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Katawa Shoujo: Update the Outdates (incl. guide!)

cx3907 — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:38 +0000

With the crippled jokes getting old, let’s finish this.

A quick recap:

This thing showed up out of nowhere in 4chan on 4th January 2007, influencing users to generate tons of ideas, from love stories to bad ends… and effectively uniting them to produce an actual (free) game that we hold in our hands today.
The original omake was created by RAITA of Zettai Shoujo in Comiket 61, back in December 2000. No one knew who colored it though.
Four Leaf Studios was formed by amateurs of varying nationalities and backgrounds, and it took them 5 years of painstaking efforts to bring about (some may call it “tear-jerking”) one of the most mature (in the right way) stories in the sub-culture.

The protagonist, Hisao, suffers from arrhythmia which triggered a heart attack during a snowy winter when his crush confessed to him. Well, it sent him to the hospital where he spent months for the sake of being ‘observed’.As the story goes, his rethinking and personality change would depend on the player.
Cue it.

On a side note, Misha's infamous laughter is prominent in my class...

Hard to think of them being at least 18.
To make things easier, I would not disclose any thoughts about the characters for I disabled the adult content.
Just kidding, read on.

First and last impressions are that Emi is a very fun girl. Being an optimistic athlete, she strives to become the best runner… without legs.
Her route portrays typical teenage love relationships, and I’m rather surprised by the number of *censored* FLS has made for her route. Sure made this a tolerably realistic potrayal…Of course, it is without dere-dere moments, plights and seriousness.

Hanako’s route presents probably the best psychological story in this game. Hanako is scarred, both physically and mentally, which brought her to extreme self-consiousness.
FLS made the narration captivating and immerses the player into the story. ’nuff said. However, the eventual relationship between Hanako and Hisao subsequently form under equal terms, rather than the very much predictable protective character than one would lazily depict.

Unfortunately, my say is that Lily’s route feels like a regular love story. The good points about her story are it is easily adaptable, and (almost!) free of friction and conflicts. Here’s a backup if this is too short.

One word to describe: Complex. I had to quote someone else:

Hidden Text	Select Show
I haven’t commented much on Rin’s path. Mostly because… I don’t know what to make of it. I actually like Rin… But at the same time, I understand… The part of me that is an artist, feels it… That disorder, those thoughts that cannot be conveyed through words, and sometimes not even pictures. It’s hard. Very hard. I also remember how the pressure breaks that… How it transforms you. How responsibilities and emotional turmoil can drive you into extremes. It reminds me of the times I tried to jump into traffic, or the times I have, repeatedly and literally, hit my head against the wall because I cannot take the pressure building inside me. Weird, hard to explain emotions. And it’s even harder to find someone who can understand them, even if it’s just a little. You drive the people around you crazy, because they don’t get why are you angry, or sad, or acting just plain weird. The anger, confusion, and sometimes disdain of your loved ones, all because your mind is actually working in another place, a place very different from what they call Reality. It’s tough. You seek to be understood, to not stand alone all the time… But… You cannot. There’s a wall… Between you and the rest of the world. A wall that is made of impossibilities, of contradictions, of disorganized ideas, of pure raw creation, that makes you live at least a part of your life in a place where things don’t actually exist. Nothing can bring that wall down. Absolutely nothing. Because it’s what makes you tick, what makes you work. and the closer they try to get to you, the more it will hurt them because its a wall that is made of broken things of you

Hidden Text

Select Show

I had fun imagining Hisao trying to “talk” to Shizune while Misha was grinning beside them.
Shizune, being the student council president, some may call her cocky, while others call her tsundere, well, later in the story one might feel like Keima. While Misha is being hyper and all, there is no harem involved as the story is supposed to be focused on Shizune herself. Story’s as straightforward as her.

Final thoughts:

This game can be easily compared with any of Key’s visual novels
(eg. Air, Rewrite, Clannad, Kanon)
Although made by a bunch of amateurs, Katawa Shoujo is a very psychological visual novel, which screws with our misleading image of everyday life. It even became a subject of study in Panola College by Professor Don Martinez due to its “redemptive” ability. Impressive, and overwhelming indeed.
Disability aside, Katawa Shoujo is more about dealing with personal problems, making it even more compelling and appealing as a whole. (Even the disabled wish to be able to live independently too!)
…but the M18 made it unappealing to some.

