This visual novel is awesome. I am not a native english speaker, so apologies for my wording... ;) I played the game so far and it is just GREAT storytelling. I have no problems with the missing sound. In fact... I think I don't even miss it. The characters and the story have their own voices in my head already. It is like reading a book...with some pictures in it. So, if you're planning to add sound... well, okay... but I won't use ist ^^
Just one little thing... the game is *huge* in terms of gigabytes... is there any possibility to shrink it, without loosing picturequality?
It seems to me, that the given choices in the game aren't actually choices. Looks more like a oneway story to me, is that right? Or is there a real chance to alter something drastically by choosing different options?
Anyways: I really love this novel and I am desperatly looking forward to more of it! Keep up the great work!
heya, thanks for checking in. There's choices in the game but they don't alter things drastically. It's more linear, like you said. That's mostly because i haven't done this before and I'd rather keep it linear and do it right than split it into multiple routes and just make a mess of things. There's one major story here with two different perspectives (routes) in it. It's pretty obvious when you get to choose those routes so everything is sorta based on that choice. Other things are more subtle and just give more background on certain things.
And thanks for the best wishes. I'm in the US so imma send you some luv back :)
Ha... intercultural (or intercontinental?) difference here. Beeing a german, I struggle with the term "send some luv" ... but I got the message though ;) In fact, I googled a personal phrase to give my comment a proper end. So... is "best wishes" too formal?
And also, beeing a german, I am touched by your choice on Bradens car. Yeah, the badge looks unfamiliar, but I know that car series from it's very beginning on the drawing board ;)
I absolutely love this game. I also don't ever comment.... yeah, I am that guy. Not for this game though. The main characters are amazing, I love them all. The way you can choose (I have only found two) different choices and get a little tweak on what happens in the story. Without changing the outcome is nice. I like games that have different boyfriend choices but I am very happy with the face that, at least right now, there is only one and you can have different dialog. I have not tried to ruin the relationship yet, I like happy endings. I love the artwork for the game. If it is you doing the work, it is amazing. The only thing I can say about that is I wish we could close the text window so we can see the whole piece. wink wink. Too bad to draw all that in and not be able to see it. Anyway, is there a place we can donate to the development of the game further? I would love to contribute more. Not a lot, but more.
Hey. thanks for the kind words here and I appreciate you commenting. Couple quick notes, If you hit the H key, it'll hide the text box. We'll likely look at some modifications to the text in the final release. This is still very early alpha so it's really rough right now. And if you'd like to donate, you can do so through here when you download a copy or you can go directly to the patreon site at www.patreon.com/aaryn. Honestly, the patreon site is your best bet because it gives you access to more stuff there. There's an autobill function to that but you can subscribe and then just shut it off immediately after. If it gets messed up though, lemme know. I have no problem refunding because I want things to be fair. Also, the world is crazy and unpredictable right now so don't short yourself donating, the game will always be free regardless
Thanks so much for getting back to me. I look forward to whats to come. I am going to start it again today and see if there is a "bad" route or "friend" route. If there is I will definitely have to turn around and do a happy route right after. Anywho, I have taken up too much of your time. Thank you for the game!
This VN has the potential to become something extraordinary. The effort and care put into this work is plain to see!
Aaryn, you mentioned in some of the comments below that you still consider yourself amateur. If that is the case, then this story is evidence of your rapid evolution as an author. It's getting better and better.
I hope once you reach the end, you will take the time to go back and polish the story - it deserves the TLC.
Here's some observations I had while enjoying the story. I think they are areas which can be improved in order to bring this story to the next level.
- The "voices" of Zack, Braden and Mikhail often blur together, especially during longer expositions. In contrast, Max's voice is very unique, likely because of his personality, but his talking style jumps off the page. You could remove his name from the dialogue, and you would know it was him. It may be worthwhile to add certain quirks and distinguishing styles to the speech patterns of the main characters.
- During exposition of certain more complex thoughts and ideas, the dialogue no longer reads like something a real person would say. It's fine for internal thoughts, but it's weird during conversation. This leads to an awkward contrast between casual social interactions and discussion of serious topics, where the characters, especially Zack and Mikhail, suddenly start sounding like professors giving a speech.
- Perhaps you are "too kind" to your readers. I love that you described this story as a "slow burn". It is perfect for the type of story you are trying to tell. However, conflict in the storyline is too neatly resolved for a true "slow burn". Almost as if you are trying to make each episode's conflicts self-contained.
Be more cruel to your audience. Drag out conflicts, make them far messier as plotlines merge and intermingle. A good example would be the incident involving Zack, Braden and Cody. There was so much opportunity in that situation to explore the different angles of that misunderstanding, especially if it had been allowed to fester. Every author loves their characters, but excellent fiction happens when you don't shelter them under a protective umbrella. Let them get hurt and suffer from the mistakes they make. Your readers will hurt and suffer along with them, but that will make the resolution all the more memorable.
- The timeline for forming of deep soulmate level relationships is accelerated to the point of being unrealistic (as a reader, I can suspend disbelief, but it's better not to rely on this too frequently). Time has to be allowed to pass for this to feel authentic. The good thing about the format of a VN is that it's rather easy to impart the feeling of passing of time.
I think this story shows that you have a spark of something special. I sincerely hope you will find some value in my observations. It is meant as feedback and not criticism - the story is very good, and on the cusp of being great.
Heya, I appreciate the well-crafted feedback here and thanks for the support. I'm definitely amateur and sorta just figure this out as I go. When you spend a lot of time googling "how the hell do I do...[whatever]" you're definitely not pro :p
But I do appreciate the pointers here. The "voices" you reference is something that was suggested early on my Blayke, my co-pilot on this. There's two kinda reasons that never really got flushed out much. The first one is I guess I didn't really know how to do it so I had to just stumble across it. It's also something I hear about but never really notice too much in other works as much as people kinda think they use it so I guess I sorta swept it under the rug. In all honesty, the real reason I didn't put much effort into the "voices" is because of the reason I'm writing the story. The characters are sorta different facets of my own acceptance and stuff so essentially it's more psychotically arguing with myself in a fictional world. So it comes across being the same voice because it really is the same voice for the purposes that I'm writing the story. That's also the reason the monologues and dialogue are the way they are. I never really meant to share this thing in the first place, I was writing it just for me but some people on a forum told me to post it so I did.
In terms of the episodic conflict resolution, I agree with you. I'd like to make some things run longer but releasing it the way that I do, turned it into episodes and I kinda like that format. I was also worried about having too many conflicts in a story like this. The public was already very skeptical when I released it and I still get one or two people a year complain there's not enough sex. People have a concept for the "adult" genre and I was worried about going too deep with plots and stuff. I'll also publicly admit that my concentration really sucks (Blayke can back this up). I'm a disaster to keep on topic so writing and organizing the plots in my head is just really freaking hard for me. So rather than bite off way more than I could chew, I elected to try and resolve things somewhat sooner so I wasn't trying to juggle too much. It's easier to juggle that if you're just doing one linear book or story but trying to code multiple paths into that just gets really complex for me when I have no previous writing or coding experience.
Not sure if any of that makes sense or even really justifies my position. Just thought I'd share my logic. I'm still definitely learning and I do appreciate the pointers, some of these may be implemented during the polishing (there's definitely going to be polishing. The beginning of the game sucks).
I think anyone who writes fiction bases characters on parts of themselves. At least at first. Eventually, the more you get to "know" your characters, the less they are a part of you, and the more it seems as if they're a really close friend that you know. A handy thought-experiment is to consider the character's background and past experiences and how those shape the way they think. For instance, Braden is clearly from a well-to-do family but doesn't want friends who befriend him for his money. This simple attribute opens up many questions which can help define Braden's individuality in addition to serving as plot hooks later on. For example:
What happened in Braden's childhood to cause him to think this way? Is he still affected by it?
Why is he open with Zack about this? Does part of him still wonder if Zack cares about his wealth, especially once he finds out Zack's economic circumstances?
Is this an insecurity? If so, how is he coping with it, or how did he move past it?
How severely does this impact Braden's decision-making? His willingness to trust others? His social mindset?
You did an excellent job with Max, by the way. His character feels the most authentic, because the way he behaves is fully explained by his backstory. There is a harmony between his personality, his motivations and his psyche. Despite being a secondary character, I think many people would agree that after the chapter "Ash", he feels the most life-like of all your characters so far. (This is not a negative thing, since it just means that the other guys haven't had their backgrounds and personalities explored fully yet. Lots of potential here.)
