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Zalor

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  1. Like
    Zalor reacted to WaifuOverdose in Otonashi Ayana & Minakami Yuki AI Chatbot   
    Ayana bot:
    https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=grt4G3sHcA0SXsg6-eIHieBm4IHxClZL-8BtOBBwckA
    Can discuss philosophy and the infinite transmigration of souls with you
    can also look down upon you mortals
     
    Yuki bot:
    https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=DY9Z_ehLuRFREfztrGW2R1SOwLUX_Dc70MHtvCVnIIM
    The personality is still a little off... Sometimes she thinks she has no friends and hates life. If you get such a response, please give it a 1 star feedback.
  2. Love
    Zalor reacted to Ariurotl in So now Fuwa is really dead?   
    Frankly shocked that this place is still going.
     
    (and yes, this is my first post in 3.5 years)
  3. Like
    Zalor reacted to Happiness+ in Annoucement: Watercress and Fuwanovel Livestream!   
    Hello,  I'm proud to announce a new event next Friday!
    Fuwanovel is having a livestream on February 3rd @ 7 PM EST with Watercress. We will be vibing on our discord 's voice-chat. Having a good ol read-a-long of A Field of Flowers and Stars and Q&A afterwards. It's a sci-fi yuri OELVN that was my directorial debut as head of software engineering.

    It will be hosted by me, the software engineering director of Watercress.
    Kevin, one of the narrative directors from Sarchalen
    @TheForeverLoneWolf, Studio Director of Watercress
    Watch the read-a-along and Q&A here on Watercress's Twitch
    Hang out with us Fuwacord's voice chat.
    or be a square....
    February 3rd EST @ 7 PM US EST
     
    Visual Novel Intro
    Raine, a genius mechanic with a lust for adventure, thrives in the frontier of space accompanied only by her shipborne AI navigator. Well into her travels, she makes a critical error while piloting, jumping through an unstable wormhole and crash-landing on an unknown planet. There, she makes first contact with a young species of sentient beings that look a lot like humans with a hint of… goat? To return to her home, Raine must repair her ship before the wormhole closes. However, in this unfamiliar place, she makes a friend that forces her to question what she really wants.

     
    A Field of Flowers and Stars is a collaboration between Watercress, Somnova Studios, and Sarchalen Visual Media for YuriJam 2019.
  4. Like
    Zalor reacted to Clephas in Ange's Top 10 Favorite Visual Novel Soundtracks / OSTs   
    My top ten VN soundtracks
    Evolimit
    Komorebi no Nostalgica
    Hapymaher
    Silverio Series 
    Akeiro Kaikitan
    Ikusa Megami Zero
    Draculius
    Kitto, Todoku Sumiwataru Asairo Yori Mo
    Yami to Hikari no Sanctuary 
    Devils Devel Concept
     
  5. Like
    Zalor reacted to Plk_Lesiak in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Heart of the Woods and Highway Blossoms definitely deserve to be on the list. I would also lobby heavily for Sable's Grimoire (for doing a really interesting spin on magic academy & demi-human tropes) and possibly Love Ribbon (for doing a lesbian incest story that makes sense).
    I'll probably make a less half-assed post soon, maybe shill some more ebi-hime stuff. I'm kind of dead though, so we'll see how and when exactly. 😛
  6. Like
    Zalor got a reaction from Plk_Lesiak in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Glad you revived this sort of thing. Anything to connect the gap between the EVN and JVN crowd I think is a good thing. I don't have too much to add, but here are some I quite like that I haven't seen mentioned here yet:
    Juniper's Knot: A short, well written story that nearly a decade later still leaves quite a good impression. Focused on the interactions between a lost boy and a demon confined within a magic circle, it has some folklore-ish vibes to it. However, the bouncing between the two perspectives of the boy and the demon girl adds a modern flare to a story that otherwise does feel like it could be within a Grimm Fairy Tales book. This is all not to mention the beautiful art. For more info here's a review.
    Digital: A Love Story : "It's not what you say, it's how you say it that matters", is the first thing that comes to mind with this VN. The story itself is quite simple, but the presentation is so excellent that it makes up for where the story might slack. Especially as somebody who is quite fascinated with old computers, I loved how the whole story is told through BBS messages. BBS standing for Bulletin Board System, and was essentially the internet before the internet. Its presentation mimics said environment very convincingly as well.
    The Dandelion Girl: Another entry in that short and sweet department. Although often overshadowed by it's more successful sibling (the other 4chan visual novel, Katawa Shoujo), I think its charm shines through. And that's really the appeal I find with this VN. It's nothing amazing, but has a soulful charm to it. 
    I guess I'm just preserving the classics with this post, but I'm sure if @Plk_Lesiak sees this, he will have some more up to date VNs to mention. 
    Btw, glad to see that mine got a mentioned. Even if it's just to be polite. 
  7. Like
    Zalor reacted to Templarseeker in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Corpse Factory

