Bredan

Oh, and by the way, just a little advice : on Win10/11, there is most of the time no need to have Windows set to Jap language. Most of the time, there is even no need to set locals to Jap, as this setting in modern Windows OS is used mostly for unicode compatible apps (and therefor app that do not need any special setting most of the time). What you want set with a lot of older Jap app (including VNs) is : "Language for non-Unicode programs" set to Jap, as the VNs not supporting unicode comprise most of the problematic VNs.

I've not tried to install this VN, so I can't be specific. Hope someone else answers you in a specific manner. This is a generic error message from Win11 that you could get with about any software (especially old and/or unsigned IIRC). I suggest this in order : 1. First, as the message suggest, check out with the publisher of the VN if there is a patch/update for Win10/11. Sometimes, it's not an update but instructions on how to make it work. 2. If it didn't work, I suggest you just search for the generic workarounds (in your preferred language, since it's a generic message, no need to search in Jap) : a lot of people have this error with some apps and there are chances this will hep you. (things like this https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-fix-a-this-app-cant-run-on-your-pc-error-on-windows-11/ , haven't check the content but you got it). 3. Try again to find some specific workaround for this VN. Can be very tricky. 4. If nothing else, contemplate the idea of running the VN in a VM (with a compatible OS), for example with VirtualBox. If you plan to often read older VN, such a VM might prove useful for other titles in the future too. EDIT : I've thought of something else that might deserve a try. You speak of the install program having this problem. It is a possibility that only the installation can't be done. Many VN are very simple applications and, contrary to a lot of more complex ones, don't really need a installation. So I suggest : 1. check the installation media and see if you can't just copy files to the HDD and execute the game like that. 2. If (1) didn't work, try an installation on another computre (with another OS), and then copy the directory you installed the VN in to the Win11 PC. Might work.

Please take no offense but I can't help but smile at the idea of someone wanting to read a NTR nukige (I mean, the title gives it all even without further information) while avoiding NTR ^^. Hope you'll be able to get what you want nevertheless.

I read my first « quasi VN » in 2012 or 2013, can’t remember precisely. It was 999 on DS. I liked it a lot and tried to find something similar. Threads (on Reddit probably) oriented me toward truer VN, and the first I read were Fate Stay Night and Clannad, At this point, likely the first half of 2013, I began to come to Fuwanovel : it began of course with the torrents, but I quickly read a lot of threads on the forum, followed the status of VN translations and, most of all, followed every Clephas’s VN of the month as long as it lasted. Torrents disappeared shortly after on Fuwa. It took me years to register as I was content enough with just lurking around and reading you all. IIRC, I registered just to thank Clephas for his work on VN of the month at the time. Somewhere in 2014, I learned to read Jap, frustrated to not be able to read titles like Akatsuki no Goei (the first I read in Jap) and many others. Fast forward to 2025 : I’ve barely read any VN in years. But… I feel so nostalgic of this era. Even only a few seconds of many great VN soundtracks can bring so much memories and feelings. As said previously, I began to know VN after the often alleged ‘golden era’ of JP VN. I came to know Fuwa just before it's creator, Aaeru, vanished and torrents were abolished. It could be said I missed the best era for VN. And yet, I feel even nostalgia for this period I never knew. I feel it through the story you told along the years, through the old threads I read on Fuwa at the time, through things like this https://forum.agoraroad.com/index.php?threads/a-story-from-my-hometown-on-the-net-aaeru-the-piracy-advocate-who-vanished.3906/. And of course, through the many VN I read that came from the 2000-201x era. This nostalgia probably comes from me becoming older, but I’m quite sure it comes from knowing that those era, the golden age of JP VN and the time I came to know VNs, is something that will never occur again. Ah well, I just wanted to share with you all. I don’t expect anything special, but feel free to share your thoughts too. A lot of the ones that ought to be thanked do not seem to be around anymore but there's still some : thanks for this community. Kindly.

