June 18 Update: ART!
Added 2016-06-18 12:27:59 +0000 UTCEarly update because art things are afoot. Check out the potential first CG above or in the attachment!
First, to catch up anyone who missed the previous updates : after much talk of different artists, we selected a potential artist for TLS. He goes by Nesoun and you can see his work here:
http://www.hentai-foundry.com/pictures/user/nesoun
Now the first image is done and we need to make serious decisions. I don't want to rush into anything, especially in my current state (more on that at the end, this doubles as the week's update).
Please, look at the image and give me your first impressions before reading the rest of this post! This is the raw version of the first succubus scene in the prologue. Do say how you feel about the overall shading/coloring; the artist is flexible in this regard but we need to specify (for example, with a link from his prior work).
Now, once you've done that, I'm going to talk about some reservations:
1) Nesoun is the least communicative artist I've worked with. That isn't inherently bad, and I think it's at least partially because of the language barrier. But it does make things harder - for example, he jumped from early sketches to the finished product without ever asking about resolution or giving me a chance to say. I'm not sure how that image will fit into the tiny RPG Maker window.
2) I did tell him plenty about the composition of the scene, though, so if you don't like that aspect, that's on me. I wanted the prologue scenes to all be POV, for example.
3) Do you guys think this would be disappointing as the sole CG for that scene? The problem is that commissioning major variants for each scene would get ridiculously expensive very quickly, but I feel like the blowjob should actually be shown, and this image doesn't allow it to be added easily unless we do a floating dick.
4) Another potential problem is that, for a long ongoing project like this, Nesoun isn't willing to keep all the images private (I can't even pay his double fees). That would mean that for every image in the game, there would be a far higher resolution version available online on his profile. Though I don't like that idea, I'm not sure if it matters, since I really doubt many people are playing TLS for the sex images.
Yeah, those are my thoughts right now. Please do post yours.
Though I'd want to run this past you guys regardless, I thought it was especially important to do it this time. I am in a bad place right now and not feeling objective about anything, but I cannot afford to set everything aside and recover, or put off this decision until I feel dispassionate.
One of the difficulties of solo creative careers is that you have to wear all the hats and there's no redundancy. In a normal job, you have coworkers who cover some aspects of the work, like PR or logistics. They can also pick up the slack if you get sick, need to take a personal day, etc.
But it doesn't work that way for this job. I'm afraid I can't tell you that I got a lot of work done on the TLS 0.19.0 this week. All I can promise you is that I worked hard all week on the things that need to happen for TLS to continue in the long term.
Comments
The art is very nice. I would very much like some art to go with the text.
Robert McClenahan
2016-06-27 03:14:14 +0000 UTCYou can use it without worry, yeah. Most of the fixes will just have no effect at all if your save is already fixed.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-24 13:21:26 +0000 UTCI agree with this wholeheartedly. I would like to see art. Art is nice. But I prefer the story of this game waaay more. If getting art is a huge problem I would rather just see the game finished. I am also of the mind that the main focus should be on completing the games story. Artwork can always be "filled in later".
CrazyChameleon
2016-06-22 23:14:06 +0000 UTCThanks... I did play both 18.0 and 18.1 but I can't remember if my saves at 18.2 were brought on from one of those or from 17.3... hope there is no problem to trigger it even if all of the battle saves are from 18.2?
Ripe
2016-06-22 16:08:50 +0000 UTCIf you played 0.18.1, there are some minor bugs and a few disadvantages compared to playing 0.18.2. If you talk to the save fixer, it fixes the bugs and changes the variables to match the new version.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-22 10:26:14 +0000 UTCWell couldn't have put it better myself if I tried.
Thomas Ogf
2016-06-22 08:48:27 +0000 UTCI've taken a little time to organise my thoughts, and haven't read the other comments yet - apologies if I'm echoing points made elsewhere. The art does three things I think that art for this game will need to do: (1) Not diverge in style too much from the sprites and illustrations that are used for most of the game; (2) provide a decent visual stimulus and (3) match the sex scene adequately (by which I mean that the same image may get used for multiple scenes but I don't think we should be showing a blowjob image for an anal scene or vice versa). I don't think it's a problem if the art is shown elsewhere as the appeal of the game is in the writing not the art - it might even attract a few new players! However, I'm worried that getting art for the game at this stage - with so many sex scenes already constructed - risks diverting resources (time, money and your effort) away from the actual game itself. I'd rather see the game completed without art, and then a "special edition" with limited artwork released later, than risk the game collapsing from an inability to get the art resources. Art is a nice-to-have, but not an essential part. The appeal of the game is in the story you tell and the world you have built. Oh, and a thought - maybe add an "images disabled" mode for the game if the art gets mixed feedback? That way anyone for whom the art detracts from their enjoyment would be able to ignore it.