    By the title alone you might think its a rip off of Corpse Party, nevertheless give the VN/Game a try and you'll witness a interesting, gloomy, dark, and semi realistic depiction of modern society. A psychological horror VN at its very core.
    In addition this VN/Game has decent English voice acting in it on some of the important dialogues!
     
    Cinders

    It is a reimagining of Cinderella with unique art style.
     
    Solstice

    Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi thriller of an VN
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  8. Like
    Zalor reacted to VNturePodcast in VN podcast - An VNture Podcast (by Tauros113 and M.R.)   
    Today's episode is another special one, as we have the honor of speaking with the Dynamic Duo of Zaka and Hata!
     
  9. Love
    Zalor reacted to Zakamutt in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Hey, I helped edit that thing after you posted the original for a reason!
    I notice that the only version of The Dandelion Girl that looks to be available these days is a remake, which was apparently rewritten a bit (by one of the original creators). I've linked to that one since the OG is no longer available at any link on vndb, but it's possible it's not the one you read (it's not actually the one I read back in the day). Also get rekt @HatchWashere I guess you're technically in now 😆
  10. Like
    Zalor reacted to HatchWashere in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    The game hasn't aged as well as some of our other stuff, but it still warms my heart knowing it was some people's first VN.
  11. Like
    Zalor got a reaction from Zakamutt in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Glad you revived this sort of thing. Anything to connect the gap between the EVN and JVN crowd I think is a good thing. I don't have too much to add, but here are some I quite like that I haven't seen mentioned here yet:
    Juniper's Knot: A short, well written story that nearly a decade later still leaves quite a good impression. Focused on the interactions between a lost boy and a demon confined within a magic circle, it has some folklore-ish vibes to it. However, the bouncing between the two perspectives of the boy and the demon girl adds a modern flare to a story that otherwise does feel like it could be within a Grimm Fairy Tales book. This is all not to mention the beautiful art. For more info here's a review.
    Digital: A Love Story : "It's not what you say, it's how you say it that matters", is the first thing that comes to mind with this VN. The story itself is quite simple, but the presentation is so excellent that it makes up for where the story might slack. Especially as somebody who is quite fascinated with old computers, I loved how the whole story is told through BBS messages. BBS standing for Bulletin Board System, and was essentially the internet before the internet. Its presentation mimics said environment very convincingly as well.
    The Dandelion Girl: Another entry in that short and sweet department. Although often overshadowed by it's more successful sibling (the other 4chan visual novel, Katawa Shoujo), I think its charm shines through. And that's really the appeal I find with this VN. It's nothing amazing, but has a soulful charm to it. 
    I guess I'm just preserving the classics with this post, but I'm sure if @Plk_Lesiak sees this, he will have some more up to date VNs to mention. 
    Btw, glad to see that mine got a mentioned. Even if it's just to be polite. 
  12. Like
    Zalor reacted to Zakamutt in The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs   
    Back in the day, we had a list of English-language-first visual novels. Unfortunately its OP, nohman, has left us. Fortunately, a lot of good EVNs have been released since then! As Fuwanovel's resident Japanese-knowing, JVN-enjoying EVN reader, I figure I'm in a unique position to moderate this thread.
    The previous list focused on "notable" EVNs, but to be honest, these days there are arguably so many notable EVNs that the list would get unwieldy. Besides, the reason to read anything is if it's good — or at least interesting — right? I want to see what you like.
    Anyone can contribute with suggestions. If you think it's good or interesting, tell me why, link the game, and I'll add it to the list. To get us started, I'll seed the list with some of my own favorites . Don't be discouraged if what you like is nothing like what I do, though — that's a sign that we need your help!
    The Fuwanovel List of Cool EVNs
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    Actual Sunlight by Will o'Neill

