This looks great, unfortunately encountered a bug. On a fresh download from here on itchio, put the patch in and booted the game and got this error:
I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.
After initialization, but before game start. Exception: DirectSoundCreate: Mixing buffer was lost
-- Full Traceback ------------------------------------------------------------
Full traceback: File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\bootstrap.py", line 316, in bootstrap renpy.main.main() File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\main.py", line 561, in main renpy.display.core.Interface() File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\display\core.py", line 1659, in __init__ renpy.audio.audio.init() File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\audio\audio.py", line 860, in init renpysound.init(renpy.config.sound_sample_rate, 2, bufsize, False, renpy.config.equal_mono) File "renpysound.pyx", line 383, in renpy.audio.renpysound.init File "renpysound.pyx", line 98, in renpy.audio.renpysound.check_error Exception: DirectSoundCreate: Mixing buffer was lost
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Ren'Py 7.3.4.596 A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 1.0 Wed Jun 24 23:21:39 2020
We're sorry such an error occurred when you launched the game. It may be an error associated with your audio input.
The most common solution seems to be restarting and then running the game as "admin." Another way around it might be to disconnect a headset if you're using one and run using speakers instead.
We hope this helps! Let us know if this works for you!
My only disappointment came when the credits movie started to roll and it was over... but that song... I could loop that song for hours. As I write this after having played through a third time to get the 'ultimate' scene after the finding the second ending, I'm just sitting here listening to the menu song over and over. Excellent audio design.
In this day and age of political and cultural pandering it was so refreshing to see a naturally building story, characters with actual depth and growth and poignant discussions that weren't preachy/out of place but felt like something these two would actually be interested in. I cannot stress enough how enaging this story was, and I am probably not the target demographic. ;-)
The artwork detail was immaculate. The settings were so fleshed out and believable. I may have felt a need for more expressive reactions from characters sometimes is was hard to read the emotion but often the subtlety was spot on. Even your adult content was classily portrayed and the writing took it where it needed to go.
I think that most of the critics of this project are going to be those who were approaching it as just another eroge VN title, which is unfortunate.
I've seen mention of the possibility of a Vol. 2 in the future and I have high hopes. I am really struggling to find a fault with this game... the visual style, the writing, the music... this VN was one of the most immersive things I've experienced in a while.
Thank you for the journey. I can't wait to see where you go next.
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing with us your thoughts. We're glad you gave our game a chance! We're happy we could share this journey with you. Your feedback is meaningful and helpful to us. We'll continue to do our best with our future projects and stories. We sincerely appreciate your support and care! Thank you so much again.
When I first try out the game, the design of the game GUI gives me the feeling of 80s-90s time as it takes the old television design. It is a great match with a story that took place in 1986 and brings people back to that time like you are watching a drama unfold.
The quality of the artworks and the details are really great that you don't really see this kind of details in VN. I can see the amount of effort put into each of the works itself and also was shocked to know that it is only created by one artist (from the rolling credits). I thought that some of the pictures were photos instead of artworks when I was just glancing through it.
Each characters have their own styles and you can see their own characteristics which defines themselves and breath life to them as you play through the game. It is as if they were real person who have this issue during that era and also worrying their own future as well.
The musics are great!! I like Sam's choices of the songs she listen to. They are some great songs during that time.
Although the story ends a little too quick, it is nevertheless a great game to play through and I sense some hidden messages within this game and also noticed a number of people able to catch this by reading through their comments.
Overall, this game itself was a mixture of beautiful artworks, interesting GUI to fit the age and great story. I greatly recommending this game!! Try it and I am sure you will never regret it.
P.S. If you have a past that were like the main character, you can definitely feel a lot from it. Every single moments will let you reminiscing about the past that you had with the special person that stayed in your heart no matter how long it went by. P.S.S. I noticed that Sam (grown up) looks alot like Cecila (young). I wonder if it is because that Sam (young) looked up to Cecila (young) that Sam followed Cecila style when she grown into an adult. P.S.S.S. I certainly does not think that the adult patch is R18 for me as it is way too mild but nevertheless they are nicely done and the subtle feelings are great too!
Hi! I would just like to share my thoughts in playing the game. First of all, I really love the way the characters portray their feelings towards each other and seeing different endings made it clear to me that reality is sometimes tricky, but no matter what choices or paths we take, there will always be memories that would remind us of the journey and how it brought us together, with a happy or bittersweet ending.
Secondly, I really love the vibes and the artistry of the game. I feel like I lived in the year 1986 even though I was born a decade and some years later.
Lastly, I am really thankful I found this game. It was worth it playing it from midnight until sunrise. I am also thankful to the creators for this wonderful game. I somehow don't like playing VN that involves Yuri or lesbian but, Holy Mother Mary I changed my mind the moment I saw how sincere they were towards each other and one thing I really, really love about Michelle is how she fought for her happiness.
It may be too long to read but this is the only way I can express my appreciation and gratitude. So once again THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our game. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the story and we appreciate you dedicating your time towards it. Thank you for giving our game a chance. We're happy to hear you found it worthwhile and engaging. It's encouraging for us to hear your feedback and your thoughts and feelings towards it. We'll keep doing our best! Please take care as well. We hope you have a good rest after it!
Quick note on the patch. In itch every download will get it's on folder.
My download order was: Manual, game, patch
Thus the manual for me is: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end While the game is in: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 2 and thepatch was then downloaded in: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 3
For the patch to work, copy the patchfile in the folder the game is in, but unlike Steam, not in the same folder as the executable (HK1986.exe), but rather in the subfolder "game"
For me that would be: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 2\game
If you didnt start with downloading the manual its probably C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end\game
I started playing during lunch yesterday. Big mistake because I definitely wasn't paying as much attention to my work that afternoon as I should (or any really), or anything else untill I finished it.
