. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the game, but wanted to check in case I somehow caused the game to bug out and lose the music and SFX.
But one last time, amazing job to all involved. I have loved every minute of playing. :)
heya. thanks for the kind words. I always love these reactions where people get pulled in thinking the game is going to be fairly shallow. I'm also always humbled by writers complimenting the game's writing considering this is a first attempt for me. So a very humble thank you and I appreciate your words.
In terms of sound: nope. There's no sound or music yet. I have pretty big expectations for that and i'm still learning all the coding and design of this so, if i do add sound/music, it would have to be done right. there's still a lot of work to be done :)
Honestly, it was an absolute joy to play through! I can’t wait for the grand finale!
I would never guess you haven’t written before/don’t do it as a job, it’s very impressive! Might be better than me and I’m trying to make a career out of writing haha xD
Ahh that’s great, thanks for clearing that up, I must of been that invested when I started playing that I didn’t even notice the lack of music. Can’t wait to see what you do with all that in the future then :)
A quick question if you don’t mind me asking? How do you create all your art for the game? Like the characters and backgrounds? I’d love to get into attempting to make a game myself (very inspired recently haha) but honestly have zero idea where to even behind, do you do it all from scratch in a software or is there a software that gives a good starting base to work with?
Again, incredible job, keep up the incredible work and I can’t wait to see what happens with these characters :)
Hey. Once again thanks for a super story. You learn to love these 2 great characters. With their own uniqueness. I've got to chapter 10 and something tells me it may be the end. I'm hoping not, there is still so much more. So I'm sorta stuck do I read till the end. I'm hoping this story will build up into much more, there is so many paths now. I mean college is what 4 years long. And we've only really touched the surface. The story you wrote is buy far the best I've read. Yep said it again. Why not straight 2 even. But anyway thankyou so much. Amazing how a story like this can help someone so much. The ideas behind the story. We all truely struggle with alot in our own lives. And finding a story which comes close to your own. It's very touching. i feel for Zack alot. Dealing with the same stuff for over 40 odd years is tuff. Reading about it does help. I used to be so much worse it would affect my job as well. Coming from that early on you get to see things differently. Read into things way more, and find myself explaining things or what people do to what you would really so in the same situation. I'm constantly doing this watching shows and movies. And people. I now I re read parts of the story which really mean alot. It's a good form of therapy you could say. Not bad for a short story. Thank you. And thank you to all your mates helping you. 🥲
Chapter 10 will be the end. I'm currently working on the last story update although the game will continue to have updates that focus more on the begining chapters to rework them and enhance the graphics now that I've learned a bit more about this process over the last few years.
I've gotten that question before on whether to keep reading or wait to binge-- specifically because the story has focused a lot of cliffhanger endings during the updates. While some people may think this is a gimmick, it was more designed to make you pause and consider where things really were at during the relationship. It forces you to marinate in those feelings for a bit so imo, the ideal experience for this woulda been following it from the beginning and reading each update as a separate "episode." But I also get why some people wanna just binge it too-- 'cause sometimes waiting sucks, lol.
This game is a storm of emotions. It has hit me harder than any other before. Possibly because I've been through something similar or maybe because of the empathy for the characters and their delicate and complex tenderness. There were times when I had to stop playing and cry. But it was alright. Perhaps, I am in a bad moment in my life, and this game has come for some unknown reason to me. I just wanna say to the creators; thank you very fucking much for this piece of art.
Two lines I can't get out of my head: "Nothing last forever" and "Family isn't blood. Family is who you'll bleed for"
I've got a lump in my throat when I read "to be concluded"....
I'll say that it's a storm of emotions to write as well so I'm glad it spoke to you. Those two quotes are big for me, too. I wish you the best during your rough patch
Honestly, I think this is one of the most well written games I have played. Kudos to the writers for such an accurate representation of anxiety revolving Zach. I really relate to Zach and Braden since I was in the same predicament as them especially since I had dated a straight guy whom only had eyes for me. Amazing NSFW scenes aside, I think I really fell in love with the story and their respective character developments. I can't wait to play more!
thanks a lot for this. i love the fact that it's an adult game but the NSFW stuff doesn't take center stage at all. I wanted it to progress the story and have a purpose rather than the typical you just hopping from one dirty scene to the next.
Warning, Small SPOILER alert ahead in my review!