    Notable tags: Depression, Utsuge, Suicide
    Zakamutt: This is a dark VN, and it came to me at a dark time in my life. It's one of the most uncompromising depictions of depression I have seen, and the writing is as funny as it is cutting. Not for everyone, but for me: one of my two 10/10 VNs.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    An Octave Higher by Kidalang

    Notable tags: Fantasy, Magic/ESP Combat, Fictional World
    Zakamutt: This is an honest-to-god fantasy VN made by the Indonesian studio Kidalang. It reminds me a lot of Terry Pratchett: you have a big medieval-ish city, magic and technology combined, and some interesting social commentary. The creators' Indonesian roots show through here, as Indonesia lived through an attempted communist coup, then an anti-communist purge, in 1965 — the story centers around people of different classes dealing with the rise of industry and capitalism, with such fun things as magic used in factory production, and even factory-provided mana potions... This is not an uncritical communist paean by any means — read it and you'll see.
    Where to get: Steam
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    Blankspace by NoBreadStudio

    Notable tags: Escape Game, Mystery, Romance
    Zakamutt: Where 999 flavors its mystery with science-fiction technobabble, Blankspace flavors it with messy human drama. You wake up tied to a pipe, and the only one that can help you is Beryl, a teal-haired beauty who was trapped along with you. As you unravel the mystery to escape, you can also pick how you interact with her, perhaps even fall in love — there's a text-only (no CGs) sex scene patch, and I highly advise you get it, as it's written more like erotica than a normal VN h-scene. Quite interesting. The character writing is some of the best I've seen in a VN, with interactions being both natural and entertaining, but also moving the plot forward. The point-and-click elements aren't bad either, and serve the plot as much as less interactive segments.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    Cinders by MoaCube

    Notable tags: Lots of Choices, Proactive Protagonist, Fairy Tale
    Templarseeker: It is a reimagining of Cinderella with unique art style.

    Bonus: Fuwanovel review.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    Corpse Factory by RIVER CROW STUDIO

    Notable tags: Thriller, Horror, Modern Day Tokyo
    Templarseeker: By the title alone you might think its a rip off of Corpse Party, nevertheless give the VN/Game a try and you'll witness a interesting, gloomy, dark, and semi realistic depiction of modern society. A psychological horror VN at its very core.
    In addition this VN/Game has decent English voice acting in it on some of the important dialogues!
    Where to get: Steam, GOG
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    Digital: A Love Story by Christine Love

    Notable tags: Operating System Simulation, Interactive Adventure Game
    Zalor: "It's not what you say, it's how you say it that matters", is the first thing that comes to mind with this VN. The story itself is quite simple, but the presentation is so excellent that it makes up for where the story might slack. Especially as somebody who is quite fascinated with old computers, I loved how the whole story is told through BBS messages. BBS standing for Bulletin Board System, and was essentially the internet before the internet. Its presentation mimics said environment very convincingly as well.
    Where to get: Creator's Website (FREE!)
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    Digital Seclusion by Zalor

    Notable tags: Otaku Protagonist
    Zakamutt: Digital Seclusion is a story of a person who might be a bit like you — though I hope none of you are as extreme. He's a shut-in collector of old Japanese visual novels, which he posts about on his blog. It's also an (opinionated) history of the medium, introducing many old, and for some, nostalgic, visual novels. One day, a girl that looks just like a heroine from one of his games steps out of the screen. But is she real, and if so, should he trust her — or is she nothing but bad news?
    Digital Seclusion was written by one of our forum members, Zalor, and we also have a Fuwanovel review of this VN if you're interested.
    Where to get: Itch.io (FREE!)
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    Doki Doki Literature Club! by Dan Salvato

