Ninja Tactician
Well, this looks interesting; I can't say much more until I've actually read it. That's turning out to be a problem, as dropbox is refusing to let me download the file for some reason (I get a connection lost message).
EDIT: Also, how long is it, and are there choices? I'm sorry if I didn't look through the brief enough, but it's long and stuff ^^
EDIT 2: Download worked after clicking the button enough times. Still seems unreliable, though.
EDIT 3: (I like editing) Looks like both my questions are answered in the summary already. I guess RTFM applies to me too :(
EDIT 4: Do not go back to your bedroom after showering out the red rage mist. It messes your game up.
EDIT 5: The OP apparently can't reply yet since he just registered, so I'll note here that the bug mentioned in EDIT 4 should be fixed now.
edited 29th Dec '12 8:40:21 PM by Zakamutt
Currently running (well, more like walking) a Swan Song liveblog here.
Ninja Tactician
(I realize this is a double post, but I feel it's warranted)
I just finished this, and damn. It's a very powerful experience; I'd put it in the Utsuge category actually. I encourage everyone here to play it.
When I opened this, I was expecting something fairly half-baked with meh writing (something the VN afficionados on the OELVN scene keep complaining about, really). It's not quite a traditional visual novel, but to be honest, it definitely fits in here more than everywhere else. And it's got great writing.
I'm 21, so I guess I'll try not to end up having the doors closed on me; certainly, parts of this apply to me and I could potentially go down this path. I'm still young enough, though, so let's see what happens (I did tell myself that three years ago too, though...).
I sent a mail to Rock Paper Shotgun tipping them off about this. Who knows if they'll pick it up, but now you know I guess.
edited 29th Dec '12 1:27:56 PM by Zakamutt
Currently running (well, more like walking) a Swan Song liveblog here.
Spoony Bard
Using a recent version of RPG Maker is an unusual choice (it costs money, unlike Renpy or Novelty Maker). Still, I guess that makes for an easy comparison with the indie game / WVN To The Moon. And looking at the relevant Kickstarter page, it looks like the creator also enjoyed Analogue A Hate Story. Not sure if the person knows about Facade
, or how many other experimental freeware video games and visual novels the person has experienced.
There is also a topic for Actual Sunlight on the Lemma Soft forums, if you're active there.
edited 29th Dec '12 3:52:33 PM by dorkatlarge
Hello!
I haven't played your game/VN yet, but I will.
In my spare time I compose music on my computer. It doesn't have any "zomg uber orchestra sound quality" and quite a few sounds remind me of old synths, but the melodies can and will evoke all sorts of various moods.
I don't have my name anywhere, so I will work for free or for a symbolic payment, however, as I've said, I don't have the best sounds, so I may not be the best option. However, my soundtrack WILL be the "full original OST" you're looking for.
Here are six pieces of music that I've done so far, could you please tell me if you like what you hear or not? If you do, I'll be more than happy to work for you as a composer. If you don't, tell me and I'll never bother you about this ever again.
"Hope" (The environment is probably dark and oppressive, but hope lives on.)
"Black Hole" (Hope? What hope? Hope had never existed in the first place. More mood than melody.)
"Ambush!!" (It's a chase theme. I tend to find drums harder to do, but this was a happy exception.)
"File Travel" (Something electronic with a focus on the "saw wave" sound. Longest track in the bunch. Ends abruptly because the intention was for it to loop seamlessly. I can make an OGG file or a non-abrupt ending easily)
"Sinister Strings" (The "tremolo strings" sound will never pass for real tremolo strings, but it's absolutely AWESOME, so I used it.)
"Good Morning" (A happy, pleasant song to wake up to, but maybe a bit too electronicy... but I like it.)
EDIT: Forgot to mention, this was composed earlier, it wasn't made specifically for your game.
edited 31st Dec '12 1:33:50 PM by Muzozavr
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Hey guys,
It wouldn't let me post when I first signed up, but it seems that's been lifted! Thanks very much for your responses... Zak, I really appreciate the complement, and hope it will encourage others to give the game a shot. Dork, I'm downloading Facade right now, looks very interesting. Muzo, I like your tracks! I'm gonna wait and see how the game does in the next few months in terms of whether or not people are even interested enough for me to go further with it, but I'll revisit this with you once I know that I'm serious...
I also posted on Lemmasoft, but since you can now reply here, I'll reply here too. :)
Oh, it's not complicated at all - I just don't want to make musicians and artists put their blood, sweat and tears into something that players aren't interested in. It'll be hard enough to carry myself without feeling guilty about poorly spending the time of others as well. :)
It's YOUR dream. So follow it and do what's necessary!
