Samantha and the Pieces of a Heart
Samantha and the Pieces of a Heart is my latest visual novel. You can read the entire story in this video or or at my other blog at Jaded Perspectives: Samantha and the Pieces of a Heart: The Visual Novel -- Android Version (jaded-perspectives.com)
Consider purchasing the Android version on Google Play hee: Samantha and the Pieces of a Heart FULL - Apps on Google Play
Hikari's Ribbon 2013 (ebook and movie)
Hikari's Ribbon was one of my first attempts at making a crude "visual novel" using very amateurish character art, music and over-all presentation, but it is also a story that I am quite proud of - one, which to this day, I can confidently proclaim to be my most technically complete story despite its apparent brevity and simplicity.
At its core, Hikari's Ribbon is a simple children's story, but with a mature theme that is intended mostly for adults to young adults. That aside, this story should be quite fitting for readers of all ages.
This 2013 release is a movie-only version of my original visual novel with all new CG art featuring a cartoony style that was mostly inspired by My Little Pony: Friendship is magic. (Twilight Sparkle is best pony! Thar, I said it. Lawlz!) The reason that I chose this particular art style is because it is quite simple and I believe that it will probably never become outdated - which gives me the peace of mind to call this remake the final update to this piece.
With that said, please enjoy the movie.
As a bonus, I've added an ebook version of this story for download with additional author's notes for those who are interested.
Download the ebook: http://www.mediafire.com/?7292gh4xkfp3bgb
BTW: The EVN Community Webzine
How it came to be
BTW or Baka-Trio webzine was an online ezine that was
established by the active chatters of #baka-trio on Freenode. All of our
members were regulars of the Lemmasoft Forums with quite a few whose
experiences in the EVN community dated back to the initial launch of Lemmasoft.
BTW was initially my idea, which I brainstormed together
with Kikered in order to create a project that would unify the members of
#baka-trio in a productive but relatively stress-free endeavor that did not
actually entail creating visual novels, but which was at least
tangentially-related. In the end, the project turned out to be a relative success
with the announcement of the new Teacup Forums along with the release of Volume
#9 of the Ezine.
In essence, BTW was a project that we made for ourselves. It
was not meant to provide any sort of service to the community, but was merely a
creative outlet whose main purpose was to unite the limited members of
#baka-trio who were beginning to drift away from each other at the time of the
project’s initial conception.
The zine
BTW ran for 9 consecutive volumes released on a monthly
basis from May 2009 to January 2010. Volume 10 came out in April 2011 and put
an exclamation point on the project, putting it to rest forever. The zine used
a predominantly 2-columns style of layout heavily inspired by Reader’s Digest
Magazine and was filled mostly with human-interest essays with occasional interviews
from EVN creators as well as those engaged in working with similar media such
as Katy Towell of Childrin R Skary fame. As early as the January 2010 volume,
we actually felt that BTW had served its purpose with the launch of the current
Teacup Community.
Reception
Baka-Trio Webzine saw heavy criticism all throughout its
short lifespan from the same community that it tried to promote. Despite the
mixed reactions after its initial release however, we continued producing the
zine regularly for 9 consecutive volumes and actually saw subscribers come in
from outside as well as within the Lemmasoft Forums
Significance of the
zine in EVN history
One reason that the Zine saw heavy criticism may be because
the writers behind the articles were mostly veterans of an older LSF who felt
no small degree of dissatisfaction with the somewhat rapid changes which were
taking place in the LSF of 2009. It was a time when some of the more vocal
members of 4LS were heavily criticizing the community and where troll posting
and thinly-veiled personal attacks were the norm with only one active
administrator in PyTom trying to keep it all together. Speaking in behalf of the people behind BTW,
many of us felt that the smaller LSF from the past wherein due respect was
given to each creator and even a visual novel with a fatal flaw could be lauded
for an innovative feature or for using a unique approach to storytelling using
limited resources, was quite preferable to the LSF of 2009 which laid the
groundwork for the LSF of 2012 and beyond. At that time, we had no idea that
2009 would be a pivotal year for the LSF – a “changing of the guard” would
happen soon afterwards.
Having said that, the zine may be considered as a piece of reactionary literature as well as a relic of the past – a doorway to how the creators of the LSF of the past thought and operated before everyone started wanting to emulate Type Moon, Katawa Shoujo and currently, Sakevisual, Winterwolves and Hanako Games. The zine cannot serve as a historically accurate document save for the release dates of some choice EVN, which are mirrored in the current Ren’py.org release list, for the simple reason that its writers were heavily-opinionated individuals who mostly wrote opinion pieces. Due to this non-journalistic approach to the ezine, we can proudly proclaim that the articles contained within BTW are timeless.
All the volumes of the Baka-Trio Webzine are freely available for your perusal here:
http://baka-trio.lunaen.com/btw_may_2009.pdf
http://baka-trio.lunaen.com/btw_june_2009.pdf
http://baka-trio.lunaen.com/btw_july_2009.pdf
From The Author
Paragon of Justice: Crimson Ranger is a superhero/tokusatsu parody original fiction story that I'm currently writing on a semi-weekly basis. The story is heavily inspired by Zettai Hero Project for the PSP as well as Moonlight Bomber's Super Network Wars fanfic. The story is written in a traditional, 3rd-person past tense perspective and parodies the generic perceptions of otaku lifestyle and has characters that break the 4th wall on occasion as well as performing superhuman feats which are generally well-justified in the context of the story.
