Darklord Rooke

Poor characterisation, a bloated story, a structure which is too rigid, a lack of suspense in fight scenes due to overpowered characters and therefore fight scenes which drag - these are valid points made by Kaguya (keeping in mind reviews are opinion.) Characterisation is important in all forms of fiction, and too many SoL scenes in a story with a plot will usually negatively affect that plot. It’s usually considered a negative. So I'm not understanding that point about criticisms which don't apply to every kind of fiction. I suppose that the review lacks discussing themes is one valid critique of the review. One thing I will say about the VN community’s tastes is that they tend to over-estimate the value of ideas and underestimate execution. It’s very similar to fanfiction in that regard, fanfiction traditionally tended to be more about cool ideas. The VN community embraces the same concept – Ever 17 was good because whoa, plot twist! Never mind that most of it is dull because the writer can’t pace or execute worth a damn. Ideas and themes are great when they add complexity to an already engaging story. To Kaguya, this story was not engaging. The idea that contemplating the themes would automatically transform a poor score to a great score is wrong, imo. But anyway, I like that there are more than one viewpoint about VNs on offer, negative reviews offer give a reader more information than positive ones. This review is very valid as an opinion, which is what a review is TBH.

The genre doesn't offer any meaningful statement about what it would be like to go to a certain historical period where the important people were women and not men. And the two I've played (Koihime Musou and Eiyuu Senki) have mainly used the 'they're all women' thing as an excuse for a harem and lots of sex, so it's very superficial in that regard. But they're still enjoyable if you like historic worlds or history (I thought Eiyuu Senki was fab because I like turn based strategy games.)

No. Most VNs (when translated) are first person stories, and because most things you're 'viewing' in a first person story is filtered through the protagonist's personality, prejudices, and thoughts, a boring and passive protagonist usually makes for a boring a reading experience. It's one of the reasons why in the translated scene, I find most stories which feature (what the community calls) a 'self-insert protagonist' dull. Writing rule of thumb - the main narrator/protagonist of first person novels should be an engaging character.

The whole 'you're ignorant' thing is just a way to attack an argument without actually attacking an argument. For the record, I think non-Australians who take an interest in Australian politics are far more qualified to talk about our Federal system then my ignorant, bogan neighbour named Bob who spends all day getting smashed off his face before collapsing on the ground scratching his ballsack. These are the type of people who shrug their shoulders and say 'I dunno' when you ask them who the head of State is. These are the people who shrug their shoulders and say 'I dunno' when you ask them how they managed to set their arse-cheeks on fire. The idea that the common people of America will have a more fundamental understanding of the Federal electoral system in America, its pros, its flaws, and so on because they live there is very, VERY flawed. I know this for a fact because I've had to lecture quite a few Americans on why their country is a Republic. Yes, that's right, they had no clue what their country was and I, an Ozzie bloke, did. It's very simple, and yet somehow they remained clueless for a number of decades. Sure, they knew the culture of America at a local level very well, but they were pretty ignorant about America as a nation. Conversely, I acknowledge interested people in other countries (oh say, like the UN ahahaha) could be quite well informed about Australia's immigration policy (AKA could be quite miffed about Australia's immigration policy,) and could talk in detail about it if they wish, and yet I doubt they'd know much about the local council mergers affecting NSW, and which previously affected Vic and QLD. In those instances, people on the ground would probably have more knowledge. To keep ramming home the point, I can rattle off the problems China's facing with their aging population in a fairly detailed manner without having to 'live there,' and in a way the majority of their poor farmers would never be able to (despite living there) because those poor farmers have more pressing concerns on their mind (like survival.) So it depends on who you're talking about in each country and it depends on how local the matter is. Many people living in a country are just unaware and ignorant of what's going on around them, and they're ignorant by choice, sometimes they have other priorities or it just doesn't interest them. Someone who takes an interest in Australian politics and news undoubtedly knows more about what's going on at a 'nationwide level' than many inhabitants who spend all day on their 'Facebook' taking photos of food or cats or whatever people take photos of these days. Sure, Neighbour Bob may know what's going on at a local level (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt here,) but I doubt he knows what's happening at a regional, or State level ... unless it directly impacts his wallet, or his safety, and few things do. But talking about America's system of Government, well anybody who's interested can easily analyse THAT. Just like Frenchies can easily analyse Australia's system of Government.

