[VX ACE RPG] Aylia's Story - English H-RPG Goodness!

[JohnCollins5091]

http://www.hongfire.com/forum/showthread.php/431534-Aylia-s-Story-%28English-RPG-Maker-VXA-game%29/page26

He updates here as well, more recent posts.

I checked it out; Yummytiger did post something there 4th of January, so that's an update.

He just answered some feedback, and even though he did mention Chapter 1, it was only to mention he hoped people would like it, and that it would not be possible to do a save transfer (as for the save transfer, it's annoying, but expected). Hopefully things won't change much, and we'll have Chapter 1 by this weekend or so.

[YummyTiger]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

After the release of this chapter, I'm starting the process of going full time. If that goes according to plan, by March/April I'll be working on my games 40+ hours a week. That'll be the real test of how fast I can start releasing chapters.

[Elaymidoray]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

Patience, is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. Now if you excuse me, I must go be patient elsewhere. *goes off screen* *screams of terrors, explosions, and a random tire come from off screen* *comes back on screen* That's better. Now please, take all the time you need.

[BlackDread]

Take as long as you need, Id rather the release get pushed back and have a finished chapter rather than a half arsed buggy piece of crap (looking at you EA Games).

[lostone2]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

Patience, is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. Now if you excuse me, I must go be patient elsewhere. *goes off screen* *screams of terrors, explosions, and a random tire come from off screen* *comes back on screen* That's better. Now please, take all the time you need.

I really like your post Thanks for the laughs!

[SirBalto]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

After the release of this chapter, I'm starting the process of going full time. If that goes according to plan, by March/April I'll be working on my games 40+ hours a week. That'll be the real test of how fast I can start releasing chapters.

Will Chapter One be the first pay chapter? If not, do you have a paypal? I mean waiting until Chapter Two for the first paycheck seems a little ludicrous.

[DragonG]

wait a moment wasn't this meant to be a freeware??

[SirBalto]

wait a moment wasn't this meant to be a freeware??

People can pay on Patreon

[Elaymidoray]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

Patience, is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. Now if you excuse me, I must go be patient elsewhere. *goes off screen* *screams of terrors, explosions, and a random tire come from off screen* *comes back on screen* That's better. Now please, take all the time you need.

I really like your post Thanks for the laughs!

O'course (insert Sire or M'Lady here as applicable). *sweeps a bow most elegant*

[YummyTiger]

wait a moment wasn't this meant to be a freeware??

Absolutely. Yet, after my initial release, people expressed a desire to donate to the development. So, I created a Patreon that allows you to pledge whatever you like. Additionally, I did not like the idea of running a monthly Patreon, so instead, I'm running a "major update" Patreon. That way, you'll always know how many potential pledges a game will have, and can calculate exactly what you'd like to pay. I don't want anyone to ever regret pledging. In that vein, I'm also not taking pledges for Chapter 1, because I felt that the prologue was nice to wet people's appetite, but you really need to play a good chunk of the game to determine if it is worth your hard earned money.

Still, Chapter 1 will be released for free at the same time as on Patreon. Future chapters will be released to Patreon members first, but if I get the save issue resolved, it'll go public as well. Ultimately, the final game will be released for free to the public. Which, if you have the patience, would be the ideal way to play it.

[RandomGuy2599]

It won't be released this weekend. I've not had the drive recently to work on the game after putting in extra hours at my day job. So, little has gotten finished since around mid-December. I got to spend about 4 hours today on it, and think this weekend looks promising for a bit of work time. I'm pushing to get it out this month, but it is looking less and less like Hunter's Quest will make it out as well. Oh well, one step at a time.

After the release of this chapter, I'm starting the process of going full time. If that goes according to plan, by March/April I'll be working on my games 40+ hours a week. That'll be the real test of how fast I can start releasing chapters.

Aye, remember I gave you until February, so don't worry.

[BlackDread]

Any updates on progress?

[JohnCollins5091]

Any updates on progress?

The updates are dead. YummyTiger murdered them in cold blood.
Nick Fury is trying to revive them using alien biology.
Hail Hydra.

[Elaymidoray]

Any updates on progress?

The updates are dead. YummyTiger murdered them in cold blood.
Nick Fury is trying to revive them using alien biology.
Hail Hydra.

All shall know despair, for we shall have our vengeance.
This small pittance shall not quench our thirst for blood.
Hail Hydra.

[JohnCollins5091]

We're about to reach 2nd to last week of January. C'mon, where's my porn.

[BlackDread]

I really don't mind waiting, but a word or two would be nice so we know you are alive

[YummyTiger]

Well, it's only been a little over a week since I last posted. Not sure that amount of time warrants a "I'm alive" posting...

As for the game, I have no current release date. I have not been able to work on it nearly as much as I'd hoped, and on the few nights when I have had free time, I've lacked the motivation to work more than an hour or so. Not what people want to hear, but it is the unfortunate reality. After working 8-5, and taking care of my 18 month old son until around 8:30-9pm, many nights, I don't have the drive to work much more.

Now that I have that caveat out of the way. The first third of chapter 1 is done, edited, and graphics finished. The second third of the chapter is 90% done. Dialogue is input, events mostly done (one main treasure hunting event still being worked on), all but 3 CGs done, and those CGs are close. Still needs one more edit run as well. The final third is around 50% done. Still adding some minor events, changing maps to be dynamic, finalizing side quests, and drawing CGs. Beyond that, I'm about 75% done with the final face revamp for Aylia where I've reworked primarily her eyes and facial shadows to be A LOT more consistent.

Chapter 1 will require at least 3 plays to get all the scenes, and will probably run around 3-5 hours per play (less if you don't read). The number of CGs is on par with many complete games, but the h-scenes at this point are still fairly tame. It is meant to be a progressively more kinky type of game. I don't think people will be unhappy with the final product. Just got to be patient a little longer.

