Formlose Gestalt

We're happy to announce that the Kickstarter for VenusBlood HOLLOW International is now online!
Give it a look if you enjoyed the previous title or Strategy RPG games!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ninetail/venusblood-hollow-english-localization-project

It's as Templarseeker said. Even if you read a in-depth review, your experience can still be very different. I had my share of reading full of praise reviews of games I found interesting at first glance, just to play it myself and not find anything praise worthy anywhere.
In the end, ratings are just highly subjective numbers. Everyone have their own standards, so nothing stops someone to give 10s to nukiges they enjoyed  or giving 1s to games that have a 10 seconds NTR scene when they weren't expecting any.
It's all about your expectations and if they're fulfilled I guess.

I am not going to lie I haven't used the Discord store myself, but you need to download the Discord program here: https://discord.com/new/download
And then use this link to join Mangagamer server: https://discord.gg/Xb28rjc
Once you are there you need to click on Bokuten under Games and should be able to buy it with Paypal or a credit card. But after joining the Mangagamer server I am sure there people that can help if something doesn't work, there are usually staff members of Mangagamer online.
 

On May 27th Sol Press announced in a Blog post that they will not license any new VNs and but are intending to release the titles that they have licensed.
Here is their quote:
Link: https://solpress.co/blog/803/where-we-are-and-where-were-going
 
Then today after silently removing it from their website and being asked about it on Discord, they announced that they won't translate The Future Radio and the Artificial Pigeons.
You can find the second blog post here: https://solpress.co/blog/846/news-regarding-laplacians-the-future-radio-and-the-artificial-pigeons
 
I just wanted to share that information here.
 
Personally I am disappointed with both news. I know that Sol Press doesn't have the best reputation, but with them gone there will be fewer VN translated in the future. I personally was looking forward to The Future Radio and the Artificial Pigeons. and Nukitashi, so I am especially disappointed by the second news. And it is a really bad look that they have to already walk back on something that they said 10 days ago. Even if a staff member explained on Discord that they said they where only intending to finish all announced projects.
I guess that is just the reality of the VN translation business.

A user asked the Japanese Twitter of Light (the creators of Dies Irea) about Silverio Vendetta and Soushuu Senshinkan Gakuen Hachimyoujin or more specifically about both series and they answered in English.
Here is what they said:
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532698336784387
and
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532937592537089
and lastly
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268533041565220864
 
Since their parent Company Greenwood shut down last year, we didn't know if there is any chance for the Light catalogue to see a translation. So this is really good news and if you have any interest in these titles or titles like Dies irae or Fate/Stay Night, please consider telling them on twitter to let them know that there is interest! They also ask about ideas of how to make it happen.

A user asked the Japanese Twitter of Light (the creators of Dies Irea) about Silverio Vendetta and Soushuu Senshinkan Gakuen Hachimyoujin or more specifically about both series and they answered in English.
Here is what they said:
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532698336784387
and
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532937592537089
and lastly
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268533041565220864
 
Since their parent Company Greenwood shut down last year, we didn't know if there is any chance for the Light catalogue to see a translation. So this is really good news and if you have any interest in these titles or titles like Dies irae or Fate/Stay Night, please consider telling them on twitter to let them know that there is interest! They also ask about ideas of how to make it happen.

Silverio Ragnarok (the 3rd game in the series) was already in production when the parent company of Light Greenwood went under. Even in the statement of closing down they alluded to a plan to still finish Silverio Ragnarok, and that came true with the help of Ares, the parent company of Windmill. (They are also listed on the page for 1st and 2nd game but I don't what role they played back then, possible the All Age console releases?) At some point apparently also Nexton got involved in getting Silverio Ragnarok out. Silverio Raganarok released this year in April a year after Greenwood closed down and the Twitter account has been active all this time to promote Silverio Raganrok. We also know that the store of Light has been handled by Akabei Soft since Greenwood closed down. (That was in the statement when they closed down.)
So in the end we don't really know who holds the licenses for Light games and who we are talking to on Twitter, but Light as we know it doesn't exist anymore. Masada and G Yuusuke are working on Avestan, the story that was supposed to become Pantheon. I don't know if the team behind the Silverio series is still around after finishing Raganrok for example.
My guess is that we talked to someone from the Ares side of the Business that probably have the Silverio rights (maybe not alone who knows) and that's why the person said:
That sounds like the rights to Senshinkan series are in different hands and that company doesn't have the means to do a translation. (In contrast to the Silverio series). But who knows. That is only my interpretation.

