What are your gripes/criticism of TiTs?

[Esti]

Most of career choices don't make sense plot-wise. I mean that Victor Steele could make his heir learn basically anything and he, presumably, wished his child to survive the Rush and then to live great life as a CEO of SteeleTech. But most of those careers are good only for the first part (and we know that Victor didn't gift his heir with genetically programmed aptitude for leadership or something).

I mean, let's take the Mercenary, for example. Arguably the best class to survive the Rush. He's strong and resilient, can kill almost any foe, survive almost any hurdle thanks to his armor, weapons and skills and then... what? He would shoot anyone in a boardroom who will object to his demands? I mean he isn't even a general, he is a solder. Good one, but still.

Or let's look at the Kineticist. Super-child, space-wizard, never without a weapon, doesn't even need one! He can throw big rocks at you, he can freeze matter, he can split earth itself and conjure some lava and spikes and shit, he can even fly... And how exactly it would benefit CEO? I mean, yeah, he would be great at parties, no doubt. But without mindcontrol (and we know that the protagonist wouldn't get one) it would amount to very little.

Or Tech Specialist. You could probably think that it is the best career since there is "tech" in "SteeleTech", and child would be smart, at least. But, actually, this is the worst offender. You see, while the heir-techie would be smart and would know how things work, he wouldn't be one of the real cutting-edge science guys, He wouldn't invent anything new like Lessau or even Olimpia (never seen the Protagonist doing something like that), he wouldn't even create something state of the art good from existing technology like super-drone or something (his original drone is shitty and others are bought, not made). Sure, he would know how to fix things and how to make a machine to work a little harder and those are great skills... for a handyman. So you definately would be qualified to work in the SteeleTech, just not in the position you imagined. And with his shields he would survive Rush just fine, I suppose.

Smuggler is the only exeption. Not the most obvious choice for the CEO either, but at least this heir apparent would have some relevant experience with economics, would know how black market works, would have contacts with lots of people who can find him almost anything for the right price and would be able to talk just about anybody into giving him a discount. In short, he would know how to handle a business pretty well, at least in some capacity. And, of course, all those skills paired with good reaction would come in handy even in survival part.

 

[Esti]

There is a bit of obsession about being fucked and being the bottom bitch in this game. Listen, no kink-shaming here and I do like some femdom (or even hermdom) from time to time myself, but I value the choice most and there isn't always one. Like with Anyxine who just assumes, if you liked having sex with her once in very specific circumstances, that you would be happy being her bitch for the rest of your life. Or lets take this herm party with Kiro. You both go there to fuck and while miss Tamahime does just that (and looks cool doing it), you are basically deceived and fucked yourself. Alright, fine, I get it... No hard feelings. That can happen to anyone. Once. But those events are regular and if you go again the game always treats that as if you liked being used. If you don't kiss the hand this time around (the only way you can show that you are not fine with that) Mai just says that she would have to fuck you extra hard as a punishment. And who the fuck told her that you would let her? Nobody. Alright, you can just skip those, but, if I'm not mistaken, that would hurt Kiro's feelings and her trust and I don't want that. Than there is Mirrin who assumes that it's you who will be fucked... and many, many other instances of the same thing.

Listen, I'm fine without having sex with an NPC. I'm fine with them being angry at me for rejection. But I want to know beforehand that the only way how it can play out is with them being on top (or fucking me), and the ability to bail out of that situation if that's the case. I want that choice.

Also, when you are topping you are almost always as vanilla as you can only be. Loving, caring, soft and so on, but if you are a bottom than it's BDSM party time! Oftentimes you would be used and abused like there is no tomorrow. Why?

 

[valk42]

because that is what the commissioners want and pay for

 

[Amakawa Yuuto]

Most of career choices don't make sense plot-wise. I mean that Victor Steele could make his heir learn basically anything and he, presumably, wished his child to survive the Rush and then to live great life as a CEO of SteeleTech. But most of those careers are good only for the first part (and we know that Victor didn't gift his heir with genetically programmed aptitude for leadership or something).

I mean, the obvious hand-wave is that Vic didn't get any of that training and learned everything during his time on the rush, so that's what he pushes Steele jr. to do, too.

That's why he's having us do a scavenger hunt, rather than making inheritance dependent on acing an economics quiz.

 

[Esti]

because that is what the commissioners want and pay for

That's possible. But do you have any concrete evidence or that is just a theory?

 

[Esti]

I mean, the obvious hand-wave is that Vic didn't get any of that training and learned everything during his time on the rush, so that's what he pushes Steele jr. to do, too.