Regarding conflict, I don't think there will ever be a "right answer". As an artist, you must have the conviction to follow your instincts and your vision for what you want out of the final product. Taking community feedback is good, because there are always facets of every work that can objectively be better, but with all creative works, it will be impossible to try to please everybody. In fact, trying to do so is one surefire way to guarantee the final product will be average with no vision.
(If you've ever wondered why so many AAA games feel soulless, it's because they've lost sight of this basic principle. The great games of the past did not need a focus group to tell them which audiences to please or which hot-topic themes to cover. The creators simply made what was best for their vision of the game.)
I hinted at it in my first comment, but I truly think you will have to make a decision at some point how committed you are to the slow-burn nature of your story. If you do commit, you will likely turn away a certain type of audience, but potentially attract a different one. As with all creative projects, it's truly very difficult to gauge audience reception, but if the success of "Our Life: Beginnings & Always" is any indication, there seems to be a certain demand for slow-burn, well-crafted character stories.
Conversely, if you're going after the faster pace nature of most Adult VNs, there's certainly an audience for that as well. I'm sure you've seen the many examples of well-executed ones in this genre.
My opinion is one of many, but I sincerely hope you will carry this project where your vision leads you. Even with the (little) experience you have, you're already creating something that stands out. So it makes sense to trust your instincts as an artist.
Sure, i dont mind. I really tried hard to make the story matter here and it's something that's helped a lot of people out so I'm down with it reaching other mediums that I'm not able to. However, watch out, YouTube like to ban people that have covered this in the past so beware. If you do something, hit me up on my twitter or on the discord and I may be able to retweet it
Aaryn, you are very good at telling stories. You really makes us get involved with the characters. But that last chapter really got me. As I have nobody to talk about this, I´ll just write it here.
-- SPOILERS --
I felt so betrayed by Bredan that I was already hoping for Zack to get another roommate. I realized how I also didn't pay attention to the tips given during the story and notice how Bredan was playing him. He seems to me just a spoiled rich brat playing with his gay roommate.
Nobody kneels to pick up a towel that they reach with their hand. Cody also wouldn't have the reaction he had as Zack entered the room and wouldn´t apologize for being naked considering he saw Zack with 3 other naked boys the day before. He could see Zack didn´t left the room for being shy, but for being desolated. And what can't Zack do that Cody can do so well? Just don´t know what to expect.
But when I went to test the "pervy" line and Ash opened his eyes, then I got really upset with Bredan. And to think that Zack probably won't know any of that just because he was respectful.
Anyway, waiting for the next chapter to see if I recover emotionally.
Obs: They talk about when Zack said he was gay even if he doesn´t go to the restaurant in the first chapter.
I can see kinda see why you had the strong reactions that you stated but I guess I'll throw out that not really any of those reactions were intended from this particular chapter. It's kinda hard for me to quickly summarize a response here because you interpreted things in a completely different direction that I felt that I intended to write them. In the case of Cody "kneeling," that part seems legit to me, I picture myself sliding down towards the floor onto my knees in a crouch to pick up the towel before standing back up. That just seems like a natural flow of motion to me. In the respect route, Braden specifically states why Cody was apologizing for his reaction. Cody, who noticeable gets pretty nervous around stuff (as we saw in the coffee shop) knew that Braden had mixed feelings about telling him stuff against Zack's perceived wishes so it was more a surprise when Zack walked in. Zack's staring probably just caught Cody off guard even though Zack was spacing out. Braden talks about this at the pond and sorta fills in the blanks.
The pervy line was very different, Zack's argument and blow up at Braden sounds very similar to where you are and you sound like you didn't really buy into anything that Braden said during the gym talk. I guess I did. I know people sometimes step out of line or become passive in relationships and hope that things will smooth themselves over when they don't. We're talking about two guys here who really have no experience in relationships and neither of them are used to dating another guy. They even talk about how they felt that the perception should be easier for two guys than it would be for opposite sexes to be in a relationship. There's a lot of mistakes that are made here from them and I think that's the beauty of it. To me, the design here is to illustrate two people who, regardless of their choices, are both sorry about what's happened between them and still care deeply for each other. Things just got out of hand and each of them sorta was hoping the other one would pull things back into alignment. I wanted to illustrate the importance of honesty and communication in relationships that are meaningful but to illustrate how difficult that is, i wanted a really uncomfortable subject to show how hard it was for each of them to talk about it. In the end, they found common ground and I like that. I dont really see either of them as the villain in this story.
You can also check out our discord if you want and jump in there to help process feelings. Lot of people do that after the updates. it's an easier way to unpack stuff. I certainly didn't see either ending as tragic as you did tho
Damn you, Aaryn. I am in tears. The last update was working all my emotions and the last frame made me lose it. Great writing always is not expected in most visual novels but this one, Oh My! Please keep up the great work and l will try not to sob like a love struck teenager anymore. But no promises.
That was one of the SWEETEST chapters I've ever read. I hate to say that I blew straight through it, but, omg, did that really yank on my heartstrings. Aaryn, I don't know how you keep outdoing yourself. Props and then some.
Thank you. i really appreciate that. I really tried to do something sweet with the genre here and move the bar in a unique direction. Chapter 9 really did surprise me though and i'm pretty happy with it.
I must say i'm absolutely in love with your visual novel here. No joke, I played a lot of gay visual novels lately, and yours is so special. The story is amazing, the characters are fantastics and every one of them is so different from the others. And the feelings I have while playing this ... Some moments almost made me cry ( Of joy or sadness, depends on the moment ), others made me feel as insecure as the character, which means that you managed to do something absolutely beautiful with it. Cant wait for the next updates, i'm already on the edge just wanting to know what is gonna happen next. Keep up the great work, this game is absolutely incredible and thank you for creating that !
heh, i never expected it to be "incredible" but thank you. It's come a long ways and I do think it's something unique here. I really hope it motivated others to follow suit because i really do like the adult genre and think that it could be capable of so much more. I think you can do a ton with VNs and the way that indie developers are popping up out there, it's just nice to do your own thing and not have to sell a big name company on your vision--you just get to do it yourself and that's liberating.
you just redownload the game. Delete your old game and select new game. When the new game starts, just follow the red "update" and answer a couple questions and it drops you right at the end of the last episode. If you get lost, there's a big warning screen when you boot the game up that gives you the directions
Mediafire is fast for the US. I post the other links on the Patreon site because they work better for outside the US. Check the Patreon site for the other downloads. the format on this site just has limitations. If you really get stuck, hit me up on Twitter and we'll figure it out
brooo, i hate u so much , the way this chapter ended i just cant wait for the rest. So yeah loved it , it was kind of a roller coaster but still great, biting my nails to see what u gonna do with the rest of the story, now that most problems have been fixed.
Ok so let me start off by saying i literally just made an account to share my thoughts with you about your story. Absolutely love it! I just finished reading the update. I definitely can't wait for more. But definitely take your time and enjoy the break. I agree with the previous comment. Ash is the man!
*SPOILERS*
So seriously i was very nervous to read this update since i saw people mention twists and surprises and everything. But everything seemed to work out great. Im very glad you didn't end before confirming the new living arrangements. Lol You almost gave me an anxiety attack with the Cody Braden thing even though i figured something like that was gonna happen. Glad it was just a misunderstanding. That woulda been so shitty of Braden. Would be kool to see more of Jordyn. He seems pretty kool. Looking forward to Zack and Braden taking advantage of the extra privacy.
Again absolutely love your story. I read it 3 times while waiting for the update. Since I first found it back in late November of 2020. It definitely puts you through all the emotions and shit. I could go on forever and I know I forgot a million things I wanted to say. But I'll end my rambling there.
haha, awww. you're ok. no worries about rambling. i appreciate it. So yeah, a lot of the purpose in those conflict scenes is that most relationships go through some hard shit. I wanted these guys to go through joint conflict again, something they each were responsible for but actually show how people who care about each other can talk things out and resolve them. I think a lot of people just freak out in relationships and cut shit off quickly. I wanted to show how something that was potentially relationship-ending could be resolved in a realistic way.
But thanks for making an account and chiming in. This update was really hard for me to write and I'm glad it paid off with soooo many people
The new update is amazing! Max is the real MVP! Cannot wait for more, but I hope you are enjoying your (well earned) break as well! Do you have any plans on when you will return to work on the next part?
