Community The Visual Novel Council | All Choices Lead To Here

Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
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This is an interesting development.
It's fairly expensive (3,000 JPY is about 28 USD), but it could still be an attractive prospect for those who read VNs regularly, considering how expensive VNs are in Japan.


Hat-tip to Lain
 
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I'm not the biggest fan of this particular brand of visual novel, but A Summer's End indeed looks awesome.
That combination of aesthetics and soundtrack totally sold me on it. :)
 
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AHA-Lambda

MetaMember
Oct 9, 2018
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Is it confirmed when Death Come True will be releasing?

For some reason i thought it was set of June 4th, but I can't find that confirmation anywhere, so I may have totally imagined that =/
 
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Is it confirmed when Death Come True will be releasing?

For some reason i thought it was set of June 4th, but I can't find that confirmation anywhere, so I may have totally imagined that =/
I read June as well somewhere (and wikipedia also has June as the release date), but I'm not sure if it's only for Japan. :unsure:
 

tetel

MetaMember
Jan 7, 2020
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June release date was confirmed few months ago on their digital panel (Famitsu has an article about it) and that's it for now, I think. It's probably only for Japan, although they were talking about supporting multiple languages so who knows - it's a short game so there's some hope for a simultaneous release.

Unrelated, but this released two days ago and there are never enough ZE-lites. It's a second game in the series but apparently you can start with either of these.


First game is only available on Itch for now but I think I've seen something about Steam release once everything with BMC is done.

 
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Eferis

MetaMember
Nov 12, 2018
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Pasting my short Steam review on A Summer's End

If you're reading this review, chances are that "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" got your attention thanks to its peculiar art style, craftily displayed in the screenshots on the game's store page. Well, let me start by assuring you, on this aspect, the game does not fail to deliver—the art is just wonderful with its 80's aesthetic that is colorful and yet very delicate.

The story is actually much deeper than I expected and it's interesting on many different levels—it's a romance story, that's pretty clear, and it's narrated with a very respectful and intimate touch, giving importance to the characters' inner contrasts; it's also a coming-of-age story, as we see our character trying to find and affirm her true self in a society that has some very precise and clear-cut expectations about what her role should be; it's a love letter to Hong Kong, here represented on the eve of the handover, an event whose effects still resonate to this date, and its cultural peculiarities as a city between two worlds.

The adult patch is not really needed to enjoy all of the above and it adds some mild sexual content (I've honestly seen much, much more explicit scenes in mainstream media). This particular content is, as the rest of the game, very tastefully made and it has the value of adding some more depth to the romance between the two main characters.

A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is a VN I'd recommend to those who enjoy a well-made romance or coming-of-age story and to those who have a particular affinity with (or would like to know more about) Hong Kong.
 

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Thank you for your review, Francis W.M. :cat-heart-blob:

If anyone else is interested in learning more about the game, and its making, do check the blog on the official website.
I was reading some of it yesterday, while I was looking up some info on the game, and it's very interesting, with lots of details on their aesthetic choices, soundtrack, narrative, ...

 
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Root Letter Last Answer, the updated version of the Visual Novel game Root Letter, that allows players to select either a drawn/animation, or a live action presentation, is currently at its lowest price, with a 70% discount:

 

skLaFarebear

MetaMember
Dec 4, 2019
653
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Been dabbing in Aokana between some of the heavier moments of baldr sky 2 to give myself a break from that behmoth of a VN, and I'm really enjoying it! Speaking of, for anything looking to own a physical edition + artbook.

 
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skLaFarebear

MetaMember
Dec 4, 2019
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Some decent sales on new VNs, Uta Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth are 25% off (33% off for the bundle), Baldr Sky and Ciconia are 15% off, and AI is 50% off. Hoping someone on reddit compiles all the sales onto a reddit thread again.
 