The art is gorgeous, and the story is really captivating.
The weird thing is, this plays in 1986, so some dark corner in my brain is yelling at me to find out what happened with Michelle & Sam in the following 34 years. I'm really hoping on a follow up of some sort.
Hello! Thank you for giving our game a chance. We're happy to hear you liked the story and art!
We appreciate your feedback and your support. Thank you for taking your time to play and read through the story. We'll definitely follow-up on Michelle and Sam's story but we're sure if they're in this world, they're living happy and fulfilled lives together.
Thank you very much again! Please take care. We hope you have a great day!
Thank you so much! She's happy to hear of your interest. We are working on a new work so we hope you look forward to it! Thank you again! Please take care.
I've played through this twice now and I will be playing through it a few more times going forward.
This story is poignant and solemn and beautiful. It sets a stage in a unique setting that isn't often explored and you can tell it was crafted with love for both the setting and the time.
Sam Wong is immediately iconic, showing off the brand of exhuberance and fun-loving adventure the 80s are so often remembered for, while the protagonist, Michelle Cheung, portrays the clashing undercurrent of conformity expected out society's women in the day. The clashing together of their lifestyle creates a beautiful lightshow that will end on a note dictate by the player's choice at crucial moments.
The art is fantastic, the music is stellar, and the reverence and homage paid to its inspirations and origins is palpable. This is a steal at the price, and well worth it for a flavor of lesbian romance that is all-to-difficult to find in the visual novel space.
Please, please play this game and immerse yourself in its story!
Thank you for taking your time to play our game! We really appreciate your support and care for the story. Your attention on the details and cultures are very meaningful to us.
Your feedback is very important and encouraging for us. Your summary is a wonderful description of the story. We're really glad to hear it was an experience enjoyable for you.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your very much support. We'll continue to do our best! We are cheering you too!
When I first discovered this game the beautiful art and style drew me in. I watched the trailer and it made me feel nostalgia for a time and place I've never experienced - I watched it again and again. I didn't buy the game then and there as I had never played a VN before or anything remotely in the same vein.
But I was infatuated and returned to watch the trailer daily for maybe a week before finally buying it. I'm so glad I did.
I was unsure how immersed I would get in the story with it lacking detail and description of a book but I loved the atmospheres created by the brilliant art and excellent soundtrack and obviously I became invested in Sam and Michelles development and relationship - all the other characters are great too! There's quite a few parts and aspects of the story and characters that really resonated with me. I also read your blogs and enjoyed the insight into making the game.
I've tried to keep this short as there's so much I could go on about, giving praise or talking about all the ways it has inspired me. It's kinda formal and a bit of a ramble but idk I wanted to share.
I love the game and am looking forward to the OST release and whatever you two make in the future
We appreciate you taking the time to share with us your thoughts. Thank you so much for taking a chance with this game. We're glad to hear it was an experience that resonated with you. It means a lot to us to hear that the characters and story was something you enjoyed. We're encouraged by your words and we'll keep working hard!
Yes! We plan on releasing an OST soon. We hope you look forward to it!
Thank you again for taking your time to read through the story. We really appreciate your care and support.
I reaaally loved this VN! The first impression I got of Hong Kong - not sure whether to call it "fake" or not - was from the dystopian cyberpunk game "Deus Ex" (the first one). And I loved that. But that's not all.
Now, I know a lot of big cities almost all over the world (US, several EU countries, several Asian countries), but coming from a small, rural town, I disliked all of them - with one exception. And that's Hong Kong, that I had the opportunity to visit back in 2011, together with a former colleague of mine who grew up in the city (he was a great guide, so many awesome experiences!).
The fear of and worries about the handover were already present vividly back then, when talking to some of the locals, but I wasn't aware that it was already on peoples' minds this far back.
I'm left to wonder what it really was like back in 1986 though, because back then, I was just a little kid... But anyway, I remember Hong Kong as the one and only big city I ever managed to actually really like, even if it was the Hong Kong from 2011, and not from 1986.
I truly wish the city and its people all the best!
Now, finally, about the VN: Good story, very good characters, absolutely gorgeous graphics (so many CGs!), and a great soundtrack! Plus, that "neon" feel. As for the story, I made all my choices by gut feeling, but it seems I got the perfect ending right there! :)
Loved every bit of it! Easily in the top 5, likely in the top 3 of all Yuri VNs I've ever playread, and that's a lot of VNs.
Thank you so much for this, you did an awesome job!
Thank you so much for sharing! We really appreciate the time you took to play the game and for writing out your thoughts and insights. We're glad we could share you this story and that we could take you back to the setting of Hong Kong. We're happy to hear you liked the story and game. It means so much to us to hear your feedback. We appreciate your support and care! Thank you!
So, it's always a Risk - right? When you set your sights(and hopes) on a vn with predetermined MC and LI who you might not like - or they come across as shallow. But I'm Truly Glad I gave this one a go.
I came across you all and this game entirely by chance and was enamored by all the RESEARCH I saw put into it. There was a real Depth of Feeling - a Poignant Desire to express something Specific. Playing and completing A Summer's End; I feel you achieved what you were going for: Something Authentic; something Real. Something Raw and Painful and Wise.
I admit, the story started a bit slow in my mind - it started like every story. That's not a bad thing - but it didn't really catch Fire for me until Michelle and Sam met and starting bouncing off each other. Making those sparks. I don't know how others felt, but I LIKED that Michelle had this '...and - Why are you talking to me? Shoo.' vibe when they first met. I like when fated pairings start off bumpy like that. It shows they have no idea they're going to get together.
