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Serenity C2 Episode 3 (Devlog 8)
🕑 Added 2024-01-06 21:56:24 +0000 UTCHello my friends and Happy New Year! Here is the first devlog for 2024. Brace yourselves, this one might be kinda long. So grab a coffee (or tea), relax, and open your Serenity Island books to Chapter 2, episode 3. Yes, I know it is blank... that's why we're here LOL
First... some actual devlog information because it is just a few sentences: Episode 3 will have 16 scenes, I am currently working on images for scene 3. So, that's where we are on that. I hope to have a release ready by middle of next month. Moving on...
RELEASES - Recently I posted a comment about possibly doing half-episode updates. After giving this a lot of thought, I decided not to do that. Sorry, but it isn't how I want people to experience my stories. I think a release should be a nice chunk of the overall story... an event or several, with a beginning and ending. It is the way I prefer to experience VN's when they are still in development. Not many devs do this though. Each episode should have it's own little 'arc' - an issue that is dealt with and resolved by the end of that episode, while also continuing to tell the overall story. So, I will continue to do what I have been doing: working on Serenity and Last Human in tandem (back and forth releases) until Serenity is completed. Yes, unfortunately this means it will be longer between each game's release dates. But, if you're a fan of both (which was my goal when crossing them over each other), then this shouldn't be too big a deal. With that said, I am setting goals and doing my best to keep a tighter work schedule when I am not working my full time job. But there will be times when my full time job has a lot for me. When my plate is full like that, it is more difficult because I have to prioritize my job over this since I still depend on that as my primary source of income.
HOW LONG WILL SERENITY BE? - Serenity is going to end with episode 9 (in Chapter 2). I have a great story lined up to complete it, but I'm ready to move on from it. I love what I created and I love the characters... I'm just ready to do something else. So yeah, Serenity will have 9 episodes. Episode 9 will be a huge update with the only choices (that matter) I have ever done in a game. And don't worry, there will be a LOT of choices, and WILL INCLUDE harem of course. I tagged it 'harem' for a reason, so don't freak out! Each choice will take a certain path with one of the six main love interests, plus a choice that will go harem. And each of those paths may offer some other choices... possibly pregnancy and seeing your children. I am still considering options for this, but I'm hoping these choices will cover a lot of your different preferences. Episode 9 will have to be released in parts because of all the branching paths. So each release may be 1 or 2 of the girls' paths (release 1 might be Trixy and Morgan, release 4 might be 'harem' which is the longest one, ect.). Anyway, that's pretty much how I have the plan laid out at the moment.
HOW LONG WILL LAST HUMAN BE? - Last Human is a bit special because it began the kind of pattern I truly wanted to do with Serenity from the start. I do have a lot of content for it, so it is possible for a season 2 for sure. However, we'll see how things pan out when we get to that point (probably well into 2025). Due to the nature of the relationships between you and the girls in your crew, there won't be any choices to end LH because no matter what, you're going to have a harem there. However, I do have ideas written down for choices on pregnancy with certain (or all) girls. We'll see how it plays out... still a long way away. If I do a season 2, Last Human could go on through 2026.
WHAT OTHER PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE? - Lots. LOL. I've been writing little short stories in notepad for a very long time (well before I even knew what a VN was). Some of them are really good ideas that could be expanded into bigger stories, and those could translate into nice VNs. I have been looking more closely at two of them over the last few months and I think I might have a winner with either of them. Now, this may disappoint some of you, but my third project will not be connected to Serenity or Last Human. I also don't want it to be 'magic' or extreme sci-fi stuff since I'm already doing that. Also, <ahem> probably no nekos.
<crickets>
Yeah, I knew you wouldn't like that LOL. Okay, I may find a way to work in a neko, even if it is a girl that does it in cosplay. As for the 2 stories I am considering for a future project... here is a little about what they are:
Story 1 - is pretty much what some call a 'life sim' where you step into the shoes of a big guy that is a bouncer at an interesting gentlemen's club. The MC is tall, muscular, tough, has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and is more intelligent than he let's people know. He's never really made time for girls so he's single. But he get's to see lots of them due to club business and his job of guarding the ladies or accompanying them sometimes as a bodyguard. The MC is VERY LOOSLY inspired by a character named Takeo Goda in an anime titled "My Love Story!!". Just, not as 'ogre-ish'. I liked that he was a good person no matter what. Anyway, no more super powered MC... just a normal guy with weaknesses and drama to deal with, although he's a pretty tough guy. Big guy with a big heart. It will be emotional, romantic, and have action and of course eventually sex.