Hollow49
2016-06-22 02:17:25 +0000 UTCThere was something about 18.2 I've been meaning to ask but kept forgetting about: in the Waiting Room there is a "save fixer" for versions 18.1 and below. What does that mean and what is changed by it?
Ripe
2016-06-22 01:17:27 +0000 UTCI'm new to TLS but yeah I don't think the quality matches. And I think CG need to depict the actual act involved. If you are reading about someone getting a great blowjob it's a bit off putting to have a picture of a guy waving his dick at a woman who frankly looks more amused than anything else XD. Though that does fit the scene. A definite thumbs down for me. And your difficulty with the artist is the cherry on top. Honestly I think that the best approach would be to depict the act and then simply hide the image for any part of the scene that it doesn't apply. I appreciate that since you are testing artists you are starting with the prologue. But personally I hope you will focus on the Harem members once you have a stable artist. That's the action we all wanna see I think XD.
CrazyChameleon
2016-06-20 18:47:52 +0000 UTCI have to second LunaMeow's opinion here, as they said anyone can draw what you need, but the overall meh quality of the art (If I remember in your update on the art you did consider having intentionally poorer quality art for the Chosen scenes in mockery of them in the prologue, so maybe this art is acceptable for the prologue only) But anyway the lack of communication is very concerning, especially for the long reaching goals you have in mind. I for one would also strongly advise you to consider other possible options if they are available.
Argo The Ratfolk
2016-06-20 13:57:15 +0000 UTCI'm in agreement that this picture is lackluster. As I said before, anyone can draw boobs or a cock. Faces though, like with women, are the key to a beautiful scene. Just as a "butterface" in real life will never be beautiful, a picture where everything except the face looks good will also never be beautiful. And frankly, I'm not really impressed with his breasts or cock either. Communication not going well is a bad sign. No matter how good the artist (and this one is only mediocre) if they can't communicate then you're in for a bad time. And that's with short projects, let alone long ones like TLS. Lastly, you have another problem. The faces of TLS are awesome, and more to the point, they are how we identify these characters. The artist doing the scenes will need to at least get close to mimicking their faces for the scenes to feel like the people in them are the ones we've played with the entire game. That's the problem with making a game that is more about the gameplay than the sex. You've attracted people who expect the art to equal the quality of the game, not people who are just going through the motions of the game to get to the porn. You'll have a hell of a time satisfying us on this aspect Sierra.
Secular Reason
2016-06-20 10:48:23 +0000 UTCWhy would she hold off on artwork when it will take ages to do all the artwork in the first place?
Zyrus
2016-06-20 05:21:29 +0000 UTCSo, I just realized that Yarra has elf like ears in the picture at the top of this page. Which confirms pointy earness is normal. Either way, the lips are horrible and the ears look too small.
Zyrus
2016-06-19 19:53:43 +0000 UTCThe picture is only okay. I'm not sure these pictures are worth the time or money.
Bad Luck
2016-06-19 15:36:44 +0000 UTCHmm.. My input is to hold off on artwork. I definitely suggested that it would be a great feature for the game to show behind the text during graphic scenes but the game doesn't need it right now. I also didn't realize the costs. I'm no game developer. I'm just here to support you. I recommend just going as far as you can with the game as it is now. It's a great fucking game. You can always polish it up later provided you make notes on where you want to go back and add these images. I know personally I often feel like "It's too late now" when I realize I didn't keep notes of where I wanted to go back to something.
