Devlog: Renaming Routes
Added 2025-02-26 19:10:03 +0000 UTCHello everyone!
Today, a small devlog to talk about a change coming with version 0.18: a renaming of the Tendency Routes.
The current names (Dominant & Submissive) were too closely linked to BDSM, and tended to give players expectations that were never part of the game. Most notably, Dominant & very Dominant players expected total control over Laura's actions, which is not something I ever planned for.
Starting with version 0.18, routes will be renamed as such:
Dominant -> Stag
Very Dominant -> Confident Stag
Balanced stays as-is
Submissive -> Cuck
Very Submissive -> Submissive Cuck
I know some people are wary of the term "cuck", but I felt it was the most appropriate. If you have a different idea, don't hesitate to suggest it in the comments.
I want to specify that this is mostly a superficial change. The game and the interactions will mostly stay the same that they were. But removing expectations that I would never have fulfilled should help me make dialogues more coherent.
See you on Tuesday!
Comments
Yeah. I know. And it sucks honestly. One reason that these fail so often is for that reason. They are targeted to the wrong people. The point and meaning gets completely lost. It becomes nothing more than humiliating and bringing down some loser guy that the reader has to watch do absolutely nothing all day long. That's the problem. NTR and NGR isn't about the guy (in this context). It's about the girl. The person being humiliated, degraded and corrupted is the person the NTR is happening to. The person being stolen. The focus isn't on the one not even involved at all. So what you get is a developer putting all focus on a guy going to work, going about his day and wasting the reader's time while off screen the real NTR is happening. But you don't see it. Unless your told about it or shown snippets of it. And while your sitting there getting your voyeur fix handled, that's all it is. Voyeurism. Meanwhile you are completely missing the entire path of your significant other being corrupted away from you. NGR is different. Something is missing from HER life. Usually something that's her husband's fault. Too much neglect and incompetence. And someone else convinces her that she can do better or experience better. And when she gets a taste of that better thing she wants more of it. SOMETIMES the husband offers her the chance to experience other things and she accepts (Netorase Phone). Willingly. NTR is not willing. It's non consensual corruption. It's literally like Bronys taking over MLP. And then telling me how wrong I am about a show made for me haha. Because they hijacked it and inserted their own kinks into it. Stag does this the best out of all of them. Well one of the best. In terms of "phone" games Netorase Phone IS the best of them all. You have to understand. When the MC re claims his girlfriend, in the case of my reading, reclaims me, he is taking back that corruption and in doing so setting his mastery and making my love for him stronger. In Japanese, if you want to get real, terms are "Master/servant" -sama, -dono. But as it's been said, this is western.
Rocket Girl
2025-03-05 00:51:18 +0000 UTCNo, the difference between culture and it's western appropriation. Ignorance is total bliss, huh. I don't have to "Google" it. That's the difference. This is my actual culture. I don't need to Google something Japanese. And if I do, it's IN Japanese. You don't find stag and cuckold everywhere. You people find terms that associate with your concept of those words and appropriate them without a full understanding of their meaning, origin or cultural significance. What Asians might mean by a word, is completely different than what some westerner might and vice versa. So yeah, language does matter. And without someone like me to set you all straight on these things something I enjoy continues to get bastardized. Google that word.
Rocket Girl
2025-03-05 00:35:03 +0000 UTCFair enough, but this is a western game made by a western dev that is borrowing the term netorase. Netorase and netorare are not the same thing here. I can't speak for what is made in japan, but this game and other games made by western devs in this genre are absolutely targeted towards men. I am glad you like it and you are welcome to play it, but you're wrong to say it's made for women only. In regards to the video calls, the dev is trying to portray a realistic game and make it seem like everything you are seeing is happening through your phone to immerse you in the game. It would be completely immersion breaking to say check out this video and to not have a video, and to say there's a phone call and then to read text also makes absolutely no sense and breaks immersion. These are simply bad suggestions and I tried to explain to you why that's the case and what the dev himself has said, but you seem to take that as a personal attack (I know mind blown). Glad you're enjoying the game.
Lesdothis
2025-03-04 22:22:39 +0000 UTCDifference between language and actual content. Names might be Japanese inspired but that doesn't mean it's that. Google it. You'll find stag and cuckold everywhere. Netorare and Netorase blended with cuckold and hotwifing stuff into this. So, thx for the language lessons, but that's not what this is about.