Newest update is v19 and is up on the patreon site now at https://www.patreon.com/aaryn for those who donate $5 or more. Free release will be posted on the Patreon for everyone on 1/29. I'll post a link over here probably same day or shortly after.
This is my favouritve game of all time. I never had more fun and I was never more emotionally touched like this by a game before. I love this game and I will support it with everything. I look forward to playing more chapters and updates. This game has so many twists and thats what I love about it. As a patron I will support you and play this game that I cant get enough of. Great work you guys!
hey, thanks for the support. I'm glad you appreciate it and glad you liked some of the twists. I wanted to keep it fresh and sorta always going in a new direction.
yall are flattering with the "favorite game of all time" stuff tho :p
This is probably my favourite game of all time. The characters that have their own stories, which are exceptionally relatable, and the storyline that does not rush things made this game a hidden gem. I can't thank you enough for not going with the usual gay games route, instead going for a more realistic side of things in which I can sadly still relate to. I'm definitely donating as soon as I have some spare cash :D
thank you. i appreciate that. I've had a few naysayers that thought the game was going in the "wrong direction" but I still disagree with them and I love the approach take here. So thank you for appreciating that. And dont worry about the donations and stuff, I'm appreciative either way
No worries here. I'm just glad you went with your intuition instead of letting others dictate your work. A dollar is not much at all, but I hope it helps. Can't wait to see how the story develops from this point onward. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself as well!
you too! the world is crazy and has been for awhile so stay safe. I appreciate the support, the amount isn't that much of a focus to me. I just appreciate the notes and time people take to type or even throw a buck in the pot to help with this thing. So thanks :)
I honestly made an account purely so I could comment, this story is amazing and has so much depth to it and I really wanna see you guys succeed! I love the characters so much and the latest chapter was so heart warming, thank you for the effort you put in!
There's been an army of new account people lately. it's crazy! thanks a lot. glad you appreciated the depth. Next update goes a bit deeper still and there's still plenty of feels left :)
I thought I was bisexual, but I am not really feeling women 'sexually' but guys are really cute and all that. it has been a really, really wild wide. And I discovered your game and thought this looks interesting and it has REALLY resonated with me well.
I consider myself the very same boat as Braden (who is pretty hot btw) and for someone to really understand that is impressive and really, really mind blowing. So thank you, thank you so much for making a game that I can finally relate to the main character!
I am still on my road to sexual discovery, but I feel with this game, I can at least tell myself I am not 100% straight. And I am so grateful for that.
I've been on my road to discovery for a long time myself and it continues to evolve. This is a journey for me too so I can appreciate yours. I hope you find yourself and I'm honored the game was a part of that journey. Thanks for the support and for checking in with such a personalized take on it. i love stories like this
Ever since I stumbled upon this game last few months ago, I'm eagerly waiting for its updates (excited for the next content within 3 weeks or so!) because the characters are so well-written, root-able, and I just want to hug them all! The plot's pace is also nice (I love me some slow burn) and I can only declare this to a handful of visual novels I have played over the years. Hope the developers have a nice day ahead 💖💖💖
Thanks a lot for the support. New version (v0.19) has been pretty popular so far and should keep up what you've been expecting so far so stay tuned. It usually goes live here after the Patreon site so keep an eye out on 1/29 over on the patreon to get it a little faster. The itchio UI is just a little funky over here so I usually put off doing updates over here until last. Hope you have a good day too
The game is well-written, even from its early stages. If you get someone hooked from the start, you know you're in for a treat. It's the kind of writing I don't see in a lot of other dating simulators so I was pleasantly surprised the first time I touched on the game.
I can tell it's just gonna get better and better. 😁
thanks man. If you were already hooked, I'm optimistic it'll get better. I still think the beginning is trash compared to where the current story is at
honestly, i don't think the beginning is trash but a little awkward however it kind of fit the story, it shows the character development of the two characters. First, starting off a little shy and awkward but through out the story, they slowly warm up to each other and i like that.
oh yeah, that part will stay. The writing and art is just inferior. I think once I got going and actually realized people were invested in this, it sorta empowered me to do it better and things started to come together. I'm very much amateur. While i have my own motivations to complete this project regardless, I'm still very codependent with my audience because I'm just so new at this. So a lot of the time I'm like the guy on stage feeding off the energy of the crowd. That effects me rather than having my own internal fire regardless of the audience. But yeah, as that grew, i think I started to take more risks. Then I got a couple buddies that I love to death to have my back on this, bounce ideas off, and just help me polish or create things that enhanced the story and it sorta took off. I wanna apply that energy to the beginning tho--that quality, i guess
I can't help but play, play again, and again ... - from time to time, then in its entirety it's a very beautiful story (especially a very beautiful love story between two young men), of course it There are ups and downs, but between the visual side that is so realistic, and its beautiful story, it's impossible to resist.
I can't wait to play the sequel. I leave you a big hug from Paris. Take good care of yourself. LOVES And I wish you a Happy New Year.
Thank you, It's always cool to hear people have gone through it multiple times. That seems to be even more true after v019 hit. Despite it being fictional, I tried to make it feel real while still trying to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish with it
Alas ... I am afraid that I will never be able to play the rest of the game, then I cannot spend so many hours waiting for the download to be finished ... - since the download of the folder/ZIP file takes at least around two hours for it to be over ...
Then for me, in my profession, time costs money unfortunately ...
Yo this game is killer I'm not finished with it yet but, I'm super stoked to continue with it. And the fact it's NOT done that's super crazy you can tell a lot of time has been put into this and I appreciate! Any chance they'll eventually be voices for the characters? Super hyped to see this game continue to develop :)
Thank you for the kind words and excitement. Keep in mind this is still pretty much pre-alpha since we learning as we go. New update just dropped yesterday on the Patreon and i'll post it here in 3 weeks for free. I'm not sure about voices. Given the amount of dialogue in the game, it would be an insane amount of voice recording unless we all just did it ourselves and didn't hire any actors or anything. But time will tell, we're still trying to work on things as we go
Hi, I'm one of those people who created an account to comment.
Also, spoilers ahead!
I really love the story and I already finished it in 3 days. I can relate a lot, probably to all the characters a little bit but especially with zack cause I've also had that feeling that being bi or anything just not gay would make it better for me. I'm still not sure if I'm 100% gay but probably like 99,9% so I figured that label fits me. I also have anxiety and overthink a lot and I've also never had a relationship but I'm really wanting one right now, let's hope I get lucky to find a bf.
I also relate a bit to bradens fear for water even though I think I actually enjoy swimming. But I'm scared to do it in deep places where I can't stand.
Also to Max not liking his name. I'm not named like a girl but still, I've always had an aversion to my real name.
Chapter 7 and 8 felt a bit slow going and frustrating tbh but I mostly enjoyed the rest so far.
In the end this game made me reflect a lot on my own life and also made me burst out in chuckles sometimes cause it was too damn relatable. Kudos for the story and everything, this is extremely good for being available for free and I definitely want to donate at some point. Also looking forward to what is going to happen next, that stuff got really intense in that latest chapter.
I also appreciate these posts where people had to create accounts to actually comment. Making accounts is annoying so i just really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I've taken a lot of liberties with labels and stuff in the game and i still appreciate that perspective. I will note that there are frustrating points in the game and that's the point. What may individually speak or convince us, can be completely different than what would motivate or convince another. Part of that is the point to this game. Zack, like a lot of people, fights this process every step of the way and it's not one particular thing that ever really moves him. it's cumulative. In the later chapters, there's consequences for that--just like there may be irl.
I'll also say the next update that just came out is still pretty intense too
I love this game. The story. The relationships. The characters. EVERYTHING. I have an issue with the sound. Is there music? Voices? or something? I got nothing. :(
thanks for the love and I'm glad you're enjoying it. Unfortunately, there's no sound yet. The game is still very much a wip and I've never done this before so i'm learning as I go. Sound is a very fickle thing and i had very high expectations with music--including having an actual game soundtrack because i really wanted an emotional kicker to it. However, that costs hundreds of thousands to do so we're still looking at alternatives. I'm going to complete the writing and end the game and then go back for a full revision, which may or may not include sound depending on how things are looking. We still have options though. Consider the build you're playing now very very pre-alpha and i'm amateur af :p
i still love getting messages like this. I hate making new accounts so i take this as a huge compliment. Glad the game had an impact. that means a lot to me. Next segment is coming pretty quick here. It's been a long time in waiting. hoping it lives up to the wait
I just finished and I can't WAIT for an update! The cliffhanger was perfect, and I already see how it would go down if Zack responds the way I imagined.