Oleem
2016-06-19 11:10:09 +0000 UTCI'd be very careful about point #4. Unless you contract otherwise, the artist owns the copyright to the art they produce. You should be very clear that this is a work for hire in a written agreement. Under the copyright statute (17 USCA s 101): A “work made for hire” is ... a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work ... or other audiovisual work ... if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be considered a work made for hire. (See here for a little more: <a href="http://web.law.columbia.edu/keep-your-copyrights/copyrights/works-made-hire)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://web.law.columbia.edu/keep-your-copyrights/copyrights/works-made-hire)</a>
IgnatzEsq
2016-06-19 04:36:43 +0000 UTCFirst impression:...too pastel. The succubus herself is fine, but the style of the art clashes with the scene in my mind. If the pic was more in the style of this <a href="http://www.hentai-foundry.com/pictures/user/nesoun/416662/Warwick-spanking-Soraka" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.hentai-foundry.com/pictures/user/nesoun/416662/Warwick-spanking-Soraka</a> in terms of shading and so on, it'd probably be better. 1) I'm with the previous stated concern with the communication problems, an artist that doesn't keep commissioner's up to date is one that really isn't trying to work with them or actually make what the investor desires. For him to jump that far without even trying to verify things with you is worrying. If you continued working with him I would make it a requirement for better feedback channels in regards to the art or more detailed check ins from the sketch to finish. 2) As for it being POV style, eh, fits with the "PSYCHE!" style of the prologue and it does fit with the mental image of the bj in question. Keeps the "Chosen" as a faceless goomba, which is appropriate for the fact that they all seem like carbon copies of each other. 3) As for this being the only CG for the scene, I don't mind it but I can also see how it being only a picture of the lead up would seem off. ..I think it being the actual blowjob would probably be better. 4) I agree that most people interested in the game at this point wouldn't be in it for the smexy drawings, but on the other hand I can see how being told you have no say over whether or not the pictures you commission are private is irksome. The thing I honestly find more "slap in the face" is that his profile will be getting better pics than you the commissioner. But I can appreciate that budgets have limits and better to have solid CG if there are going to be those at all. I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going well for you and that it's all piling on, I hope that it gets better for you and that you don't get burned out or even more worn down. Take care and good luck.
Argenten
2016-06-19 04:07:29 +0000 UTCfirst impression: I liek it, but isn't the succubutt's hair supposed to be green? Also her lips look a little flat shading-wise, so that might be worth a little attention. Not sure the random dick really adds anything if it's not going to be doing anything, and it's definitely coming from the wrong angle relative to the PoV. On further reflection: I think the chin is a little inhumanly sharp, and that might be part of what's bothering people. 1) Anything can be scaled down, so one only need check that it scales down well, but it's a little concerning that he gave you something that's the wrong aspect ratio for the RMVXA window. I mean, surely you specified that? In this case I don't think it does much harm for the wings to get cut off, but if it keeps happening... Regardless, I find it's difficult to overstate the importance of communication for projects in general. I'd be worried. I don't know if I'd want to be worrying about this kind of thing for the many months until the project is finished. But that's me; you've got to decide how big a concern it is for your sanity and your workflow. 3) I'm afraid so. And if you're going to splurge anywhere, the prologue seems a good place to do it. 4) Don't really know about the marketing strategy angle, but if I do happen to really like a particular CG I think it will be nice to know there's a higher res version I can get. Perhaps he'd be willing to keep them private for a week more-or-less alongside the usual public release timing? You're really only charging people for early access to content in the first place; past that time, it might actually be very good to have those other pics out there, kind of advertising for the project. Hope you feel better!
Decanter
2016-06-19 03:33:21 +0000 UTCMeh, I slowed down and read the post a second time, okay, intro succubus, got it but I still stand by my first post! :)
Darthjake
2016-06-19 03:17:44 +0000 UTCBlast it, I did shift+enter to try and put some spaces in there!
Darthjake
2016-06-19 03:11:05 +0000 UTCThe quality of the picure is okay, but this appears to be a random succubus, I'd be way more picky for Qum, Yarra, or enen Nalili. For your own sanity, I'd look for an artist that you feel comfortable communicating with as TLS is *your* baby that you are sharing with us. I'm not playing for the images for certain, but I'm not sure I'd like to know that he might be charging for images for the free game. Good luck with this!