    Notable tags: Poetry, Student Club
    Alpacaman: I know this one is kind of controversial in the community. It's still one of the titles that introduced many people in the west to visual novels. Yes, it's gimmicky, but what it sets out to do it does very well and doesn't overstay its welcome. Many people in the community saw the game as an attack on VNs as a whole, but I think it's more about player agency and the relationship between games and the ones playing them.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io (FREE!)
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    Heart of the Woods by Studio Élan

    Notable tags: Fictional Modern Day European Town, Girl x Girl Romance Only, Contemporary Fantasy
    Silvz: Heart of the Woods is amazing! I loved the characters, the art style and the story in general. Iirc there was a voice patch released after I read it, so it may be even better now. It's also good to have some LGBTQIA+ representation in the list!
    (Also recommended by: Templarseeker, Plk_Lesiak)
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    Juniper's Knot by Dischan

    Notable tags: Multiple Protagonists
    Zalor: A short, well written story that nearly a decade later still leaves quite a good impression. Focused on the interactions between a lost boy and a demon confined within a magic circle, it has some folklore-ish vibes to it. However, the bouncing between the two perspectives of the boy and the demon girl adds a modern flair to a story that otherwise does feel like it could be within a Grimm Fairy Tales book. This is all not to mention the beautiful art. For more info here's a review.
    Where to get: Steam, Dischan (FREE!)
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    Katawa Shoujo by Four Leaf Studios

    Notable tags: Nakige, Romance, Disabled Heroine
    Zakamutt: Back in the day, there'd be no point in putting this on the list. Literally everyone knew about it, and it was many people's first VN. Today, I think this story is worth recommending anew. The central conceit is the protagonist, Hisao, transferring to an academy for the disabled after suffering a heart attack. But the depth in this VN lies in not the disabled girls he meets there, but in what lies beneath. Pretty much every character has hidden depths to them, and the story arc usually ends up much like a Key tearjerker (without the supernatural hijinx). It's not just nostalgia, mom, I swear. Katawa Shoujo is genuinely a good VN.
    Where to get: OG, Moddable Fan HD rerelease with accessibility options (both FREE!)
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    Lessons in Love by Selebus

    Notable tags: Dating Simulation, Student-Teacher Romance, Lots of Choices
    Alpacaman: A work in progress that at this point is even longer than Umineko and according to its creator is the longest VN in existence, period (each update is about 30-60k words long and there's been about 50). Which shouldn't keep you from reading it. At least to me this one is more about vibes than plot and works very well despite its length.
    Where to get: Subscribestar, Itch.io (FREE but one of those things where the patreon is further ahead)
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    Lynne by ebi-hime

    Notable tags: Modern Day British Isles, Utsuge, Psychological Horror
    Zakamutt: Ebi-hime is a well-regarded VN writer among those in the know, and for a reason: she consistently delivers well-written interesting stories. Lynne is one of her free offerings, and takes place in a lower-class British milieu, with all the stress and envy that often implies. Both the soundtrack and graphics match the griminess of the setting, with ebi-hime opting to work with the electronic music producer sleepy agents for the sound. Lynn, the protagonist, is haunted by nightmares as the national exams she simply cannot afford to fuck up approach. Almost everything around her seems practically designed to stress her out more. In school there is a girl that she feels has everything that she does not, Lynne. Will Lynn pass her exams, or will she break from the stress she is under? And what will happen to Lynne? Find out in this VN.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io (both FREE!)
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    Meeting in the Flesh by inkEthic

    Notable tags: Monster Hero, Body Horror
    Alpacaman: An inversion of Saya no Uta's themes, showing you can find beauty anywhere.
    Where to get: Itch.io (FREE!)
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    Pale Cachexia by Argent Games

