I am very glad to have read the comments on this game, in my opinion the monetary practices of this developer are somewhat suspicious PS: I advise those who don't have money to look for other games, I'm sure there are better ones than this one.
Been playing this since 2022 if im not mistaken, cant wait for it to be release on steam. While you guys here, go try Matrix heart and Leap of faith on steam, basically this two VN is also good. Matrix heart is only release for season 1, not sure about season 2 thou.
Got some stuff to talk about. Namely the monetization aspect of this project.
MAIN GAME:
For the previous 5 years of so, everything I've made came out for free eventually. For the main game, it was available on the $10 tier on day one of each update. While the $5 tier gets it 2 weeks later and the $1 tier, another 2 weeks after that... and finally it would be available completely for free sometime after.
This is changing. Now, new episodes will stay at the 10$ Tier indefinitely (this will retroactively affect EP11, which I will move back up to the $10 tier as soon as I post this.
EP1-EP10 will remain available for free. I won't removed the download.
BONUS EPISODES:
For the bonus episodes. Previously, each new episode that comes out was locked at the $20 tier until a new one is developed. At which point, previously released bonuses will migrate down the tier, all the way to the $1 Tier before being available for free later.
This is also changing. The lowest limit for down tier migration for bonus episodes are now at $5. They will not go lower than that as each new bonus episodes are released.
A newly released bonus will still be locked at $20 until the next one is made as this is the entire reason behind the bonuses, as a top tier reward.
This will not affect the bonuses that are already available for free. Namely Bonus 1-3. They will remain free forever. Bonus 4 and above will never go below the $5 tier going forward.
REASONING:
First and foremost I'm doing this for the money. Not gonna beat around the bush about it. Putting an asking price on what I think (hope) my work is worth both in terms of money and self worth. Secondly, this is to make things more in line with what other devs of similar games are doing with their monetization. And finally, it's to make things align better as I attempt to make my work available on the various store fronts on the interwebs.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Sorry to the $1 tier folks. You guys are the biggest group amongst my patrons. And I appreciate you all for all these years. I've been putting off this decision for a long time now even though it's been eating away at me with each new release. But things are changing and the decision has been made.
I've never understood the whole "force the Patreon model on Itch users" approach, regardless of whether developers do it by doing stupid things like creating new products for each version and charging each time or just do it by abandoning Itch releases as this developer appears to be doing.
IMO, all that is likely to do is make a lot of former users mad and guarantee that they never pay you anything. After all, if we wanted to support something with continuous payments, we'd already be supporting you on Patreon.
If, instead, you just charged some reasonable percentage of the expected final Steam price to buy the next version and all future versions, from a financial perspective, even if every single person who is no longer getting it for free buys it on Steam, you'd still probably come out ahead by selling it for 2/3rds of that price now and investing the money, because it would grow to more than the final Steam price by the time you release it, and if necessary, you'd have that money now.
That's not even factoring in how many of the users will have entirely forgotten about it by the time it makes it to Steam, if it even does. (Remember how high Steam's rejection rate is for AVNs.)
And speaking as a professional software developer myself who has an absolute "just say no" policy towards any software that even starts to smell like a subscription (including serialized content) because of the perverse incentive that it creates to dribble out fixes just quickly enough to make money without actually delivering something that is complete/usable, I'm forced to agree with the folks who say that this is as good as dead, at least as far as most Itch users are concerned.
If it doesn't take too long, maybe some of us will still remember it by the time it appears on Steam and buy it there, but I wouldn't count on it unless that happens a lot sooner than this last version's 15-month release cycle suggests.
I wish you the best of luck, but I don't think this will have the effect that you think it will.
you won’t no one on this platform will have access to new episodes moving forward for free, either wait for the steam release or support him on Patreon.
is there a walk through thingy, i tried to unlock Emily's scene but just couldn't do it nd i got like few more of hers. thank you also awesome sauce (game) love it! *imitates Luis laugh* AH HA HA!
