I swear, this is not any sort of criticism or anything, but is it just me or the Password fandom ONLY cares about Tyson? Ive noticed most of the Roswell hate comes from "Eww he treats Tyson like trash".
I don't even hate Tyson but he's SOO overrated. I personally don't think Roswell is that bad, and I even found him relatable at one point of the game. Again, this is not a form of criticism, you're fine. I just keep not understanding why the Password fandom has this over obsession for Tyson.
It's not just you. It's a measured fact based on polling.
As a developer, Tyson and Dave's relationship, platonic or otherwise, is very satisfying to write. As a fan... Well it'd be best to ask fans directly but there are a lot of cited things that contribute to liking of Tyson. Kinks, to the fantasy of "turning" your bully, to exploring that dynamic in a safe way (though Dave suffers as the proxy), to even canines being typically one of the more popular species in furry media as a whole. Test it. Take a furry visual, look at the cast for the canine, and measure their popularity against the other members. Then ask why.
You'll probably start to see an interesting pattern occur, but there'll always be exceptions.
That's fair. I mean, I see Amicus and Leo everywhere on the Furry VN Fandom, so I am not exactly surprised. (I usually like reptilians more tho tbh)
I just really feel like... Roswell is a bit overhated? I do understand that he treats Tyson badly and stuff, but I don't really hate him because of that? Honestly, I think hes a good written character, and I just hope he doesn't get as much hate when this game will get officially released on the Nintendo Switch. That being said, I do think all of your characters are well written, it's just that I am not a huge fan of Tyson because he just follows the usual "Gay bully furry who loves the mc" trope thingy. It's really not your fault, sorry for like letting my feelings out. I just felt like I had to... Say how I truly felt about the community as for now? It could be worse, really worse. But I do feel like Roswell needs more love from the community. I understand, opinions and all, but I just think it sorta makes me feel sad? He's not even my favorite character, but I honestly somewhat relate to him at some points and I personally think he could be WAY worse than what people think.
I am just a simple user on this platform, and I am not like expecting anything to happen. I really just feel like Roswell isnt as bad as the others say he is.
There's more to it than just 'he's mean to Ty'. I wasn't going to weigh in since Grizz knows my issues with Roswell and it doesn't involve how he treats Tyson. I remember you saying you only started reading relatively recently but the Roswell being disliked issue isn't a recent development and Grizz has rewriten him ALOT really.
In the beginning Roswell would out right insult dave and treat him like a useless child infront of everyone. Then there was all the inconsistencies with things he says and how he would act and Grizz had trouble making him flow propperly which made Roswell come off as malicious and manipulative. Such as how everyone calls out Dave inviting Tyson without asking as a dick move. But then Roswell keeps quite about how he feels about it for about 12 days then when he tells Dave his secret he then uses it as amunition against Dave as if it was never brought up. Considering that Dave is reeling from just being told Roswells secret and is already overwhelmed he then decided to bring up any baggage and issues he has against Dave at the same time. It looks incredibly calculated and manipulative.
Grizz has been working on Roswell's issues over time and so Roswell has changed alot over time. However password is rather an 'old' project now most people who read,watch and fund it have been here a while and so they was exposed to 'asshole Roswell'.
Roswell has changed but first impressions matter. While he's not the same its hard to not think of him as he was then when you read him now. Compared to every other character who has been consistent from the start, Roswells initial iteration has damaged his fanbase as a character. So people just developed more feelings for the other characters, but if Roswell was as he is now back at the start he wouldn't be nearly as disliked.
Because thats already adressed in the VN itself, also the fact that Tyson does visibly try hard to change and be better.
When you compare how he acts in the VN to how Roswell acted (and still acts to a degree), Tyson shows he regrets it and wants to be better but knows he's going to make mistakes.
However Roswell just continued on just declaring Dave is incapable of thinking for himself and that he's (Roswell) always right and that he needs to make all the decisions for Dave.
Its a very bad look for Roswell. Someone who shows genuine remorse versus someone who just doubles down with a self righteous bluster.
Its why Roswells pretty much the only character that has NEEDED to be rewritten. (The other being dean but thats more just to clean up and make him SFW)
Seeing Tyson get reduced to only being liked for fetish reasons or a shallow trope feels like a disservice to such a well written character. So I'd like to try and give at least my reason for liking the wolf. Admittedly, I'm neutral towards Roswell and the whole doesn't like Tyson thing never bothered me, so I can't speak from an "anti-Roswell" stance on it. To me, he had valid reasons for the dislike and since he basically drops it past day 9, I think it's moot to hold against him. I feel there are more reasons for being indifferent towards Roswell with Tyson being the easiest scapegoat his fans normally use.
