VN Ren'Py Summer's Gone [S1 Steam + DLC] [Oceanlab]

[JazzR]

You already know the answer....

Unfortunately, yes. I already know.
However, if I ask the question, it is because I believe in the "fan-made" philosophy.
So...can you please elaborate a little more what you really think about this ?
Thank

 

[Adhdclassic]

I want Mila and Helen to suffocate me with their boobs and butts.

 

[Maviarab]

Unfortunately, yes. I already know.
However, if I ask the question, it is because I believe in the "fan-made" philosophy.
So...can you please elaborate a little more what you really think about this ?
Thank

I think he'd be entitled to sue you if you tried to make money off of it. As you say, you haven't just copied the character looks (though given Oceans small adjustments if you have exactly (as much as is possible), then that's even worse for you), you've copied (ie, stolen) their personality, what makes the characters who they are.

It's a big no no period and the 'fan made thing' is just bullshit and your hoping people will justify your decision. They won't. As I said...

...you already know the answer.

 

[Elduriel]

and Ocean is definitely big enough to sue for shit like that. Buying the same DAZ assets is one thing, we've all seen similar looking characters across games, but all the other bits are definitely smell like trouble

 

[Yourmom21]

Hello everyone.

A few years ago, after discovering the world of visual novels, I came across Summer's Gone.
I found the writing incredibly well-crafted and the development of Nika, Nami and Bella's personalities and the ways they interact with each other extremely inspiring.

Having always loved telling stories and having a lot of experience as a 3D artist, I immediately wanted to learn how to use Daz and Ren'Py to create my own visual novel.
I found these 3 characters so visually beautiful that I wanted to work with them and so I found the assets used on the Daz store.
To summarize, I wanted to use Nika, Nami and Bella as a means of training by only keeping the relational dynamics between them, their personalities and their faces/hair.
I had fun putting them on stage, as a hobby.

The problem, which I didn't see coming until it was too late, was that over the months I found myself with a very advanced scenario and a few thousand renderings...
You see what I mean ?!!
The more time passes, the more proud I am of what I accomplished as a novice and the more I want to share it or even sell it on Steam but I don't dare.

Even if, as it stands, my story is different and the MC's past is different as well as the causes of his depression and his isolation (for example there is no Summer in my story), I still have some big scruples because in my opinion, what makes the heart of the novel Summer's Gone is the clever mix between the charisma of these 3 characters, the relational dynamics between MC and Nami (Yo!Rolls!), and between MC and Bella, (I love you , Me niether...c*nt !).

To make a long story short, although I have a different story, different causes and consequences, different events and different names and characters throughout the story, the simple fact of having the heads of these 3 characters, their states of mind and the relational dynamic between them is more than enough to pose a big dilemma for me and it frustrates me more and more.

This is why I come to you, the community, to get your opinions, your opinions on the moral dilemma that I am facing. I need to take the temperature a little to know how this would be perceived in the world of visual novels devs and fans.
Friends have told me that it's common to find the same 3D assets used in different VNs but, as I said, I think I've done a lot more than just copying 3 faces.... I have copied what I believe to be the heart of this excellent Summer's Gone.

Thank you in advance for your views on the matter and sorry for my English. Also sorry if this isn't the right place to talk about this, I'm new here.

Have a good day !

Well friend, if were simply same character models it wouldnt be a big deal, but if you keep the relations the same and such a crucial part of this novel the same then yes it would be a problem.
Can't you alter the character's models or slight change them ?

 

[Yourmom21]

Well friend, if were simply same character models it wouldnt be a big deal, but if you keep the relations the same and such a crucial part of this novel the same then yes it would be a problem.
Can't you alter the character's models or slight change them ?

And of course slight change what you copied from personalitys and narrative points.

 

[warheadd]

I'm curious how the girls interact if you keep doing things that make their relationship status go up, especially the older characters and those who have good relationships, etc.

 

[JazzR]

I think he'd be entitled to sue you if you tried to make money off of it. As you say, you haven't just copied the character looks (though given Oceans small adjustments if you have exactly (as much as is possible), then that's even worse for you), you've copied (ie, stolen) their personality, what makes the characters who they are.

It's a big no no period and the 'fan made thing' is just bullshit and your hoping people will justify your decision. They won't. As I said...

...you already know the answer.

