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(+2)

hi, your game is probably my favorite on itchio. it honestly makes me so nostalgic of a time i barely got to experience and it reminded me of all my past internet friendships. the dialogue is super realistic, the atmosphere is perfect (i feel like i am in my teenage bedroom), and beyond everything technical, the game evokes true emotion in the player and makes them invested in what's going on. i'll go listen to some mcr and fob now :') ...thank you for making something so great! 

i would also like to ask for some help. i have been trying to get the third ending (ive gotten all the other ones) and i used the guide below, but i keep getting the 4th one even with the more expanded guide. i was wondering if choosing that i got sick on november 14 would unlock it, or if theres anything else i should have in mind while playing. thank you for your time!

(+1)

Thank you for your comment! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much.

Choosing to say that you got sick on November 14 does help in getting ending 3 over 4. You can try just being a bit more rude/stand-offish to Brandon, like saying that he's being dramatic on October 25, or just not being very concerned about his well-being (encouraging him to stay up late instead of getting rest, etc).

Hope that helps!

It's so hard to be cold to Brandon! He reminds me of one of my own friends lol

Ending three is definitely the most difficult ending to get.

(+2)

PHAHAHAHA!!!! Bro, um- Okay, so, I am a little late. Or... uh, too late... but holy cheesenoodles I am in LOVE with this game! it took a while (and too much clicking between the comments here and the game) but I finally got all four endings!!!! And now, humble little me, went straight to commenting. Because I have feelings and I need to share them.

I was basically in love with the GUI and vibe from the get-go. Like, the music in the background??? The format??? The delivery??? Y'all got me like, dead. It felt SO nostalgic, and it really felt like I got blasted back to 2005! Eeeek!!!! I really thought I wasn't into that kind of aesthetic, but this game just floored me. Oh! The characters!!! I had so much fun during the first walkthrough, and that stayed even as I played it again! (The 4th ending especially got me. It was a good idea letting the best be last, aaaa!!!!) I got the 2nd ending first, and was actually like- so dang surprised by the twist. And that twist in the last two! That was actually??? Pulled off?? So well???? (lil spoiler) Still NOT over the dialogue option of "sleep well luv." Absolutely decimated me. Pulled my wig. Yeeted it right into the sun. Here's a confession; I love Brandon and would absolutely volunteer to be best friends with him in real life. And oh my sweet little Easter Egg-loving heart, I LOVE the bits with the xenga pages!!!! That was just- so cool??? The first time I saw it (Brandon's page) my jaw dropped. Like... let me just... lay down... for a sec...

I don't know why you guys are so good at what y'all do but y'all are and that's on periodt. I've actually played Cooked with Love before this and hrnghhh!!!! Y'all!!!! I'd catch a grenade for y'all. With my teeth. :pensive_emoji:

i hope all this makes sense lolol. Would def continue lurking in a not creepy way playing y'all's games!!!! Aaaaa, gonna scream abt y'all's work in peace forever, deuces ^ ^ <3

(+1)

Ahh thanks for playing our game and leaving such a long and detailed comment!

I'm so happy to hear that you liked our game so much, and that replaying still felt fun for you. And I'm sure Brandon would be happy to have you volunteer to be best friends with him... the lad certainly needs more positivity in his life.

Hopefully we're never in a situation where you'll need to catch a grenade (with your teeth, no less), but thank you for your kind words/offer lmao!!

The Xenga pages did it for me, too! The details made this game a whole lot more accurate.

(+4)

Great, now I feel like I've lost a good friend xD
Had fun playing tho :)

(+1)

Oh no, haha -- but glad you had fun playing!

I see almost everyone in the comments stanning Brandon.

(+3)

I don't usually leave comments on games I play and stuff...but damn, this game.

Never has any game, series, movie, anything, hit closer to home than this... everything from the music, the writing, the way they form their friendship and the struggles about it being through a computer, the reveal at the end... I was crying so much by the end of this game, between how beautifully tragic it all was, and my own memories and feelings, it really broke me, but in a good way.

Ever since it came out, I've played it quite a few times, and I've made sure to recommend it to all of my online friends, as I know it will hit close to home for them, as well... this is the type of game everyone should play, not only for the nostalgia ride, but because of how beautiful and well done it is.

