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This page is for discussion of the technical side of content creation. If you have a technical issue or question with regards to a character or story you are creating, talk about it here.
(The old Custom Content thread can be found here)


Helpful things:

--> Medium build girl, the .psd that was used to create the built-in characters, is available with layer names in English.

--> Kudos to SparkleFox for finding us a male tachie generator, authored by "彩 雅介" (Aya Mayabaikai?)! This one is put together as a program, but has PSD files with layer-names in Japanese. No "fan-translation" available at this time.

--> You can use any of these images for making new custom characters.

--> Notepad++ with syntax highlighting for Heartache 101 can be a big help with story creation. To set it up, go to the View menu and set User Defined Language to HeartAche. Then close View, go to the Language menu and select HeartAche. (If you already have Notepad++, here's userDefineLang.xml by itself)

--> Mr. Help File has, regrettably, forgotten to mention certain locations! They are as follows:
Beach (sunset), Grounds (sunset), Roof (sunset), Bedroom (Morning), Downtown, Studio Room.
Note that these locations must be specified via a PLACE command. To the best of my (ie: Marrend's) knowledge, they cannot be obtained via the generic "School" or "City" code.

--> If you are writing story content that includes the appearance of existing characters (built-in or custom), the following list may be of reference:

ID 0 = The Player
ID 1 = Nakajima Miki {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 2 = Ikeda Keika {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 3 = Onishi Tsubasa {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 4 = Kaneshiro Shihoko {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 5 = Kaneshiro Riho {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 6 = Sato Akari {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 7 = Hiraoka Hinami {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 8 = (Secret character) {flowerthief, Built-in content}
ID 9 = Watanabe Junko {Nekochi, "Junko"}
ALSO = Tsukino Emi {Silent Pheonix, "Tsukino Emi", in progress}
ID 10 = Mitsuya Masako {Marrend, "Masako"}
ID 11 = Monotami Ruri {Marrend, "Uchioniko"}
ID 12 = Nemoto Mayu {Marrend, "Uchioniko"}
ID 13 = Terakado Shoko {Marrend, "Uchioniko}
ID 14 = Shirazu Izumi {Marrend, "Uchioniko"}
ID 15 = Watanabe Aoi {Nekochi, "Junko"}
ALSO = Lambaria Yuu {KimotoDragoon, "Yuu", in progress, Caretaker: Marrend}
ID 16 = Ran Fujioka {Neckochi, unpublished}
ID 17 = Torako Koizumi {Neckochi, unpublished}
ID 18 = Yumemi Tanno {Neckochi, unpublished}
ID 19 = Umehara Joruri {Marrend, "Joruri"}
ID 20 = Sakuragawa Fuyuki {Fuyuki, "Fuyuki", cancelled}
ID 21 = 21 Ways {dude797, "21"; Caretaker: Dozen}
ID 22 = Ikari Kyouki {Dozen, unpublished}
ID 23 = (Reserved for Nekochi)
ID 24 = (Reserved for Nekochi)
ID 25 = Kuwabara Emiko {Marrend, "Emiko"}
ID 26 = Tanaka Yoko {triad2/Noone42, in progress}
ID 27 = Katanashi Seira {triad2/Noone42, in progress}
ID 28 = (Reserved for KimotoDragoon)
ID 29 = Shitazawa Arika {Dozen, unpublished}

