Last updated: 11/4/12

Dating sims/Flash Questions

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What do you use to make your games and dating sims?
Macromedia Flash 8. (I'm using a pretty "outdated" version FYI...)

Is Flash free? Does it come with most computers like MS Paint?
It does not.

Where/how can I get Flash?
It can be purchased from the official Adobe website here. Like Photoshop, it's expensive. More retailers can be found with Google.

Will you make another sim date soon?
I might (if I'm not making one right now). But from 2009-2012, I've managed to release 2-3 games per year. I work on sim dates when I please.

Why don't you make dating sims for guys?
My current audience is made up of mostly young females. I'd like to target towards them. There are many visual novels/dating simulations for males out there though. Most are in Japanese, but there are quite a few in English too. Note that many if not most of them feature erotic content. You young ones better not blame me if your parents catch you jacking off and/or viewing pornography. I've already warned you.

Why don't your dating sims have sex/pornography/hentai in them?
My current audience is made up of mostly young girls. They don't like porn. Why? They probably think it's gross. And well, most of them aren't of the "legal" age either. But any who, the ad network I currently work with will steal and sell all of my internal organs to the black market if I include mature content in my works.

Are you ever going to make a dating sim with yaoi?
"Yaoi" refers to boys banging other boys and gay porn *cough* it's mature content, my ad network will eat me alive if I include it *cough* But as far as simple shonen-ai and boy romance goes, I can easily imagine myself including it in my future works. When though? I have yet to decide... the project itself really calls for these things, not me...

Will you make a dating sim about insert personal idea/concept here?
No. I generally like to come up with the concepts myself. These projects take commitment and it's usually easier for me to commit when it's personal. I'm pretty good at coming up with new ideas to work with, so don't worry about me running into block.

Will you make a insert favorite anime/book/movie/etc. here dating sim?
No. The ad network I work with will eat my face if I include any copyrighted content without the rights in my work. I am aware that I did push it with Wonderland Days Sim Date (I was a rookie/noob at the time) Back then I actually didn't know that I was pushing the limits. It was a year later that I then realized that I was able to dodge that bullet since the characters were original despite the concept.

Why do you make dating sims?
I like to think up stories, but I don't like to write. I like to doodle, but I don't like drawing a lot. Making dating sims (and visual novels) combines story telling, drawing, design, and coding. It seems to be a hobby that balances those things out well for me.

How do you unlock insert sim date characters name here?
Google's a good source for this kind of information... (I'm pretty bad at making walkthroughs)

How do you come up with your character designs for your sim dates?
Their designs are based purely on fan service... and my own judgement I suppose.

Help/Technical Questions

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What kind of tablet do you use?
A 4x6 Wacom Bamboo. It's nothing fancy or special, but it's really grown on me. I've been using it since 2008. It's like a pet to me.

What program do you use to draw your pictures?
As of now, Easy Paint Tool SAI and Flash.

I want to make a dating sim with money, HP, days, and stats. Any tips?
I don't know where to start... (Sorry, I probably couldn't make a decent tutorial to explain it all...) But hey! This lovely person made a great tutorial! Go check it out: fav.me/d59p6pc

I made a Flash! How do I post it up on deviantART?
FAQ #79: How do I submit art?

Can you make a tutorial on insert subject here?
There's somebody else on the internet who's better at insert subject here than me. I'm sure they would be a better source for information. (I'm pretty bad at making tutorials if you haven't noticed)

About your "How to Make a Sim Date tutorial", can you import image files and scanned pictures into a game instead of drawing directly in Flash?
Yes. You can import image files into Flash by going to File > Import > Import to Stage... or Import to Library...

I see people on this site and other sites using your art/games. Should I notify you about this?
My games are on multiple sites because of the publishers I work with. A lot of people post screen shots of my work and I'm completely okay with that too. But I'd appreciate it if I was notified if others were making a profit off my work...

Any tips for writer's/art block?
I've never found myself struggling with art block (because I'm not too artsy and I don't draw for "art" purposes) but when I get writer's block, I usually just stop writing and work on something else. The problem always seems to solve itself when I let my mind breathe a little. Finding new music (or changing the current genre I'm listening to), taking long showers, and living through daily life seems to help too.

How do you draw in Flash?
Sometimes I like to use the Pencil Tool to draw my lines and the Selection Tool to edit/bend my lines to my satisfaction. But lately, I've been using the brush tool. It seems to take me longer to finish drawings with the pen tool.

Where/how did you learn how to draw?
The wonderful internet and standard practice. But please don't use me as your role model for drawing. My anatomy/proportions are very inconsistent and "way off" because I could never draw professionally to save my life. There are so many people out there who are much, much, muuuch better. ;o; Note: There are a bunch of great drawing tutorials right here on deviantART too.

I'm horrible with Flash. Your sim date tutorial was nice, but I still don't get it at all. Will you do a sim date collab with me?
No. I'm a lone wolf. ;w;

General/Personal Questions

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How old are you?
I was born on March 30, 1994. Subtract that by the current date/year.

What's your race/nationality?
I was born and raised in America. I am Vietnamese.

Do you speak any other languages besides English?
No. My parents do speak a lot of Vietnamese around the house, but I never bothered to learn how to speak it.

How do you pronounce your user name?
The "correct" pronunciation of "Pacthesis" is "Pac-the-sis". "Pac" as in Pacman, "the" as in The 3 Little Pigs, and "sis" as in sister.) Think of it as like... packing your sister?

What's the origin of your user name? How did you come up with it?
I chose this user name is because it was original and nobody else has ever taken it... so far anyways. "Pacthesis" is actually a name of one of my super old characters from a comic I wrote back in 7th grade. Another weird thing about this "Pacthesis" character is that he was male, not female.

Why do you like coffee?
That's like asking some people why they love the taste of sugar. Coffee naturally appeals to my taste buds... and I "need" the caffeine. Though there was a time when I was drinking too much of it. I went through some bad withdrawal. I limit myself to one cup a day now.

Where do you get your ideas/inspiration from?
The wonderful internet and everything around me that exists. Plus I do a lot of thinking. Thinking is probably a hobby for me.

How come you don't reply to your messages? ... Or at least mine?
My apologies for my lack of activity. I'm bad at it. If I replied to all the messages I got... I'd be on my computer all day long.

Do you read all of your messages?
Honestly, I have to say no. It's hard to keep up with all the new ones coming in... and I don't log in everyday... and they just keep on building up... but when I browse and skim through comments, most of them contain pretty positive feedback. Thanks for all the support. ;7;

Will you be my friend/watch me on deviantART?
Friendship happens magically through time and experience... but overall, I don't watch a lot of people in attempt to keep my inbox from overflowing... not like it isn't already though...

Why do you get so many page views?
Because people like you stalk me and visit my page too often.

Can I make fan art of your character(s)/write fan fictions based on your games and stuff?
Go for it. Just never claim what's not yours. In other words, always give credit to the source(s) when necessary C:

Why do you call yourself "Pacdabutt" sometimes?
Because I'm a butt sometimes.