I have been awaiting this update with eagerness as Chasing Sunsets is a top three AVN for me - truly outstanding overall. But despite its many strengths, I was disappointed with the update in one regard. My one, significant, gripe is that the open relationship track leads to Mallory withdrawing from the love relationship with the MC (right after a flaming hot play date that she arranges!). She and Jaye are "getting closer", they both know about each other's relationship with the MC and both deeply love and trust him. The MC has just saved Mallory's (and Jaye's) life and has reconnected her with her lost puppy, on top of helping her with her other childhood traumas and the health of her childhood friend! Why don't the three of them ever sit down together and discuss the issue? Maybe work it out? As you write the story, tthey all, and especially the MC, lack the emotional intelligence to talk it out and make it work. I realize that this track would have required extra work for a story that has taken 3 years to date, but I was very disappointed at you closing out this possibility - especially based on a decision made several chapters earlier.
Viewing post in Chasing Sunsets Chapter 9 (v1.0) Released! comments
I was similarly disappointed. One of my secondary playthroughs is open relationships with both Jaye and Mallory but otherwise no cheating (i.e. reject Bianca and Lisa, etc.), and although Jaye seems open to the idea of getting Mallory involved, Mallory seemingly "dumps" MC in the scene after the log cabin.
Confusingly, in the chapter summary at the end of Chapter 9, it says that "I have chose Mallory as the love of my life", which seems a bit odd.
We'll have to see what happens in the epilogue.
For what it's worth, I realized after release that once the player embarks on the casual path, he is not given an opportunity to change course recover from that poor choice.
One pitfall of development is that you understand the pathing so well, it's easy to fall into the trap of assuming everyone else does too.
While I think both girls' displeasure was adequately telegraphed, it does seem unfair to punish the player in Chapter 9 for a single choice made in Chapter 6.
The result will be the v1.01 patch, which will add an additional scene. This scene will provide the MC an option to be proactive about making things right before decisions are made for him.
While it will not add new endings, or provide a casual route for both LI's, it will be far more fair for player agency.
This will not protect the MC from the consequences of cheating (while in a committed relationship) however.
I hope this helps.
I expect this patch version to be ready sometime tomorrow.