Hey Chiel, 

You already know which way I lean, though I will support whatever you choose. ^_^

One thing that probably should be clarified is that there are very differences between releasing whole routes vs chapters. With the whole route, you get the full story for that bachelor, so there is really no waiting to find out what happens with him. With the chapter releases, you are getting parts of the story at a time. I hate the individual chapter releases, LOL. THAT'S when I get impatient. Routes don't bother me because I see them as separate stories anyway. I think of it more like standalone novels in a continuous book series than episodes in a show.

With that said, whatever you decide, we'll support you. It all comes down to what you want to do.

Since pretty much everyone that commented so far seems to like the per route releases better, I felt that I had to come out of the shadows where I usually lurk to share a differing opinion. I actually quite dislike the release of games by route (Mystic Destinies, Tailor Tales, most mobile otomes) or chapter (When The Night Comes, Errant Kingdom, Andromeda Six, Our Life: Beginnings and Always).

That doesn't mean that I don't love those games, in fact I've played and loved all those games that I just listed (including quite a lot of mobile otomes back in the day), it's just that I much prefer to wait until the whole game is done so I can binge-play it all once rather than get a little at a time and then suffer waiting for the next bit. I'm quite impatient in that once I start something, I just want to finish it right away. I'd much rather be patient and wait for the finished product before starting it.

It's also hard to remember the story when it's released in parts, usually months later, and makes me usually have to replay everything I'd already done when the next part comes out, which I could avoid having to do if it just came out all at once. In fact, I sometimes just decide to wait until the whole game is done to play anyway, even if I could have started reading parts of it early, which bums me out even more because then I know that it's self-imposed waiting rather than waiting that's out of my control. 

Another point against the per route release method is something you brought up, in that once they release a part, they can't go back to change anything or improve or polish anything, since it's already released. As someone who does some writing of my own, I literally don't understand how someone can release part of an unfinished story knowing that they can't go back and change or improve anything, depending on how the story's going, either plot-wise or quality-of-writing-wise.

And another thing tangentially related to my last point, I think it might actually take longer to release a game this way. Like, I gotta wait even longer because they're releasing it in parts, meaning each release has to be up to standard. They gotta go through the "is this ready for release" testing phase (proofreading, bug testing, quality check, etc) every time they release a new part, instead of just focusing on writing/programming and finishing up the game before going through the "is this ready for release" testing phase once at the end. And if the quality of the writing/game increased toward the later parts or you kinda want to change some parts of the story later, oh well, you can't, since those parts of the game have already been released. I feel like it kinda almost limits what you can do with it.

Ok, I guess I can leave it there. Seems that I'm incapable of typing anything other than a hella long message, sorry. >.<  I guess that I've just been noticing that this is more of a trend now with this genre of games, and I've just had a lot of iffy feelings about it. Despite all that, I want you to know that even if you decide to start releasing games in parts like everyone else seems to be starting to do, I will still love your games and play them anyway (just like I've loved and played those games I listed earlier even though they all released in parts). My dislike of that method of release won't be enough to keep me away, don't worry. :)  <3

Hi Chiel ❤ I'm the silent supporter who comments on your posts every two years, lol. But, since you're going through such a special phase preparing to your wedding, I find myself having to comment here more often. It's so fun to follow and I'm so happy for you! ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ

So! To answer your question, I feel like either way is great, but I'm more inclined to say I prefer releases in routes than the whole game at once.  I live in Brazil and the dollar is quite expensive these days. Because of that, it's easier for me to organize my finances to buy games that are released by route, since they are cheaper and come out periodically.

This is a very specific case and I don't think it applies for most of your fanbase, so I think what matters most is your own style as a dev. I've seen good comments talking about you as a perfectionist (same here!) and how route releases can have a negative impact on your polishing plans. In the end, I can say for certain that what feels right for you is the best approach! 

We'll be fine and here anyways! 

See you later! ❤ 

Hi Sweetchiel! :)

Wow ... The overworked background looks really good! The metal looks better and the shadows on the floor too. :) Was there blood on the floor before? O.O Now you can see it less. Was the intention?

To your question:

I have already played a few games after this model, but there are some differences even here.

Therefore, the first question should be: "How and what can you use technically in Renpy?" And without being confronted with other problems. (e.g., the destruction of Save-Data etc.)

For example:

- Mystic Destinies: The prologue and the first chapter of each character are free. The character routes are then a paid DLC per person (even the epilogue).

- Our Life: Beginning & Always: Completely free to play and there are only small events / stories that happen as DLC's in the individual "life-steps". The last "step" is missing, for example, completely, but remains free.