[Bremen Mask]

Patience is a virtue, but damn is being patient hard. Really though, take all the time you need. As long as this free hentai game is released before I die, I will pretty happy. I'd much rather have a delayed yet polished game than a rushed rough game.

[decimad]

Since you dont have the motivation to work on the game recently take a friendly advice from me:

No matter how long you work on a game, how long you plan it and think about it - or even edit the smallest things - your game will never be perfect.
And thats your problem: you are ( reading between the lines of ur post) aiming for an almost perfect h-game. And that simply will never be created.
Even blockbuster games from other genres like Skyrim and Fallout weren't perfect and your's with much less knowledge & budget wont either.

That being said:
I'd be really thankful if I had a fanbase like you do. You just gave a very very small and narrow teaser of a game, posted your ideas and almost everybody loved your concept/ideas ( idk if you have other projects). You take over a year (!) to work on a single chapter. Thats way too long in any regards.

What I'm trying to say is:

Dont try to make everything perfect, because you can't. You won't fulfill everyones hopes and certainly not hit everyones taste. When you set yourself standards that high, your ambition should not allow missing so many "release dates". That being said, I dont mind waiting, but hearing about release dates and then get to hear "I lack motivation" is kinda disheartening and if I would not be waiting for more than a year for chapter 1 I'd be gone a long time ago.
When you're working on the same project for a very long time ( like you are currently), you are going to lose your motivation no matter what. Sure you got many things to do lately, but even if you had not - you would you put the same amount of time in.

Long story short end
- Take this chapter as a learning experience and adjust your standards to a degree that you wont take forever meeting them,. Remember you are doing this as a hobby, so treat it that way.
- Set yourself realistic goals for the 2nd chapter. I dont mind waiting, but many do get pissed off.

No offense to you as a person, just felt like saying that.

Just my 2 cents tho.

[YummyTiger]

I'd be really thankful if I had a fanbase like you do. You just gave a very very small and narrow teaser of a game, posted your ideas and almost everybody loved your concept/ideas ( idk if you have other projects). You take over a year (!) to work on a single chapter. Thats way too long in any regards.

I want to address this above all, because I think people fail to grasp game development. I think that failure is a result of my stupidly optimistic release estimates. A year for chapter 1 is not "way too long." Compare it to other games on the market.

1. Malise and the Machine: Announced Fall 2014, on release 0.03 with gameplay far shorter than chapter 1 will have.
2. Princess Trainer: Gold: Announced Decemeber 2014. An update to an existing game. No release in sight.
3. Breeding Season: In development for years, no idea what current goals are.
4. Roundscape Advoria: Also in development for years.
5. Future Fragments: Announced February 2015. Current release 1 level and 1 demo level.
6. Last Sovereign: Announced early 2015? (unsure on this one). In development for around a year. Text-only and offers about 10 hours of gameplay (according to author)

Those are some of the bigger projects I know about, and they are all developing at a similar or slower pace. A game with a team of people, Shovel Knight, took years to development working full time. Aylia's Story is on pace to be finished within two, maybe three years, which is not "way too long" for a game of this scope.

I'll also add that I am VERY thankful for the fan support I've received. I have not collected a dollar in regards to the game, and will not until I've released a product I am satisfied with. That is why people are sticking with me, is because I am treating them fairly. I'm not taking pledges monthly and dragging my feet. I'm being upfront about it all.

Dont try to make everything perfect, because you can't. You won't fulfill everyones hopes and certainly not hit everyones taste. When you set yourself standards that high, your ambition should not allow missing so many "release dates". That being said, I dont mind waiting, but hearing about release dates and then get to hear "I lack motivation" is kinda disheartening and if I would not be waiting for more than a year for chapter 1 I'd be gone a long time ago.
When you're working on the same project for a very long time ( like you are currently), you are going to lose your motivation no matter what. Sure you got many things to do lately, but even if you had not - you would you put the same amount of time in.

Your second major point on "perfection" is noted, but flawed. Believe me, I'm not aiming for a "perfect" game. I am aiming for a game that fits within my vision. That requires more detail than most games I've played, but it is far from perfect. Heck, the RPG Maker foundation ensures that it will not be "perfect." I chose a specific release format (to do so by chapters), knowing that each chapter would be a good chunk of gameplay. I could have taken a Noxian Nights, or Last Sovereign approach and release smaller updates more frequently--which there is NOTHING wrong with. I didn't, because I like the idea of releasing fewer, larger updates. I didn't want to run a monthly campaign and be beholden to release dates (which I mistakenly set anyways). Chapter 1 of Aylia's Story features a lot of content. It boasts around 30 custom scripts, makes a load of changes, has tons of dialogue, it is what I have wanted it to be. It is also truly equal to many final games on DLSite, and those games took developer circles about a year to complete. As such, I get frustrated when I'm not done, but I don't believe the progress is necessarily problematic. What is problematic is my failed promises to release it (which I apologize for).

I appreciate the feedback, and am not saying all this to attack you or out of anger. Instead, I just need to reshape expectations a bit, because I unfortunately mislead people early in the process with those stupid release estimates. I don't see Aylia's Story as being "unattainable," "perfect," "too big," etc. I know I can complete the vision I have set on paper, because I have designed it in a way that is realistically doable. The "lack of motivation" I am talking about is nothing new. I've been working on this for over a year, with the same schedule (or similar) and have experience the same fatigue frequently. I love to play computer games, meaning, many of my nights, I play instead of "work" on my hobby.

Thanks! I really do hope I see you at the finish line, and I hope you ultimately enjoy the game. If not, you can tell me you "told me so!"