Visual novels

[Hikari-chan]

^ You might wanna put some of that in spoiler tags, just in case.

Spoiler:

Especially with Sharin no Kuni and G-Senjou

I edited the post. Please make sure to use tags to spoil any information whether it be plot, character or anything major that may impact a person's view/perspective of the visual novel! If you aren't sure, chances are that it should be in a spoiler tag, and better safe than sorry!

I recently read the demo version for Mahoutsukai no Yoru and I really, really enjoyed it myself. The artwork and music is stunning and the story really grabs me, despite the fact that it was less than 30 minutes of reading. I hope everyone else gets the opportunity to read it too.

[Metaler]

Oh yeah, I have yet to read that, but from what I've seen it might very well be the best looking visual novel ever. Can't wait for it to be released.

And apparently the guy who translated the trial is also interested in translating the game itself.

[akumaxx]

Oops... forget the spoilers.
Now I must check the tvtropes first.

[Éclair]

For good start VNs, I'd highly recommend checking out some older KEY titles (pre-Little Busters), or TYPE MOON, or even try Majikoi out.
If you're looking to get into some of the more gory and somewhat grimdark VNs: Nitroplus+, 07th Expansion (hit and miss), Innocent Grey, etc.
If you want something strategy-based, try out AliceSoft and Leaf.

[zergdramon]

Hehehe...I have Princess Lover in my PC

[Metaler]

For good start VNs, I'd highly recommend checking out some older KEY titles (pre-Little Busters), or TYPE MOON, or even try Majikoi out.
If you're looking to get into some of the more gory and somewhat grimdark VNs: Nitroplus+, 07th Expansion (hit and miss), Innocent Grey, etc.
If you want something strategy-based, try out AliceSoft and Leaf.

Too bad Majikoi doesn't have a full translation out. But maybe we'll see it soon.

Also, anything made by Nitro+ is God-tier. Check their games out. Saya no Uta, Chaos;Head, and Steins;Gate are some of their best.

And the only Innocent Grey game we have so far is Kara no Shoujo. It's a good game, but the investigation segments may sometimes rely purely on guesswork. But it's a more convetional mystery than Umineko (though Umineko is more Metamystery then mystery).

[xcrossfacekillahx]

For good start VNs, I'd highly recommend checking out some older KEY titles (pre-Little Busters), or TYPE MOON, or even try Majikoi out.
If you're looking to get into some of the more gory and somewhat grimdark VNs: Nitroplus+, 07th Expansion (hit and miss), Innocent Grey, etc.
If you want something strategy-based, try out AliceSoft and Leaf.

Too bad Majikoi doesn't have a full translation out. But maybe we'll see it soon.

Also, anything made by Nitro+ is God-tier. Check their games out. Saya no Uta, Chaos;Head, and Steins;Gate are some of their best.

And the only Innocent Grey game we have so far is Kara no Shoujo. It's a good game, but the investigation segments may sometimes rely purely on guesswork. But it's a more convetional mystery than Umineko (though Umineko is more Metamystery then mystery).

I might try Kara no Shoujo if I have time.

[Metaler]

Speaking of which, I really hope MangaGamer brings Caucasus to us. It looks so awesome. And there's some kind of cross-examination thing similar to Ace Attorney, it seems.

[Fuyuhotaru]

Speaking of which, I really hope MangaGamer brings Caucasus to us. It looks so awesome. And there's some kind of cross-examination thing similar to Ace Attorney, it seems.

i second this

Spoiler:

I never bought Kara no Shoujo though so I can't say I helped

currently I'm playing Forest and Eien no Aselia

[Wolfnagi]

Question: Nobody ever plays Demonbane series?

[Fuyuhotaru]

Question: Nobody ever plays Demonbane series?

I did
although only Al's route

[Wolfnagi]

Question: Nobody ever plays Demonbane series?

I did
although only Al's route

So you haven't played the rest?
I actually like the series due to its mixture of Lovecraft, mechas and lolis xD
And the storytelling also aren't that bad xD

[Fuyuhotaru]

Question: Nobody ever plays Demonbane series?

I did
although only Al's route

So you haven't played the rest?
I actually like the series due to its mixture of Lovecraft, mechas and lolis xD
And the storytelling also aren't that bad xD

nope but if i ever had the mood I'll finish them
lovecraft + mecha = good

[Éclair]

Also, another set of recommendations. First off, G-Senjou no Maou. It's quite an amusing game to play through, combines the criminal underworld with the detective-type scenario among other things and has a great soundtrack filled with classical musical. Also, for shameless advertisement, if you like Sengoku Rance, start playing Daiteikoku. It's quite a bit harder (and I know this, being TL staff and HAVING TO BEAT PARTS THAT ARE RIDICULOUS) to advance and continue editing.