Darthjake
2016-06-19 03:10:19 +0000 UTCAre succubi supposed to look like humans, or elf hybrids of humans? Those ears are too pointed, and those lips look like a blob. Her expression gives the impression of anxiety, not anticipation. If this was considered the finished product by the artist, I'd have fired them already. The fact that they didn't even bother to consult with you throughout the process is a major red flag of entitlement complex. You are *not* working for them, they work for *you*. Artist needs to shape the fuck up or you need a new artist. The rest I have no comment for.
Zyrus
2016-06-19 03:09:25 +0000 UTC(Shift + enter) create line breaks
Edward Culham
2016-06-19 02:37:08 +0000 UTCOkay, responses coming in pretty thick here and I feel like I'll start repeating myself if I respond to all of them. Rest assured that I do read and appreciate them all, and I welcome more opinions to help me get a better perspective on my own. Thank you all for the encouragement, too!
Sierra Lee
2016-06-19 01:52:34 +0000 UTCAnd last (but not least), I'm going to echo everyone here and implore you not to work too hard. Even if you enjoy your work, there is a point where enjoyable work is still just work, and you wind up suffering (along with your work, but that's not as important.) I've found that self-imposed deadlines are kinda useful as a motivational tool, but they need to be both realistic and (very) flexible, at least for me. [4/4]
SJ99998
2016-06-19 00:46:39 +0000 UTCSeeing as this is an already outstanding game without art, I think you can get by with 1 CG per scene. Frankly, you only need some token pieces of art to get the attention of the crowd that avoids text-only games; the writing is what keeps them here. Maybe 2 or 3 CGs for selected scenes? [3/4]
SJ99998
2016-06-19 00:46:22 +0000 UTCAdditionally, the lack of communication is a bit worrying. And the artist's refusal to keep the images private is... frustrating. From an objective point of view, there should be no issue with that, since you wind up generating extra publicity from those images, and since there is no way of putting those higher-def images in the game anyways. But I would feel rather miffed that a person who I am employing is dictating what should be done with the work I commission, rather than the other way around. It's the principle of the thing, I guess. [2/4]
SJ99998
2016-06-19 00:46:05 +0000 UTCNesoun seems like an okay choice stylistically, but the communication problems sound like a recipe for disaster. Unless there's a VERY strong reason to go with him (incomparably better prices than comparably skilled alternatives, for example), I'd definitely be taking a hard look at other options. My only other thought on the matter pertains to the POV thing. Please, PLEASE re-think this... personally, I absolutely hate the switch from second- to third-person narrative after the prologue; it created an intense feeling of disconnect from the *actual* protagonist that it took me forever to get past, which strikes me as a very bad thing for almost ANY game, but particularly an RPG. First-person CGs in the prologue and third-person later would only compound the problem. (It's a testament to the game's overall quality that my one real frustration with it is a matter of personal preference rather than a more objective design flaw. Nevertheless, there it is.)
JK
2016-06-19 00:45:34 +0000 UTCMy personal feelings about the art is that while it's not bad, it's not great, either. But art, in my opinion, should support the writing, not the other way around. And personally, I feel that your quality of writing is such that it winds up supporting the art in this case. (It's a wonderful problem to have!) [1/4, I can't figure out line breaks in Patreon comments]
SJ99998
2016-06-19 00:41:24 +0000 UTCTo answer your first question, I'm not much of an art person. I, mostly, think it's fine. The shading on the hair, along with the horns, give me a bit of a cowgirl vibe, which I don't think is the intent, but that's really my only observation. I'd be fine with no art, but I do understand that there are many, many fans for whom art is a primary requirement, so I do understand your wish to have it incorporated into the game as quickly as possible. So, to sum up, it's fine. I could take it or leave it. As a final note, though, it's certainly better than anything I could accomplish. As or the rest, if you are going to be working with this artist, it's going to be for quite a while. You probably don't want a long-term relationship with someone who you don't gel with well professionally. You mention that you have other things going on and can't be impartial at the moment, but you do need to figure out if your frustration with Nesoun is caused by Nesoun or by these other factors. If you actually have a problem with Nesoun, then it is probably better to find a different artist. I wouldn't mind if this was the only GC of the scene. I don't understand why you'd have a problem with Nesoun posting the images elsewhere. It might serve as good advertising for the game. While I understand that developers don't like rips from their games because they feel people will just look at the images instead of buying their product, you're not charging for your game. I would imagine the people only interested in staring at the pixelated porn probably wouldn't bother playing in the first place, and you probably wouldn't want them to because they wouldn't appreciate your craft. All that being said, it doesn't matter what I think. YOU'RE the one paying for it. It's basic work for hire. You have commissioned the art, and it is YOURS to decide what to do with it. It's pretty fucked up that Nesoun expects to be paid double to follow what is basically the standard. Take as much time as you need to recover. You may not want to take another month off, but perhaps you could do a light month. You could recheck things, look into potential bugs, that sort of thing. I can't speak for everyone, but I'd be fine with a delay of the next version or a minimal update. I guess that's my opinion. I don't know if it's actually clear. I can't tell you what to do, and I'm not sure what you should do, but my initial inclination is to recommend that you find a new artist.