Now, since you have read your way to here…

I don’t know if it’s a bug or not (Mac ver.), but the presplash never showed up…
FLS was kind enough to set up a shimmie, but NSFW:
…While the full version remain untranslated…:
…And FINALLY the entire walkthrough to the game! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Right-click “save as” to download (2MB)
Cypher (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ・。*。✧・゜゜・。✧。*・゜゜・✧。・゜゜・。*。・゜*✧
…signing off.

“神様　ありがとう
運命のいたずらでも
めぐり逢えたことが
しあわせなの ”
“Dear God, thank you
Even if it’s just destiny pulling a prank on me
I’m so glad of the fact that
We both had met”
–Renai Circulation

Katawa Shoujo: Clouds in My Head

cx3907 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 03:53:17 +0000

Ever done that to someone? =^_^=

I admit, this was my least favourite route in this game…
Especially right after my first prelims. (I’ll talk about it later.)

Couldn't agree more.

Rin, born with arm defects (or simply just stumps), wears a boy’s uniform because using feet with skirts on isn’t cool. At first glance, she’s emotionless — totally nonchalant — but still, she’s a human.
Daydreaming and abstract ideas aside, anyone can easily call her an artist.
But she has no idea why she’s even painting.
Well, that’s up to you to find out. ^^

To the visual side of the visual novel!
Normal:

CG:

No, it isn’t a trap. Rin is a girl. (Though she’s like a guy sometimes. >_>)

I need to gather my thoughts…

“rain　雨が降って
gloomy　傘ひらいて
my shoes　水たまり跳ねあげて
ため息　”too bad…”"
“rain, it is raining
gloomy, the umbrella opens
my shoes, splashed wet by the puddles
I sighed,”too bad”"
–I’m in blue

P.S.:
Yup, I’ve been away for at least 2 weeks already, but only back with this… sigh. ._.
I just had my first preliminary examinations in preparation for my O-Level, that depressed me a little. U_U
Not to mention several parade rehearsals for my school’s upcoming anniversary, and a student’s life is never easy… T.T
Now, I also have to worry when’s my turn to fly the DA40. >_<
Moral of the story: Never stop studying, never take up 2 CCAs.

ADHD version: Cypher just got owned by exams and CCAs.

Katawa Shoujo: Little Wing

cx3907 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:39 +0000

1 down, 999 more to go.

The only route with all scenes unlocked at once.

Worth more than Emi's puppy eyes, I suppose.

Lily, blind since birth, highly educated and lady-like.
Ignore the fanbase, it disgusts me. >_>

Truth to be told, first impression of her is a calm, responsible and friendly girl…
Hell, the rabbit’s hole you’re about to jump in reveals more:

So in other words, dirty-minded.

Before I get to that, let’s take a look at the CGs:
Normal:

CG:

She’s really beautiful, and kind.
~~(One of the many reasons I gave up on 3D girls.)~~

Ah yes, about that. *cough*
Wait for my final review after my 1st Prelim *cough*. >.<

“春の訪れを待つ彼女の瞳に
舞い落ちてきた桜の花
手のひらくぐり抜け流れる風を追って
消えてく空を越えて”
“Waiting for the coming of spring, in her eyes
Cherry blossoms were dancing as they fell
Slipping through her hands and chasing after the wind
Disappearing across the sky”
–Flower Flag

Katawa Shoujo: Whispered Touch

cx3907 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:24:27 +0000

Her happiness is my joy.

=^_^=

Storyline and char-dev for Hanako’s Route: 4 words – I w____ _a___ __r (Fill in the blanks)
Orphaned, disfigured, antisocial (in a cute way).
Story is very unique, I say. You are a sociable person, walks up to a quiet long-haired girl to greet her, and scares her off instead.
You’re curious, and from what you’d gather, help her out.
~~(So when’s the Hanako dakimakura coming out?)~~

CG: Fairly consistent style between the norm and special scenes. I like.
Normal:

CG:

Crap, wrong move. (Just kidding)

The more I review the entire CG collection (including other routes), I begin to see which artist drew which.

