• Add Review
  • Subscribe
  • Nominate
  • Submit Media
  • RSS
This page is for discussion of the artistic side of content creation, such as writing and characterization, as well as for the posting of incomplete content for the purpose of receiving feedback from each other.

Feel free to discuss characters and stories you are working on.
The old Custom Content thread can be found here. The first archived artistic discussion thread can be found here.

Posts

I'm not sure Kagami's outfit looks like "town wear" so much as just a different school uniform. Otherwise I agree with Marrend that these look very nice -- I especially like Airi's top and Rie's...well, pretty much her whole outfit. Well done.
author=Marrend
the next question that comes to mind is if I'm okay with doing the replacements you're presenting, Kev. I probably should be, just to make the game friendlier in general. Yet, a part of me says not to mess with this at all!
Thoughts?

Maybe the choice of images could be improved, I dunno. Running around and editing stuff around without any kind of notice beforehand, although effective for an add-on/extra content, is not exactly the right way to do something to a possible patch.
If you, or anyone else, have any kind of suggestion, or feel uncomfortable with one of the images, please don't hesitate to say it.

On legal issues, I think that unless EA games or Atari come by we're clean. (Studio-74 allows modifications on the backgrounds, or so I'm told by google translate) ^^

author=Marrend
I'm still ambivalent about it. Maybe after the game jam is done, I will give this a bit more consideration.

Alright ^^
Also, any news about the guy known as "this guy" and his HD icons?

author=BDFalcon
Personally, if I could modify the game I would use Kevincalanor's BG material in place of the other BG's in question. Just my thoughts.

Anyways, hello again everybody! I STILL HAVEN'T DONE ANY STORY CONTENT!!!

I have, however, created some more random tachie stuff through modification of materials, including parts from Kevincalanor's DarkComet_Model_2.psd. Mostly alternate outfits for a few characters.

- Custom outfits -

Well, that's about all I have to report. For some reason, I have trouble actually focusing on making Heartache 101 content for more than a couple days. =.=; Oh well, absolutely everything else I am working on right now is making slow progress as well, so... Yay.

A tank top! How I forgot to make one? D:
For the shorts... I wonder if it's possible use a texture as overlay or something alike, although simple for now it still looks nice ^^

The one that most impressed me was the parts combination-modifications on Rie's both hair and costume. There's a lot of modifications here and there and it's fits so smooth, and cute, that one could easily pass them by as original pieces. 10/10 *-*
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Keveincalanor
Also, any news about the guy known as "this guy" and his HD icons?

Last known information, I talked him into finishing his custom content. Which, is, and I quote...

author=ThatRandomGuyinthecorner on 05 February 2015
Very much "in the works" but I should have it soon.
Hello, Heartache community!
When I heard that it was possible to create a route within the game, I just had to come up with something snazzy!

Due to my lack of digital artistic talent and zero experience in C++ scripting (which I'm trying to learn), all I can give right now are some ideas I've had.

a. Asaka Kitakami, The genius Hiki-NEET heroine.
-A girl who repeated a year due to her near zero attendance. However, she acquires the highest grade average in the one in a million chance she does attend class on a test day. The school wants her to compete in a national academic tournament to represent the school and left this burden to her personal counselor, Hatori. This is where the player comes in. Overwhelmed with work and stress, Hatori leaves this assignment to the player with whom he has personal ties with. The goal of the player is to get Asaka to attend classes frequently and participate in the tournament.
Asaka is a cold, cynical, arrogant, anti-social girl who sees only a dull, boring world.

b. Team game route (Branches off of Asaka's)
-A branch where the player and Asaka join a club. The goal hasn't been decided and neither has a sport. I'm having quite the time choosing between shogi(too boring), chess(too Lelouch), or karuta(too Chihayafuru). The original goal for this route was to change the player and Masashi's relationship partially because Masashi is an asshole (To me, at least) and mainly because there can be more to his character.

Anyway, just some ideas. Nothing fancy yet.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
AjeShiro, I would highly, highly recommend having Mr. Help File by your side as you create your route. The code Heartache for stories is... not exactly a proper programming language. It's kinda it's own thing. Having that reference at your side is gonna help a lot! Though, the technical thread may be used for more specific help.

