VN Ren'Py Abandoned Gambling Life [v1.0] [Gambling Life]

[Cornfield]

An interesting game, but I am getting a problem.
I build up a nice stake playing the Uncle, but then I have to go to pay Sal, as I don't have quite enough (3k+) he sends me to the Gym to sell drugs.
Then the next night I go to play Uncle again, I have no money to play with.
This has happened three times, I can't see that I am doing anything wrong.

 

[supermanz95]

An interesting game, but I am getting a problem.
I build up a nice stake playing the Uncle, but then I have to go to pay Sal, as I don't have quite enough (3k+) he sends me to the Gym to sell drugs.
Then the next night I go to play Uncle again, I have no money to play with.
This has happened three times, I can't see that I am doing anything wrong.

Tends to happen once you get involved in drug's

 

[Silk_Ari]

An interesting game, but I am getting a problem.
I build up a nice stake playing the Uncle, but then I have to go to pay Sal, as I don't have quite enough (3k+) he sends me to the Gym to sell drugs.
Then the next night I go to play Uncle again, I have no money to play with.
This has happened three times, I can't see that I am doing anything wrong.

Ah, sorry for that. I didn't mention it in game, but when you go see Sal, he takes what ever money you have (The text reads, what'd ya mean you don;t have ALL of my money?" It's sorta implied that you gave him what ever you have...so you fall back to 0.

Just a quick note too, if your counter from the cell phone (office>cellphone>story) reads 13/13 you've seen pretty much all the story so far, you might not have gotten the NPC gallery though, which is not part of the story (Mai Lin) To get her gallery you have to beat Bob at Poker. Paying Sal his 5000 doesn't do anything for this update except to say..thanks kid, get out of here.... so don;t waste your time

 

[Silk_Ari]

Here's the walkthrough for everyone.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[viddoc]

Did anyone notice that the straight flush in the intro is actually just a flush? There is no 7 of spades.

 

[Cornfield]

Ah, sorry for that. I didn't mention it in game, but when you go see Sal, he takes what ever money you have (The text reads, what'd ya mean you don;t have ALL of my money?" It's sorta implied that you gave him what ever you have...so you fall back to 0.

Just a quick note too, if your counter from the cell phone (office>cellphone>story) reads 13/13 you've seen pretty much all the story so far, you might not have gotten the NPC gallery though, which is not part of the story (Mai Lin) To get her gallery you have to beat Bob at Poker. Paying Sal his 5000 doesn't do anything for this update except to say..thanks kid, get out of here.... so don;t waste your time

Thanks for the prompt response.
Once again I should have read "the small print".
I am actually thinking of funding a "hit" on Sal, makes economic sense.

 

[dspeed]

This is the introduction, ofcourse it will be linear to set up the game. I don't know how much more of a hint you want, when you do something, it tells you what you need to do. For example to play the poker game you need a camera, it's not hard to figure out you need to buy a camera in the online shop and to make money to buy it you need to work for it.
Also, some events are time based and happen at certain moments. If you ask me its not sloppy design, it's lazy playing. There's a counter on your cell phone (Story) that shows your progress..if you haven't reached the end of the counter you still haven't done all events.

Thanks for the feedback though, its appreciated!

LOL,

"It's not my fault, it's yours" is a terrible response.

He's right. The forcing of the first week to just work and sleep is bad design. Plain and simply, it's not FUN and that's the entire point. There's no narrative reason why this has to happen. This isn't Skyrim - a deep adventure world where you can take slow pacing at the start and gradually reveal the story and characters through a linear track. It's a pick up and play game where a good 75% of your audience will be skipping the dialogue entirely.

He has a phone already. Why doesn't it have a camera on it? Why must he grind for a week night and day to buy a $300 camera that he will use to then earn not enough money to pay his debts off? Also, what job is he doing where he's earning so little? Why doesn't he just rob his Uncle? Why doesn't he leave town or tell Sal that there's no possible way to raise that money but he'll work for his sister straight away? Why is that camera an absolutely necessary item in the survival of this person to the point where the entire pacing of the game has to be slowed to a crawl for it? Are you paying attention to pacing? Is that something you've considered?

 

[Pathvader]

Not to nitpick, but I think our protagonists best choice would be to say: "That's not a straight flush, that's just a flush" and win in the beginning of the game, since "Sal" (the mobster)'s hand is 4,5,6,8,9 of spades.... But then again, we might just miss out on a lot of naked ladies ;-)

I am glad I am not the only one to notice that. lol I play to much poker at the casinos. I had to backtrack it and make sure I saw it right the first time. lol I was just going to say the dev needs to change the cards if he wants it to be a straight flush. Or give the option to call it as it is at the start and have second route where the mc is the high roller to be begin with. lol

 

[supermanz95]

LOL,

"It's not my fault, it's yours" is a terrible response.