    Notable tags: Dark Fantasy, (Gothic) Horror, Illness
    Zakamutt: Our protagonist, Esther, is afflicted with the Pale, a disease that causes its victims to waste away at terrifying speed if they do not take medicine every day. Even with the medicine, sufferers are often doomed to a life of slow degeneration and disability, with everything from their mood to too much exercise affecting the condition. Esther has made a desperate bid for a cure, the last step of a journey in search of a cure the cottage of a dead scholar of the Pale in the forest — and the young girl who lives there. They build up a fragile relationship as Esther researches his notes, trying to find something — anything — to help her condition. But those same notes might hold horrors she never knew...
    I liked this one so much it made me write like a pretentious twat on vndb. So I'm just going to reproduce that here. I'm not sorry.
    A languid walk, rarely a run, into the terror and beauty of the darkness. The will to be independent yet the need to depend. The intense portrayal of guilt and avoidance in this is sublime — or maybe just too deeply #relatable for me to give it, with its beautiful immersive atmosphere and, for once, solid writing anything else but an "excellent" rating.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    Sensei Overnight by Pers0nas

    Notable tags: All-girls School, Teacher Protagonist, Memory Alteration
    Danmaku: it is a "psychological horror mystery grooming dating sim" obviously inspired by Lessons in Love but focuses more on its underlying mysteries and how all of its characters relate to it and without as much of the grind and wiki-searching. Like its contemporary, it has a strong visual flair and strong comedic and story/character writing with a heavy focus on psychoanalysing its characters. It has rather low sexual content, when it does have h-scenes, it will be rather weird and/or focuses on realism. It really creates its own highly unique identity later on, the earlier parts can be a slow burn. Very importantly, the choices you make will matter.
    Where to get: Itch.io (FREE... but you can subscribe on patreon/subscribestar for early access updates)
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    SHINRAI - Broken Beyond Despair by Gosatsu Visual Novels

    Notable tags: Detective Work, Murder Mystery, Interactive Adventure Game
    Danmaku: a murder mystery visual novel with refreshing story pacing due to its straightforward honkaku structure. The character writing is amazing and the tricks used in the murder(s) are unique enough to give it its own identity.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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     Solstice by MoaCube

    Notable tags: Multiple Protagonists, Mystery, Lots of Choices
    Templarseeker: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi thriller of a VN
    Where to get: Steam, GOG
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    Soundless by milk+ visual

    Notable tags: Bullying, Denpa, Cult, Mystery
    Zakamutt: Mercy sees things. It’s too bad that what she sees are warped distortions, filthy beetles, tentacles, horrifying flesh-beasts and all that, but at least it isn’t permanently on so she’s not quite Fuminori yet. Too bad it’s getting worse, though.
    Mercy lives in a small, secluded village; the village is strongly religious, ruled by the local church, and all the kids around see her as a convenient punching bag. But hey, it’s probably her fault anyway, she was cursed by sinning at the tender age of ten. She was seeing nice things before that.
    Mercy is the protagonist of Soundless, a game taking inspiration from the classic in the "denpa" subgenre of visual novels, which tends to concern itself with madness, unreliable narrators, and horror.
    Every person I've gotten to play Soundless has liked it, without exception. Any denpa fan that hasn't tried it is making a mistake. And I played it back when the well-received rerelease with an extra chapter wasn't even out yet. If you try nothing else, try this one: it's free!
    Where to get: Itch.io (FREE!)
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    Sweetest Monster by ebi-hime

    Notable tags: Relationship Problems, Modern Day British Isles, Dark Fantasy
    Silvz: a very short VN with great art and a plot twist that rivals the best mystery novels out there, at least in my humble opinion :3
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    The Dandelion Girl by /jp/ project / Outis Media

    Notable tags: Literary Adaptation, Time Travel, Romance
    Zalor: Another entry in that short and sweet department. Although often overshadowed by it's more successful sibling (the other 4chan visual novel, Katawa Shoujo), I think its charm shines through. And that's really the appeal I find with this VN. It's nothing amazing, but has a soulful charm to it.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io (FREE! — this is a remake by one of the original's creators. Links to the OG are dead.)
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    The Language Of Love by ebi-hime

    Notable tags: Heroine with Children, Adult Heroine, Only a Single Heroine
    adamstan: I think The Language of Love by ebi-hime should be added to the list. Short, but very heartwarming and wholesome love story - I loved it. It's also one of the few EVNs that manage to pull off the japanese setting without being all cringey
    Bonus: Fuwanovel Review
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io, Denpa, MangaGamer
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    The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass by Trinitite Team

