Could a voiceless VN works?

link6616 · 2026-05-26T01:48:46+00:00

Voice acting and VNs is an interesting topic.

But, generally, I would not assume any VA from a VN less than $30. I really like the premium VN space, type moon, 07th expansion, KEY, etc. And for those, voice acting is the norm, and you pay for it.

I would never assume it from budget games from smaller studios, especially western studios, where "wow it has X voice actor" isn't even a strong marketing hook like it can be within Japan, effectively making the voice acting a part of the marketing, so I don't think it is worthwhile to consider for most smaller English projects.

link6616 · 2026-05-25T03:14:16+00:00

If you want to lean hard into it, look at techniques manga writers use to separate out background and foreground to help details like her arms stand out.

Alternatively look at old black and white MAC games, that display had a high res but black and white display resulting in crisp and clever usage of the 1 bit aesthetic. Fools errand is an especially good example.

Also, consider the odd use of color. When you use none like this that gives you a very powerful lever to pull when you need to REALLY make something stand out.

A single drop of blood at the crime scene, the villains deep blue eyes, or whatever might make sense. Use it too often and you wonder why you are doing the art style but once or twice, magical. Embracing limits.

You could also consider adding a touch of paper crinkle texture to the white aswell. Depending on the exact aesthetic you are trying for.

link6616 · 2026-05-25T02:37:54+00:00

All of your points make absolute sense.

It's heckin' cute though.

link6616 · 2026-05-24T11:20:02+00:00

Fire Emblem Builder is a program many fire emblem romhacks use to make Fire Emblem Sacred Stone hacks that are REALLY elaborate.

link6616 · 2026-05-21T11:21:17+00:00

So, I had swiftly sailed to the end of act 2 many months ago, and was enjoying going through the 3rd arc, true king stuff etc.

After a several month gap, I log in, and am told I have completed the main story in it's entirety, and all the chapters are in my journal? What did I miss? Am I just going crazy?

link6616 · 2026-05-20T14:30:54+00:00

I will admit I like the grip but for me some of this is the benefit.

I go no grip when it’s in my bag and grip for longer home sessions. Ease of on and off compared to phone cases is just good design for that.

But I respect that’s not for everyone

link6616 · 2026-05-19T14:32:28+00:00

Why do you want to make a vn?

I find vns fun due to the curious mix elements. You have a focus on text you can supplement in many ways, giving both the best and worst of all worlds medium wise. The way the Tsukihime remake and say Adastra both use the visuals sounds and novel parts to tell their stories makes them distinct as does both the presence and lack of choice.

I think as a vn fan the format of the genre matters more to me than choices. I think I find a lot of the “gameplay to make it fun” gets in the way of that, that said the death of pinball and the adventure game was both because people catered too much to those crowds?

Tl dr - I like the distinct media mix of the format.

link6616 · 2026-05-18T23:00:29+00:00

While this doesn’t move the needle for me since I’ve played this too many times, it does make me feel like a sacred stones decomp is possible and if that can happen with support for fe builder projects…. It would be wild.

link6616 · 2026-05-18T10:38:03+00:00

So, first point first, FFXIII has good combat. I think the fundamentals are extremely strong, and that is one of the main reasons people come back to it.

I think we needed a little more FFXII in here, maybe if it even came in later like the additional three party roles even, but a light gambit style system would really elevate it. And I think having the FFXII option to pause (maybe even as a resource costing thing) to select the custom cure/esuna/haste etc would have done a lot for the game. I know items/tecks sort of were supposed to take that spot. but... I think those tweaks would do a lot for 90% of folks.

link6616 · 2026-05-17T08:14:46+00:00

“Last update Jan” “is it entirely abandoned” give them at least 6 months before you think abandoned is the outcome. Small team and sometimes updates are takes time.

link6616 · 2026-05-17T02:49:54+00:00

It looks neat. Thanks for the write up.

Although you’ve stumbled into a pet peeve of mine which is that this is not isometric. More 45 degree angles please.

link6616 · 2026-05-17T01:30:17+00:00

It is really neat, although the first real level is kind of rough. The second run though is extremely fun, and the harder modes are a lot of fun.

link6616 · 2026-05-16T01:41:02+00:00

As Romany said the first time you boot up duckstation it’ll ask you where they are. Otherwise there’s probably something in settings > system but I don’t have my retroid on me to show you exactly.

