Lambda

I'd try at the $1 level, if possible/you want to go down in tiers, to see if there's any news and interesting Kickstarter-only things...

I got the All-ages version, but I haven't started it yet cause I needed to study for a midterm I had today. But, 20-30 hours? Is there a reason that's 10x more than VNDB's estimate? I wouldn't imagine +Mosaic adds that much...

Oooh I'll be on the lookout for that, then! ...They did include CGs of it in that post, but the date's very much up in the air for them, I guess... Sona-Nyl has the best looking main guy, so I don't see why not! But seriously, it is the next step backwards in time, so that would make sense, although I don't know how dependent on the older titles it is.... Because part of the reasons they picked Gahkthun was that it was modern and not super-dependent on the prior titles, right? Or am I remembering things wrong...?

Mangagamer's preorders are up for No, Thank You! (February release, YEAH!) And that and Eden are all I care about right now. Though I am looking forward to Ozmafia and Gahkthun.

Warning, long post: First off, you have everything from recommending Katawa Shoujo down twice. Can't be bothered to quote that entire huge chunk of text for what I need, so bear with me here: "Personally I think the Japanese voiceovers really add." ...Add what? This sentence isn't complete. "Most visual novels are translated by fans and not actual companies, and as such they don’t dub the voices if there are voiceovers. Instead they only translate the text." Even official companies (like Mangagamer, Aksys when they released otomege, Sekai Project and JAST) keep the voices. That's not the reason. Anime culture in general is heavily against dubs, and it's waay too much money to pony up if you're gonna be reading what they're saying anyway. Not worth it. "Let’s start by defining what a visual novel is. It is a developing medium that originated in Japan, and it is often adapted after an anime or graphic novel/manga." ...? I think you mean this the other way around. Anime is adapted from VNs.... You make it kinda sound like most of the time people won't just be reading text? Like, you don't mention that it's first and foremost a book. That you happen to read on the computer. The "novel" part is a key part. Having people expect something like Ace Attorney constantly will just be setting them up for disappointment. "Many visual novels can be easily compared to RPGs, except in the way they tell the story and the fact that they have more complicated branching plots and more character routes." This definitely makes people think that VNs have a great deal more gameplay than they actually do. And if you're gonna do that, suggest an RPG/VN hybrid for them, then, so they can get their feet wet. There are none on that list. Also, a picture or two would greatly help with the imagining of what a typical VN screen looks like. Because you're either kinda vague or really confusing. This is for beginners. What is a "character sprite"? Frankly, I played Da Capo II just last night and I have trouble picturing what a typical VN looks like using your description. ....Okay, but why link to the Fuwanovel Katawa Shoujo when you could link to the Dev's site...? Your recommendation structure is also really confusing. Should I go Good Starter Novels -> Possibilities -> If you liked these, read these possibilities -> If you enjoyed these, read these? Is there a reason your final list has much more information about each game than the middle two? Are there any connections between all of these lists, a natural follow-up order where you read Katawa Shoujo then Clannad then Shuffle then Grisaia or something? You might wanna either make that clear or just make it one list. Because Katawa Shoujo then Clannad then G-senjou then Comyu is a really interesting evolution, but they don't really build on one another... If you're gonna recommend Little Busters, I wouldn't recommend Clannad in the same list and vice-versa. They're the same type of novel by the same people, so maybe move one to "If you liked these"? If there is indeed a natural order through which to move between lists. In return, I'd add Fate/Stay Night somewhere in your recommendation structure, based on its popularity as a gateway VN (seriously, go read the "what was your first VN" topic), and not starting people with any visual novels with action in them until they move to G-Senjou is just odd?? They got through two lists believing that VNs are mainly romance-genre Chara-ge.... I'll also note that I've never seen Shuffle recommended anywhere. For anyone. So that's kinda interesting. (I'd maybe leave that off the list..., but that's me..)

Deredere~ Being lovey-dovey is too fun~ Wouldn't wanna miss out on that~

I'll note that Cartagra was 11th and that's... something, at least. But yeah, not very surprising. Nukige have been mangagamer's best (or most consistent)-selling titles for a while, and they haven't made any real steps to pull back from the story-based titles, so I wouldn't worry too too much... I'm kinda curious as to how LE/hardcopy sales affect the overall sales numbers of a title... hm...

