this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
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visualnovels

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The_Entire_Circus@ani.social
Berin@discuss.tchncs.de
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world
Essence_of_Meh@ani.social
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Moderation Changes and the Way Forward (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world to c/visualnovels@ani.social
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Hello everyone!

As some of you probably seen, both @Berin@discuss.tchncs.de and I decided to step up as moderators since @The_Entire_Circus@ani.social (the original owner) hasn't been active for 7 months now. While this isn't a problem from a spam or content perspective at the moment, it's definitely something that can affect the place if the activity ball gets rolling or we end up on the radar of a troll, bot, or spammer.

We already started thinking about some changes to step away from the "in case Reddit falls" feel of the early days and turn it into its own thing but we could really use your help.

We're trying to figure out the best way to make this community more active and welcoming for potential newcomers. Since this place is by all of us, for all of us, we'd love to get some feedback on what you'd like to see done with it.

Do you have an idea for a rule? A type of content you'd like to see more of? Maybe you know of some useful links, tips and resources that should be easily accessible here?

Feel free to post anything that comes to mind as each piece of feedback will help shape the direction of our efforts and, truth be told, make our jobs way easier.

Thank you for your time and happy reading!

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[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I honestly cannot guarantee much engagement here because I'm way more heavily focused on visual novels that fall in the !otomegames@ani.social genre, but I do try to actively comment on anything I can offer anything on. Best wishes and thanks for taking this on!

I think keeping an eye on the Fedigrow community might be helpful. I was advised to do more image posts which do tend to get more engagement overall, and that writing the first comment on a post helps make people feel more comfortable commenting themselves. Not sure how useful that advice is but it is what I have been told.

Also, dumb memes that can sometimes apply to other genres too tend to get me more upvotes, and also sometimes-off-topic-this-is-an-otome-community-not-any-game-ever engagement from people scrolling on Local or All

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Any amount of activity is a blessing considering our size. I don't expect a sudden explosion of posts and comments but rather a slow and steady process of building this place up - finding out what we can do to make it more welcoming is an important first step towards that. Besides, it's not like I'm a daily poster myself.

Thanks for the the tip about Fedigrow, I'll definitely check it out.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

As mentioned in the main post, we've already started brainstorming on potential changes and additions to the community. Here's a list of ideas we have so far:

  • Update sidebar to remove the temporary feel.
  • Regular (monthly?) general thread for discussions not worth a separate post.
  • Entry list of titles for various genres/topics.
  • List of (must-have) fan patches for titles that need them.
  • List of tags to mark posts with (mostly useful for mobile apps at the moment, still waiting for Lemmy and Mbin devs to implement them for web UI). Some possible options:
    • Meta
    • Discussion
    • Meme
    • Sale
  • List of related communities to include in the sidebar.
[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I love useful posts that would end up pinned on a Reddit wiki/sidebar. The entry list and fan patch list sound like those two things and I encourage you to stick them on the sidebar, and when necessary, edit the post to update it.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's the plan - keep them updated and easy to access. That said, I will need some input on both topics as I don't feel knowledgeable enough for the entry list (we could borrow ideas from other places, I guess) and my patch bookmarks are rather limited at the moment. That said, I do have a little bit of content to start with at least.

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'd be willing to raid r/visualnovels' own sidebar to start learning.

Also, don't feel bad! I feel like one of the lesser-knowledge folks when it comes to otome. But there are not many Fediverse otome enjoyers, so right now I'm most qualified. I am happy to yield mod status to someone who knows more once they come along (as long as they do not delete the "no fanart you did not make" rule, I do not want to turn into image central with no discussion like so many other ani.social communities) but till then, if I want otome on the Fediverse, I have to make it myself and that means if people want a more knowledgeable mod, participate in the community and offer or deal with it. If you are the only one around to provide contentโ€ฆ

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's kind of where I come from as well. For years I've been more of a lurker than an active part of any community I've followed. After joining the fediverse I decided to change this little by little - partially for myself and partially for the same reason as you (if I want a place to talk about the stuff I like, it needs to exist and grab people first).

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago

It also helps that off the Fediverse, people usually have already posted the thing I saw, or said the comment I wanted to say already, so I toss an upvote and leave. On the Fediverse the comparative lack of activity and engagement means that nobody else has seen and posted the cool thing, or vocalized the thought. So I engage more by virtue of it not being done for me already.