The walkthrough is available with $5 tier on parteon
But you can also just do a save before each choice then skip through to the end of that episode to see your points update
P.s. I'm guessing your missing the good ones for her. To get them easily don't mess around with the others and try to just be nice to her, forget corruption some will come along in that path
One more announcement Az has announced there will be a steam version released before working on episode 12 and that will be updated. But it may be a year or more before it's released
If the game ever finishes, I might pick up some sort of complete bundle of the game. But I'm just gonna be out until that time. I'm not against paying for games, just not an unknowable amount like $10/episode or month for an unknown number of episodes or months.
I guess my only question is: Considering the price of the game on there is also $10, does this give all future episodes too? If so what would be the point in spending HUNDREDS on $10/month for the same access? Also, what we already bought the game through here? Seems super sketchy to make that a past purchase that gives you nothing moving forward unless you pay AGAIN on that site too...
nice game so far, hopefully it can be finished sooner rather than later! The writing's decent, the pace is on par with most other avn games (wordy af, not sure why) and the character designs are good! It's not over-the-top with the sex, which is good, wish some of the earlier scenes were more subtle, but they were still fine! Looking forward to the next update!
The best AVNs always die, the crappy one's always get finished. Such a shame! THis game would have sold so well on GOG and Steam as a finished game, but I don't beleive any more that it will actually be finished!
Hey John, just saw you commenting. Episode 11 just went out on devs Patreon so its not dead. Just not updated here yet(?). :) Thought I'd let you know. :)
Thank you. But I wonder how many episodes, 14 maybe? So another 4 years then...! And back when I bought it Itch was telling me I bought the game. Now AVN devs are saying " no, you just bought the game upto that update"! So now, even though I paid money, I have to wait for the free version to get my update! There needs to be a better way than this!
Update drops on itch in roughly 2 weeks at time of typing this it is available to anyone who has pledged $10 or more on patreon
Also you pay more you get access to it sooner and if it wasn't mentioned on patreon you would know nothing about an update dropping soon
PLEASE have a little faith in that it's still being developed and have patience for Pete's sake it's a high quality project and it COULDN'T be so if it was rushed
He used to release updates here when it was released for $5 patreon tier but 2 weeks as come and gone so it most be (hopefully) gone be released with $1 tier patreon which is 30 days after initial release to top tiers on patreon
I'm in the same boat with you I'm not paying for patreon
You know, I usually don't comment on any novels or anything onitch, as I just made an account to send you this comment. The music really made the game for me! I was glad that there weren't too many sex scenes; it was, honestly, perfect balance. Emily stole me in the hospital, lol, and thats where I am currently, but I had to tell you, so far, it's amazing! probably one of the best ones I actually read through. Keep at it! It's a great novel! -Goblin
well..shucks.. it was a really great story, and the characters were pretty good, (cept for samantha..geeeesssh) but , i guess it was good while it lasted :) Thanks for the reply MBK
Can you get them all to corruption? I want to see how optimized my earlier attempts were before I delete the wrong things.
Also how long does a new update need maybe? I really liked it and I got trough a bunch of the games that I could call good already and a huge amount of bad amateur stuff.
Six episodes in, my biggest problem is that the MC is frustrating with his thought process and how big of a degenerate he is. I can understand perving to an extent, but some of the thoughts and actions have been just frustrating and show zero self restraint, and it doesn't look like he's learning much or showing personal growth which is something I'd really hoped for. Rather than making it seem like he chars about any of the girls in the story, it feels like he just cares about their bodies.
Overall, however, the plot line has been fine and I enjoy the way the characters have been written... mostly. There are some frustrating things, but I think it's largely a matter of preference.
he has spent the entire emotional-development part of this life behind bars. kinda expected. dev has written a very realistic character. wouldnt be surprised if its from experience. every crim ive ever met has been extremely childish, and usually resort to childish behaviour, like disrespect, tantrums, violence etc.. maybe that explains why the updates take so long - dev is back behind bars again :D
how many crims have you met? and what kind of job do you have that you meet many crims in, also you probably met the ones who didnt give a damn if they got thrown back in the slammer or not, who have been in and out since their teenage years repeatedly not the ones who truly regret their actions and wanted to reform themselves
how many crims - quite a few what kind of job - irrelevant, i met them socially. the ones who truly regret their actions - non-existent. frustration at outcomes is not remorse
Can you already say how much there is supposed to be? I kinda don't want it to end anytime soon and don't mind some sort of season 2 or something in chase this ends up in a harem or something. Not sure how this is set up but so far you can go after anyone I think.