Easily one of my most loved visual novels ever, truly a masterpiece.

(+1)

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and for recommending it to your friends! We're very flattered -- I'm glad to hear that the game resonated with you so much, though I'm sorry that it made you cry!

I agree, it's one of the best games that simulate around messaging from back in the day.

(+1)

10/10.

This game is perfect. Great soundtrack, great visuals, really like having saving slots and the story. I felt everything and remembered being this kid using the net when it wasn't what it is today. I really liked how the computer starts and the video call feature.

The chat is so real, every answer I gave was something real life me would say (more or less, at least). Got ending 2, will play again to get all endings.

I played for so long and still would like it to last longer lol. Def one of my favorites now, I think I'll open up my old blog and do a review haha.

I'm playing on Linux and it ran smoothly, I think it only slowed down a bit because I played it for way too long o.o. Thanks for making a Linux version!

(+2)

Thanks so much for playing our game and leaving a comment! We'd love to read your review if you end up writing it, as well.

Glad to hear that the Linux version ran okay for you! Neither of us actually have a Linux machine so we weren't able to test it firsthand.

(+1)

Seeing Brandon through video call was a very cool feature!

(+2)

I've only gotten 2 endings but I'm in love already

(+1)

Thanks for playing!

That's when you know it's one of those games right there!

(1 edit) (+2)

One of those games that just STICK with you! Thank you so much for making such a beautiful game!

(+1)

Thank you so much for playing our game!

I'm glad this game is getting the feedback it deserves. The developers deserve it!

(+2)

I played this game ages ago. but I still think about it, The twist really got me. 

I should replay and get all the endings! Honestly great work. It's so realistic in its portrayal of online conversations, the imperfect grammar, the pauses, I feel like you really put work into those little parts. It really payed off. I love this game. :) Thank you.

(+1)

Thanks for playing our game! Glad to hear that it left a lasting impression on you.

Details are the best!

(+1)

ending three is so sad i just faljbfohdnpk;lndfdm but this game is so good and i love you <3333

(+1)

Thank you for playing and leaving a comment! Happy that you liked the game... even if it made you sad haha

To me, ending three was funny when it mentioned pop collars!

(+1)(-1)

this is a stupid question, but...how do i get endings other than the first one?? i've followed all the hints for different endings and clicked a variety of options but all i get is ending 1. am i missing out on something?

(+1)

You get the first ending if you behave too suspiciously, and it's the easiest to get since the game will check for how high your suspicion is before it checks for any of the criteria for the other endings. Some general tips: try not to contradict yourself, be open to the idea of meeting up, and avoid the dodgier dialogue options. Hope that helps!

(+1)

i love this game so much, it made me so nostalgic! i was wondering if there is a list of the songs that you used as bg music?? they were all so good :D

(+1)

Thank you for playing our game! There is a .txt file included in the .zip with a list of all the music in the game. Alternatively, each song is also linked in the "Extras" screen (accessible from the main menu).

(+4)

i ADORE these kinds of games that r like set in early 2000's internet with the noisy CPU computers n all those details, this is a rly cool game!

(+1)

Thanks for playing and leaving a comment! Glad you liked it.

For real!

(+3)

This game is...absolutely beautiful. I finished all 4 endings in one day and I can't help but feel, hm...bittersweet? I'm very happy with the 4th ending!! I love both of these characters so so much. You mentioned on the extras page about a possible spin-off and I'm just here to say: PLEASE!! I would kill for more content of these characters. Keep up the amazing work!<3

P.S. Would it be alright if I wrote a fanfic for this? Some indie companies prefer for people not to, so I would like to ask before doing it!

(+1)

Thanks for playing the game!

We’re currently working on a game that’s set in the same world, but not focused on these two characters. Hopefully we’ll be able to return to them in the future.

It’s totally fine if you want to write fanfic! We’re so happy that you like the game so much!

I could just imagine a fanfic for this game lol!

(+2)

meow meow meow

meow meow meow

(+2)

This game was really sweet and well done, plus it's quick to play, overall enjoyed it a lot :)

(+1)

Thank you very much!

Quick to play and made the tears stay!

(+2)

that was so adorable! i got ending 4 and i already know this is gonna be my favorite one!! thank you for creating something so cute ^^ (and the art?? wowie)

(+1)

Thanks so much, glad to hear that you liked the game!

I loved the art style - especially during the part where the player is calling Brandon.

(1 edit) (+3)

Loved the story. Sadly, I kept getting the same ending, the one where he finds out about M/C's XENGA account. How do I get a new ending? (I've only played it twice for now) 
Thanks! 
(EDIT: Is there a way to make Brandon stay?)

(+1)

Hi there, happy to hear that you're enjoying the game! The ending that I think you're getting (the first one in the extras menu?) is the ending that you get when you act too suspiciously. You can avoid it by revealing more information about yourself when given the option to, and refraining from asking too many questions early on. Try not to contradict yourself as well -- for example, if you said you had a brother before, don't mention a sister later on, etc.

If Brandon can stay, the pain will go away.

(+1)

my friend and i downloaded this strictly because of it taking place in 2005, but man did we get attached to it! the conversations were so easy and we keep finding ourselves wanting to try to get the other endings, this is so well done

(+1)

Thanks for playing and for sharing your thoughts, we're pleased to hear that you both liked the game. Hope you've been able to find all the endings!

This game also made me want to actually put effort into getting the other endings!

(+1)

I played this on a whim, but it's definitely going to stay with me. The conversations always felt completely natural and the vibe of the game was consistent. I'm totally in love with it.

(+1)

Thanks for playing! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it.

Same!

(+1)

Keep up the good work! Love this game :D!

(+1)

Thanks Shelley lmao

(+1)

Pleasantly shocked by the amount of polish and heart put into this. I have come to ask for help on ED 3 as I've gotten 1, 2, and 4 via the hints described. I've been trying to adjust for ED3 to no success.

(+3)

Thanks! ED3 happens when the player character demonstrates more trust in Brandon, but comes off as mean or unfriendly otherwise. So you should follow the tips to achieve ED3/4 (the hints we've shared in the comments below, but I'll copy & paste them here) but aside from these, you shouldn't be too friendly to Brandon.

- On September 23, say that you're sorry to hear about classmates making fun of him.
- On September 29, say that while it's not the same situation, you changed schools recently.
- On October 6, say that you know what he means, instead of just saying "that's rough".
- On October 11, say that you should finally make an account.
- On October 15, say that your friends don't know the real you.
- On October 25, say that it makes sense to have doubt.
- On November 14, say that there's a reason for it, and it's that you got too nervous.

(+1)

Tried following this many times and I keep getting ED2. Outside of the choices you specified, is it a matter of being completely cold or being slightly friendly?

(+2)

If you're getting ED2 instead, it's because you're not choosing enough "trust" options -- other than the ones listed, there are still some other choices that build up the player's trust in Brandon, but don't necessarily raise Brandon's friendship.
A few more hints to build trust:
- On September 29, say that you just had to suck it up when he asks if it was difficult adjusting to changing schools.
- On October 6, say that it depends on your parents when he asks whether you'd like to study abroad or not.
- In general, you should respond positively when he wants to meet up.
Some hints to lower friendship:
- On October 11, tell Brandon he should use the new photo he took as his profile picture, and then change your mind and tell him not to.
- On October 15, be blunt when you tell Brandon to change the way he dresses (don't choose the option that starts with "it's not ideal but...")
- Also, if you don't already enough friendliness with Brandon, options that are meant to be jokes might be taken the wrong way, like saying "fuck you", or calling him "desperate for e-creds". If you already have a certain amount of friendliness, though, these options will increase it.

(+1)

At last, got ED3! Sorry about troubling you for extra hints but also thank you very much. Above all, reiterating my thanks for this entire game and its immense polish.

Also until I checked your group page I did not realize you were the same team behind Reflections on the River. Dynastic Chinese stories, bless. Definitely checking out Last Call and Pangs on your page. Keep up the good work and good luck with school!

(+1)

No worries at all, glad to hear you managed to get that ending. Thanks for your lovely comments, and hope you have fun playing through our other games as well!

Now this is what I needed to complete the whole game! Thank you!

If it wasn't for you asking, I wouldn't have gotten ending three myself!

ow ow

(+1)

So I just really wanted to say I loved this game with all my heart! I still haven't gotten through to all of the endings yet but it just left me with this really nice bittersweet feeling. The writing and art for so obscure was really top notch! 

I’ve lived in Hong Kong most of my life and went to Sha Tin College and so really related to the two + how they felt. PLUS the soundtrack is super awesome, I’ve been listening to it for days and days!

I was wondering if you select diu option instead of the wtf option does it affect the ending at all? 

(And I’ve really gotta ask – are you two Hong Kong based game developers? It would be really awesome if you could hold a talk or something about this game in HK!)

(+1)

Thanks very much for playing our game and sharing your thoughts! We're really glad you were able to relate to the characters.

The wtf/diu choice doesn't really make a difference -- it's just there since "diu" might be something the player character would say, but players not from Hong Kong might not know what it means, so the "wtf" option is there to make things clearer.

(We're both permanent residents of HK, but unfortunately we're based in New York and California at the moment. It'd definitely be cool to get more involved with the HK game dev community if we were ever back in town, though!)

This game and its accuracy is the best.

(+1)

whoa this brought back memories!!!! I really had fun playing this, great game!!!

(+1)

Thanks so much for playing and leaving a comment!

One of the best nostalgic games out there!

(+2)

I really really love your game! It's very nostalgic for me. I've meet my first love on internet, I lived my first relationship at distance by MSN. We are ourselves confronting the famous meeting, to never do it... Your game finds echo in me. Really and thank you!

Despite all player's comments and clues, I'm stuck at the second ending. I've no idea where do I must change my answers. :( 

(Sorry, I don't speak a fluent english, so maybe it's no very clear). 

(+2)

Thank you for playing our game! Happy to hear that the story resonated with you.

A hint for each ending: ending 1 happens if you act too suspiciously, ending 2 happens if you don't display enough trust in Brandon, ending 3 happens if you display trust in Brandon but aren't friendly enough, and ending 4 happens if you display trust in Brandon and are encouraging and friendly towards him.

(Your English is perfectly fine -- no apology needed!)

It's still good how you got one of the good endings!

Deleted 3 years ago
(+2)

Thanks for playing our game! Glad you liked it.

(+1)

Loved this game! I've played through it three times, and gotten three different endings. (1, 3, and 2 in order). I followed the tips below to try and get ending 4, to no avail. It bums me out a bit, but doesn't take away from what an awesome experience this game was! So full of raw emotion and nostalgia. took me right back to being their age (even if it was only 5  years ago!). A real atmospheric trip. Keep on making. :)

(+2)

Thanks for playing the game and leaving a comment! A hint for getting ending 4 is that it's quite similar to getting ending 3, but you have to act friendlier/kinder towards Brandon -- like joking around with him and generally being supportive/encouraging.

(+1)

Thank you for the helpful reply - I finally got ending 4! At first I thought I'd ended up with the 3rd again, but the subtle differences and the little twist at the end warmed my heart! Thank you again for such a raw, honest game. You guys are a talent!

I can't believe people completed ending three when it was so hard for me lol!

Deleted 237 days ago
(+1)

Thanks for playing our game and for sharing your thoughts! Glad to hear that it resonated with you. If you're unsure exactly which endings you've unlocked, you can check the Extras screen (accessible from the main menu) which has the list of endings numbered and named, so it's easier to find hints in the comments if you're looking to get a specific one.

The music titles took me all the way!

(-1)

Link to the full soundtrack

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SF6pG_1rquyPkxQB-9JaTVtwEAZVXieO

(+1)

Thanks for compiling all the songs in the game.
However, you might have to provide a link to each artists' profile in a text document or something with the files -- there are links in the game's "extras" menu if you're having trouble tracking them down!

(+1)

I really like the concept of this game, the conversation feels natural and very realistic. And the music is so relaxing.
I got the first two endings but now I'm stuck. I tried four times to get another ending but I always end with second. I tried to follow the advices but it didn't work for me. And now I'm tired of trying anymore because there are so many choices. Could you provide a walkthrough? I'm dying to know the third and fourth ending.