- Taisho X Alice: Maybe an unusual example. Through the translation of Japanese in English, two complete character routes are always published with a distance of about 6-10 months. (Steam)

- Tailor Tales: Here it is more important if you do support or not. At Steam, the game in the normal version is free with just 3 final character routes available. As a Pateron you get access (in the normal version) to a chapter per month for the current route. On Steam, this route will then only be available if all chapters are completed. There is also a plus version in which there is still an explicit epilogue in the end.

- There are also other games that will be released per chapter, with the difference that there is either no character routes here or only later, even if the story remains the same in the background and not changed per character. For example: When The Night Comes, Errant Kingdom, Andromeda Six

Ok .. I'm sorry that has become a bit long.

My opinion:

If you want to decide to publish each character route individually, I would probably wait for everyone to be published. Surely I mentioned it before: I like complete games absolutely more, even if it means to wait longer. In addition, I hate to wait. It is so exhausting to be patient if you want to know how it goes on (or in this case, it runs in the other routes)! o.o

In addition, as I know you, it is not your style. And of course I speak of the beloved perfectionist in you. ;) We know you love to change things and I'm afraid you would hinder yourself if you can not do that anymore.

Finally, it's your decision. (Whether you really want and it works technically) And much more important: You have to be satisfied and proud of what you are releasing. (Without regrets) :)

Until next time!

<3 Yanonako

Hello, Chiel! Thank you for the good work!

I love binging. So, if you are releasing them by routes, I don't think I will buy them until it's all complete! So there's no difference for me. Because of that, I'm like shrug "Eh, it's okay either way".

But when you say that you love polishing, by that time I'm 100% leaning towards "releasing the complete game" instead! Rather than giving me a chance to play the game earlier, I would much rather that you are proud and not regretting what you have put out 😂 Oh you perfectionist you 😂 (I understand that tho haha)

K-Dramas are great! I love watching them too. I especially love historical ones tho, like saeguk 😆 Or thriller, psychological, mystery, horror, or intrigue lol I don't really watch the romcom ones, even with how much I love romance. Too cheesy for me lol I think Penthouse is in the drama side not romance, so I've been wanting to check that out! Too bad K-Dramas are looong, I'm too lazy to watch them until finished. But ironically I have finished watching Empress Ki, which has 51 eps HAHAHA It's a saeguk and intrigue. Soooo, yeah 😆

Edit: Eh, for some reason my eyes skipped the "better fund flow"... I mean finance is pretty important. So now I'm 50:50 instead 😂😂 I guess this is a matter of sacrificing A for B, or B for A. Maybe it's better to look at your reality first then you can look at anything else.

On one hand, I love playing a full game and being able to binge, but I've also really enjoyed other games that have released by routes! (Tailor Tales is a pretty good example :) ) Although I do have a preference of routes rather than episodes ^^' 

I like to think that it's kinda the same with tv shows. It's more exciting to have to wait for the next installment rather than to have the whole season at your fingertips ^.^" I am a little confused on the polishing aspect though, most of the games I've seen have been able to go back to certain routes and be able to edit them after completing them. Unless you mean otherwise? :)

Of course it's ultimately up to your comfort! We're all fine with having to wait :) I hope everything is going well with the wedding planning ^u^ it's always the little things that are forgotten, at my quinceañera we had gotten the church and pastor all planned out but we left my crown at my house LMAO I had to use the church's plastic one :(( I hope other than those little hiccups that you haven't been too stressed out! :)

Mystic Destinies released different from Anicon. I have both  (only Steam version) so I think I can give you my opinion.

Mystic destinies released the game demo as base and allowed you to unlock a route by buying the route dlc. I have the full game (bought all routes) and all of them are accessible by running the game demo.

So in Bermuda, it would be the current demo then each dlc purchase unlocked its respective route in the demo. To play a route, I would only need to run the game demo and select the unlocked route I bought.

Our Life: Beginnings & Always also have the same strategy. They are on steam and itch if you'd like to check. (I was not paid to promote the game)

Anicon releases routes separately as each route is a separate game.

So applying this to Bermuda, it would be each route as a separate game.

I have nothing against it if you decide that it is the best course of action to release your games route by route.

However, I would prefer the way Mystic Destinies released their routes. For me, it's convenient to have the game demo unlock routes as I purchase each route dlc, rather than have to buy multiple routes and all of them are separated games.

My limitations in English don't allow me to form a better explanation of my points of view, so I hope I was able to convey my opinion and help you with your decision.