Our Life: Now & Forever Survey Results! (Patreon)

Hey everyone!

The surveying process for Our Life: Now & Forever is over. There  were votes in the Kickstarter Survey and through various Patreon polls.  We’ve combined those votes together and will break it all down in this  post.

There’s also something we want to say to you all. After going through  this process, we came to see that we could’ve arranged the survey in  more effective ways to account for people’s view on repeating/not  repeating the same world as OL1. Such as just including a question where  we asked people upfront if what mattered was having the game be the  same setting/time as the original OL or if you simply didn’t want that.  It would’ve made things easier than picking between scattered genres and  such.

With that said, though, we couldn’t make people to redo the entire  survey process. We’re going to honor the results that did end up coming  from it and will work hard to make it fun! Plus, OL: N&F won’t be  the last project we ever do, hopefully, we can try other things in the  future.

Now unto the results- 

Question #1: Time Period

When it comes to when the game will be set, Modern Day won with 43% of the votes overall.

Regency era came in second with 23% of the total votes overall  between KS and Patreon, letting us devs pick got third place with a bit  under 20%.

Question #2: Town Size

For how big the place will be, Medium Sized won with 33%.

Large Sized and letting us pick tied for second place with 27% each.

Question #3: Preferred Geographical Elements

This was a multi-choice and people could pick as many as they wanted.  The top five things people chose were: a forest, flower field,  waterfall, a lake, and a mountain.

Since we have to create a cohesive area, some of the top choices  might have to end up being places the characters visit only once on a  trip or some might not be included at all. We are going to aim to find  ways to get those details in there, though. And some of the options not  in the top five might end in the game, if need be.

Question #4: Preferred Man-Made Elements

This was a multi-choice and people could pick as many as they wanted.  The top five things people chose were: a bridge, clock tower, fountain,  man-made gardens/fields, and a castle/palace/mansion.

Since we have to create a cohesive area, some of the top choices  might have to end up being places the characters visit only once on a  trip or some might not be included at all. We are going to aim to find  ways to get those details in there, though. And some of the options not  in the top five might end in the game, if need be.

Question #5: Submit Your Own Elements

We allowed people to write-in their own ideas for things seen in the  area. Quite a lot of things were suggested, which was neat! Some were; a  park, cliff sides, abandoned modern buildings, a tree house, a wishing  well, and plenty more. We’ll be keeping all your ideas in mind.

Question #6: Main Character Ages

When determining what age ranges the different Moments should  include, keeping it the same space of time as the original Our Life or  making it skew a bit younger tied with about 27% each.

How do we choose? Well, when the two younger age options are both  added together, it’s about 35%. Although, when the two older skewing  options are added together it’s also just about 35%.

So, we have a situation where right in the middle didn’t really win,  but there’s about equal interest in going younger or older, aha. Perhaps  the time each Moment skips doesn’t have to be the same. For example,  the first couple Steps could have a smaller amount of years that go by,  since lots of changes happen in a short amount of time while you’re  growing up. And then the later Steps will have a larger amount of years  skipped, since it can take longer for bigger changes to happen once  you’re grown. We’ll keep thinking about it.

Question #7: Release Style

Relating to the potential episodic release style, playing the free  episodes as they came out and purchasing DLCs once the full game was  completed won with 33%.

Not liking episodic releases period got second with 25%. Only playing the game when it was fully released got third with 22%.

There’s leaning against episodic releases on the whole, but it’s not  an option we’ve completely written off yet since a good amount of people  would participate in the release and it’d be nice not to have to wait  years to get OL: N&F content out. This is also something we’ll keep  thinking on.

Question #8: MC Coloring

For how the MC’s coloring gets determined, having a limited amount of specific options won with 67% of the vote.

Letting us pick got second with 17%. Third was a color slider at 16%.

Question #9: Side Love Interests

When it comes to including side romance options, possibly adding some as like a stretch goal or something won with 59%.

Definitely having some got second with 27%. Only considering it after  the game with the first two LIs is already finished got third with 13%.

Question #10: Animations

In the question about how important animation effects are, having a  balance between animations and adding extra art alterations won with  37%.

A slight preference against animation got second place with 34%. A slight preference for animations got third with 16%.

Question #11: MC Family Life

For how present the MC’s family should be vs. how much players wanted  to be able to customize the MC’s family, having an equal balance  between the two and leaning a bit towards wanting MC control tied for  first with 26% each.

Second was leaning a bit towards having a specific family at 23%.

Similar to the MC Ages question, this one has leanings in more than  one way. We’ll have to try coming up with a compromise to make it work.

Question #12: MC and LIs Content Distribution

In relation to how much content should be dedicated to the MC vs. the LIs, an even split won with 38%.

A slight preference towards LI content got second with 32%, third place was a strong preference for LI content at 18%.

Question #13: LI Personality/Appearance Feature Brainstorming

We had various ideas on how to expand the LI personality/appearance  feature, the most popular idea was a tie between letting the LIs have  more flexible relationships with characters other than just the MC and  making it so their personality traits are defined in a more complex way  at 35% each.

Giving the LI sprites alternate poses based on their personality got second with 18%.

Question #14: LI Relationship Feature Brainstorming

We had various ideas on how to expand the LI relationship feature,  the most popular idea was adding Antagonistic as a dynamic option with  21%.

Letting us choose got second with 20%. Allowing the MC to have a polyamorous relationship with both LIs got third with 18%.

Question #15: Non-Mutual Feelings

If non-mutual feelings were going to be added, making the dynamic depend on which LI you chose won with 68%.

Making it so the MC was always the one being pursued by the LIs got  second at 25%. 7% went to having the MC be the one always doing the  pursuing.

Question #16: LI Features Content Distribution  

When it comes to the importance between the LI personality/appearance feature vs. the LI relationship feature, it was a tie with an even  balance between features and a slight preference towards the  relationship feature won with 35%.

A strong preference towards the relationship feature got second with 21%.

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And that’s the most notable parts of the survey! It’s a lot to  consider. Our number one focus is definitely still on getting Our Life:  Beginnings & Always ready for a summer release, but when we've got  the time we're going to start doing small things for OL2. Specifically,  having concept art done to iron out the style of the game and  potentially the designs of the two new LIs. Their names are also going  to be thought on.

I hope you'll look forward to seeing more!