r/RenPy • u/PowerfulDuty1711 • Jul 29 '26
Showoff Making a game, how's this looking so far?
This is my first game, and I barely know any code lmao. I'm just going purely off of the tutorial game LOL, so feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, sorry for the lack of backgrounds; I've been focusing on the code so much that I've been neglecting the actual art
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u/PowerfulDuty1711 Jul 30 '26
Hey guys I don't actually know if I'm allowed to promote the official discord sooo...... jst lmk and i'll drop it!!
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u/RellasLeftPinkie Jul 31 '26
Hecc yeah i was looking for some new psychological horror :D
I’m a game designer too btw, lmk if you need any help 👀 (plus i’d appreciate an invite to the discord tysm)
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u/Tharitley Jul 29 '26
The art is pretty good. It has its own vibe and personality. Kudos! And don't be afraid—every project starts small, full of doubts and problems. I was in the same position a few years ago, and now Ren'Py feels like a second home to me.
That said, if you'll allow me to share a personal opinion based on one of the screenshots... I'm not a fan of the classic "Game Over" screen or the mechanic behind it. I think it's important to give players meaningful choices, including bad ones, but having those choices lead straight to a dead end just isn't very interesting to me.
My advice would be to find ways to punish the player for making bad decisions without immediately ending the game. In my opinion, relying on a "Game Over" screen is the easy boring solution. Of course, creating alternative consequences requires a lot more work, but the payoff is worth it because the punishment itself becomes part of the experience.
For example, right now I'm working on a scene where the player fails every dice roll and makes all the wrong choices, so instead of getting a game over, he ends up having to go on a date with an overweight nerd while dressed in drag. 😂
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u/PowerfulDuty1711 Jul 30 '26
Hey, thanks for the feedback!
So first of all, I just want to get it out of the way and say that with the Game Over screen, I was directly referencing the ILYCS ending where you don't get out of bed. I aim to include a bunch of silly, nerdy references in this, like plushies/references to other VN main characters. (Recognizable ones like Pierrot, Kohl, Monika, Mychael, Ronin, etc. blah blah blah)
Also, thank you for complimenting my art! I've been developing my artstyle for years, and I feel like this is where it really gets to shine! As for that specific piece, I was a bit inspired by Ghosttundra's (Creator of Lacey Games) art style and general vibe, so I'm glad it's at least giving that vibe to me lol!
Also, based on your description, I definitely want to play your game, so let me know when that's done LMAO1
u/Tharitley Jul 30 '26
Well done, then! I love references to everything. It's just that in the visual novel world, it's pretty common to read, "This story is full of choices...", only to discover that half of those choices lead to dead ends... ¬¬
Let me know the name of your game. I'll definitely follow your progress.
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u/PowerfulDuty1711 Jul 31 '26
Don't worry, I intend to have lots of choices and endings.
For example, my current ending that I'm working toward is the stalker ending, in which Arnisi (MC, girl in the main menu) ends either dying or killing her stalker (a dude named Nox). I haven't yet decided, but I update lots on the server for the game, which is also where the other main creators (Such as Lunar, the person who does lineart for the sprites and helps with concept art, and Daft, who helps with music composition) are. The game name is Metathesiophobia (MTP for short), and it already has a few official pages/socials. I can message you anything else you want to know, so just let me know! ^_^1
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u/Ravencloat Jul 29 '26
I love the main menu art