:) thank you. I'm hoping to surprise a few people with the next update. One thing that I've fairly consistently gotten feedback on is that the story goes in unpredictable directions. Just hoping we can keep that momentum going all the way to the end
awww, thank you. that really means a lot. Even after a few years of working on this, i still feel very new at it. I got some food help with me though. Helps when you're working with friends you really care about. I'll give them the credit for keeping me motivated and making me look good :)
Tried to avoid any spoilers but avoid if you are over sensitive to spoilers!
I made an account just to thank you for this game! You will definitely be getting my support on patreon. I connect to this on a whole different level than I expected. I actually care about the characters and I definitely wasn’t expecting that when I was just looking for a dirty game to play. I connect with Braden on a level I didn’t anticipate. It took a few years to finally understand my sexuality. I don’t openly advertise it, but I think it is very similar to what is going on with Braden. I thought I was just straight maybe bi-curious, but I now define my sexuality as pansexual. I don’t usually have an initial attraction to people (sometimes I’ll get a good vibe from someone and I’ll notice them), instead it’s a slow burn and I grow to care about people way too much and that’s when I start to recognize how attractive they are. Lord knows I’ve grown huge crushes on my best male friends that I’ve never acted on. Thank you for all the time and effort you and your team have put into this game. It’s very impressive! I can’t wait for the update!
heya. I always enjoy feedback from people that weren't necessarily in the target audience. I think a lot of people just assume the game will only appeal to a gay audience and it's nice to see when it breaks down those walls and others find it appealing as well. I like that you're able to identify with Braden. It's interesting to see a lot of early gay community feedback in that a certain segment were vehemently demanding that Braden accept his sexuality as gay when in reality that isn't who he is. There's a few things in the story that i'll never confirm, one of which is Braden's sexuality. I'm not one for labels anyway. I'd rather like what I like when I like it and that just be the end of it. I've also refrained from labels here because some people loooooove to debate the technicality of labels and that isn't the point here. It's for the characters to be who they are, even if there isn't a label for that yet.
I'm glad the emotional side of things hit you, though. it's something that i was really going for here and i think the genre of adult games is lazy with character development and actual story so I wanted to do something different.
New update is coming shortly. trying to finish it up pretty quick here :)
Thank you for the thoughtful reply, it’s very kind of you to take such time in responding to your community. I appreciate that outlook on life to allow yourself to like what you like when you like it. For many people it takes a long time and a lot of self reflection to allow yourself to really understand what you like and what you are making yourself like due to social norms. I also appreciate you sticking to your guns and really owning your characters. (Not allowing fans to sway you in a direction with them). You have amazing talent and I look forward to seeing more from you. I also loved seeing the evolution of your work you have made such amazing strides in your storytelling and artwork, I can’t help but think the fire was to help erase some of the old sets and bring in some new stuff you have learned, and if that is the case I love that you tied it in with the broken thermostat, so clever.
Out of curiosity, how much more story do you think there is left to tell? I can’t decide if I want it to go on forever or if I want to get to the end and be at bliss with whatever you/they decide will happen! Thanks again!
oh sure thing, i try and reply to every message although i've been upset that i didn't get notifications on a few over the years and they slipped through the cracks. But for the most part, i try and stay active with everyone. I'm honestly glad that i stuck to my guns too. The community was in an uproar around chapter 6 and they were pissed at some of my decisions there but then i later got messages from those people apologizing becuase they saw the purpose in it. There is a lot of symbolic things in this story specific to me in addition to the story i'm trying to tell and the impact i'm trying to have on people that struggle with the same apprehensions that Zack does. But at the end of the day, i guess it's always up to the reader on what they decide things mean.
So in terms of how much is left, v019 is gonna drop pretty quick here when i get the finishing touches on it. It's long as hell and concludes chapter 9. After that, we have one chapter left--so probably 2 updates left after v019 'til the final fade
Well, to be frankly honest, what the audience wants is more often things they have already seen time and time again in movies and TV shows. I like the author to stick true to their vision and really deliver their masterpiece as intended. After all, you know your material the best, the rest of us just know the characters from what you have decided to let us know about them.
I never felt in an uproar during any of the story so far. However, I definitely felt my heart break a few times in there, damn you for pulling at my heart strings the way you did, and you can probably guess where (hint: as mentioned I relate most with Braden).
I’m not sure if I’m upset or excited that this will be wrapped up soon, but I’m ready for the journey! Are you planning to do more novels like this in the future? If so, are you thinking clean slate or are you expanding on other characters with the already established characters being the background?
Also, don’t let me take too much of your time, I understand you are busy, I just can’t help but probe for more. Lastly, I hope you are doing well and staying safe during this crazy year we’ve had. You genuinely seem like a good, kind person, and I hope the world has been kind back to you!
I'm finishing it up now. It'll drop on the Patreon site first for 3 weeks then I'll post it over on there and over here for free. I give the Patreon donators first dibs cause that's how I'm able to fund the project
Hey i love your novel and it got me insired to make one myself i have everything done exept images, do you have tips how i can easely crate some? i have no drawing skills whatsoever.....
I used 3D art for all the game images for the same reason. On average, it probably takes me about 2 hours per picture right now but that really depends. The program is DAZ3D and is free but all the art packs cost money and can easily cost you thousands to get enough assets to do much with. It's partially why the game has slowly gotten better and more full with other characters. I could slowly add more people into the game with better hardware and after more people donated to the project. You can check out Daz though if you want. There's also YouTube videos on how to use it. Very steep learning curve though if you've never done it before. I'm pretty rough at it
omg i had so much fun with this game, i totally finished it in 3 days, i love the characters, the story, and honestly don't really mind the nsfw scenes not being the main focus, of course i want to see more of that but i just really wanna see where the story goes. In conclusion, cant wait for the update.
Whenever I played the romance option in a rpg, I always wanted to see more. Who doesn't, honestly? But alas, fade to black is all we get :-)
With Str8 it's different, because of the strong sexual tension between the characters. You don't see many actual sex scenes, but the tension is always there. It's a much more satisfying experience, actually.
Hi, I'm no expert, but it looks like you used DAZ 3D software to render your images. Is this the case? If so, could you let me know how you learned to make them (like what learning resources/sites/tutorials did you use)? I love this game and the creative storytelling! Thanks a lot for making it!
So yep, the majority of the art is done with DAZ3D except for a few of the flyover animations that are in the game--those were done with Blender (of which I don't have any experience with. One of the other devs named Lazy Jayke did those for me). So I kinda learned Daz on the go. I sorta just started writing stuff and then tried to google how to do what I actually wanted to do. So you can imagine I did a lot of googling. Basically, you can find a lot of tutorials on youtube for Daz. I would say focusing on positioning and lighting are the majority of the time consuming stuff that requires more skill and competency with the program than anything else.
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AARYN YOU ARE A BEAST. I LOVE ASH AND THE NINTH CHAPTER SO MUCH. keep up the good work mate :)
haha. glad you liked it. His arc is a lot of fun. Thanks for the luv
When will the next update be out ?
Working on it. I dont do ETA's, it throws me off too much and it's caused me to have to cut stuff from the story in the past
Any chance of an android version? Looks like an amazing visual novel.
I haven't got to it yet but I'd like to do it
This visual novel is awesome. I am not a native english speaker, so apologies for my wording... ;)
I played the game so far and it is just GREAT storytelling. I have no problems with the missing sound. In fact... I think I don't even miss it. The characters and the story have their own voices in my head already. It is like reading a book...with some pictures in it.
So, if you're planning to add sound... well, okay... but I won't use ist ^^
Just one little thing... the game is *huge* in terms of gigabytes... is there any possibility to shrink it, without loosing picturequality?
It seems to me, that the given choices in the game aren't actually choices. Looks more like a oneway story to me, is that right? Or is there a real chance to alter something drastically by choosing different options?
Anyways: I really love this novel and I am desperatly looking forward to more of it! Keep up the great work!
best wishes from germany,
CliveFC
heya, thanks for checking in. There's choices in the game but they don't alter things drastically. It's more linear, like you said. That's mostly because i haven't done this before and I'd rather keep it linear and do it right than split it into multiple routes and just make a mess of things. There's one major story here with two different perspectives (routes) in it. It's pretty obvious when you get to choose those routes so everything is sorta based on that choice. Other things are more subtle and just give more background on certain things.