Have issues with trust at first, but begin to grow closer to you. Nagisa aside, Hanako is probably now one of the most heart-wrenching tragic girl.

“雨宿り　滲む視界の隅っこで
君は立ち止まり耳元で囁いた”
“Taking shelter from rain, in the corner of my expanding vision
You were standing next to me, and whispered close to my ears”
–雨のちSweet*Drops

Katawa Shoujo: Meet Cute

cx3907 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:46:40 +0000

Betcha look like this when you wake up. (0_<)

I don’t want to be biased when selecting routes for review, so I’m going accordingly like this: Emi, Hanako, Lily, Rin then Shizune.
Hell, turning off that option affects completion of scenes.

What did I just say?!

Back to the main topic… >_>

Storyline and character development for Emi’s Route: Cliché
Reminds me of a friend though…
Cute, active, enthusiastic about stuff… and certainly likes to bounce up to you.
Guys, this is what you want right? =^^=
~~But still, it is quite typical.~~ While I guess almost everything must have a benchmark there. ~~Supposedly Emi’s Route is the ‘typical’ kind of thing~~ when other routes are different, must be.

CG: There are certainly some differences between the normal (during conversation) and special scenes…
Normal:

CG:

Result of artist collaboration?
Well, I can’t say either are bad, right? Just different styles.

Bright and cheerful, popular but does not have many close friends (only Rin), and also stubborn. In all perspective, she’s probably the fastest girl you can hook up with in real life.

“幼き頬　朱を滲ませ　疼きに足を崩される”
“My childish cheeks are flushed crimson, my legs collapse in tingly pain”
–緋色月下、狂咲ノ絶

P.S.: Were you able to escape from the Mysterious Cathedral?

Android Apps: Sena Airi live2D clock by DIGIMERCE

k_ryuuji — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:42:18 +0000

Okay, I’m writing about an interesting clock app which I found (and I think it’s not a new app) with live2D for Google Android devices.

Well, you do see live2D clock apps on the iOS like the Mirai Clock 3, which was just released a month ago, or a Oreimo clock app which was in the App store for some time.

Then after hearing about this, surely I would have Google Android users actually complaining why apps like these have not been given some love to Android.

But after seeing this app, some might change this line of thinking. For there’s both an iOS and Android version of it.

“ましろ色シンフォニーあんどろいどあぷり“, is a wonderful live2D clock app by Digimerce, is like the other live2D clock apps out there. If you watched the slice of life, romance anime “ましろ色シンフォニー (Mashiro Iro Shinfoni)” or “The color of lovers”, you would know who is Sena Airi.

Well she greets you “おはよう” upon opening the application, even when it’s at night. What I thought is different from the many clock and alarm clock apps is, this actually talks to you.

There is an alarm and time telling function for this clock app.

Tap anywhere on her, she’ll talk with some and different phrases along with emotions, and tap the time for her to tell the time.

Dragging your finger around the screen would make her look where you are dragging the finger. You can also change the attire, which is a school gym class outfit and it must be bought.

Since this app came preloaded with the basic pack of emotions it’s useable, but if you are willing to pay, you can venture more, by buying the respective emotions too.
The background will change according to the time where if it’s in the morning in real life, the background of the clock app will be in the day. Same goes in the night. The location in the background never changed so far, for the 3 days that I’m using this application.

Other functions include the portal to the twitter and the webpage of the anime which will take you away from the app and brings you to your phone’s browser.

The good thing, it’s free to download off the Android Market, But here comes the de-motivational part. . . .

It’s only available on the Japanese Android Market which I think ( meaning you’ll have to get a Japanese Android Keitai ) and I am not to sure whether it could be downloaded in any countries. As when I accessed my phone to download this app with a R800i Android Market app, it says it could not be downloaded in my region which is Singapore. Got this app via an alternative method ( which I don’t really recommend ) as it’s going to be hard finding it.

