adamstan

Hi. After reading Kazoku Keikaku I was taken aback by poor editing of the later part of the game. Thinking about re-editing it into something more readable, I tried to extract the scripts from the game. Unfortunately I ran into the wall pretty quickly. The only tool that was able to do anything was ArcTools. It recognizes ISF files, has even built-in template for Family Project. Unfortunately it was only able to decompile dialogue lines, omitting everything else (narration, character names over spoken lines etc etc). It produced a bunch of files with content like this: :: word wrap line after, characters=50 :: - <7B79, 0006> "......"= - <8296, 0006> "Ai ya~"= - <8458, 0006> "..."= - <8948, 0006> "Hey, are you alive?"= - <89B2, 0006> "...mmm..."= - <8DA7, 0006> "Hey, what's wrong?"= - <8E89, 0006> "Are you okay? Can you get home by yourself?"= - <8F23, 0006> "..."= - <902D, 0006> "Ah..."= - <9109, 0006> "... Wo ... xiang yao ... yi bei ... shui."= - <923D, 0006> "Ai ya..."= - <92EF, 0006> "Hey."= - <94A9, 0006> "What happened?"= - <9A31, 0006> "Damn it."= - <9BC4, 0006> "But now isn't the time to be saying this."= Completely unusable. "AE VN Tools" is able only to extract files from main archive, but they stay in encoded form - its script module isn't working, so it cannot decompile scripts. On the AE page, I stumbled upon a pack of python scripts that are supposed to decompile and compile ISF scripts, and also convert them into Ren'py. Unfortunately - they crash d:\tools\isf_tools_20100606>isf_disasm.py snr00.isf >snr00.txt Traceback (most recent call last): File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf_disasm.py", line 97, in <module> print isf_disasm(sys.argv[1]) File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf_disasm.py", line 76, in isf_disasm x = isf.decompile(buf) File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf.py", line 589, in decompile return ast(ISF(), buf[len(j) * 4:], j) File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf.py", line 580, in ast isf.ast += [[o] + params[o](p, (j, js))] File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf.py", line 121, in p_onjp r += [(T_LABEL, ulabel(wd(p, i), jjs))] File "D:\tools\isf_tools_20100606\isf.py", line 65, in ulabel return js.index(j[l]) IndexError: list index out of range d:\tools\isf_tools_20100606>

Yes, you're right, this isn't right topic. Or maybe, even better, I should post it in FanTL subforum.

Well, I tried to extract scrpits using ArcTools, but it only exctracted dialogue lines, ommitting everything else (narration, character names above spoken lines etc etc), so I got bunch of files with content like this: :: word wrap line after, characters=50 :: - <7B79, 0006> "......"= - <8296, 0006> "Ai ya~"= - <8458, 0006> "..."= - <8948, 0006> "Hey, are you alive?"= - <89B2, 0006> "...mmm..."= - <8DA7, 0006> "Hey, what's wrong?"= - <8E89, 0006> "Are you okay? Can you get home by yourself?"= - <8F23, 0006> "..."= - <902D, 0006> "Ah..."= - <9109, 0006> "... Wo ... xiang yao ... yi bei ... shui."= - <923D, 0006> "Ai ya..."= - <92EF, 0006> "Hey."= - <94A9, 0006> "What happened?"= - <9A31, 0006> "Damn it."= There isn't much I can do with it I've googled "Ikura GDL script tools" but aforementioned Arctools is the only one that does anything. AE can extract files, but cannot decompile them into text format, as its script module isn't working - they stay as binaries, so unworkable too. If translation team had to work with something like this, I'm beginning to understand why it's such a mess

I think I probably could try to re-edit it into something more readable, but there are two problems. 1) I don't know/have the tools to extract script and then put it back into game 2) Probably there aren't too many people still interested in reading (or re-reading) such ancient VN.

I liked almost all about it - including minigames (but excluding shooting in Saya's route). It gave me all sorts of emotions, and I totally enjoyed it. Current English edition is really well made - running in HD, with the ability to switch languages on the fly. Totally recommend it. For now it's highest rated VN on my list.