And thanks for the best wishes. I'm in the US so imma send you some luv back :)
Ha... intercultural (or intercontinental?) difference here. Beeing a german, I struggle with the term "send some luv" ... but I got the message though ;) In fact, I googled a personal phrase to give my comment a proper end. So... is "best wishes" too formal?
And also, beeing a german, I am touched by your choice on Bradens car. Yeah, the badge looks unfamiliar, but I know that car series from it's very beginning on the drawing board ;)
Keep up your great work and thanks so much!!
Will there be an Android version
Haven't gotten to it yet but I wouldn't mind it
I absolutely love this game. I also don't ever comment.... yeah, I am that guy. Not for this game though. The main characters are amazing, I love them all. The way you can choose (I have only found two) different choices and get a little tweak on what happens in the story. Without changing the outcome is nice. I like games that have different boyfriend choices but I am very happy with the face that, at least right now, there is only one and you can have different dialog. I have not tried to ruin the relationship yet, I like happy endings. I love the artwork for the game. If it is you doing the work, it is amazing. The only thing I can say about that is I wish we could close the text window so we can see the whole piece. wink wink. Too bad to draw all that in and not be able to see it. Anyway, is there a place we can donate to the development of the game further? I would love to contribute more. Not a lot, but more.
Thanks for the game!
Hey. thanks for the kind words here and I appreciate you commenting. Couple quick notes, If you hit the H key, it'll hide the text box. We'll likely look at some modifications to the text in the final release. This is still very early alpha so it's really rough right now. And if you'd like to donate, you can do so through here when you download a copy or you can go directly to the patreon site at www.patreon.com/aaryn. Honestly, the patreon site is your best bet because it gives you access to more stuff there. There's an autobill function to that but you can subscribe and then just shut it off immediately after. If it gets messed up though, lemme know. I have no problem refunding because I want things to be fair. Also, the world is crazy and unpredictable right now so don't short yourself donating, the game will always be free regardless
Thanks so much for getting back to me. I look forward to whats to come. I am going to start it again today and see if there is a "bad" route or "friend" route. If there is I will definitely have to turn around and do a happy route right after. Anywho, I have taken up too much of your time. Thank you for the game!
Greatest Story ever
I can`t stop playing it over and over again
Thanks really kind of you to say. Thank you :)
This VN has the potential to become something extraordinary. The effort and care put into this work is plain to see!
Aaryn, you mentioned in some of the comments below that you still consider yourself amateur. If that is the case, then this story is evidence of your rapid evolution as an author. It's getting better and better.
I hope once you reach the end, you will take the time to go back and polish the story - it deserves the TLC.
Here's some observations I had while enjoying the story. I think they are areas which can be improved in order to bring this story to the next level.
- The "voices" of Zack, Braden and Mikhail often blur together, especially during longer expositions. In contrast, Max's voice is very unique, likely because of his personality, but his talking style jumps off the page. You could remove his name from the dialogue, and you would know it was him. It may be worthwhile to add certain quirks and distinguishing styles to the speech patterns of the main characters.
- During exposition of certain more complex thoughts and ideas, the dialogue no longer reads like something a real person would say. It's fine for internal thoughts, but it's weird during conversation. This leads to an awkward contrast between casual social interactions and discussion of serious topics, where the characters, especially Zack and Mikhail, suddenly start sounding like professors giving a speech.
- Perhaps you are "too kind" to your readers. I love that you described this story as a "slow burn". It is perfect for the type of story you are trying to tell. However, conflict in the storyline is too neatly resolved for a true "slow burn". Almost as if you are trying to make each episode's conflicts self-contained.
Be more cruel to your audience. Drag out conflicts, make them far messier as plotlines merge and intermingle. A good example would be the incident involving Zack, Braden and Cody. There was so much opportunity in that situation to explore the different angles of that misunderstanding, especially if it had been allowed to fester. Every author loves their characters, but excellent fiction happens when you don't shelter them under a protective umbrella. Let them get hurt and suffer from the mistakes they make. Your readers will hurt and suffer along with them, but that will make the resolution all the more memorable.
- The timeline for forming of deep soulmate level relationships is accelerated to the point of being unrealistic (as a reader, I can suspend disbelief, but it's better not to rely on this too frequently). Time has to be allowed to pass for this to feel authentic. The good thing about the format of a VN is that it's rather easy to impart the feeling of passing of time.
I think this story shows that you have a spark of something special. I sincerely hope you will find some value in my observations. It is meant as feedback and not criticism - the story is very good, and on the cusp of being great.
Heya, I appreciate the well-crafted feedback here and thanks for the support. I'm definitely amateur and sorta just figure this out as I go. When you spend a lot of time googling "how the hell do I do...[whatever]" you're definitely not pro :p
But I do appreciate the pointers here. The "voices" you reference is something that was suggested early on my Blayke, my co-pilot on this. There's two kinda reasons that never really got flushed out much. The first one is I guess I didn't really know how to do it so I had to just stumble across it. It's also something I hear about but never really notice too much in other works as much as people kinda think they use it so I guess I sorta swept it under the rug. In all honesty, the real reason I didn't put much effort into the "voices" is because of the reason I'm writing the story. The characters are sorta different facets of my own acceptance and stuff so essentially it's more psychotically arguing with myself in a fictional world. So it comes across being the same voice because it really is the same voice for the purposes that I'm writing the story. That's also the reason the monologues and dialogue are the way they are. I never really meant to share this thing in the first place, I was writing it just for me but some people on a forum told me to post it so I did.
In terms of the episodic conflict resolution, I agree with you. I'd like to make some things run longer but releasing it the way that I do, turned it into episodes and I kinda like that format. I was also worried about having too many conflicts in a story like this. The public was already very skeptical when I released it and I still get one or two people a year complain there's not enough sex. People have a concept for the "adult" genre and I was worried about going too deep with plots and stuff. I'll also publicly admit that my concentration really sucks (Blayke can back this up). I'm a disaster to keep on topic so writing and organizing the plots in my head is just really freaking hard for me. So rather than bite off way more than I could chew, I elected to try and resolve things somewhat sooner so I wasn't trying to juggle too much. It's easier to juggle that if you're just doing one linear book or story but trying to code multiple paths into that just gets really complex for me when I have no previous writing or coding experience.
Not sure if any of that makes sense or even really justifies my position. Just thought I'd share my logic. I'm still definitely learning and I do appreciate the pointers, some of these may be implemented during the polishing (there's definitely going to be polishing. The beginning of the game sucks).
I think anyone who writes fiction bases characters on parts of themselves. At least at first. Eventually, the more you get to "know" your characters, the less they are a part of you, and the more it seems as if they're a really close friend that you know. A handy thought-experiment is to consider the character's background and past experiences and how those shape the way they think. For instance, Braden is clearly from a well-to-do family but doesn't want friends who befriend him for his money. This simple attribute opens up many questions which can help define Braden's individuality in addition to serving as plot hooks later on. For example:
You did an excellent job with Max, by the way. His character feels the most authentic, because the way he behaves is fully explained by his backstory. There is a harmony between his personality, his motivations and his psyche. Despite being a secondary character, I think many people would agree that after the chapter "Ash", he feels the most life-like of all your characters so far. (This is not a negative thing, since it just means that the other guys haven't had their backgrounds and personalities explored fully yet. Lots of potential here.)
Regarding conflict, I don't think there will ever be a "right answer". As an artist, you must have the conviction to follow your instincts and your vision for what you want out of the final product. Taking community feedback is good, because there are always facets of every work that can objectively be better, but with all creative works, it will be impossible to try to please everybody. In fact, trying to do so is one surefire way to guarantee the final product will be average with no vision.
(If you've ever wondered why so many AAA games feel soulless, it's because they've lost sight of this basic principle. The great games of the past did not need a focus group to tell them which audiences to please or which hot-topic themes to cover. The creators simply made what was best for their vision of the game.)
I hinted at it in my first comment, but I truly think you will have to make a decision at some point how committed you are to the slow-burn nature of your story. If you do commit, you will likely turn away a certain type of audience, but potentially attract a different one. As with all creative projects, it's truly very difficult to gauge audience reception, but if the success of "Our Life: Beginnings & Always" is any indication, there seems to be a certain demand for slow-burn, well-crafted character stories.
Conversely, if you're going after the faster pace nature of most Adult VNs, there's certainly an audience for that as well. I'm sure you've seen the many examples of well-executed ones in this genre.