That's why he's having us do a scavenger hunt, rather than making inheritance dependent on acing an economics quiz.

But that is not an answer, my good sir. Yeah, Victor wanted his heir to be a rusher and not a spoiled brat, and so the Rush we do, but he couldn't possibly just assume that we would get all the needed training during it. It's not common, after all, and Victor Steele wasn't stupid.

 

[Nonesuch]

That's possible. But do you have any concrete evidence or that is just a theory?

As someone who's taken commissions for this game going on a decade now, I can tell you that the split between people willing to pay for more bottom content vs top content is about 70/30.

 

[TheIrishOtaku]

But that is not an answer, my good sir. Yeah, Victor wanted his heir to be a rusher and not a spoiled brat, and so the Rush we do, but he couldn't possibly just assume that we would get all the needed training during it. It's not common, after all, and Victor Steele wasn't stupid.

The story in this game isn't the most well written, you honestly have to just hand wave and not think too deeply about it in quite a few instances.

 

[Amakawa Yuuto]

Victor Steele wasn't stupid.

[Citation needed]
He was a lot of things, including cunning, occasionally ruthless, and obviously quite adventurous, but the details are deliberately left vague - the only thing we actually know for certain is that he was horny (and charismatic).
Besides, even otherwise smart people can still get incredibly stupid ideas stuck in their heads, especially when those ideas are outside their field of competence.

"It worked for me, if it doesn't work for my heir, that's on them!" might very well be one of them, especially in a porn setting where the greatest common factor amongst all the sentient species in the universe is "almost everyone likes to fuck."

And yes, that last thing is important, because considering how horny Steele Sr. was, for all we know a lot of his decisions were driven by it, so maybe he really thought "Travel the stars, meet interesting people, and fuck them" was all the education you needed to succeed.

 

[MagicGal]

Most of career choices don't make sense plot-wise. I mean that Victor Steele could make his heir learn basically anything and he, presumably, wished his child to survive the Rush and then to live great life as a CEO of SteeleTech. But most of those careers are good only for the first part (and we know that Victor didn't gift his heir with genetically programmed aptitude for leadership or something).

I mean, let's take the Mercenary, for example. Arguably the best class to survive the Rush. He's strong and resilient, can kill almost any foe, survive almost any hurdle thanks to his armor, weapons and skills and then... what? He would shoot anyone in a boardroom who will object to his demands? I mean he isn't even a general, he is a solder. Good one, but still.

Or let's look at the Kineticist. Super-child, space-wizard, never without a weapon, doesn't even need one! He can throw big rocks at you, he can freeze matter, he can split earth itself and conjure some lava and spikes and shit, he can even fly... And how exactly it would benefit CEO? I mean, yeah, he would be great at parties, no doubt. But without mindcontrol (and we know that the protagonist wouldn't get one) it would amount to very little.

Or Tech Specialist. You could probably think that it is the best career since there is "tech" in "SteeleTech", and child would be smart, at least. But, actually, this is the worst offender. You see, while the heir-techie would be smart and would know how things work, he wouldn't be one of the real cutting-edge science guys, He wouldn't invent anything new like Lessau or even Olimpia (never seen the Protagonist doing something like that), he wouldn't even create something state of the art good from existing technology like super-drone or something (his original drone is shitty and others are bought, not made). Sure, he would know how to fix things and how to make a machine to work a little harder and those are great skills... for a handyman. So you definately would be qualified to work in the SteeleTech, just not in the position you imagined. And with his shields he would survive Rush just fine, I suppose.

Smuggler is the only exeption. Not the most obvious choice for the CEO either, but at least this heir apparent would have some relevant experience with economics, would know how black market works, would have contacts with lots of people who can find him almost anything for the right price and would be able to talk just about anybody into giving him a discount. In short, he would know how to handle a business pretty well, at least in some capacity. And, of course, all those skills paired with good reaction would come in handy even in survival part.

Yeah I never understood why Fenoxo or Savin didn't just write Victor creating a PMC for Steele-jr to run in the Rush. It justifies the nature of the classes, it makes sense from a story perspective has it's practice for Steele-jr in running an organisation, and makes sense in Steele-jr constantly looking for people to add on their ship.
Edit: If anything it shouldve been like Interstellar, google that, I guarantee the comparison makes sense.

 

[Esti]

As someone who's taken commissions for this game going on a decade now, I can tell you that the split between people willing to pay for more bottom content vs top content is about 70/30.

Thanks for the answer! It makes sense.