As for the information that you gave, I can't help but to note similarities with Asaka and Tsubasa. Particularly the parts about being exceptionally smart, and having low attendance. Not that similarities wouldn't be bound to happen every so often, but, I figure you should be aware of it all the same.

*Edit: Also, welcome to RMN the Heartache community! Share your creativity with us!
Thanks for the welcome!
I suddenly feel dumb for not knowing the existence of Help file-san... I'll start learning it as soon as I can :D

And yes, I am aware of Asaka's and Tsubasa's similarities in terms of being insanely smart. However, rather than Tsubasa's inclination towards player's mental ability, Asaka has a very different approach. She won't care about athletics and soul, and she would see a high Mind level as the player trying to rival her. Really, the big winner here would be the Looks and Personality (Especially persona). Looks because she's a girl (That much should be obvious) and Persona because the only way to get her back to the real world is to reach out to her.

I hope this clarifies things... a bit?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Funny you should mention Looks. I don't think that's been a particularly relevant factor in any of the routes? I'm... probably being hugely forgetful, though.

Also, I sorta have to smile about the part about using Personality to reach out to somebody.

author=Momotami Ruri
I manage to get her to talk, but it gets annoying. I bet it would take a real charmer to get her out of her shell, though!
That's the thing about Hikikomoris.
In Japan, most (if not all) Hikikomoris are Otaku. And we all know how Otakus have all sorts of fetishes (we have lolicons, ikemen-cons, yuri/yaoicons, you name it). For Asaka's case, I made her an ikemen-con (A girl who loves highly attractive, tall, skinny, ab-packed males with spiky anime hair) which makes <player>'s looks a factor in her affection. Please note that this is simply an effect of her being a vicious, cold, secluded otaku freak. Personality will still be the heavy driver in the route itself :D
"What about the other <player> qualities?"
Athletics -Hikikomori dislike physical activity since it usually involves socializing with others.
Mind -Hikikomori like being smarter than others (and they usually are).
Soul -Singing the deepest song on earth or painting the deepest painting ever won't get you anywhere with a NEET.
Looks -Looks alone turn <player> into simple daydream material for her various personal fantasies. Just like us to anime characters.
Funny you should mention Looks. I don't think that's been a particularly relevant factor in any of the routes? I'm... probably being hugely forgetful, though.
None of the dear ladies you've played, old friend. Shihoko, Tsubasa and Hinami have Looks as their shoe-in.

In Japan, most (if not all) Hikikomoris are Otaku

Apologies, but, you're mistaken. There is, in reality, only moderate overlap between the two groups. Hikikomories are varied people who isolate themselves for miriad different reasons(Japanese society lends for outcasts to become literal outcasts, and many just became annoyed with the population at large), and just as varied in their pastimes spent alone.
As for otaku, a larger portion still prefer company, in most cases other otaku, or friends who accept their hobby. Humans are social creatures in the end. Obsessions alone doesn't turn your instincts off. Anime is best with company, anyway~


Please do avoid to spread information unverified, both of you~ Heartache is rather popular for a free game. The forums are read by people who might not yet know better.

Apologies for the later reply. The week has been most hectic<3
Live to serve! Overseer off!x3


Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Dozen
None of the dear ladies you've played, old friend. Shihoko, Tsubasa and Hinami have Looks as their shoe-in.


Given that I've only managed to play through the game, and get an ending, with at least one of those people you mentioned (and, to be fair, it was a while ago), maybe the better move would have been to keep quiet.
Just checking in, progress has been pathetic lately on my part. I've been a bit busy.

One day...
Hello everyone. I want to say "I'm back" but I can't, since I want to inform you that my Sakuragawa Fuyuki project was cancelled.

There are many reason but mainly because the story I wrote was too... dark, sad, and "bitter". I thought about it again and again and finally, decided that it was, totally, not suited for a 13+ game, sweet and sour like "Heartache".

Well, in short, this project is cancelled, but if anybody is interested in this story, this character, feel free. just need to tell me, though.

Once again, sorry and thank you so much for supporting me, I'm very appreciate that!
I haven't posted for months. Anyway, this is Sen.

Sen is kind of a combination of the two characters I planned to make (Keiko and Tomomi.) I decided that I should only start with one character, so I sort of combined them. Sen loves both animals (especially arthropods) and machines (especially the industrial kind,) but finds machines more interesting.

I feel like I could do much better than the two stories I have so far, though. Here they are:
STORY 1
INTRODUCE = 13
PLACE = Courtyard
MUSIC = happy
MUSIC FREEZE
ID = 0
(Nothing much to see here...)
ID = 0
(Except for that couple cuddling under that tree.)
ID = 0
(The girl has short dark green hair, and the boy has long blond hair.)
ID = 0
(They look so happy together. I wish I had a girlfriend...)
ID = 13
OTHER3
SHOW LEFT
ID = 0
(Looks I'm not the only one watching the couple. That girl over by the wall is looking at the boy longingly...)
ID = 0
(I've spent way too long here! I gotta run to class or I'll be late!)

STORY 2
CONDITION = 1 DONE
PLACE = COURTYARD
MUSIC = happy
ID = 0
(Here I am at the courtyard. Guess that couple's not here right now.)
ID = 0
(Wait, is that the short girl I saw watching them? She's sitting on the ground alone, looking at something.)
ID = 0
(Maybe I should say hello.)
ID = 0
Hey.
ID = 13
Huh?
ID = 0
What are you doing?
ID = 13
Looking at ants.
ID = 0
(There is an ant hill next to her.)
ID = 0
(Just then, the bell rang.)
ID = 13
SHOW CENTER
I need to go now.
ID = 0
Wait, what's your name?
ID = 13
NAME KNOWN
Sen.
ID = 0
I'm <player>.
ID = 13
ENCOUNTERS ON
Bye.
ID = 0
See you.
ID = 13
ERASE CENTER
MUSIC = happy
ID = 0
(Well, that could've gone worse. I better get going, too.)

Any way I can improve these or make them more interesting? I think they're pretty bland.

EDIT: Oh, her tachie use some things from Kevincalanor's pack.

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
@Fuyuki: Sorry to hear about your character! If you're ever inclined to revive that character, or slot in a different character altogether, let us know, 'kay?

@GrayDragonEmily: I don't think I have too many problems with STORY 1. Maybe combine a few of the thought-bubbles <player> has. Such as...

ID = 0
(Nothing much to see here. Except for that couple cuddling under that tree.)
(They look so happy together. I wish I had a girlfriend...)


...and...

ID = 0
(Looks I'm not the only one watching the couple. That girl over by the wall is looking at the boy longingly...)
(Whoa! I've spent way too long here! I gotta run to class or I'll be late!)


A similar technique could be used for STORY 2. Though, personally speaking, I would do...

ID = 0
Wait, what's your name?
ID = 13
<first>
NAME KNOWN


...but that's just me. Though, I don't think you needed the "ID = 13" above the ERASE CENTER? Pretty sure you don't!
author=Marrend
@GrayDragonEmily: Though, I don't think you needed the "ID = 13" above the ERASE CENTER? Pretty sure you don't!


That's correct. ERASE CENTER will erase whatever has been previously placed there with the SHOW command.
author=Render
author=SwedenSpeedway
So alright, this here is Alice. She is my character and I plan on using own art over those premade sprites or doll makers you guys got, but nothing I'll show here is final. Things will be cleaned up and set up to fit the game better. In time.

She's an western styled comic book superhero. Like with powers. Called the Blue Seeker.
She run fasts and has vibrating fists of doom. Because of mind-powers.


Hmmm.. my question would be, how are Alice and the player going to relate, or even meet?


The player and Alice will relate in that they are both
quite free-spirited, yet unsure where to go in their lives.
The player can romance anyone of the girls, giving him quite the freedom to shape his life and Alice has her freedom in her easy lifestyle were she can go anywhere and be a hero when she feels like it. But she is also in Japan for a reason, keeping her face away from cameras and police for a reason. Her free-spirited life and her ability to do and go as she wishes has put her in qute a problem back in the states, leading to why she is in Japan in the first place.
She is looking for an old friend, not the player because that's getting cliche in other media, to get help from as she has too much heat back home. Her freedom has become a liability for the rest of her identity, similar to how the player's freedom in dating all the girls.. at least should put him in quite a bunch of dangerous situations.

They meet because she catches his attention, luring around the place and popping up from time to time. He either catches her attention back if his looks don't make him blend in with the crowd, approaches her if his personality allows himself to take the risk or stays behind with open-minded observation if his brain allows it. Depending on what leads where, their connection will explore different aspects of their lives as well as their 'free' lives and flexable identities. After all, she becomes different people to both be and hide the hero inside while the player changes his personality to get the girl.


Well, at least if I choose to do that story at all. It's an interesting idea that offers a lot of possability of character exploration, hijinks and romance but going into a superhero love story as my first character could be...

...too complicated, to say the least. I am considering to put this one on ice and handle one of my more reality-grounded character-ideas, I have a few after all.
I, um, I'm not sure if what I've done is... completely legal. After all, I can't find out who the real artist is... and I downloaded it from some mediafire link from some random YouTube video.

But in case someone wants to make male tachies, I've taken images from a tachie maker that was entirely in Japanese, and put them all in in one Gimp file, like the one the build-in characters are created from. I did this because the link where I downloaded the tachie maker from was taken down (well, the video where the link was became private), and some of the features didn't work properly, and on top of that all text was gibberish, because it was originally a Japanese tachie maker.
Um, so I wondered if this would be okay? To upload it and for people to use for private stuff? I'm not taking credit for anything, though I can't say I know who the actual artist is...
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Is this the same tachie set that you shared in the comments section of the main site, SparkleFox? If so, I should have a copy of the files on my harddrive, at the very least. I didn't bookmark that site because I'm a moron, and going back to the main site's comments to get the video URL brings up an error page. I suppose I could try to comment-search on here to see if I made a comment about that tachie-set, in the hopes that I provided a link to the site that has the set.

As for legality issues, my belief is that the set could possibly be used, so long as proper credit is given to the author. Much like how we link to the site with "medium build girl", and give credit to it's author, Yu.

I apologize for letting this go for so long. My focus has been on other matters.

*Edit: *facepalm* Why did I not provide a link to the page where the tachie-set actually existed!?

*Edit2: Of course, I now realize that I failed to read the part about you having visiting the video's site, and getting the same error.

*Edit3: The Wayback Machine isn't being too helpful either.
Yes, yes, it is the very same one. I have also tried multiple times to go back to the link i posted and I too am a goddamn moron cus i never bookmarked the download link.

I derped around in the gibberish-named folders and found a bunch of HTML files, that lead to what can only be the original website. One of the files leads to a page with this on it:

Um, I can't read Japanese, so of course I run it through the best translator ever Google translate, and:

■ The Standing picture "Noboru-ba" We have a copyright access.
■ restrictions on the processing does not have to give. As soon add a picture to the material,
It is fine with me to feel free to processing As soon use the part only.
■ Mail reported at the time of the material used is not particularly necessary.
■ also clearly does not need.
(If it is specified in your favor: I need your help by "material provides whim after".)
■ re-distribution of soft body is impossible.

... I hope someone here can read Japanese, because this is not understandable. Though the last sentence worries me a little. I think it says something with re-distribution of the software is forbidden or something. And the actual name of the artist is never there...

But, after looking around in the HTML files, I was led to this page (watch out when you navigate around on the website; there is some nsfw pictures here and there):
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~gakai/

Judging from the looks of it, it seems that this is where the male tachie thing comes from...

*Edit: I found what I think i a profile of some sort. It's... all in Japanese though...
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~gakai/HTML/about.htm

*Edit2: I FOUND THE MEDIUM BUILD OR WHATEVER:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=33339719
It was on the artist's pixiv the whole time...
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Okay, doing a Google Translate (so sue me) on that page tells me that the author is Aya Mayabaikai. Though, if one can offer a more accurate translation...

Anyway, while I try figuring out how to set that up as a "Tool" on the main site, it might behoove me to put a link to it up at the top of this page.

*Edit: ...Or put it in the technical thread with all the other useful information.