    Notable tags: Confinement, Mystery, Hard Science Fiction
    Danmaku: a highly elaborate ontological mystery visual novel. The music can be jarring and ear-grating at times and the characters can be pretty bland. One thing I can highly compliment this visual novel is the underlying mystery itself. It is highly engaging and may seem perplexing and complicated but the puzzle pieces connect together pretty nicely. You will answer about 50 questions at the end to solve it, you will be ranked with other players to see how you did. The individual mysteries are segmented enough that if you didn't get some of it you still will be able to solve the rest.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    VA11 Hall-A by Sukeban Games

    Notable tags: Bartender Protagonist, Cyberpunk, Dialogue Based
    Alpacaman: It's cyberpunk bartender action, what more could you possibly want? It nails the aesthetic with great visuals and BGM, has great characters, some actual depth to its themes without ever getting anywhere close to being pretentious. Also it has some of the best comedy in any VN I've read so far.
    Where to get: Steam, Itch.io
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    YOU LEFT ME by Angela He

    Notable tags: Interactive Adventure Game, Surreal, Depression
    Kawasumi: just because of how absolutely stunning visually it is.
    Zakamutt: I would definitely recommend trying other Angela He VNs like Missed Messages out as well. She has a pretty unique style.
    Where to get: Itch.io (FREE!)
  13. Like
    Zalor got a reaction from ThePenSword in Indie visual novel publishers? What are my options? What are your experiences with them?   
    It does seem that for indie VN devs (practically everyone in the EVN sphere), we're kind of left to fend for ourselves. Even with Sekai Project, from what I've heard they still expect you to do a fair amount of the marketing yourself. I suspect a major reason for this is that there isn't enough money in the EVN niche to support a publisher that wished to deal exclusively with EVNs. 
    I haven't looked carefully into it though, so I'd be curious to see what others have to say
  14. Like
    Zalor got a reaction from Skypie in Fuwanovel Confessions   
    Confession, I remember when this used to be the most active thread on the entire forums. Also, I think it's been over 5 years since I last posted here. Feels kind of nostalgic.
    1) I mean, you should eventually tell them assuming that you have a good relationship with them. Don't let them discourage you if they don't approve though. Imo it's really important to leave your homeland for a while when you are young. You don't have to leave permanently, but you should at least go somewhere that will force you to confront the world on your own. There's a reason that it's one of the oldest archetypal stories. It's the best way learn about yourself and personally develop. 
    2) The easiest ticket into Japan is English teaching. And after all these years that is still the case. Once you're in Japan it's easier to get other type of work. You don't even need JLPT N5 to get a job as an assistant language teacher. But if you want work that isn't English teaching related, you'll need JLPT N2 minimum in most cases. 
    I should also add that in rural areas in Japan, it's pretty common for foreigners from South East Asia to be hired to do farm related work. Basically if you're a 1st worlder the best ticket in is through English teaching, and if you're a 3rd worlder then manual labor work is the best way in. Of course if you already have JLPT N2 and some other skill (and/or a University degree) there are other options open to you. 
  15. Like
    Zalor reacted to ThePenSword in I've had a many fears and troubles publishing my first VN. And so, I want to answer people's questions and talk about the process.   
    Well, essentially, the main thing I learned that marketing IS the most important part of development when it comes to actually getting people to interact with your game. Going forward with new projects, I do want to make it more of a priority from the start. I was really shy about exposing people to my work in an unfinished state, but now I realize I was only sheltering myself from the fear of things not working out. Even if marketing draws negative attention, that is better sales wise for your game than no attention at all.

    That being said, I am somewhat glad I was ignorant to marketing and its importance for Siren's Call. I can't even imagine how much of a hit the story would've taken if I was writing to cater more to the whims of other people rather than my own personal experiences. Even if it did better in terms of downloads, it wouldn't have been a product I'd be proud of a as a writer, and I think that's important to consider too when you're making a VN. What you prioritize during the development process ultimately shows in the final product, I feel. But I also don't think it's correct to prioritize some aspects over others 100% of the time. I think it's contextual. If you value writing, focus on the writing. If you want downloads, focus on marketing. And if you have the funds/time/manpower to do both, then do both.

