• Add Review
  • Subscribe
  • Nominate
  • Submit Media
  • RSS
The information below is for testers, but anyone with bug reports, suggestions, feature requests, etc is of course welcome to post here.


Thanks for offering to help test the game. I hope you enjoy playing it despite it's imperfect state! I'm eager to hear feedback and criticism on pretty much every aspect of the game, but especially the following:

1. Gameplay
I think this is the most important thing, because if the core gameplay isn't fun who will care that the characters can be customized? Testers, please play the game and tell me honestly what you think. What aspects are fun and what aspects could be more fun? How is the difficulty? What things would you do to improve it? Of course please report any bugs you encounter.

2. Customization
Please mess around with the customization features; there's bound to be plenty of bugs and issues I haven't considered. You don't need to create content you would ever share with others. Just play around and see if you can do the things you're supposed to be able to do. Try creating a character or two and writing a little bit of story for her. Again, what you write doesn't have to be anything serious, but see if things really work.

3. Story & writing
Please give me constructive criticism on the story and the writing for the built-in characters. What do you think of the characters? If there are bits that you think should be rewritten for any reason, please don't hesitate to tell me. I realize some of the story (including the premise) may be corny, so maybe you have suggestions on how it could be better? Of course also report any bad spelling or typos or anything else that's off.

4. Documentation
Is the help file which explains how to do all the customization stuff easy to read and easy to understand? Please tell me if any parts aren't clear. I want the customization process to be easy and fun as much as possible.

5. Any other suggestions you have!
Don't hold back. If you have something to say which could help me improve the game I want to hear it.



07-01-2011
Well it seems that nobody yet has gotten a good ending (a non-generic ending). This tells me that it might be too difficult or maybe unfair?

A good ending requires:
1. The character is in a state of Love or Lovesick
2. You have completed her story route

Everyone seems to be doing well with the first requirement.
The second requirement is tricky because you have to make some correct choices along the way AND some of those choices require that you pass an attribute check. Attribute checks are in multiples of 10; either 20, 30, 40, or 50. (So if you get an attribute up to 50, you'll pass any checks involving it in story events)

I suppose the problem is that it's not clear what attribute checks are coming up for a given character. Also, with the longer stories, you might simply be running out of time to complete them.

For the next release I'm going to make it a little easier to pass attribute checks by making it easier to raise attributes. I might also add a means of getting in-game hints for characters.



07-05-2011
I didn't intend to put out a new release so soon, but there really have been a sleugh of bug reports and changes in the last two days. Testers, please grab the new release (v0.4).

I should have mentioned this earlier but if you encounter a serious bug I'd be greatly appreciative if you can send me a save file prior to the bug's occurrence. The game autosaves each day during the status screen where you can spend orbs so you can use that file. There are a few bugs that have been reported now which I've not able to reproduce and seeing the save file could help me out a ton.



08-01-2011
I can see myself tweaking this game and adding new features for awhile to come, or for as long as people are interested in it, but I'll stop calling it a beta when we get to the point where any new releases will not render saves and records incompatible. There are still a few changes I'm considering that could possibly do that.

Here's some of the ideas for new features in consideration:
- "mental notes" about a character can be reviewed
- generic event for walking to school together
- support for BxB (only if there is interest)
- support for dual character endings
- Mouse support
- additional mini-games

The top two of those will likely make it into the game in the near future.



08-21-2011
The new version, among other things, finally fixes the "script is hanging" error which people with slow computer sometimes encounter after the ending before or during the credits roll. Well, I think I fixed it. If anyone still gets that error at the end of the game, please let me know! I don't have any older computers around the house with which to test it on.

Posts

Ah, sorry, wrong thread, I hate when people use the wrong thread, and now I'm doing it myself.. xD
author=Marrend
Dude797 has the graphics skills, and spazhero as the story skills. Hrm. Maybe you two should work together, and cooperative on a character? I seem to recall spaz saying that he liked how that hat-wearing character looked...


pssst...thats what i was kinda trying to hint at >.>, wink wink, nudge nudge.
although im not sure what dude had plan-ed. im decently sure it was as far away from mine without ending up going back, or mabey im just being a pessimist, who knows...well actuly dude knows, but im not gona force him into working with me... although that seems like a perfectly viable option >.>
Sure I'll team up. I think I like working with graphics more than anything else so yeah. PM me the details when you get a chance, spazhero.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
As some of you may know, I've been re-vamping Masako to ensure that certain events cannot be seen until they are supposed to. Anyway, I cannot, for the life of me, get the Station event in STORY 6. I swear, I've visited the Station for about a seven consecutive days, barring a sick-day, and "janitor day", and she still hasn't appeared for me. I'm looking over my code, but I cannot find an error. Perhaps another set of eyes can catch what I cannot?

