Ren'Py Lessons in Love [v0.49.0] [Selebus]

[daagagsdgd]

Makoto was pretty basic at the start (As most chrs were) it was until the later events where she starts to mature a lot that she grew on me.
IDK about what did it for you lot tho.

The same with me. At first she's kinda like the typical class rep falling for teacher you watched in anime so I flat out ignored her. And to be honest Akira in Ch.1 was a perfect imitation of teen creeper and molester (he grew more and more humane only afterwards) and his interactions with Makoto was not even funny.

It's only until Blue Jay that my comfortable ennui shattered to piece. My pupils were shaking when she said "But just now I understand what I wish to become. I want to be a blue jay." Sometimes it's just thing you were undeliberately ignored you found in a sudden become glittering than anything.

It's until Beach visit with Makoto in Ch.2 that made me finally realize how much had I taken for granted and how mistreated she was all along. And I should treat everyone better and stop having mindset of a porn game reviewer. It's a very interesting process I've encountered with since the game itself kept externalizing any event from readers, labeling us as "not here", we can't help but notice that for some reason this externally expressed feeling and pain enter into us.

But somehow everything turned out to be good, not with reset forcing her become normal, but the real comfort she met (again from Ami, never thought she faked it) that she's not alone while encountering sadness like passing of father. After all of that happened one of my favourite event - Young Cardinals. For me it's the place where her tragic life is summed up and revealed after all the tiresome hashing-over of parts. It's astronguishingly refreshing and delivering for a game filled up with uncertainties and insecurties. At that moment the blue jay has overcame a full circle and grew to a red bird.

Spoiler: How cardinals can fly

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[shmurfer]

I don't get it. Like, is he just posting songs by using AI voices?

Nah they're pre-existing. A few updates later and there might be a Miku event using her lilfest song, and if Yasu has another big moment it'd be using this one (Personally, Yasu's new song sounds like it'd play with just her and Akira having a moment where they connect and can talk to a god directly or something, some big truth bomb being explained.)

They're just using voices Sel imagines the girl would use. (Maya, Uta, Ami, Niki and Yasu have similar songs in the game already, and now Niki and Yasu have multiple songs and they both use the same singer per character, for whatever good that insight is.)

He's probably got a bunch of songs picked out for most of the girls (

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)

And it's totally a gimmie of a lilfest update day. Man wanted a day to 100% spryo 2 or something.

 

[SmallsMalone]

Hello again everyone, I really love coming through here and reading the theories from the regulars and I've grown to greatly respect the opinions and persepctives of some of the familiar faces. This drought has driven me to try to create my own glimpse into the void and I've been trying to do some research but I think you dedicated folks are the only ones that have the answers I'm looking for.

I think it's safe to say that a lot of us are here because these characters have burned their mark into our souls. Whether it's the unfiltered antics, Sel's unique writing flair or just the fact we've spent so damn many hours with them, they're here to stay and there's nothing we can do about it.

I caught up to the current patches late last year. My patience for soaking up lore and digging through the game for theories didn't last long so in short order their silent voices faded from my day to day, leaving behind an unsettling hollow within.

As time passed, that vacuous hole gathered within it the arrogance that I too, had a story to tell. That I could dust off an old setting in my fantasies and explore the intersection of intimacy, philosophy and agency on my own terms and in my own style. Sel did it at such a seemingly small budget, so why couldn't I? I dove deep into outlining and foundational work and lo and behold, something tangible, workable sits in my One Note, waiting for a path forward. However, as I researched the practical elements of stepping into the ring, something became abundantly clear.

Lessons in Love is a statistical anomaly. We're all familiar with the gameplay issues, the grinding, the reset puzzles and the ego trips. Beyond that lies the generic visuals, the stock animations, the boner-killing sex scenes and the unavoidable absurdity of the HAPPY events. This is something that should not exist. I love it for these things, as do many of us here but it's 2025 now and the rules seem to have changed.

If I follow this path will there be an audience at the other end? Am I taking inspiration from the wrong place? Does this corner of the internet still have any patience left for this aesthetic, or would I have to jump on the Daz Filatoon bandwagon to be taken seriously? Assuming my hubris is actually just premature confidence, can a linguistic style and depth of topic chasing the coattails of works like LiL and Subahibi carry a work such that it will find it's audience no matter the aesthetics?