Currently I'm in the middle of chapter 7. So far, the visuals are amazing, the story is intense and engrossing, though a lot of the time I find myself terribly frustrated with Zach. Not only for being incredibly obtuse but wondering why the hell does he keep holding back from exploring more physical intimacy with Braden. Before, I could totally understand Zach's hesitations, despite the many obvious signs Braden would through as the chapters progressed, but after that first kiss and saying things like it was the best kiss ever, that he would do it again and how sensual he thought it was, and the fact that he continues to strip in front of Zach, invite him to shower with (which he doesn't) then lay his head in Zach's lap and lets him rub him and says how good it feels, that Zach STILL won't go in with another kiss even when he sees that Braden is starting to get hard! It just suddenly goes to Braden becoming "suddenly aware" and freaking out and going back into his bed. Like Zach should have just gone in for that kiss before Braden came too so-to-speak and I imagine how it could have turned out completely different. I'm just left sort of dumb founded with this.
imo Zack isn't really obtuse. If he was obtuse, he wouldn't be struggling in his monologues and explaining a lot of his apprehensions. There's a lot of anxiety there. a lot of mixed signals and a lot of self-hatred that can blind you. His unwillingness to move forward is much more complex than him just being a clueless character. He's purposely that way. He also struggles with a crippling fear of rejection because one false move here that doesn't go well could cost his friendship. I know some people can be frustrated by Zack's slowness to move and that's honestly a huge part of this story because it's something a lot of us do. But we also can't always relate to the anxiety of others because it's there's. people may be slow to act in areas that we, ourselves, may be more comfortable in. I've described this game as an "anxiety simulator" before and i still think it holds true to one perspective on how anxiety can manifest and what it's consequences can be
I get it. Maybe it was hard for me to relate much at first because it's been so long since I had to come out to myself or anyone else. But I can, like most, still know what the fear of rejection is like and getting further into the story I can see their perspectives much more clearly as they confessed their true feelings with one another, and I can see now why Zack would be so confused by all the mixed signals from Braden and I feel most of us gay men can empathize with that and what it's like to be confused with the intentions of a guy we're crushing on but is supposed to be straight or their sexuality is ambiguous. Even if it's just a passing wonder if the dude is flirting or just friendly. I'm definitely captured into the story of these guys and I'm liking seeing new characters being introduced and starting to have more of a role in the plot, beyond just Zack and Bradon. The story does sort of start off slow but it's great to see new backgrounds, visual elements, and characters as you advance your skill with the story application. I would like to maybe see a revamp someday of the first 3 or 4 chapters with these new elements, new visuals and choices to make as well.
There is one quick scene that stands out to me that I would love to have seen more of a deeper emotion happen with the characters, and it was sort of quickly dismissed and viewed as a joke, but I think in real life, would have caused a more serious response. In the car, on the way to the beach, Zack mentions his deceased brother and how he still keeps his old MP3 player because it has his old music on there and Bradon and Mikhail sort of laugh about his silly music tastes, when in reality, I feel like there maybe would be a much deeper reasoning behind Zack's desire to hold on to this part of his brother who he lost and it is like a piece of him. Music is very personal and hearing it can be like a moment captured in time, deeper than a mere memory, but much like a photograph would be. I would have liked to see maybe a flashback of Zack and his brother, or even Bradon just remembering what Zack told him about losing his brother and that would have shut him up really quick, resulting in an explanation to Mikhail and why Zack still holds onto this part of his youth and maybe his fondness for 00's music. I, as someone who would probably be about his brother's age now, and I have younger siblings, I can sympathize with that. Anyways, it's just a thought from some old dude, still stuck on the music of his teen's lol
I completely agree with what you wrote. I've got to chapter 10 2 days ago. I really feel for Zack in those chapters. Sometimes thinking just kiss him. Tell him you love him but funny I know how he feels. I could only find the strength I needed way later in life to accept who I was. Like Zack it takes alot to talk yourself into it.. I still suffer today and hold back alot.. my partner of 6 years doesn't know how hard the struggle is. In later chapters you'll enjoy it. And it's really hit me hard, how much I've missed as my inner self continually stops me. I missed my perfect opportunity with 1 guy, who I do still see occasionally as a friend. Think we both missed out. But that's what happens. Amazing how this story really hits home to alot of people. I'm thankful I found the game
I go through times where I download some scandalous and sexy games off itch and this one was part of that impulse. And honestly? Hot scenes aside... This body-slammed me with emotions. It really resonated with me as a gay man. Thank you for this WONDERFULLY written piece of work. I wish we could all have a Mikhail in our lives! 💕
Thank you. I'm glad it struck you beyond the hot scenes-- least that was my intention. Those are just supposed to move things along and put that aspect of their lives under a microscope. Glad you liked it <3
The game is literally a work of art. It really touches and and takes you to a wild ride. The story is amazing and you really connect with the charactres. I love it. I cant wait to see how things will go with Braden and Zack
thank you. glad you have you on the ride with us :)
its an amazing game, period!
thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it :)
I have played this game like 5 times now and no other visual novel has touched my soul the way you have, still go through the emotional rollercoaster every time. I can not wait for the final chapter to come out. Any idea on a time frame for that?