I'm going to dump all my code from STORY 1 to STORY 6, so be prepared:

STORY 1
CONDITION = DAY 3
# As something of a transfer student (transferring from one game to another and all), it would not make sense for her to be meet by the PC on Day 1. Hence, this condition.
# However, I also want the player to have a heads-up about where to find her for her next event.
PLACE = Front B
PRIORITY = HIGH
INTRODUCE = 10
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
# This is, conceptually speaking, the tune I used for the main character's house (and also Masako's) in Matsumori Days.
ID = Female Student
Excuse me.
ID = 0
Huh? Oh, sorry!
(I think I can hear some students talking.)
ID = Female Classmate
Who <b>was</b> that girl that just passed by?
ID = Male Classmate
She just transferred in. I saw her the other day.
ID = Female Classmate
Yeah? Where'd you see her at?
ID = Male Classmate
The Library.
ID = Female Classmate
You mean she's one of those geeky girls?
ID = Male Classmate
I dunno. I was, er, otherwise occupied.
ID = Female Classmate
"Otherwise occupied"? No, I don't even want to know. Anyway, let's go.
ID = 0
(She likes to visit the Library, huh?)

STORY 2
PRIORITY = HIGH
# On EASY difficulty, four visits to the Library gets players out of her sequence. Having this event override the standard Library INT buff sequence is kinda necessary.
PLACE = Library
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
ID = 0
(Hey, it's that girl!)
ID = 10
Greetings fellow student. Have you come here to study?
ID = 0
Well...
A: (Mind) (Soul) I could use the studying
# Sure, I want the stat window to appear, but I also want to denote that this stat check isn't as straight-forward as it looks.
B: Apologize and leave

BRANCH A
I'm just here because I could use the study.
C: MIND 30
I mean, I could <b>really</b> use the study!
D: SOUL 25
ID = 10
You want me to tutor you? Unlikely. I suspect that you would pay more attention to my chest than what I would say. Good day.
ID = 0
(Well, she <b>does</b> have decent sized...)
(Moot point, I guess. Anyway, total fail on my part. I doubt I'll ever see the likes of <b>her</b> again!)
JUMP 19

BRANCH B
S-sorry! Outta here!
(Damn, she was a fine specimen, though! I doubt I'll ever get a chance like <b>that</b> again!)
ID = 10
ENCOUNTERS OFF

BRANCH C
# The PC character is too intelligent!
I come here often to study. You too?
ID = 10
Not oft, but it is a place to study.
ID = 0
Maybe we can study together sometime!
ID = 10
That's not totally necessary. Now, if you will excuse me...
ID = 0
(Hrm. I don't think she was at all impressed with me.)
ENCOUNTERS OFF

BRANCH D
# Player has enough SOUL and not enough INT to cause Masako to want to help him. Convolution? Yes!
ID = 10
Would you want me to tutor you? Today is not a particularly good day, but perhaps another time?
ID = 0
Would you? That would be awesome! Oh, wait, I guess we should introduce ourselves, huh?
I'm <player>. Nice to meetcha!
ID = 10
SHOW CENTER
NEUTRAL
<last> <first>. I believe we go to the same school, so that will help us coordinate our plans better.
# As far as Japanese nomenclature rules go, it's family name followed by given name. I could be wrong, but I think it might go back to Japan's feudal system. One's deeds (or misdeeds) were attributed to the family, not to the individual.
# If this is at all true, then having a family name first in this fashion recognizes that family's honor. Or lack thereof, as the case may very well be.
NAME KNOWN
ID = 0
Seriously? Never seen you before, though.
ID = 10
I transferred not too long ago as a third-year student.
YEAR KNOWN
ID = 0
That's why you're so unfamiliar to me! What school did you go to?
ID = 10
OTHER1
Matsumori High. Where everything begins. And ends.
ID = 0
Pardon?
ID = 10
NEUTRAL
Forgive me, I was reminiscing.
In any event, I use the train in order to commute to school. If we do not meet in school, that is as likely a place as any for us to meet. Anyway, I must be off. Until next we meet, <player>.
AFFECTION UP
AFFECTION UP
AFFECTION UP
ERASE CENTER
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
# I kinda wish AFFECTION UP could be passed a specific value!
ID = 0
(Man, she is <b>smart</b>! Hope I can keep up with her!)
JUMP 3

STORY 3
# Successfully meet Masako!
CONDITION = 3 DONE

STORY 4
CONDITION = 3 DONE
PLACE = Grounds
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
ID = 0
Hey, isn't that...?
ID = 10
SHOW CENTER
NEUTRAL
Greetings, <player>.
ID = 0
Hey yourself! Still getting used to the school?
ID = 10
After a fashion. In any event, my overall schedule has been eased slightly. I should be off work early for the foreseeable future. Meet me at the train station, if you are serious about wanting to be tutored by me.
ID = 0
For an offer like that, I'll <b>make</b> the time!
ID = 10
OTHER1
That sounds like a friend I had in my previous school. She was quite the free spirit, that one.
NEUTRAL
I must stop such reminiscing. That was a different life. I must live in the present.
ID = 0
Right!
(I guess?)
ID = 10
Until next we meet, <player>.
ERASE CENTER
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
ID = 0
(Kinda of a business casual thing, but it's a step in the right direction!)
JUMP 5

