Wow I don't know why I didn't get a notification for this comment.
first off thank you for commenting it means so much and I will hang a framed picture of this on my wall.
And thank you for giving such good feedback!
I know it's very long, but I believe a story like this needs that time to set up and have all the impact later on. I really try to keep all the scenes in the game - have some sort of meaning or purpose being there. There were MANY pages that got cut because I deemed it filler.
Even so it's still so long.
The music will always be an issue for me. I've drawn my whole life and written here and there but I never really got into music. (this isn't and excuse) And I feel bad music (like poorly made ost) would only ruin any mood i'd try to set up. And music has a much deeper learning curve than learning to code.
Most of the sound effect i tried to make myself, or I got from royalty free sites.
If you do keep playing - I am trying to find more catered (royalty free) music, since the silence also bothers me alot.
thought, there would still be meaningful silence anyway.
i do apologize about the volume however, renpy does have a setting for the player to change it. And i tried to have each volume be specific but im still learning the rights and wrongs.
I think you're referring to the first "scary scene" in Aaliyah's bedroom. And i totally agree with your points. I think i approached that scene more from a video game perspective instead of a story one.
it felt like a scene that "had to be there" so it doesn't feel like later on it comes out of nowhere or isn't under stable, and many players would potentially stop reading after Monday as well, which also influenced my decision.
which is totally my fault and is 100% susceptible to change or just flat-out removal.
lastly: Yes i have played Doki Doki! Since my visual novel is semi horror based, I figured i'd take from one of the best horror visual novels I could think of.
As for the other (I'm assuming visual novel) no i haven't played that one. But maybe I could give it a try if I ever find down time.
Anyway, thank you for playing!!! I hope you enjoy the next build.