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Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
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Some decent sales on new VNs, Uta Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth are 25% off (33% off for the bundle), Baldr Sky and Ciconia are 15% off, and AI is 50% off. Hoping someone on reddit compiles all the sales onto a reddit thread again.
You can use SteamDB to filter the sales by tag, by discount, and by rating.

For example, the following shows all games tagged VN, with a >= 75% positive rating, and a >= 50% discount:
Golden Week Sale 2020 · Visual Novel · Games only · US

And if you install the SteamDB browser extension, then you can exclude already owned titles and stuff like that.
 

Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
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Another subahibi
That's pretty wild.

I wonder if this was done at the behest of Valve, or if Frontwing simply decided to submit only the parts they were absolutely sure could pass even the most stringent review.
 

ZKenir

❀ Child of Raikou ❀
May 10, 2019
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If that what it takes not to be banned, than I'm all for it.
yeah, just making sure people know they gotta download the patch for the story

I wonder if this was done at the behest of Valve, or if Frontwing simply decided to submit only the parts they were absolutely sure could pass even the most stringent review.
My uneducated guess is the latter, as people usually seem to imply Valve isn't too big on communication, unless they're being more cooperative.

That said Nekonyan did manage to get back onto Steam a refused/banned(?) game so maybe sometimes they cooperate more?
Guess we'll never know unless we make our own porny game and try to submit it!
 

ZKenir

❀ Child of Raikou ❀
May 10, 2019
3,312
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what the actual f**k


I cannot seem to be able to enter frontwing website from Europe unless I use a VPN (and use a NA ip), anyone else with this problem or is it me?

edit: nevermind it seems I can reach it if I swap to mobile? so maybe it's something else
 
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Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
1,313
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My uneducated guess is the latter, as people usually seem to imply Valve isn't too big on communication, unless they're being more cooperative.

That said Nekonyan did manage to get back onto Steam a refused/banned(?) game so maybe sometimes they cooperate more?
Guess we'll never know unless we make our own porny game and try to submit it!
Yeah, everything I've heard suggests that the review process is one big black box, and you're screwed unless you happen to have a friendly contact at Valve who can help you if your game gets the boot. Or unless you manage to make enough of a stir that somebody notices, like with The Expression Amrilato.


what the actual f**k


I cannot seem to be able to enter frontwing website from Europe unless I use a VPN (and use a NA ip), anyone else with this problem or is it me?

edit: nevermind it seems I can reach it if I swap to mobile? so maybe it's something else
Works for me on two different connections, so it is might be your ISP that has issues atm.
 

Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
1,313
93
Master Magistrate got a release date (out of Early Access) on the June 12th:

It is an Ace Attorney-esque game set in feudal Japan and the translation seems to be pretty good based on what little I've read. Note that the price will be increased from $20 to $30 when it leaves Early Access (with a 20% launch discount), so now is a good time to grab it if you are interested:



This month's Visual Novel Book club is also up, this time for ENIGMA:


ENIGMA: is currently 50% off if you don't already own it:

 
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ZKenir

❀ Child of Raikou ❀
May 10, 2019
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posting it due to the earlier convo.

 
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Snakethesniper

Time Traveler
Jan 11, 2019
923
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I'm thinking about starting Umineko, but I've always wondered, what's so good about it?
Also, I see there are different versions? Like the steam/mangagamerand one from a 07th group?
 

Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
1,313
93
I'm thinking about starting Umineko, but I've always wondered, what's so good about it?
Also, I see there are different versions? Like the steam/mangagamerand one from a 07th group?
It's is a great (meta) mystery with a fantastic cast of characters.
If you enjoy mystery stories, then Umineko is definitely worth a read.

With regards to versions, the version released MangaGamer is the best translation, updated after the full series had been released and the translators had read the entire thing (it was originally translated while it was being released). In addition, you have the choice of using the original graphics and graphics based on a pachinko game (both are included in the MG version), as well as the option of using the graphics from the PS3 version by way of the 07th mods. Pick whichever you prefer.

The 07th mods also adds the voices from the PS3 version, which are highly recommended regardless of which graphics you choose to go with.