Curtis S.
2016-06-19 00:31:51 +0000 UTCI actually thought about what TLS would be like with images for the sex scenes way back when I first happened upon it and found myself kind of torn. My gut feeling was that they would have to be well done to ADD to the game rather than possibly detract from it (note: that does not mean perfect art, its more about the mood and feeling the image conveys). I attribute this to your fantastic writing, you really have a talent for setting the mood and pacing from one moment to another. I think I like the image overall. As others have mentioned, there is something about the face that feels a little "off". I'm not entirely convinced that it's good enough for TLS, but I do have the advantage of being a fan and hoping for the very best. I understand that this decision is MUCH more difficult for you and a great deal more complicated as well. These are just my personal thoughts and I hope that maybe they can help you sort out what you feel about all this a little bit. I would like to comment on what I sense coming from your post as well. It sounds like you're ambivalent about this. And I think you have good reasons to be. Communication is *SO* important to success in nearly any multi-person project. A lack of communication in this case feels like a setup for inevitable problems later. I feel like if you've noticed this already, something, somewhere down the line will cause problems. I like the idea about this scene being POV in order to contrast the intro (Chosen led) compared to the rest of the game. It's smart and subtly done while still having a nice impact on the setting. Also, single image per scene depends on the scene, but for this one, it works well in my opinion. I worry about other, more elaborate scenes feeling a bit lacking with only a single image to go with them, which would either mean the scene feeling like it could have been better or having to commission more images (which means time AND money). The concerns about the images being found on the artist's HF account I think could be a bit of a positive. More exposure can only be good for TLS and these images might catch a few more fans, which is always a good thing. Ultimately, it comes down to how comfortable YOU are with this arrangement though. Being in your position is something I don't envy, I can totally understand how many things can all create pressure and, consequently, lots of stress. I think my grand piece of advice is don't doubt your gut. If this doesn't FEEL right, then maybe it isnt. Again, easier for me to say, but there it is. Take care of yourself (ya, I know I'm the 100th person to say that here, haha). You've got lots of fans that love TLS and without you, we wouldn't get any more of this wonderful game/story you've started. If things take a little longer than expected? That's okay with me. Take enough time to do it right, and we'll be here, waiting with anticipation. (Sorry for the giant wall of text :P )
METD
2016-06-18 23:55:16 +0000 UTC1) I do not like this image. Really do not like her face. There are better pictures in linked gallery but i still do not like there faces. 2) It is not disappointing for me to have one image for the scene. Surely it is nice to have more images but not a big deal. 3) It is absolutely not a problem for me that images are not private. If they are good, fans will extract them anyway. And what can be bad in ability to view higher resolution version later? Also, it is probably good for artists, which makes finding good artists/managing their prices easier for you? I see no drawbacks. 4) Overall i am a little afraid of idea to add images to TLS. It will surely be great to have hot as hell images like in Noxian Nights, but TLS has so much characters and scenes, i am not sure, how it can work. Also, if art is not very good (which is of course very subjective) it is better without it. 5) Please, take care of yourself. From my perspective, you should not feel obligated to follow some kind of schedule. If stuff happens and things need to be delayed for days or weeks, that’s just how life is.
