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Date, create, and share!

Assuming the role of a male high school student in Japan, the player will meet, interact with, and date a number of female characters with the goal of winding up with one of them at the end of a 101-day calendar. Yeah, you've seen this all before...or have you?

In other romance sims, there's little reason to replay the game again once you've pursued all the characters you're interested in. But Heartache 101 allows for a variable female cast. The number of characters in the game is completely open-ended!

You can create new characters and add them to the game, share them with other users, and add characters created by other users. You can create the images for custom characters from a template, or use images you created yourself, or images from any source. (only "standing" images of characters can be imported; there is no event CG in the game) A simple scripting language is provided for writing story events. You can also customize some of the music.

The game system itself is in part a visual novel interface with gameplay that include conversational decision-making, board game-like mechanics, stat management, financial management, and more.

Latest Blog

New game forthcoming, some might like to know



Since I've been asked many times if I would ever make a sequel to Heartache....

Well this is not a sequel. In very many ways it's radically different. But some might find that it partially retains a bit of the same feel?

So I'm posting the first public screenshot here, and whoever is interested, look for a game page up in the next week or two with the title "Where One Citizen". Game is not complete yet, but after 10 years of development it's about time to start showing it!

Posts

Hey, I have a small question about the custom content "Uchioniko"

Every time I load up the game I get an error message:

Warning: File 'masako_profile' not found in the 'Profiles' directories or subdirectories as indicated in story file 'Uchioniko/masako_extra.txt'. Story content in file 'Uchioniko/masako_extra.txt' will be ignored. In order to see this content in game, 'masako_profile' assuming this file exists, must be in the profile directory.

So I think that I'm missing a file. I've used this content and it seems to work but I'm not entirely sure.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
It sounds to me like you have an exceptionally old version of the Uchioniko add-on. Masako had a small cameo in one of Izumi's stories, but it has since been removed. Anyway, I would recommend getting the newest version of the content from the finished content thread. Or, since the link on that page points there anyway, click here to get the file from my locker.

Also, I get the odd impression that the game force-quit after giving this warning? If this actually happened, it's not supposed to.
I'll ask again on the chance that my question was missed because it was the last comment on the previous page. ^_^;; Would it be alright if I post the 'neutral' tachie for a couple characters I'm working on here, or where would I go for that? It's just the images though, I have yet to actually write any of the story. ^_^; lol
Assuming you're just looking for feedback on the tachie design, the place to post something like that would be the "Content creation (artistic)" sub-board.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
Huh. I guess that comment was missed!

Anyway, dewelar's correct. The content creation (artistic) thread would be the most appropriate place to show tachie whither or not you want feedback.
I went into this game not expecting too much, but I was quite surprised. Although I found the beginning somewhat steriotypical and Miki was a very predictable character, as I progressed, I found that the beginning was needed for the story to progress and I ended up simply loving this game. The visual aspects of the character designs and the beautiful backgrounds go a long way towards making this game what it is. The number of explorable locations wwas also a nice surprise. I played the Miki storyline through to the end and I know I will play the game again.
Thank you for this game.
Does the difficulty change which characters you're able to encounter or is it based on relationship levels with other characters or is it just completely and utterly random?
@Starfish:
Thanks for the feedback!

@BasedMG:
Difficulty affects after-school attribute increases. Basically, you level up faster on easy difficulty, which in turn makes the characters like you faster.
Ahh, gotcha; thanks! Another quick question: Is there a confession or do you and your chosen girl become "official" at the end of the 101 days?

Edit: Never mind; I just found out. I just wanted to know if using the ring would screw anything up after I had maxed out a relationship.

Edit 2: To prevent a double post, I'll just say this here: I absolutely love this game. It's too adorable and I find myself smiling every time I play it. I've played Miki's route, Akari's route, and got a generic ending with Riho. She was the first one I played though, and this was before I discovered the profile and story folders. Iam a dirty cheater, I'll admit it, but I only use them to find out stat priorities and what I'm doing wrong if i lock out an ending. I got the secret character ending this way as well but I nearly stumbled into it again by accident while replaying for Miki. I'm planning on doing Tsubasa, Keika, and Shihoko's routes next, in that order, as I haven't even met Hinami yet.

