Mr Poltroon

Nya~

Like I said 2 years ago, back in the 14th of November:

You have the ability to change it yourself within the edit menu on the first post. Rejoice!

Well, yes. Generally, their business is to sell VNs. If they get a big seller, it's only natural to "try out other things hoping to make the same impact". It's not like I particularly believe they think this'll be highly impactful, but if they don't try then... what do they do? "Oh, we got a big hit. Time to pack up and go out of business."

As much as I find this particular title worth investigating, I really would like them to finish Himawari. Indeed. Very much so. Please hurry up, Frontwing. Are you reading this? I want you to finish it. I've expressed my wishes, so now feel free to do whatever it is you want to do. Now that you've read me complaining on the internet.

You only got 20th place, which is indeed pretty good. Congratulations on your efforts. I'm sure it was a worthwhile experience if little else.

It's shows like these that leave me wondering. By all rights I shouldn't enjoy stuff like Danganronpa and Psycho-Pass. That stuff is depressing, gory, and terrible. And yet I had no issue, and quite enjoyed, watching both shows. I wonder why that is?

In addition to this good fellow's question, how sad and or depressing is it? I'm about 99% sure I won't like it, but I feel it is necessary to cover all my bases when a VN is universally chanted as the second coming of Christ.

My point exactly. I'm still glad they tried, because I'll absolutely try this given that I'm fully in the middle of their target zone.

Keeping in mind people always complain, a significant portion would have complained if Frontwing's new title were not Grisaia related, since they like Grisaia and all. Additionally, another significant portion would have complained if it were Grisaia related, because they want original stuff and they're just milking the title. So what happens when you try to appeal to both camps? Apparently, you piss them both off! Jolly!

I like the idea of setting it in the same universe but with a different cast, actually. Da Capo does that and the sequel was better than its first title, I'd boldly claim. I also really like how the English plebs even have a translated website of their own. Yay for Frontwing's efforts in the Western scene! I wonder if people will go up in arms over the fact that it's "all ages"? Or maybe over the fact that it'll be distributed in volumes? Do they think that only cheaper titles sell? Well, they aren't exactly wrong. By the way, is the protagonist this "Haruto" chap? He's got a really unique design, VN protagonists wise. He's also the instructor? Even better. It could also be that there's no protagonist, but with him being the only male... who knows? Blond, pink, blue and brown haired characters look really interesting. All in all, terribly excited.

I'm having difficulty trying to determine whether you want to say that non-Eroge/non-Nukige VNs were already prolific ages years ago or if you mean that Visual Novels these days are especially Nukige and Eroge. Poor Decay only stated the facts. It is advertised as having nudity, and it most definitively is not "All-Ages". So maybe don't get mad at Decay, but at the company who classifies such CGs as nudity. Which, depending on the CG, I just may too, even if genitals are censored. I mean, magical white mist covering just the nipples and the vulva? That's nudity to any reasonable person who doesn't go around reading Eroge and Nukige (or, to an extent, too much anime-esque media) in their free time. (Also, the poor fan will get "an actual game with content" regardless of the facts. Just maybe not the kind of content one would expect from a Nukige -- and censored mess of crap is but a subjective opinion any reader may not share with you.)

Okay, I understand. Then I'm afraid I may have been unclear. What I meant is that Visual Novels aren't only Nukige and Eroge. Especially these days, you can be a fan of VNs without having ever played any of the aforementioned.

What, specifically, do you claim I'm denying? Steam is but a storefront, and, ideally, not the only one. All ages short VNs are fantastic for it. Long Eroge not so much, but they can be managed with external 18+ patches. If I were to make this a matter of personal opinion, I'd go so far as to claim such scenes are usually unnecessary anyway. I've no choice to agree that nukige without any H content seems very abnormal, and a waste of time.

Surely too many VNs have lead many fans into a form of weird masochism.

Note that "Visual Novels" =/= Nukige and Eroge. I can see the argument for the latter, but there are many different kinds of visual novels, some of which (short and meaningful -- Narcissu, Planetarian, some Western VNs) are entirely appropriate for the digital distribution platform. I'm also not positive Eroge is wholly ill-suited to the distribution platform, but I'm not starting a discussion on the topic here.

Translated by a certain "Zoo Corporation", huh? If VNDB is anything to go by, it seems it was created/hired by a bunch of Japanese companies. As for what little we can see of the English, I don't see any glaring issues. That's good. Wouldn't be the first time a Japanese company suddenly releases something in English with minimal effort put forth. Doesn't seem that's the case. Good. Now... it's a nukige... I can see the appeal of playing all ages versions of them but... What kind is it? Did they add scenes to replace the gaping holes left by the sex? Did they just cut it out? If it's the latter... Even I'd have to admit it'd be nothing but an hour of meaningless content. Edit: If that long.

Hey, don't say that to his face! I was trying to be sensitive about it, trying to find the right time to tell him... ...We are speaking of Rooke, yes?

After that title I expected a simple post with something like "Sod Off". Would have probably amassed more likes. Maybe. And it does sum up the post if you want to achieve the pinnacle of curtness. I agree that said posts do annoy me, especially knowing personally how long these things can take, so I just don't read them.

From what I've seen of the new one, it is without doubt much better. The lines have better punchlines, are wittier, sharper, more defined and personal*, and other such things; however, that is all I've noticed. If you don't care for these details (though I do believe they make for a much better product) the fan translation should suit your needs. Additionally, Muv-Luv Extra does not end on a cliffhanger. The argument could be made that Unlimited does, but that's all I'll say on that matter. Highly depends on the reader's opinion.