 

[Theron]

Most of career choices don't make sense plot-wise. I mean that Victor Steele could make his heir learn basically anything and he, presumably, wished his child to survive the Rush and then to live great life as a CEO of SteeleTech. But most of those careers are good only for the first part (and we know that Victor didn't gift his heir with genetically programmed aptitude for leadership or something).

You let out a long sigh. Now that you’ve finished your schooling, your whole life is ahead of you. Memories of your dad pushing you forward spring to mind. After all, you’ve got a whole mega-corp to take over one day.

(Emphasis mine.)
1. We know what careers Victor Steele suggested, but we don't know what schooling Cpt. Steele had beforehand, though it was certainly the best money could buy. There was a pilot school, at least. It's possible there were classes for what a CEO should know. And there was at least one other heir presumptive.
2. The careers are also specifically called out as odd.
3. Victor may have felt that it was important to have 'real world' experience. To know what it's like at the 'boots on the ground' level, as it were.
4. Cpt. Steele is forming relationships with many important locals on the Rush planets, much like Victor likely did. This will make expanding Steele Tech operations in the area a lot easier.
5. Victor died at 200, which is specifically called out as a short life for someone as rich as he is. His heir has a long time to learn on the job.
6. Cpt. Steele is taking over a functional company, rather than building one from scratch. Presumably, there's a trusted Vice President/assistant to help.
7. Victor hated his brother Max, who stole his claims and formed a rival company using them. He may have felt that if Cpt. Steele just inherited everything automatically, they would be just as bad.
8. The Cousin/Rival is a foil, showing what Cpt. Steele could have been without practical experience.
9. 'Genetically programmed aptitude for leadership' is probably not an easy thing to do. Remember they could only add one mod (Perk), which are all fairly simple. And if you didn't take Intelligence and Bookworm, that's on you.

Yeah I never understood why Fenoxo or Savin didn't just write Victor creating a PMC for Steele-jr to run in the Rush. It justifies the nature of the classes, it makes sense from a story perspective has it's practice for Steele-jr in running an organisation, and makes sense in Steele-jr constantly looking for people to add on their ship.

You really expect them to keep a persistent NPC through the entire game? They have enough trouble with the followers we have!
The party-based combat system was added much later, as well.

 

[Nonesuch]

You really expect them to keep a persistent NPC through the entire game? They have enough trouble with the followers we have!

There's no reason Vic had to be alive for a PMC he set up to function. I think that would've been a very good idea, actually.

 

[Theron]

There's no reason Vic had to be alive for a PMC he set up to function. I think that would've been a very good idea, actually.

By 'them', I meant the writers/developers. How many NPCs have been left with unfinished content?

As for a PMC, are we envisioning Steele being present in battle (so a party system)? Some kind of telepresence and giving orders? Or would we be playing the PMC directly in combat?

You also lose an aspect of the Rival-as-Foil. Currently, Steele is doing everything personally (courageous hero). while the Rival is hiding behind hired muscle (cowardly villain).

 

[MagicGal]

Having Victor make a proxy PMC company for Steele-jr would not require whole new mechanics, pmcs don't have to be huge (the writers constantly reference Cowboy Bebop and that other scifi-western anime as inspirations that basically do exactly what I said), just look at it as a written justification. Black Lagoon is a good point of reference for what I mean. Minus or plus the violent aspect, it lends itself to the same situation easily and doesn't interfear with the horny aspects
It'd be nice if companions are a thing but you're thinking in terms of how Coc2 n TiTs relate to each other and not how each can stand on their own.

You also lose an aspect of the Rival-as-Foil. Currently, Steele is doing everything personally (courageous hero). while the Rival is hiding behind hired muscle (cowardly villain).

.
Tbh, the Rivalry with Jack/Jill is thin as water, Blue from pokemon has better rivalry and he barely changes n Red is a silent protag, Tuff. Jack being a foil doesn't work when Steele is barely a character, just a collection of quirks and those do not make a character.
And without making Steele an character, you could still make contrast between the two by how they treat the people that work under them. Ntn would change for the worst, only for the better.

 

[Jn_Sinnombre]

Steele is doing everything personally (courageous hero)

Nahhh mine is using the Steele's Family Special Technique:

'Genetically programmed aptitude for leadership' is probably not an easy thing to do. Remember they could only add one mod (Perk), which are all fairly simple. And if you didn't take Intelligence and Bookworm, that's on you.

I don't think it's that far fetched for being genetically manipulated for having an aptitude for leadership imo, isn't Gastigoth designed babies born and have their genes manipulated to a similiar way to you? it's likely that yes Captain Steele does have some genes that do help on well leadership and quick learningso it's likely that Captain Steele is more genetically pre-disposed to learn things easier.