(+4)

Thanks for playing our game and sharing your thoughts!

I'd like to avoid giving a full walkthrough, but I can give you one choice per chat that you should definitely make:
- On September 23, say that you're sorry to hear about classmates making fun of him.
- On September 29, say that while it's not the same situation, you changed schools recently.
- On October 6, say that you know what he means, instead of just saying "that's rough".
- On October 11, say that you should finally make an account.
- On October 15, say that your friends don't know the real you.
- On October 25, say that it makes sense to have doubt.
- On November 14, say that there's a reason for it, and it's that you got too nervous.

(+1)

Thank you! It helped and I got the fourth ending :D I didn't expect that twist at the end. I still don't know what leads exactly to the 3rd ending, but maybe I'll figure it somehow later. I'm happy that I got to know the best ending  :)

I also played over and over to get ending three and heard the same music way too many times lol!

(+2)

i was so shocked when i got the second ending, because i'm going through the same self-esteem situation. i had no idea it was a thing lol

great game, thank you for all the work, i have no energy left for the last two endings though i'm too weak goodbye

(+1)

Thanks for playing our game and for leaving a comment! We're happy to have made a game that people can relate to. Sorry to hear that you're going through a similar situation, but I'm sure you're definitely not alone in that.

That means ending two must've been an eye-opener, especially after that last post Brandon made on his Xenga account for that ending.

(+2)

This is a really heartfelt experience. This is one of those stories where it's almost impossible not to relate to. Well done! I made a lets play of this game here:

(+1)

Thanks for making a lets play of our game! Happy to hear that you were able to relate to it. I hope you still found the ending you got satisfying even though you got the early bad end!

This game definitely touched me!

(-1)

NSADH<JGCHVHVCGHC IM SO DEPPRESSED! THERE BETTER BE MORE THAN ONE ENDING! AM I RAYMOND?! I JUST CATFISHED MY SMOL PUR BEAN CHILD HOW COULD U! HOW COULD I!! I LUV HIM SO MUCCCCCC!!!! NOW IM DEPPRESSION!!!!!! (It's a really good game, I cried and also hate/love the devs.....)

(+2)

Haha, sorry to hear that you got the first ending (? I'm guessing??), but that's probably the "worst" ending in the game! The fourth one is the best ending, so it might cheer you up? There were hints posted below as to how to obtain it -- feel free to ask for more hints if you're still stuck after trying those.

(+1)

I've loved playing through this game so far! It really does remind me of when I'd be using MSN, chatting with friends and overusing emoticons. The blogs were really cool, as was the choice interface! The dialogue was really natural too, and props for the animation for the webcam. (And all this for NaNoReNo? Geez, to do this under such time constraints is amazing.) The characters hit me real hard with the conversations I'd have myself back then, and it felt so nostalgic to relive it!

And now, to admit this: I've done several playthroughs of the game already, and I can't seem to manage any ending except for the first one. I've tried the advice below, but somehow I can never make it work! Any hints as to how I could unlock the other endings? ;)

(+1)

Glad to hear you enjoyed the game, thanks for playing!

The first ending is the early "bad" end, which happens if you act too suspiciously. You can avoid getting it by not asking too many questions, especially in the earlier chats, and revealing more information about yourself when you can. Let me know if you're still having trouble and I can provide more hints!

I also can't believe how much effort was put into this in the amount of time provided. That says a lot about the developers!

(+1)

Ahhh, I finished this sooner than I thought! Really nice game. I loved the whole interface design and the blogs were a really nice touch. The story is interesting because I somehow relate to these characters even though I don't live in Hong Kong. I would like to add that I love the soundtrack, it's just my kind of music. Good job! :)

(+1)

Thanks for playing our game, we're happy to hear that you enjoyed it and were able to relate to the characters!

We were lucky to be able to find kind musicians putting their music up for use under creative commons licenses, so if you liked their music I'd highly suggest paying a visit to their pages to support them as well! (All the songs used in the game are listed in the extras menu, in order of when they are played in the game, with links to the musicians' pages.)

The added blogs to the game made it way better!