Speaking of opinions, I'm of the opinion that people that speak ill of Western VNs have not played sufficient samples to form any sort of conclusion, and rely on, indeed, popular opinion (Sakura Titles are particularly popular despite being some of the worst examples) and art quality, which by itself is sufficient to make them scoff. Clearly, this must be utterly terrible. https://s.vndb.org/sf/24/43124.jpg Never mind trying the title, all Western VNs are crap anyway. Well, in my magnanimosity, I am willing to understand that art and budget are big factors to some people. Indeed, Umineko and Higurashi, as well as Muv-Luv, Ever7 and some older VNs have people not playing them because their art looks dated; and, oh, my voice acting! and, oh, my pretty interface! -- so it's not discrimination limited to Western VNs per say. Then comes the cyclical problem that Funyarinpa mentioned. If people refuse to buy their games, well, there's never going to be a bloody budget! Look at Sunrider: It comes as close to being a full budget Western VN as we've ever had. Plenty of sprites, CGs and (Japanese) voice acting, as well as a (Japanese) opening. All this because of the Kickstarter moneyz; certainly not off the sales of its, initial, free game, Mask of Arcadius. On the English side, I can think of few other titles besides Just Deserts that were voice acted and, as usual, when the game has voice acting, you have to make cuts somewhere, and as for this title, it's just filled with grindy gameplay. At the end of the day, the power of Western VNs lies in their pricing. You won't find them much more expensive than 20 dollars (most are either free or around 10), unlike almost all their Japanese counterparts (lying at somewhere around or above 40). Unless you're Sunrider, with, you guessed it! Its above average budget! The problem is the industry itself. When you're in an industry filled with corsairs, the power of low pricing does not seem to help you much.

I maintain my statements. Some of the VN segments (especially in Liberation day) take place in space battles with no gameplay ("outside the ship"). Additionally, there's also VN segments truly outside the ship, both with the protagonist and other characters. About a fifth or a fourth of the VN segments do not take place with the Sunrider as background. However, and this I will admit, unlike Mass Effect, the occasions where you visit a planet are few and far between. When it's not "your ship", it's some space station or some enclosed, mechanical building. Off the top of my mind, you visit a wasteland planet, a desert planet, and a couple of futuristic city planets.

Let's see... Your statement is incorrect. Yes, without doubt. About a fifth or fourth does take place outside the ship in some manner (as in, Captain Kayto is outside the ship), and this is discounting all the gameplay. Aside from that fifth or fourth, there's also plenty of CGs outside the ship, even if the captain remains there. For instance, Liberation Day includes a multitude of CGs for space battle, and in that manner, it could be said you are not "inside the ship". There's also plenty of times where you are following other characters' perspective, and they are more often outside the ship. Regardless, I will freely admit the majority of the experience takes place within the ship, though it has various locations and various events that occur within.

I agree with your initial comparison. When I played Mass Effect, it highly reminded me of Sunrider with all the important decisions I was to make as a ship captain. I'd say Sunrider is really good, but one of its big draws is the gameplay. See if you like that by trying out the free, initial game. Sunrider: Liberation Day is much more epic in scale and, indeed, quality (if made quite clearly for fans of Japanese media, attempting to replicate it in everything but language). However, with its scale, Liberation Day also brings less choice to the table, if quite sufficient nevertheless. Highly recommended, though beware it is pending a sequel (which I'll presume is also its conclusion).

Rip-Off? Okay, certain Western VNs absolutely do seem like a western versions of Japanese VNs, with a lesser budget, like Sunrider (which I liked). It might just be a bit expensive, though, being freeware and all. Others copy Japanese VNs in style, certainly, but I think they're original enough when they try: Lucid9, which I thought was brilliant, comes in looking like your typical every day VN, but quickly goes on to justify its Mystery tag. It's long, it's great, it's free. Others still have little else in common with most VNs I've played other than artstyle, and these ones are really good: -Christine Love's games are really good, particular stand-outs are Analogue and its sequel, as well as Digital: A Love Story. Not a single one of these is traditional in any sense (which is where the paradoxical conundrum of "it's not VN-Like, won't play it" vs. "It's just a Japanese Rip-off, won't play it" comes in). -One Thousand Lies may seem seem like your everyday VN, but it's certainly terribly original in its story. Barrel of laughs, with some philosophy mixed in, I think. Never been much of a philosophy reader. But I do read free things, like this title. -Highway Blossoms is set in America and consistently references American Culture. Despite the Japanese tropes and art yet present, it could hardly be less similar to its Japanese counterparts. It's also Yuri, in case you were wondering. Of course, if you guys play VNs for budget size alone, I suppose you wouldn't pay heed to VNs like these. Sunrider's latest title is also the one with the biggest budget, including H-Scenes and Japanese voice acting for the "whole" game. This is as close as it gets to a Rip-Off, and I still thought it was great. My favourite Western VN of all time is also by Christine Love, but I'm assuming most wouldn't like it much. The guy's a terrible teacher anyway. Don't Take it Personally, Babe, it Just ain't Your Story. You might even want to keep an eye out on the recently released Ladykiller in a Bind, though this one I haven't played yet. One I've played and enjoyed just recently is The Royal Trap. Pretty good otome, all things considered. Every single VN herein mentioned and played are ones I consider great. If you think they all suck, I can only guess these "Western VNs" aren't for you. There's loads more than that which I've mentioned, by the way. This is an old list, and even then it's got plenty: