Ambre [Drama][Free][NaNoReno 2013] Now on Steam!

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Helianthus
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013]

#16 Post by Helianthus »

@clua
I’d be really curious to hear your thoughts on the story !

@latte
Oh, it seems like I didn’t manage to make myself clear, sorry =/. I didn’t mean to blame your for anything, I just thought you had point up exactly what I did wrong with that game. It was really more of a rambling about what French readers told me than an attack. I think you’re right, and I’m trying to figure what I can do to improve the way Milk looks.

@saguaro
I’m taking that as a great compliment =’)

@Arowana
It wouldn’t be as fun if the twist was too obvious since the story is based on that.
Yeah, I know the second part drags on a bit and I had also thought I could have ended the story with the swing CG but I felt it would be too abrupt.
Our programmer did his best to create the dead leaf animation but it’s still a bit stiff, gotta do better next time !

I’m always looking for proofreaders so if someone is interested here, it'll be a pleasure to work together :lol:

@Dreamingdaze & Chibichann
Thank you very much !

-------------

Meanwhile I’m so busy with my job shadowing/internship, I don’t even have the time to play the others Nanoreno games. Auuu, so frustrated… :(
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013]

#17 Post by Mini_Moshi »

That was amazing!
I had a feeling something was off when he took her to his house just like that and she stayed there for so long. However, I never saw that twist coming. I think one of the reasons I didn't was because I was feeling so uncomfortable about the possibly pedobear stuff going on that I didn't manage to think too deeply about anything. I'm surprised I didn't stop reading to be honest, but I guess the story really draws you in. I'm glad I didn't, obviously. Not many visual novels stay with you, but I think I will remember this one for a long time. I really enjoyed it. I'm really tired and english is my second language, but I'm hoping my comment is understandable.

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013]

#18 Post by facades »

The plot and method used to get the story across is awesome!
I'm really so impressed by the way you played with different POVs (viewing the story from fantasy vs truth), and how the exact same lines of dialogue could be used to portray totally different things depending on how much the reader understands what's going on in reality. For example, I don't remember the exact line of dialogue, but I think it was " This is just a dream right? You'll still be a little girl tomorrow right?" Can be interpreted that he regretted his crime performed on a minor, and it can also be interpreted that he really wished that she would not return to her world of delusions and insanity.
I'm not really perceptive, so I didn't realise there was a twist until she visited the doctor. I was appalled that a doctor would call a little child sterile. Then I started to realise that something wasn't exactly right. There were a few thoughts going through my head about her condition, such as "Why doesn't he just tell her the truth or try other methods than just repeat what he does in each cycle?" or "Why don't they get professional help?" But you addressed both of them well in mentioning that her condition was so severe, other methods and even a psychiatrist couldn't help.

Two more random thoughts after playing the game : 1) I didn't know that the inability to have children can drive someone that mad. 2) we seriously should stop watching TV and getting our minds poisoned. Or maybe it takes just that little bit more discernment to distinguish fantasy from reality.
On the overall, the game was cute, and then weird, and then heartbreaking, but ultimately one-of-a-kind. :)

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013]

#19 Post by philip »

Just finished the story. Found it to be very well done, if ultimately sad and depressing. And like some of the other posters, I was at first disturbed with the way the story was progressing; the relationship with what I first understood to be a young girl. But as the story unfolds it becomes apparent what the truth really is. All in all, a carefully crafted and engaging tale.
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Helianthus
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013]

#20 Post by Helianthus »

It’s been a while since the release of Ambre. To celebrate this, here is some kind of “making of” on our devblog with lot of concept art. I hope it will be enlightening.