Original graphics:
Pachinko graphics:
PS3 graphics:
 

Snakethesniper

Time Traveler
Jan 11, 2019
923
1,669
93
It's is a great (meta) mystery with a fantastic cast of characters.
If you enjoy mystery stories, then Umineko is definitely worth a read.

With regards to versions, the version released MangaGamer is the best translation, updated after the full series had been released and the translators had read the entire thing (it was originally translated while it was being released). In addition, you have the choice of using the original graphics and graphics based on a pachinko game (both are included in the MG version), as well as the option of using the graphics from the PS3 version by way of the 07th mods. Pick whichever you prefer.

The 07th mods also adds the voices from the PS3 version, which are highly recommended regardless of which graphics you choose to go with.


Original graphics:


Pachinko graphics:


PS3 graphics:
Thanks for the answer. Is already completed on steam correct? Not like Igurashi where there's the last chapter missing?
Also, does the ADV mod work too? I'm not used to VN with texts written all over the screen
 

Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
1,313
93
Thanks for the answer. Is already completed on steam correct? Not like Igurashi where there's the last chapter missing?
Also, does the ADV mod work too? I'm not used to VN with texts written all over the screen
Yes, Questions (chapters 1-4) and Answers (chapters 5-8) contain the entirety of Umineko.

I haven't tried the ADV mod from 07th Mods myself, but if you prefer that layout then I'd say that you just give the ADV mode a try.
 

Kvik

Crossbell City Councillor
Dec 6, 2018
4,149
10,267
113
Downunder.
Also, does the ADV mod work too? I'm not used to VN with texts written all over the screen
The ADV mod works well during my playthrough. However, in case of updates, if you update the mod mid-chapter sometimes the text and voice timing will go out of sync.

I recommend only updating the mod in-between chapters and not during.
 
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Exzyleph

Dark Eroge Lord
Oct 9, 2018
878
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More Muv-Luv is heading to Steam. though it is unclear if we'll get an English release:
During a livestream from Japan, Muv-Luv developer âge announced that that parts 00 to 03 of Muv-Luv Unlimited The Day After are coming to Steam.

The studio also revealed that the development of a mobile version is being considered and that the development of episode 04 is progressing.

If you’re unfamiliar with Muv-Luv Unlimited The Day After, it’s a series of visual novels originally released for PC as part of the Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles series between 2010 and 2013.
Muv-Luv Unlimited The Day After is quite interesting as it’s a direct sequel to Muv-Luv Unlimited. It branches off the main trilogy in a much darker way. Yes. if you’re wondering, it’s even darker than Alternative in some of its aspects. You can check out a relevant trailer from the original release at the bottom of the post to gate a glimpse at the cast.
Creator Kouki Yoshimune and producer Kazutoshi Matsumura also talked about localization. They did not make promises about releasing Unlimited The Day After in English for now, but they mentioned that going forward releases in Englsh and Chinese are considered a releavant goal.
 

BillyBawb

Junior Member
May 23, 2019
20
11
3
Was wondering if they would wait for TDA 04 to come out and make a full package, especially since they skipped putting it on consoles in the Flowers/Melodies compilations. If they do localize it I wonder how they'll tackle it
Wait, so the sequel is in episodes like higurashi & co?
The Day After is more like a spinoff that branches off from a certain point then a proper sequel, Integrate is so far off they've admitted they aren't even sure if it will be a VN, so who knows that the structure will be like.
 
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Kvik

Crossbell City Councillor
Dec 6, 2018
4,149
10,267
113
Downunder.
I've read the ATRI demo for about an hour. Looks pretty good, but the setting is kind of depressing and I was already melancholic enough from reading Summer Pockets.

I'll get back to it at some point, hopefully.
 

Myradeer

Rayon de Soleil
Apr 17, 2019
320
498
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I actually contend that best way of enjoying Umineko is not treating it as mystery, and just appreciated their characters. I know I'm minority on this though.