VN Ren'Py Harem Hotel [v0.18.2] [Runey]

[Wafe]

I do appreciate the responses and if I come off as aggressive, I apologize. I feel that strong rhetoric is important to make a point.

I have felt that in your responses, you have been nitpicky about a lot of details, which has been a pain, but slowly, I think we are beginning to understand each other.

Yes, this game is extremely popular. The high ratings are great, and my singular rating will do nothing to affect your popularity. You’re doing good, but I need to make a point.

I think that there’s more to learn from bad reviews that good, as good reviews tell you what you know, if they say anything at all.
There aren’t many bad reviews, but from the few bad reviews there are, they agree with me. I feel this needs to emphasized, I am not alone in my opinion.
Character development doesn’t need to come from long winded exposition. More words to a story do not make it better. Many scenes can be cut down without affecting much. It’s easy to think I’m saying all lore is bad, but brevity and succinctness can help preventing it from being daunting.
In those bad reviews they tend to agree with me. It gets too be too much, it is heavy handed, and overwhelming.
Show, don’t tell.

The politics feel overbearing, and at times preachy. I feel that these are new developments that were not previously there.

And that’s subjective, and that’s fine. That’s what criticism is.
I feel like you responded directly to the review because I gave it a bad review. Had it been a generic good review with totally false info, would you care? One bad review actually mentioned that you reached out to them directly, causing them to be nicer about Vanessa and the exact things I mentioned, so I was expecting it from the jump. I shouldn’t feel pressured by the dev to up my review, that’s bad. That review mentioned an interaction with you that upped the review. Per rule 4, that isn’t allowed is it?

Another bad review mentioned that you didn’t take criticism well, regarding this topic of the politics. While I think you’ve been tactful, I do not think you’ve accepted criticism, rather than deflecting it saying, I’m doing great. Are you are.
You don’t need to flaunt the numbers to me, and popularity does not indicate perfection. Far from it.

From my point of view, you seem to be telling me that I don’t play the game right, don’t understand the game, and don’t even like the genre. You also seem to be telling me that my opinion is false, which may even include the previous statement. That’s hurtful. As a fan, I am entitled to my opinion. I am also entitled to say it, and no one needs to listen.
There’s no need to pay attention to my one bad review, or to specifically let me know that you don’t agree with my opinion and here’s 10 reasons why.
But since we are here, I hope that you are able to take the genuine, valuable feedback from this comment and others, not just from myself, that there are things that can be improved.
Ultimately, I do not think that will happen. At this point it’s criticism about things too deep into the game, and too personal to you. I don’t think I can change your mind, and as of right now, you haven’t changed my mind.
And so we agree to disagree.

 

[Runey]

I think that there’s more to learn from bad reviews that good, as good reviews tell you what you know, if they say anything at all.
There aren’t many bad reviews, but from the few bad reviews there are, they agree with me. I feel this needs to emphasized, I am not alone in my opinion.

Criticism is just as valuable to me, but I'm trying to reiterate as much as I can that many parts of your review contain objectively wrong ideas of the game. I've already pointed them out. The reason I dislike that precisely because I cannot learn anything from it, or improve the game in any way based on things that aren't in the game.

To reiterate, I cannot make Vanessa not chastise you when you click "Move On" because that literally does not happen, and never has. No improvement can be done, and your review is riddled with things like this.

Character development doesn’t need to come from long winded exposition. More words to a story do not make it better. Many scenes can be cut down without affecting much. It’s easy to think I’m saying all lore is bad, but brevity and succinctness can help preventing it from being daunting.

Such as this. Character development does not come from long winded exposition at all, it comes from actions.

The only thing I can glean from this view point is "Wafe doesn't like exposition", this doesn't tell me how I can improve the game because what you're pointing out literally does not exist.

The politics feel overbearing, and at times preachy. I feel that these are new developments that were not previously there.

THANK YOU. This is the good kind of criticism. If you want to help me improve to what you see as your ideal version of Harem Hotel, please point out the specific issues. Otherwise, noted.

And that’s subjective, and that’s fine. That’s what criticism is.
I feel like you responded directly to the review because I gave it a bad review. Had it been a generic good review with totally false info, would you care? One bad review actually mentioned that you reached out to them directly, causing them to be nicer about Vanessa and the exact things I mentioned, so I was expecting it from the jump. I shouldn’t feel pressured by the dev to up my review, that’s bad. That review mentioned an interaction with you that upped the review. Per rule 4, that isn’t allowed is it?