Thank you for your reply. A bit rude, because you're missing the context a bit, but thank you all the same.
It's presumptuous to believe that I'm using the "fan-made" excuse to make money even with over 3500 renders created as a simple hobbyist and novice.

And I don't understand why the look would make it even worse. I bought the right to use these 3D assets in the same way as Oceans and it was not at all complicated to recreate the same faces. I even changed some details like hair colors and more. My MC even has scars.
Did you know that the figure used for Nami is also in the visual novel Love Season?!

I realize that I should have simply stopped at “share it” instead of adding “and even sell it”.
On the other hand, for personalities, it is on this point where I agree and which posed a moral problem for me, even if I strongly doubt that this is enough to be taken to court since they have nothing iconic. Even Sonic or Mario, much more iconic personnalities, have fan-made ones.

Brief. I am scrupulous enough to know that your message alone is enough to make me forget about the possibility of being able to sell it. I simply wanted to be exhaustive in my approach to get fair feedback.
Let's forget about selling it and just stick to the idea of sharing it.
I'm waiting to have a little more opinion before knowing if I should put all this in the "trash".

Thank

 

[JazzR]

And of course slight change what you copied from personalitys and narrative points.

Hello !

I will detail what I copied and what I changed.

Nika's name is Madison (yes, a girl's name storyline's reasons).
Same haircut but blonde faded to black and he has scars on his face.
He is cold, depressed and suffers from loneliness because he lost his twin sister in the past "because of him". They were both street racers and one evening, when she couldn't race in her own car, she borrowed Madison's but, for storyline reasons, the car was traped and he was the one who was normally targeted.

Nami's name is Maeby and she was Madison's twin sister's best friend.
Same hair but ginger auburn gradient and no angel wing earring. Hip and buttock much narrower.
She and Madison suffered from the same loss of a loved one but she knew how to keep her energy, her positivity, her madness.
At no time does she use the word "Yo!", no allusion to "rolls" and she does nothing in particular with her arms.
There are only the two of them left (no Nojiko side character like) and they face entering university together.

Bella's name is Dakota.
Same haircut but black gradient blonde color.
She was Madison's twin sister so a relatively absent character although the background plot suggests that perhaps she is not dead as we believed?!!

This is what i have. The rest of my story, content and character is original.

 

[John972]

This is actually the thing - if people don't know they live together, they assume they're a cute couple, because there is nothing to inidicate they are related, not physical signs. When Nami mentions they're roomies, after Jeff thinks they're cute, everyone doubles down on them making a cute couple in the scene. Then Nami decides to just go with it because it happens so much. We can see that publically, no one can sense anything weird about them being a couple.

Zara thinks they're going to be asian at first because (presumably) Nick or Vanessa (who met Noji before the dinner) told Zara Noji had kids, or Noji said she's got kids. Maybe easier to introduce yourself that way, than get into complicated stories about wards and guardians or foster homes. No one explains WHY they're not asian, it's just dropped. Then in the jacuzzi, Zara asks:

za "Why is she red?"
scene ad959 with dssa
d "That you'll have to ask her parents."
scene ad960 with dssa
za "What happened to yours?"
scene ad961 with dssa
d "They died in a car accident."
scene ad960 with dssa
za "And Nami's?"
scene ad961 with dssa
d "Believe it or not... The same."

It's a continuation of the previous confusion, she's still trying to work out the dynamic between these new strangers in her life.

Whether or not it's hamfisted writing right then is another matter entirely.

The thing is, they are NOT and never have been "roomies" by any (non-game) definition of the word. They're either adopted or foster children (probably the latter).

"Roomies" is presumably only mentioned because it's AVN code for a certain other relationship dynamic. There is no other reason for Nami to say it, unless she's willfully choosing to hide her status as a foster or adopted child (which I don't buy, because such reticence isn't explained or made clear in the game).

 

[BobTheDuck]

The thing is, they are NOT and never have been "roomies" by any (non-game) definition of the word. They're either adopted or foster children (probably the latter).

"Roomies" is presumably only mentioned because it's AVN code for a certain other relationship dynamic. There is no other reason for Nami to say it, unless she's willfully choosing to hide her status as a foster or adopted child (which I don't buy, because such reticence isn't explained or made clear in the game).

I agree with foster children or wards, and I understand the obvious logic even with those terms. Such a position is clear, concise and definitely implies no relationship beyond circumstantial living arrangements.

