Development thread

[Lonestar51]

Interesting point from mizu_ki. A gift might need a certain relationship being developed before it is accepted. What if a complete stranger gives you a golden watch? Though in this case the player might stow the gift, until the time is right.

A related point: The player will most likely want to concentrate on one person, not trying to spread the affections to everyone. So just giving the gift to someone else than the chosen one might give a relationship boost which is wasted anyway.

A final point: The player should have some hints what to gift. It may how he is portrayed, like the nerd likes a USB-toy more than the football; or it may be something the chosen one said. Otherwise it becomes save-buy-gift-reload until lucky.

[jack1974]

You can give them gifts only halfway through the game, and the first 5 scenes play with each character. So you are familiar/friends with them (of course, the relationship value depends on your choices, so you might be friend but nothing more!).
And yes I considered the stat boost thing too, is a good suggestion. About the clues, after 5 scenes with each character you'll have a good idea of what they might like, but of course some must not be really clear otherwise is too easy
What I'm thinking to do right now is:
1) each attempt to give the gift consume 1 turn (otherwise they can just click randomly)
2) if is unsuccessful, you can try with another guy (but every time 1 turn passes) or just "consume" the item for yourself and gain a stat boost.
3) you can buy again the same item until you give the right one to the right boy. Otherwise once you know gift X works for character Y you could buy 100 of that gift and gain 100% relationship quickly
4) likewise once a item is "consumed" (used for yourself) you can't use it again.
5) if an item is either used for you and given to the right person becomes "out of stock" and you can't buy it anymore (so people don't have to keep track of each item already used).

There are 24 items in total: 5 gifts for each boy + 4 "books" that give a stat boost. So the stat boost given by item won't be that big, even if the item costs a lot. In any case with 20 items it won't take much to find out which gifts work for which character.

[Miakoda]

If it isn't too much trouble, you could do a little of 2 and 3. If it would be an item the character would hate, maybe actually have the relationship drop, and it is a waste of an item and money. If they are more ambivalent, then have a tiny increase.

[jack1974]

For now I went with option 3, I could still do 2 though but I'm very careful when there's any stat drop... I did that for Spirited Heart and people hated it
About the game status, unfortunately tomorrow and thursday will be almost lost days... so I don't think will finish it by this weekend. But anyway should be pretty close (next week for sure, unless some sort of cataclysm happens! )

[Miakoda]

LOL...I actually am one of those who don't mind a stat drop...though it seemed like I was getting whammied left and right on Spirited Heart

Obviously, you need to do what is best for game play, though, and customer response :D

And I am also patient enough to wait for its release. Truth be known, I will be waiting to get the combo version with the yuri option before getting it. And I know it will take a while for the yuri version which is fine by me

[mizu_ki]

"Combo version"?! I didn't know there was going to be a combo version. I thought you had to buy them individually.

[Miakoda]

Well, there wasn't an official combo version announced. What I 'termed' combo is that many Winterwolf games which have both GXB versions, often have a GXG version later. When that happens, one can then purchase the Boy and Girl version at the same time. If you check the Heileen 3 page, there is an option to get both versions, for example. That is what I was basing my statement on.

[mizu_ki]

Thank you for clarifying, Miakoda.

[Miakoda]

Thank you for clarifying, Miakoda.

You're welcome. I certainly didn't mean to give some bad info

[jack1974]

In this case the yuri version will be more different than in the past, including a separate job (because one of the characters, Bethany, works at library). So will not just be the same gameplay with different story but there will be more differences between the two versions.