Karmunism
Recent community posts
TBH with how things are going, I'm really scared for a Detroit become human type of future lmao. Yes, while it is better to hurt something "not real" than an actual human, the concept is so trashy. Like you said, for all intensive purposes they are meant to mimic a real human. What happens when they have bodies and are nearly indistinguishable from the average joe? Is it still okay to treat them as lesser when the seemingly only difference is the way we are brought to existence? Anyways I will get out of your comment section with all the philosophical rants on AI ethics lmao. Regardless, great game. Lot's of food for thought, which I very much appreciate! I hope others feel the same.
I'm right there with you! With the current state of technology it is definitely something to consider... As a content creator it genuinely concerns me the amount of children that have come in my lives etc bragging about how they "torture AI" because it's "funny to see them have a mental breakdown". Like... what? This technology is meant to mirror actual intelligent life so this is super concerning behavior. Why do people want to inflict pain so badly? Really reflects how they probably feel about actual people. Even if they aren't truly sentient, why would you want to inflict harm on something that mirrors human sentience? Messed up if you ask me. AI art ethics and such are definitely important, but I feel like we should be exploring the more social aspects as well.
I got all endings in the game as well! Really enjoyed it
I played both this game, and the first one in my video today! Crisis at call center starts at 13:00. Although this second game had more to it beyond a walking sim, I still feel like a lot was lacking. First of all, the walking mechanics were abhorrent. I understand it's to replicate old game styles, but for a game bordering on a walking sim it did nothing other than cause frustration and cause the game to take way longer than necessary. It took me 45 minutes to beat the game, yet I was able to cut the footage into about 20. That means half the game was just... pointless. As a gamer, I value time spent. I get annoyed when I feel like my time is wasted on meaningless things that contribute nothing to my experience and I know I can't be the only one who feels that way.
The tasks themselves were also extremely redundant, although I understand we are meant to be playing as Ashley's normal routine. Something as simple as reducing tasks or adding more options (other than the current two: trash and dishes) could benefit a lot. Obviously the game is already done, but it is something to note for the future. To me, even when not playing games for content, I want to always feel like I am doing something for a reason. The redundancy just breaks my immersion and causes me to lose any interest I had in the good parts of a game which is super dangerous. Many people will just quit a game if they get too bored or feel as if their actions have 0 value in game. Just food for thought! I see the third game is out and maybe it's better, but as for now I think there is a lot left wanting.
Unfortunately I had to deem this game unplayable, and I don't do that often. I gave up after being forced to restart twice, then getting another bug that would make me restart a 3rd time. This is the elden ring of itchio games lol...
Anyways some constructive criticism from the dev! My video is not meant to be harsh or seen as negative. I play so many of these games, and it isn't uncommon to have a lot of issues. First piece of advice is... please playtest your game before upload. These issues were so bad that even a single playtest could have avoided a lot of problems.
Secondly, I really wish there were accessibility options in your menu. I gripe about many games not having this, but it is genuinely so important. I suffer from severe motion sickness and this game was borderline unbearable at points. I suffered through it, but I know a lot of people won't. Don't feel bad though, even AAA games sometimes don't have this setting. I just know it is very appreciated by people like me.
Most of the bugs in your game came from teleporting between regions to complete tasks. I was soft-locked 2 separate times due to this. I don't know for sure how the bug is occurring, but it is very easily replicable if you take a look.
Other complaints I had were very minor, just generic issues with most games on the platform. Texture glitches, terrible sfx (the traps were like nails on a chalkboard), being able to click things through walls, no clear objective or direction, etc. All these can be improved upon eventually, but I'd focus on making the game playable first.
Sorry for such a long rant, but I genuinely believe in the indie game community and constructive criticism can be a super important part in development.
Anyways, moral of the story is keep working hard and it will pay off. It's nice to see someone with such drive at a young age.
As someone who has been in cycles of abuse exactly like displayed, I was hit with so many emotions. This game is exactly what I needed. Even after moving on from these sorts of dynamics, it can be super hard to recover and return to the person you were before the abuse started. I felt like a lot of things in this game were something I really needed to see and hear. It was a great reminder that what I've been through is valid. I'm not crazy. Relationships like this are not healthy. Things of that nature.
To anyone else who has suffered through similar events, or may even be in a similar situation now, I wish you the best. Your feelings are important. Don't let anyone make you second guess yourself. You are not a slave, and no matter what they say you don't have to be there. Even if they threaten horrible things, it isn't your fault. You're not evil for wanting to help yourself, I promise.
----------------
Anyways with that out of the way, 10/10 game. I was blown away at each turn. I recorded a video where I got all endings, as well as went over the secrets of the game! I hope you all enjoy, and maybe it can help out anyone if they get stuck.
I did notice several grammar and pronoun issues in my playthrough, but things like that happen all the time, especially in such a long game. It's a lot of text to proofread.
The music? Fantastic. It heightens the experience so much. Even the ambient sound effects that were added are amazing! I love that everything makes a sound, even if it doesn't have an interaction. For example, the bed makes a spring noise when interacted with, even though there's no dialogue etc. It is a subtle touch, but means so much in the grand scheme of things.
The visuals are fantastic. The cut scenes? Astounding. This game is such a treat for the eyes, and the visuals go way above and beyond. I loved watching all the animations, and once again, they elevate this game to a whole extra level.
The symbolism is amazing in so many areas as well. The doll, mother "changing', Tom's appearance, etc. You can infer so much through these tiny details and I love it so much.
I play a lot of these games, and this one felt very polished-- especially for a demo. I didn't dig too hard or stress test anything, as I played just for enjoyment. I didn't run into any immediate issues though, which is more than I can say for some other demos I have played! Like another said, I think the name being at the top of the textbox would be a little better, but that's a really small thing.
Overall this is fantastic, and I can't wait to see what we get at full release!
As for the customization: wow. Most VNs just have a basic faceless MC. The rare VN that allows for customization has extremely limited options. Usually just hair color and gender, imo. I was amazed. Once I moved from character creation I was like... WAIT I CAN CUSTOMIZE MY ROOM TOO?!
This was such a breath of fresh air and I'm so excited for the final product. I'll be wishlisting for sure, and can't wait for the final release.
I did have one crash during the game, but forgot to save a crash log (sorry)! It is in my video though, so you can see my exact line of choices leading up to it. I didn't test if it was replicable.
Anyways the end. TLDR play this game its great