I just looking for a reason for this to continue. It's one of the games where the mood, jokes and whatever works even if I do not like the burps and stuff.
Some just can't hear stuff I suppose, not my fault i mean it's the only reason I can think of I earned a downvote before.
"the only reason I can think of I earned a downvote" you are talking to a room for of desperate lonely simps beating thier cocks off to a cartoon.. what did you expect?
Well maybe I'm ignoring the weaknesses, but the more I play the more fun it is. Still I'm a bit affraid I will soon reach a point where i wish i could unfluence more.
I kind of love the humor here and I got to really like Luis and that other guys character model despite thinking otherwise first. I guess being written really well and stuff just makes it work.
I could do without the buprs though. I feel like I have a reason for hating that, but no nows not the time.
Based on the downvote someone seems to hate the game.
This a great game. Light hearted well written interpersonal teen drama that feels alive due to believeable character interactions and exchanges. My only complaint is the mc looks like a creep so the alternative views that show him come out cringey or funny while Samantha looks 10 years older than her friends cause she's the only one sporting wrinkles even though they all went to high school together.
I felt the adult part was lacking only after finishing it cause i was too busy enjoying the story.
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I am very glad to have read the comments on this game, in my opinion the monetary practices of this developer are somewhat suspicious PS: I advise those who don't have money to look for other games, I'm sure there are better ones than this one.
Been playing this since 2022 if im not mistaken, cant wait for it to be release on steam. While you guys here, go try Matrix heart and Leap of faith on steam, basically this two VN is also good. Matrix heart is only release for season 1, not sure about season 2 thou.
Welp, this game is dead in the water. No new episodes are gonna come out here folks. Creator wanted more money for less work.
Really sucks. This game was a damn good gem. I really enjoyed HH.
It’s not dead stop spreading misinformation, the creator is active on his Patreon and is planning on a full steam release.
it's dead. No more updates are gonna come here.
go on patreon and get the game there bruh or wait until the game launches on steam
Times are a changing...
New
September 1
Show less
Hey everyone.
Got some stuff to talk about. Namely the monetization aspect of this project.
MAIN GAME:
For the previous 5 years of so, everything I've made came out for free eventually. For the main game, it was available on the $10 tier on day one of each update. While the $5 tier gets it 2 weeks later and the $1 tier, another 2 weeks after that... and finally it would be available completely for free sometime after.
This is changing. Now, new episodes will stay at the 10$ Tier indefinitely (this will retroactively affect EP11, which I will move back up to the $10 tier as soon as I post this.
EP1-EP10 will remain available for free. I won't removed the download.
BONUS EPISODES:
For the bonus episodes. Previously, each new episode that comes out was locked at the $20 tier until a new one is developed. At which point, previously released bonuses will migrate down the tier, all the way to the $1 Tier before being available for free later.
This is also changing. The lowest limit for down tier migration for bonus episodes are now at $5. They will not go lower than that as each new bonus episodes are released.
A newly released bonus will still be locked at $20 until the next one is made as this is the entire reason behind the bonuses, as a top tier reward.
This will not affect the bonuses that are already available for free. Namely Bonus 1-3. They will remain free forever. Bonus 4 and above will never go below the $5 tier going forward.
REASONING:
First and foremost I'm doing this for the money. Not gonna beat around the bush about it. Putting an asking price on what I think (hope) my work is worth both in terms of money and self worth. Secondly, this is to make things more in line with what other devs of similar games are doing with their monetization. And finally, it's to make things align better as I attempt to make my work available on the various store fronts on the interwebs.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Sorry to the $1 tier folks. You guys are the biggest group amongst my patrons. And I appreciate you all for all these years. I've been putting off this decision for a long time now even though it's been eating away at me with each new release. But things are changing and the decision has been made.
Thanks for reading,
Az.
If i pay $10 for each new episode here will i get access as they come out?
No. that's not how itch works.
If you pay for it 3 times, at 10 dollars each, you just paid 30$ for it.
