[Game] Idolcraft

[flowerthief]

By the way, has anyone else gotten the game-freezing error reported earlier? Does it still happen on Tuesday?

Spoilers about the merchant

Spoiler

His location is random from day to day. Well not entirely random because, as you've prob'ly figured out, there are certain spots where he likes to appear. Which of those spots it will be on any given day is determined by chance.

It is possible to buy every furnishing from him, but you would have to spend a lot of time searching for him. You have a 5 day interval to find him for each item he sells.
(The exception is the cigarette lighter; there are extra chances to buy that one)

Cat in the tree

Spoiler

To save you some trouble, I'll go ahead and say forget the salmon, haha. It's kinda sneaky, but while that puzzle is in play, the game will let you pick up an object in a certain map which you normally cannot pick up.

Getting into that trick area

Spoiler

It's only accessible from another map. Sneaky, I know, hehe.

 

[Swordhunter]

I played it.. and I can't stop!! It's addicting! XDD
And say, what is the birth place of you'r favorit idol? :P Can find the answer to that one.

 

[Swordsaint892]

Lolz, I forgot about the Cheat Bush...

I didn't really want to deal with it, and even though it's only 5 letters long, I can't figure out the right comination...  :down:

With the merchant this time around I got pretty much everything I really wanted anyway, but I'll keep trying to track him.  I did make a proxy map of the entire game and listed out the spots I can remember where that creep appears, hahah.
So, provided you didn't already buy the item he's selling, will the merchant be in town EVERY day until you get the item, just in a random location?

By the way, I haven't encountered that 'Tuesday' error since my first run through.  Although I've gotten a few 'script is hanging' errors, but that could have to do with all the other stuff I have running and being idle on the menu screen for too long.

Cat in the tree

Spoiler

To save you some trouble, I'll go ahead and say forget the salmon, haha. It's kinda sneaky, but while that puzzle is in play, the game will let you pick up an object in a certain map which you normally cannot pick up.

I'm still lost, but again... I don't like Mei that much...  >.>

Ah, I'll try looking for the trick area enterance then.


More people need to play this game!!  :thumb:

 

[flowerthief]

Ah, you guys found the Cheating Bush! I guess it wasn't hidden very hard. I don't want to give the answer to the secret question away because it makes the game trivially easy if you know it.

I'll only give this obscure clue:

Spoiler

She's the leader of a pop group that is famous in Japan and around Asia.

More on the merchant...

Spoiler

He'll be in town every day that the item he is currently offering hasn't been sold. So if you try haggling but he doesn't bite, and if he is still selling the same item tomorrow, you still have a chance to find him again and get it. After you buy his item, he won't show up again until he has the next item to sell. (In other words, there's no way to speed up getting new items)

And phew, hopefully that Tuesday thing was just a fluke! You had me worried because I couldn't think of anything in the code that could possibly cause the game to hang.

edit:
A new version is available   I didn't have any bugs to fix this time so it's not critical that you dl the update if you already have the game. The main thing I added was...

Upon completing the game with a letter grade of B+ or higher, instructions are given on how to unlock "Endless Calendar Mode". For those who have already done this, go ahead and look at the spoiler below:

Spoiler

To enable Endless Calendar Mode, knock three times on the door of the northernmost house by the park.

 

[Swordsaint892]

edit:
A new version is available   I didn't have any bugs to fix this time so it's not critical that you dl the update if you already have the game. The main thing I added was...

Upon completing the game with a letter grade of B+ or higher, instructions are given on how to unlock "Endless Calendar Mode".

<3<3<3

I am very content now.  Downloading now.

Oh, am I missing anything?  Looks like there is space for one more...

Spoiler: Furniture Spoiler

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh141/SwordSaint892/IdolcraftFurniture.jpg[/img]

IDOLCRAFT FTW

 

[flowerthief]

Yes.

Spoiler

Missing 5. The merchant sells 12 items total.

 

[Swordsaint892]

Aright, I managed to pick up a lot more items...

Spoiler

The Golf Bag,  The Travel Coupons,  The Business Book Set, and the Teddy of Trust.