Turian
2025-03-04 21:43:54 +0000 UTC@Lesdothis: NTR (netorare) isn't a genre of video gaming. It's a Japanese "genre" of manga, books, videos, actual Japanese VNs and eroge. Mistranslated, misinterpreted and clearly badly appropriated by the west. It specifically falls under female fantasy (Shoujo), whereas harem VNs fall under male fantasy (Shonen). Shonen being boys, Shoujo being girls. I read a lot of shoujo VNs, manga, books and eroge. Obviously. I'm a girl. I like girl things. 99.9 percent of them being NTR and NGR. And yes, guys do write stuff for girls, I know. Mind blown. Video calls. I wasn't saying add voice or video. There is a moment where Nathan uses a text to voice app. Why? They could just call. All that text could have been them in real time speaking. The text doesn't always have to be text messages. The text can some time represent spoken word. I know, again, mind blown. The images he sees don't always have to be photo. But represent a series if video clips he's looking at. Start to finish.. you need what? There to five pics. Making it so no one has to stop to take a picture. I never said add video. I thought you guys would be smarter than that and get it. It's a phone. Meaning creativity is unlimited and yet you limit yourselves to just text messaging and and still photos. Is it a smart phone or a late 90s relic? As for the rest, I would think having a girl praise Netorase Phone as the best of these she's ever read and loves it to death and refers everyone to it might matter a bit more. I could be wrong. You say this isn't meant for me. I say I probably appreciate it more than all of you because it means a lot to me and I can relate to it. There is a mountain of trash out there. Netorase Phone is a pile of diamonds. It doesn't need changing. The titles are fine. I like a dominant man. If you like a caged dick good for you. You have that option. I want my netorase boyfriend to stay the dominant king he is. I want Nathan to stay the sweet guy he is and I like how he and my boyfriend get along. Yeah, that's right. I see the MCs my boyfriend and I want him sharing me. That's my fantasy. And in some ways my reality too hahaha
Rocket Girl
2025-03-04 09:32:24 +0000 UTCWTF are you talking about? Stag and Cuckold are NOT actual words in "netorare" and netorase IS netorare! THEY ARE THE SAME THING. And before anyone steps up and talks shit, I'm Japanese and know my own language and culture better than you haha In reality "Netorase Phone" is classified in Japan as Nagasare. "Going with the flow". Netoru = stealing someone's significant other. Doesn't matter if that significant other is a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. If one partner in a gay relationship is stolen from another it's netorare. If a son steals his mother form his father it's netorare. Because that person is being stolen from their significant other. No one is stealing the MC's girlfriend here. She's going with the flow of what he boyfriend wants. NGR. Going with the flow. Being an active participant. There are no roles other than willing and unwilling participant. Willing = NGR, not willing = NTR. Got it? Netorimashita... I stole your significant other. And your argument. hahaha Netorase Phone is a fine name, Stag. Don't change that either haha.
Rocket Girl
2025-03-04 00:46:41 +0000 UTC100% agree with this change
Jeremy
2025-02-28 18:47:05 +0000 UTCIt is absolutely wrong to assume that cucking involves cheating or lying.
Modsognir
2025-02-28 12:56:00 +0000 UTCHonestly, Stag, You're story is perfect the way it is. 100 percent. It's on my top five all time favorites. I constantly refer it to everyone. In all reality I would suggest you don't change a thing and just focus on writing the story as it is. Don't worry at all what others think you should do or add or change. And as a girl, I can honestly say these phone games always end up pissing me off. Netorare and Nagasare aren't meant to be for men. That's why these are always so bad. It's not about a man's point of view, but the women going through all this. I like that you try and show things from Laura's end as much as the MC and there needs to be more of that. This phone format is so limiting but the one thing you... Okay, one thing you should do or add... Because it's actually important. More important than a title. ALL of you tend to forget... It's a PHONE! Just CALL!!! You don't need silly apps to do "text to voice"! It's a PHONE! You can even video call! How about instead of worrying about tags and achievements, you start using VIDEO CALLS!
Rocket Girl
2025-02-28 07:44:39 +0000 UTCAnd stag and cuckold is the actual non BDSM title for the role of the male in a netorase/netorare/hotwifing relationships that has his wife/girlfriend fuck other men. Also i think the point of this name change is exactly to stop having people expect that the MC is in control of things. And that's why he especially wants to step away from Dominant name. MC Is never in control on any path. The difference is more that on the Stag path he's more encouraging and enabling (even organizing) her encounters, and on cuck path he's more along for the ride and enjoying passively (or on sub cuck humiliated about it). Also side note, don't forget, the people on the cuck path choose for humiliation of MC, so I don't think they mind being called a cuck?
Turian
2025-02-28 07:44:17 +0000 UTCBut being called a cuck or simp doesn't? Alpha/Beta is the actual way in a non BDSM context of defining a person who is in control and one who gives up that control to another. A beta isn't necessarily submissive but is most definitely subserviently. Personally I can't stand beta men *shrugs* But oddly they exist, en mass, in the world of AVNs.