EDIT : And if you want to download the OST for free, go on drop a word on Kimino’s Soundcoud (he’s the one who did the music), I’m sure it’ll motivate him he has just uploaded it :)
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Mini_Moshi wrote:That was amazing!
I had a feeling something was off when he took her to his house just like that and she stayed there for so long. However, I never saw that twist coming. I think one of the reasons I didn't was because I was feeling so uncomfortable about the possibly pedobear stuff going on that I didn't manage to think too deeply about anything. I'm surprised I didn't stop reading to be honest, but I guess the story really draws you in. I'm glad I didn't, obviously. Not many visual novels stay with you, but I think I will remember this one for a long time. I really enjoyed it. I'm really tired and english is my second language, but I'm hoping my comment is understandable.
I’m glad you didn’t stop halfway too, I don’t want anyone to think of Ambre as a pedobear story, that’s not very glorious for us (though it’s part of the game) X’). Anyway, thank you very much for your kind words.
facades wrote:The plot and method used to get the story across is awesome!
I'm really so impressed by the way you played with different POVs (viewing the story from fantasy vs truth), and how the exact same lines of dialogue could be used to portray totally different things depending on how much the reader understands what's going on in reality. For example, I don't remember the exact line of dialogue, but I think it was " This is just a dream right? You'll still be a little girl tomorrow right?" Can be interpreted that he regretted his crime performed on a minor, and it can also be interpreted that he really wished that she would not return to her world of delusions and insanity.
I'm not really perceptive, so I didn't realise there was a twist until she visited the doctor. I was appalled that a doctor would call a little child sterile. Then I started to realise that something wasn't exactly right. There were a few thoughts going through my head about her condition, such as "Why doesn't he just tell her the truth or try other methods than just repeat what he does in each cycle?" or "Why don't they get professional help?" But you addressed both of them well in mentioning that her condition was so severe, other methods and even a psychiatrist couldn't help.
Two more random thoughts after playing the game : 1) I didn't know that the inability to have children can drive someone that mad. 2) we seriously should stop watching TV and getting our minds poisoned. Or maybe it takes just that little bit more discernment to distinguish fantasy from reality.
On the overall, the game was cute, and then weird, and then heartbreaking, but ultimately one-of-a-kind. :)
Someone once said on the Internet that toying with the reader like that is lying and therefore not a good thing and I was doing it wrong. Since there is really no rule in narration (with classic literature as with visual novel), I think that can be refreshing when the narrator is unreliable, so that readers can discover new things with different POV, instead of seeing the author trying to create more and more twists that doesn’t always make sense in the end. But well, true, this technique is not fair. I hope it’s interesting enough /o/.

About your two random thoughts : of course, media and sterility don’t directly make anyone go mad, we agreed, but media have an influence on our minds and it’s important to take that with a little distance. I saw young girls being unhappy because they were unable to take the happiness the media are selling us with a grain of salt. So, I wasn’t telling that media are dangerous and that the world is black and white, I just wanted to remind that cultural norms aren’t that obvious and shouldn’t be followed without thinking a little, that’s all.
Ambre is only a bit more weak-minded than others, but she’s not that different from some real girls that do their best to believe they’re satisfied conforming to some society absurd rules when they don’t seem happy at all (but then I can’t judge, everyone makes choices).
Well, anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed the story =)
philip wrote:Just finished the story. Found it to be very well done, if ultimately sad and depressing. And like some of the other posters, I was at first disturbed with the way the story was progressing; the relationship with what I first understood to be a young girl. But as the story unfolds it becomes apparent what the truth really is. All in all, a carefully crafted and engaging tale.
The story is not very cheerful, I know, it’s more like an utsuge (I like to write depressing stories, maybe it’s because of that)… But thanks for playing it :) !
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#21 Post by yantzeebtc »

Well, reading the past comments i thought it's where going to be terrifiying, but i didn't find it disturbing at all, i guess i kinda "saw it coming" XD.
I liked the concept of the "being the perfect princess" obsession (sorry my english is not that good :B) but i would liked it to have more dialogue, because in some parts it's like you explain it too much, and it's like you don't let us get "inside" the story

Anyway, soundrack was really nice. Even it was kinda "depressing" music, and depressing ending too (i still depressed ;( )

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#22 Post by Helianthus »

yantzeebtc wrote:Well, reading the past comments i thought it's where going to be terrifiying, but i didn't find it disturbing at all, i guess i kinda "saw it coming" XD.
I liked the concept of the "being the perfect princess" obsession (sorry my english is not that good :B) but i would liked it to have more dialogue, because in some parts it's like you explain it too much, and it's like you don't let us get "inside" the story

Anyway, soundrack was really nice. Even it was kinda "depressing" music, and depressing ending too (i still depressed ;( )
Hum, maybe you’re right… To be true, I’m so used to people telling me they don’t understand much a thing when they read me, I was sure not giving enough details would make the text too obscure. Maybe I’m giving too much informations…

