Ask!

[Aura]

Does Emi derive wardrobe inspiration from Doug Funnie?

No

[Aura]

Did the other members of Class 3-3 ever get official names, or did they just catch on somehow?

Well, sort of. What is "official"? Generally, my stance is that only things that are in the game itself are official. That'd make only Miki's name strictly official. However, the 3-3 students that are completely original character designs and not thinly veiled cameos got named a long time ago, when the classroom CG was made, and the names really stuck in use. These are Miki, Naomi, Natsume, Suzu, Takashi and Taro (and Molly sort of, because she's a cameo of something we made ourselves), and I think they are as official as non-game material can be. The cameos were referred to with their names, but at some point suriko made a spoof of I think Negima manga page where he gave original names to the rest of the students. Those names haven't stuck with 4LS like the original names, but we haven't really had the need to refer to the students either. The pic is on shimmie, decide for yourself if it's "official".

[Silentcook]

Does Emi derive wardrobe inspiration from Doug Funnie?

No

I'd like to extend this answer: I admit that sometimes we did try to be clever by putting a reference to something in KS. In the vast majority of cases that get brought to our attention, however, we did nothing and simple coincidence is to blame (example: the infamous Tainaka Ritsu "retcameo" in the classroom CG).

Additionally, trying to be TOO clever is not clever at all, so some rather ruthless culling happened, especially regarding pop culture refs. If a reference slipped under the radar during this weird game of one-upmanship, odds are that it's not "officially" known as such even within 4LS.

Finally, explaining a joke ruins the joke beyond repair, so I for one try to avoid doing that as much as possible.

[Sabi-dude]

This one is for Suriko (or anyone else if they know how to answer)

I loved Lilly's path since, at least to me, it was one of the most emotionally charged paths, BUT my biggest problem with it is that Lilly begged Hisao to never leave her side because she loved him so much that being away from him, and her "new" family, would be too painfull, and then she's the one that up and leaves everything behind for the sake of a family that for 6 years forgot she even existed, not because she was made or even forced to leave everything behind but simply because she was asked to...WTF? I mean not once does Lilly even admit that she actually wants to go away.

I get that even during the time she and Hisao were dating she was still confused about making a decision, but now that i look back the more time they spent together and the more they fell in love for one another the clearer that decision should have been.
Of course i understand that Suriko intended to create a scenario where Hisao realised he couldn´t just sit on his ass and dwell in self-pity while the love of his life just left, that even if it was a shot in the dark, he had to fight for their relationship and not simply give up. But i find the reason behind it weird, to say the least...

I know a character can only truly shine through episodes of struggle and conflict (that was actually one of the few things that stuck to me after my creative writting classes) but there could have been a better plot device to create that effect. I dunno maybe i'm looking too deeply into this, or maybe i just don't undersatnd Lilly's mindset, but could anyone explain it to me please? ^^" and by no means is this me just raging on how something "should have been", i just genuinely don't get it ^^"

[misterprinny]

How long do you expect the game (and perhaps the forums) to retain its popularity?

[TheHivemind]

How long do you expect the game (and perhaps the forums) to retain its popularity?

No clue. I imagine there will always be a group of die-hards popping in now and again... and whenever we announce something new I'm sure folk will show up here since we don't have an official 4ls forum beyond this one.

[Gamera Ramen]

Did any of you work together IRL on this? Or was every single interaction via the internet?
Also, why do you hang around here instead of abandoning us like the savages we are? I imagine there's more than just moderation motivating you.

[Aura]

Did any of you work together IRL on this? Or was every single interaction via the internet?

A few of us know each other in real life and occasionally worked physically together, but most don't. I live a thousand miles away from the closest dev to me so it'd be impractical.

Also, why do you hang around here instead of abandoning us like the savages we are? I imagine there's more than just moderation motivating you.

It's more habitual than anything I think, plus there's the possibility of something popping up that needs our attention. I've built a habit of being somewhat outside-facing, because a vast majority of 4LS aren't.

[sneakysmooth]

How much money went into the production of the game?

[cpl_crud]

How much money went into the production of the game?

As far as I know, none directly, but there have been a heap of volunteers that have paid for web hosting, domain names, and, of course, all of our time.

[misterprinny]

What is your opinion on the Hanako's Broken Hearts Club (HBHC) for short? Though I was never involved with it, I was here when it got started and now the thread is almost as gigantic as this Ask thread and spawned its own forums.

[TheHivemind]

What do you guys think that on gamefaqs KS is rated #3 on top PC games and #11 for all platforms? Also, I thought that the game was amazing, but I'm sad that you guys decided not to make another game. If you made a game that sold for money and was as good as this one I think you could make a lot of profit Couldn't you make another game even if it takes 10 years because you're doing other stuff and the game dev would be when you could?

GOD DAMN IT.

[Pseudogenesis]

What do you guys think that on gamefaqs KS is rated #3 on top PC games and #11 for all platforms? Also, I thought that the game was amazing, but I'm sad that you guys decided not to make another game. If you made a game that sold for money and was as good as this one I think you could make a lot of profit Couldn't you make another game even if it takes 10 years because you're doing other stuff and the game dev would be when you could?

GOD DAMN IT.

Hey, did 4ls break up? I heard you guys broke up and hate each other and will never make anything again.

[Helbereth]

I read somewhere that the 4LS members gather at Mount Rushmore every year to hold an annual no-holds-barred orgy. Is that true?

No, I'm not being serious, and don't call me Shirley.

Okay, in keeping with the thread title, I'll ask an actual question (that isn't a joke); have the 4LS members ever considered meeting up someplace? In person, I mean. You spent years working on this game without ever meeting beyond forums and such, so I wonder if you've ever considered setting up a date to actually meet the people with whom you worked so diligently - if only to share a few bottles of whiskey, trade war stories, and maybe go on a pantie-raid at a local college.

[Aura]

What do you guys think that on gamefaqs KS is rated #3 on top PC games and #11 for all platforms? Also, I thought that the game was amazing, but I'm sad that you guys decided not to make another game. If you made a game that sold for money and was as good as this one I think you could make a lot of profit Couldn't you make another game even if it takes 10 years because you're doing other stuff and the game dev would be when you could?

It's pretty cool that something like KS is relevant on a mainstream gaming site such as gamefaqs. It's a showcase of the explosive popularity KS got upon release.