ZDreamer
2016-06-18 20:48:31 +0000 UTCFirst impression of the art... she looks weird. Not sure if it's her expression or what but it does ruin the whole image. Second impression: after reading entire post that artist seem like more trouble then he's worth. The fact that he delivered that first piece without consulting with you at all is really a bad sign. Especially considering you need to pay him... so honestly, I think you can find a better way to spend your money than on this particular artist. The fact that he refuse to keep art private is another issue... you buy the art specifically for your game so him NOT POSTING it elsewhere without your permission should go without saying (and you should definitely not need to pay extra for that). If he act this way and is this uncooperative before you started working together I don't even want to consider how he'll act down the road when you start "depending" on his services. Finally, I don't think this game need art. As much as I liked Noxian Nights, most of the time I found art distracting and keeping me from fully enjoying the story. So I guess I can say that I hope you never include art in TLS since TLS is near perfect the way it is now. I (and I suspect many others) play this game for excellent story and character development and while sex scenes are nice bonus they are not the main reason why I play TLS.
Ripe
2016-06-18 20:27:35 +0000 UTCI also don't think it would be bad to have this as the only image for that scene, meaning not every scene has to have a sex CG. I also don't see the issue with the images not being exclusive for the game. But I dunno, I feel like it would look way better without that dick there, like what point of view is this? It's most definitely not first person. Other than that, it's a nice looking succubus overall but the hair could use a lot more detail. My biggest problem with all this though is, that she doesn't look like she belongs in the game. She looks far too different from Yarra or Qum in a way that I'm not really OK with. I don't think this artist is the right one for this. But that's just me.
Jacob N.
2016-06-18 18:18:19 +0000 UTCFirst Impression: I don't know what but something about the face here is really off in a way that kind of ruins the whole thing. Thoughts after reading the whole article: The rest seems ok, but Nesoun sounds like he's unnecessarily difficult to work with. Also I agree with Smiling_Jack about the body types. Honestly about that being the only picture for that scene, one seems more than I ever expected for most scenes. I won't lie that it would be great if each scene had enough pics to fully articulate every action, but I personally like the way you write scenes and have a very good mental image of what's going on without them.
Troqu
2016-06-18 18:14:19 +0000 UTCSee notes below about pre-sex CGs not being my intent, sorry to give the wrong impression. As for repetitive body type, it's something I dislike as well. I thought it was something that could be overcome with enough direction on my part - I feel like I've done a decent job working with Santy, who typically has one body type but has branched out somewhat for the Ouroboros CGs. Seeing the image you linked again, though... yeah, that does seem to be an extreme case. I remain in my position of neutrality regarding this decision in general, but I appreciate everyone who shares their perspective.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 18:03:31 +0000 UTC2) To clarify, in my plans only the prologue scenes would be POV - another way to create a substantial break in between the Chosen-led sections and the main game. Thanks for the kind words.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 17:59:15 +0000 UTC0) Interesting. This didn't hit my uncanny valley, but I'll take your reaction into account. 3) To be clear, I would never consider having only or even mostly pre-sex CGs. Seeing the characters together is a big part of what works for me.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 17:57:40 +0000 UTCCome to think of it, I also have some stories of my own experiences with game design involving non-communicative artists. The artist for a team I was leading had a very bad habit of re-drawing or changing things into different dimensions without telling us. Which led to some seriously weird graphics bugs, since we had set some equations based on one drawings dimensions only for them to be changed. He was a good artist, but I'm not sure it was worth it for the hit to my group's grade and rep when our robot with a kind of grapple hook arm suddenly had it replaced with what was dubbed the "Crotch Rocket".
Smiling_Jack
2016-06-18 17:08:21 +0000 UTCI would agree with some of the other commentors that we probably don't need pre-sex CGI's, unless it's something significant to the story (like maybe CGI's of the elf and bomber girl just before Simon decides their fate. Also, while the art isn't bad, it's a pretty far departure from the aesthetic that most of us are probably used to. One thing I noticed after going to look at Nesoun's gallery, is that they seem to suffer from something that I'm not a fan of in artists; singular body type art. What I mean is that, most if not all of his drawings involve women who have, besides identifying traits like bunny ears and stuff, almost identical body types. His drawings look more like face-swaps than different drawings. I don't know about others, but it gets old for me when there's content with multiple women, but they all have the exact same body with just different faces. That's all I have to say about it, I also kept a link of an image to illustrate my point about the body types for those interested. <a href="http://www.hentai-foundry.com/pictures/user/nesoun/344435/Party-2-FF-colored" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.hentai-foundry.com/pictures/user/nesoun/344435/Party-2-FF-colored</a>
Smiling_Jack
2016-06-18 17:01:49 +0000 UTC1) do like the art, does give a better impression of what the girls look like over all and would like to see them for the main characters. 2) Thinking POV is not the way to go for the art, just does not look right and would be better in a third person imagery. 3) Looking over his art, got to say am impressed. I do agree with a comment earlier that hiring some others to write erotic scenes would be nice. Seems to so much the same, though truthfully played through the game quite a few times now. 4) I wouldn't do that many pictures per scene maybe 1 or 2 max 3 with those really long scenes. 5) Do hope you start feeling better am looking forward to playing after the invasion and setting things up to face against the Incubus King now that he knows where you are. Hope there is revelation with that, likely with Isis telling him Yillian had just been conquered by you, the "Doom Lord". Anyway thanks for all your hard work and providing an extremely entertaining game.