My opinion is one of many, but I sincerely hope you will carry this project where your vision leads you. Even with the (little) experience you have, you're already creating something that stands out. So it makes sense to trust your instincts as an artist.
Keep up the good work!
is there no sound in game
no sound. it's still being developed and sound will be one of the last things added (if it's added)
Are we allowed to post videos of the gameplay with commentary?
Sure, i dont mind. I really tried hard to make the story matter here and it's something that's helped a lot of people out so I'm down with it reaching other mediums that I'm not able to. However, watch out, YouTube like to ban people that have covered this in the past so beware. If you do something, hit me up on my twitter or on the discord and I may be able to retweet it
Aaryn, you are very good at telling stories. You really makes us get involved with the characters. But that last chapter really got me. As I have nobody to talk about this, I´ll just write it here.
-- SPOILERS --
I felt so betrayed by Bredan that I was already hoping for Zack to get another roommate. I realized how I also didn't pay attention to the tips given during the story and notice how Bredan was playing him. He seems to me just a spoiled rich brat playing with his gay roommate.
Nobody kneels to pick up a towel that they reach with their hand. Cody also wouldn't have the reaction he had as Zack entered the room and wouldn´t apologize for being naked considering he saw Zack with 3 other naked boys the day before. He could see Zack didn´t left the room for being shy, but for being desolated. And what can't Zack do that Cody can do so well? Just don´t know what to expect.
But when I went to test the "pervy" line and Ash opened his eyes, then I got really upset with Bredan. And to think that Zack probably won't know any of that just because he was respectful.
Anyway, waiting for the next chapter to see if I recover emotionally.
Obs: They talk about when Zack said he was gay even if he doesn´t go to the restaurant in the first chapter.
Good job
heya :)
[Spoilers]
I can see kinda see why you had the strong reactions that you stated but I guess I'll throw out that not really any of those reactions were intended from this particular chapter. It's kinda hard for me to quickly summarize a response here because you interpreted things in a completely different direction that I felt that I intended to write them. In the case of Cody "kneeling," that part seems legit to me, I picture myself sliding down towards the floor onto my knees in a crouch to pick up the towel before standing back up. That just seems like a natural flow of motion to me. In the respect route, Braden specifically states why Cody was apologizing for his reaction. Cody, who noticeable gets pretty nervous around stuff (as we saw in the coffee shop) knew that Braden had mixed feelings about telling him stuff against Zack's perceived wishes so it was more a surprise when Zack walked in. Zack's staring probably just caught Cody off guard even though Zack was spacing out. Braden talks about this at the pond and sorta fills in the blanks.
The pervy line was very different, Zack's argument and blow up at Braden sounds very similar to where you are and you sound like you didn't really buy into anything that Braden said during the gym talk. I guess I did. I know people sometimes step out of line or become passive in relationships and hope that things will smooth themselves over when they don't. We're talking about two guys here who really have no experience in relationships and neither of them are used to dating another guy. They even talk about how they felt that the perception should be easier for two guys than it would be for opposite sexes to be in a relationship. There's a lot of mistakes that are made here from them and I think that's the beauty of it. To me, the design here is to illustrate two people who, regardless of their choices, are both sorry about what's happened between them and still care deeply for each other. Things just got out of hand and each of them sorta was hoping the other one would pull things back into alignment. I wanted to illustrate the importance of honesty and communication in relationships that are meaningful but to illustrate how difficult that is, i wanted a really uncomfortable subject to show how hard it was for each of them to talk about it. In the end, they found common ground and I like that. I dont really see either of them as the villain in this story.
You can also check out our discord if you want and jump in there to help process feelings. Lot of people do that after the updates. it's an easier way to unpack stuff. I certainly didn't see either ending as tragic as you did tho
Damn you, Aaryn. I am in tears. The last update was working all my emotions and the last frame made me lose it. Great writing always is not expected in most visual novels but this one, Oh My! Please keep up the great work and l will try not to sob like a love struck teenager anymore. But no promises.
haha. i appreciate your tears but sorry for the rollercoaster :p
That was one of the SWEETEST chapters I've ever read. I hate to say that I blew straight through it, but, omg, did that really yank on my heartstrings. Aaryn, I don't know how you keep outdoing yourself. Props and then some.
Thank you. i really appreciate that. I really tried to do something sweet with the genre here and move the bar in a unique direction. Chapter 9 really did surprise me though and i'm pretty happy with it.
All good work deserves to be both acknowledged and appreciated. Keep doing what you love.
I must say i'm absolutely in love with your visual novel here. No joke, I played a lot of gay visual novels lately, and yours is so special. The story is amazing, the characters are fantastics and every one of them is so different from the others. And the feelings I have while playing this ... Some moments almost made me cry ( Of joy or sadness, depends on the moment ), others made me feel as insecure as the character, which means that you managed to do something absolutely beautiful with it. Cant wait for the next updates, i'm already on the edge just wanting to know what is gonna happen next. Keep up the great work, this game is absolutely incredible and thank you for creating that !
heh, i never expected it to be "incredible" but thank you. It's come a long ways and I do think it's something unique here. I really hope it motivated others to follow suit because i really do like the adult genre and think that it could be capable of so much more. I think you can do a ton with VNs and the way that indie developers are popping up out there, it's just nice to do your own thing and not have to sell a big name company on your vision--you just get to do it yourself and that's liberating.
The update package name says version 0.19.5 but the game says 0.18.1
Not sure where you're looking at
On the right bottom corner..
On the right bottom corner..
On the right bottom corner..
What's new in the update?
about 2 hours more content or so depending on how fast you read
lol can someone tell me how I update the windows version without loosing my progress
you just redownload the game. Delete your old game and select new game. When the new game starts, just follow the red "update" and answer a couple questions and it drops you right at the end of the last episode. If you get lost, there's a big warning screen when you boot the game up that gives you the directions
i hope so
Sorry to bother you, but can you upload the game at Mega or something. The mediafire is way too slow and I can't download the game :(
There's a Mega download here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46806608
thanks!
Lol mediafire isn't slow. Perhaps ur internet is trash.
nah, I can download from other websites easily, only mediafire is slow lol
idk but for me and chip is mediafire and Google drive one fo the fastest
I see. Probably because I'm not from the US then
Mediafire is fast for the US. I post the other links on the Patreon site because they work better for outside the US. Check the Patreon site for the other downloads. the format on this site just has limitations. If you really get stuck, hit me up on Twitter and we'll figure it out
brooo, i hate u so much , the way this chapter ended i just cant wait for the rest. So yeah loved it , it was kind of a roller coaster but still great, biting my nails to see what u gonna do with the rest of the story, now that most problems have been fixed.
heh, sorry about the rollercoaster but hope it was worth it
Ok so let me start off by saying i literally just made an account to share my thoughts with you about your story. Absolutely love it! I just finished reading the update. I definitely can't wait for more. But definitely take your time and enjoy the break. I agree with the previous comment. Ash is the man!
*SPOILERS*
So seriously i was very nervous to read this update since i saw people mention twists and surprises and everything. But everything seemed to work out great. Im very glad you didn't end before confirming the new living arrangements. Lol You almost gave me an anxiety attack with the Cody Braden thing even though i figured something like that was gonna happen. Glad it was just a misunderstanding. That woulda been so shitty of Braden. Would be kool to see more of Jordyn. He seems pretty kool. Looking forward to Zack and Braden taking advantage of the extra privacy.
Again absolutely love your story. I read it 3 times while waiting for the update. Since I first found it back in late November of 2020. It definitely puts you through all the emotions and shit. I could go on forever and I know I forgot a million things I wanted to say. But I'll end my rambling there.
haha, awww. you're ok. no worries about rambling. i appreciate it. So yeah, a lot of the purpose in those conflict scenes is that most relationships go through some hard shit. I wanted these guys to go through joint conflict again, something they each were responsible for but actually show how people who care about each other can talk things out and resolve them. I think a lot of people just freak out in relationships and cut shit off quickly. I wanted to show how something that was potentially relationship-ending could be resolved in a realistic way.
But thanks for making an account and chiming in. This update was really hard for me to write and I'm glad it paid off with soooo many people
The new update is amazing! Max is the real MVP!
Cannot wait for more, but I hope you are enjoying your (well earned) break as well!