In no way have I tried to pressure you to increase your rating of the game, from the start I have only been trying to get you to clarify what you mean by your review. Most of it is objectively false information, only rarely have you given me your opinion and a chance to improve.

"Even Ashley now has magic Elven shiny eyes, and fairies."

How is this criticism? How can I look at this and improve the game? This is simply you not liking it, or something. I can't just take her eyes out. Do you see what I mean?

I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to clarify misunderstood things in reviews. That isn't what Rule 4 says.

Another bad review mentioned that you didn’t take criticism well, regarding this topic of the politics. While I think you’ve been tactful, I do not think you’ve accepted criticism, rather than deflecting it saying, I’m doing great. Are you are.
You don’t need to flaunt the numbers to me, and popularity does not indicate perfection. Far from it.

I don't remember any review talking about me not taking criticism. It was likely another case of someone essentially saying "I don't like, change it." and me saying no, and them saying "You can't take criticism."

I mean, something like this is happening right now, between us. Criticism doesn't mean being an asshole (not trying to call you one), criticism is "the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work.". An artist can always glean something from criticism, but they can never glean anything from "You suck lol". While both are judgements, one is not helpful. Many, many people confuse being an asshole with criticism. (Sorry for another metaphor, but) Criticism is "I don't like your red shirt, I think you would look better in a polo", not "Dude, you look horrible today."

From my point of view, you seem to be telling me that I don’t play the game right, don’t understand the game, and don’t even like the genre. You also seem to be telling me that my opinion is false, which may even include the previous statement. That’s hurtful. As a fan, I am entitled to my opinion. I am also entitled to say it, and no one needs to listen.
There’s no need to pay attention to my one bad review, or to specifically let me know that you don’t agree with my opinion and here’s 10 reasons why.

I don't really want to get into this again. Things like "Even Ashley now has magic Elven shiny eyes, and fairies." and other stuff that is literally not in the game is not an opinion, it's simply incorrect. (Not calling that quote wrong, or not an opinion) I would love to hear your opinions, even if they disagree with mine. The opinions you have mentioned are not the target of my discussion, which you definitely have mentioned a few. But again, it is not my intent to target your opinions, only the objectively false information that is simply not in the game.

You don't have to change anything if you don't want to, I just thought I would clarify some things. I want to engage with criticism as much as I can, which is what I'm trying to do here, but it's only making me regret trying to address any criticism.

 

[Kracken36]

Kind of a shame that the game has gone this way. I thought that perhaps I was just misinterpreting the earlier scenes, but after having replayed it, it becomes pretty clear that the tone shifts pretty dramatically and not in any of the ways I'm looking for in a H-game.

Got to agree with Wafe here.

 

[Runey]

Kind of a shame that the game has gone this way. I thought that perhaps I was just misinterpreting the earlier scenes, but after having replayed it, it becomes pretty clear that the tone shifts pretty dramatically and not in any of the ways I'm looking for in a H-game.

Got to agree with Wafe here.

That's fine, it doesn't sound like this game is for you. I don't expect everyone to love it.

 

[Wafe]