I'm not sure if I missed it or even when that got announced, but (from VNDB) it seems ALcot announced their last project : Clover Memory's. According to VNDB, it will be : A project to celebrate 20th anniversary of ALcot also marked as ALcot's last project. Crowdfunding starts on March 2024. Another one on the departure.

For your specific question and a generic answer : saving when the choices pop up and then going back to choose other options would be the way to go most of the time for many VNs. As it can get convoluted with some VNs, try to structure your choices well and give them a short evocative name/label if the game allows it. As you said, it wouldn't be surprising to end up with a lot of saves, especially with Clannad, that's probably why most VNs allow dozens of numbered saves. Now my true and longer answer for Clannad : I've always thought Clannad stands out even from a lot of other VNs of the same era by the sheer number of choices and how much convoluted the choices you have to make to attain certain ends are, added to the high number of ends, especially if you count all the minor ends (others than main heroins, and you should definitely count them for Clannad). As such, here is my advice for Clannad (but honestly it applies to most titles even if there is less choices) : - either use a walkthrough from the start and thus save when the walkthrough asks you to save and whenever you feel like. Most people wouldn't have their fun spoiled just by using a walkthrough for a romance/slice of life VN anyway. - or play it by saving whenever and choosing whatever you feel like choosing for the first 1, 2, 3 or whatever runs/ends you feel like, and then follow a walkthrough. This way intends to let you taste the VN as it was intended (including not being happy about not ending on the desired route for example) coupled with the benefits of not pushing it too far by ending up using a walkthrough. I know that way would be the better way for me with Clannad, but Clannad is especially long and that could make its reading even longer. One last point though for Clannad : whatever you choose to do, I suggest you keep Nagissa's route for last, whether you like her or not, as her route continues in Clannad part2 in the main VN.

Just a quick opinion here : when trying to learn the language, it might be better to avoid games with gameplay, as the tools to help you aren't best suited for gameplay parts. I don't know if the dating sim you have in mind should be in the 'have gameplay' category, but keep in mind that it might be easier for you to stay in the normal VN perimeter to learn JP. As for your question in itself, sorry I know too little about dating sims and let someone else answer you.

I've encountered this manga adaptation 16bit Sensation: Another Layer : it seems to be about VNs, their creation (MC is an illustrator), their decline and their golden age (story apparently places it in the early-mid 90s). I don't know if it is interesting or accurate and am not even sure I myself am going to watch it, but I figured I could let you know. If anyone knows it and can comment, please let us know.

ittaku (frequenting this forum) is the one who translated ToHeart2. If I remember well, he clearly said something along : ToHeart is not great and it is not required to read it before ToHeart2, as the stories aren't linked. You could try to find out his posts on this forum or ask him directly.

Here it goes. The two ultimate nukiges emulators : - https://hitomi.la - https://e-hentai.org I'm sorry, I'm leaving ^^.

When you search for a JP VN walkthrough, you'd better begin by https://seiya-saiga.com/ , as theirs are mostly the better and are accompanied by advices, full saves, basic infos etc. Here's the page for H2O～FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND～ : https://seiya-saiga.com/game/makura-soft/h2o.html

Sorry, I guess my answer deserved such a very pleasant reply...

I'll just say this : I wish there was 'VNDB' kind of sites for all types of games and books (with a story and characters at least). Sites like MAL or TheTVDB cover the films/series/animes mostly. Sites like Novel Updates cover some kind of books. But games (and a lot of book genres) are to my knowledge a lot less well covered. In the absence of such sites, I therefore wish a lot more things could be classified as VNs just to be present in VNDB. Well anyway, sorry to have disrupted your topic and have a good day.

I can do with bad/intrusive H scenes, but that other point... I've come to be unable to stand this over time and I consume a lot less of JP goods because of this overarching trend. Gem or not, that alone makes it not for me anymore. Too bad but thanks for letting me know.

I loved MuvLuv Alt, but I have to admit : even Age thought of the briefing scenes as a bit long, possibly tedious as is proved by the fact they gave one of the best BGM to those very briefing scenes. QED. (Youtube)