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So, the problem persists but I think I found the cause. Within the compressed files (and this is for the Windows and PC builds) there appears to be two "textbox.png" files for some reason. When extracting the .zip, the program overwrote one with another, leading to only the white remaining in the decompressed file.

This might be something happening with my machine or one of Ren'py's silly little oopsies, but I suggest you check out how it looks on your end.

Be as it may, the game is working fine for me now. Cheers.

This happened in both the windows and PC downloads of version 1.3. 

Hello! I downloaded the current version 1.3 and I cannot read the text. It seems the build came out with a regular horizontal white textbox instead of the black vertical ones I can see in your screenshots.

Err... I don't think I understand you. 😅

Hey, just quick FYI, the OS for your versions are switched. Make sure to mark PC as Windows AND Linux too.

Pronto ;)

Gracias, pero ya estoy haciendo la traducción, pronto será completa, muy probablemente este mes.

很高兴你喜欢这个游戏，但是我还不会把英语翻译成中文，对不起

Go team! Every single member of this fanbase is behind you 100% and we will wait and support you as long and as much as it is necessary. Speaking personally, every single one of you have all of my faith.  

As for the Patreon thing, I have but one request... that I be allowed to be the first person to donate for the highest tier haha! 

According to this site https://savelocation.net/renpy You can find it here.

If you're using Windows, you can look up you %APPDATA% folder where you'll find a folder called "Renpy." Everything in there are Save files for Ren'py projects. Copy that and in case anything happens just put that "Renpy" folder back in %APPDATA%. 

Yup!

Hello, everybody. I'm Cardigan and I'm a writer and dev of FVNs. 

My main skill is writing which I have honed working on countless short stories and my own project Four Seasons Apart. Aside from this, I have decent grasp on Ren'py and could work on the programming side of things. I'm also mildly skilled in image editing and audio mixing.

When it comes to writing, my strong suit is definitely romantic stories as they make up the majority of my work. I also excel in interpersonal drama, intergenerational drama, dealing with recent grief, social awkwardness and cute couple moments.

I've also got some experience with game jams. In last year's MAY WOLF, I was the sole writer and co-programmer for The Wayward Tower, in Devtalk's Spooktober jam I helped with writing and programming in the entry Phantom Echoes, and this February I worked on Uninvited Feelings and assisted the development of To Judge By The Cover for the Love+Affection Game Jam.

While I would accept a variety of teams, I'm really looking for are larger teams where I could co-write a story (and help with programming, of course). 

And that's me! If you're on the Furry Visual Novels Discord server you can find me there and send a DM. Otherwise, I'm on Bluesky (here) and FurAffinity (here), or you can send me an email at cardiganfur@gmail.com. Feel free to reach out!

Third Wheel is a fun project that expertly written and paced. From what I understand, Stinkdog is a long time Furry writer and  their expertise is plain to see be it during the natural dialogue and the erotic moments.

Two points really stuck out to me, however. First and more important in my view, there's a certain lack of drama or any real conflict with these characters. Everything just goes pretty well regardless of your choices which I think saps a little of the potential this setup has to evoke some feels and explore these characters a little more.

The other thing I found lacking is the use of the "Id" character. In thought, it's a pretty nifty idea, offering a streamlined version of the inner voices of Disco Elysium. However, in execution, its presence never coalesces into anything tangible which I think gives the inclusion an almost gimmicky vibe. Things never come to a head, there's no paralyzing moment where the  MC is torn between "logic" and Id; they occasionally trade insults and that's it. It's not enough to worsen the experience, but it did make me feel like something is lacking here.

Third Wheel may be a straightforward story where everything goes right but it's really well made one. I recommend for the craft alone, but it's also good for "playing single-handed" if you catch my drift.

Scenes From A Bar Off North Halsted is a fun read. Shiroooo's signature americana takes a bit of a backseat to a comedic character study that, despite missing laugh-out-loud moments, is entertaining from end to end.

Now, it is not without its flaws, many of which appear to have single source: its nature as a Game Jam entry. While nothing here is "shoddy" there's an unavoidable lack of polish to its audiovisual elements. Uneven transitions, moments of odd blocking and a complete lack of OST (especially strange for this developer) are all noticeable issues that could have been ironed out with a little more time in the oven. As I see it, the scope of this project isn't unattainable enough that it couldn't have been released in a better shape within the Jam's restrictions, but it is understandable that IRL circumstances may have led to this.

The writing is easily the strongest part of the whole experience. Shiroooo's more than proven his skill with his other works and—even though I don't find this one reaching the same heights as OTYs or even WADTW—every aspect here is praise-worthy, from natural dialogue to smooth pacing.