Story 2 - Now this one has a title: Viral Affair. I wrote a short story some years back that is somewhat like an old movie called "The boy in the plastic bubble" starring John Travolta, only the roles are reversed. And the reasons and story arc is different from the movie. The MC is a psychologist that is tasked with helping a girl who lives in a glass room. She has a disease that is so contagious, merely breathing the same air as her can kill you. They interact through a glass wall. The girl's personality can be described as chaotic tsundere, perhaps a little yandere, multiple personalities. She is prone to major outbursts of anger. She's a beautiful girl in her early twenties. MC will be faced with trying to help this girl, and crossing the boundaries of being her doctor into falling in love with her. Plus dealing with romance away from her in the outside world. This one is like nothing out there (so is story 1 for that matter).
Between the two, I am leaning towards Viral Affair because it is completely different from any VN out there. And that's how I want it to be. But both have promise. Feel free to comment on them. At various times when I have the chance, I'll be slowly working on one of them and try to have most of the story ready by the time I'm ready to begin coding it into a VN. Understand of course, this game would be at minimum a year and a half away from actual full time develpment. But time flies, so I thought it would be good to fill you guys in and get feedback on the two.
Alright, I think I've written a long enough book of information for you to soak in and think about. Now I need to get back to work on episode 3 and try to get you guys some content out. The render is a really old one I redid a bit. Thought it fitting to start the new year with an old image.
As always, love you all! ...Fire
Comments
leo200076
i think that the viral affair VN would be a good change of the normal VNs out there
N2TheFire
The version of VA that you read is a VERY short version of it, and not going to be the same as the version I would make into a visual novel. I wouldn't say they would be smaller, but probably single 'chapter' games (single games) with 9 episodes.
Sapphire Nyx
I don't really care about if there are going to be neko's in your next story or not but hearing you mentioning Viral Affair was a big supprise. It was my favorite story of the bunch you had on your website by far! Are these next VN's going to be "smaller" projects, or are you planning on expanding the story?
N2TheFire
Very kinds words, thank you. My next project will have the same wholesomeness you've come to know from me. The main character will have a heart and a conscience. The girls will have their own personalities and big hearts. The drama won't be what you're imagining. It will still be lighthearted, romantic, and hopefully funny too. Yes it will definitely have some serious moments, but it won't go too far. As for the nekos... well what can I say. I haven't done a project with regular human girls yet and I really wanted to do that. I may find a way to cosplay one or something. I love them too btw (I mean... Serenity and LH are both full Neko games LOL).
Neko-Chan
Well I can't live without Neko's lol, I mean what's the world coming to without them? hehe I am not sure about which game your going to do next, sadly they don't sound to much fun or wholesomeness, just endless drama I am guessing from what you have stated? I am all for a third Neko game instead hehe :p I mean you are the best developer with them, the others just want to aspire to what you do. Besides that, the most important thing is that your stories do not suffer from the borefest sydrome that way too many games suffer from when they pointlessly go on and on, but with yours I know when you start a story, it could go on indefinitely and it would never be boring or pointless for that matter, because you go out of your way to make sure it's as entertaining and fun as when the story first began. I can't say too many devs can do that, it's like they get bored halfway through a game and it completely falls apart, releases take an age, and when you do get a release it's so bad you can't pull yourself to read a single paragraph because it will be so bad. Sounds mean I know, but it's the truth, and I do try to go for long story novels, because I want to invest / and try to immerse myself in the story, but often times you can't, and you leave with a sour taste in your mouth after the hours of reading for it to come down to having to delete the game. Devs should honestly take a leaf out of your book, and make sure to remain interesting and fun or whatever. I might take a look at the viral affair if you do that game, or even the bouncer one, but I am a Neko girl and we are invaders into every novel out there or here :p hehehe
wulftattu
You have given alot to think about. Serenity and LH. I like the idea of larger episodes. It gives the chance to really get into it, rather then tryin to work out a stopping point. The 2 ideas you have seems to be pretty good ideas and looking forward to how they play out.
dpas9993
You really have things well organized as far as Serenity and LH go. I wholly support the idea of releasing full updates rather than short pieces. You've got a lot of interesting ideas for other games. I also prefer Viral Affair. It has a lot of room to move plot wise. And while I love Nekos, I can live without them for a while. Keep up the great work. Cheers and Happy New Year!
