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(1 edit) (+1)

Every other opinion on the changes to the game will be positive, so I just want to get the negative opinion out of the way:

The changes to Myrddin's sprite.

I genuinely think that the original sprite was cuter, and I don't think that I can get used to the new one. Making his sprite a full one is a good idea; it is simply that his features are sharper, and he's taller than I imagined him to be.

But, all changes are for you to decide, and I fully accept that.

I like the cube-like environment. Myrddin feels isolated, and a room like that would reflect those feelings. 

About his personality, Myrddin already feels like a real person I can get attached to, but having him remember what the player does would make the game even more immersive.

Some chat bots can remember what you say as well, making the conversations feel more real, instead of seeming as if you are talking to a virtual character, or a machine.

An example of a future conversation with Myrddin could be as follows:

"[Player name], do you have a favorite hobby? Something that you enjoy doing more than any other activity?"

You give your answer, and then later on, Myrddin mentions it like this:

[Choice]: 'What do you do when you feel sad?' 

If your answer is your favorite hobby, Myrddin's response could be:

Myrddin: "Of course! Because it's your favorite hobby, correct? Obviously it would cheer you up."

 I'll try to give you a few options for interactions, but, they might not realistically fit into a horror game. ...Remember, I like Myrddin in a more romantic way.

Options:

Having Myrddin say that he wants to enter the player's world to see them in person.

If possible...er maybe adding skinship. Like patting his head, or clicking on his hand to indicate that you're holding it.

This is admittedly silly, but maybe an option to give him gifts.

Dating sim-like elements like responses that are flirty, or shy, or joking.

...Just to name a few things. Hee-hee~

I will assume that you don't want ideas for the horror part, since you didn't ask, however, please allow me to make a suggestion.

If the player leans more into flirty/romantic options - (assuming there are any added), Myrddin can become obssessed with the player, and attempt to literally "break the fourth wall"  by cracking the screen. Or, at least it could look that way, if you draw his sprite bashing the screen with his hand until cracks appear.

I honestly don't mind what audio is used. No offense whatsoever is meant here, but I play the game strictly for Myrddin, so I don't care too much about the audio.

Okay, I may have lied about only one negative opinion. HOWEVER, this isn't a criticism, so much as a warning:

Voice acting is a bad idea to me for two reasons.

The biggest reason is the amount of time it would take, and how that would slow down the progress of the game.

The second reason is simply that I like to imagine what Myrddin sounds like myself, so I wouldn't even have the volume up for voice acting. I have - in my mind - the perfect voice for him. Kind of smooth and soft like butter.

If you think making different outfits for Myrddin would be too much work, then you don't have to do it. Frankly, I like his current outfit, and I feel like it is good enough. 

I have similar complaints about animation: It could slow down progress, and sometimes if the artist gets sick, or has to take a  break for some reason, the progress of that part of the game has to be stopped temporarily.

Well, those are simply my thoughts and opinions. In the end, whether I love or hate an idea, this game is your project, and every decision is yours to make.

I just hope that I can see Myrddin again, soon...or whenever is it possible to see him. ^-^

(6 edits)

First of all, a genuine thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Now, onto the rest:

Funnily enough, I had a very similar thought process regarding the sprite. Especially since the first version does leans much more into a cutesy style compared to the newer one, which made it feel a bit... uncanny? 

That said, it does align with the direction I want the narrative to take. A narrative that is not yet shared, which I know makes it difficult to fully grasp right now. 

I am still deciding whether this is truly the right match, so it is very much subject to change. Since he is the core of the game, I do not mind going through multiple revisions to find the right style. 

At this early stage of development, things are still quite flexible. 

For now, the first version, which I will creatively call 0.1, will use the new sprites mainly for testing. If they fit well, great. If not, I will change them asap.

You are spot on with the memorization aspect. 

The example you mentioned is exactly the kind of thing I want to implement and refine. Choices should matter, even if they seem small. 

As you said, they add a lot to the overall experience. 

On top of that, I want to create something that feels tailored to the player. This is just a rough example, but if the player mentions dislikes, likes, or opinions on different topics, Myrddin should adapt accordingly. 

For instance, if the player says they dislike question marks, a strange example I know, Myrddin would try to use fewer of them, or none at all. It might be something the player consciously notices or not, but it still shapes the playthrough.

First and foremost, this is a narrative driven game. There is a main story and achievable endings, including multiple ones, but there is a central goal tied to Myrddin. The story and interactions are built around reaching that goal. 

Because of this, I do not expect much hesitation when it comes to cutting content that does not serve the narrative.

The idea of having interactive reactions when clicking on Myrddin is fantastic! 

I honestly cannot believe I did not think of that myself, especially since I did something similar in another project before. Thank you for that suggestion!

At its core, the game is meant to provide a companion who sweetens your day (and admittedly crushes it at some point, but hey). 

A close friend. 

Because of that, it is not intended to be a dating sim by default. Romance is something I have in mind, specifically as a route that could lead to an ending, but I cannot really say much about it since it ties directly into the main twist of the story. 

That said, everything is still very much subject to change, so please take this more as a snapshot of the current state rather than anything final. It is far from that, actually.


Attempt to literally "break the fourth wall"  Hmm...


I totally see your argument about giving Myrddin a voice, and I agree with it. 

I think this idea comes more from the developer side of me being curious rather than from a true player focused perspective. That said, my intention was always to include an option to disable it entirely for those who might find it unfitting. 

However, as mentioned, this is quite unlikely to happen in the end, largely for the reasons you pointed out. If anything, I would test the concept carefully and share small glimpses beforehand before committing to it fully.

As for animations, your concerns are completely valid. I will keep the possibility in mind, but I do not plan to animate everything. If animations happen at all, they would be reserved for very important scenes, and even then, this would be something to consider much later in development.

Human perspective is vast and fascinating, and as a single person, I would never be able to fully achieve what I want with this project on my own. 

I genuinely value all feedback and take it into serious consideration.

And this was incredibly valuable! Thank you once again, and please never hesitate to share criticism. 

This is a project I want to build together with others, not just inside my own head.

I am planning to release a short playable demo to help set direction and test ideas, essentially a 0.1 version, sometime in January.

Thank you, truly.

Warm regards.

(+1)

Testing out the sprite is a good compromise. While I would never be totally comfortable with it, I would still play the game if you finalize it, simply for Myrddin.

Seeing his questions without question marks would be funny, in a good way. What if I said that I hated clouds? Just kidding! *Mentally apologizes to Myrddin.*

Your enthusiasm for the skinship options is making me curious about what you will do with them. I honestly can't wait to see those interactions!

Now I'm excited for the romance route! Myrddin really is a good friend, though. Arrogant, and rude, yet also charming and a great conversation partner.

I'm sure that you could come up with a lot of creative ideas when it comes to fourth wall breaking. Though, I wonder what a yandere/ obsessive Myrddin would be like.

I understand that curiosity. Wanting to see how your character could transform with a certain voice, is normal. My friend Melancholy Marionette has told me that she adds voice acting because it makes the game better. Voice acting or not, I would still play it.

I suppose it wouldn't take as long if there weren't many animations. That was what I was worried about. I guess I should consider myself lucky that this is a game, and not an animated tv series.

Two heads are indeed better than one. And I am more than happy to give ideas and criticism at any time. 

January? Yes! That's really soon! I know it's just a demo, but, I'm really excited for it, already. 

I know that I keep saying it, but, I genuinely cannot wait to see Myrddin again!

Stay safe and healthy this winter.