Honestly: Michelle was my baby - I felt so Mama proud with her life choices. There was something so Precious in seeing her Growth. She WASN'T Perfect - she F-ed up multiple times - but I RESPECTED she OWNED IT. She knew when she hurt Sam, she knew when she wasn't being True to herself - and while Denial reared its Ugly head more than a few times - she Always Acknowledged where/when she fell short. And Committed to being better. Even if it took a few times. Adored those FUN, RANDOM Feisty choices you could make as well (i.e. 'I'll take your CHAMPAGNE AND YOUR TEQUILA SUNRISE'). It made Michelle such a full-bodied flavor. I also appreciated she could stay True to herself in said choices; it seemed like I got the 'Good' ending even though, quite often, Michelle didn't like what Sam liked. I wasn't pandering for this character to love me, choosing what I thought THEY would want to make the relationship work. Respect.
Sam, tho - SAAAAAAM. (Young Sam can GET IT, btw - OOF~ <3) Speaking of, FAVORITE MOMENT of the game was when I saw that Rewind and then we got SAM'S POV. I - SCREAMED, hunny. I wanted to know her feelings SO HARD. And you pulled it off! It's not easy writing the same scenes over -- even with a new person's perspective -- but you gave just Enough without it being repetitive or overbearing. I feel like a Lot of these games Focus on the 'Michelles', the ones who are having existential crises over their sexuality. Not that it isn't important: But what about the Sams who found out on their own, who embraced it - who found their own Paths? Who Live their Truth. I loved Rewind because I got to see her Struggle; *That* was when she became Human to me. Not just this smiling, charming LI. There was so much behind that smile - Sam Hurt too - and while I would've Loved to have seen More of her Pain, I felt like you didn't make it so much about MICHELLE, that Sam wasn't lost. Also loved her friendship with Cecilia - FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS, AMIRITE?
The MOTHER. *Sighs* It never ceases to Amaze me how 'Mother' can cross cultural lines. The DISAPPOINTMENT. The GUILT. How they can precisely and effectively cut you down where you're weakest because they KNOW. In the end: I think we all just want our parents to be proud of us. A daughter and mother's relationship is one of the most complicated things in this world -- and you portrayed it with Vivid Realism. It was Painful. It was Hard. When Michelle finally got to 'I can't live my life for my parents' realization - PHEW. One of the Hardest Lessons to Learn; but so Worth It.
Jeffy-Jamie-Joey -- Bless Him: I Could Not STAND HIS FACE. Every time he talked, I just - GAH. I appreciate you didn't make him 'THE MAN' (though, in some ways he was), the 'VILLAIN'. He could only be himself. Still: Kick Rocks, Joey.
Also - can I just say THANK YOU for Adult patch? Like - I GET IT. I think it should Always be a choice, but I am a personal HATER of 'fade to black'. And playing Both with and without it, I found the story lacking Without. It wasn't as DEEP. Having Tasteful, non-Vulgar scenes doesn't mean CENSURE. Doesn't mean it can't be SEXY. Two women together are as beautiful as any other and it NEEDS to be shown. So, I STAN. So Proud of you for doing it.
All in All: Glad I paid for this. Glad I *Supported* this. Loved the Aesthetic, Loved the Music(GOSH - THE MUSIC). LOVED the OUTFITS! And that when a character DID something (like removed a scarf and gave it to blah) YOU SAW IT. The Sprites CHANGED. That's a small detail that's HUGE to me. Biggest Compliment I can give Any other Creative is that experiencing your work made me create as well. It made me *Think*; it got the juices flowing. I'm Very Picky about what I consume, so that's A LOT. Fabulous Job, OB. Keep living *YOUR* Truth.
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your honest thoughts! We appreciate you giving us a chance and we're glad to hear it was something you didn't regret. We appreciate what you have to say about the characters and their development. It was very insightful and what you interpreted was something we wished to express. We're glad you like the art, aesthetic, and music too. It makes us happy to hear you notice and appreciate the little details in the game! Thank you so much. Coming from you as another creator your compliment and feedback is so encouraging and it means a lot to us! We'll keep working hard. We wish you the best too on your creative endeavours! We're cheering you too! Thank you sincerely!
It makes us happy to hear you notice and appreciate the little details in the game! <-- THIS. Know it was a long read, but I always try to give commentary/FB (ESSAYS) like I'd want on my own stuff. ;) This game was Def deserving. Additionally: While I may not know as much on Hong Kong as others (beyond what I read - and what is that really?) or have a personal connection, that sense of Uncertainty that pervaded as a central theme still Translated given our own times right now. Where a lot of Us don't know what will happen next week, let alone next month. That was Powerful; it felt like this game was made for This Moment. Give all the pats on backs.
Thank you for well wishes/cheers as well! Want All my Creatives to WIN. <3 Can't wait for your next hit!
No, long commentaries are so important and insightful for improvement and growth! Thank you so much again for your time and care. We really appreciate your understanding. Yes! Let's work hard together! We hope you're safe and well! We wish you all the success!
I struggle to find words of praise that haven't been said already. And I am still too emotionally touched by that nostalgic sad but happy feeling I was allowed to experience from the story, art and music. Even when I would be a few years too young to experience 1980s Hongkong, the accurately presented setting still reminded me a lot of my childhood with aching memories.
Personally I don't want to criticize anything right now as it wouldn't feel right in light of the amazing work overall.
I much hope to see more from Oracle & Bones.
Thanks a lot Ms. So and Ms. Kietsungden for this very special and beautiful gem of a Visual Novel!
Hi! Thank you for playing this game and for giving us this opportunity to share it with you. We appreciate your care and feedback very much. Thank you for sharing to us your thoughts. It means a lot to us! We'll keep doing our best. Thank you so much for your support!
I want to add that I can't stop listening to the soundtrack because I love it so much. Makes we wish to return to the illusion of a nostalgic perfect past when days were simpler.