Yesterday I finished Kazoku Keikaku (Family Project). Man, that was heavy... definitely not moege I read it in order suggested by walkthroughs - Matsuri, Chunhua, Masumi, Jun and Aoba, throwing bad ending somewhere in between. Hard to choose best girl, but as of route ranking, I think that Aoba was definitely the best, thanks to her development, followed by Jun and Matsuri, then Chunhua and at the end Masumi - her route felt the weakest for me. However, all routes have good after-credits epilogues. Protagonist also changes in a good way - at the beginning he was sometimes unbearable. Sometimes the drama felt little over the top. However, this VN gave me again some food for thought about relationships etc - big plus. The game itself has some quirks - for example Art and music was OK - nothing to write home about, but nothing horrible either. Backgrounds were good, and most character sprites too. Variable title screen was nice touch - at the beginning there is just empty house, but as you complete character routes, they appear on the title screen and when the game is completed it looks pretty lively Unfortunately - translation is total mess I remember reading about it in reviews, but it starts out OK and it keeps that decent level up to ~3/4 of the common route. Then it falls apart and turns into unedited mess, that often is hard to figure out - lots of typos, some missing lines, mismatched tenses, pronouns and particles etc etc. Often sentences seem to be translated out of context, which results in mismatched subjects. Knowing something about Japanese grammar I was able to somehow reverse-engineer it and figure it out (like, stripping the sentence of subjects and other things which are often omitted in Japanese and then trying to put it in context), but that was quite a chore. It looks like they ran out of either time or money for editing during the production and left last part unedited. Mind you, I read patched version - reportedly it was much worse in the first version. However here's the strangest thing about this. In the transition between common route and character routes there are some scenes/lines that repeat in each route - however in the script they are treated separately, as "skipping read text" doesn't pick them up. AND IN EACH ROUTE THEY ARE TRANSLATED/EDITED DIFFERENTLY! Ranging from almost decent to incomprehensible gibberish. WTF? At some lines it falls down almost to the level of infamous original translation of Agehas route in Konosora. So to sum it up - nice game, not exactly pleasant read but engaging. Unfortunately it loses points due to editing, as fighting with translation somehow dampened emotional impact of the routes. 7/10 (later raised to 7.5/10) Now I definitely need something lighter. I think it's finally time for Fureraba.

Yeah, but apparently that's how it was in manga as well - all that character depth and interactions were largely added by creators of old TV series. SMC aimed to be strict adaptation of manga, and that became its downfall.

Supposedly it gets slightly better later on but yeah, I'm probably too not ready for it . Screenshots don't look good, and reviews aren't encouraging at all. Some people say, that, paradoxically, its main drawback is that it sticks too close to manga (both considering story and character design - which apparently doesn't work well with animation), while the content added by creators of the original series turned out to something great. It's one of those - pretty rare - cases when many agree that the adaptation surpassed original material (90's SM anime >>> manga).

I'll probably get laughed at this, and I'm soooo late to the party, but I'm watching Sailor Moon. Currently I'm near the end of final season (Sailor Stars), 12 episodes left. When it aired originally I didn't like it at all - partly due to horrible translation that our TV used. Now I'm watching with english subs - and it's surprisingly good. And the music is totally amazing - actually it was the music that made me to finally watch it - I listened to songs, and loved them, so decided to give anime a try. It's the first anime I'm watching after veeery long break - when I was a kid, in the early '90s, our TV aired some vintage series from '70s and '80s - like Toushou Daimos, Captain Tsubasa, Time Bokkan, Paul no Miracle Daisakusen, Tiger Mask - most of them were Italian dubs, mind you - and that was my last contact with the medium. Probably thanks to this (being left out of the loop), I'm still able to appreciate Sailor Moon PS Ami-chan best girl!

I already have gog account, so if it happens, and the prices are good, I will gladly buy from them.

I played some text adventures in '90s, on C64 emulator

Yeah, there is some similarity - in later text games there was a picture showing current location and text box with description below. But in these games you had to type commands for protagonist to do anything.

In the video posted above, the guy mentions that the former "Morality in Media" organization, that claims to be behind this, has set out to ban Mass Effect and Witcher from Steam too They just started with anime titties, as that was easy target...