Thanks my friend you have touched my sou in more ways the one.
It's a powerful thing to hear that this "touched your soul." Thank you. It means a lot.
I don't have a time frame. To put it short, with each update I try and learn or try something new. I ran into a few hiccups in that process again but I've adjusted. Even bought a new rig to pump out stuff quicker. This is the end tho so I'm taking it slow. I'm def not a fast writer and I know that sucks for the closure for all of us. It's still gonna be awhile though
that is fine my friend take your time, still can’t wait!!
I wish I knew how to put into words how this made me feel. So many emotions went through me when reading this.
Trying to avoid any spoiler type lines but man when everything played out and the line from Zack, "...More than anything." during a certain scene.. that still resonates in my head. That was such a little thing but it's those kinds of things that hit home to me.
You've done such an amazing job with this project and I loved every second of it.
Agree ☺️ that phrase hit you in a whole different level. ♥️💙
Am super excited for the next update
thank you. I appreciate this. There's a few lines in the game that still echo to me, too and I wrote the damn thing. I think by the end, we'll all have more. One last rollercoaster to ride
Hi, aaryn. i am dying to know when will be next update. I wish you well. love lots.
Gosh i wanna hug you right now really. Playing the entire game for the third time , still the same bursts of emotions .
Okay, am gonna cry again. Love youuu guys a lot.
♥️💙
hello aaryn. Pls extend my heartfelt thanks to your co writer blayke. you both created a masterpiece. i mean, .. I am 28 year old gay asian dude and the story of Zach and Braden really hits me hard. Like real sh*t and stuff.
I am crying at some point, then so much inloved and then another second jerking off. God! You guys are real artist. how can you play with so many emotions at the same time?
I honestly love you and to all of your team who created this masterpiece . Please keep me posted if when will be the next update
i still cant believe that the game already ended. I want more, i wish for more ,i crave for more.
I really want to suppport you guys like donate and stuff but my situation in my country is pretty rough too. I am sending my prayers that you continue this art . Pleaseeee. I beg you to continue the game and the story.
Love lots,
Noy
Btw, am still crying
Noy, first off...sorry about all the tears. But also kinda not sorry because it sounds like you're enjoying the ride. :P I appreciate your enthusiasm and part of me is a bit jealous that you've gone through the game probably more times than I actually have. I'll also never get over the fact that this project has gone global. It's incredibly powerful to think that I can emotionally touch someone on the other side of the world, who grew up differently than me, and still have shared emotional reactions to these characters. That means a lot to me.
In terms of financial support, please don't worry about it. I've been more than blessed through this project and people have been generous. I release it for free because tons of people aren't in a position to contribute. I want people to enjoy the story and if it really speaks to them, I don't want them to feel guilty for having to steal it. Please, be safe and take care of yourself and those you care about. The game will be free regardless and your prayers matter a lot more than money ever will. Thank you <3
thanks aaryn. Am sorry if i'm so emotional about it. it's just that, it is my first time to encounter such masterpiece that reflects my own experiences in life. Soo relatable.
I Cant thank you and your team enough. i love you guys always. ♥️😘 Love lots from the philippines.
-Noy
I don’t even know how to start this comment after playing Str8!? I rarely ever comment on things but my heart, and my head were pulled in so many directions that I honestly don’t think I could explain it without writing a VN myself. and, just to clarify... I. Loved. Every. Second. Of it.
Because, I just stumbled across this. Thinking not much of it, I read it was a slow burn story and thought "mm okay seems interesting, mite have a look" I love story driven content and, oh man.. am I glad I did.. I got hooked, with the line, the sinker, the boat and an anker dropped on my head while being glued to my computer, all while my heart... just.. my heart...