    If you're putting your work out there in the first place, you're gonna have moments where you feel dirty or like a shill or whathave you. And that's okay and completely normal. You aren't bad for feeling those things or wrong for thinking about them (lord knows I have). But while I haven't exactly tasted mainstream success, I imagine that's only possible with VNs after learning to accept that feeling to some regard.
    That being said, living with the feeling or not, I'm probably just going to hire somebody to do the marketing for future projects. I'm already wearing enough hats. Social media is a big part of it and that takes way too much time for me. Cause I don't know if anything really happens organically with game visibility. I think it always takes somebody pushing it. I think that's normal. It doesn't have to be you pushing it though, if that's any comfort.



     
  16. Love
    Zalor got a reaction from ThePenSword in I've had a many fears and troubles publishing my first VN. And so, I want to answer people's questions and talk about the process.   
    Hey, first of all congratulations on getting Siren's Call out. I haven't read it yet, but it looks quite interesting and I can tell a lot of heart went into it.
    You mentioned that marketing along with management were you're weakest skills. I can't comment on my management skills since my own VN (link in my sig) was small scale and aside from the editing, which was done by a long time acquaintance on this forum, the only other person I worked with was someone I'm very close to irl. But I definitely know that I also suck at marketing. Would you mind talking about that a bit? What have you learned about marketing, and what were the difficulties for you?
    Personally marketing makes me feel like a prostitute. Instead of letting people discover my work organically, I'm suppose to shill it and implicitly promise people that they'll love it. Like handing out fliers, we all know that 99% will end up stepped on and in the gutter. Something about putting my work in that situation seems like it's cheapening it. Also, I heard that social media is a big part of marketing, does your experience agree with that assessment? 
    I'm toiling away at a much larger scale VN project now, so I appreciate you sharing your perspectives!
  17. Yes
    Zalor got a reaction from HataVNI in I've had a many fears and troubles publishing my first VN. And so, I want to answer people's questions and talk about the process.   
    Hey, first of all congratulations on getting Siren's Call out. I haven't read it yet, but it looks quite interesting and I can tell a lot of heart went into it.
    You mentioned that marketing along with management were you're weakest skills. I can't comment on my management skills since my own VN (link in my sig) was small scale and aside from the editing, which was done by a long time acquaintance on this forum, the only other person I worked with was someone I'm very close to irl. But I definitely know that I also suck at marketing. Would you mind talking about that a bit? What have you learned about marketing, and what were the difficulties for you?
    Personally marketing makes me feel like a prostitute. Instead of letting people discover my work organically, I'm suppose to shill it and implicitly promise people that they'll love it. Like handing out fliers, we all know that 99% will end up stepped on and in the gutter. Something about putting my work in that situation seems like it's cheapening it. Also, I heard that social media is a big part of marketing, does your experience agree with that assessment? 
    I'm toiling away at a much larger scale VN project now, so I appreciate you sharing your perspectives!
  18. Like
    Zalor reacted to ThePenSword in I've had a many fears and troubles publishing my first VN. And so, I want to answer people's questions and talk about the process.   
    Hello everybody, my name is Jacob.

    I'm the head writer and programmer of the OELVN Siren's Call. It took about four years, but we recently completed the project. I'm pretty new to fuwanovel, but can see there's a lot of creatives floating around here that are either trying to make their own VN or are at least interested in the process of what it takes to make one. Because it's such a daunting process (at least for me it was), I want to do what I can to answer any nagging fears or inquires the community has about what it takes to really get to the point where you can finish making one of these things. Lately, I feel like my experiences have just kind of been rotting inside my own head, so I want to use what I've learned for something other than just working on my second project.

