Thank you very much for your feedback! This was such a wonderful thing to get so early in development and it really helped motivate me and shape the direction for the upcoming update.
Although the update isn't finished yet, I'd like to let you know how you're influencing it:
- I am in the process of making major changes to the item system. There's a lot more feedback now, and items are generally being rebalanced to be more useful regardless of what you get that week. To your particular points, I'm changing sabotage items to be more powerful, less size-dependent, give more feedback, and allow contestants to warn their allies. Also, talking to contestants now gives you an indication on whether a pin will pop them. Finally, I like your idea for the Box of Chocolates being genuinely valuable to receive; I'll probably do exactly that and increase the recipient's max volume.
- I've added a full-screen (non-interruptive) countdown, warning you that there are 5 (or fewer) rounds until the challenge.
- I've mitigated gameplay repetition a little by having the pump and decompressor let you choose how much to inflate in a single round. I think it's more interesting to spend the week socializing and using items than just pumping up and down. Also, you now learn more about contestants' relationships by spending time with them, letting you refine each week's strategy further.
- I'm going to explore mitigating repetition further by potentially adding unique and harder in-week challenges as the game progresses. Hopefully, that leads to more interesting decision-making past the first couple of weeks.
- I've added very basic POV inflation! It's customizable, but it's ultimately just 1-3 circles (belly and/or boobs) and a hex code.
- Instead of getting interrupted in the challenge for contestants' size changes, I've made it so you can easily click through contestants and watch any of them blow up with each pump. You always get shown the boom, though.