Edward Culham
2016-06-18 16:45:38 +0000 UTC0) The art is fine, though the I don't like the face at all - it's quite uncanny. 1) That's no good at all, if you're hiring an artist to work for you, he should be able to actually work /with/ you. 2) That's fine, there's nothing wrong with the picture. Though, it's not very flexible, it would be useful to have pictures where you can make quick variants for things like Pre-Sex, Sex, Cumshot, Post-Sex by simply moving the penis around a little bit, adding various bodily fluids etc. You know, the way visual novels often do it. 3) Yes, a little bit. I don't have any issue with having NO CGI in the game, but to A LITTLE bit of CGI, but it not getting to the good bits can be disappointing. It's like a big tease. I think it's totally fine for this scene though, but I don't think you want to do this kind of before-sex-begins style every time. 4) It's understandable that the artist doesn't want his work to be kept hidden, but he should also understand what he's being paid for. I don't think there's any issue with the art of TLS or your other games being available to view outside of the game though, I don't think there's much reason to keep things secret. This combined with being a poor communicator though make it seem like working with Nesoun is perhaps not the best idea.
Dopelives
2016-06-18 16:32:49 +0000 UTCMy biggest problem is the face, it looks uncanny to me. There's nothing wrong with the shading and so on, and thankfully the anatomy in the picture is correct.
Dopelives
2016-06-18 16:27:17 +0000 UTCMy biggest problem is the face, it looks uncanny to me. There's nothing wrong with the shading and so on, and thankfully the anatomy in the picture is correct.
Dopelives
2016-06-18 16:27:17 +0000 UTC0) Yeah, that's what I was going for! 3) Hmm, that's an interesting perspective on CGs. I guess I don't operate visually in the same way, so I hadn't considered it that way. 4) I know ripping is inevitable, but my concern was that these images would actually be larger/better than what someone would get from the game files. Having said that, the CGs aren't a backer reward or anything, so as you said, the PR angle might be the most important part. 5) ^-^
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 16:11:45 +0000 UTCFor the record, only the prologue's scenes would be fully POV. As for a hypothetical poll, as I explained in more detail in my TitanPortal response, my biggest concern is those who wouldn't see the poll at all. Anyway, thanks for the kind words!
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 16:08:22 +0000 UTCThanks! I'll also be taking all the rest into account, good to have more people's opinions.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 16:06:11 +0000 UTCThanks, I'll be taking everyone's opinions into account as I try to make a decision.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 16:05:53 +0000 UTCStaying the course sans art is definitely an option, and you're not alone in advising it, but there's also a pretty large group of people who will never even consider playing TLS because it lacks art. Just trying to explain my thinking here, not arguing with your feedback - I appreciate it! Regarding the writing, I've often considered that I am probably nearing my limit for properly differentiating all the different sex scenes. Starting a project with such a large number may have been a mistake. Having said that, hiring someone else to write scenes is one option I categorically won't consider. I don't want to delegate away one of my favorite parts of the process and it would save very little time/energy. As for her expression, this is art for the first scene with the Chosen in the prologue, after the Chosen defeats her and starts being an idiot.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 16:04:32 +0000 UTCThanks for the feedback! As for art styles in general, while I like the aesthetic of the game's general art, it was to a degree chosen because it was what I could do consistently. Given the massive investment of money that full art would involve, I'd like to aim for a somewhat more detailed style. Having said that, I'd still be happy to look at any artists who can nail the clean style of the game.