Sure, I’ll bite.
Accepting that it’s not going to go away, here’s what I think can improve it.
While I do think that the exposition being too unnecessarily wordy is more useful feedback than preachiness. I’ll see if I can point out both. I think a lot of exposition, especially long sections about people or locations or ideas that we don’t interact with often, makes it feel disconnected, which may be because I was already trending there. Autumn’s religion sections were alright, but meeting characters related to it made it feel more useful than things you never touch. As someone mentioned, instead of visiting the museum again to read an article about a rebellion leader, have them talk to you, or a new character or the like. I remember Nia’s events and those felt much more dynamic than the conversations alone. Going to where they sold slaves taught me more than any dialogue could do. It gives context, it shows me, not tells me.
While not inherently badly, when it’s long idle conversations about something not immediately relevant, or visually present, it feels like a distraction. Maybe you’ve changed that up already.
As for preachy, the villains are often, as someone else described, too cartoony to offer the nuance necessary to make it interesting. Maybe it’s hidden in the dialogue but I often see no reason to do anything but dislike them, so when the characters keep rallying to beat them, and keeps talking about how bad they, it gives me a sense of, “yeah, we get it already.”
I’ve read a tip online that many writers care too much about the plot and the details, over the characters themselves. I think this game is strongest when it’s about the character’s personal emotions. I don’t care inherently about elven lore, to be quite honest currently, I care very little at all, but when I do it’s because it involves characters, rather than something too abstract. I care more about the elf in front of me compared to the elf in another continent.
For me, the twins are the most successful of the storylines even if they aren’t as involved, because continuously, they react and engage with each other. Their relationship is the bread and butter. Similarly, I liked when Ashley comforted Maria, or when Maria corrupts Autumn, and that’s good. That’s character development. That’s engaging. That’s unique to HH and where it shines. The “Harem” of Harem Hotel if you will.
This may be controversial but I think chopping up larger plot scenes into multiple sectioned smaller scenes helps the pacing better. Often times the length of scenes varies. Sometimes when I’m expecting a short scene, it just keeps going and going, adding to the sense of frustration, and being trapped and unable to leave the scene, while others may be much shorter, and end before I am expecting to stop. Essentially the bite sizes would let a player refresh.
I think the scene with Lin where you are kidnapped has both good and bad with it. First, it does last so long, it takes the steam out of whatever momentum you had, and whatever you planned to do afterwards. However that’s probably on purpose, I understand. I liked that every now and then you were told to give a response to Lin. It breaks it up a little. I think if you had added a section where you have to click around objects, only to affirm you cannot escape, it gives you a reset, and has the player engage again.
In fact these shorter scenes could include some more casual or lewd scenes. I remember having a lot of fun with Moon and Kali’s scene this patch. Having each character have one long plot related scene makes logical sense, but that can be tiring to play through without padding and pacing. I feel like I have to learn and process so much, when once in a while I just want to hang out with the characters, or pet the cat in Felicity’s room.
I think adding more of these down time scenes, and many already do exist, would continue to make the game and characters feel alive. I think that’s a large part of the joy that I had mentioned, and a large part of the fun that I felt the older scenes had even if they’re less sophisticated.
We don’t always need to go to a cabin out in the snow for a very long dialogue, a short scene with the girls gossiping early on felt comfy as is. It contributes to a better flow for the game, the “Hotel” of Harem Hotel if you will.
I think better pacing and handling of plot material could make it much more engaging and easier to parse. I think that focusing on action, and characters helps to keep a player invested. And I think that the adding more varied scenes with more down time, especially with interactions between girls, helps make the game feel alive.
I’m hoping that this helps.

 

[Bingoogus]

That's fine, it doesn't sound like this game is for you. I don't expect everyone to love it.

God i wish people could get this concept. So many games to be found via this website, so many games i've set to ignore from the outset, so many times i've stuck a toe in and gone 'nope' and moved on, so many times i've stuck a full foot in, swirled it around and decided 'not for me' and so many times i've gotten half way through before realising a game is not going to give me what i thought it was, (coin flip on whether i like that or not). I'll bitch out crap mechanics or dialogue, cringe characters and obtuse route requirements any day, but also recognising where it's not the game, its me, and accepting that and just moving on seems to be a learned skill that some folks need to put more work into acquiring.

 

[KnuckleDragger79]

That's fine, it doesn't sound like this game is for you. I don't expect everyone to love it.

The way I see it is that it is YOUR game. Make it the way YOU want to and the people that love it will be behind you all the way. But that is just the opinion of a lowly peasant. Lol

 

[djv007]

Walkthrough / Cheat Mods (0.15.1 Public)​

Since Lain is still MIA, I decided to give this game my Walkthrough / Cheat Mod treatment based off of her original mod.
I have revamped some of her mod work and updated other parts of her mod.

Spoiler: Lain's Original Changes

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Spoiler: Lain's Custom Events

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Spoiler: My Changelog

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Link:
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or

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View attachment 1613971 View attachment 1613972 View attachment 1613973 View attachment 1613974 View attachment 1613975 View attachment 1613976 View attachment 1613977 View attachment 1613978 View attachment 1613979 View attachment 1613980 View attachment 1613981 View attachment 1613982 View attachment 1613983 View attachment 1613984 View attachment 1613985 View attachment 1613986 View attachment 1613987 View attachment 1613988 View attachment 1613989

So I installed the mod and it installed without any errors. Started a clean save with this mod. even got the daddy thingy to work, but after that I see nothing... No cheat menu, no walkthroughs in dialouges, no custom walkthrough for girls. Absolutely nothing. As to my understanding, there should be a mod button(Lain's Mod) but I dont see it. Anyone knows whats wrong?