My favourites are "dolphin" and "eighties".
On one side I would like to upload the OST on youtube to share it for the world and to let the other people be able to listen to such wonderful music comfortably, on the other side I neither have the right nor do I want to publish them without your permission. Especially since you are planning to release them as a purchaseable/or maybe even free?^^ DLC in the future anyway.
I only want to give my kudos to the artist and composers for putting everything so well fitting together.
Aside from this, I know you girls have just finished a big project and probably want to take a break. But I am still curious what your current thoughts are and if you are working on anything specific right now?
Also I don't know how to say this properly, but you really gained a fan with me and so many other people with the conveyed message. If there is any way for me to support you even more, please let me know! (Just a silly idea in example, would you be interested in a free of charge english->german translation?)
Stay safe, especially in times like these! Love xoxo
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We're glad to hear you like the soundtrack! We are in discussion with the artists involved, Stevia Sphere and Crystal Cola, to release a soundtrack very soon. We appreciate your care and interest sincerely!
We are doing our best to continue and expand the of Michelle and Sam in another medium outside the game format. We also plan to have a new story to share but it is still in the very early phases of development.
Just hearing that you enjoyed the game is already an encouragement to us. Thank you so much for your care and your support. Would it possible to contact you via email to discuss further? Please know you email us on our contact page or reach out to us on social media if you want discuss with us. We appreciate your understanding and feedback. It means a lot to us!
Of course, I would be happy to continue our conversation! I just texted you my e-mail adress via facebook, together with some example - hopefully I am not imposing on you.
Loved this game, its so clear how much care and emotion went into this game. Will the soundtrack be made available at any point? I think it would be nice be able to listen to it on its own. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful work of art with us
We're glad you liked the game! We hope a soundtrack released in the future. It's something we're working on and we'll share an update once we know more. We really appreciate your kind words of feedback. Thank you so much for your support!
This was really fun to play -- i got both endings. I'm a little confused on what triggers the bonus scenes though, as i still seemed to have missed three scenes. I'm assuming maybe they have to do with picking a different animal?
Hello! We're glad you enjoyed playing through the game! Yes as you have mentioned below, how you interact with Sam and tune with one another during the story would affect how you respond to Sam in certain bonus intimate scenes. We hope this helps! Please let us know always if anything. Thank you so much for your support! We appreciate you giving us this chance to share this game with you!
Hello! Unfortunately we did not think of implementing a naming option. We wanted it to be a narrative game with a set storyline between two defined characters. We hope you'll still like the game. We appreciate your interest!
This game is really fit my taste and I enjoy it a lot. The writing is great. I would rate it 9/10 but if I can choose the names then it would be 10/10. Idk it’s just hit me differently when I can relate myself or see someone I know in the game even though it’s just the same name. It gets me more emotional I guess.
Thank you! We're glad it was something you enjoyed! Thank you so much for your support and giving it a chance. We will definitely keep your feedback in mind for future projects. We appreciate it!
Hello! As anonstrea has mentioned below, how you interact with Sam will affect how you may respond to Sam though one particular choice is quite consequential to the story. We hope you're enjoying the game so far! Thank you for support!
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate your interest! For the GUI it was an intentional design choice. We wanted a minimalist user interface as we did not want the text box and game menus to cover up the colourful and varied backgrounds or the 3/4 length character avatars. We want it to be easy to read and not distract from the art.
I like the way the GUI looks though. It looks like the old TV during that time too and it fit the 80s mood. The things that you are suggesting might ruin the whole game in my opinion as the neon lights will be very distracting when you play games like this as it will cause the strain to your eyes. I guess the developer for this game can't satisfy people with their liking but I really think that they did a great job on it to suit the theme for the game.
Thank you so much for your care! Yes, you are correct about the neon colours affecting eye strain. It was something we wanted to avoid as we want our players to have the most pleasant reading experience. We appreciate your feedback and support and we hope you’ll enjoy the game!
I mean like-the-logo which mean the box just need be border like that, not the whole box have that color. And this is the 1st time I hear Renpy default UI "give the 80s mood".
And this is MY opinion which the dev could give it a thought or leave it, no harm done.
Thank you very much for your feedback! We’re glad to hear from you and we really appreciate your care for the details! We have tried different designs prior and intended to keep it simple and plain.
Thank you for your feedback. We decided to go with our current look based on early feedback we received from play testers. We have experimented with a variety of colours during our initial design phase and we found that colours with high saturation did cause significant eye strain and clashed with our other art in game. We appreciate your care and comment and we hope you’ll have a pleasant game experience!
Hello! Thank you so much for your interest! The game will be $14.99. More information can be found in our press kit which is located on our website. We hope you’ll look to the release! Please let us know if you have any questions.
Wow!!!!!! The art looks fantastic >< it is in my strike zone too! I am looking forward to this. Can't wait to play this. Hope the launching date comes soon.
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Comments
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This looks great, unfortunately encountered a bug. On a fresh download from here on itchio, put the patch in and booted the game and got this error:
I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.
After initialization, but before game start.
Exception: DirectSoundCreate: Mixing buffer was lost
-- Full Traceback ------------------------------------------------------------
Full traceback:
File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\bootstrap.py", line 316, in bootstrap
renpy.main.main()
File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\main.py", line 561, in main
renpy.display.core.Interface()
File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\display\core.py", line 1659, in __init__
renpy.audio.audio.init()
File "E:\Games\Video James\a-summers-end-universal\renpy\audio\audio.py", line 860, in init
renpysound.init(renpy.config.sound_sample_rate, 2, bufsize, False, renpy.config.equal_mono)
File "renpysound.pyx", line 383, in renpy.audio.renpysound.init
File "renpysound.pyx", line 98, in renpy.audio.renpysound.check_error
Exception: DirectSoundCreate: Mixing buffer was lost
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1
Ren'Py 7.3.4.596
A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 1.0
Wed Jun 24 23:21:39 2020
Hello. Thank you very much for your interest.