At least we know that the rights to Silverio and Senshinkan are in someone's hands and they are considering translating them and looking for feedback. That is at least better than what we knew before and the rights don't look they are in limbo or in the hands of company that doesn't want to do anything with them. Of course that doesn't mean that anything comes out of this.

A user asked the Japanese Twitter of Light (the creators of Dies Irea) about Silverio Vendetta and Soushuu Senshinkan Gakuen Hachimyoujin or more specifically about both series and they answered in English.
Here is what they said:
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532698336784387
and
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268532937592537089
and lastly
https://twitter.com/light_staff_tw/status/1268533041565220864
 
Since their parent Company Greenwood shut down last year, we didn't know if there is any chance for the Light catalogue to see a translation. So this is really good news and if you have any interest in these titles or titles like Dies irae or Fate/Stay Night, please consider telling them on twitter to let them know that there is interest! They also ask about ideas of how to make it happen.

Anime Expo is usually the place where a lot of the VN Publishers drop their news, but this year AX is cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. But that doesn't mean that there are no news to share.
Âge
The first round of news came from Âge the creators of Muv Luv. They had an event live stream on July 1st that you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIc6XHZiDEY
 
Announcements:
Muv-Luv Photonmelodies♮
Release: Summer 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278506748706357248
and
Muv-Luv Unlimited - The Day After
Release: 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278510380961034241
I guess that this is Alternative Chronicles Vol.1-4 but I can't quite confirm that since I couldn't catch the live stream. Besides that they also announced the translation of the Muv-Luv Alternative manga.
 
Jast USA
Jast and Ninetail announced a Kickstarter for Venus Blood -Hypno- named VenusBlood HOLLOW for the international release.
The Kickstarter should launch this Autumm.
You can find more information on the official website: http://www.ninetail.tk/tde12/index.html
https://twitter.com/Intl_Ninetail/status/1278741873306157056
 
Mangagamer
Mangagamer announced an expansion for Steam Prison centering around Fin.
 

https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903093376270336
and
Jeanne at the Clock Tower ~Jeanne a la tour d’horloge~ from Liar-Soft
https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903363569098752
Here is the website for more information: http://mangagamer.org/jeanne/
 
 
Sekai Project
Sekai Project had a panel at the online convention KuroCon on this Twitch channel. (Maybe there will be a VOD later on the channel?)
Here are the news posts on Sekai Projects website: https://sekaiproject.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
And on Denpasoft: https://denpasoft.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
Announcement 1:
9-nine-:Episode 4
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560338522824704
They hope to have Episode 4 quicker than the wait between Ep.2 and Ep.3
 
Announcement 2:
Karakara 3
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560593712672776
 
Announcement 3:
Slobbish Dragon Princess the newest VN by Whirlpool
 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279561225416785921
They are aiming for similar release window as the Japanese release this October.
 
 
Announcement 4:
Please be Happy by Studio Élan 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279559820316565504
Official website: https://vnstudioelan.com/games/please-be-happy/
 
They also showed an free HD Update for Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star- and it's Fandisc Hoshizora no Memoria -Eternal Heart-.
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279558951713964032
 
 
 
Since this news round will be a lot less centralized than usual I am certain that I will miss some news, so please post what ever news I miss in this thread!
 
I don't think Nekonyan had planned to attend AX, so I am unsure if there will be any news from them.
 

I'm so happy to see another Liar-Soft game! And this one has "normal" art? That's something.

Mangagamer announcements:
 

Anime Expo is usually the place where a lot of the VN Publishers drop their news, but this year AX is cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. But that doesn't mean that there are no news to share.
Âge
The first round of news came from Âge the creators of Muv Luv. They had an event live stream on July 1st that you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIc6XHZiDEY
 
Announcements:
Muv-Luv Photonmelodies♮
Release: Summer 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278506748706357248
and
Muv-Luv Unlimited - The Day After
Release: 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278510380961034241
I guess that this is Alternative Chronicles Vol.1-4 but I can't quite confirm that since I couldn't catch the live stream. Besides that they also announced the translation of the Muv-Luv Alternative manga.
 