(+1)

When I downloaded this game, I had no idea the characters lived in Hong Kong. It was strange because, as a person who lives in Macau, I felt like I can relate to their lifestyle (And I did freak out with Brandon's photo on his trip to Macau). I think this is the first time I could really relate to characters based on their setting. Thank you for creating such an amazing story!

(+1)

Thanks for playing our game! Yeah, we also get quite excited whenever we see games set in the nearby vicinity, so we decided why not make one ourselves, haha. Then it just seemed natural for Brandon to take a trip to Macau at some point, since there are so many scenic places he'd probably like to photograph there. Glad to hear that you liked the game, and could relate to the character's lifestyles!

I'm sure it felt like you were in the same universe as the game characters!

(1 edit) (+2)

Just finished a playthrough of the game... and oh dear... I'm literally crying. It's not even something close to home to me, but man I got so invested in the characters! Not only the game is gorgeous music, art and GUI wise, but the story was so beautiful!

I must say I've REALLY enjoyed the twist by the end. I was wondering what was off with my character because of some of his reactions that were not up to me, but I honestly didn't expect that, it was great. 

I got the "so let's go where we're happy" ending, and I love it so much! Am I right to assume it's the best ending out of the 4?


Anyway, I'm really in love with the game! Thank you for creating such a gem!

HOW. I've played through multiple times and gotten the other 3 endings but not that one. Its driving me mad. Plz tell me your secret
(awesome game by the way!)

(+2)

Hmm well... I couldn't really do a walkthrough but...


------SPOILERS AHEAD------

I've tried to always choose optimistic and respectful choices. Admitting faults if needed or backing down if Brandon's opinion seemed right, but I've tried not to hesitate either when the MCs opinion seemed to be the more reasonable one. I believe that when talking about music and so on, I've always picked the options that would imply the MC knows about the bands and events Brandon was talking about, even if I wasn't, and I've never asked directly about how was school, only if he feels good / better, how was his day and so on. Also, I've always acted in favor of meeting IRL at any possible point, and reassured Brandon that it's normal for people to be different online and in real life, but that the MC would never think of him a weird or anything in real life. In cases where the MC was telling him it's impossible to meet because various family reasons, always told him he'd rather meet him, or stay online longer or whatever. After the argument, I've decided to apologize every time it was possible and say the MC deserved Brandon's anger, and to be honest about having a reason for ditching him and telling it was because he got nervous to meet him.  I dunno if that's important, but when saying hi and goodbye, I've always chosen the polite and friendly options, but without being too familiar, like calling him bro and so on.


Hope it helps!

(+1)

Thanks!! Not even sure what I even did differently but it worked! Defo the best ending, glad i got to see it.

(+1)

You're welcome! Glad I could help!

(+2)

Thanks very much for playing our game and sharing your thoughts! We're so glad to hear that it had such an impact on you, as we wondered if people would be able to be invested in the story or the characters if they didn't personally relate to them or the setting!

Yes, the 4th ending is considered the "true" or "best" end -- and congratulations on getting it your first try, since it seems like a lot of people have had trouble getting it, haha.

(+1)

It's hard not to feel invested since the characters are so fantastic haha! And There's something really compelling to be about not knowing everything about the character I'm controlling, too.

And thanks! I guess my years of playing visual novels of all sorts helped me haha

BRO I CANT EVEN AS WELL

Ending four is totally the greatest!

(+1)

Interesting take on distance and, being distant. It has vibes like Emily is Away in this!
(+1)

Thanks for playing our game, it's always interesting seeing what choices players make!

Definitely has that vibe!

(+1)

This game hit me like a truck! (in a positive way!!) I really appreciate how realistic it seemed, most of all I gotta say that I enjoyed the music. It was amazing and fit well with the art, as well as the general theme. It would be cool if the xenga profiles were more expandable though. So Obscure will definitely stay with me for a long time.

(+1)

Thanks for your feedback, we're happy to hear that you enjoyed the game! Writing the blog posts and things were one of our favourite things to do, but unfortunately due to time constraints we weren't able to produce as much content for them as we'd like. If we ever revisit this project, the blogs would definitely be something we'd want to expand on.

It was like Xenga was an actual site lol!

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