I know I should be simply continuing the writing grind using placeholder visuals if I have to. However, I'd like to start planting the seeds for the visuals in this work soon so the persepctive from those uniquely dedicated to one of it's core inspirations is incredibly welcome.

Thanks to any who take the time to share their thoughts. Take care of yourselves and have a HAPPY "Fanfest"


P.S. - If anyone found that attempt at a Pareidolia Mall map useful or thinks it would be worth keeping around if I find a way to clean it up, I could see if I can cook something up.

 

[SlidingSubject]

They're just using voices Sel imagines the girl would use. (Maya, Uta, Ami, Niki and Yasu have similar songs in the game already, and now Niki and Yasu have multiple songs and they both use the same singer per character, for whatever good that insight is.)

I don't think the Maya one counts, it's just a song that fits the moment, like Ichiyarakka for Sana. Also, I think the two Niki songs are by two different singers? Unless the Uzuho and Shiho thing in the description of the videos is just a translation issue.

If I follow this path will there be an audience at the other end? Am I taking inspiration from the wrong place? Does this corner of the internet still have any patience left for this aesthetic, or would I have to jump on the Daz Filatoon bandwagon to be taken seriously? Assuming my hubris is actually just premature confidence, can a linguistic style and depth of topic chasing the coattails of works like LiL and Subahibi carry a work such that it will find it's audience no matter the aesthetics?

I'd say to check how the LiL-inspired ones work. Though they aren't exactly LiL-inspired, but it is what it is. I do love the ones I follow.
I'm sure however you choose to make the gameplay loop could still work even if you DAZ it up, but you better become good at composition, because it's one of the things Sel does best with scenes. You can of course compensate for it improving or excelling in the other ways you already mentioned, but that's your choice.
Also, depending on the story you want to tell, you're probably going to struggle attracting attention. Excluding the style, and again, depending on what's your story, it's gonna be hard to promote depending on how "deep" or how gratuitously erotic it is. Also, consistency would be key, Sel pretty much has followed a web serial style of release, with releases ALWAYS coming out on a schedule and changes to said schedule being announced with time to spare.

I think I lost the plot somewhere, but the attention span of a playerbase is something you will struggle with, style may not matter that much, consistency is key, and you'll have problems if your story, despite being interesting, is like

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.

 

[FireCazador]

He's probably got a bunch of songs picked out for most of the girls (

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)

Well, i didnt expect to find the original song from pedobear here. Also its only 14yo? I thought it would be older

Teacher's pet Makoto's appreciation post. Can you remember all of these events?

Spoiler: Makoto's random pictures

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And the very best for last!

Spoiler: Favorite wallpaper

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Edit: Bless you, Makoto. Teaching us that all that you need to beat clinical depression is awareness of being stuck in an endless timeloop

Spoiler: Timing

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[SlidingSubject]

He's probably got a bunch of songs picked out for most of the girls (

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)

Thanks, I got the Chiyo AMV on the recommended. Also, don't think so, because Sel tends to go with free or free-ish music.

 

[SmallsMalone]

I'd say to check how the LiL-inspired ones work. Though they aren't exactly LiL-inspired, but it is what it is. I do love the ones I follow.

Heck yeah, thanks for the intel! Sel's use of composition is a big part of what makes me so stubborn about using a 3D snapshot style rather than a 2D sprite style. The presence and liveliness of the characters are truly standout features. I especially love how often the characters acknowledge each other or display unnecessary body language that contrasts with the rest of the scene.

I'm curious about what other works you have in mind when you talk about inspiration?

 

[Rincon]

I haven't checked the forum in a bit seeing as absolutely nothing is going on, how is everyone enjoying LiL Fan Fest crap, I mean content?

 

[Bingoogus]

I haven't checked the forum in a bit seeing as absolutely nothing is going on, how is everyone enjoying LiL Fan Fest crap, I mean content?

It's crap.

 

[Moonflare]

If I follow this path will there be an audience at the other end? Am I taking inspiration from the wrong place?