You also lose an aspect of the Rival-as-Foil. Currently, Steele is doing everything personally (courageous hero). while the Rival is hiding behind hired muscle (cowardly villain).

And tbfffff the Rival and Steele are barely characters, you interact with the rival for like 4 minutes tops with all the planets, the only real diference is that our Steele can be a horndog who snorts Tfs like it's candy going on a wild ride on the planets while Jill/Jack are mostly just gunning down for the probes.

You can still make a PMC and make a foil because it's clear Captain Steele can have relationships with most of the crew (ranging from Friends with benefits to outright dating) and meanwhile Jill/Jack uses their mercenaries as just hired guns to make the job easier as we can see with Dane and Feruze where the relationship is pretty just professional.

 

[D'Angelo]

As someone who's taken commissions for this game going on a decade now, I can tell you that the split between people willing to pay for more bottom content vs top content is about 70/30.

Do you have any more knowledge or insights like this you can share about the general player base, and backers on Patreon? Do they follow similar demographics?
I may be a glass half full kind of man, but I always thought there were plenty of sub/ bottom ladies in these games. Sure, there are more than a few dommes who I wish had tableturning content, but alas, not everything will be to my taste. Still all in all I thought the majority of NPCs were.
I'm no backer, so the only polls I have seen are those in the coc 2 forums, and they favor companions like Brienne, Kiyoko and Etheryn, all bottoms. I wouldn't expect tits to be significantly different.
Is that just a characteristic of paying commissioners I wonder? I myself, using your content for example, although I really like sub Sera, and I'm sure I'd really like sub Jasvalla - if it ever happens, have never been a backer or commissioner. In fact I've never paid money for any kind of porn in my whole life, and I don't see that changing. But I had the impression that was just my personal stance rather than the norm, figured SOMEONE must have been paying for all this content that I like. Thoughts on the matter?

 

[Nonesuch]

Is that just a characteristic of paying commissioners I wonder?

Yes.

The underlying issue here is that the vast majority of porn is heterosexual male focus where the male is on top and is basically just an object for the female to slather herself over. Without hyperbole, that is 95% of porn you can find on the internet. If you want something different, you have to go looking, and you might have to pay to make it happen. The Fenoxo games have always had a significant amount of femdom and futa, enough to attract people looking for it - and once they've found it they really want more. Because there's only so much of it available! If you're a guy who wants to honk off to a lady slobbing on your cock and you don't feel there's enough of that here, you can always shrug your shoulders and go find it being done five million times over somewhere else. On the other hand, perhaps you would like to be the lady in this scenario. Fen games caters to this fantasy in a way that standard porn does not.

In terms of demographics vastly more trans people come through here than is representative, because another significant aspect of the Fenoxo games is transformation - and just trans visibility in general. Hell, Fen himself is married to a trans lady he met through this work.

 

[Skunkupine]

That is such a good explaination for what is going on. I hadn't considered the fact that the more vanilla stuff is widely available, and that causing a skewing of the commissions the other direction. However, that does mean the tendency is for TiTS to be driven ever further from the mainstream, and eventually becoming very niche based; something of which that any would-be player or supporter should be cognizant.

 

[Savin]

and eventually becoming very niche based

What do you mean EVENTUALLY?

 

[Skunkupine]

What do you mean EVENTUALLY?

You haven't gone fully to hyper-herm-super-subby-Steele, yet - you guys are still adding some basic story content - at least, I hope that will be some of Dhaal, and some of the Tessa expansion. I will have to wait until that is publicly released. Given the direction things are going, I've dropped my Patreonage, since I am not interested in the fringes, and thus the balance shifts infinitesimally more towards the extreme.

 

[Dude_with_bad_english]

You haven't gone fully to hyper-herm-super-subby-Steele, yet

Are you read update logs for, I don't know, last year or something?
TiTS is on same shelf with Tales of Androgyny or Secretary from Deedee in means subby-subby tendency of contents. Yes, you can fighting this and avoid being subby, but amount of content for you will shrinking proportionally.
Ok, ok! Perhaps I'm thickening the colors, but no one can dispute the fact that subby Steele has a lot more food on his plate with juicy bits and it looks like it will continue to be so.

 

[D'Angelo]

Yes.

The underlying issue here is that the vast majority of porn is heterosexual male focus where the male is on top and is basically just an object for the female to slather herself over. Without hyperbole, that is 95% of porn you can find on the internet. If you want something different, you have to go looking, and you might have to pay to make it happen. The Fenoxo games have always had a significant amount of femdom and futa, enough to attract people looking for it - and once they've found it they really want more. Because there's only so much of it available! If you're a guy who wants to honk off to a lady slobbing on your cock and you don't feel there's enough of that here, you can always shrug your shoulders and go find it being done five million times over somewhere else. On the other hand, perhaps you would like to be the lady in this scenario. Fen games caters to this fantasy in a way that standard porn does not.

