itch.io

the only way digi_b can just give previous buyers a steam key is if that was negotiated with steam, prior to it being added.  it's highly unlikely they'd accept the idea of "giving away" that many keys, right after steam launch.  but, again, that's between digi_b and steam, and whatever they agreed to.  and from what i read on the other page, making the game free wouldn't be enough for itch's new policy.

given itch changed their policy, it's entirely possible, we won't get anything here, going forward.  at least 1 other vn is no longer available for new purchase, because of the itch policy change(away from allowing adult content).  IF digi_b can continue to provide updates here, they likely will continue the same way they've been done up til now, unless and until digi_b says otherwise.  steam is a different platform and likely will be handled the way they want things handled.  this one, the ball appears to be in itch.io's court, and it's up to them to decide how far they will be pushing their policy.  

do you prefer hourly updates on the status of the next chapter, or actual development work on the next chapter?  this appears to be a 1 person operation, and digi_b, so far, has turned out a pretty high quality product, with regard to story.  i'll take well conceived storyline over frequent updates, any day.  even if there are 2 or 3 people, behind the scenes, helping develop it all.  some devs like to talk a lot about what they are doing.  digi_b sees to prefer doing it and doing it well.  

have you played beyond chapter 1?  or are you talking about through chapter 4, when you say "demo"?  the first part is good, no doubt.  but this story actually gets better as you progress.  and for chapter 5 to get better than 4, it's going to take some work, so it's going to take time.  

i think people realize how long it takes to develop a good story and are trying to be patient.  too many comments, too often, tends to create some stress and i know, personally, i'd rather wait 10 months for a really good, to great, chapter, than have it in 5 months, and have it not hold up to what's gone before.  let digi_b have the time to do the job right and enjoy it when it arrives.  you can always play the first 4 chapters over again, and follow the different paths available, if you didn't, while playing through it the first time, using multiple saves.  it's worth seeing the divergent paths and what they bring

it took from january of 2022, til october of 2022, to create and release chapter 4.  it's been 6 months since 4 released.  why would you think the game was dead, when the last chapter took almost 10 months, and we're only at 6, so far, on chapter 5?

the only loser here is the one who keeps calling the MC a loser.  at no time have I EVER said he was a loser, nor even remotely implied it.  what he went through would destroy a lot of people, and that does NOT make ANY of them losers.  it makes him more human and more relatable.  if you can't understand how he could be brought so low by the mistreatment of another, that's on YOU, not him or digi_b.  it's sad that you project such ignorant values onto others, because you are so insecure, yourself.  loser?  hardly.  he's human.  he suffered a great deal, at the hands of someone he loved, and who he thought loved him.  throw in the hit of having lost his mother right as he was becoming a young adult, and he was hit with far more than you've clearly ever experienced, and he was hit all at once.  the fact you are so sad as to need to judge characters in a story, with the same view you apply to people around you(another very sad thing for you to do) shows entirely how insecure you are, in your own life.  in the end, perhaps it's best if you just move on and go find something far less thought provoking, to entertain your immature mind.  this is clearly well beyond your understanding.  and you seem to have forgotten it is for entertainment, not meant to help you feel better about yourself.  share your ignorance with someone else, somewhere else.  digi_b has produced an entertaining read/game, that isn't just smiling, happy people, who think beating others up makes them men.  it's a refreshing take on AVNs, to find one that's not so utterly buried under sex as to be worth rereading/replaying, just to try different paths.  and none of them is the least harmed by MC's emotional recovery, as he proves he's NOT a loser or weak.  

it is on steam to where you can wishlist it, but is not available for purchase, yet.  that may be awaiting completion, or at least a couple more chapters being finished.  just depends on how and when digi-b wants to upload it to steam, for release there.  it's likely just waiting on reaching a certain point of completion, so there are fewer DLC chapters to add, and possibly on the ability to reach an agreeable deal with steam/valve, for pricing and such.

so, let me see if i can explain this, without having crayons to draw you a picture.  here's the story, up to the point at which the vn begins.  a boy and a girl meet, when they are 13 or 14 years old.  they are together until they are 24(that's basically half their lives, and most of their relationship-formative years).  during that time together, boy's mother dies overseas, serving in the marines(when he's 18).  boy and girl spend their time working on something that stands to make them very rich, together.  when the relationship ends, it ends because the gf steals his future(their joint work in AI) AND dumps him, all on the day before they are to sign on with a tech company, that is going to pay them a ton of money for their work, and hire them on to continue it.  cheap, sore loser?  this guy has NOBODY in his life, except this girl, at the point she steals everything from him and leaves him.  that, alone, will send the strongest person into the depths of depression, leading to a whole lot of bad things.  the fact you don't understand this concept only proves you've never actually been IN a relationship with a girl, at all.  never mind been in a relationship with someone, with whom you've built a future, only to have them take both the future and themselves away.  the guy spent 3 years with basically nothing.  of course he's going to struggle rebuilding his life.  and if you think this game is loaded with sex scenes and odd behaviors, you are seriously mistaken there, too.  try an avn like being a dik and you'll see one where sex is seemingly around every turn.  but in the end, if you don't want to see that in your vn's, don't partake of avn's, as that's what makes them Avn's and not just vn's.  the vast majority of places you can find these, it tells you if they contain nudity and sexual activity.  if they do, don't pursue them.  just that simple.  and far better than whining about having been warned, yet still buying the vn, anyway.