    If you're making a VN and feel lost/confused about what to do next, how to stay motivated, or even if you wanna know more about what the process is like, then let's talk about it! Be it programming, asset creation, marketing, story-boarding, expectations,...let's get a conversation going about what it's really like to make one of these!
  19. Like
    Zalor reacted to Clephas in Which VNs have you read more than once?   
    Naturally?  Whenever I needed to cleanse my palate of the taste of kusoge, I went back and played something good.  
  20. Like
    Zalor reacted to ThePenSword in Siren's Call: a psychological horror/denpa game about leaving home. [Free] [Denpa] [Coming of age]   
    Siren's Call: A free Denpa visual novel where you escape from an actual tourist trap.
    Siren's Call is a Denpa visual novel loosely based off of my experiences living in (and escaping) Central Florida as an adult on the autism spectrum. The game was a passion project made by myself, my wife, my best friend, and a couple other close friends and freelancers. It took us roughly four years to complete and is now out on Steam for free. While your millage may vary on how scary you find the game (much of it is based off of my own personal fears), I can say with conviction that you will feel the love and effort put into this project.
    Steam Download: here
    Features and stuff:
    7+ hours of Visual Novel Gameplay with dire consequences for how you choose to spend this final day of yours. 55 journal entries and and 60 unlockable gallery images for those who want to explore everything this town has to offer. An original story centered on saying goodbye to friends rather than saying hello to strangers. A dynamic, original soundtrack meant to perfectly capture the feel of central Florida music. A cast of lovely characters that only want what's best for you. A 94% positivity rating on steam with 150+ reviews! (not a feature, but I'm proud of this one} Characters:
    Judith, the exceptionally sweet (and extraordinarily intense) sovereign of Siren’s Call!

    Andi, the sovereign’s sassy twin sister whose strength and spunk speak volumes on their own!

     Ashton, a hero in training whose sizable fist is matched only by the size of his heart!

    Emil, the once timid boy turned man who will not stop until he reaches absolute perfection...

    and, of course, Violet: your actual girlfriend.

    We've finished the main game which you can find on steam right here, but my team and I are also making extra story content as well! 


    Prove You Aren't Dead: A Epilogue
    While it is true that our team succeeded where many others have failed and got Siren's Call out in a playable state, it is far from being "complete." Over the course of the past five months, I've released a few bonus stories acting as a prequel of sorts to the events of the main game. But in terms of the true epilogue...that is what I'm going to be working on for the foreseeable future. If you would like to support this project, there's a link to the kickstarter right here, but I mostly just wanted to create this post as a little home where I can post updates on not just this new content, but Siren's Call as a whole.

    If anybody has any comments or feedback on the project, I am very excited to hear them and discuss your experiences. This VN has been my wife and I's life for the past few years and if ya'll have any thoughts, don't hesitate to share them. Until then, enjoy your stay in Siren's Call.
  21. Like
    Zalor reacted to Sisulizer in Bypass region and first-time dvd check of Siglus engine without using alpharomdie or region loader   
    For later games: Link to video
    For older games: Link to video
    Requirement: you will need xdbg to do that
  22. Like
    Zalor reacted to gygyme in Artist here! Commission card   
    Hii everyone, I was told it would be a good idea to share my commission card/website here^^
    I'm gyme, nice to meet you. I have experience with digital art since 2017. I have made some commissions for vtuber related content as well as LIVE2D animated gif illustrations. I have also worked on Vtuber/anime character designs and I'm making a bunch of character sprites at the moment! The most important thing for me is to capture the client's ideas perfectly as I always provide as many revisions and corrections as needed.
    Also I thought I'd share a little sketch dump for starters^^ (some rough, some more detailed... plus, you can tell i love drawing ears lol)
    If you're interested in my art, this is my website. If you have any questions you can contact me through my twitter or here.
     

  23. Like
    Zalor reacted to Dergonu in Burning down the Capitol – Yay or Nay?   
    Tay
  24. Haha
    Zalor reacted to Plk_Lesiak in The unforgettable glory of early Idea Factory anime adaptation   
    Oh my god, that Tsui no Sora OVA... It's possibly the ugliest and most insulting thing I've watched ever. I know the original wasn't a masterpiece, but there's no semblance of the artstyle or denpa storytelling in that hentai anime... And it's just so hideous and poorly animated... Why do these things exist? I'm sad...
  25. Yes
    Zalor reacted to Yuuko in It says air is on ds/3ds but i cant find it   
    air is """available""" on gba and older ds can play gba games natively
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