But now, as for liking Tyson. It's a lot of reasons but I'll try to keep it concise (and not simp). His backstory, personal struggles, even dealing with his sexuality, make him the most "relatable" or real member of the cast to me. Him feeling like there's something wrong or broken about himself for instance, it's relatable. His rationalizations sadly make sense and it's always made him the most fascinating character to interact with because of it. The double meaning in his words, or finding the truth of what he's trying to say.
There's his complicated/messy feelings for Dave which for me, makes his the most satisfying route to play. He's someone that doesn't believe he deserves to even be loved, having him finally confess his feelings on day 19 and Dave reciprocating is the most cathartic moment in any route so far. I get that Dean is supposed to be the romance route, but Tyson just naturally fits that role better for me. He's the only one I've noticed Dave initiating affection with past that day as well, even if it's just little acts of a small kiss or something. I'm a sucker for those little tender moments. He easily has the lowest lows yet the highest highs, and most of the moments that actively make me tear up. His admission on day 15 in particular will still break me just imagining that whimper. It wasn't surprising, since the evidence is there if you pay attention, but it was still something I hoped wouldn't have been true.
I could go on, and even now I'm thinking of all the things I haven't mentioned. But I don't want to write an entire dissertation on him. Just know there are reasons to like Tyson beyond a shallow glance at surface level. More reasons than I listed that make him one of my favorite characters in any piece of media. Not just VNs. To me, he's not just "the gay bully character" and frankly by the time the story starts hasn't been for a while. He's not just another "my wolf" clone either, I've no strong species preference to cloud my opinion. Tyson is a complex, very imperfect but redeemable, realistically written character, that has always just been more sad and tragic than anything. Someone that needs patience and love, but has that genuine desire to improve himself. Which I really want to see happen.
The people that fetishize him? Or think his negative traits or red flags are "hot"? In many cases, it seems like they either skim through his route or just ignore the idea of growth or redemption his route has always carried. The unfortunate truth is that they more or less would prefer Tyson's father instead of Tyson. Which if you've played his route, you know how sad that really is.
And is, regrettably, a lot of the current viewership of... well a lot of media really. I'm not qualified to write a dissertation on what the furry community is like as a whole, or what they even really want (if we're talking in vague majorities rather than specific percentages), but the pattern is there where people don't look for deeper meaning as a baseline. They get that "bad wolf is bad, good wolf is good" which is why you'll likely see a visceral reaction (again, as a generalization) if you say people prefer Tyson's dad over Tyson because they can at least recognize the bad. But the good, and the deeper meaning behind why it's good, is rarely seen for more than what's perceived on a surface level.
I've deliberately left a few gems in the comments spanning far back as to how good/bad this can get. Things such as "can we get a build where Tyson follows through?" for reasons only because they want the sex scene. Not because of what the sex is, or what it means, or what would happen after, just because in-context sex flips the happy switch in the brain. Context doesn't matter and unfortunately Tyson cops the biggest amount of data to examine this with because he's the most popular character in the VN.
All I can say is, I am sure they probably didn't even understand the point of this VN in general. Even as someone who ADORES Orlando as a whole, I am never like "Ughhhh I want more gay stuff OrlandoxDave fanfics shxhxhhx".
Since Ive played this game, I have realized this is not a "Dating Sim". It's a real well done story, with well written characters. I am again so sorry for sounding rude for my claim on how Tyson is "overrated", it's mostly just a problem of the fandom, I guess.
I don't even mind the few gay-ish moments, but I just wish, people could look a bit deeper in your game, yknow?
I know I sound like a weird boomer reviewing a game, but your game is honestly SO good that I feel like I should say all of this. I just don't feel like people should consider it some sort of full-on gay drama game, because it's not. It's more than that.
I learned this vn existed like one month ago, I wasn't aware of all the discussion going on with the characters and also how Roswell has changed. I simply really like how it develops the mistery more than the hot stuff. As a Spike Chunsoft fan, the topics this novel handles are really interesting. I really like to think and look for any clue regarding the questions that are still open.
Now for characters, my nickname would make me a perfect fit to love Tyson, and yet, he isn't my favorite character. I understand all points exposed about his evolution and look for redemption, I played his route and like the story, but not to the point to say he is my favorite. Roswell attitude really stands out, but after seeing what he is going through, I could understand why his emotions are running wild (It doesn't justify it, I just say he also has a lot of things going on)
I played Dean first and liked his route but playing Orlando next, one of the last scenes hit harder thinking in what he goes through just to see Dave happy
Hoss & Sal also also are well written. Each character adds something to the novel and each one is relatable. I also wish people enjoy this vn for more than just the gay moments.
Just saw this, I don't dislike Roswell just because of that! Even when I recommended the game to a friend I forgot about him lmao also since I don't see his name that often I forget how to spell it
Yes I feel you, not the right place to talk about this but in like, games or vn there´s always an overrated character, and in most of those scenarios I don't like them lmao, but yeah as Grizz said the canine characters tend to be the "favorite" of the fandom