In terms of demographics vastly more trans people come through here than is representative, because another significant aspect of the Fenoxo games is transformation - and just trans visibility in general. Hell, Fen himself is married to a trans lady he met through this work.

Mighty interesting read, friend. I hadn't thought about most of the points you brought up.
If we could delve even deeper, I would say the games still allow for the very primal, standard heterosexual male fantasy. You are rich, famous, leader of a crew, physically imposing, doing dangerous shit by your own damn self against all kinds of foes, all the while able to fuck basically any woman and knock many of them up left and right.
And again, I am an optimist, so I could just be seeing my lawn greener than my neighbors, but I would say top content is notably more abundant than bottom content in the games.
Would you agree with these statements?
In the end, the grasp of the community I now have: drawn by the futa femdom and similar niche aspects there is a SIGNIFICANT part of the whole (players and backers), but still not the majority, as the content split would suggest to me, those are the usual presumed porn consumer brand of straight men. Still, drawn they are, and exist they do, they found a gold mine and want more, thus they enter in force in the commission department, resulting in a comfortable majority of 70 to 30 on that front.
Spot on? Or am I way off?

 

[Argus the Manticore]

This game really needs to implement Peggy's Elasticizing Lube already. The Treated Zil's sex options imply it's planned, but man am I sick of having to deal with size limits. And in the meantime, an integrated "take condensol" options would be really frickin' nice.

Also, the lack of male crew members or sexable males in general. I don't insert as the characters, I just enjoy seeing male on futa and femboy/male stuff, so it's pretty disappointing how few options there are for that when I play as a femboy or futa.

 

[Kuzya]

More dzaan alphas, long term hypnosis with consequences and addictions in general and less furry and scaly if at all possible not really a criticism just a personal preference i am more than happy to skip any content i personally dislike

 

[SmithEK]

More dzaan alphas, long term hypnosis with consequences and addictions in general and less furry and scaly if at all possible not really a criticism just a personal preference i am more than happy to skip any content i personally dislike

I do love a Dzaan alpha. I would say more content for Luca.

 

[Kuzya]

I prefer jasvalla but luca is definitely a good civilization

 

[Nonesuch]

Mighty interesting read, friend. I hadn't thought about most of the points you brought up.
If we could delve even deeper, I would say the games still allow for the very primal, standard heterosexual male fantasy. You are rich, famous, leader of a crew, physically imposing, doing dangerous shit by your own damn self against all kinds of foes, all the while able to fuck basically any woman and knock many of them up left and right.
And again, I am an optimist, so I could just be seeing my lawn greener than my neighbors, but I would say top content is notably more abundant than bottom content in the games.
Would you agree with these statements?
In the end, the grasp of the community I now have: drawn by the futa femdom and similar niche aspects there is a SIGNIFICANT part of the whole (players and backers), but still not the majority, as the content split would suggest to me, those are the usual presumed porn consumer brand of straight men. Still, drawn they are, and exist they do, they found a gold mine and want more, thus they enter in force in the commission department, resulting in a comfortable majority of 70 to 30 on that front.
Spot on? Or am I way off?

Pretty much. Heterosexual guy focus is still overwhelmingly popular - and almost all of TiTS' writers past and present are heterosexual guys - so that type of content is always going to be well represented. And we can see the essential playboy fantasy in the story Fen concocted.

It's just that because that audience is very well catered to more generally, they aren't possessed by the same urge to commission authors to get more of it. It's not unheard of by any means! The last random commission I took was to produce a bunch of male-top scenes for Bizzy. It's just not as common.

 

[tailspin21]

Am I the only one who thinks that the most recent character maybe took a little too much inspiration from Sly Cooper? Carmelita shares not just her name with Inspector Carmelita Fox, but also her hairstyle, necklace, and entire top half of her body really. I don't know anything about her personality, as I haven't played it, but I can say it's very distracting and I hope she isn't an officer as well.

 

[valk42]

Am I the only one who thinks that the most recent character maybe took a little too much inspiration from Sly Cooper? Carmelita shares not just her name with Inspector Carmelita Fox, but also her hairstyle, necklace, and entire top half of her body really. I don't know anything about her personality, as I haven't played it, but I can say it's very distracting and I hope she isn't an officer as well.

did you miss how lorelei is just rouge the bat? expies allowed