Do you have any plans on when you will return to work on the next part?
heh, thanks a lot. Probably gonna start outlining this weekend if I get a chance
When will the next update be?, I was left on edge at the end and I need to know what happens next
Newest update is v19 and is up on the patreon site now at https://www.patreon.com/aaryn for those who donate $5 or more. Free release will be posted on the Patreon for everyone on 1/29. I'll post a link over here probably same day or shortly after.
good stuff! this is definitely in my top 3 along side with deluca family and leap of faith when it comes to story!
appreciate it. it's still really cool to see such a large audiance appreciating the story in an adult game
This is my favouritve game of all time. I never had more fun and I was never more emotionally touched like this by a game before. I love this game and I will support it with everything. I look forward to playing more chapters and updates. This game has so many twists and thats what I love about it. As a patron I will support you and play this game that I cant get enough of. Great work you guys!
hey, thanks for the support. I'm glad you appreciate it and glad you liked some of the twists. I wanted to keep it fresh and sorta always going in a new direction.
yall are flattering with the "favorite game of all time" stuff tho :p
Thank you :)
It's because this game never gets boring. Theres always new stuff coming and more drama happening. Thats why I love this game so much.
and Thank you for creating this game :)
Newest update drops the mic in a completely different way so hopefully you enjoy that one just as much
Well, I'll look forward to that :D
This is probably my favourite game of all time. The characters that have their own stories, which are exceptionally relatable, and the storyline that does not rush things made this game a hidden gem. I can't thank you enough for not going with the usual gay games route, instead going for a more realistic side of things in which I can sadly still relate to. I'm definitely donating as soon as I have some spare cash :D
thank you. i appreciate that. I've had a few naysayers that thought the game was going in the "wrong direction" but I still disagree with them and I love the approach take here. So thank you for appreciating that. And dont worry about the donations and stuff, I'm appreciative either way
No worries here. I'm just glad you went with your intuition instead of letting others dictate your work. A dollar is not much at all, but I hope it helps. Can't wait to see how the story develops from this point onward. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself as well!
you too! the world is crazy and has been for awhile so stay safe. I appreciate the support, the amount isn't that much of a focus to me. I just appreciate the notes and time people take to type or even throw a buck in the pot to help with this thing. So thanks :)
No worries. I hope everything goes well for you :)
I honestly made an account purely so I could comment, this story is amazing and has so much depth to it and I really wanna see you guys succeed! I love the characters so much and the latest chapter was so heart warming, thank you for the effort you put in!
There's been an army of new account people lately. it's crazy! thanks a lot. glad you appreciated the depth. Next update goes a bit deeper still and there's still plenty of feels left :)
Hey so, I am not sure what I identify as...
I thought I was bisexual, but I am not really feeling women 'sexually' but guys are really cute and all that. it has been a really, really wild wide. And I discovered your game and thought this looks interesting and it has REALLY resonated with me well.
I consider myself the very same boat as Braden (who is pretty hot btw) and for someone to really understand that is impressive and really, really mind blowing. So thank you, thank you so much for making a game that I can finally relate to the main character!
I am still on my road to sexual discovery, but I feel with this game, I can at least tell myself I am not 100% straight. And I am so grateful for that.
I've been on my road to discovery for a long time myself and it continues to evolve. This is a journey for me too so I can appreciate yours. I hope you find yourself and I'm honored the game was a part of that journey. Thanks for the support and for checking in with such a personalized take on it. i love stories like this
Ever since I stumbled upon this game last few months ago, I'm eagerly waiting for its updates (excited for the next content within 3 weeks or so!) because the characters are so well-written, root-able, and I just want to hug them all! The plot's pace is also nice (I love me some slow burn) and I can only declare this to a handful of visual novels I have played over the years. Hope the developers have a nice day ahead 💖💖💖
Thanks a lot for the support. New version (v0.19) has been pretty popular so far and should keep up what you've been expecting so far so stay tuned. It usually goes live here after the Patreon site so keep an eye out on 1/29 over on the patreon to get it a little faster. The itchio UI is just a little funky over here so I usually put off doing updates over here until last. Hope you have a good day too
The game is well-written, even from its early stages. If you get someone hooked from the start, you know you're in for a treat. It's the kind of writing I don't see in a lot of other dating simulators so I was pleasantly surprised the first time I touched on the game.
I can tell it's just gonna get better and better. 😁
thanks man. If you were already hooked, I'm optimistic it'll get better. I still think the beginning is trash compared to where the current story is at
honestly, i don't think the beginning is trash but a little awkward however it kind of fit the story, it shows the character development of the two characters. First, starting off a little shy and awkward but through out the story, they slowly warm up to each other and i like that.
oh yeah, that part will stay. The writing and art is just inferior. I think once I got going and actually realized people were invested in this, it sorta empowered me to do it better and things started to come together. I'm very much amateur. While i have my own motivations to complete this project regardless, I'm still very codependent with my audience because I'm just so new at this. So a lot of the time I'm like the guy on stage feeding off the energy of the crowd. That effects me rather than having my own internal fire regardless of the audience. But yeah, as that grew, i think I started to take more risks. Then I got a couple buddies that I love to death to have my back on this, bounce ideas off, and just help me polish or create things that enhanced the story and it sorta took off. I wanna apply that energy to the beginning tho--that quality, i guess
I can't help but play, play again, and again ... - from time to time, then in its entirety it's a very beautiful story (especially a very beautiful love story between two young men), of course it There are ups and downs, but between the visual side that is so realistic, and its beautiful story, it's impossible to resist.
I can't wait to play the sequel.
I leave you a big hug from Paris.
Take good care of yourself.
LOVES
And I wish you a Happy New Year.
John
Thank you, It's always cool to hear people have gone through it multiple times. That seems to be even more true after v019 hit. Despite it being fictional, I tried to make it feel real while still trying to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish with it
Alas ... I am afraid that I will never be able to play the rest of the game, then I cannot spend so many hours waiting for the download to be finished ... - since the download of the folder/ZIP file takes at least around two hours for it to be over ...
Then for me, in my profession, time costs money unfortunately ...
well, you have plenty of time before the next update. usually takes me a few months to get the next chapter done
Yo this game is killer I'm not finished with it yet but, I'm super stoked to continue with it. And the fact it's NOT done that's super crazy you can tell a lot of time has been put into this and I appreciate! Any chance they'll eventually be voices for the characters? Super hyped to see this game continue to develop :)
Thank you for the kind words and excitement. Keep in mind this is still pretty much pre-alpha since we learning as we go. New update just dropped yesterday on the Patreon and i'll post it here in 3 weeks for free. I'm not sure about voices. Given the amount of dialogue in the game, it would be an insane amount of voice recording unless we all just did it ourselves and didn't hire any actors or anything. But time will tell, we're still trying to work on things as we go
Hi, I'm one of those people who created an account to comment.
Also, spoilers ahead!
I really love the story and I already finished it in 3 days. I can relate a lot, probably to all the characters a little bit but especially with zack cause I've also had that feeling that being bi or anything just not gay would make it better for me. I'm still not sure if I'm 100% gay but probably like 99,9% so I figured that label fits me. I also have anxiety and overthink a lot and I've also never had a relationship but I'm really wanting one right now, let's hope I get lucky to find a bf.
I also relate a bit to bradens fear for water even though I think I actually enjoy swimming. But I'm scared to do it in deep places where I can't stand.
Also to Max not liking his name. I'm not named like a girl but still, I've always had an aversion to my real name.
Chapter 7 and 8 felt a bit slow going and frustrating tbh but I mostly enjoyed the rest so far.
In the end this game made me reflect a lot on my own life and also made me burst out in chuckles sometimes cause it was too damn relatable. Kudos for the story and everything, this is extremely good for being available for free and I definitely want to donate at some point. Also looking forward to what is going to happen next, that stuff got really intense in that latest chapter.
Have a good day and thanks again for this!
I also appreciate these posts where people had to create accounts to actually comment. Making accounts is annoying so i just really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I've taken a lot of liberties with labels and stuff in the game and i still appreciate that perspective. I will note that there are frustrating points in the game and that's the point. What may individually speak or convince us, can be completely different than what would motivate or convince another. Part of that is the point to this game. Zack, like a lot of people, fights this process every step of the way and it's not one particular thing that ever really moves him. it's cumulative. In the later chapters, there's consequences for that--just like there may be irl.
I'll also say the next update that just came out is still pretty intense too
i can't wait for this game to be finish, it going to look beautiful.
god, i hope so :)
I know so, no matter how long it takes. i will be right behind you.