It will still only be the free, chapter 1 to 10. :-(
I've never understood the whole "force the Patreon model on Itch users" approach, regardless of whether developers do it by doing stupid things like creating new products for each version and charging each time or just do it by abandoning Itch releases as this developer appears to be doing.
IMO, all that is likely to do is make a lot of former users mad and guarantee that they never pay you anything. After all, if we wanted to support something with continuous payments, we'd already be supporting you on Patreon.
If, instead, you just charged some reasonable percentage of the expected final Steam price to buy the next version and all future versions, from a financial perspective, even if every single person who is no longer getting it for free buys it on Steam, you'd still probably come out ahead by selling it for 2/3rds of that price now and investing the money, because it would grow to more than the final Steam price by the time you release it, and if necessary, you'd have that money now.
That's not even factoring in how many of the users will have entirely forgotten about it by the time it makes it to Steam, if it even does. (Remember how high Steam's rejection rate is for AVNs.)
And speaking as a professional software developer myself who has an absolute "just say no" policy towards any software that even starts to smell like a subscription (including serialized content) because of the perverse incentive that it creates to dribble out fixes just quickly enough to make money without actually delivering something that is complete/usable, I'm forced to agree with the folks who say that this is as good as dead, at least as far as most Itch users are concerned.
If it doesn't take too long, maybe some of us will still remember it by the time it appears on Steam and buy it there, but I wouldn't count on it unless that happens a lot sooner than this last version's 15-month release cycle suggests.
I wish you the best of luck, but I don't think this will have the effect that you think it will.
you won’t no one on this platform will have access to new episodes moving forward for free, either wait for the steam release or support him on Patreon.
so do we got to pay to get the new episodes?
is there a walk through thingy, i tried to unlock Emily's scene but just couldn't do it nd i got like few more of hers. thank you also awesome sauce (game) love it! *imitates Luis laugh* AH HA HA!
The walkthrough is available with $5 tier on parteon
But you can also just do a save before each choice then skip through to the end of that episode to see your points update
P.s. I'm guessing your missing the good ones for her. To get them easily don't mess around with the others and try to just be nice to her, forget corruption some will come along in that path
One more announcement Az has announced there will be a steam version released before working on episode 12 and that will be updated. But it may be a year or more before it's released
Post with more info https://www.patreon.com/posts/situation-report-113073298
If the game ever finishes, I might pick up some sort of complete bundle of the game. But I'm just gonna be out until that time. I'm not against paying for games, just not an unknowable amount like $10/episode or month for an unknown number of episodes or months.
Another announcement for everyone the game is available on a new website and I highly doubt it will be updated here
https://www.patreon.com/posts/oppaiman-store-111311767
The store website link is in above post
Thanks for updating us on things. Can't say I'm willing to support ditching people like this, so at least now I can leave it behind. Such a shame.
Np
check latest update above for better news
I'm definitely gonna get the steam version whenever it releases
I guess my only question is: Considering the price of the game on there is also $10, does this give all future episodes too? If so what would be the point in spending HUNDREDS on $10/month for the same access? Also, what we already bought the game through here? Seems super sketchy to make that a past purchase that gives you nothing moving forward unless you pay AGAIN on that site too...
I just checked into it. It actually costs $10 a month paid through a patreon subscription.
if you want a one time payment I suggest waiting for it to be released on Steam
Note: all episodes 1-10 on itch are free to download now
announcement for everyone waiting here for the next update
The dev has decided to raise the price to $10 tier on patreon so I don't know when it will get released on here
But at any rate it won't be free on here once it releases
Post with above announcement on patreon https://www.patreon.com/posts/times-are-111185585
In other words, the game is dead on here!
Thanks for the update mate :)
Check my latest update I think it is where AZ plans to release everything after episode 10
Episode 11 is already available there
I hope he's not just going to drop itch.
I paid for it on here and I want to see the rest of the story!
He could add a paid minimum amount d/l that has the current version and just leave the free one as episode 10.
Check latest announcement above
I don't the Az plans to use itch anymore
Also thanks for the comment it pinged me and reminded me to check for any new posts on patreon by Az
Ugh I hope he sees my post and reconsiders.
