Metropolitan Blues on 4chan?

[swammi]

hxxp://zip.4channel.org/v/res/187831.html
Sorry if this isn't allowed, but I was amused to browse 4chan's /v/ to see a thread about MB. It's neat to see how far the interest spreads for fangames made not in japanese first. XD

Oh, considering how fast /v/ moves, this link won't be available forever. @_@ (also, replace the xx with tt's)

[PyTom]

Why wouldn't it be allowed? And there's no need for the hxxp thing, http works just fine. We're cool about that sort of thing.

For the rest of us, the url is:

http://zip.4channel.org/v/res/187831.html

[rioka]

Since it'll be gone soon, here's the thread:

File : 1126549313.jpg-(28 KB, 351x263, 7778_medium..jpg)


POST 1:
28 KB Metropolitan Blues Anonymous 09/12/05(Mon)13:21 No.187831

Hey guys, check this out:
http://www.download.com/Metropolitan-Bl ... ml?tag=new

It's a great multi-ending visual novel!


POST 2:
>> Anonymous 09/12/05(Mon)14:33 No.187870

Got any other screens? Also what is the story about?


POST 3:
>> mappyman !OjX/sfxq56 09/12/05(Mon)17:39 No.188015

Story is about a guy thinking he's dead, meets a girl ewtc etc Emo Thoughts and piano music.

The game needs some hentai to break up the monotony of Heavy TEXT. character art could be better.
The visuals and architecture are very nice though, and music is soothing. its been awhile since ive played through such dating sims/visual novels. interesting at least.


POST 4:
>> Anonymous 09/12/05(Mon)17:51 No.188031

no thanks


POST 5:
>> Anonymous 09/12/05(Mon)19:26 No.188156

>>188015 Note: replies to mappyman, POST 3

The story, besides the major lack of hentai, is quite interesting thou.

[Otaku Dash]

Oh yeah sure.... what is the "best" critic with this people!?

"LACKS HENTAI!"

God... what's up with this people? Does a game need Hentai to be a good one?

It is this kind of "info" that makes me wonder if people are really capable to apreciate a good game withough having to involve their sexual urges.

(on the note: I though the game was wonderfull... the theme was amazingly well written: Kudos for Taleweaver; and the graphics were amazing: Kudos for Eclipse).

[PyTom]

Also, "lacks hentai" is not entirely accurate.

[Alessio]

Also, "lacks hentai" is not entirely accurate.

^_^ But only text-based, right? Or... did I miss something?

[Taleweaver]

PyTom wrote:
Also, "lacks hentai" is not entirely accurate.


^_^ But only text-based, right? Or... did I miss something?

Not at all ^_^

Oh, and a friend of mine started that thread when I complained to him that no one cared about MetBlues on dl.com That's what friends are for, aren't they?

[rioka]

Oh, and a friend of mine started that thread when I complained to him that no one cared about MetBlues on dl.com That's what friends are for, aren't they?

lol Yup, that's what they're for! ;D

It's like pulling teeth to get reviews on dl.com. SS (Summer Schoolgirls) has close to 50,000 dl and it only has 5 reviews. <.<'

[papillon]

Hardly a place to look for a feedback-type review. most download.com reviews are things like "THIS CRASHED MY MACHINE" "SPYWARE!!!!" or "great game! click my outwar link!"

[mikey]

It is this kind of "info" that makes me wonder if people are really capable to apreciate a good game withough having to involve their sexual urges

I have to say though that this is more or less "our" attitude towards these games, I see nothing wrong with people complaining about non-h when their community expects hentai. If it's a hentai-based community, they don't necessarily have to appreciate a good story - they will appreciate naked female bodies for instance. Anyhow, I will agree that this is not the target audience for MB - it's completely obvious.

Therefore (let me just insert another quote)...

It's like pulling teeth to get reviews on dl.com. SS (Summer Schoolgirls) has close to 50,000 dl and it only has 5 reviews.

The goal should be not to get the game popular, but to bring it to the target audience - that one will very well give you reviews, because they either care or have an experience to tell or otherwise. I really believe there are many people who would play fan-made games, but the goal should be getting it to the right people. I mean from time to time I get an e-mail about a game from a fan I never saw on the forums or anywhere else I go to and it's simply so much better than topping download charts or having one-sentence reviews - I always think that THIS is what I made it for. This may partly explain my dl.com viewpoints.