Rocket Girl
2025-02-28 06:11:00 +0000 UTCStag is the appropriate term for a dude who lets their partner sleep with others but also sleeps with other people so kinda like an agreed open relationship whereas cuck is more of a man who lets their partner sleep with others while being faithful to them
Yutob Rinzing
2025-02-27 16:16:26 +0000 UTCGoing to be honest, I haven't played this for a long time so I A, don't have investment in this change and B, don't even remember there being routes to begin with lol. But you made this a public post so here's my 2 cents. Stag: I have absolutely no idea what this means. I'm guessing it's a reference to your name? Is this supposed to be the 'canon' route so it's named after yourself? Very confused by this one. Cuck: Implies a very specific relationship dynamic to me. It says that the female MC is going to be humiliating, lying to, and cheating on(without MC consent) the MC. Cuck is almost exclusively used to say that the MC is weak or inferior to other men, that he's not a 'real man' in some way. I had always thought the female MC was fairly nice to the MC in this game, even when she was teasing him, maybe that's changed now? I don't know/remember the routes well enough to say if 'cuck' fits the way that route plays out but it almost sounds to me like you traded out one misunderstanding term for another. But again, I haven't played in ages so I don't know if my opinion of means anything. This post has reminded me that I should probably play this again though! I remember liking this one.
Deathcat
2025-02-27 12:11:45 +0000 UTCyeah I don't think Alpha Beta would solve it. Same issue as with Dominants and Submissives there. And as Jake said, even cringier.
Turian
2025-02-27 07:14:57 +0000 UTCbuttstuff is untied from path. It's tied to surprises, not path.
Turian
2025-02-27 07:13:59 +0000 UTCAlpha/Beta always seems kinda cringy language imo Like as soon as its mentioned its a bit of a instant turn off for me, and i'm sure others as well
Jake Wedding
2025-02-27 05:23:53 +0000 UTCHey Le Stag. Is it feasible to rejig the previous update 16, so that buttstuff is untied from path? It could allow/force a supersub/subcuck to voluntarily give up anal ever, and allow different paths to let a bull take Laura's ass (forever or first), in the same way as raw sex can be given to them. As is, supersub has no choice, and others get nothing for foregoing anal until after Nathan. Additionally, I think many supersubs would like Laura's ass to be available to Oliver and others, if not them. "You like my ass? Its yours and my bulls, it will never be given to my boyfriend, you're the first real man, etc etc."
JackPot
2025-02-27 00:37:41 +0000 UTC"Alphas" lead and "betas" follow. If you wanted a more accurate description of the MC.
Rocket Girl
2025-02-27 00:16:41 +0000 UTCCalling it Sharing instead of balanced makes it more obvious.
HotRod1227
2025-02-26 23:15:00 +0000 UTCWhat about Simp (sub) and Cuck (very sub)?
Thanatos486
2025-02-26 22:48:59 +0000 UTCAgreed. Dominant didn't define who was dominant, now the terms stag/cuck help with the definition. I like the change.
EnjoyerOfAll
2025-02-26 22:10:39 +0000 UTCShouldn't balance be sharing route then?
Turian
2025-02-26 22:05:48 +0000 UTCI like the change, it was an excellent decision.
jose zamora
2025-02-26 21:48:16 +0000 UTCππ»ππ»ππ»
Matthew Roelofse
2025-02-26 21:38:19 +0000 UTCThere definitely is a negative connotation associated with the word, it's used interchangeably with loser, doormat, pussy, etc. in the modern lexicon. When it comes to VNs, I think the distrust of the word stems from the inadequate kink labelling systems that were available. There's a wide range of ways to "be a cuck" that different people are comfortable with. Eventually the term "cuck" became specifically associated with the submissive/beta types who often like activities (cum worship/denial/humiliation/etc.) that are repellant to most in the "Stag" group that's associated with the other side of the relationship hierarchy/control scale. I think the new labels work here, because they match the expectations that an average reader will have.
Adamska
2025-02-26 21:28:17 +0000 UTCThose descriptors definitely better align with the Netorase concept! 100% agree with the changes!
Eric V
2025-02-26 20:03:00 +0000 UTCCuck could be Sharing Route and submissive cuck can be full cuckold. Personally I would like a lesbian route and a cheating route instead of full cuckold. Sharing, Cheating, Lesbian, Male dominant and female dominant routes. Five games in one. LOL. But that would be a lot of work for any developer
HotRod1227
2025-02-26 19:55:24 +0000 UTCI have to say that I agree with you. The traditional definition of a cuckold (at least where my people come from) is a fella whose wife is playing away behind his back but that is not the ... fetish definition, if I can call it that.
DigitisEtLingua
2025-02-26 19:44:40 +0000 UTCFor me, it hasn't been a problem with the word cuck but more of the difference between unknowing or humiliation vs sharing or hotwifing. I think a lot of people still hold a strong negative connotation for "cuck" in general.
Qundus
2025-02-26 19:29:55 +0000 UTCA cuck is the opposite of a Stag so it fits well.
Blacky
2025-02-26 19:23:25 +0000 UTCRight?
Le Stag
2025-02-26 19:15:16 +0000 UTCNo one...
OneZero
2025-02-26 19:14:55 +0000 UTCWho's getting upset at the word cuck in a ntr game?
Coonway McFlannigan
2025-02-26 19:13:07 +0000 UTC