We're sorry such an error occurred when you launched the game. It may be an error associated with your audio input.
The most common solution seems to be restarting and then running the game as "admin." Another way around it might be to disconnect a headset if you're using one and run using speakers instead.
We hope this helps! Let us know if this works for you!
Yes both running as administrator after unplugging my headphones worked. Plugging them back in also let me still use them. Thanks!
That’s great to hear! We hope you enjoy the game!
This might be the most beautiful story I had the honor of laying my eyes upon in a while. Super endeering the whole way through!
Thank you very much. We're glad you took the chance on our story and game. We appreciate your feedback and support!
My only disappointment came when the credits movie started to roll and it was over... but that song... I could loop that song for hours. As I write this after having played through a third time to get the 'ultimate' scene after the finding the second ending, I'm just sitting here listening to the menu song over and over. Excellent audio design.
In this day and age of political and cultural pandering it was so refreshing to see a naturally building story, characters with actual depth and growth and poignant discussions that weren't preachy/out of place but felt like something these two would actually be interested in. I cannot stress enough how enaging this story was, and I am probably not the target demographic. ;-)
The artwork detail was immaculate. The settings were so fleshed out and believable. I may have felt a need for more expressive reactions from characters sometimes is was hard to read the emotion but often the subtlety was spot on. Even your adult content was classily portrayed and the writing took it where it needed to go.
I think that most of the critics of this project are going to be those who were approaching it as just another eroge VN title, which is unfortunate.
I've seen mention of the possibility of a Vol. 2 in the future and I have high hopes. I am really struggling to find a fault with this game... the visual style, the writing, the music... this VN was one of the most immersive things I've experienced in a while.
Thank you for the journey. I can't wait to see where you go next.
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing with us your thoughts. We're glad you gave our game a chance! We're happy we could share this journey with you. Your feedback is meaningful and helpful to us. We'll continue to do our best with our future projects and stories. We sincerely appreciate your support and care! Thank you so much again.
When I first try out the game, the design of the game GUI gives me the feeling of 80s-90s time as it takes the old television design. It is a great match with a story that took place in 1986 and brings people back to that time like you are watching a drama unfold.
The quality of the artworks and the details are really great that you don't really see this kind of details in VN. I can see the amount of effort put into each of the works itself and also was shocked to know that it is only created by one artist (from the rolling credits). I thought that some of the pictures were photos instead of artworks when I was just glancing through it.
Each characters have their own styles and you can see their own characteristics which defines themselves and breath life to them as you play through the game. It is as if they were real person who have this issue during that era and also worrying their own future as well.
The musics are great!! I like Sam's choices of the songs she listen to. They are some great songs during that time.
Although the story ends a little too quick, it is nevertheless a great game to play through and I sense some hidden messages within this game and also noticed a number of people able to catch this by reading through their comments.
Overall, this game itself was a mixture of beautiful artworks, interesting GUI to fit the age and great story. I greatly recommending this game!! Try it and I am sure you will never regret it.
P.S. If you have a past that were like the main character, you can definitely feel a lot from it. Every single moments will let you reminiscing about the past that you had with the special person that stayed in your heart no matter how long it went by.
P.S.S. I noticed that Sam (grown up) looks alot like Cecila (young). I wonder if it is because that Sam (young) looked up to Cecila (young) that Sam followed Cecila style when she grown into an adult.
P.S.S.S. I certainly does not think that the adult patch is R18 for me as it is way too mild but nevertheless they are nicely done and the subtle feelings are great too!
Hi! I would just like to share my thoughts in playing the game. First of all, I really love the way the characters portray their feelings towards each other and seeing different endings made it clear to me that reality is sometimes tricky, but no matter what choices or paths we take, there will always be memories that would remind us of the journey and how it brought us together, with a happy or bittersweet ending.
Secondly, I really love the vibes and the artistry of the game. I feel like I lived in the year 1986 even though I was born a decade and some years later.
Lastly, I am really thankful I found this game. It was worth it playing it from midnight until sunrise. I am also thankful to the creators for this wonderful game. I somehow don't like playing VN that involves Yuri or lesbian but, Holy Mother Mary I changed my mind the moment I saw how sincere they were towards each other and one thing I really, really love about Michelle is how she fought for her happiness.
It may be too long to read but this is the only way I can express my appreciation and gratitude. So once again THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our game. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the story and we appreciate you dedicating your time towards it. Thank you for giving our game a chance. We're happy to hear you found it worthwhile and engaging. It's encouraging for us to hear your feedback and your thoughts and feelings towards it. We'll keep doing our best! Please take care as well. We hope you have a good rest after it!
Quick note on the patch. In itch every download will get it's on folder.
My download order was: Manual, game, patch
Thus the manual for me is:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end
While the game is in:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 2
and thepatch was then downloaded in:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 3
For the patch to work, copy the patchfile in the folder the game is in, but unlike Steam, not in the same folder as the executable (HK1986.exe), but rather in the subfolder "game"
For me that would be:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end 2\game
If you didnt start with downloading the manual its probably
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\a-summers-end\game
This is the same folder that holds "archive.rpa"
Enjoy <3
I started playing during lunch yesterday. Big mistake because I definitely wasn't paying as much attention to my work that afternoon as I should (or any really), or anything else untill I finished it.
The art is gorgeous, and the story is really captivating.
The weird thing is, this plays in 1986, so some dark corner in my brain is yelling at me to find out what happened with Michelle & Sam in the following 34 years. I'm really hoping on a follow up of some sort.
rating: 11 out of 5 stars.