I know I should be simply continuing the writing grind using placeholder visuals if I have to. However, I'd like to start planting the seeds for the visuals in this work soon so the persepctive from those uniquely dedicated to one of it's core inspirations is incredibly welcome.

Thanks to any who take the time to share their thoughts.

We crap on Selebus as a programmer a lot, but that is more related to how high grade his storytelling abilities are compared to it. LiL is not that crappy tbh, it's above average from a technical standpoint at the very least. Actually, it's less his ability to program and more his choices of what to do with it that we have a problem with.

Spoiler: further thoughts

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Anyway, I think we can all agree that it would be amazing to see something with Selebus' storytelling skills, Lost in you's much better user friendliness and "Eternum" level animations, don't get me wrong. But for your first project, if you want to write a good story, then write a good story. Also, finish your good story.

Spoiler: Lastly

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[Reiyayru]

Spoiler: The face of your dreams, and nightmares

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[SlidingSubject]

I haven't checked the forum in a bit seeing as absolutely nothing is going on, how is everyone enjoying LiL Fan Fest crap, I mean content?

As barebones as they were, I liked the "music videos" and the side story.

Spoiler: Totally digging this for Otoha's theme

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Not that really invested in the fanfest, tho, even if apparently there's wizard supremacy.

I'm curious about what other works you have in mind when you talk about inspiration?

LiL-inspired or in general for your own project? For the former check the first two posts of this thread (also adding Sorrow of Rebirth, liked that little game), and for the latter it would depend on what's your story, and I'm not that well-read so I wouldn't truly try to recommend you stuff for inspiration.
Being as blunt as possible (and quoting someone else), a "manchild grooms students and also his obsessive family member and also deals with surreal horror elements" story (or something in that vein) will always depend on how you choose to execute it. I suggest to touch grass in a literary way and look up stuff related to what themes you want to show and explore.
Also, forgot to mention this earlier but don't leave your music and song choices aside either.

 

[SmallsMalone]

Being as blunt as possible (and quoting someone else), a "manchild grooms students and also his obsessive family member and also deals with surreal horror elements" story (or something in that vein) will always depend on how you choose to execute it. I suggest to touch grass in a literary way and look up stuff related to what themes you want to show and explore.
Also, forgot to mention this earlier but don't leave your music and song choices aside either.

Thanks again for the details. With that description, I realize I'm less inspired by the games trappings and more inspired by the methods it uses to motivate interest, the style of engagement it asks of the reader and it's raw exploration of the darker layers of connection and intimacy.

Without going too far into the weeds...

Spoiler: The weeds

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That being said, "the generic visuals, the stock animations, the boner-killing sex scenes and the unavoidable absurdity of the HAPPY events", these work because they point to something all of us (here) seem to know: this game is about its story. If I'm to read a book, sure, visuals help - but I'm not a kid, I'm here to draft meaning from the letters. Thus, if you have a good story to tell, compelling characters and an engaging plot - people will not care that much about everything else. That is, if you too distance your adult game from being an adult game, as Selebus did.

Without any sort of attack on "Lost in you" (in fact I'll play it again once it's finished to give it a fair shake), its visuals and overall programming are not that different from LiL (although LiL is still superior in every strictly technical aspect imo). So why does it not take off? Well, I personally did not dig the story. It's not bad, it's just not enough for me to ignore it being a game. This is the effect LiL has in me, it's like, rather than a game, it is a type of fruit that I have to peel to consume. The actual comsumption is the story, and the peeling is the stupid Selebus crap.

You can make a game that has less peeling involved (as "Lost in you" has), but at the end of the day, if the fruit itself is not that tasty, memorable or leaving you with wanting more - then it's just whatever. It will keep sitting on the shelf as I have to work to peel off the tastier one. Again, nothing against "Lost in you" - I just feel like it helps to explain LiL by comparing the two. Basically, why LiL is LiL, and "Lost in you" is an adult renpy game called "Lost in you". You see what I mean?

Thanks for the detailed input! Your perspective was one of the ones I was looking forward to the most and it certianly didn't disappoint. I'll make a point to take a look at Lost in You, compare and contrast is one of my favorite tools for understanding what makes something good anwyay.