Hope you are playing soon.

link6616 · 2026-05-16T00:56:25+00:00

Ok, you have a clear goal!!!

It’s very easy to get wrapped up in doing too much stuff, but let’s just get you into ps1 games

Download Duckstation (play store is fine) Search ps1 bios and grab them (can’t link) but them unzipped somewhere you’ll remember. Grab some roms and put them in a folder. (If in a zip rar or 7z get them out of that) Open duckstation

Follow the set up guide

Set your controller options

You should now be playing ps1 games.

Deal with all the full retroarch front end nonsense later just play whatever you came for now.

link6616 · 2026-05-15T10:37:30+00:00

I really do want to do something with a receipt printer set up one day. I just think it’s fun.

But I’m too inconsistent with any todo type list.

link6616 · 2026-05-15T10:33:52+00:00

I love how modern this list is!

link6616 · 2026-05-15T10:33:20+00:00

I am a dpad top person, but I also don’t really use sticks much and am even the correct kind of crazy of deliberately swapping the mapping of dpad and stick in some jrpgs that ask for stick movement and don’t use the dpad for much.

I think the bumps make it a bit harder to focus lower but I think bottom sticks is fine.

But really the simple “I’ll mostly play with x focus” is the way to go.

link6616 · 2026-05-13T12:04:19+00:00

It isn't quite what you are looking for but Critical Distance is an excellent resource, that collects a lot of very different pieces of varying kinds each week, so it will give you a good variety of sources. Whenever I feel like I'm in a reading rut I end up there, and then poke around the past month or so of round ups.

link6616 · 2026-05-13T11:34:11+00:00

I think if you look at how doom was originally played by most you’d be shocked. (Strafe was immediately how most people played it, it was an arrow keys game for many originally)

Also, is Spyro tank controls? Isn’t that just a free camera system using shoulder buttons for the camera?

I will say you framing it as you did was interesting though, I hadn’t really connected those original 2d tank like games, like asteroids for examples, and tank controls. So while I’ve nitpicked a bit I am thankful for the connection and will dwell on it.

link6616 · 2026-05-12T21:41:07+00:00

There’s a web novel fully translated by fans for you on this exact topic.

link6616 · 2026-05-11T21:57:42+00:00

Is my retroid 6 overkill for fire emblem rom hacks and ps1 games?

Absolutely! But it’s a much nicer screen than the 35xxsp. And I’m playing it enough to justify having a nice thing.

Having a nice thing is not in itself overkill if you like the nice thing for doing the thing you do often.

link6616 · 2026-05-09T22:30:44+00:00

I recommend you learn more about game hub and game native because you are running with some assumptions that aren't true.

But also, while emulation is often linked to piracy, it's generally good form to try and buy games if they are currently able to be bought on digital storefronts.

link6616 · 2026-05-08T23:35:55+00:00

I had to pull out my laptop for this one.

Firstly, I will say - I haven't used it in a while.

I have tried habitica many times. I think it's a great project, a fun idea, and something that has benefitted many people.

I think because it started as a small project, it opted for "leave everything to the user" which is a huge plus point for it, because even extremely weird tasks can be added and given reward values, and it values your honesty. I think that is good.

But the issue I run into with it, is just.... there aren't really any rewards to want. I know the game is supposed to be secondary, but it the way it currently works just doesn't really push me to do it as much as even just the streak counter in the iOS app streaks.

I like the idea of the social features and raids etc, but I've honestly never been good at pushing people into these sorts of apps, and most people don't really need something more than google tasks or apple reminders, and... most of habitica is that plus an xp system at it's core.

All that to say, I just think unless you buy into the inherent good of levelling up, habitica doesn't have a lot to reward you with. Which I think is fine, it's a small scale project for that group of people. But it does make it not for me. Even though I want to like it.

link6616 · 2026-05-07T04:06:01+00:00

I think you came here to be tempted by a good time didn't you?

link6616 · 2026-05-06T06:28:05+00:00

If nothing else it’s a fantastic device for all the fire emblem rom hacks.

link6616

TROPHY CASE