When the thread descends into disrespect then I suppose the mods will have a decision to make. Until then it's a VERY worthwhile article, and is something that people have generally known for a while - too much democracy is never a good thing (do note that there are exceptions to the rule.) But those feeling the need to sling mud at only America have blinkers on, because this is very much a Western World problem -> the idea of 'too much democracy' isn't a problem that just America is facing. I can guarantee you that Australia and Europe are currently facing similar 'tyranny of the majority' issues. That quote nails modern internet culture. Also most of the debates on Fuwanovel. (Also most of the youth of today. And 4chan. Well, 4chan doesn't even pretend to be reasoned.) And you can apply it to any debate on any topic on the internet. People arguing on feelings and emotions rather than reason and logic. It's as though before you get into an internet debate, you need to send each participant a box of tissues and a stress ball because you'll hardly begin before the tears, teenage angst/bitching, and namecalling begins to flow. Go on a developer's site to complain about problems and BAM, you'll be targeted by a mob. But these people will then be targeted by a different mob - a mob of opposing views. Then the name calling starts. Then the crying starts. Then the capital letters start. And you're left there thinking ... I was only bringing up an issue. EDIT: The internet used to be a lot better back in the 90s. You could actually have intellectual discourse with people, because the other people on the internet were pretty smart also. These days, it's getting harder to find intellectual discussion. These days, there's a lot of trolls and posts full of nerd rage. Also no social networking, and it was slow, meant you couldn't live on the internet 24/7 which meant talking with people who were actually a little bit grounded and not driven stupid by living in the virtual world all day every day. Everyone benefitted when only a select, nerdy few wanted or were capable of getting on the internet. Now everybody's on it and it's a dump, and yes, it's everybody's fault. That means most of you reading this thread. For shame! EDIT2: No idea how I got on that topic. Don't ask, for I can't tell.

Don't forget to check this board in your quest to find an artist - https://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewforum.php?f=62 Good luck (can't draw either so can't help you directly.)

I should have said 'wash' actually. You're supposed to put some water in your rice then swirl the rice around with your fingers. The water will instantly become white. Chuck that away then do it again. Then again. After this it’s a matter of how much starch you want to remove. My mum never liked removing all the starch so she would only do it three times, others do it 5 times or until the water becomes clear. The giveaway is the ‘soapy bubbles’ thing. That’s always an indication of starchy rice.

No it isn't. It sometimes bubbles over like that when you don't rinse the rice -> too much starch.

Nah, if I saw a doctor every time I was in a bit of pain I'd be there every 2nd week. And it doesn't feel too serious, just painful. Anyway people get used to aches and pains after a while, it's just annoying having to do long hours of physically demanding work when you're not feeling too good.

Confession: A few days ago I did something to my ribs and it’s causing me considerable pain when I breathe … and move. This morning I cricked my neck. I’m not looking forward to working tomorrow with these niggles hampering me. So I think I’ll dose myself up on paracetamol and caffeine, and go from there.

Quote from Auro-Cyanide: Survey link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o7HQ4OaZYFcxoOM5wfQTGF3W8XO_WTMYRwbd7FZoTC4/viewform?c=0&w=1 Cut an paste from the lemma forums.