As for Innocent Grey, Cartagra's text files are floating around, they just never got re-inserted and the project thus never really finished.

[Metaler]

^ Well, they did get a C&D from Innocent Grey, yeah?

[Fuyuhotaru]

well aroduc just released his project
blick winkel too
(dunno if you guys support unofficial translation)

[akumaxx]

Finally some time to go on.
Shukufuku no Campanella, Chelsea arc: Clear.

Spoiler for Ability of Chelsea's soul, type Warrior:

(120s CD)Protect yourself and 2 nearby allies for 10 sec, preventing all damage and harmful effect, but you cannot attack when using this soul, and affected units cannot be protected again by similar effects in 60 sec.

Spoiler for Some notes:

She is a holy sword! Or she's created to protect the land whenever some disaster is around.
Yet the power of love makes her decide to split the sword and become a normal girl...
So this is the 3rd possibility of 'end of the world' comparing to Minette and Carina's arcs. (of course all spoiled)

[Metaler]

A little late, but Mangagamer recently announced the names for their two new titles, which were hinted at a few months ago.

The first one is Eroge! ~H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai~, a Design Story about a young man who gets a job at an Eroge developer:

The player takes the role of Mochizuki Tomoya, a guy that lives on his own with only a day job at a convenience store keeping him afloat. While he really likes eroge, he can't draw, isn't much of a writer or composer, and doesn't know much about business. Still, his dream is to get a job at an eroge studio in hopes of creating what he loves, eroge.

Tomoya's luck takes a turn for the better when he sees a help wanted ad for the local studio Flower, and after a meeting with the company president (who to his surprise looks like an elementary school kid), manages to get a job as administrator of the company's website. Tomoya's glee at being part of the eroge industry is short-lived, as he soon learns that Flower is on the chopping block due to their first title being a massive failure.

After playing through Flower's first title, Tomoya realizes that his co-workers don't know anything about eroge, lacking the insight and understanding needed to make a good game. After some nudging from the president of Flower's parent company and some soul searching of his own, our protagonist takes it upon himself to save Flower by teaching the four girls on staff the ins and outs of what makes an eroge good. The story thus focuses on Tomoya's role as a psuedo-consultant while getting to know the four heroines of the story as the player is given an interesting look at the world of eroge development.

The second game is Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru

The primary setting for the story is on the campus of a private all-girl school with Christian undertones, such as a large cross visible on the front of the school's main building. Seio was founded in 1886 by Mizuho's ancestor; the school's motto is "mercy and forgiveness".

There is an old tradition at Seio Girls School every June where one of the students is elected by her peers to be the "Elder", who is seen as the number-one "Elder Sister" in the entire school. Until her graduation, she is referred to by her peers as Onee-sama.

To become an Elder, a candidate in the election must gain at least 75% of the votes. If none of the candidates get at least 75% in the first round of voting, one of the candidates hand over her votes to the other candidate, and the candidate who finally obtained the votes of 75% or more becomes the Elder. If there is no one else in the election, the current year's student council president becomes the Elder.

Not only that, a release date has also been announced for Deardrops: March 2nd, 2012. Keep in mind that a Trial version is already out, if you want a sneak peek.

[akumaxx]

@Metaler: First one watched anime version, 2 eps if not more.

Spoiler:

Good among other 18+ animes. Well it can go to harem ending, sort of.

Second one, heard title but never touched.

[Metaler]

@Metaler: First one watched anime version, 2 eps if not more.

Spoiler:

Good among other 18+ animes. Well it can go to harem ending, sort of.

Second one, heard title but never touched.

I watched the anime as well, and I thought it was amusing, to say the least. A lot of people have compared the game to Comic Party, but with eroge instead of doujin, so I expect it to be okay at best. Apparently, the game also touches on a variety of fetishes, so we have something for everyone. I'm mostly interested in the "Design Story" aspect, though. I mean, this feels very meta: a group of people inside an eroge work together to make an eroge, while making references to eroge and its foundations, almost as if the story is referring to itself.

I actually already have the Japanese release downloaded here, even. It was a mindblowing coincidence when Mangagamer announced that they were gonna translate it. Kinda like "whoa dude, I already have it. Trippy."

I don't think I'll pay for it, though. Don't think it's worth it. I'm gonna save my money for Deardrops.

But now that Mangagamer has a contract with Clock Up, I really hope they translate Euphoria, one of the company's best games, which was released last year. I heard it's REALLY good. It seems to be an ontological mystery similar to 999.