Jast USA
Jast and Ninetail announced a Kickstarter for Venus Blood -Hypno- named VenusBlood HOLLOW for the international release.
The Kickstarter should launch this Autumm.
You can find more information on the official website: http://www.ninetail.tk/tde12/index.html
https://twitter.com/Intl_Ninetail/status/1278741873306157056
 
Mangagamer
Mangagamer announced an expansion for Steam Prison centering around Fin.
 

https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903093376270336
and
Jeanne at the Clock Tower ~Jeanne a la tour d’horloge~ from Liar-Soft
https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903363569098752
Here is the website for more information: http://mangagamer.org/jeanne/
 
 
Sekai Project
Sekai Project had a panel at the online convention KuroCon on this Twitch channel. (Maybe there will be a VOD later on the channel?)
Here are the news posts on Sekai Projects website: https://sekaiproject.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
And on Denpasoft: https://denpasoft.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
Announcement 1:
9-nine-:Episode 4
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560338522824704
They hope to have Episode 4 quicker than the wait between Ep.2 and Ep.3
 
Announcement 2:
Karakara 3
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560593712672776
 
Announcement 3:
Slobbish Dragon Princess the newest VN by Whirlpool
 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279561225416785921
They are aiming for similar release window as the Japanese release this October.
 
 
Announcement 4:
Please be Happy by Studio Élan 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279559820316565504
Official website: https://vnstudioelan.com/games/please-be-happy/
 
They also showed an free HD Update for Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star- and it's Fandisc Hoshizora no Memoria -Eternal Heart-.
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279558951713964032
 
 
 
Since this news round will be a lot less centralized than usual I am certain that I will miss some news, so please post what ever news I miss in this thread!
 
I don't think Nekonyan had planned to attend AX, so I am unsure if there will be any news from them.
 

JAST and Ninetail announcement
 

Anime Expo is usually the place where a lot of the VN Publishers drop their news, but this year AX is cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. But that doesn't mean that there are no news to share.
Âge
The first round of news came from Âge the creators of Muv Luv. They had an event live stream on July 1st that you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIc6XHZiDEY
 
Announcements:
Muv-Luv Photonmelodies♮
Release: Summer 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278506748706357248
and
Muv-Luv Unlimited - The Day After
Release: 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278510380961034241
I guess that this is Alternative Chronicles Vol.1-4 but I can't quite confirm that since I couldn't catch the live stream. Besides that they also announced the translation of the Muv-Luv Alternative manga.
 
Jast USA
Jast and Ninetail announced a Kickstarter for Venus Blood -Hypno- named VenusBlood HOLLOW for the international release.
The Kickstarter should launch this Autumm.
You can find more information on the official website: http://www.ninetail.tk/tde12/index.html
https://twitter.com/Intl_Ninetail/status/1278741873306157056
 
Mangagamer
Mangagamer announced an expansion for Steam Prison centering around Fin.
 

https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903093376270336
and
Jeanne at the Clock Tower ~Jeanne a la tour d’horloge~ from Liar-Soft
https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903363569098752
Here is the website for more information: http://mangagamer.org/jeanne/
 
 
Sekai Project
Sekai Project had a panel at the online convention KuroCon on this Twitch channel. (Maybe there will be a VOD later on the channel?)
Here are the news posts on Sekai Projects website: https://sekaiproject.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
And on Denpasoft: https://denpasoft.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
Announcement 1:
9-nine-:Episode 4
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560338522824704
They hope to have Episode 4 quicker than the wait between Ep.2 and Ep.3
 
Announcement 2:
Karakara 3
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560593712672776
 
Announcement 3:
Slobbish Dragon Princess the newest VN by Whirlpool
 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279561225416785921
They are aiming for similar release window as the Japanese release this October.
 
 
Announcement 4:
Please be Happy by Studio Élan 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279559820316565504
Official website: https://vnstudioelan.com/games/please-be-happy/
 
They also showed an free HD Update for Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star- and it's Fandisc Hoshizora no Memoria -Eternal Heart-.
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279558951713964032
 
 
 
Since this news round will be a lot less centralized than usual I am certain that I will miss some news, so please post what ever news I miss in this thread!
 
I don't think Nekonyan had planned to attend AX, so I am unsure if there will be any news from them.
 