Spoiler: A question on where you draw the line...

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[Vega Cifer]

Oh yeah, finally got through this update. The first half seems to be a bit more eventful than the last, but I must say I feel bad for Uta already...poor girl already realizes what is happening, but because of how she is, she can't help herself.

Spoiler: Tsuneyo

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[SlidingSubject]

Spoiler: The weeds

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Spoiler: Mulch

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[alteros]

Spoiler: A question on where you draw the line...

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I know this wasn't for me but I like this question. I think it'd actually suck MORE because of how good LiL is. I can't be sure of this without it happening but I probably wouldn't be able to continue playing after that, though I'd probably check on this thread every once in a while to see how things are going. Hell I was considering dropping it around Lavender's Green and then again at the Karin bit because that was too far.

That being said, I think it's a matter of expectation. Like as you said, it's fine in works that are dedicated to it but if you included it in yours then it would by nature be an NTR game. I wouldn't complain about it's existence as long as I knew to avoid it. The fact of its inclusion would make reading it a non-starter and I imagine I'm not alone in that opinion. More than one male is fine though, especially if they don't romance any of the player love interests but I think it could work even if they did. Say they end up with a love interest the MC didn't choose, I don't think it'd matter much to people if they're likable.

 

[lolzmandude]

Good fucking lord man, how many more layers of setup does this man need for whatever fucking arc he's plotting.

 

[lolzmandude]

Spoiler

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NOT THIS FUCKING CHOICE AGAIN FUCK YOU NO

edit: oh I see

edit 2: yes of course I get it. I understand now.. thank you Nao. Ok.. kinda serious fucking questions:
DID SHE JUST FUCKING DELETE THE EVENT????? NAO WHAT THE FUCK?
Also fact that... multiple of the "higher powers" seem to be active at once?? HE'S STILL SETTING UP A FUCKING WAR ARC OR SOME SHIT??
No one is safe, nothing is sacred, all will end.

 

[SmallsMalone]

I know this wasn't for me but I like this question. I think it'd actually suck MORE because of how good LiL is. I can't be sure of this without it happening but I probably wouldn't be able to continue playing after that, though I'd probably check on this thread every once in a while to see how things are going. Hell I was considering dropping it around Lavender's Green and then again at the Karin bit because that was too far.

That being said, I think it's a matter of expectation. Like as you said, it's fine in works that are dedicated to it but if you included it in yours then it would by nature be an NTR game. I wouldn't complain about it's existence as long as I knew to avoid it. The fact of its inclusion would make reading it a non-starter and I imagine I'm not alone in that opinion. More than one male is fine though, especially if they don't romance any of the player love interests but I think it could work even if they did. Say they end up with a love interest the MC didn't choose, I don't think it'd matter much to people if they're likable.

Thanks for the answer, it's really an open question to anyone who would have a strong opinion either way. As for your answer it does back me into the corner after all.

For my part, LiL's lack of other men and more direct pairings of other characters in what is an otherwise unapologetic world causes me some friction conceptually. It's easy to handwave but it does feel like a strange void within the work when these elements get so much lip service but little on screen acknowledgement. This cast experiences so many flavors of pain, why is this one off limits?

Spoiler: On NTR and main characters

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Thanks for the intel, I just have a ton of catching up to do on the expectations and boundaries of the VN scene. It looks like if I'm planning to cross those boundaries I might be better served toning down the heat to take the focus away from romantic catharsis, especially if I'm pursuing something along the lines of Subahibi. Regardless, your feedback is appreciated.

That said, I'm realizing degradation and rewarding betrayal aren't at all what I had in mind with these arcs. More like mutual tragedy and self-induced/preventable destruction. Kind of an "everybody sucks here", at least on the surface.

 

[Fake Rabi ~]

The DRM thing was a joke. As far as I know there haven't been any reported brickings. But the two Main Menu images was all the content for today. Tomorrow there's going to be Yuki's design sheet and 5 new profile outfits.

Also here's the schedule for the rest of the week

Spoiler: Week 1 Schedule

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just gonna ask, if seli is doing fanfast, does that mean no update for 0.49.0?