Since it’s only availible to Japan, these are the phones that this app would work on ( via. Android Market )
On au by KDDI:
-Xperia acro IS11S
-AQUOS PHONE IS11SH
-INFOBAR A01
-G’z one IS11CA
-IS05

On NTT DoCoMo:
-ARROWZ Kiss F-03D
-Xperia PLAY SO-01D
-T-01D
-MEDIAS WP N-06C
-GALAXY S SC-02B
-GALAXY S II SC-02C
-F-12C

Android Market link :https://market.android.com/details?id=jp.co.ono.mashiro.airi

And oh. On the market, this same app comes in with another character, Amaha Miu, but the thing is, it’s a paid app unlike Airi’s. So, I would want to have a go on this one too , even though it’ll be sacrificing a little.

Amaha Miu live2D clock < via. Android Market > : https://market.android.com/details?id=jp.co.ono.mashiro.miu.chara&feature=more_from_developer

Katawa Shoujo: Warming Up

cx3907 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:17:48 +0000

Neither do I like it.

My guess is that some of you have already completed the game (so I’ve heard).
Come for the screenshots, stay for the prodding.

Uh well, I couldn’t help it.

I will be talking a little on game features today besides keeping it brief. As long as I keep playing, you will see an endless stream of commentary, not voiced by Danny Choo unfortunately.

Jukebox, a.k.a BGM playback
Gallery, a.k.a CG view
Library, something new
Cinema, for all your shorts and animations

I won’t be talking about everything save for the ‘Library’.
Now the VN veterans may notice that ‘Scene Recollection’ or whatever it is is missing…

Unlike most other VNs, you can playback every single snapshots of your ‘life’ you’d experience, instead of only some special scenes.

Act 1 went away pretty fast…

…in like… about at least an hour and half?

What could be better?

From First Impression to Act 1:
So far so good, I won’t comment on the art, no point. If I’m to continue on with the art all day long the reviews would resemble each other in many ways.

Everything’s from first-person perspective, nothing much to say about the style. Description-wise, detailed enough to let you imagine what’s necessary, not too informative to lose you out.
The music matches the mood fairly easily, not to mention well-timed BGM switching during turn of events etc., which is good. I have played certain VNs that weren’t capable of approaching it in such a manner.

Character personality is explored during Act 1, only getting deeper for selected few as you close in on to Act 2.

Closing the curtains on this one, I hope this has been enjoyable for all of you!
Cypher signing off. ^_^

“この愛が真実(まこと)
伝えにいくよ恋しくて”
“I missed the chance to say that my love for you is true”
–サクラ咲ク

Katawa Shoujo: It’s Free!

cx3907 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:29:13 +0000

Konichiwa~ It’s Cypher desu~! =^^=
Katawa Shoujo Full Ver. was just recently released so I’d be giving a heads-up on this one!

http://katawa-shoujo.com/

Well, don’t worry, there’s one for Windows and Linux as well! ^^

Although many things may be covered by the developers themselves, but I can give a brief summary.
It’s a Visual Novel (duh), ADV and First Person.
The story goes like this (not much of a spoiler):

Hisao suffers from a heart defect and has to transfer to a High School for the disabled children (while he isn’t really ‘disabled’). Despite that, he is able to find friends -and perhaps love, if, that is, he plays his cards right.

The main heroines ^^:

Interesting…

Here’s the Main Menu, pretty simple for now as you progress through the game.
I noticed that for every ‘Act’ (or chapter you might want to call) a ‘paper cut-out’ of a sketch of a certain character appears. My guess is that it shows how far you’ve went through.

The Options Menu, not much but… it features the ‘non-H’ option! Handy if you’re playing in everyone’s view. ^^ Or you just want the story, no pre-marital ero.
There’s no ‘Fullscreeen Mode’ for Mac OS is probably some resizing issues. The Windows version does have Fullscreen Mode though.

I can’t do much of a review (school and all) but so far, in my opinion, the story is well thought out but it may be new to some of you. The theme can be ‘Tragedy’, and the character design is unaccustomed to me. It took me quite a while to get used to the characters.
The game itself isn’t voiced though, so, make up some voices in your head as you go! ^^

This is what it might look like back in 2007. Once Japanese pen-on-paper concept art of a dating sim back in Comiket 61, December 2000, drawn by RAITA of Zettai Shoujo.
This translated and colored omake appeared in the /a/ board of 4chan on 4th January 2007, somehow sparking a wildfire among the community . Ideas and suggestions, and even requests for actually making the game flooded the page. It even became a stickie on 4chan.
Ah yes, I forgot to briefly mention its development.