Anime Expo is usually the place where a lot of the VN Publishers drop their news, but this year AX is cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. But that doesn't mean that there are no news to share.
Âge
The first round of news came from Âge the creators of Muv Luv. They had an event live stream on July 1st that you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIc6XHZiDEY
 
Announcements:
Muv-Luv Photonmelodies♮
Release: Summer 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278506748706357248
and
Muv-Luv Unlimited - The Day After
Release: 2020
https://twitter.com/muvluvseries/status/1278510380961034241
I guess that this is Alternative Chronicles Vol.1-4 but I can't quite confirm that since I couldn't catch the live stream. Besides that they also announced the translation of the Muv-Luv Alternative manga.
 
Jast USA
Jast and Ninetail announced a Kickstarter for Venus Blood -Hypno- named VenusBlood HOLLOW for the international release.
The Kickstarter should launch this Autumm.
You can find more information on the official website: http://www.ninetail.tk/tde12/index.html
https://twitter.com/Intl_Ninetail/status/1278741873306157056
 
Mangagamer
Mangagamer announced an expansion for Steam Prison centering around Fin.
 

https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903093376270336
and
Jeanne at the Clock Tower ~Jeanne a la tour d’horloge~ from Liar-Soft
https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1278903363569098752
Here is the website for more information: http://mangagamer.org/jeanne/
 
 
Sekai Project
Sekai Project had a panel at the online convention KuroCon on this Twitch channel. (Maybe there will be a VOD later on the channel?)
Here are the news posts on Sekai Projects website: https://sekaiproject.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
And on Denpasoft: https://denpasoft.com/blogs/news/kurocon-2020-updates-announcements
Announcement 1:
9-nine-:Episode 4
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560338522824704
They hope to have Episode 4 quicker than the wait between Ep.2 and Ep.3
 
Announcement 2:
Karakara 3
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279560593712672776
 
Announcement 3:
Slobbish Dragon Princess the newest VN by Whirlpool
 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279561225416785921
They are aiming for similar release window as the Japanese release this October.
 
 
Announcement 4:
Please be Happy by Studio Élan 
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279559820316565504
Official website: https://vnstudioelan.com/games/please-be-happy/
 
They also showed an free HD Update for Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star- and it's Fandisc Hoshizora no Memoria -Eternal Heart-.
https://twitter.com/sekaiproject/status/1279558951713964032
 
 
 
Since this news round will be a lot less centralized than usual I am certain that I will miss some news, so please post what ever news I miss in this thread!
 
I don't think Nekonyan had planned to attend AX, so I am unsure if there will be any news from them.
 

Feel free to leave any feedback you have, positive or negative, in the comments.
Ko-Fi Donation Link:
https://ko-fi.com/nowitsangetime
Notable Links (all SFW):
Sol Press blog post about dropping Future Radio and other Laplacian titles - https://solpress.co/blog/846/news-regarding-laplacians-the-future-radio-and-the-artificial-pigeons MangaGamer releases Beat Angel Escalayer R- https://twitter.com/MangaGamer/status/1270930887165739008?s=20 Information on Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne - https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2020/06/09/rezero-the-prophecy-of-the-throne-game-confirmed-for-the-west Master Magistrate on Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066630/Master_Magistrate/ Master Magistrate 18+ Patch - https://mega.nz/file/bJdgVIZR#pck5Wn8KaHtQ0rWisFzPGug9iyEj1AAj6RsatQVie9w Aokana Extra 2 Japanese announcement - https://sprite.org/information/2020/06/16/id-1453/ Mahoutsukai no Yoru English Patch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf-9w9O5B7o Aokana PS4 Scene Modification Announcement - https://twitter.com/PQubeGames/status/1273539684946325504 ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1230140/ATRI_My_Dear_Moments/ Adabana Odd Tales on Steam (blocked in EU) - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1094820/Adabana_Odd_Tales/?curator_clanid=36936933 Maitetsu Anime announcement (JP) - https://twitter.com/rail_romanesque/status/1275715557300547586?s=20 Tomoyo After Switch Announcement site - https://www.prot.co.jp/switch/tomoyoafter/index.html GRISAIA PHANTOM TRIGGER 01&02 Switch eShop - https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/grisaia-phantom-trigger-01and02-switch/ Alka Translations Monthly Status Report July 2020 - https://alkatranslations.com/alka-translations-status-report-july-2020/ Trailer and information on fault milestone two side: below - https://www.projectwritten.com/post-en/fault-ms2b-new-short-pv Gin'iro Haruka Momoji Route Patch - https://tsurezurescans.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/giniro-haruka-update-30-momiji-route-patch/ Props to AndrewBlackSwordsman for the theme rendition in the intro. Follow him here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/andrewblackswordsman 
Social Media you can find/contact me at:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/superange128
MyAnimeList:
https://myanimelist.net/profile/NowItsAngeTime 
Steam:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/nowitsangetime 
Discord
NowItsAngeTime👉 👌#5392
 