Your welcome.
and thanks for the info from the patreon.
I rarely check those.
Fun game, but I wish there was an path for the MC to not be a complete and total pussy
Nice work ! thanks to the dev
for everyone that's searching for episode 11 it does exist but you have to pay for it (bcs it's on Patreon)
link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfway-house-106652506?utm_medium=social&utm_sour...
also there are some bonus games
https://www.azdev.org/download
When is Episode 11 finally coming as its been several months plus how many Episodes are planned of have you given up with story ?
OMG THIS STORYLINE HAS ME HOOKED WHEN IS THE 11th EPISODE I WILL PAY FOR THIS SHIT!
so is there only three female characters and this game is not a Harem?
No there are additional side characters but only 3 girls/women that you do most stuff with
Correct it's only possible to romance Emily, it's all explained in the description so please read it instead of asking questions
is THIS question okay to ask?
yeah, I did. I just want to know 'is that all'🙂
And thanks for the information.
nice game so far, hopefully it can be finished sooner rather than later! The writing's decent, the pace is on par with most other avn games (wordy af, not sure why) and the character designs are good! It's not over-the-top with the sex, which is good, wish some of the earlier scenes were more subtle, but they were still fine! Looking forward to the next update!
next update should be here soon EP 11 is out for patrons as for when AZ will update here am not sure on but should be soon.
Any idea of an update?
EP 11 is out for patrons so shouldent be too much longer
Is impreg in the game?
Not yet
It may come further in the story line I don't know if Az has said one way or the other yet
Great visual novel with a nice mix of characters for everyone great job keep it up! Can't wait for more episodes
Great Visual Novel until it dissed Officially Amazing! AND the Nintendo Wii.
this blatant slander of a beloved British and Australian TV program AND a beloved childhood console will NOT go unnoticed.
wish we could get the next episode already
It's already out on Patreon, should probably release here the next few days.
thanks
15 Days later and still no word when or even if it will be released here! Last update was nearly a year ago
I just got to read this :(
Anyone got the main menu song link/name?
Will You Wait - Marisa Law (youtube.com)
when is ntr for ashley
The best AVNs always die, the crappy one's always get finished. Such a shame! THis game would have sold so well on GOG and Steam as a finished game, but I don't beleive any more that it will actually be finished!
Hey John, just saw you commenting. Episode 11 just went out on devs Patreon so its not dead. Just not updated here yet(?). :) Thought I'd let you know. :)
Thank you. But I wonder how many episodes, 14 maybe? So another 4 years then...! And back when I bought it Itch was telling me I bought the game. Now AVN devs are saying " no, you just bought the game upto that update"! So now, even though I paid money, I have to wait for the free version to get my update! There needs to be a better way than this!
Update drops on itch in roughly 2 weeks at time of typing this it is available to anyone who has pledged $10 or more on patreon
Also you pay more you get access to it sooner and if it wasn't mentioned on patreon you would know nothing about an update dropping soon
PLEASE have a little faith in that it's still being developed and have patience for Pete's sake it's a high quality project and it COULDN'T be so if it was rushed
As I paid money for this AVN, I HAVE to be patient....! :(
Well, it's now halfway through July 2024 - and nothing. DigDog - are you lying to us?!
He used to release updates here when it was released for $5 patreon tier but 2 weeks as come and gone so it most be (hopefully) gone be released with $1 tier patreon which is 30 days after initial release to top tiers on patreon
I'm in the same boat with you I'm not paying for patreon
You know, I usually don't comment on any novels or anything onitch, as I just made an account to send you this comment. The music really made the game for me! I was glad that there weren't too many sex scenes; it was, honestly, perfect balance. Emily stole me in the hospital, lol, and thats where I am currently, but I had to tell you, so far, it's amazing! probably one of the best ones I actually read through. Keep at it! It's a great novel! -Goblin
It's almost a year it doesn't have update it's finished,they stopped
well..shucks.. it was a really great story, and the characters were pretty good, (cept for samantha..geeeesssh) but , i guess it was good while it lasted :) Thanks for the reply MBK
What MBK said is completely false the creator is just slow with updates on may 23 the creator said episode 11 is close to being finished
No, Chapter 11 is finished and already released on patreon. It'll release in a few weeks publically
Ok thankyou for informing took them so long or is it long to me
They update it once a year, that's how it has been a few yrs
That's how free games are and also people don't donate and especially in these types of games like mostly a solo developer who doing all the work.