Started in 4 January 2007, ideas and suggestions flooded the /a/ board. From what I know, in November 2007 the team (later known as Four Leaf Studios) start to grow.
December 2008, discussion on Voice Acting comes to a conclusion. The answer is, well, you guessed it: NO
January 2009, translation translation translation.
April 2009, Act 1 Preview released.
December 2009, Act 1 V2 released.
May 2010, Act 1 V3 released.
June 2010, 5 translations completed. Also, Act 1 V4 released.
July 2010, FLS reflects. Katawa Shoujo gets featured at Babycastle indie game arcade in New York City.
August 2010, Katawa Shoujo panel at Manifest Anime Convention in Melbourne, Australia.
April 2011, Act 1 V5 released.
Late 2011, Katawa Shoujo in Comitia and Comiket.
4 January 2012, Katawa Shoujo Full Version released! Exactly 5 years since the /a/ board incident.

That’s all for now, I give it a 8/10 for its art and story. Of course, I do not criticize it for not being voiced because I understand how this project came about and it seems pretty low-budget, due to the fact that Four Leaf Studios is simply a group of 4chan regulars, one heck of helluva enthusiasts who love doing it for the community. My praises.

You can download Katawa Shoujo here:
http://katawa-shoujo.com/download.php (opens in new tab/window)
Other languages can be found at the bottom of the webpage.

P.S.: I’m really busy with school, perhaps I’d give a full review on Katawa Shoujo in future. Fingers crossed.

“花火して　笑ったね　夏の海
遅刻して　けんかした　駅の前
ずぶぬれで　はしゃいだね　帰り道
バンソコが　似合ってる？！　私たち”
“Setting off fireworks in the summer sea,
Running late and fighting in front of the station.
Running home soaking wet in high spirits
Do our plasters* look good on us?!”
–the first the last

Dragon Nest Soft Launch at SGComifest 2

tueac — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:30:04 +0000

The secound coming of the SG Comifest is going to be on the 4th and 5th of June, which is next weekend at the Bukit Batok Civil Servant Club. One of the sponsor, Shanda Literature Singapore Pte Ltd (www.sdl.sg), the first overseas subsidiary of Shanda Literature (SDL) will be soft launching their latest game.

The Dragon Nest

It’s a MMO RPG developed by Eyedentity Games, which is about, the dragon nest and the usual what nots… Sorry I’m not a MMORPG player.

Either way during the event, a special demo will be screen via a 42” TV for all at the event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzHrLPLcDu0

Read below to find out about this new sponsor and read a message by them,

~ A message for everyone from Shanda Literature Singapore ~

Singapore Comifest 2, which differs from any other similar events, adopts a concept that combines comics and literature as a brand new business model. The sponsor of this event, Shanda Literature Singapore Pte Ltd (www.sdl.sg) is the first overseas subsidiary of Shanda Literature (SDL). SDL is China’s leading digital publisher, internationally famous for its unique business model. Its rich resource of intellectual properties and cutting edge digital publication model has prepared SDL for international expansion. General Manager Mr Zion Zhou says: “I wish for all local and overseas artists to be inspired by the imaginative online literatures and adapt them into comics with their drawing pencil. It is not just to further develop the original literature but it is also a way to develop more market-centric artworks. I hope that more local and overseas audiences and artists will benefit by being inspired through sharing quality literature.”

PS3: SRW OG Pre-Site Opened!

tueac — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:01:43 +0000

Yesterday it is reported in a magazine that Super Robot Wars: OG for the Playstation 3 is official, but due to the blur-ness of the the scan, some are kinda sceptical.

Just hours ago, Banpresto(Yes! It’s back!) opened the Game’s pre-site. With the specification of the game clearly stating for the Playstation 3 and only PS3. The release date is stated as within 2011 and priced at 8,379 Yen for the normal edition. Then there’s the Limited Edition, COMPLETE BD BOX, of the game going for 41,790 Yen.

It’s currently stated as COMING SOON. So YES!!! KIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Source: Temple-Knights