Sierra Lee
2016-06-18 15:55:33 +0000 UTC0) I like the art. Her facial expression does a good job of capturing "defeated, but faintly amused by this development". 1) Communication IS a concern and that does make me worried. Whether you can work well with him is important, and ultimately that's something you will have to decide. 2) If you don't have the software to change the image's resolution, I'm sure you can just ask for a different resolution copy. And given that he's followed your instructions for composition, I'd guess that specifying a desired resolution and dimensions shouldn't be a problem in the future. 3) I'm happy without any CGs, so maybe I'm not the right person to ask. The addition of CGs can serve to help the player set the scene in their head, so you just need to prime their imagination—animating the whole thing isn't necessary. 4)People on Hentai-Foundry are more likely to discover and become interested in The Last Sovereign if the images are public. Any image is 50x sexier if you know the story behind it. So I wouldn't worry about it. Most H-games have had their images ripped and put on the web and people play them nonetheless. 5) Take care of yourself, Sierra. Your fans with you all the best.
Dream Fractal
2016-06-18 14:05:11 +0000 UTCHmm I also think the dick looks weird at the angle it is drawn, like mark said it is trying but failing, I do like the idea of the images being POV but there is problems if this artist 1 not very communicative and 2 jumps from sketches to finally product without telling you since you are the one who commissioned it. I think having CGs would be a bonus to the game and having just a single cg for a scene works for me. I do agree with what titan is saying about her face where her expression is confusing, anyway I play your game since it has a very well thought plot engaging and interesting in development, along with the adult themes of sex and a relationship built of the things you do and the trust you gain. I feel you should just focus on making the game for now and add CGs toward the end of the production of this game where maybe find the artist you would fit the role of making CGs for the game or maybe just do a poll and see how many people actually want the CGs in the game or not. Anyway this is my input, Love the game, keep up the good work, I am sorry to hear you are in a bad place right now and know you are going to keep working but please try to keep yourself well. Hopefully have a good day!
Bladestorm
2016-06-18 13:24:58 +0000 UTCI like the image. As for resolution tell him this once it doesn't fluctuate in the entire game. So once he knows that it should no longer be a problem. If you decide to ad art, I'd rather have 1 good piece (like this) then several of mediocre quality, so for me this being the only image in that scene would be fine. Point 4 is I think no problem at all. As long as you have his permission (since you commission them that's a given) in using his art in your game. I think it can work great for both of you, he gets exposure to a different audience, and people who follow him might be interested in finding out more about your game. I hope you get out of that bad spot you're in, you deserve better. Perhaps I should put that in perspective I think you write an intelligent and amusing game. Doing one of those is difficult managing both is special. Thumbs up from me you do good work, keep it up.
A1llas
2016-06-18 13:18:25 +0000 UTCI have no strong feelings about the art one way or another. Good art would be a plus, obviously. Aside from that, the current picture seems fine. Although her face does look a little odd. If you're having communication problems though, that might be a warning sign.
iamnuff
2016-06-18 13:13:29 +0000 UTCArt is pretty subjective. There are some artists that seem to be able to transcend this limitation, but they are the absolute top of their field. Honestly, one of the reasons I've enjoyed TLS so much is that it doesn't have bad art getting in the way. The art is the thing I like least about Noxian Nights. Speaking for myself, I'd prefer that you use the time and money to continue the way you've been going. TLS is the best adult game I've played because the plot is engaging and intelligent, and it combines sex with a positive relationship with the girls. If anything, the erotic writing is very good but can start to sound the same due to one person writing it all. I'd suggest maybe getting another writer for that rather than working in art that one in three players (or whatever the number would be) will enjoy. In regards to the actual picture, I'd say that the quality is average. Her expression is confusing, like someone trying to Stepford Wife smile their way through an awkward and embarrassing situation.
TitanPortal
2016-06-18 12:43:23 +0000 UTCThe floating dick is a bit weird, like it is trying to be POV and failing, leaving only the negative parts. The art is good, but feels too different from the other art in the game I think. I'd prefer simple clean shading and brighter colours to the painterly style in this case.
Ezzie
2016-06-18 12:37:54 +0000 UTC
