I don't know if this was my bias talking, but I LOVED this story so much, it was so relatable and real. Just a bunch of struggling young people coming together, trying to make their dreams come true. I FELT Alice so much - working a dull job trying to make ends meet, as she struggles to fulfill her passions in her free time. Even though she's a successful writer, she isn't able to translate it into any meaningful income.
As a person who both creates and plays games, I was LAPPING UP all of the little details! The P2W vs. F2P battle! The "cozy sim game" vs. "complex narrative game" rivalry! The overscoping on a game jam! The marketing struggles! It is SO clear that this subject matter is near and dear to the writer's heart, and it shows in the details and the execution.
Each of the characters was so fun to meet, and I loved their group dynamic. While all of the LIs were loveable in their own respects, my favorite was definitely Kris - I am DOWN BAD for childhood friends, and his relentless support of Alice and her dreams is so endearing. However, all of the LIs were very intriguing, and I loved how their dynamics with Alice varied so much! I also really enjoyed the gang of "rivals," they were all very colorful in their own right! I appreciated that the rivals weren't purely "evil" - instead, they were simply that - "rivals" (albeit somewhat rude ones).
SPOILERS I also appreciated the sensitive subject matter that the team's game ended up covering, and I liked how Alice's experiences were described without being too obvious or triggering. Even though the actual contents of the story aren't described to the player, the writer skillfully included many hints about Parasoft's VN's content and the ultimate message. I also appreciated how Alice steadfastedly stated that she wanted to cover this topic - because of her own experiences and to help others like her.
I loved the choice for the sprite art, and the CG art was so cute as well! The backgrounds are colorful and dynamic, and the UI was sleek, minimalistic, and attractive. The minigame was fun and well implemented, and I enjoyed puzzling out what vocabulary fit which love interest (and thought it suited the "writing" theme very well). The VA performances were great and made the story so much more lively and fun!
Overall, this was FANTASTIC! I'm looking forward to future updates! Great work!