Just a note that your link to My Girlfriend's the President is the link to the fandisc... ....JAST tempting me again. Must... stay... strong...

Well, a large amount of people introducing themselves to the game would look at the introductory video, right? Especially since it's been out for a while. How the creators wanted to position themselves is right there. Beli... isn't there. Audrey has a huuuge fight with someone where she uses a whole bunch of insults you only really see on tv. Two women see each other and affectionately call each other "whore" and "skank", which I've frankly never seen... And of course, every interaction is described by "insensitive" Kyu... If they wanted to position themselves differently, they certainly could have. Instead, the devs seemed to embrace their sleaziness. And because that's how most people on the internet got familiar with this game, mixed with screen shots of the most offensive lines because just because characters say them doesn't really excuse the writers for writing them - people will get offended differently but a piece of fiction is never really excused for embracing racism in any form - so you really can't say this is a "poor misunderstood game".

I will say that this probably isn't otaku-unique in North America, at least. T-shirts with long sleeves are great for lazy girls in the summer~ Besides, why make arguing with your friend specific to K-on!? If you've argued with anyone irl over who is best waifu/husbando, aren't you nearly there? ...Do know the despairing over SAO's popularity feel, though.

You could get the non-Steam version on MG's site for a free Steam Key, unless you're having problems with it.... I dunno if there are meaningful differences with +Mosaic, but the original is on their site, too. Anyway, I caved and preordered this last week. The price is too good... It's short enough I'll probably drop everything after my midterm on the 31st to finish it.

There's now a $1 option for people who want to get in on this but are waiting for news on the Vita/"other" versions to use backer kit to add in the Vita version. Given what's going on with the 18+ versions, I don't know if "other" refers to them or the Max/Linux versions b/ Sekai doesn't wanna be associated with Denpa at all. Anyway, for people who were waiting on the Vita, you can go back it~

On that subject, while I'd prefer it if mentions of sex were still there, if I toggle off h-scenes, I don't ever wanna see naked sprites. So that might be an implementation snag.

Ah, thank you! That's good. I was worried I'd be buried in angst or love triangles again or something... Haha Koko route.. Anzu's route was pretty fluffy, though, so there's that...

Still mainly working through Da Capo II. Finished Anzu's route, onto Nanaka's! Yay? Given Koko's route quality, and the fact that they're sharing so much of their story, I'm a little worried.... But I will say that I'm really enjoying the part of each of the routes where they're lovey dovey. Somehow I picked a route progression that mirrored my real life relationship, that was nice. It was actually really relateable? Yeah....

I don't have cool opinions on the first topic, just that toggles are gr9. It would make me feel more comfortable sharing the fact that I actually like VNs with my friends, so that's a step. And definitely makes me feel more inclined to ask people if they wanna read something/recommend something. Because when you're first starting, the porn is either majorly off-putting or a major draw and honestly, for people not sufficiently into arguing who the best waifu is, it's mainly off-putting.

Looking forward to more of your reviews! It'll make me be able to tell if that shiny game I'm eyeing is mediocre or actually good, so... The story sounds insane in a good way, I think, maybe... ...Is the gameplay fun? Because it is gameplay-focused, right?

One of those CGs gave me an incredibly DMMD vibe, for some reason... ....This makes me unbelievably sad. I'll try it later. Once I have less vns to read. This seems very low priority unless someone tells me it's incredibly fun. ...Is it fun?

Only reason I was really interested was 'cause I heard the gameplay/the storyline were good and it's three bucks. But if it's gonna throw me in a pit of despair... I'm okay. Thanks. I'll begin looking at my RPG options.

Will definitely look into Recettear and Legend of Heroes. They both look really interesting. Thanks!~

Not that, then. Do you have any games in the sale you'd recommend?

I see how it is... the cheap pigeons staring me down again. The only thing stopping me is the fact that I don't have Steam, but that might not stop me for long enough this time... Guess I'll just debate buying the pigeons + another really cheap game (looking at Blazblue, maybe?), or preordering Eden...

I watched the Fifth Element without knowing what to expect at all.... I'll give it its humour, and the action that wasn't centred on explosions. Too many explosions, though. And that romantic subplot... Totally unconvincing. The heroine wasn't a character, she was a plot device...

Nanako was too adorable. She made getting back home after a long day of... whatever the protag was doing better. "Welcome home big brother!" Aaah such a cute little sister!~ My little brother should take notes!