Don't lessen your goals halfway through. If you're convinced of your project's importance, that conviction will be the first step towards convincing others. You should never feel guilty about pursuing your creative dream.
BTW, the last two days were all filled with New Year celebration, but now I should actually have a chance of reading your story.
EDIT: It's going to be nighttime soon for me, so I'll read tomorrow — I started and I managed to log almost 20 minutes in the apartment alone, just reading all the stuff you've written for Evan, that Something Awful review... it was epic.
As for the BGM folder — did you just put ALL of RPG Maker's built-in music into the archive? Seems like it — there are so many exciting fantasy-like battle themes in the folder that don't seem fit for the mood you're going for...
edited 1st Jan '13 1:12:36 PM by Muzozavr
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Ha! Yeah, all the default RPG Maker music is still in the folder. I don't use very much of it, though, and two of the very simple loops you'll hear (the opening apartment song, and the loop you hear at the office) are my own creations.
Thanks very much for the 'epic' perception, and I look forward to hearing what you think about the rest of it...
Alright, so *now* I'll continue reading, because I totally wasted my time... NOT! Well, OK, I did waste one day on chess, but the other I was making music. Based on my first taste of the story and your short description of it, I made up a title theme. This is a test version, for there are a few small little tweaks I'd like to do, but it's 99% there. It's in OGG, so there should be no problems.
It's NOT the opening theme for the apartment, it's the theme for the title screen. BUT maybe you'll find a different place where it fits better? I don't know...
Anyway, the OGG is here: http://www.filedropper.com/actualsunlight1
EDIT: Just finished reading it — super powerful stuff and a strong motivational kick in the nuts for me to start working towards my dream and my future while I still have time. I'm not sure why I'm always so shaken by well-done Controllable Helplessness, but every part of the apartment telling me to jump off and
Roof
Roof
hit me like I don't know what.
I'm really not sure that my song fits anymore, but still...
Anyway, great story.
EDIT 2: I just took another listen, and wow is my own song infinitely more depressing and fitting when you know everything that happened in your story... I know the track super long, but I think that (if possible) it should be some kind of an ending theme. Maybe it can start at the final portion of the text, continues through the credits (which should scroll slowly) and then continue onto the "Game Over" part. And it smoothly fades out if the player returns to the title screen before the music finishes.
edited 4th Jan '13 3:20:18 PM by Muzozavr
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Hey Muzo,
It's pretty good! I'll let you know where I'm at once I get to the point where I'm starting to look at art and music development, right now I really am just trying to focus on promoting the game and trying to get people to build a grassroots level of support for it. Everyone who has commented on it so far seems to really enjoy it, so I just need to find a way to try to tap into a wider audience...
Thanks again!
Just wanted to drop a quick update re: a great review that the game got at Kotaku:
Hope this encourages anyone who is interested but hadn't checked it out yet to give it a shot! Thanks.
Ninja Tactician
Looks like your dl got slashdotted. Might want to put up a torrent if it's still not working.
EDIT: Oh, you have one up already, heh. Well, this should give you some exposure, and negative comments of course, this being Kotaku :)
I see that your indiegogo got a few more funders as well, though I doubt it will go through. Good luck though.
edited 7th Feb '13 8:59:49 PM by Zakamutt
Currently running (well, more like walking) a Swan Song liveblog here.
I was really impressed by the game. As someone who suffers from depression, it was hard to get through and was kind of a downer but it really shows you how depression works in a really authentic way.
Ninja Tactician
Well, looks like I was wrong about the indiegogo not going through, it's actually raised 200 (well, canadian) dollars more than the limit now and there's still 14 hours left. Lots of places have reviewed it now though (including RPS!), so that probably helped. Pity I'm broke, or I'd have backed it for a copy I think... Oh well.
Gz!1
Currently running (well, more like walking) a Swan Song liveblog here.
No worries on not backing it - honestly, I'm just happy if people play it!
I've now launched the game on Steam Greenlight, and if any of you have Steam accounts, I'd love it if you would consider giving it an upvote if you played and enjoyed it. Here's the link:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=132375295
Sorry for bumping this, but I had a computer issue and lost the music I sent to you. Filedropper has already deleted it, but maybe you still have it?
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It's been long enough, so BUMP.
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Hey everyone,
I've created something that is pretty much almost a VN - it's called Actual Sunlight, and it's about love, depression and the corporation.
I'm trying to raise money for art and music, but from a writing standpoint it's complete - I would even just love feedback from VN players on what you guys think of it. You can download it in full from here:
http://igg.me/p/301923/x/1979187
Thanks!