adamstan

Yeah, that's what it sounds like. Personally I prefer the sound of the Japanese language, but this is nice too

Wow, those Indonesian songs were actually pretty nice But the melody of the second one sounded strangely familiar. Isn't it by chance cover of Japanese song? Like, listening to Japanese pop from cassette? Today I've been listening to Akina Nakamori again Recently I alternate between her, Ayumi Nakamura and Halina Frąckowiak

Some time ago I wrote: And now it seems that Pulltop is going to release a physical package edition titled Kono Oozora ni! PULLTOP Juvenile Pack containing Umikana, Anofure, and all-ages versions of Konosora (subtitled "Flutter Wings" for this release) and Miazora ("Light Signal") - which up to this point didn't have all-ages JP release, only translated one. That Miazora all-ages JP edition looks tempting, but I'd like separate release, since I already own physical editions of Cruise Sign and Anofure, and have Umikana on Steam. And 12,000JPY isn't exactly cheap Also, it seems that the content from fandiscs isn't included, so that would mean Flutter Wings is still inferior version compared to Cruise Sign, and there's still no all-ages version of Fine Days

That's not exactly correct. True route is mostly about Umi. And I don't think she really needs a "character route" in the first part.

Sometimes this method of blurring and resharpening gives quite nice results - it's amazing, how much those algorithms can guess. Just look how nicely that moon in the upper-right corner turned out - original 16 color: And edited 256 one: Also, while working on the images, I added flame to the bonfire in the evening school festival background:

Yesterday I finally completed my first route in Konneko ~Keep a memory green.~ It took me 21 hours, but somehow those 21 hours got spread over three months I started with Touka's route, since that's what all walktrhoughs suggest I'm not sure if it was right decision, since it seems to be kind of true/main route, and I usually prefer to save those for last. As for my impressions after that first route - it's one of those "feel good" VNs for me. It starts out as a fluffy, cute comedy moege, but it did nice shift to nakige in the second part of the route, and reached very heartwarming ending. So now I'm looking forward to see what's there for other heroines. Next route I'm going to read will be Mana's. My only complaint so far is purely technical - when there's music change, currently playing track gets cut off abruptly, with no fades at all. It's a bit jarring. Otherwise everything works great, and even though I'm playing PS2 version, I can hook text with no problems.

I'm still experimenting with various ways of image processing to create "256 color" versions of in-game assets. Unfortunately the method I proposed in March isn't suitable for all images that can be found in this VN, so I had to think about something else. And I tried the method that involves applying various amounts of blur to different layers, re-sharpening them using GIMP's tools, mixing and blending them to taste, and in final step converting image to 256 color mode. I think I still prefer original, but it looks promising - and since it will be switchable, there should be no problem For comparison - original 16 color assets: And the same scene in the "256 color mode" using processed images: At the very least, I think it looks better than Memorial Edition

Well, ok But could I perhaps ask you in the future to include at least some summary/abstract when you post your videos as thread starters? Some of the topics are interesting, but I really find it a chore to sit through video - unless it contains something that couldn't be written. So I guess I'm the exact oposite of that: I prefer to read lots of paragraphs than to have to watch someone tell me the same thing on the video

+1 for Akio and Sanae being one of the ultimate best VN parents I think I'll finally give Clannad anime a go - rereading whole VN would take up too much time, but it might be nice way to re-live the story in a different way.

Nice writeup And actually I'm really glad that for once you didn't make a video I think that for a forum, the text makes better OP than just a link to the video.

Aaand.......... the first proofreading phase is over Now off to the editing with it. I hope that @Plk_Lesiak makes something readable out of it And in the meantime I will continue coding Japanese version and editing images for "256 color mode"

Thanks for the words of encouragement And as for progress report - today I checked chapters 10 & 11, so that means 85% done.

I started with Misae (because that's what walkthroughs suggested ) and I found it nice introductory route. Good luck

Today I went over the rest of the chapter 8 and whole chapter 9, so now it's 73% done. But I have to confess, that every time I read a translation discussion on VN-related forums, I lose a bit of confidence...

Among the cassettes I bought recently, apart from two great Akina Nakamori's albums, there was also "Kids Blue" by Ayumi Nakamura. Her voice needs a bit of getting used to but the songs are lovely. I know her by the song "Tomodachi" I heard on internet radio - it's a third song from the album: Lovely carefree retro vibe And as for Akina Nakamori - with each listen of her albums, I'm liking her more and more. She's true '80s goddess.

So, after quite a long break, today I finally had another proofreading/TLC session, and so I reached 60% mark, going over most of the 8th chapter.

Nice deck, that Pioneer My main deck currently is also Japanese dual-capstan three-header - AIWA AD-F810. I also have a bunch of Nakamichi (670ZX, 482, 480) and Onkyo decks. As well as some Polish ones, but those are more for the sentimental value

Today I got six Japanese cassette tapes from '80s - including two albums by Akina Nakamori

I think that when it comes to Clannad, the routes that hit me hardest in the feels in the first part of game (before After Story) were Fuko's and Kotomi's. And I also was initially completely uninterested in Fuko, yet I was shedding tears during her ending.

Well, FWIW, I read Clannad as my 31st VN, and still gave it 9+ rating, and it remains my highest rated VN

Yesterday I made a mixtape with '80s Japanese songs. Akina Nakamori, Shizuka Kudo, Seiko Matsuda, The Checkers, and others - and I'm listening to it just as I'm typing this Tracklist: A1. Hiroko Moriguchi - Samurai Heart A2. The Checkers - Hoshikuzu no Stage A3. Yoko Oginome - Dancing Hero A4. Shizuka Kudo - Kanashimi no Etranger A5. Miki Kawashima - Lonely Eyes A6. Noriko Sakai - No.Re.Na.I.TeenAge A7. Kiyotaka Sugiyama - Sayonara no Ocean B1. Seiko Matsuda - Daite... B2. Shizuka Kudo - Again B3. The Alfee - Hoshizora no Distance B4. Akina Nakamori - Southern Wind B5. The Checkers - Kanashikute Jealousy B6. Off Course - Sayonara B7. Kome Kome Club - FUNK FUJIYAMA

+100 for Dictionary of ... Japanese Grammar But, as @Zakamutt pointed out - it's dictionary, not a guide or textbook, so you need to know some basics before you can (or even recognize you should) use it

I think it happened to me once. Also, when I'm alone I often talk to myself in my broken Japanese.

Also, it's worth noting that it's possible to read (and enjoy) VNs with the help of text-hooking and dictionary even while being quite below N2 level. I'm somewhere on the way to the N3 right now, and yet it somehow works - although I have to admit that it slows me down considerably. So N2 or N1 might be the level necessary to read comfortably, at a decent pace, without too much external help, but it's way above "The bare minimum" mentioned in the OP BTW I fully agree on the learning speed - don't hurry. Also, @Clephas is right about grammar's importance. It's relatively easy to look up unknown word, but it gets tricky with unknown grammar.

Yesterday I got back to Konneko after month-long break. It's interesting case - this is one of those stories that (for me) are easy to put aside, but also very easy to jump back in, and when I read it, I enjoy it very much It's mostly SoL cuteness, but the kind that I like I think I'm currently near the beginning of Touka's route. This VN seems to get some ideas/influence from first ToHeart - sometimes I think the mood is a bit similar.