
Index
=====
- Running the Game
- Playing the Game
- Author's Notes
- Credits


Running the Game
================

(Windows)

If this game was installed on Windows using an installer, then you can
run it by choosing the shortcut left by the installer. If this game
was installed on Windows using the cross-platform zip file, then it
can be run by executing the run_game.exe file.

(Macintosh)

For information about running Ren'Py games on Mac OS 10.3 or higher,
please go to http://www.bishoujo.us/renpy/mac.html .

(Linux/Unix)

For information about running Ren'Py games under Linux and Unix,
please go to http://www.bishoujo.us/renpy/linux.html . At the very
least, you will need to compile the _renpy module. Read
the file module/README.txt for details.


Playing the Game
================

By default, the game starts running in full screen mode. On some
computers, especially some virtual machines, this can lead to mouse
problems. To fix this, press 'f'.

Some of the more interesting game actions can be performed as follows:

- The left mouse button is used to advance to the next line of
  dialogue, or to pick menu options.

- The right mouse button brings you into a menu screen where you can
  save the game, load the game, change preferences, return to the main
  menu, or quit entirely.

- Scrolling the mouse wheel up or pushing page up returns you to the
  previous screen.

- Holding down the CTRL key skips dialogue. By default, it only
  skips read dialogue, but this can be changed by a preference. Tab
  toggles skip mode.


Author's Notes
==============

At first, Lakeside Sunset was meant to be just a practice exercise for me in learning Ren'Py. However, it has become more than that over the course of its' month-long development. Thanks to the wonderful reviews and encouragement I have received both online and offline, I truly regard Lakeside Sunset as my first work in the Visual Novel genre, short as it may be.

The character of Flora was especially dear to me, and I'm glad the artist, Vatina, managed to capture the smile that was the essence of Flora. I named her Flora to bring to mind connotations of both gentleness and the love of nature, two traits that were always inherent in my conception of her. 

When writing this short piece, the narrative technique that I was most interested in accomplishing was the idea of ambiguity in storytelling - how people would interpret the story in different ways depending on their own experiences. I deliberately set out to write in a way that would allow the reader to produce an ending consistent with their reading of the flow of the narrative - whether it was a memory of loss, or a lover's separation. It seems to have worked. ^_^


Credits
=======

Writing & Programming: Dizzcity (Joshua Wong)
Character Art: Vatina (Lonnie Brandt)
Music Composition: Sheesh (Laura Knipp)
Backgrounds courtesy of Bigfoto.com

The Ren'Py engine developed by Py'Tom.
With thanks to Jake for programming help and tips.

Thanks be to God for His gift of writing.