I thought it was a good thing to announce wherever possible, but ever since Kaori I sort of let it be. Look (but please don't answer) at my post at the Animesuki forums that has had no response whatsoever:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=20860
With time I'm actually proud of this ^_^.

Nevertheless, long post - bottom line: how to get games to their target audiences.

[swammi]

And there's no need for the hxxp thing, http works just fine. We're cool about that sort of thing.

Just a habit of mine. I never like to really direct links on messagebaords/journals/etc. @_@

I was surprised that the only complaint was "needs more hentai" though. XD Since well.. this is 4chan. the "scum of the internet" where everyone has bad tastes. (Though I don't really share that mentality since everyone seems to like the games I'm into and never really say anything bad about them.) But yes, though 4chan isn't the target audience of the games produced here, it was nice to see that they could still appreciate it to some degree. Perhaps word of these types of games will spread further and bring in more interest in this type of gaming. XD;; (that's pretty much why I shared this.)

[mikey]

Point taken. Of course it's a good thing.

[rioka]

Perhaps word of these types of games will spread further and bring in more interest in this type of gaming. XD;; (that's pretty much why I shared this.)

And it's working, slowly but surely. Reviews about Summer Schoolgirls from GameTunnel:

...The action is presented in nicely illustrated still frames with lots of dialog. I’d like to see more indie games in this interesting category.-SR

Well, this is something completely different. I'm aware of a dating simulation games, but ones about making friends? The idea of a game about making friends strikes me as so absurd, that I can't think of a clever way to end this sentence. You could say it's a psychological or manipulative game, as you as a female student need to say and do things to befriend your female roommate; and given that I'm a guy playing this game, and they're high school students, I can't help but think I'm doing something either sociologically or morally wrong. Alas, my forays into the realm of psychology and social engineering must come to an end. I totally have no idea how I should be reviewing this sort of game, but I'm required to score highly any game that both freaks me out and doesn't appear to have any interface issues. - MK

Someone's view on GSK (pre-submission to DL.com):

I ended up getting with Nadine Lawless on the right. It’s kinda funny how it happened, too -- which makes me wonder if perhaps one can learn something from these games. (Take note, TAB.)

See, you start out hanging with this guy named Corus, who’s a nice guy but a bit of a loser -- and you can’t hang with him if you want to get any of the girls. So when Nadine was around, I was really nice to them (when she was), and when no one else was around, I pretty much ditched him to be by myself, because loners are always cooler. And sure enough, when I ditched him, a girl would come over to chat me up! And then there was another part where Nadine was calling this guy a pervert and asked for my opinion “as a guy” -- and while my concurrence made her extremely happy, the other girl in attendance wasn’t quite as amused. So obviously girls are different, and things that impress some might not impress others, but we’ve learned one thing for sure -- ditch your loser friends when they aren’t looking! They won’t know the difference.

re mikey "e-mail about a game from a fan I never saw on the forums or anywhere else">> Yes, those are really special! Most of them rave about AP and request for more bishounen games. (For those patiently waiting, my next bishounen game will come after Shadowfall.) =)

[musical74]

*mutters under breath* The best critic is complaining about lack of hentai...since when is hentai required to be a good game? Is it because that was a hentai-based forum? (I hadn't heard of 4chan before this)

Wonder how these guys would rate PK Girl or something like that...

I think it's neat that we have so many different views and appreciate the hard work that goes into making a game. When someone reviews a game here, they point out what they feel is good about it, what is bad about it, and any bugs that they noted.

[GLACIER]

*mutters under breath* The best critic is complaining about lack of hentai...since when is hentai required to be a good game? Is it because that was a hentai-based forum? (I hadn't heard of 4chan before this)

These games have traditionally been associated with pornography, so the comments don't surprise me. As far as some players are concerned, titilation comes before anything else (and most commercial releases have emphasized that, thus creating and reinforcing such a view).

In Japan, there're also many players who primarily play these games for H-scenes. For instance, Key's last-minute decision to release Clannad as an "All Ages" product severely dampened interest in the product, resulting in underwhelming sales.