ID 31 = Maeda Eriko {triad2, "Meada"}
ID 32 = ? Genji {triad2, "Meada"}
ID 33 = ? Ryoko {Dozen, unpublished}
ID 34 = (Reserved for Tthedragon)
ID 35 = (Reserved for Tthedragon)
ID 36 = Murakami Megumi {Render, unpublished}
ID 37 = Kawano Fujiko {Render, unpublished}
ID 38 = Matsuhara Akane {Render, unpublished}
ID 39 = Momohana Nami {GloopMaster, Unknown, in progress}
ID 40 = Konohana Midori {LordNight, "Midori", RMN only, in progress}
ID 41 = Natsume Rika {LordNight, "Midori", RMN only, in progress}
ID 42 = (Reserved for LorSquirrel)
ID 43 = Hasegawa Kanon {LordNight, "Midori", RMN only, in progress}
ID 44 = Kirihara Kana {LordNight, "Midori", RMN only, in progress}
ID 45 = (Reserved for LordNight)
ID 46 = (Reserved for LordNight)
ID 47 = (Reserved for LordNight)
ID 48 = (Reserved for LorSquirrel)
ID 49 = (Reserved for LorSquirrel)
ID 50 = (Reserved for LorSquirrel)
ID 51 = Shiromiya Kagami {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 52 = Tsuchitsuru Airi {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 53 = Kimura Shizuka {Mute, unpublished}
ID 54 = Columban Kuri {?, unpublished}
ID 55 = Shikimori Asuka {Render, "Clique", unpublished}
ID 56 = Shikimori Sanako {Render, "Clique", unpublished}
ID 57 = Nakao Yasuko {Render, "Clique", unpublished}
ID 58 = Sakaki Usagi {Render, "Clique", unpublished}
ID 59 = Waifu Mai {pegaso, "Mai", unpublished} (temporary reserve?)
ID 60 = Makoda Yuuki {Ilan14, unpublished}
ID 61 = Hisatsuki Seiryuu {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 62 = Torahashi Mio {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 63 = Eienji Rie {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 64 = Hamaguchi Takako {dewelar, unpublished}
ID 65 = Yoshimura Noriko {dewelar, "Noriko"}
ID 66 = Ichini Sanshi {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 67 = Kimura Sachiko {Mute, unpublished}
ID 68 = Hitsuragi Yuureiko {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 69 = Hanata Haruka {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 70 = Shiraki Kotone {BasedMG, "Kotone", in progress}
ID 71 = Kurokawa Sarako {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 72 = Kurokawa Mikari {BDFalcon, unpublished}
ID 73 = (Reserved for LorSquirrel)
ID 74 = Yamisaki Eliza {Kevincalanor, Wolfpack}
ID 75 = Yamisaki Alessa {Kevincalanor, Wolfpack}
ID 76 = Nakamura Yuriko {Kevincalanor, Wolfpack}
ID 77 = Harada Himeko {Garage, "Winggirl"}
ID 78 = Fujikawa Sayumi {Garage, "Winggirl"}
ID 79 = Fujikawa Mayumi {Garage, "Winggirl"}
ID 80 = Hashimoto Midori {Ertad, unpublished}
ID 81 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 82 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 83 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 84 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 85 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 86 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 87 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 88 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 89 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 90 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 91 = (reserved for Ertad)
ID 92 = Itawa Miyuki {RukasuWYZ, "Ijona on'nanoko", probably canceled}
ID 93 = Shogowa Yuka {RukasuWYZ, "Ijona on'nanoko", probably canceled}
ID 94 = Fujita Suki {RukasuWYZ, "Ijona on'nanoko", probably canceled}
ID 95 = Chihiro Sato {RukasuWYZ, "Ijona on'nanoko", probably canceled}
ID 96 = Shingoza Ayumi {RukasuWYZ, "Ijona on'nanoko", probably canceled}

ID 97 = Sawada Merika {Garage, "Winggirl - Pathways"}
ID 98 = Nagai Shika {Garage, "Winggirl - Pathways"}
ID 99 = Harada Hibiko {Garage, "Winggirl - Pathways"}
ID 100 = Robin Clark {Wowzer_, "Robin"}
ALSO = ? Takuya {Kevincalanor, "Built-off", tachie/profile only}
ID 101 = Miyazaki Kiyoka {Nedras, "First Years", unpublished}
ID 102 = Matsumoto Atsumi {Nedras, "First Years", unpublished}
ID 103 = Kagawa Yasuna {Nedras, "First Years", unpublished}
ID 104 = Azuka Ishikawa {Nedras, "First Years", unpublished}
ID 105 = Hayashito Kaede {ShinigamisApples/KiyokoKaia, unpublished}
ID 106 = Hayashi Kitsune {Garage, "Kitsune"}
ID 107 = Sasaki Riku {Garage, "Nadeshiko"}
ID 108 = Yamaguchi Ayame {Garage, "Nadeshiko"}
ID 109 = Kimura Nanashi {Garage, "Nadeshiko"}
ID 110 = Takahashi Karen {Garage, "Rivalries"}
ID 111 = Inoue Azami {Garage, "Rivalries"}
ID 112 = Yamamoto Hina {Garage, "Crossover", unpublished}
ID 113 = Kojima Daishi {Garage, "Crossover", unpublished}
ID 114 = Hashimoto Chiyo {Garage, "Crossover", unpublished}

ID 121 = Furuya Reika {ScarbucksCoffee, "Reika", unpublished}
ID 122 = Furuya Shunpei {ScarbucksCoffee, "Reika", unpublished}
ID 123 = Shimada Tsukasa {ScarbucksCoffee, "Reika", unpublished}
ID 124 = Shimada Tomo {ScarbucksCoffee, "Reika", unpublished}