Hihi~
I just made a guide that explains all the -ge visual novel terms. I am aware there are many other guides for that out there, and many of them were discussed before, but I tried to make mine more detailed and easier to understand. Specially for people new to visual novel who came from Anime world (and they are many). 
Hope my guide is to your liking, and it's the definite guide I want it to be, and of course, any feedback about it is welcome. 
Here's the link for my guide:-
https://SweetMonia.com/The-Lost-Konpeitos/a-guide-for-visual-novel-terms-genres-charage-moege-plotege-chuunige-ichaicha-kamige-kusoge-nakige-utsuge-eroge-nukige-lolige/

Even though there hasn't been a thread here yet I am sure some of you heard about a new collaboration between Aniplex and Frontwing and Liar-soft to release to two new VNs by both companies with worldwide simultaneous releases. These two VNs are ATRI -My Dear Moments- and Adabana Odd Tales, and few hours ago it was revealed that they are planned for a release this June.
Their Steam pages are here:
ATRI: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1230140/ATRI_My_Dear_Moments/
Adabana Odd Tales: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1094820/Adabana_Odd_Tales/
But if you are from Europe you will notice that you are blocked from viewing the page for Adabana Odd Tales. This has been the case for at least a month as complaints on the Steam forum shows, so it's unlikely that this is just a mistake. It is also noticeable that europeans are also blocked from viewing the official site for ANIPLEX.EXE which can be found here: https://aniplex-exe.com/
 
Aniplex is mostly known as an Anime licensing company, where it is standard practice to divide the distribution license for different territories like North America and Europe. My speculation is now that this also the case with Adabana Odd Tales, which would be an alarming new development for VN market. So far the publishers for translated VN where a able to sell their english translations around the globe with exception of Japan for the most part. To my knowledge there has never been an translated VN that has been blocked like this before. If this becomes successful and VN licensing is becoming separated for North America and Europe it would be huge step back for the VN industry.
 
Now I will admit that the last part is purely speculation on my part since ANIPLEX.EXE so far hasn't explained why the don't sell Adabana Odd Tales in Europe (but don't block ATRI), but until they clarify this situation I am concerned about this development. Even if you are not specifically interested in those two titles, as I explained above it could have further consequences for the VN industry, so It would be nice if you could spread this information further to raise awareness of the problem. If more people ask https://twitter.com/ANIPLEX_EXE and https://twitter.com/aniplexUSA maybe we could get an explanation.

Since ANIPLEX refuse to comment on the fact that they region-lock Adabana Odd Tales in large parts of Europe I really don't feel like supporting them at all.
Here is the Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1094820/Adabana_Odd_Tales/
 
If they would at least acknowledge it, I probably wouldn't be as pissed off, but with them not saying anything...
 
When I first heard about the ANIPLEX titles, I was optimistic since we got a new VN Publisher and the titles sounded interesting, but now I am pissed off when ever these titles are mentioned and ANIPLEX ranks among the worst VN Publishers for me personally.
 
I would urge anyone to think twice about supporting ANIPLEX. If their method of region-blocking is successful (in that their games still sell despite it) I can see this happening more often in the future. (Since they probably paid less for the license in return.) And I honestly don't think the VN scenes needs any more problems.
 
Sorry to mention this in your thread when your excited about ATRI, but I needed to say this. I won't come complain about it here again.

Apparently, the English PS4 version of Aokana, which is set to release in August, will receive additional censorship compared to the PC, Switch and Japanese PS4 version. As far as I know, there's been no clarification as to what has been altered or removed.

I'm very interested in this for the same reasons you are, but I have to say that I'm also somewhat averse to buying it, because Adabana, which will be released on the same day by the same publisher, is still geoblocked in Europe with, to my knowledge, no comments from ANIPLEX as to why. I wonder if it's futile optimism to hope that they'd unblock Adabana if the ATRI sales are good enough.