I have a total of 13 items, the only one that I know I missed was the Metal Detector.  I guess I missed some other one again too.  >.<

REGARDLESS of that though, I got some pretty sweet screens.  Hooray for Endless Calender Mode:

Spoiler: National Rankings

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh141/SwordSaint892/IdolcraftRankings.jpg[/img]

Airi ftw.  :thumb:

Spoiler: Stats

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh141/SwordSaint892/IdolcraftStatsPg1.jpg[/img]


http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh14 ... atsPg2.jpg[/img]


I didn't see a point in waiting until I maxed out everyone's health.  Took the screens as soon as everyone's popularity hit at least 1000.

Yet again, I can't stress how awesome this game is.  :thumb:

I found three new slight glitches/errors, but they aren't really a big deal.

Spoiler: Errors

1-  After you help Chisato break down the door near the school, she will continually appear in front of it and ask for you to break it down again, but you can't. Not a big problem or anything, but she'll appear there and walking around sometimes, like she's teleporting.  :shock:

2-  This is a VERY VERY tiny one. In Endless Calender Mode I tried to send Nanako, slot 6, on a vacation on Saturday, June 24th.  She asks if I'm crazy, stating that the big concert is the following day; and refuses to go on vacation.  Now, no one even mentions the idols going to any concert when Endless Calender Mode is on; so who's the crazy one now!?  :lol:

3-  And this one could just as easily have gone unnoticed, but when I fought against the gangsters with Chisato on my team, my character's name had previously been changed to Hiro (I was lazy this time...); but in the battle, his name was still Hiroki.  This was also after June 4 in Endless Calender Mode, if that might have some effect on it.

I'm sure they're just minor things that barely matter and could be fixed with a few switch changes, but whatever, just thought I'd tell ya about em.  :thumb:


Oh, I finally fed that guy by the gym.  I love the dialog that he gives you afterwards.  :smile:


Maybe I need a break from IdolCraft...  hahah.

 

[flowerthief]

Haha, good work! You've gone farther into the frontiers of Idolcraft than anyone. Lol at the money you had. I wonder how much selling birdies to Kaori at increasingly ridiculous prices contributes to it?  :lol:

I appreciate the bug reports much, even the small ones. Most people don't take the time to report small bugs, which is why they go unfixed for so long.

 

[Neverplayd]

wow~ you're game has gone really far flowerthief :X.
Btw, a suggestion for Bunny would be to change the code to get her to a randomly generated number that you set at the introduction (so it is different each game :smile. And sorry for not giving you any savefiles... It was because I didn't have any -.-'. (I guess I'm one of those unreliable, lazy beta-testers :sad Well, good luck on your game; you should think about making a walkthrough for it (or I might if that is alright with you ^^)

 

[Swordsaint892]

Oh yeah, selling those birdies was mass cash later on.  I was also making tons on DVDs as well (also had the Business books for 120%).  I didn't even bother w/ CD production after awhile.  How much does "Vocal" affect DVD quality/payout?

you should think about making a walkthrough for it (or I might if that is alright with you ^^)

If you do (or anyone does), I'd be glad to help out. (AIM SN=  SwordSaint892   for ez access to me, if I'm not working or Brawling, I'm probably on here. :thumb  I've kinda put one together in my mind already, hahah.  (For most characters and things anyway.  I've also sketched out maps for my own reference haha.  (Yeah, I really dig the game... :smile

I thought that same thing about Bunny's number files, but didn't mention it because I think I've already been demanding enough asking for a Endless Mode, hahah.

 

[flowerthief]

Neverplayd: Well you did send me one earlier. Other than that, nobody sent me a save file even though I asked on the beta-testing thread many times >.<  But as a tester, you were extremely helpful and the game is undoubtedly better because of your suggestions.

Randomizing the number for Bunny should be easy enough. I'll do that for the next update.

If either of you want to write a walkthrough, you're more than welcome  :wink: If you end up doing that, I'll be glad to answer any insider questions you have, even to let you peek at the code if you like.

How much does "Vocal" affect DVD quality/payout?

Spoiler

It affects it a little bit, but not nearly as much as Dance does. If/when a walkthrough is made I can give you the exact formulas.

