tlaero wrote:
While Ariane was absolutely earthshatteringly groundbreaking and genre creating, I feel that apparent freedom doesn't have enough content to make it worthwhile. All of those intricate paths lead back to a relatively small number of "rewards" (in that case, sex scenes). The first few times through, I enjoyed taking alternate paths even though they ended up in the same place, but my enjoyment waned as I did more.
I think I didn't express my thoughts that well. It's not about paths, but about layers. When I re-read the example I gave, I realize now it wasn't a very good one. A better one would be viewing scenes/events in the story as an onion. For example, in DWE, you gave two different paths in the dream sequences based on preconceived, laid out paths...the love/angel kind of one and the more dominant/devil kind of one. Those were paths. Now, let's envision DWE where the player enters the scene the same but based on decisions that were prior to it, the scene now unfolds little layer by little layer, not paths, but veils being lifted dependent on prior and current player choices (or point system if you want).
So, we meet Elsa and dependent on choices prior and choices within the scene, various other options open up or are fulfilled, allowing the player and Elsa to drive the scene together. This could be done by a character unlocking a more adventurous Elsa by getting her more worked up with extended foreplay, much like you had options during the final sex scene of DWE going between neck and breasts and what not while they were on the couch. If a player doesn't spend a lot of time on foreplay and goes through basic motions, then they miss out on a hornier Elsa who may react differently by her maybe taking control for a part of the experience or choosing to straddle the player rather than going missionary. Like in real life where you can sometimes make it a quickie or an extended session or even a cuddle fest.
You've done things like this a lot with your works but the decisions were made prior to the event in many cases by you the developer and not the player. The freedom was taken away from the player. And with this type of scene development, where you can allow the player a little freedom in how to progress through the sex scene, it will not affect the story at all and you can even make the story more immersive at a later part by having the characters reference what may have happened during that encounter (i.e.
while walking along the boulevard holding hands "That was a great night. You remember how you got me so worked up and I straddled you! You got me so wild!" or "That was a great night! I loved how you just TOOK me, no foreplay, just fucking my brains out right there on the sofa"), thereby personalizing the play experience while still offering replay value. The story will not be sacrificed at all!
tlaero wrote:As for BEW, the kinds of stories I'm currently telling don't lend themselves to games where you can date multiple people. I'd rather create Dreaming with Elsa, then Redemption for Jessika, and then Finding Miranda (not out yet) than wait until all 3 are done and release them together in one game. Also, the stories I'm telling require differing player characters. Jason couldn't have helped Jessika. Marc wouldn't have been interested in Elsa. Etc. That's not to say that it's impossible to do a game where one guy is attractive to multiple female characters. BEW is doing that very well. It's just that that's not a story I'm interested in telling.
I am sorry to say this, but I think you are wrong here and are under a misconception. I think your games lend themselves very well to this. Freedom doesn't mean polygamy. The kind of freedom I'm talking about is freedom to, for lack of a better word, role-play. Like another member of the lagoon stated, it's about letting the player feel like they can play more like themselves while still operating the protagonist and not be so corralled into certain choices. I think you hit upon this in RFJ when you gave the player the choice of Jessika either sucking his dick or him face fucking her because she's a rocker chick and doesn't mind either way. THAT was a choice that didn't involve a different path but instead provided another layer to the encounter with either result still not really changing the story you wanted to tell.