One sore spot in my opinion comes at the very end. It would be unfair to say things end abruptly, but its conclusion lacks a sort "finishing touch." Whether it is another side-effect of it being a Jam entry or it was intended as an open-ended conclusion (and I am partial to those), I think it's missing too much of a sense of finality.

All that said, it is a strong entry not only into the Love + Affection Game Jam, but into this dev's portfolio. Easy to read and probably relatable to many, this gets an obvious recommend.

Hello, thank you for playing the game! I've fixed the issue with the web version, I apologize for the inconvenience.

I’m curious, but it’d depend on the kind of programming you’re looking for

Face to Face fares well enough but too many things still hold it back.

The biggest problem here is the presentation. While the character sprites pop with the limited visuals, the lack of backgrounds does the exact opposite. There are points in the story with a lot of moving around, and just having the title of the location instead of an actual image is very disorientating.​ On a sound level, there’s the ever-present sound of rain​ which not only breaks the immersion of many scenes but also cannot have its volume adjusted.

Another pervasive issue comes in the pacing. The lead up to “the twist” works well enough but everything after that quickly​ falls apart. Readers are not afforded proper time to engage with the mystery or make their own conclusions before the truth (which itself is a little messy) is revealed, curbing much of the project’s potential.

Face to Face is interesting for the turns its story takes, but too many issues bring it down to an experience that’s just average at best.

Help Me Date Your Dad! is simply excellent. It has a solid emotional core, good prose, quality art and an unique presentation style that manages to be visually engaging without being too complicated. However, this project is sadly marred by a single, but all encompassing problem.

Starting the game, readers may feel deceived by the title. We follow a protagonist in a complicated moment. Something out of her control but that she completely expected threatens a very important relationship in her life. With descriptions, narration, visuals and sound that solidify these emotions, players are put right into her shoes. But wait, there is a silver lining. She finds in someone a way not only to mend this relationship, but save everyone involved from regret. MC approaches that person and asks their help and then… silly music starts playing.

Help Me Date Your Dad! suffers from severe tonal issues. For most of the time, it offers this grounded drama that’s explored really well, but there are a couple of scenes that shift this mood completely with goofier dialogue, upbeat music and exaggerated reactions. The shift is harsh enough on the reader, but it also comes close to cheapening a particular relationship that’s pivotal to the whole story.

My belief is that the story could be approached either way (though I won’t deny my preference for the grounded drama), however the abruptness and frequency of this change really harms the project.

This is one of my favourite Novembears and it is high on that list, but the tonal issue is just too much to ignore.

Blackout: Zero absolutely nails its presentation but a handful of weakness hold it back.

Firstly, this project cannot stand on its own. Being a prequel to another project, it is surprising how much it hinges on your knowledge of characters and events hinted there. Not to mention, this VN lacks a gripping element of its own, an aspect further intensified by its incomplete nature (at the time of this review).

The second notable issue comes in its brief gameplay session, where the reader is put in a dark area and needs to find and highlight certain objects. Thing is, the area is way too dark and with the filters used, it becomes nearly impossible to tell objects from each other. While that does enhance the sense of danger and mystery, it’s a little disorientating in regards of what the player is even interacting with until the MC makes some comment about it.

All that said, the presentation is amazing, with moving parts, use of colour and unique menus that match the story’s vibe completely. Writing is another highlight with little to no issues and good pacing.

What little holds Blackout: Zero back unfortunately hold it a little too much to be its own thing. For someone who hasn’t played One More Light, I’d recommend playing that first to get the most out of this one. Probably the Novembear with the best technical aspects, but not my favourite story.

Art Building offers an unfortunately barebones experience on all fronts. Aside from the sprites, which are simple yet pleasant, this VN falls short in too many aspect to be worth a recommendation. The plot is very thin, the prose floats between basic and wonky and presentation is nothing special. There was time from its initial submission to the end of the Jam for some much needed polishing, but alas it did not come to pass. If you do want to experience it for yourself, take heed in the fact that it goes by too quickly to cause any strong negative feelings.

Fate Itself does a good job of setting up, but has a hard time delivering. The biggest example of this project has an interest in animal motifs (having 3 of them), but none of those end up with real pay off. Other issues include a minor plothole (as I see it), a somewhat rushed relationship and some flawed attempts at poeticism within the prose. Fate Itself does nail a couple of things: the pacing is excellent with no time wasted, which is what you want of a short story, and some pretty interesting UI (some of which, do fall on the aforementioned animal motifs issue). If you can dive into this project’s world and characters, you may not see its flaws so clearly and have a good time.