ID 130 = Tanaka Grace {mysteriousone3, "Grace"}

(Note: You don't need to care about this list if your story events will not include existing characters, as ID numbers for characters in separate files don't have to be unique)

--> Finally, I've listed the game cheats here. You can use these during story events to test your content:
SHIFT + F5 -- Adds 10 to Looks
SHIFT + F6 -- Adds 10 to Athletics
SHIFT + F7 -- Adds 10 to Personality
SHIFT + F8 -- Adds 10 to Mind
SHIFT + F9 -- Adds 10 to Soul
ALT + F5 -- Adds 1000 to yen
ALT + F6 -- Active speaker's affection decreases by 100
ALT + F7 -- Active speaker's affection increases by 100
ALT + F8 -- Advances the calendar by 1 day
ALT + F9 -- Advances the calendar by 7 days

Posts

author=Marrend
Is it possible to cause a "girl calls the player" event that doesn't set up a date at the end of the day? The character I'm making has a tendency to unintentionally pocket dial, and I wanted some of the events to reflect that.
The best way to handle this, I think, is to set this up as a normal story, but make the "PLACE = School".


Hmm, that would most likely work. I was thinking more along the lines of something like the random text message scene. Would setting the "PLACE = Bedroom" allow an event to fire at the end of the day or would it just make an awkward board game event?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
If my memory of how Fran's "PLACE = Bedroom" events work is intact, events set up there over-ride "Phone Phase" (when players get to call potential dates at the end of the day).

*Edit: You might want to test this yourself.
author=Marrend
If my memory of how Fran's "PLACE = Bedroom" events work is intact, events set up there over-ride "Phone Phase" (when players get to call potential dates at the end of the day).

*Edit: You might want to test this yourself.

Ah, that seems plausible. Thanks, mate! Will do.

Update: Upon testing, setting the location to "PLACE = Bedroom" does indeed call an event after the day is done. I even managed to put together a spiffy chance-based conditional tree that changes the song she's playing when she pocket dials you.

While we're on the subject of music, is there a way to suspend the player from continuing text until a song is done? I have some events planned where Kotone plays music for the player, and it seems like it'd ruin immersion if you were able to skip out of the song by continuing the dialogue.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
There is a "Wait" command is inherent to RPG Maker's code-base. However, we don't have access to it through the story code-base. I figure, the best thing you can do is make the player character have poignant thought bubbles while the song is playing. No, it's not a perfect solution by any means, but it's the best solution I can think of.
author=Marrend
There is a "Wait" command is inherent to RPG Maker's code-base. However, we don't have access to it through the story code-base. I figure, the best thing you can do is make the player character have poignant thought bubbles while the song is playing. No, it's not a perfect solution by any means, but it's the best solution I can think of.

That's actually the solution I pondered last night as well, oddly enough. Those scenes are a bit far off as it is anyway, even discounting the fact I might add in some more story scenes between the ones I have now to make the pacing flow a bit better.

Edit: I wonder if it will be possible to add custom mental notes in the future?
Since I'm not going to be able to work on this game until at least the end of the year, I wonder if I could designate one of you to maintain a list of bug reports and feature suggestions made by users of this forum and by visitors to the website? One of the "developers" would be an ideal candidate :)
author=flowerthief
Since I'm not going to be able to work on this game until at least the end of the year, I wonder if I could designate one of you to maintain a list of bug reports and feature suggestions made by users of this forum and by visitors to the website? One of the "developers" would be an ideal candidate :)

Aren't bug reports part of my job?

I nominate Marrend.

That's a terrible idea. Unless he nods to it himself, in which case I'll support him.

And I never gave you voting rights, which definitely is 100% part of my job. Hell, we never talked before.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
If Dozen has been keeping track of bug reports, I say let him keep doing that. As for suggestions, I don't even know what suggestions have been made. Outside of the one BasedMG just made, anyway.
Please. If that's all you need...

First, our statistics and implications thereof. To date, Heartache 101 is

- the 26th most known of
- rated 24th among

Dating Simulations ever released as per consensus of the Visual Novel Database, and the 11th most popular game on RMN. While sizable(and encouraging), our target audience isn't defined and clearly not limited to any one area, group, or social standing, thus focus groups and testers would likely skew results. We are therefore limited to relying on word of mouth.