Fuck, Samantha is hideous... XD
shh, the stretched-out-biker-mole fans will attack you
Considering the downvotes for speaking the truth, you seem to be absolutely correct. XD!!! WOW. XD
is the game abandoned or smth???pr will thre be an update soon?
look at update history, past updates have taken over a year each.
Can you get them all to corruption? I want to see how optimized my earlier attempts were before I delete the wrong things.
Also how long does a new update need maybe? I really liked it and I got trough a bunch of the games that I could call good already and a huge amount of bad amateur stuff.
Is this the end of the game then?
Six episodes in, my biggest problem is that the MC is frustrating with his thought process and how big of a degenerate he is. I can understand perving to an extent, but some of the thoughts and actions have been just frustrating and show zero self restraint, and it doesn't look like he's learning much or showing personal growth which is something I'd really hoped for. Rather than making it seem like he chars about any of the girls in the story, it feels like he just cares about their bodies.
Overall, however, the plot line has been fine and I enjoy the way the characters have been written... mostly. There are some frustrating things, but I think it's largely a matter of preference.
Yes, he's staying like a constant 14 year old boy, not developing. If it was in real life there'd have been many a woman crushed his nuts for him.
he has spent the entire emotional-development part of this life behind bars. kinda expected. dev has written a very realistic character. wouldnt be surprised if its from experience.
every crim ive ever met has been extremely childish, and usually resort to childish behaviour, like disrespect, tantrums, violence etc..
maybe that explains why the updates take so long - dev is back behind bars again :D
how many crims have you met? and what kind of job do you have that you meet many crims in, also you probably met the ones who didnt give a damn if they got thrown back in the slammer or not, who have been in and out since their teenage years repeatedly not the ones who truly regret their actions and wanted to reform themselves
how many crims - quite a few
what kind of job - irrelevant, i met them socially.
the ones who truly regret their actions - non-existent. frustration at outcomes is not remorse
Can you already say how much there is supposed to be? I kinda don't want it to end anytime soon and don't mind some sort of season 2 or something in chase this ends up in a harem or something. Not sure how this is set up but so far you can go after anyone I think.
I just looking for a reason for this to continue. It's one of the games where the mood, jokes and whatever works even if I do not like the burps and stuff.
Some just can't hear stuff I suppose, not my fault i mean it's the only reason I can think of I earned a downvote before.
"the only reason I can think of I earned a downvote"
you are talking to a room for of desperate lonely simps beating thier cocks off to a cartoon.. what did you expect?
Well maybe I'm ignoring the weaknesses, but the more I play the more fun it is. Still I'm a bit affraid I will soon reach a point where i wish i could unfluence more.
Out of curiosity, is there a walkthrough available?
I kind of love the humor here and I got to really like Luis and that other guys character model despite thinking otherwise first. I guess being written really well and stuff just makes it work.
I could do without the buprs though. I feel like I have a reason for hating that, but no nows not the time.
Based on the downvote someone seems to hate the game.
This a great game. Light hearted well written interpersonal teen drama that feels alive due to believeable character interactions and exchanges. My only complaint is the mc looks like a creep so the alternative views that show him come out cringey or funny while Samantha looks 10 years older than her friends cause she's the only one sporting wrinkles even though they all went to high school together.
I felt the adult part was lacking only after finishing it cause i was too busy enjoying the story.
What should I know about these bonus episodes? Also i know I'm at the wrong place for that, but are there actually any good horror games on here?
AVN with horror theme or just purely horror games
Any avn with horror or list of avn like this that doesn't have a sandbox?
Came in expecting lots of kinky stuff. But this game really surprised me with its story and characters. Two thumbs up!
Hey Az, I absolutely love the game. Just wanted to know how many total episodes will there be after the game is finished. Thanks, take care bro beans.
73. one released every 18 months.
The game is being worked on, check the patreon
Is there a Discord for this?
Probably if you are a patron through Patreon