Aaryn and Blayke, Thanks. Many people have already said the things I think and feel before me, and I agree with them completely. Wonderful storytelling, great characters, visuals, character development. It is emotional, suspenseful, heartbreaking, exciting, joyful, meaningful.. an awesome rollercoaster, and the progress from you both over the course of VN/game is awesome as well, actually kinda adds to the story.
Like I said, I could write a VN to explain it all but I’ll try and keep it short..ish..? I related to it… a lot, honestly, a lot more than I ever thought, on a few levels. I fell in love with the characters, the story & I found myself emotionally attached to Zack and Braden, wanting to find out more. Worrying about them, hoping, wishing, laughing, shedding a tear and rooting for them just wanting to click the next page, over and over, along with my anxiety rising and falling with Zacks, sometimes pausing to contemplate life, reminiscing on my own, even commenting out loud or making the same facial expressions as Zack and Braden haha. I could compliment yous’ all day because I genuinely, really, enjoyed this a lot and have but only, one complaint.. (not really) my heart…
Your nailing the emotional aspect. The story & the wisdom. The truthful side of life & it definitely makes the scenes more powerful with my heart pulled from one to the next. I can’t say I struggled to much with my own but I relate so much with Zack, overthinking and some of the struggles & situations, although Straight!? hit more because I had friend, very, very similar to Braden, both friendship, personality, looks and situation but unlike Zack, I never did over come my anxiety. In tern, I lost a best friend, without being my true self or taking the risk. I enjoyed it and enjoyed sharing Zack and Bradons passion & growth, along with yours as you write/develop it. I’m defiantly excited/scared for the last chapter.
and I really hope, that not everything comes to and end, just yet, Semester 2? Eventually, haha.
On a lighter note, I wish I could help make this into something like LIS2 because that complexity of, choices & visual story telling would be awesome! I’d even love to see a follow up story from, say Braden or Ash's perspective because one; id love to see how you write their internal dialog and two; could be a good way later on to delve into the others internal struggles. I’m excited to see the finished story and visuals once you go back over it but even as it is now, I love it.
heya. thanks for the support and I'm glad the game spoke to you. I'm with you on the anxiety parts. I know that some people have been frustrated by Zack's overthinking or his reluctance and doubt. But, to me, that's real life and it's something that a huge number of people have dealt with and I wanted to depict that in a frustrating but innocent way. I also doubt fault you for needing your own VN to react to this one--cause this story is friggen LOOOOOONG. I still got some ideas left on it. I also respect your emotional reactions, including bringing up the best friend from the past. I truly hope you find peace with that. Sometimes those kinds of lessons are the hardest to learn. they have been for me anyway <3
Just read the most recent update. You've done it again. It had me emotional one moment, turned on the next, filled with such joy and later wanting to cry. Such an amazing story.....I'm only mad that I have to wait for more but I guess that's the thing with great story telling. If I was watching this as a TV series I know I would hit even harder. To hear the emotion in their voice would just make you block out the world due to complete immersion. Hell, I already do that to a degree just from reading it. This story really connects with me in so many ways as I listen to the main character's thoughts. To read something that makes you feel so many emotions at once and it flows well. GRADE A material. Keep up the good work.
I sometimes think of it as a tv series and it sorta helps me keep things more episodic. Although seeing it live action would be pretty cool with the right people (although I'd be picky af I'm sure). Thank you. I'm glad to have ya on this crazy rollercoaster :)
I wouldn't blame you for being picky because the actors would truly have to bring those characters to life. Especially Ash. LMAO. Legit my fav other than Braden of course.
Ash quickly became a fan favorite in only one update and each subsequent update just seemed to cement that. He's nuts but super fun
Sometimes I think we all need a friend like him so we can remember to just enjoy life without overthinking things. I would also say we all need a friend like Mikhail so that we can simply learn to accept ourselves. We all are unique and can't keep expecting to fit any particular criteria.
hello aaryn. Pls extend my heartfelt thanks to your co writer blake. you both created a masterpiece. i mean, .. I am 28 year old gay asian dude and the story of Zach and Braden really hits me hard. Like real sh*t and stuff.
I am crying at some point, then so much inloved and then another second jerking off. God! You guys are real artist. how can you play with so many emotions at the same time?
I honestly love you and to all of your team who created this masterpiece . Please keep me posted if when will be the next update
i still cant believe that the game already ended. I want more, i wish for more ,i crave for more.
I really want to suppport you guys like donate and stuff but my situation in my country is pretty rough too. I am sending my prayers that you continue this art . Pleaseeee. I beg you to continue the game and the story.