 

[Uthuriel]

So I installed the mod and it installed without any errors. Started a clean save with this mod. even got the daddy thingy to work, but after that I see nothing... No cheat menu, no walkthroughs in dialouges, no custom walkthrough for girls. Absolutely nothing. As to my understanding, there should be a mod button(Lain's Mod) but I dont see it. Anyone knows whats wrong?

You should have a button on the top that looks like this.

 

[djv007]

You should have a button on the top that looks like this.

View attachment 1771834

I know but it isnt showing up. I deleted the game, extracted it again. Installed the mod again and cleared the appdata folder for harem hotel and now i get this error.

 

[c3p0]

Just some two cent from me.

That was a distinguishing factor that led to the success of the game, not because inversion 0.5 people were really wanting to learn about elven history that hasn't even been brought up yet.

So where comes this information? The great F95 report from Moody's?

What I mean is, for the longest time, the character is seen as a human, and nothing in the game would indicate, or hint, or foreshadow otherwise, when I played that part a long, long time ago. If you did try, then it wasn't clear, but at the same time, it's possible for you to add it now and say you always planned it.

From my memory, it is dropped a few hints about Maria. No, I was not one of them who have seen that with Maria from miles, but some here have. Yet, I wasn't one of them who was "WTF, I didn't seen that at all". The hints was there and for me it was more around "Now, all things make seen".
Also from your writting, I come to the conclusion that in a detective story you want the hints for the murderer as big as telephone pole.

If you tell me her slightly different eye color foreshadowed it, what would slightly different eye color or hair color mean?

Also from my memory, it is cleary stated that every person with "glowing eyes" have elven heritage.

Pretending that players come to a site basically named fapzone, to play a game with lewd content, and choosing a title named Harem Hotel, to not expect people to be focused on having sex with your harem, in said hotel, is willfully ignoring the obvious.

So here, people come to this site, basically named fapzone, and go to look for games to jack off to.

And F95 have games that have the nosexually tag on it, thus F95 is not all about porn. From their one about us:

F95zone is an adult community where you can find tons of great adult games and comics, make new friends, participate in active discussions and more!

So, it isn't all about porn. Most games that are here have porn in it, but for the semanitcs: Porn games are a subset of adult games not the other way around.

But never, without knowledge, does a person pick a game solely to be lectured about elven social justice over these other elements.

Kink shaming?

I encourage you to create a SFW story, somewhere else, on a different name, and I will judge it accordingly. But don't forget people click the picture that leads to this game because they see in large words, Harem Hotel, not because they love large lore dumps on elven social justice.

Runey make a game that Runey want to make. Other devs make other games that they want to make. I don't assume that someone would like to make a game that a rusty batch of old scews and nuts want if they don't get fully paid for it - way more than the 5$ per month.

 

[Knight_of_the_lance]

To be Fair, a typical relationship goes through different phases. In realy broad strokes, it goes from geting to know eachother, fucking like rabits, working through hardship together, mending wounds together, building something greater together and finaly be something greater than the summ of it's parts. naturaly a break up could hapen at any point and hopefully you continue to fuck like rabits in the later stages of the relationship.

Sex is a step on witch many games are focussing on this site and to be frank it is a fun step. Many games have difficulty going beyond it as it is their focus and that is fine. But it is not the case with Harem Hotel, this game goes beyond the sex to try and form a deeper bond with it's characters. To me that is why you see so many players declaring this game the best they have ever played or that they relate so much with this or that character or declaring those characters their wyfu. TheDevian's ridiculous long runig game with headpats and I don't remeber who with a file of screenshot that might be larger than the game itself are testament to that. It is also why I am a patron of Runey since 0.8 even if admitedly at a small amount. ( I realise that with such a plege for the amount that I have pleged even if small make Harem hotel a game on witch I have spent more money that AAA titles)

But since sex is a phase the relationships move through prety early, and for some is the end goal of their game, if they don't bother developing interest in the characters beyond for sexual reasons it is normal that they feel betrayed. And that is also fine. they just need to realise that at this point in their relationship with the game they must "break up" not because it is the game betraying their expectation, as this is how they feel, but because they are not ready for more in their relationship with the characters.

I must admit that in my opinnion people going only for the sex and that feel that is the sole purpose of this site are missing somme truely greate gems of gaming and storytelling. Harem hotel being one of them and the game that lead me to this site. Well they have the right to use this site how they want but that is no reason to bitch when they stumble upon somethig that is for someone else that they tought was for them.