True. I’ve worked in noisy places before and it’s slightly damaged my hearing. Next person scratches their ear with their foot.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/251990/ It's flawed in that you have no indication what skills you'll need to fend off death, and so rather than strategy it could be argued that it's more about trial and error, but still a very fun sim where you'll die again and again and again

Uncensoring a piece of work is creating a derivative work. A derivative work changes the work in question. This change can impact how an artist is perceived or viewed, and can impact their reputation. Sayori is quite famous and maybe worries how this might affect her (?), so has exercised her right to control derivative works. Nothing really groundbreaking here, or anything to get worked up over, TBH. Anyway I'm a little shoddy on law, but I think what I said is accurate, and you can't fault the reasoning behind this also. The people publishing this modified stuff won't have to deal with any repercussions that modification may create, so they really have little moral standing here.

Actually pretty far from it. It's a sim game where you try and navigate your way through political intrigue without ... er, failing. Some people compare it to 'Long Live the Queen'.

Currently having fun with the Seven Kingdoms demo - https://sevenkingdomsgame.com/demo/ On my first play through I was poisoned with some horrible, incurable thing in my second week, then kicked out in my 3rd week ...

Required reading for all otome fans

Apart from a couple of VNs I haven't yet bought, nothing in this sale appeals to me.

Otherwise known as one of those translators who hangs out on /a/ ...

It's not as weird as you'd think depending on circumstance. It happened when I was at school, but more often when 'you were in trouble'. Classmates don't usually go around referring to each other with titles though. Well ... not titles you can repeat in polite company in any case.

Although, it should be noted it's better than JAST's zero notice, ahahaha ...

It's the Hugo awards. Let's see what extra-ordinary pieces are up to win this year. Well, let me randomly pick 3 pieces to examine: Nominated for best short story is ... Space Raptor, Butt Invader: But that's not all, because under related works we have the thoughtful (and by thoughtful, I really mean retarded) piece titled SJWs Always Lie. And to round out our trilogy for today, we have My Little Pony nominated for best dramatic works. I'm really not sure what's been going with the Hugo's over the past couple of years, but it's pretty amusing to see such a venerated and prestigious award reduced to such meaningless and idiocy. And when I mean amusing, I mean how a prestigious organisation, all tux, wine, and cigars are able to nominate such garbage with not only a straight face, but I imagine an expression of intellectual superiority. The more banal conclusion is the Hugo's time is done, it's meaningless now, time to move on.

Because it's to the benefit of developers to release a game sooner rather than later. The longer they hold onto the game typically the more they have to pay people, the more time wasted, less opportunity, time, and resources to spend on other games meaning less money overall. Therefore, any copies they typically release to reviewers before release day tend to be incomplete in some way or another. And this tends to be true for advanced copies across mediums. Game reviewers tend to assume certain bugs will be ironed out by release day, and book reviewers will often receive a slightly different text. I dunno what you're trying to say here. I took Grim Tales' and Dergonu's statement, where they said they didn't mind the reviewers getting the game early only the abysmal communication, and extrapolated it and you want to compare it with ...? As long as you are a reviewer and can repay them with marketing and exposure, then I assume it's possible.

Releasing a (possibly) incomplete and unpolished translation into the hands of a rabid and largely unforgiving fanbase is not the best move. So I would contend that releasing an early version of a game to the VN public could do more harm than good. Going by Dergonu and Grim Tales' replies, I assume if SP increase their communication to backers then the early review thing wouldn't be a cause for concern (to the majority of patrons) at all.

That is true, but you also can't assume the opposite (that reviewers got their game in a perfect condition.) All I'm doing is assuming general market norms apply. If companies want to get word out to the public on how 'good the game is' as soon as the game is released, reviewers must have them in their hands prior to release. That's how you get all those pretty quotes about how stellar the book is on a first print novel. It has nothing to do with treating patrons as unimportant, but is rather about business realities. Delays in the gaming industry are very normal, and considering how short a turnaround it was between the Kickstarter to the release date, I can't begin to tell you how surprised and staggered I am that there has been a delay. Truly, my face is spasming due to the severe amount of shock I'm feeling. You don't want to see me right now, you will literally die of fright. They need to improve this. I assumed they hired a PR man ...