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I just realized this when browsing the community list on ani.social. You might want a picture for your community and a banner. Read something about people clicking on communities with those things more. Not sure if true.

[โ€“] Berin@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah I was thinking about that, too! We just need to decide what to use ๐Ÿ˜… Maybe we could ask the community which characters they would like to see on our banner/avatar?

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 3 points 1 month ago

I super cannot help you with picking specific characters, but one thing I was going to do for otomegames that I ended up not doing (and now that I'm typing this I might try again)?

Find some shot in an anime, or an otome game itself, of a character playing an otome game. Use that for the community icon and/or banner.

You can probably find the same for a visual novel. Or at the very least, a shot of a character on a computer, and you edit the computer screen into a shot from a popular visual novel. Hopefully one with the dialogue text boxes present, or a choice on screen.

If I can find/make this and you do too that would also be cool because I sort of see the two communities as siblings, even though technically otome is often but not always a subgenre of visual novel.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

That's a good point, I completely forgot about that. Adding to the list.

[โ€“] Berin@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

I have a few more questions regarding the rules of this community that I would like to have feedback for:

  • What is the community's stance regarding generative AI in visual novels? Are you OK with it/don't care, or are you against it?

  • Also (this is probably a long way off but) what is our stance regarding self-promotion? I'm personally for allowing self-promo if it's for major milestones (steam page launch, demo release, game release etc.)

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
  • I have quite a bit of bias against generative AI personally and would rather prefer to avoid it. As a mod however I'll follow the rules like a good cookie, whatever the community decides.
  • I think this is a good stance. Keep it rare enough to avoid a dev community feel but allow folks to share their work when ready.
[โ€“] Berin@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I am personally strictly anti-genAI in art and media, and have already banned related content in my other communities from the get-go. But since this is an already existing community, I would also let the people decide here.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

We have two votes against then, I guess. Lets see if anyone else weighs in on this, it would be nice to have a broader consensus on such topics.

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago

Not interested in generative AI at all, at the very least it should be marked. I usually stay away from badly-translated-with-AI stuff but that somehow feels more permissible (as well as using it to check grammar if you are a non-native speaker) than using AI for the whole thing.

Especially given Fediverse participation is lower than I would like I do not think we risk being overrun by self-promoters. Re: self-promo I left a clause in my rules to just use common sense to not be a spammer, and that I reserve the right to change that rule (and will if anyone starts spamming self promo).

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Just noticed both you and @Berin@discuss.tchncs.de are modding from accounts that are not ani.social accounts. I have tried to moderate communities on one instance with an account in a different instance and I did not have access to all the mod tools. Pretty frustrating. Lemmy might have updated to accommodate cross-instance moderation, but as far as I know it's hard. Do you both have sidebar manipulation access, can you change the icon and banner, can you ban users and delete any post made in the instance? If you do not have all the mod powers you might want to get an ani.social account or elevate an ani.social user to mod.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Yeah, I heard there were problems but I seem to have all the mod controls (I actually checked right after getting them).

Just tested deleting and restoring your comment to confirm in practice - it worked fine. I appreciate the reminder!

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

me and my alts @lemmy.world @lemmy.zip quaking in jealousy

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 1 points 1 month ago

if you want to test comment deletion powers, here's a comment you can delete that wasn't made by either mod

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've been thinking about how to approach the VN patch thread, focusing on: formatting, should it include official patches (like content restoration ones for Steam releases), list of actual patches. I feel like the last one will be the biggest problem in the long run so if anyone knows about important patches feel free to link them here or message me directly.

Here's my current formatting idea:

Patch list

Higurashi When They Cry HouOfficial mod source

Compatible versions:

Feature List:

  • Full voiceover
  • Lipsync support (when using PS3 sprites)
  • Sprites and backgrounds in 16:9, 1080p and 1440p combined assets
    • Sprite Options: PS3, MangaGamer, or Original Japanese
    • Graphics Options: PS3 or Original Japanese.
  • Exclusive console content (such as bad endings).
  • Upgraded user interface
  • ADV (textbox at bottom) and NVL (text covering the whole screen) support
  • Opening videos from the console release
  • Option to bring the BGM/SE closer to the Pre-April Update/Original JP Release
  • Various Third-Party Language Patches (see below for chapter support)

If My Heart Had Wings [Must Have]Official mod source

Compatible versions:

  • Japanese Editions:
    • [2012-05-25] ใ“ใฎๅคง็ฉบใซใ€็ฟผใ‚’ใฒใ‚ใ’ใฆ ๅˆๅ›ž้™ๅฎš็‰ˆ
    • [2012-07-13] ใ“ใฎๅคง็ฉบใซใ€็ฟผใ‚’ใฒใ‚ใ’ใฆ ้€šๅธธ็‰ˆ
  • English Editions:
    • MangaGamer
    • Steam (not officialy supported but had no problems during my own playthrough)

Feature list:

  • Vastly improved translation
  • Restoration of cut and censored content

Umineko When They CryOfficial mod source

Compatible versions:

Feature List:

  • ADV (textbox at bottom) and NVL (text covering the whole screen) support
  • PS3 assets:
    • Voices, sprites
    • CGs (event images)
    • Backgrounds
  • Sprite Options: PS3, MangaGamer, or Original Japanese

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

looks good to me!

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks for feedback! I'm still not entirely happy with readability but I do have some ideas for that.

I think I covered my bases but is there anything else you'd like to see on such list?

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Maybe a link to directions on how to install the patch if it's not already included in the link you can follow on mod source? Maybe to help folk and keep things consistent, every single listing gets an "install instructions" section and if it's included in the mod source just write "included in mod source link" or something. Also patch mirrors in case the patch site goes down?

I am really not into what would be posted on r/visualnovels. I'm fine with male gaze in most media but for some reason I'm violently allergic to it in anime/manga and visual novels (as in "I personally refuse to consume" not "male sexuality bad, this shouldn't exist"), so do not expect any good answers from me for traditionally well-regarded VNs to sidebar for c/visualnovels ^^;

Also, just thought. You might want to have a separate post for your list of patches, because it might get BIG. Just link to the post in the sidebar and continually update the post with patches. Especially since I can imagine people giving you the information for less well-known VNs, and that should still be accessible to people even if it wouldn't be popular enough to warrant sidebar status.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
  • Link to the instructions wouldn't be a bad idea, I'm not too sure about putting them inside the post as I'd like to limit the clutter as much as possible. Will play around with this.
  • I thought about mirrors as well. I'm on too minds on whether to make them from the get go or post them as needed - on one hand it won't take much space (unless downloads consist of multiple files or versions), on the other I'm still not entirely happy with readability and uploading every patch will _ pretty quick.
  • Don't worry about the popular VNs, I'd like this to be a place for everyone so titles with any other focus are welcome - whether it's BL, otome, LGBT themed or anything else. If you have suggestions for the patch list or the entry games list, feel free to share them with the class. We're aiming to get away from the reddit replacement feel after all.
  • List of patches will definitely be posted as a separate thread. I dropped it as a comment looking for feedback and hoping for links to patches I'm not familiar with. I'll post another comment in the upcoming general discussion thread to show off the updated formatting but other than that I'll try to drop the proper list sometime in April.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, they're really helping me with prep and planning!

[โ€“] Elevator7009sAlt@ani.social 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Oh! When I said mirror, I didn't mean "host them on Lemmy," I was thinking you simply link an existing mirror, or pop one in a Drive or Dropbox or something and link it there.

I mod !otomegames@ani.social and would not be the most pleased with otome traffic getting absorbed into here, to be honest, at the very least crossposting otome posts over to me when they get made here would be nice. I do, however, have some otome patches I should probably post at some point, so thanks for the reminder. And I do understand that since otome often happens to be done as a visual novel, some people will just post it right to VisualNovels and not read the related communities in your sidebar or anything directing them to the right place. I do not fault you for other people not reading everything. (For what it is worth, VisualNovels is also linked in the OtomeGames sidebar.)

And no problem! I like helping people when I can.

[โ€“] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I get it, I'm just thinking about keeping backups for some of the patches just in case. Direct linking isn't a bad idea but I'm worried about people skipping the original source and not looking there in case of problems or questions.

Don't worry, I don't mean to "steal" content from other communities. If people feel comfortable posting here I have no problem with that but I agree posting to specific communities is preferable. I was mostly commenting on your point about not being into the stuff popular on r/visualnovels - I don't want this place to be a clone of that subreddit but also, more importantly to my post, I was talking about adding more varied patches and game suggestions to our planned lists (I don't want either of them to be just gal games).