 

[Runey]

I made a rough roadmap for HH. Nothing is set in stone, and things are likely to move around

---------
V0.16:

Kate and Juliet in the hot springs, repeatable.
Hangout outfits for first floor characters.
Pinups for first floor characters.
New outfits for Android, Felicity & Emma.

Add garden, Jin works there.
-Extra income, sell Tinu, Lust cheat, experience (stat) gain.
-Requires maintenance from PC until Jin is hired.
-(Bug Spray, fertilizer)
-Poison for Nia?

REMAKES:
-Remake Kali’s boobjob, add new story event.
-Remake Ashley’s movie event
-Remake repeatable content for Android, add freestyle.

Fix early game emptiness, give PC more to do by himself.
-Repair the hotel?
-Exploring the world? (Cafe, beach, City, visual exposition)
-Earn money somehow (PC gigs?)
-Remake “Wear this…” options in kitchen (Lin)

---------
V0.17:

Steam release?
Make all sex optional
Felicity and Emma Lust content
Expand “How are you?” (Say something about recent event(s))
Remake Android’s exhibitionism
Double pinup expansions.
Random events in bar?
-Hire singers, bands?
-Hire strippers?
-Bachelorette party?

---------
(2023+)
V0.18:

Give a cellphone to PC. He gets texts for events, nude selfies, possibly ask where someone currently is.
Music update? Add themed music to go with many or most events AND areas. Cafe, beach, dungeon, and many story events. (This might need to be an optional “DLC” to maintain filesize)

---------
V0.19:

Add strip poker minigame to the bar. A way to gamble money and pass some time.
Training expansions. At least 2, maybe 4 extra scenes for dungeon and exhibitionism content

---------
V0.20:

Autumn’s lust content
New main character

---------

What do you guys think? I'm sure I'm missing a lot of things. Also story content isn't included because that's a given.

 

[WhitePolarFoxxx]

Steam release?

Nice! It would be easier for me to buy steam copy.

 

[Runey]

Nice! It would be easier for me to buy steam copy.

It would be free on steam

 

[Uthuriel]

Nice! It would be easier for me to buy steam copy.

I thought there are legal issues with HS games on steam... aka not allowed?

 

[Knight_of_the_lance]

about the steam release, the main thing that would worry me about it, is the look of ashley's classroom. I know the cegep (about college equivalent) to witch I went had a mix of auditorium style and traditional classroom. But I heard that anything resembling higschool and had a sexual part get's insta baned without chance of appeal on steam.

 

[WhitePolarFoxxx]

It would be free on steam

Meh... okay

 

[c3p0]

Regarding the garden: I would very like if the elves, mostly the Sanctuary elves (Nia, Siliva, Peni, Ann), but of course Jin and Lin and hopefully Ms Ren too see in it relaxing, discussing or do anything else.

Fix early game emptiness, give PC more to do by himself.

I doesn't remember it that good anymore, but PCs emptiness in the earlier phase wasn't that of an issue for myself

-Repair the hotel?

Would be interesting.

Lin in the kitchen breaking somethings during her (over-)cooking of things. Could be nice side event, her going to the MC confess that she broke the stove and he then reparing it. Depending on how earlier in the game that happens it could be different for a harsh MC or a nice MC. Also if Lin knows the MC more the dialog could change, perhaps even a sex scene or direct card to the dungeon or so on.

Broken shower would also be something. Depending on the gal in the shower, eg. Ashley she could come to the MC demanding he repair the shower and then fuck him sensless for compensation - in her earlier state.
Could also be that Ellen informs him, he goes into the shower and some gal is currently their and react differently in regard to their realationship (eg. throw him out).

-Exploring the world? (Cafe, beach, City, visual exposition)

And interect with all the already existing sidecharacters. Eg. seeing Jia the elve queen from afair or Nia in disguise helping some elf, Autum in their coffeeshop...

-Earn money somehow (PC gigs?)

Leads to the question what will he do to earn money? Only thing I know for certain he is good about is sex and that would make him call boy. The other thing he is good is letting the story envolve and "cure/help" his girlfriends, yet I don't what part time job would be good for this.

-Remake “Wear this…” options in kitchen (Lin)

That would be nice, perhaps even add more options.

 

[lagaard]

You have me intrigued at strip poker, the wording seems to suggest it might be more along the lines of 'casino' style though. Where you just want to amass money to buy clothing off the girl though.