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What happens when the complete public-domain text of the classic children's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy meets the public-domain version of the film? You'll see in our finished Ren'Py NVL-mode visual novel.

You can download the distribution package here: http://ifclassics.weebly.com/story-files.html
[Remember, when reading the visual novel, to use the “Hide” command in the Quick Menu at the bottom of every screen to better view images.]

We welcome critiques and bug reports in this thread or via email to ifclassics@email.cz

Hmmm. Finished?

I wouldn't say so. There's still much to be desired.

You did a good job with the Asop's Fables but Little Lord Fauntleroy is just giant walls of text with pictures that look like they were just taken from a google search in poor resolution.

But why oh why is there " " around all the text? Get rid of that now!

Break up the walls of text with those pictures you got from the movie (or whatever). Don't just cover the pictures with the walls of text.

But yeah, after that it should be fine.

Godline:

Thanks for your reply and especially for trying our Ren'Py visual novels. Some of your comments I'm considering how to implement, but let's start with...

UNFAIR COMMENTS

pictures that look like they were just taken from a google search
pictures you got from the movie (or whatever)

The Little Lord Fauntleroy visual novel contains a link on its "Credits" page to the source of the full-length, public-domain film used for all images. Therefore, you **know** that the images didn't come from "wherever".

poor resolution

We're dealing with the original 1936 black-and-white film. It's the public-domain version. Most reviewers prefer the 1936 version over the 1980 version (which, of course, isn't public domain). Are you the only person to cite this film's visuals? Nope. Most reviewers agree with you as this one comment summarizes: "A great film remastered on the cheap".

We did alter the brightness / contrast of most images used in the visual novel. In general, the film is dark, and increasing the brightness brings out many details.

COMMENT TO CONSIDER

Break up the walls of text

We wish the same, but we're not sure how to implement it.

Our first solution: Adding the "Hide" command to the Quick Menu so the reader can temporarily remove the text to better view the background image.

Then, we need to consider Ren'Py's ADV mode versus its NVL mode. If we broke up the text in the Little Lord Fauntleroy visual novel, as you suggest, we could simply use the ADV mode, which innately shows the images better. However, we're dealing with a full novel here. Thus, the NVL mode seems more appropriate because it handles "multiple lines on the screen at a time, in a window that takes up the entire screen".

If we broke up the text in the Little Lord Fauntleroy visual novel, as you suggest, then it becomes a click-fest. We chose to divert those extra clicks to the "Hide" command instead.

Ultimately, the best solution seems to be...a redesign of Ren'Py's NVL mode so the text window doesn't "take up the entire screen"...but that's basically the ADV mode, isn't it?

Try the "Hide" command, Godline; you may like it.

Wow. Snarky much? I'm trying to help you.
What 'hide command' are you talking about?

I suggest: http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 51&t=17232
Trying the half-half screen might work best.

I was just saying the way it looked to me.

Sigh, now now children. No need to bark at each other.

For starters taking the time to separate the different builds will be nice, I certainly don't need the app on a windows.
This is mostly from a developer point of view, but it bothers me to have excess files within the distribution.
Besides, leaving unnecessary files increases the size.

An unique file icon would give a more professional look as well.

Next comes the main menu... At least put some picture on there, it's bland.
Or perhaps you can move the menu to the center of the screen so it doesn't look so blank.

Preferences menu. There are a couple of things you can cut out to improve that as well.
In your particular case the skip, music, sound, and "after choices" are unneeded.
And a couple of gripes on the Ren'py side. The only options you need are accept and/or cancel why are there so many pointless buttons?
And who in the world uses a joystick for a VN..? Unless it's a console port that option might as well not exist.

As soon as I start the game the first thought I have is "why aren't these pictures on the main menu?".
You should put them in the main menu instead, and arrange the chapter buttons on the whole screen.
On the other hand you could have the pictures on both the main menu and the chapter select, giving the effect of a seamless transition.

Next, when the chapters start, it fades in. But then it vanishes and the first message in each chapter is in the normal mode.
Chapter 15 even starts with a blank statement.

That forced credits screen leaves a bad taste in my mouth as well. What's this, some cheap attempt to sell me something?

But yeah, I'm gonna second that the quotation marks are unnecessary.

I'm gonna assume that you haven't made any changes to the original text, and resist my urge to make lexical changes to a century and a half old book.
And will probably skip reading it in the first place.

The text doesn't fit inside the window either.

Thanks, Saltome, for several good comments. Many will be incorporated.