He's right. The forcing of the first week to just work and sleep is bad design. Plain and simply, it's not FUN and that's the entire point. There's no narrative reason why this has to happen. This isn't Skyrim - a deep adventure world where you can take slow pacing at the start and gradually reveal the story and characters through a linear track. It's a pick up and play game where a good 75% of your audience will be skipping the dialogue entirely.

He has a phone already. Why doesn't it have a camera on it? Why must he grind for a week night and day to buy a $300 camera that he will use to then earn not enough money to pay his debts off? Also, what job is he doing where he's earning so little? Why doesn't he just rob his Uncle? Why doesn't he leave town or tell Sal that there's no possible way to raise that money but he'll work for his sister straight away? Why is that camera an absolutely necessary item in the survival of this person to the point where the entire pacing of the game has to be slowed to a crawl for it? Are you paying attention to pacing? Is that something you've considered?

Damn Hulk Hogan, clam down brother

 

[dspeed]

Damn Hulk Hogan, clam down brother

 

[Silk_Ari]

LOL,

"It's not my fault, it's yours" is a terrible response.

He's right. The forcing of the first week to just work and sleep is bad design. Plain and simply, it's not FUN and that's the entire point. There's no narrative reason why this has to happen. This isn't Skyrim - a deep adventure world where you can take slow pacing at the start and gradually reveal the story and characters through a linear track. It's a pick up and play game where a good 75% of your audience will be skipping the dialogue entirely.

He has a phone already. Why doesn't it have a camera on it? Why must he grind for a week night and day to buy a $300 camera that he will use to then earn not enough money to pay his debts off? Also, what job is he doing where he's earning so little? Why doesn't he just rob his Uncle? Why doesn't he leave town or tell Sal that there's no possible way to raise that money but he'll work for his sister straight away? Why is that camera an absolutely necessary item in the survival of this person to the point where the entire pacing of the game has to be slowed to a crawl for it? Are you paying attention to pacing? Is that something you've considered?

Thanks for the feedback.

When you speak of "grinding" you do realize to make 300$ you have to work a total number of 6 times. You do that in about 30 seconds or less. As for pacing, some events in the game are time based, they happen at specific times within the game. You can advance time easily from the map. As for the story line questions, well I could make up 100 different excuses for each and every question you have, like, why doesn't he rob his uncle: because his uncle owns a shot gun and would blast his ass if he got caught. I mean, you either accept the game premise and go with it or move on at this point.

 

[dspeed]

When you speak of "grinding" you do realize to make 300$ you have to work a total number of 6 times. You do that in about 30 seconds or less. As for pacing, some events in the game are time based, they happen at specific times within the game. You can advance time easily from the map.

But here's what you're misunderstanding - these are things that you know but the players who pick up the game don't. They have to waste time exploring and working them out.

Also, you get paid once per week. So it isn't 30 seconds of grinding. And your scene transitions over a week take longer than this.

 

[Silk_Ari]

But here's what you're misunderstanding - these are things that you know but the players who pick up the game don't. They have to waste time exploring and working them out.

Also, you get paid once per week. So it isn't 30 seconds of grinding. And your scene transitions over a week take longer than this.

Working things out is part of the game .
If you read the dialogue it tells you what you need to do and when events happen.
If you don't want to read, I provided a walkthrough you can just follow.
If that still doesn't do it for you... oh well, then there is no pleasing you.

 

[bubbaBudha]

Did anyone notice that the straight flush in the intro is actually just a flush? There is no 7 of spades.

I saw it too and was going to mention that as well

 

[BitterFrost]

Yeah, while I'm all for new stuff getting created, if you were to add up all the 0.0.1 releases on this site the list would be longer than my arm. At some point you just give up and let them be. The ones that survive to be version 0.5 or 0.6, three years later, may be worth checking out...

 

[erikus]

Moms are good and real! with them would more content and the game will turn out

Here's the walkthrough for everyone.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[Wicked Garden]

What's wrong with Emma's face? Terrifying.

 

[Obsidion69]

HAHAHA seriously? I can't believe I missed that, thanks! I'll fix it in the next version.

Good cause many of us noticed it. I bet a lot fewer people got the joke that is ace's and 8's though.

 

[Silk_Ari]

From patreon:

Here is some info on the next "version" of the game. It will actually not be a new version, but rather a "Remastered" version. It might (maybe) include one or two new scenes...depends on my time.
What does Remastered mean anyways? Well, it means mostly all female characters will be changed or tweaked and some game elements will be fixed and some features added. I like think of my first release as a trial and error. I've listened to feedback and criticism and taken what I believe to be the best of those to make a better game.
I'm making a game that *I* want and enjoy, so the old edict of you can't please everyone applies, but I thank everyone who has given feedback and comments. I hope these tweaks will make it a better game.
Please feel free to email me at gamblinglifegame@gmail.com or post comments. I appreciate any and all constructive criticism!
As for timeline, well honestly, its going to be a while... at least not before the end of September.
Have a great day! And thanks for reading!

 

[LordCorwin]

So I guess the main problem for me, is that I have no clue how to play poker. I'm more of a Black Jack kind of guy anyways, Poker has too many variables.