My intention with this piece was to create a fun outlet for my excess creative energies that I could easily mold into any type of story that fits my mood at the time of writing. Thus, each episode of Crimson Ranger may vary greatly as far as mood, amount of comedy and emotional intensity are concerned. I do however, endeavor to make the characters and the world that I have created consistent and there is a general overarching plot being developed in the background as I continue to write this.
As far as "critique" goes. Although I do welcome reviews, as well as people pointing out any significant typographical errors or more serious continuity errors in the story, please keep in mind that I am not actively "seeking to improve my writing" with this piece and at the end of the day, I'm really just writing this for the fun of it. If you find that so unacceptable since I have made this piece "public," then please be pragmatic enough not to waste both of our times and spare me your undoubtedly valuable pearls of wisdom.
All the current "episodes" (chapters) of Paragon of Justice: Crimson Ranger are currently hosted over at my FictionPress account. Here are the links:
Episode 1: Enter The Crimson Ranger
Episode 2: The Light of RAGE!
Episode 3: Dealing With Bullies
Episode 4: Identity Crisis
Episode 5: A Date With Miss Vanity
Episode 2: The Light of RAGE!
Episode 3: Dealing With Bullies
Episode 4: Identity Crisis
Episode 5: A Date With Miss Vanity
The story so far... (intro to episode 5)
Pete Robinson was just another self-sufficient, lackadaisical otaku
until one day, a red comet fell from the sky which turned out to be the
super-powered paragon of justice and all-around busybody, the Crimson
Ranger. Pete is conned by the dying Crimson Ranger into taking the Red
One Changer and taking on the mantle of the Crimson Ranger. Just as Pete
reluctantly agrees to take the badge, a fabulously beautiful costumed
vigilante who calls herself Miss Vanity, appeared from out of nowhere
seeking the badge. Pete reluctantly chooses to transform into the
Crimson Ranger for no apparent reason. Although the battle is desperate,
Pete's unyielding defense forces Miss Vanity to retreat and regroup.
Pete collapses shortly afterwards only to be awoken by the spirit of the
original Crimson Ranger who now resides in his head as a twin-tailed 13
year-old Japanese schoolgirl named Giselle Orchardwither. Soon after
his latest encounter with a powerful monster courtesy of Wrath's light
of rage, Pete returns to his apartment to find the lights on and is
shocked to find out that Miss Vanity was decked out on his couch,
apparently waiting for him. How will Pete handle this unexpected turn of
events?
Characters
Pete Robinson: Pete is the
epitome of average. The only notable thing about his character is that
he is a video game and anime otaku and he loves to spend his meager
salary importing weird things from Japan. Despite his hobbies, Pete is
the type of person who does not hold strong beliefs and would rather go
with the flow and avoid conflict if possible. Pete works as an employee
at Games R' Go.
Sheryl Harrison: A good friend of Pete who
works as a manager at the hobby shop that Pete hangs out in. She has a
very nerdy appearance and wears dark-rimmed glasses and has frizzy hair
that looks quite reminiscent of overcooked spaghetti. Sheryl can be a
bit of a control freak and likes to keep her shop nice and tidy. Lately,
she has taken an interest in a comic book known as "The Adventures of
Black Trojan"
Primela Rosenkreuz: Pete's co-worker who
serves as the secretary of Games R' Go. A young woman with a model-like
appearance that matches her trans-atlantic accent when she speaks. Most
people wonder why she sticks to such a mundane job when she could easily
be mistaken for a fashion model or actress. She seems to be on good
terms with Pete.
Giselle Orchardwither: The original
Crimson Ranger who currently only exists in Pete's head. She takes the
form of a 13 year-old twin-tailed Japanese schoolgirl with a snarky
personality. Possesses supreme mastery of the pwnage powers of the
Crimson Ranger.
Miss Vanity: A beautiful super-powered
vigilante who wields an elegant broadsword. She seems to value fashion
and beauty above all else, even going as far as to avoid a battle if it
might result in a broken nail. Apparently works for Wrath as a
mercenary.
Baphomet: A self-proclaimed protector of animal
rights who is a master of stealth. He wears a horned goat's mask and
appears to be a master of mixed martial arts – even going so far as to
defeat an opponent who has been tainted with the light of RAGE using a
triangle choke.
Wrath: The interstellar warlord and
conqueror of worlds and ultimate ragequitter who is currently targeting
Earth. Possesses an army of one-hit kill underlings who serve no useful
purpose other than target practice for heroes of justice. He can also
use the light of RAGE in order to invoke a human being's pent-up anger
and use this potential in order to transform them into a super-powered
monster of the week. Upon defeat, a person who has fallen into RAGE
transforms back into human form unharmed.
Of Love And You
Of Love and You is a visual novel by Applegate. This short, non-branching visual novel was actually released in several installments. I came across the first installment, "Of Love and Blowing Bubbles" on a whim and I immediately took to the writing style. The author is one of the few OELVN writers who has earned my respect. I offered to provide original character art just in case the creator wanted to do a remake and put all the installments together into a single piece and a few months later, Applegate took me up on my offer and I provided.
Of Love and You is basically about two people who may or may not be in love with each other. It is a story that is best read without any preconceptions and taken as is. I am proud to present this VN and to have played a small part in bringing this release to completion.
-Title: Of Love and You
-Author: Applegate
-Description: Short Kinetic Novel
-Platform: Cross-Platform
-System Requirements: Ren'Py Compatible
-Year: 2012
Homepage: http://applegate.seacats.net/visual-novels/of-love-and-you/
-Title: Of Love and You
-Author: Applegate
-Description: Short Kinetic Novel
-Platform: Cross-Platform
-System Requirements: Ren'Py Compatible
-Year: 2012
Homepage: http://applegate.seacats.net/visual-novels/of-love-and-you/
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