Daring Choices shows attempts at tackling its topics, but whether it hits or not may depend on the reader alone. This project goes into more interesting directions, but it does so with a bluntness that may make it hard to get on its level. It doesn’t really dive into potentially unique perspectives or crib from deeper works, instead, it ends up lingering in “alright-ness.” It may be worth reading it to guage your own opnion of these themes and presentations, but don’t be surprised if they don’t fully connect.

Yet Another First Day offers a pretty good package. From its unique presentation and natural dialogue, this project engages readers in a straightforward story that still bears (heh) interesting idiosyncrasies. The biggest sore spot here is how much fat there is in the story (and I don’t mean the large men). Yet Another First Day has an excellent and resonating emotional core that is buried in a lot of meandering and scenes that don’t advance the plot. That said, its strong points are more than worth pushing through the slog. A fun, cute little story that will resonate well with its queer audience.

With a strong emotional core and straightforward but engaging writing, Losing Importance shows a vignette about aging and enjoying life. This lean short story hits all its beats really well, displaying empathetic characters and a narrative that feels true to its themes. In its briefness, however, it ends up missing some much needed falling action that establishes better where these characters will go from the end of the story, rather than ending as soon as the climax does, leaving too little to the imagination. Still, it was a joy to read a story that knows not to get too bogged down on its admittedly depressing themes. It takes the melancholy of aging as it is: a natural part of life.

Chained in Silence, like some of the developer’s other works, is severely reliant on its idiosyncratic humour. And if you don’t connect with that, the whole experience may fall flat. This time, that unique brand of humour is not front-and-center, instead working as a bit of a twist that happens around the end of the first act. In a sense, this project lulls you into one experience and then rug-pulls you into its true identity. And that too may be part of the joke but, as aforementioned, if you’re not wont to its brand of wackiness, it can be pretty obnoxious. The recommendation stands for those unknowing of this dev’s style and for those who enjoy it.

One Thousand Yards braves an emotional journey through some dark topics with a steady gaze. Every moment in this project puts readers in the MC’s shoes with incredible ease which allows for its emotional punches to land that much harder. The dev has also employed audiovisual elements that, though simple, elevate the reading experience. Its few appear as somewhat intrusive expositions at the very beginning and a very heavy-handed tearjerker epilogue, but those are small stains on a beautiful carpet. One Thousand Yards is a raw experience about a tough subject, but executed in a very touching way that makes it worth experiencing for yourself.

A project full of fun character designs, an interesting world and engaging dialogue that passes by at breakneck speed. Spin City’s pacing is its greatest flaw, creating a series of rapid-fire scenarios that never have the time to linger. With all the aforementioned qualities, it’s a shame that readers can’t really simmer down and enjoy these charming characters and story. Even if this were to be expanded, the pacing would make for a tiring experience, so hopefully things will be shifted around a little more if there’s a continuation or “full release.”

What He Carried toys with some interesting ideas about grief, self-perception and how we let ourselves be treated by others, but with a very sloppy execution. The presentation of the story being a “”“Love interest””” trauma-dumping on a very passive MC makes for a pretty uncomfortable experience that makes the reader wonder why is he sitting there and taking it. At the same time, the characters appear cognizant of the strangeness of the situation and make attempts to lampshade it, which gives off vibes of a lack of commitment to its “bit;” what we do see of the bear’s life is often curbed by this unsure nature. The artwork, though excellent, also seems a little off, defining characters much different than what we do get to see in the story proper. WHC is uneven and strange but short enough to be worth the couple of minutes it asks of you.

Perhaps the most depressing of the Novembears, Since November follows a borderline superficial brand of nihilism that is more annoying and embarrassing than moving. While seeing these portrayals of different reactions to the situation is interesting and engaging, this cast of 20-somethings act too much like parody of that demographic, weakening a lot of the impact. That said the build up to the reveal is fantastic and the art (even much of the unfinished parts) works excellently with a solid script. This project misery lit lacking in its melancholic beauty or insightful misery, but it is still well-made enough to move and enrapture readers for its duration.

Memories Frozen in Time shows attempts at emotional matters, but its lacking execution weakens the whole project. With an inconsistent prose, the narrative spends too much time in descriptions and less important details, leaving no time for a proper conclusion. Characters are simple and the emotions are straightforward, but none of that clarity is really used the project advantage. The presentation often suffers with unchanging sprites that make it hard to tell the different points in time apart, and poorly edited BGs that are often distracting in their distortion. MFiT could have used more polishing and a couple of words to become a more memorable experience, but as it is, there’s barely anything of note here.