All the girls were cute (especially at the Love/Lovesick stage), but I feel like I need to emphasize how adorable Akari was to me. I literally could not stop smiling at her Love+ stages and her story is incredibly heartwarming to go through. I thought it was funny in a cute way how the secret character's affection skyrocketed over four different dialogue boxes after telling her you could come to love her.

Bottom Line: Cutest game ever, i much prefer it to other VNs. Thank you for making this.
Thank you very much for your feedback!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
author=Marrend
It sounds to me like you have an exceptionally old version of the Uchioniko add-on. Masako had a small cameo in one of Izumi's stories, but it has since been removed. Anyway, I would recommend getting the newest version of the content from the finished content thread. Or, since the link on that page points there anyway, click here to get the file from my locker.

Also, I get the odd impression that the game force-quit after giving this warning? If this actually happened, it's not supposed to.


Wait a second. I'm looking at this post, which suggests that I added some Masako cameos to Uchioniko. Yet, when I looked at the ZIP file on my computer, "masako_extra.txt" wasn't there?

Nope. Just didn't notice it. All together now: Way to fail Sataro! (I've got to update that image!)

Anyway, here's what you do to clear that error message off:

  • Extract the ZIP into the base Heartache 101 directory.


A few explanations about this. The warning was given to tell you that content exists, but without of the Masako add-on, it cannot be seen or played. This particular content is optional. Meaning that the Uchioniko add-on can be played without the presence of Masako.

Also, forgive for my confusion/forgetfulness on this! It's been a while since I've messed with this game in any capacity.
Also just wanted to note that I'm addicted to Keika's theme music now. Thanks a lot. :P

Edit: Completely unrelated, but here goes:

How is the game meant to be played out? With good RNG and persistence I'm able to get my target girl's ending at around the 50-day mark. I'm wondering if I'm supposed to be playing it by getting relationship points with all the girls or just focusing on one person, since the game lasts for 101 days and I've been finishing in half the time by focusing on one girl specifically. I suppose this is why the ring was created but it still feels a little hollow when I just zip to the end of the game after unlocking an ending since, let's face it, there's not much else for the story after unlocking their ending unless you have points with other girls; Which brings me back to my original question of how the game was meant to be played.

Sorry for all the text walls, your game's just pulled me in like nothing else and I like to learn about stuff like this.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
For my own part, I don't mind focusing on a single character. If I need to use the Ring of Sleep to get to Day 101 (151 if that mode is enabled), fine. However, the option to peruse as many characters as possible exist. I suppose it would highly depend on player preference. Which, to a degree, was polled.
For some reason that website never loads for me. my browser says it doesn't exist or something
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
I'm not sure what would cause your browser to say that it doesn't exist. I mean, it's been down on a few occasions, but...

Anyway, let's give you the quick-and-dirty

Do you prefer to pursue one love interest at a time?
(88 total votes)

  • One at a time! (49 votes) 55.7%

  • Many at once! (39 votes) 44.3%



Neat. I suppose the 101/151 days is to provide padding for those of us who don't cheat and who are new to the game or exceptionally bad at handling a given girl (bad date spots, getting huggy too soon, failing stat checks, etc.)

I used up all 101 days my first playthrough, and even then I only got a generic ending with Riho, heh. Then I became a dirty cheater Then I started using the game files to figure out the best date sites and what stats I need where so I don't lock myself out of a route for not lack of knowledge. Of course, I suppose I'd learn that through the "Ask her type" dialogues, which would also make sense for the 101 day time limit seeing as you'd need to use more days to get information on your desired sweetheart. Playing on Normal or Hard would justify it as well.

Thinking back on it, I suppose I shouldn't be worrying about the time limit seeing as I can easily fill up the 101 days by playing it "naturally" instead of by looking at the game files. >_>
Just to note, I continue to be unable to load the 3eeweb site as well, as has been true for a couple months now. Someone might want to check into this.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21806
Let's not also mention the built-in cheat codes!

In respect to the 3eeweb site not coming up for those who are having issues, I have no response. Nor, for that matter, do I have any clue how I would go about "looking into it". Some co-administator I am!