I love this game. The story. The relationships. The characters. EVERYTHING. I have an issue with the sound. Is there music? Voices? or something? I got nothing. :(
thanks for the love and I'm glad you're enjoying it. Unfortunately, there's no sound yet. The game is still very much a wip and I've never done this before so i'm learning as I go. Sound is a very fickle thing and i had very high expectations with music--including having an actual game soundtrack because i really wanted an emotional kicker to it. However, that costs hundreds of thousands to do so we're still looking at alternatives. I'm going to complete the writing and end the game and then go back for a full revision, which may or may not include sound depending on how things are looking. We still have options though. Consider the build you're playing now very very pre-alpha and i'm amateur af :p
amateur?? It's amazing man. Keep giving us fun with your work!!!
giving it my best :)
I made an account just so i can comment! I love this game and honestly cant wait until its updated :) Keep up the good work and amazing art skills <3
i still love getting messages like this. I hate making new accounts so i take this as a huge compliment. Glad the game had an impact. that means a lot to me. Next segment is coming pretty quick here. It's been a long time in waiting. hoping it lives up to the wait
I just finished and I can't WAIT for an update! The cliffhanger was perfect, and I already see how it would go down if Zack responds the way I imagined.
:) thank you. I'm hoping to surprise a few people with the next update. One thing that I've fairly consistently gotten feedback on is that the story goes in unpredictable directions. Just hoping we can keep that momentum going all the way to the end
With skills such as yours, there's no doubt that the ending will surely be worth it. No matter how you choose to have it go. Your work is amazing.
awww, thank you. that really means a lot. Even after a few years of working on this, i still feel very new at it. I got some food help with me though. Helps when you're working with friends you really care about. I'll give them the credit for keeping me motivated and making me look good :)
Thumbs Up!! x 100
Tried to avoid any spoilers but avoid if you are over sensitive to spoilers!
I made an account just to thank you for this game! You will definitely be getting my support on patreon. I connect to this on a whole different level than I expected. I actually care about the characters and I definitely wasn’t expecting that when I was just looking for a dirty game to play. I connect with Braden on a level I didn’t anticipate. It took a few years to finally understand my sexuality. I don’t openly advertise it, but I think it is very similar to what is going on with Braden. I thought I was just straight maybe bi-curious, but I now define my sexuality as pansexual. I don’t usually have an initial attraction to people (sometimes I’ll get a good vibe from someone and I’ll notice them), instead it’s a slow burn and I grow to care about people way too much and that’s when I start to recognize how attractive they are. Lord knows I’ve grown huge crushes on my best male friends that I’ve never acted on. Thank you for all the time and effort you and your team have put into this game. It’s very impressive! I can’t wait for the update!
heya. I always enjoy feedback from people that weren't necessarily in the target audience. I think a lot of people just assume the game will only appeal to a gay audience and it's nice to see when it breaks down those walls and others find it appealing as well. I like that you're able to identify with Braden. It's interesting to see a lot of early gay community feedback in that a certain segment were vehemently demanding that Braden accept his sexuality as gay when in reality that isn't who he is. There's a few things in the story that i'll never confirm, one of which is Braden's sexuality. I'm not one for labels anyway. I'd rather like what I like when I like it and that just be the end of it. I've also refrained from labels here because some people loooooove to debate the technicality of labels and that isn't the point here. It's for the characters to be who they are, even if there isn't a label for that yet.
I'm glad the emotional side of things hit you, though. it's something that i was really going for here and i think the genre of adult games is lazy with character development and actual story so I wanted to do something different.
New update is coming shortly. trying to finish it up pretty quick here :)
Thank you for the thoughtful reply, it’s very kind of you to take such time in responding to your community. I appreciate that outlook on life to allow yourself to like what you like when you like it. For many people it takes a long time and a lot of self reflection to allow yourself to really understand what you like and what you are making yourself like due to social norms. I also appreciate you sticking to your guns and really owning your characters. (Not allowing fans to sway you in a direction with them). You have amazing talent and I look forward to seeing more from you. I also loved seeing the evolution of your work you have made such amazing strides in your storytelling and artwork, I can’t help but think the fire was to help erase some of the old sets and bring in some new stuff you have learned, and if that is the case I love that you tied it in with the broken thermostat, so clever.
Out of curiosity, how much more story do you think there is left to tell? I can’t decide if I want it to go on forever or if I want to get to the end and be at bliss with whatever you/they decide will happen! Thanks again!
oh sure thing, i try and reply to every message although i've been upset that i didn't get notifications on a few over the years and they slipped through the cracks. But for the most part, i try and stay active with everyone. I'm honestly glad that i stuck to my guns too. The community was in an uproar around chapter 6 and they were pissed at some of my decisions there but then i later got messages from those people apologizing becuase they saw the purpose in it. There is a lot of symbolic things in this story specific to me in addition to the story i'm trying to tell and the impact i'm trying to have on people that struggle with the same apprehensions that Zack does. But at the end of the day, i guess it's always up to the reader on what they decide things mean.
So in terms of how much is left, v019 is gonna drop pretty quick here when i get the finishing touches on it. It's long as hell and concludes chapter 9. After that, we have one chapter left--so probably 2 updates left after v019 'til the final fade
Well, to be frankly honest, what the audience wants is more often things they have already seen time and time again in movies and TV shows. I like the author to stick true to their vision and really deliver their masterpiece as intended. After all, you know your material the best, the rest of us just know the characters from what you have decided to let us know about them.
I never felt in an uproar during any of the story so far. However, I definitely felt my heart break a few times in there, damn you for pulling at my heart strings the way you did, and you can probably guess where (hint: as mentioned I relate most with Braden).
I’m not sure if I’m upset or excited that this will be wrapped up soon, but I’m ready for the journey! Are you planning to do more novels like this in the future? If so, are you thinking clean slate or are you expanding on other characters with the already established characters being the background?
Also, don’t let me take too much of your time, I understand you are busy, I just can’t help but probe for more. Lastly, I hope you are doing well and staying safe during this crazy year we’ve had. You genuinely seem like a good, kind person, and I hope the world has been kind back to you!
I'll probably work on some more stuff but nothing is finalized yet. There's been some interesting ideas thrown around
When there will be the next update? 😊
I'm finishing it up now. It'll drop on the Patreon site first for 3 weeks then I'll post it over on there and over here for free. I give the Patreon donators first dibs cause that's how I'm able to fund the project
Hey i love your novel and it got me insired to make one myself i have everything done exept images, do you have tips how i can easely crate some? i have no drawing skills whatsoever.....
I used 3D art for all the game images for the same reason. On average, it probably takes me about 2 hours per picture right now but that really depends. The program is DAZ3D and is free but all the art packs cost money and can easily cost you thousands to get enough assets to do much with. It's partially why the game has slowly gotten better and more full with other characters. I could slowly add more people into the game with better hardware and after more people donated to the project. You can check out Daz though if you want. There's also YouTube videos on how to use it. Very steep learning curve though if you've never done it before. I'm pretty rough at it
omg i had so much fun with this game, i totally finished it in 3 days, i love the characters, the story, and honestly don't really mind the nsfw scenes not being the main focus, of course i want to see more of that but i just really wanna see where the story goes. In conclusion, cant wait for the update.
Thanks. I appreciate the openness to the approach here. Still working on the next update now
Whenever I played the romance option in a rpg, I always wanted to see more. Who doesn't, honestly? But alas, fade to black is all we get :-)
With Str8 it's different, because of the strong sexual tension between the characters. You don't see many actual sex scenes, but the tension is always there. It's a much more satisfying experience, actually.
Hi, I'm no expert, but it looks like you used DAZ 3D software to render your images. Is this the case? If so, could you let me know how you learned to make them (like what learning resources/sites/tutorials did you use)? I love this game and the creative storytelling! Thanks a lot for making it!
heya,
So yep, the majority of the art is done with DAZ3D except for a few of the flyover animations that are in the game--those were done with Blender (of which I don't have any experience with. One of the other devs named Lazy Jayke did those for me). So I kinda learned Daz on the go. I sorta just started writing stuff and then tried to google how to do what I actually wanted to do. So you can imagine I did a lot of googling. Basically, you can find a lot of tutorials on youtube for Daz. I would say focusing on positioning and lighting are the majority of the time consuming stuff that requires more skill and competency with the program than anything else.
Glad you're enjoying the game so far though :)