Hello! Thank you for giving our game a chance. We're happy to hear you liked the story and art!
We appreciate your feedback and your support. Thank you for taking your time to play and read through the story. We'll definitely follow-up on Michelle and Sam's story but we're sure if they're in this world, they're living happy and fulfilled lives together.
Thank you very much again! Please take care. We hope you have a great day!
p.s. has Charissa written anything else? I like her style, with the little details popping up, and love to read more in any format.
Thank you so much! She's happy to hear of your interest. We are working on a new work so we hope you look forward to it! Thank you again! Please take care.
I've played through this twice now and I will be playing through it a few more times going forward.
This story is poignant and solemn and beautiful. It sets a stage in a unique setting that isn't often explored and you can tell it was crafted with love for both the setting and the time.
Sam Wong is immediately iconic, showing off the brand of exhuberance and fun-loving adventure the 80s are so often remembered for, while the protagonist, Michelle Cheung, portrays the clashing undercurrent of conformity expected out society's women in the day. The clashing together of their lifestyle creates a beautiful lightshow that will end on a note dictate by the player's choice at crucial moments.
The art is fantastic, the music is stellar, and the reverence and homage paid to its inspirations and origins is palpable. This is a steal at the price, and well worth it for a flavor of lesbian romance that is all-to-difficult to find in the visual novel space.
Please, please play this game and immerse yourself in its story!
Thank you for taking your time to play our game! We really appreciate your support and care for the story. Your attention on the details and cultures are very meaningful to us.
Your feedback is very important and encouraging for us. Your summary is a wonderful description of the story. We're really glad to hear it was an experience enjoyable for you.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your very much support. We'll continue to do our best! We are cheering you too!
When I first discovered this game the beautiful art and style drew me in. I watched the trailer and it made me feel nostalgia for a time and place I've never experienced - I watched it again and again. I didn't buy the game then and there as I had never played a VN before or anything remotely in the same vein.
But I was infatuated and returned to watch the trailer daily for maybe a week before finally buying it. I'm so glad I did.
I was unsure how immersed I would get in the story with it lacking detail and description of a book but I loved the atmospheres created by the brilliant art and excellent soundtrack and obviously I became invested in Sam and Michelles development and relationship - all the other characters are great too! There's quite a few parts and aspects of the story and characters that really resonated with me. I also read your blogs and enjoyed the insight into making the game.
I've tried to keep this short as there's so much I could go on about, giving praise or talking about all the ways it has inspired me. It's kinda formal and a bit of a ramble but idk I wanted to share.
I love the game and am looking forward to the OST release and whatever you two make in the future
Hello!
We appreciate you taking the time to share with us your thoughts. Thank you so much for taking a chance with this game. We're glad to hear it was an experience that resonated with you. It means a lot to us to hear that the characters and story was something you enjoyed. We're encouraged by your words and we'll keep working hard!
Yes! We plan on releasing an OST soon. We hope you look forward to it!
Thank you again for taking your time to read through the story. We really appreciate your care and support.
Wow, just... wow!
I reaaally loved this VN! The first impression I got of Hong Kong - not sure whether to call it "fake" or not - was from the dystopian cyberpunk game "Deus Ex" (the first one). And I loved that. But that's not all.
Now, I know a lot of big cities almost all over the world (US, several EU countries, several Asian countries), but coming from a small, rural town, I disliked all of them - with one exception. And that's Hong Kong, that I had the opportunity to visit back in 2011, together with a former colleague of mine who grew up in the city (he was a great guide, so many awesome experiences!).
The fear of and worries about the handover were already present vividly back then, when talking to some of the locals, but I wasn't aware that it was already on peoples' minds this far back.
I'm left to wonder what it really was like back in 1986 though, because back then, I was just a little kid... But anyway, I remember Hong Kong as the one and only big city I ever managed to actually really like, even if it was the Hong Kong from 2011, and not from 1986.
I truly wish the city and its people all the best!
Now, finally, about the VN: Good story, very good characters, absolutely gorgeous graphics (so many CGs!), and a great soundtrack! Plus, that "neon" feel. As for the story, I made all my choices by gut feeling, but it seems I got the perfect ending right there! :)
Loved every bit of it! Easily in the top 5, likely in the top 3 of all Yuri VNs I've ever playread, and that's a lot of VNs.
Thank you so much for this, you did an awesome job!
Thank you so much for sharing! We really appreciate the time you took to play the game and for writing out your thoughts and insights. We're glad we could share you this story and that we could take you back to the setting of Hong Kong. We're happy to hear you liked the story and game. It means so much to us to hear your feedback. We appreciate your support and care! Thank you!
So, it's always a Risk - right? When you set your sights(and hopes) on a vn with predetermined MC and LI who you might not like - or they come across as shallow. But I'm Truly Glad I gave this one a go.
I came across you all and this game entirely by chance and was enamored by all the RESEARCH I saw put into it. There was a real Depth of Feeling - a Poignant Desire to express something Specific. Playing and completing A Summer's End; I feel you achieved what you were going for: Something Authentic; something Real. Something Raw and Painful and Wise.
I admit, the story started a bit slow in my mind - it started like every story. That's not a bad thing - but it didn't really catch Fire for me until Michelle and Sam met and starting bouncing off each other. Making those sparks. I don't know how others felt, but I LIKED that Michelle had this '...and - Why are you talking to me? Shoo.' vibe when they first met. I like when fated pairings start off bumpy like that. It shows they have no idea they're going to get together.