If I grew up with a housemate who was my best friend, what would I use as a single noun to describe our relationship that wasn't cringey? Anthing I choose would sound lame. Most of our reason for disliking the term 'roomies' is it isn't a term anyone would use in any real situation, at best I've heard people say housemate or flatmate. Mostly I hear people saying "we just live together" or "we share a house". They don't even share a room. It breaks the fourth wall as an inserted word external to the game universe, and enforces a patreon friendly approach to avoid misunderstanding. But Nami knows shit all about patreon. There's no need to define their relationship if they're unrelated.

In such a situation, I'd be like "Woah dude, we live in the same house and grew up together. Don't make it weird." It still avoids the issue of what they are defined as, but it's something I'd actually say if flustered. It also then reflects Noji's idea that they have a weird relationship. Something like that would strengthen the plot rather than break immersion, while keeping the logic as it currently is (undefined).

The majority of people have undefined relationships with each other if you think about it; in real life we mostly let people introduce themselves and take that on face value. The only thing it reveals is that they have a intimacy/synergy that makes it obvious to people observing them that they are really really close knit, closer than just living under the same roof regardless of a defined relation.

I'm also looking at the term in isolation, as it specifically breaks immersion. When Zara says "I expected asians" that feels like a more natural conversation - they get sitetracked intomeeting Vanessa rather than explaining their life story in the foyer.

Thank you for your reply. A bit rude, because you're missing the context a bit, but thank you all the same.
It's presumptuous to believe that I'm using the "fan-made" excuse to make money even with over 3500 renders created as a simple hobbyist and novice.

And I don't understand why the look would make it even worse. I bought the right to use these 3D assets in the same way as Oceans and it was not at all complicated to recreate the same faces. I even changed some details like hair colors and more. My MC even has scars.
Did you know that the figure used for Nami is also in the visual novel Love Season?!

I realize that I should have simply stopped at “share it” instead of adding “and even sell it”.
On the other hand, for personalities, it is on this point where I agree and which posed a moral problem for me, even if I strongly doubt that this is enough to be taken to court since they have nothing iconic. Even Sonic or Mario, much more iconic personnalities, have fan-made ones.

Brief. I am scrupulous enough to know that your message alone is enough to make me forget about the possibility of being able to sell it. I simply wanted to be exhaustive in my approach to get fair feedback.
Let's forget about selling it and just stick to the idea of sharing it.
I'm waiting to have a little more opinion before knowing if I should put all this in the "trash".

Thank

As far as fan made goes, clearly stating it's fanfiction and sharing it without seeking financial game does keep it as fan art. That should be fine. *Should be*. Keep in mind that as fan fiction, you'll be doubly judged - not just for the content you've developed, but for your inspiration - you'll be continually compared to something that get's criticised here in quite a polarised way. Are you comfortable with that criticism?

By the way, your description doesn't sound like you've copied much, you've just been heavily inspired by the type of story. and the look of the story. Nika is not a street racer, yours is. Bella and Nika are unrelated, Yours are. Nami and Bella are not friends, yours are. GOing to university is not something unusual. Starting from there, I can't see how there would be much parallel, and would suggest it's not fan fiction, just that you've been inspired to write a VN and you liked the looks.

Also, you've already done it, why would you trash it? If it brings you pleasure to do it, you can keep doing it for yourself in private regardless of anyone else. That is already a sufficent outcome.

 

[Mr_Mister]

It boggles my mind how some users here can be so fucking dense. Do they even read the words of text in the game???? How can you play the game as if MC and Nami aren't related at all and then sit through that pre-pizza shop conversation between them and think "Well this makes sense"!?!?!?!?!?!

What in the fuck is the point of the "race with impossible odds" if they aren't related at all? Who the hell gives a flying fuck if two unrelated people who were friends since childhood/grow together get into a relationship???? Like seriously how am I the only one losing my marbles over these people's reasoning skills? How do these people function day to day?

 

[Mr_Mister]

Nika met Summer's parents, who called him trash. Nika would remember Katie, just as much as he recognised Elsa. Katie would also still probably think he was trash. Katie being present while Summer is still gone would imply Summer is dead though.

Nika also remembers (or thinks he does) his mother reading to him. So, chances are he'll recognise someone's voice or there will be dialogue about how comforting the voice is if his mother isn't dead and he's been lied to.