According to polls, previous requests, complaints and reviews on various sites and social media(Excluding RMN, since you already read those), the game has been praised by the overwhelming majority for:

-outstanding character development
-fluff
-characterization(of Riho's and the Chocolate Lady's, especially; we should probably deal with that), including but not limited to expressions, speech style and acting in accordance to oneself
-unique approach, apparently better than the usual pattern for Dating Sims
-good mix of the main genre with two others
-pacing
-personalities, motivations, etc. (Excluding the Player)
-support of Disbelief Suspension

On the flipside the audience criticized the lack of or have requested(barring the ones fixed in new releases, the unreasonable or the overly opinionated):

1. Technical and Convenience
-Backlogs.
-Event library.

2. Artistic and related
-Continuity(mostly related to conversations in light of the relation meter)
-Event CGs
-Drawn tachies
-Broader theme selection
-Consistent, not gradually weakening personality of the Player and/or explanations to changes to the aforementioned, leaving less to the imagination
- And the all time winner: Personalized Endings.
The latter complaint deserves extra attention due to it's prevalence. I find Miki's and Tsubasa's epilogue phone conversation is accepted(almost praised, in fact) for being the first endings most people encounter due to ease and thus more fresh, as well as fitting the respective female characters involved. In contrast, all other good endings are referred to as, quote word to word, 'disappointing', 'lackluster', 'half-assed', 'silly', bashed for being cloth cutouts of each other, especially the generic ending(note the lack of plurality, here), and reducing the player to a(n even more) two-dimensional, forgettable plot excuse.

I recommend dealing with the technical requests and the ending complaints first and foremost, the former being easy and the latter being responsible for the bulk of our negative press. An idea pool for new epilogues could prove to be a considerable asset.

That would be it!^^ Overseer off!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
To me, that post just proves that you've got a better handle of this than I.
Just as long as when it's time to work on the game again I can ask, "Now what needs to be fixed?", someone who has been paying attention to things can answer :)
Changes today:

-IDs 71-72 reserved for BDFalcon.
-Deleted a few now-redundant vacancy markers.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Suggested alterations to the ID list:
  • Until otherwise notified, we might as well put Shiraki Kotone at ID 70.
  • There was a request on the official site about two weeks ago by a "Yukin" for ID 36.

*Edit: I was going to fill these out myself when I offered to update this listing, but, apparently, I'm not allowed to do that.
author=Marrend
I was going to fill these out myself when I offered to update this listing, but, apparently, I'm not allowed to do that.

And we're not going to, either. We don't reserve IDs for every random shmuck who comes along before we see some of their work. You are not allowed to do so because you 1. cannot grasp the concept of privilege, 2. too crippled socially to tell anyone they can't have something, and 3. always forget the rules(if you ever understood them in the first place).
Dozen, I'm going to have to ask you again to be nice. I don't want this thread to be a place where insults are thrown.

(Yes, policy for the reserving of IDs is entrusted to you, but that doesn't mean your way is the only way)
author=flowerthief
Dozen, I'm going to have to ask you again to be nice. I don't want this thread to be a place where insults are thrown.

I retain the right to hurt others as long as the insults are legit, boss.

(Yes, policy for the reserving of IDs is entrusted to you, but that doesn't mean your way is the only way)

His, however, definitely isn't one.

I'm not going to act all British and disguise lack of respect as a polite remark. Especially since that qualifies as lying(white as it may be), which I don't do on the heartache forums out of principle. Marrend respects my rights, I respect him back as much as it's due. What I do to Marrend is not bullying, I strongly reject the notion of being rude, and I request you cease to shield him from harm like he's made out of paper when I'm legitimately pissed at him. After a certain "incident", I reckon I'm allowed to give him sh*t for the next decade.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Now that I really think about this, reserving IDs might be like making a gamepage submission to RMN. The moderation won't even see the submission go into the queue unless it has three images. For our purposes, that would translate to showcasing a tachie, or a post that says that one of flowerthief's pre-mades would be used. The other requirement would be a game description. For our purposes, that would translate to an outline of basic personality traits, and a blurb about what kind of story we should expect from the character. At the very least, there would need to be some feedback posts, something more than one-liners, about the built-ins, or the custom characters that currently exist, from prospective authors.

On this note, I can understand denying Yukin's reservation request from the official site.
author=Marrend
...For our purposes, that would translate to an outline of basic personality traits, and a blurb about what kind of story we should expect from the character. At the very least, there would need to be some feedback posts, something more than one-liners, about the built-ins, or the custom characters that currently exist, from prospective authors.

Almost. Having an idea is nice, but it doesn't take effort - by that logic I could have reserved something like 20 IDs for myself. A safer but still relatively low requirement would be a small number(2-5) of story events OR a full profile, plus all of what you just said.

On this note, I can understand denying Yukin's reservation request from the official site.

Thank you! I needed some support to close this out. *kinda fuzzy inside*