Honestly: Michelle was my baby - I felt so Mama proud with her life choices. There was something so Precious in seeing her Growth. She WASN'T Perfect - she F-ed up multiple times - but I RESPECTED she OWNED IT. She knew when she hurt Sam, she knew when she wasn't being True to herself - and while Denial reared its Ugly head more than a few times - she Always Acknowledged where/when she fell short. And Committed to being better. Even if it took a few times. Adored those FUN, RANDOM Feisty choices you could make as well (i.e. 'I'll take your CHAMPAGNE AND YOUR TEQUILA SUNRISE'). It made Michelle such a full-bodied flavor. I also appreciated she could stay True to herself in said choices; it seemed like I got the 'Good' ending even though, quite often, Michelle didn't like what Sam liked. I wasn't pandering for this character to love me, choosing what I thought THEY would want to make the relationship work. Respect.
Sam, tho - SAAAAAAM. (Young Sam can GET IT, btw - OOF~ <3) Speaking of, FAVORITE MOMENT of the game was when I saw that Rewind and then we got SAM'S POV. I - SCREAMED, hunny. I wanted to know her feelings SO HARD. And you pulled it off! It's not easy writing the same scenes over -- even with a new person's perspective -- but you gave just Enough without it being repetitive or overbearing. I feel like a Lot of these games Focus on the 'Michelles', the ones who are having existential crises over their sexuality. Not that it isn't important: But what about the Sams who found out on their own, who embraced it - who found their own Paths? Who Live their Truth. I loved Rewind because I got to see her Struggle; *That* was when she became Human to me. Not just this smiling, charming LI. There was so much behind that smile - Sam Hurt too - and while I would've Loved to have seen More of her Pain, I felt like you didn't make it so much about MICHELLE, that Sam wasn't lost. Also loved her friendship with Cecilia - FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS, AMIRITE?
The MOTHER. *Sighs* It never ceases to Amaze me how 'Mother' can cross cultural lines. The DISAPPOINTMENT. The GUILT. How they can precisely and effectively cut you down where you're weakest because they KNOW. In the end: I think we all just want our parents to be proud of us. A daughter and mother's relationship is one of the most complicated things in this world -- and you portrayed it with Vivid Realism. It was Painful. It was Hard. When Michelle finally got to 'I can't live my life for my parents' realization - PHEW. One of the Hardest Lessons to Learn; but so Worth It.
Jeffy-Jamie-Joey -- Bless Him: I Could Not STAND HIS FACE. Every time he talked, I just - GAH. I appreciate you didn't make him 'THE MAN' (though, in some ways he was), the 'VILLAIN'. He could only be himself. Still: Kick Rocks, Joey.
Also - can I just say THANK YOU for Adult patch? Like - I GET IT. I think it should Always be a choice, but I am a personal HATER of 'fade to black'. And playing Both with and without it, I found the story lacking Without. It wasn't as DEEP. Having Tasteful, non-Vulgar scenes doesn't mean CENSURE. Doesn't mean it can't be SEXY. Two women together are as beautiful as any other and it NEEDS to be shown. So, I STAN. So Proud of you for doing it.
All in All: Glad I paid for this. Glad I *Supported* this. Loved the Aesthetic, Loved the Music(GOSH - THE MUSIC). LOVED the OUTFITS! And that when a character DID something (like removed a scarf and gave it to blah) YOU SAW IT. The Sprites CHANGED. That's a small detail that's HUGE to me. Biggest Compliment I can give Any other Creative is that experiencing your work made me create as well. It made me *Think*; it got the juices flowing. I'm Very Picky about what I consume, so that's A LOT. Fabulous Job, OB. Keep living *YOUR* Truth.
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your honest thoughts! We appreciate you giving us a chance and we're glad to hear it was something you didn't regret. We appreciate what you have to say about the characters and their development. It was very insightful and what you interpreted was something we wished to express. We're glad you like the art, aesthetic, and music too. It makes us happy to hear you notice and appreciate the little details in the game! Thank you so much. Coming from you as another creator your compliment and feedback is so encouraging and it means a lot to us! We'll keep working hard. We wish you the best too on your creative endeavours! We're cheering you too! Thank you sincerely!
It makes us happy to hear you notice and appreciate the little details in the game! <-- THIS. Know it was a long read, but I always try to give commentary/FB (ESSAYS) like I'd want on my own stuff. ;) This game was Def deserving. Additionally: While I may not know as much on Hong Kong as others (beyond what I read - and what is that really?) or have a personal connection, that sense of Uncertainty that pervaded as a central theme still Translated given our own times right now. Where a lot of Us don't know what will happen next week, let alone next month. That was Powerful; it felt like this game was made for This Moment. Give all the pats on backs.
Thank you for well wishes/cheers as well! Want All my Creatives to WIN. <3 Can't wait for your next hit!
No, long commentaries are so important and insightful for improvement and growth! Thank you so much again for your time and care. We really appreciate your understanding. Yes! Let's work hard together! We hope you're safe and well! We wish you all the success!
I struggle to find words of praise that haven't been said already.
And I am still too emotionally touched by that nostalgic sad but happy feeling I was allowed to experience from the story, art and music. Even when I would be a few years too young to experience 1980s Hongkong, the accurately presented setting still reminded me a lot of my childhood with aching memories.
Personally I don't want to criticize anything right now as it wouldn't feel right in light of the amazing work overall.
I much hope to see more from Oracle & Bones.
Thanks a lot Ms. So and Ms. Kietsungden for this very special and beautiful gem of a Visual Novel!
Hi! Thank you for playing this game and for giving us this opportunity to share it with you. We appreciate your care and feedback very much. Thank you for sharing to us your thoughts. It means a lot to us! We'll keep doing our best. Thank you so much for your support!
Hey hey, me again.
I want to add that I can't stop listening to the soundtrack because I love it so much. Makes we wish to return to the illusion of a nostalgic perfect past when days were simpler.
My favourites are "dolphin" and "eighties".