Love lots,
Noy
Happy New year
Happy New year to you too :)
Thank you for an amazing story. I came across this by pure chance on another site, read by someone truly amazing at story telling. The last 2 weeks I've watched about 50%. The worst part is it's the last part. So emotional, and close to home as it seems with many. It's now really different stating at the story from episode 1. Only hearing what happened in the past through the later eps, it's almost unbelievable that these 2 will get together. Mind I've just started.
Q. I saw the game is downloadable on Android. I'm guessing it works well on a phone. If so how big is the game. I don't have a computer of my own so I'd love insight.
I'd love this whole raw draft, even if the story is complete and better.
I don't think it could get better. The story line is so powerful. Tears a plenty here.
Keep up the great work. I've already talked to friends about it.
Rob.
Heh, there is a lot of emotions in this. Hell, there's a lot of emotions that go into writing it so I'm glad they resonate on the readers' end as well. So the Android port is very new but I haven't actually played it. I switched over to an iPhone about a year ago but I've installed Blue Stacks and I'm gonna try and mess around with it at some point to see if I can get more information about it. However, people say that it works and we've had several people use that format to play. Great to hide in the bathroom for 15 hours and play through the whole thing praying your legs don't go to sleep on the toilet. I will say the beginning of the game is very rough and it's taken me some time to get into this writing thing so I'm gonna go back and fix that part as well as update the graphics. This is just the rough draft so it will definitely get better.
Schöne Feiertage euch allen
Happy holidays to you as well. I hope all is well and stay safe :)
I wish I had the words. What you've made is truly amazing. I've never connected with any literature as much as I have with this. I'm honestly lost for words. What you've made is so real. And what you say is so true. It's hard to find the words to describe one's feeling and emotions and experiences, but everything I've felt before you've managed to find the words for. I genuinely care for these characters (and I'm actually in love with Branden) and you've given them such truth and depth. But even more than that, your philosophical insights, your way of exploring these deep thoughts and drives and emotions and putting them into words, just rings so true. Your words make me feel like I feel when these things happen for real. It's genuinely magical. Thank you. (I hadn't donated before, but you totally deserve it now.)
Thank you. You're very kind and I appreciate the support. I'm glad it's resonated with so many people and I continue to be humbled by the people who are willing to see this project for what it really is rather than look at it as just some porn game. I'm just happy that it means so much to people. Thank you back :)
This VN is absolutely amazing and I'm totally hooked!
I love the the dialogue and the graphics (particularly the detailed attention given to body hair). Everything just makes the characters so lovable and relatable. And Braden ... is it crazy to love a fictional character?
The story transports me to a world of what could have been for me, and sadly reminds me of what i have missed out. I am really shipping Zack and Braden but I've got a sinking feeling they'll be torn apart in the future. Nothing lasts forever ....
Can't wait for the next update, but dreading it at the same time!
Amazing work Aaryn & Blake - when your audience starts having feelings for the characters (I know I do!), you know you're story/game is truly next level.
thank you. i really appreciate this. I'm honored you've grown to love them and that it's had the ability to tug on some of those heartstrings, I know they've driven me crazy over the past few years. We'll have to see how the ending goes. Seems you're picking up on some ominous tones there
Having followed the development of this VN for almost two years and thoroughly enjoying the story, I am sorry that I haven't provided any kind of feedback until now. Where should I begin? Would mere words suffice to commend this masterpiece? Zack and Braden are not only very relatable but they have helped me put things in perspective in ways I cannot describe here. Aaryn, Blayke, thank you very much for giving it to us "straight" ;) I am not in the habit of being hyperbolic and unctuous and so, I am telling you this with utmost sincerity when I say that Straight!? as a mainstream paperback has the potential to become a greater classic than Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. My overeager, imaginative mind is already inventing dollops of delicious drama involving the (possibly homophobic?) parentals and life after college. I am looking forward to the last chapter and all your future endeavours. More power to you!
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the long term support and following--no worries on waiting to post or react to things. I'm glad that it meant something to you and that it resonated with you over the past few years. I still admit to being worried initially that people would think the game too "preachy" but I'm glad people have accepted Zack's own journey on things and I'm always honored when people say that they took something away from that. Idk if it'll be a classic or not but it doesn't have to be at the top of the mainstream lists to mean something to us. I know the journey has meant something to me. Thank you for the support and I hope I do the ending justice :)