Evakiss
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The next step for ORS
🕑 Added 2021-11-17 11:15:04 +0000 UTCHi guys!
The development cycle for Chapter 9 is finally over (all that remains is the Android port we're making some optimization adjustments and hopefully it's out early next week). As you know development of this last chapter has been complicated, both for technical and personal reasons, but I didn't want to make any excuses until the work was done. I've been thinking about talking a bit more in depth about that, but I doubt you want to hear about my personal issues, and what's important is that the game finally released.
Now, moving forward, I have several plans I wanted to discuss with you. I've already started figuring out Chapter 10, but there are a few things that need to be done before that:
First of all, the Steam release. I've been talking about it for a while now, but I still haven't managed to get it done. I feel this step is crucial to grow the player base and the business and take ORS to the next level, however my priority is always to create more content for you guys, so I've been postponing the Steam version. Furthermore, I want ORS to release on Steam at it's best, and that means I need to polish some things before that.
As you can see in the picture above, I'm enhancing some old illustrations. Not only that, but I'm also re-drawing a few of them that I wasn't happy with (there are some infamous drawings, like that Ian+Alison one) ((can't show it here due to Patreon's censorship))
I'm not stopping there, though. I feel there are some scenes with untapped potential, so I want to make a few re-writes and re-drawings for those. Some are minor, and some others will overhaul the entire scene. Also, add some more flavour to some character interactions and conversations, now that I (and you too) know who those characters are like.
But most importantly, and the reason I've decided to do all this, it's one character: Stan. There was a reason he was missing from the cards I published this Summer, and it's this:
I know many of you really like the character and are hoping to see more scenes with him, since his role in the game has been really minor. The truth is, I don't like him. And I don't really know what to do with him in the narrative. When I created him, I thought it would be interesting to add this character trope into the game, since GGGB didn't have anyone like him, and I wanted to try to explore new character dynamics. But the truth is Stan ended up being just that: a trope of a character, and I felt all his interactions with Lena were shallow and didn't fit the rest of the game. And it's time to fix that.
I've decided I want to re-write and overhaul Stan's role in the entire game. I want to make him into a more nuanced and relatable character, and make the scenes he's had so far more exciting and interesting. Many of you have pointed out that Lena's available romance options where lacking good guys other than Ian, and Stan is the man to fill that role. But he can't in his current state.
We're already at chapter 9 and I need to fix this before continuing to move forward. I know this might be inconvenient to some of you, who want the story to keep unfolding as fast as possible. Also, this overhaul of the game will render old saves problematic, and to re-start again might be a pain in the ass. Hopefully the changes I'll make will make it worth it, but in any case, my priority is to make the best game I can and I'm willing to take a backwards step if needed. I'm sorry if this isn't what you guys were looking forward right now, but I know ORS will become a much better product after this. Oh, and I'm also taking this time to train someone to help me with the line-work, we've already started working on it and I'll show you some of that soon.
So, that's basically it. I will talk in more detail about all of these points during the following weeks. Feel free to let me know any doubts or questions you have, and tell me which topic do you want me to elaborate on. As always, thanks for your support and for following the development of this game, I hope you keep enjoying what I create :)
Comments
Maldosíny
I'm really happy for your decision to make Stan a bigger part of the story. My personal favourite couple is Ian with Lena but I also like Ian with Holly and felt quite sad that there isn't any "good guy" character for Lena. I don't say that it has to be Stan but it'd be fine if there was someone like that However I really like how much depth there is in the story and can't wait for next chapter. Thank you for your grear work.
Dennis
Good point, but I assume, because Stan did not interact with many paths as of now, there woun't be so much to change. He only interacts with Lena and Louise (except a little cameo ;) on the concert). Having read Eva's post for the fourth time and getting over the initial shock ;) when I read "overhaul Stan", I really wonder how much Eva will change. She sometimes sounds like she would like to change a lot, sometimes only a litte. But right now, I am a little thrilled about her polishing her work and beeing able to add some more spice in the few slow spots and flattening the few bumps in story-telling.
face oupile
Hi Eva, usually I'm 100% behind your choices but here I'm a little worried. As you progress in the story, you've got a lot of new paths, choices and decisions that basically multiply each time the number of branches that you have to think of & put in place. Keeping something consistent with that is really hard and (of course) time consuming. We can see that with the time needed to deliver your last releases. Here... I'll be honest, I haven't followed Stan's road... he's a side character that I'm not really into... re-writing it will have lots of impact on your current version of the game, on the path written, etc... Would it be possible to imagine of some "game changer" decision for Stan that could bring him now (and for the future) in some arc that would fit the role that you think for him ? That would allow you to move forward as-is and not take a big amount of your time to re-write your story. Because doing, destroying and re-do is doing 3 times the job :) Will still continue to support you anyway as I'm very fan of your work ! I can't wait for you to push the game on steam and I do hope that your long time Patreon will have dedicated keys for them :)