On one side I would like to upload the OST on youtube to share it for the world and to let the other people be able to listen to such wonderful music comfortably, on the other side I neither have the right nor do I want to publish them without your permission. Especially since you are planning to release them as a purchaseable/or maybe even free?^^ DLC in the future anyway.
I only want to give my kudos to the artist and composers for putting everything so well fitting together.
Aside from this, I know you girls have just finished a big project and probably want to take a break. But I am still curious what your current thoughts are and if you are working on anything specific right now?
Also I don't know how to say this properly, but you really gained a fan with me and so many other people with the conveyed message. If there is any way for me to support you even more, please let me know!
(Just a silly idea in example, would you be interested in a free of charge english->german translation?)
Stay safe, especially in times like these!
Love xoxo
Landal
Hello Landal!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We're glad to hear you like the soundtrack! We are in discussion with the artists involved, Stevia Sphere and Crystal Cola, to release a soundtrack very soon. We appreciate your care and interest sincerely!
We are doing our best to continue and expand the of Michelle and Sam in another medium outside the game format. We also plan to have a new story to share but it is still in the very early phases of development.
Just hearing that you enjoyed the game is already an encouragement to us. Thank you so much for your care and your support. Would it possible to contact you via email to discuss further? Please know you email us on our contact page or reach out to us on social media if you want discuss with us. We appreciate your understanding and feedback. It means a lot to us!
Of course, I would be happy to continue our conversation! I just texted you my e-mail adress via facebook, together with some example - hopefully I am not imposing on you.
Loved this game, its so clear how much care and emotion went into this game. Will the soundtrack be made available at any point? I think it would be nice be able to listen to it on its own. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful work of art with us
We're glad you liked the game! We hope a soundtrack released in the future. It's something we're working on and we'll share an update once we know more. We really appreciate your kind words of feedback. Thank you so much for your support!
This was really fun to play -- i got both endings. I'm a little confused on what triggers the bonus scenes though, as i still seemed to have missed three scenes. I'm assuming maybe they have to do with picking a different animal?
Hello! We're glad you enjoyed playing through the game! Yes as you have mentioned below, how you interact with Sam and tune with one another during the story would affect how you respond to Sam in certain bonus intimate scenes. We hope this helps! Please let us know always if anything. Thank you so much for your support! We appreciate you giving us this chance to share this game with you!
It would be really cool if I can actually decide the names for my character and my "partner"
Hello! Unfortunately we did not think of implementing a naming option. We wanted it to be a narrative game with a set storyline between two defined characters. We hope you'll still like the game. We appreciate your interest!
This game is really fit my taste and I enjoy it a lot. The writing is great. I would rate it 9/10 but if I can choose the names then it would be 10/10. Idk it’s just hit me differently when I can relate myself or see someone I know in the game even though it’s just the same name. It gets me more emotional I guess.
Thank you! We're glad it was something you enjoyed! Thank you so much for your support and giving it a chance. We will definitely keep your feedback in mind for future projects. We appreciate it!
How do you get the other ending? The game description says there are two endings, but I am confused as to which choices effect the story's outcome.
Not to spoil anything, but from my own play through, i believe it's how 'confident' you are in your attitude towards Sam.
Hello! As anonstrea has mentioned below, how you interact with Sam will affect how you may respond to Sam though one particular choice is quite consequential to the story. We hope you're enjoying the game so far! Thank you for support!
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It kinda a shame that the game GUI didn't match the art quality, but I'm looking-forward to Summer's End so so so much
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate your interest! For the GUI it was an intentional design choice. We wanted a minimalist user interface as we did not want the text box and game menus to cover up the colourful and varied backgrounds or the 3/4 length character avatars. We want it to be easy to read and not distract from the art.
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I think you could keep them simple yet suitable to the art, like make text box and choice box border blue neon light like the logo?
I like the way the GUI looks though. It looks like the old TV during that time too and it fit the 80s mood. The things that you are suggesting might ruin the whole game in my opinion as the neon lights will be very distracting when you play games like this as it will cause the strain to your eyes. I guess the developer for this game can't satisfy people with their liking but I really think that they did a great job on it to suit the theme for the game.
Thank you so much for your care! Yes, you are correct about the neon colours affecting eye strain. It was something we wanted to avoid as we want our players to have the most pleasant reading experience. We appreciate your feedback and support and we hope you’ll enjoy the game!
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I mean like-the-logo which mean the box just need be border like that, not the whole box have that color. And this is the 1st time I hear Renpy default UI "give the 80s mood".
And this is MY opinion which the dev could give it a thought or leave it, no harm done.
Thank you very much for your feedback! We’re glad to hear from you and we really appreciate your care for the details! We have tried different designs prior and intended to keep it simple and plain.
Thank you for your feedback. We decided to go with our current look based on early feedback we received from play testers. We have experimented with a variety of colours during our initial design phase and we found that colours with high saturation did cause significant eye strain and clashed with our other art in game. We appreciate your care and comment and we hope you’ll have a pleasant game experience!
Looks like something i'll enjoy. Followed so hopefuly Itch emails me on release. Any idea on price or still sorting that out ?
Hello! Thank you so much for your interest! The game will be $14.99. More information can be found in our press kit which is located on our website. We hope you’ll look to the release! Please let us know if you have any questions.
I'm counting down the days until release!
This has everything i've ever wanted in a game
Thank you so much! We hope you’ll enjoy the game! We really appreciate your kind words of encouragement and support!
Wow!!!!!! The art looks fantastic >< it is in my strike zone too! I am looking forward to this. Can't wait to play this. Hope the launching date comes soon.
Thank you very much for your interest! We're really glad to hear and we hope you will enjoy the game. We really appreciate your support!
I can't wait to play the game! hope to see it launch!