 

[dorkatlarge]

First things first: thank you Flowerthief for releasing a game that's different, and not just an angsty/comedic RPG. And double thank you for getting it *done*. Clearly, you were dedicated.

I'm something of a crazy moetard, which means I'm willing to support indie and pro games with male characters pursuing or training attractive female characters. On the other hand, I'm also a shoujotard, which means that I support games with a female point of view. I've been influenced by many literate anime fangirls, so I hope to someday see more than a few girl-oriented games in English.

My first impressions were pretty positive. I'm starting out on day 1 and 2, trying to figure out how to recruit idols, get money, and get appropriate items and gifts. Just a few thoughts so far:

1. NPCs walk quickly. I'll have to plug in my USB gamepad, because just using arrow keys, it's tough to walk up and talk with them.

2. Does the invisible timer run indoors and outdoors? If it does, then I'll have to do some trial and error. Limited time means I might even have to create a map of locations, and then take notes about where to find significant NPCs.

I didn't realize there was a timer for several minutes. I was hoping the "walk around town" segment would be more like the untranslated DS game Urusei Yatsura Endless Summer, in which the protagonist has unlimited time to find people to talk with (and once he chooses to talk with someone, that action advances the game from Morning to Afternoon, etc).

I've started to promote your game on two other forums: Lemma Soft and Shira Oka. Hopefully you won't mind...

 

[flowerthief]

Thanks for the feedback
Yep, the timer does run indoors as well as outdoors. (but not while you're in conversation, or looking at a menu or something) I wanted the game to be reasonably fast-paced.

I was actually planning on announcing it at Lemma soft forums, so no problem. I don't know what Shira Oka is but I'll do a search...

edit: Oh, Shira Oka, right! I'm sure I've stumbled on that site before.

edit: v1.3 is up, which has some bug fixes including a fix for the "is_tuesday" bug (it had to do with Bunny skipping work)

 

[Swordsaint892]

If it does, then I'll have to do some trial and error. Limited time means I might even have to create a map of locations, and then take notes about where to find significant NPCs.

That's what I did.   :tongue2:

Anyway, haven't gotten around to doing any sort of strategy guide or anything myself (gotta work on my OWN game from time to time...), but don't think I've forgotten about the game, hahah.  So I guess Bunny had to do with the fatal Tuesday error, which would explain why I didn't encounter it on my last run.  Good work!   :thumb:

 

[Cardinal Ximenez]

This is certainly an... interesting gameplay concept.

I think I will go into depth to review the implementation.

 

[DelSolu]

Hey, this game looks amazing! >.<
I'm downloading it right now..

I will put a comment soon

 

[flowerthief]

Allrighty, look forward to hearing your comments ;-)

 

[DelSolu]

The game is really fun ^^
I like it

good points :
+ unique gameplay
+ the NPC looks realistic.. they seem have destination to go.
+ Good art. I love anime style

bad point :
- the day went to fast (I think)
- everybody walks so fast.

 

[hima]

Finally! Another person who make bishojo game XD  I'll download this game and play it as soon as I can. Reading through all people discussing about this game in this thread make me wanna play it already

 

[Sabao]

I'm very sorry it took so long for me to reply. Yes, I got the beta demo and played through it.

Anyway, here's my two cents:
Solid concept overall. It's not groundbreaking or anything per se, but I'm a firm advocate of the belief that amateur game makers, specifically those doing this for a hobby shouldn't be focusing on making their project the best ever, but the best they can make it be. This game is a solid testament to that.

Visually it left a lot to be desired, as you'd expect a lot of eyecandy from Bishoujo games, but I'm sure everyone understands that good resources are not readily available for everyone. You worked with what you have and did an impressive job with it. I see a lot of potential in what you can do with the town. From right now it already seems so alive and busy. Given more time and effort I'm hoping it only improves as the project progresses.

Pacewise, it was a little confusing. Before finding your first idol and establishing a steady work schedule for her, I had no idea what to do. Where to go, where that singing came from the guy was talking about at the start, and I was a little put off by it. A simple "I should look around town and see if I can pick up any jobs" line would've worked to nudge the player to some direction.

Again, good job so far. I eagerly anticipate where this game goes in the future.