I think that Mc never met Summer's parents.
the only information we had about it , is Elsa mentioning that her mother thinks Mc is trash and that Summer was blind by love and she will end up living on a trailer park if she keeps hanging out with Mc.

 

[BobTheDuck]

I think that Mc never met Summer's parents.
the only information we had about it , is Elsa mentioning that her mother thinks Mc is trash and that Summer was blind by love and she will end up living on a trailer park if she keeps hanging out with Mc.
View attachment 3678539

Nope, Nika mentions they said it direct to his face when you take Vic for a walk:

d "Normal is what made Summer's parents resent me."
scene ae850 with dssa
v "Don't take it personally."
scene ae849 with dssa
d "They told me to my face that I was nothing but shit."
scene ae852 with dssa
v "They obvi-"
scene ae851 with dssa
d "I know Vic. I know that I'm not shit... I know that they were the trash."
stop music fadeout 3.0
d "But still, I would've made peace with that trash for Summer."

 

[Mr_Mister]

Nope, Nika mentions they said it direct to his face when you take Vic for a walk:

d "Normal is what made Summer's parents resent me."
scene ae850 with dssa
v "Don't take it personally."
scene ae849 with dssa
d "They told me to my face that I was nothing but shit."
scene ae852 with dssa
v "They obvi-"
scene ae851 with dssa
d "I know Vic. I know that I'm not shit... I know that they were the trash."
stop music fadeout 3.0
d "But still, I would've made peace with that trash for Summer."

i never saw that , because i'd always avoid Vic and Mila as much as i cant , (i wish you can avoid going to Vic's house and stay in Nick's house getting to know Zara and Vanessa more)
Vic and Mila are easily the most boring characters in the game so far , followed very close by Maja.

 

[Deleted member 6168082]

I want Mila and Helen to suffocate me with their boobs and butts.

Find them in real life. Don't let your dreams be dreams.

Nika's name is Madison (yes, a girl's name storyline's reasons).


Nami's name is Maeby and she was Madison's twin sister's best friend.


Bella's name is Dakota.

Sorry, I puked in my mouth. The names are already enough for me to puke. Thanks but no.

Take care now, bye bye then.

 

[Mr_Mister]

Ofc he isn't dead. The red haired big boobed pornstar lady asks Katie how Willi is doing in the book club.

But think, if they are sending the kids away to keep them safe, why in God's green Earth would they tell them anything truthful??? You don't want them asking questions. You don't want them trying to find out the truth. You want to give them something definite that would keep them at bay.

if they gave the kids to Nojiko to keeps them safe , why she made the stupid mistake of living in the same city?

 

[BobTheDuck]

i never saw that , because i'd always avoid Vic and Mila as much as i cant , (i wish you can avoid going to Vic's house and stay in Nick's house getting to know Zara and Vanessa more)
Vic and Mila are easily the most boring characters in the game so far , followed very close by Maja.

Even if I'm not interested in a character, I've learned with Ocean it's often worth doing a play through of each path, as different info is revealed on each. For example, if you don't say you make a great team with Bella, you get a different locker room scene, and that leads to a flashback later in the game. So many dialogues are mutually exclusive and can't bee seen on one playthrough, so to get a full overview, multiple plays are needed.

Maja is only boring because we have no interaction with her in any meaningful way. I'm sure she will be more interesting as a coach.

 

[Adhdclassic]

I noticed Nika asked Nami how long Nojiko was going to the book club she says ever since we got here. Which means they didn't always live there, we know they went to tropic high school. Where were they before?

 

[Adhdclassic]

Just because some people say they are doesn't make them it. I think they were both just orphaned at the same time (game logic) they grew up and grew close to each other. Have a brother/sister like bond but also, more than that.

The brother/sister bond for orphans. If you were an orphan and grew close to another boy/girl, they would be your what, brother/sister, right? you both get adopted by the same person/people, you guys won't stop the brotherly/sisterly bond.

Well, more like "naughty, sister/brother" bond lol



I mean, if I was desperate for these characters to be related, and if I could make a patch? best believe it'll be out with whatever version is out lol. When people want something and want it bad, they on it.



Well, they should make up their dumb ass minds. So many games from back then that link to this/that, I don't want to hear their lame excuses. Makes me not want to risk buying shit on there anymore... can't download shit from here cause of the shady downloads now... I can quit cold turkey, right? nothing wrong with quitting....

I meant Blood related should have put that in. I agree on your sibling statement.