comment too long, i'm not reading ciao
Okay, more seriously, thanks for the very long comment, as if yor many comments during the beta-testing weren't enough already loool. But more seriously, thank you so much for all your kind words about the art, the GUI and the writing. You're completely right about the photograph theme, that's indeed about the forging of memories, which is a theme. While it's an obvious one considering Doug's arc, it's actually quite relevant to Adriel too (cf. the connection he makes between an event in his past and what happens in his route).
I'm glad the routes felt very different even with the same premise, trying to figure out how to make them two very different, it required a lot of thinking!
**** ooooh spoilers ****
Well, you're right with your analysis, you basically caught everything! I would just highlight that the way Adriel helps Doug getting rid of his pottery, if very different from the way Sandra does it in her romantic ending, is actually quite relevant: in Adriel's route, Doug is violently confronted with the fact he has to let them go. And his peaceful reaction to it is meant to show something about him: he has moved on, and the memories don't hurt anymore, unlike Adriel, who is still trying to escape from his feelings.
And yes, Adriel's relationship with Doug was meant to feel at first more "masculine", with bonding over things like "fighting", as I thought it would be an interesting contrast with the fact the two men are very cuddly (maybe it's me being bothered with the whole "men don't experience their emotions because they don't let them control them" thing we've been seeing more and more on social media).
For Sandra, exactly! There is also one theme about art and creation, and how to still feel passionate about what you create when things seem hopeless. And a common theme between the two routes is obviously finding meaning in the work place!
For the cheating thing, I wanted to offer a mature but still clear stance on it: Doug's wife position is understandable, as sex can indeed be an important part of a relationship for some, and I don't believe in the idea of everyone being able to separate love from sex, and don't believe that it is necessarily a bad thing. However, no matter what you experience, what you have to do is communicate (which Doug's wife actually did, but after cheating alas), and I wanted to make sure Sandra and Adriel, who have a different perspective on the matter than Doug, highlight the fact cheating is wrong!
Once again, thanks for your very kind words, I'm glad you appreciate the game! Let's get back to trauma now!!!!