Just finished another ancient VN localised by JAST - Heart de Roommate The very beginning was painfully slow, and I thought that it will be 5-6/10 max, but then it took off, grew on me, and became rather enjoyable experience. The "anime" format - complete with teasers, eyecatches, filler episodes , recap episodes etc etc - was actually fun idea, and well executed. Three main heroines were all nice in their own way, and I found their routes good. Bad first impression quickly disappeared, and I started to like them. They start out as stereotypes, but then during the story they grow out of them. Again I cannot pick best girl, as each route had its charming point, however the main heroine of the game is clearly Asumi. At the beginning, she's your anime tsundere, but as the story goes, we get to know her other sides, and some redeeming qualities I went with her route first and ended liking her very much. Next was Tomoe alias MoeMoe : Very shy at the beginning, but she grows to be stronger. And remains pretty sweet all the time. As for her ending Then - Marutan Loli-looking, but doesn't behave like one Her route was interesting, and quite different from typical eroge story. The flags that Marumu often used while speaking, reminded me of the scoreboards waved by Miyako from Majikoi There are two short side-routes that are available from CG menu if you finish game without choosing any of the main girls. While I liked Namiki-oneesan as the character, her route was rather disappointing, and amounted to little more than a somewhat forced H-scene. Yoshiko-sensei story however was pretty decent. Then, after completing all main and side routes, Asumi true end is unlocked in aforementioned gallery. And it hits pretty hard (not on Key nakige levels, but still caught me) The art is great despite games age - it looks much better than Yukizakura I've read before, especially backgrounds. CGs are beautiful, and SD pictures are funny, and used well. The music was very good too - I especially liked "love theme" ("ALL-DAYS/ALL-WAY") that plays in the main menu, and "sad theme" ("Falling stars"), that we first hear at the very beginning of the game. After somewhat difficult start, this game really grew on me. 7.5/10 Continuing my exploration of ancient JAST titles, I think I'll go with Kazoku Keikaku (Family Project) next.

I haven't. I plan to read it after Heart de Roommate (which I'm reading now). Yeah, found it after I asked the question.

BTW, does anybody know why was Family Project pulled from JAST store? There is only physical edition (bundled with Heart de Roommate) listed at J-list, but download version is nowhere to be found (except pirated versions of course...) EDIT Ok, found it - it's on its own on Jlist too - when you select "game edition" from drop-down menu, there is only "download", as physical edition is out of print. Still strange that it's not on main JAST site.

About Song of Memories - is there a release date for english translation?

And maybe even it's not "Valve" but automatic system, similar to that utilised by FB? Meaning, if something gets flagged enough times, it gets pulled down (and nobody even checks it personally), or in the case of Steam - system generates generic warning to the developer - "Your game doesn't meet our standards. Change it or we remove it"? That would explain the vagueness of warnings, and lack of proper explanation what needs to be changed mentioned on Mangagamers blog. The pitfalls of "Vox populi - vox dei" approach

As was mentioned before, Witcher 2 and 3 are full of nipples (and they have sex scenes too, although camera is set to now show genitals) - yet it looks like they are not targeted. Or are they? That would cause some serious uproar I guess Easier to pick on a niche - but then again - if it's such small niche, then what's the point?

I just finished Yukizakura. It was nice. Lighthearted high-school rom-com with a little drama. Comedy in this was really good, and characters are likeable (except for EvilGrandVizier Vice Principal of course ) The best route was definitly Saki - her relationship with Yuuji (protagonist), as well as her character had some nice developement and route had pretty good flow. Other routes were enjoyable, but significantly weaker - officially game doesn't have main heroine, but for me it feels like Saki is the one. Other notable highlights would be Misaki epilogue and Rei route was good too. Misato-sensei and Kozue endings were somewhat disappointing for me (the routes themselves were OK, just the endings felt little lackluster). Nice thing about this game is that other characters don't disappear when you enter heroine route. They play important role throughout whole game. OTOH there is no clear distinction between common and heroine routes, with most key events repeating, so after the first route you'll probably be skipping a lot. Character sprites and CGs were quite good for such ancient game, backgrounds were OK (except for traincar, which could use some more detail). Nice, but IMO weaker than To Heart 2, so I give it 7.5 Game can be bought really cheaply on JAST site, so you may give it a try. PS To have sound on Win7 (and upwards probably) you have to download "imaadp32.acm" codec and put it inside game directory. Otherwise it will complain that the system cannot play ADPCM and there will be no sound. Same goes for Heart De Roommate and other similar games from that era. And continuing my adventure with old VNs, I'll now try aforementioned Heart De Roommate.

Yeah, I was just going to ask if I should really buy it now, or if there is some bigger sale waiting around the corner . I'm not out of the things to read, so I can wait.

And Clannad is 30% off on Steam - time to finally get it

I'm currently reading Yukizakura (Snow Sakura). So far I finished 2 routes, and it's good. Thanks to whoever recommended it in one of the recommendation threads (@tynmur I think?).

I checked mine. It's a Steam version with +18 patch from NekoNyan. It had two random saves, but it is easy to delete them - just delete everything from the "User Data" folder in game directory. It seems that these were some early saves, as there was no gallery button active in main menu.

When I'm into a VN usually I spend most of my free time reading. So it ranges from 3 to 5 hours on a weekday, and even up to 8-10 on Saturday. On average I'd say 4-5 hrs a day. Now, when I count it like this, it gets a little scary... Of course sometimes I take breaks, as VNs aren't my only hobby/pastime, but still...