On a String is simple and straightforward but it does well what it sets out to do. Aside from a strange inconsistency with punctuation marks, writing works really well; from pacing to dialogue, this project nails it. Visual elements also does a good job of characterising people and narrative, a real complete package. I wish it tackled bigger questions regarding its mechanics and could have done with a more active protagonist, but other than that, On a String is easily worth the time readers put into it.

End of the Line is wonderfully depressing experience that delivers on all fronts. From excellent sprites, to polished writing and an engaging narrative and dialogue, it’s worthwhile from end to end. There are some characteristics that don’t exactly click from the jump, but eventually all pieces fall into place. Definitely the strongest submission in Novembear 2024.

Symbearotica is a very amateurish project. There are some interesting concepts like playing as the alien, but a definitive lack of skill permeates the whole experience. There’s a lack of elegance and artistry when it comes to the topics being explored here, everything is laid out in blunt, messy chunks of story. Presentation suffers too, the lacking transitions and audio are sorely missed, making it hard to tell what’s happening visually. This is unfortunately too undercooked on too many fronts, hopefully it serves as a learning experience for the dev.

Polar Opposites is fun but bears more than its fair share of issues; biggest among them being the scope.

To borrow from another reviewer, this project tries “to do too many things that don’t quite fit together at once,” with a story that goes on for quite a bit after you expect it to end. Perhaps this amount of twists and turns would work best in a longer project, but as an “one-off,” the barrage of information is borderline tiring. Improving this aspect would require a complete scope overhaul in order to focus on telling one compelling tale.

Another issue comes in the form of long and unnatural dialogue. Most of the lines in this project go on for too many lines and a good chunk of them just doesn’t appear relevant, are repetitions of information the reader already has or serve only to balloon the scope further.

Another problem is the way audiovisual elements that don’t match what is happening in the story. This goes especially for the character expressions and the music tracks. A character sprite displaying one emotion while the text describes another is an unfortunately common sight in this VN. The same goes for the music, with upbeat scores underlying moments of emotional vulnerability.

Polar Opposites really suffers from its problems. Its package is too small for what it’s attempting to be and having to handle all of that within the timeframe of a Game Jam led to the decline of many of its aspects.

A project that’s cute and sweet and, much like candy, is full empty calories. While it doesn’t really fall into saccharine territory, The Fox in Sleepy Creek skirts that line enough that it ends up harming it. The lack of drama makes a possibly interesting premise into 30~45min of fluff. Art mostly works (especially for its “special interest”), but some of the sprite expressions are hard read and others are stuck in an awkward level of exaggeration. Still, it hits what it aims for: a feel-good, cute story with nice art. Recommended if you’re looking for something sweeter that won’t occupy much of your time or brainpower.

Gainfully Employed is a fun time that ends a bit too soon for its own good. There are many qualities to this FVN, but it unfortunately drops the ball in its scope. This is a story with a lot of potential for exploration of pertinent topics, but the story ends far too soon to make any statement on those, rendering it more suggestion than anything else. Still, it engages in some interesting social commentary with just the right amount of bluntness and the 3D artwork is is a fun addition. Worth checking out for its qualities, but don’t be surprised if it fails to be a cathartic experience.

The Creature in My House plays around with some interesting themes but doesn’t really make good on their potential. Even for a short story, the pacing is too fast and its more interesting aspects and questions are glossed over. In place of such exploration, there are silly moments that, though good at building character, do little for the essentials of a short story. Still, the artwork and transitons are pretty neat, and the prose itself is breezy and doesn’t dwell on the unimportant. Worth checking out for its silliness and visuals, but don’t expect the story to stick or stir up too much.

Stars In Your Eyes presents a cute story with a pertinent message that gets harmed in the execution.

Being a story focused on two disabled characters, the developer has chosen to add and take away certain features between two POVs. While the idea and the overall audiovisual execution of these aspects own their own, the fact that the POV shifts so often makes for a tiring, jarring experience. At the start, there are substantial developments between these shifts, but as the game progresses, these changes happen very close of each other giving the reader the disorientation of being jerked between two experiences while muddling them. That last point is especially true towards the end when these experiences are more intentionally melded.

Writing also leaves something to be desired. Most statements are composed of too many lines making it a wordy, though not necessarily meandering experience. That applies to dialogue as well, making for a very unnatural mode of speech and truncated flow of conversation. Also, the emotional payoff of a pivotal scene is curbed by how one of the characters cannot stop joking about it and gets no pushback for it.

Still, as aforementioned, the audiovisual depictions of these disabilities were well-thought out and make for an interesting idiosyncrasy on their own. The message too is straightforward and characters are understandable and relatable so it is rarely a dull project.

This project has a good message, but fumbles its delivery just a bit too much. Gets a sure recommendation for its qualities, but not a higher rating for the uneven execution.