STORY 5
# Masako's "tutor phase" events are now open!
CONDITION = 5 DONE

STORY 6
# The official beginning of the "tutor phase" sequence; the bulk of Masako's events.
CONDITION = 5 DONE
PLACE = Station
MUSIC = Masako/smtp4-new_days.mp3
ID = 0
(I get the odd feeling I'm going to meet someone cute here.)
ID = 10
SHOW CENTER
NEUTRAL
ID = 0
(Forget about the "cute" part! There's Masako!)
ID = 10
Ah, <player>. I half-expected you to come by today. Thus, I came prepared to tutor you. However, this is not a conducive place to study. May I suggest we move to another location?
ID = 0
Let's get to getting it, then! To the... library?
ID = 10
That is as good a location as any. Come.
ERASE CENTER
ID = 0
Right behind ya!
JUMP 7
^ Marrend is correct, there is nothing wrong with anything he's written. It was a bug in the game that is fixed in v0.71
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Testing +3! Too bad this bug fix wasn't included in version 0.70, though...
At least anyone who downloads the game now will have it work correctly.
(And technically, there actually is a workaround--play with clean mode off, as the bug only manifested itself when there is only 1 character in the game. But I knew that wouldn't be practical for you as a tester, so I fixed it right away)
The new additions look quite nice indeed. I'll be play testing them shortly.
I will admit I cheated a bit and peaked into the new story file.

flowerthief, check your mail as I sent you some feedback on this new story.

*edit*
One bit of info that didn't make it through the mail system (probably because it was in brackets and was confused for code language ><)

Yellow highlights are on pages 1-3
Green highlights are on pages 1-3; 10; 17; 19
Hi there...
I just registered here to write a review. Yeah... I just wanted to say that I totally love this game/visual novel. The girls are really sweet, but after I played a few days I wondered: Where are the guys? :D
I really would appreciate BxB... and I believe a lot of fangirls would too :D
So I hope I can also create a character for the game, I'll try today...

Greetings from Germany
NoJoker
NoJoker, thanks for the feedback :)
So far nobody has made a male character. BxB has only been possible since the day before yesterday. Let me know if you have any problems making one.

There may be some inconsistencies, like the load screen and status screen showing a number for "Girls met". That number will go up whether a character is male or female, but I don't know what to do about that now; if I change it to "Characters met" then it won't fit on the screen.

Some day I'd like to make a game system like this for GxB audiences, but that's looking far into the future.
author=NoJoker
a few days I wondered: Where are the guys? :D

their here...somwhere...without pictures, or story....kinda there so you dont feel like your the one man in a school of women
Yeah I know :D But I was sad when I noticed they don't have a "face" :D
I wanted to see Takuya...

Well I tested the game today with my own character (just 1 story event) and I don't know if I did something wrong, but some girls are now considered as male in the game and my character, who is meant to be a boy, is considered female :D
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Well I tested the game today with my own character (just 1 story event) and I don't know if I did something wrong, but some girls are now considered as male in the game and my character, who is meant to be a boy, is considered female :D


I strongly suspect that it has something to do with what you put in for GENDER in the chrarcter's profile. Then again, as I've not looked at the latest documentation for character creation yet, I'm not sure if the GENDER field defaults to "female" (if it's not included) or no.
GENDER does default to female, of course.

If you still can't get it work, show your profiles file and I'll take a look.
This is a silly issue, and maybe I'm just dumb and don't see the option to do so but;

when you're naming the <player> at the beginning of the game, you can't backspace over errors. I actually added an 8 to my <player> name and can't get rid of it. Don't ask me how I entered an 8 into a name.
how did you get an 8 it the name?
see what i did there?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Use "Escape" to backspace, as that's the "cancel" key. I know that sounds a bit backwards, but remember that you're not entering the name with literal keyboard strokes anyway.
ah, i would have never thought of good ol' Esc. I can't even remember when was the last time I even used Esc, if I have ever used it at all. Thanks marrend.
First build of the Character Customizer is ready :) Can I get a couple of you to try it out?

Back up your custom content first in case something goes wrong. Also be aware that when overwriting an old profile, it will overwrite most of your comments if you've left any, but that's okay. After this nobody will be looking inside profiles files.

edit: oops! put back the link

edit: link removed. a newer version can be found later in the thread
author=flowerthief
Back up your custom content first in case something goes wrong

I'll give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?

*edit*
er, where's the link?