Anyway, thank you for your feedback :wink:
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#23 Post by Ota »

What a depressing story, seeming like no way out. Where is my perfect fairytale? ;__;
So Amber is not only sterile but also mad, although it's understandable somehow. I don't think there will be anyone who has so much tenacity like the husband in real life.
Thank you for making such a great game ;_;

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#24 Post by Lunacore »

Okay. At first i thought the guy was a pedophile..And that he had that bed room there for well, raping lil girls or something, so through the game i was almost the whole time having a really really bad feeling. Because he seemed to have so much more affection towards this lil girl than normal people would have.. But woah, the twist was really catching me off guard.. Its really sad. But its good that he wasnt a pedo afterall, just a men that loves his wife.. But i asked myself about her family a lot,about her mother and so on, because in the game it seemed like he is the only person thats actually there for her. Now, after i played it my heart feels somehow weird, theres an empty feeling inside. x.x Somehow i am angry at the woman for breaking so easily, but i know she cant be blamed because shes not doing it on purpose.. I feel so sorry for both of them, being trapped inside this circle.. This game left me thinking, thinking about the situation they are in.. And i could probably write much more but well just lets not do that. xD
Really nice art btw, i liked the writing style too. It was fitting for this piece of work..

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#25 Post by Ran08 »

Please tell me this isn't something super sad? :o
Downloading this right now even though I can't play it yet coz I'm super busy. Looking forward to playing this though~

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] OST available !

#26 Post by Helianthus »

Hello everyone, it’s been a while since I updated this topic :D . Even if the game is finished for a while, we took some time to make an enhanced version with a better translation, some new music tracks and new backgrounds (with an extra animation for one) !
Before/After
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We just sold that version in a convention, so we’ll have to ask for your patience : we’ll only release the enhanced Ambre later this summer, to let our early customers enjoy their purchase (they deserve it :wink: ).

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@Ota
Aww, thank you very much for your kind comment >__<.
Yeah, I’m kind of a specialist in writing weird and depressing stuff, the closer you can get to a perfect fairytale is what I did with Being Beauteous…which is more of a bitter-sweet story X).
@Lunacore
I think everybody got that impression from Tristan during the first half and it’s true our VN requires some degree in faith to stick until the end… But it’s really cool if the game left you with many questions because I really wanted to make the reader think ! Especially about what broke Ambre and whose fault is it. You’re the first to mention her parents and you’re right : we never see them, as if they never existed. I don’t think they would have added much to the story though, hence why I didn’t include her family ^^’.
@Ran08
Err, well, not to spoil anything but it’s a drama after all X’). I think it’s better to see for yourself. The game only last an hour or so, so even if you’re busy (I am too, so I fully understand XD), you can give it a try.
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] Remake incoming !

#27 Post by Ran08 »

You're right, hahaha, it only took me almost an hour to read this. :) Anyway, with the Monster Mash over, I'm a lot less busy. :)

But anyway, this was BEAUTIFUL. </3 Ugh, I am still so shocked until now. Hahaha. Just... mind-blown. :o I can't believe I had so many thoughts and theories swirling in my mind while I was reading this! Must. Make. A. Review. :))) I'll get back to you later~

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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] Remake incoming !

#28 Post by Helianthus »

Oh, that’s right, Monster Mash ended just a few days ago. I’m completely disconnected since the trip to the last convention, I’ll have to catch up with a lot of games :oops:

Thank you very much ! I’m glad to know you enjoy my story despite the depressing stuff. You’re welcome to post your impressions anytime. Constructive feedback is always interesting :D
Ran08 wrote: I can't believe I had so many thoughts and theories swirling in my mind while I was reading this!
Just as planned 8)
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] Remake released !

#29 Post by Helianthus »

As promised just above, Ambre enhanced version is now available ! It's been a while since our first Nanoreno and I'm really happy to show an improved version because I've always liked how our entry turned out in the end 8)

It's still not perfect but I think it looks way better now. What do you think ? :D
Last edited by Helianthus on Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Ambre [Drama][NaNoReno 2013] Remake released !

#30 Post by Googaboga »

I played the original version and I liked it :]. Would you mind telling me what the difference between the original and the remake is? I mean, was it strictly an appearance update or did the story change too? Thanks ^^.
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