how does the screen reader work exactly?

My screen reading software does absolutely nothing for Undertale. :( I wish it, though, as I'd then be able to play it without using much sight at all. :)


The screen reader is designed largely around Microsoft applications, such as Internet Explorer, along with basic Mac OS applications. What it does is go into the code for the sites and identifies text regions, hyperlinks, etc. as you use a variety of command keys to navigate about a given page, or application. Sometimes it makes little noises to let you know when you're in text boxes so you know where to, and where not to, type. :)


The screen reader works differently for each application, but it is quite effective at keeping me in contact with friends and family when vision is not available. :)

so, you dont actually see the texts? or do you?

so can it read open office texts?

I haven't used Open Office so I couldn't say one way, or another.


Freedom Scientific, the makers of my screen reading software, JAWS, try to make the software compatible with those applications in which are most commonly used. So anything typically standardized with Microsoft, or Apple tends to be a start point with other applications getting attention as they can figure things out. :)


The downside is that Freedom Scientific can't keep up well with how companies release new versions of their software so quickly. So something that worked in, for example, MS Word 2010 may not work in MS Word 2013.


It's a pain, but you can find workarounds if you put enough time and effort into it. :)

the reason I aske of course is because I did post previews of my novel in open office.

anyways, you love toriel huh? :3

That I do. :) Toriel is sweet and cute. Such a caring mom. :)


I have your novel chapters saved in a spot to hopefully read over soon. I just caught up on some videos a friend asked me to check out, so I'm gradually catching up on everything else.


As Fluttershy says, "Baby steps". :)

nice, anyways, I should probably get more lore of my villages :3

That sounds like a fun idea. I've falling even more behind on my own work than I have on my Comments, Posts, and Notes. <LoL!>


Would you say Tsurgdari has become a proud project of yours? Is it helping you to fully express your talents while doing some fun world building all your own?

well, it would like if it sold a few copies, I would do e-books, but I dont know how to do that

It truly is a struggle for unknown authors to get their work out. It's even harder with self-publishing since the cost of our works is exceedingly high compared to tales in which are mass-produced.


The nice thing is that, over time, you will only continue to build a volume of work. So, when you are finally discovered, back sales of previous works will go through the roof! :)

I really love Undertale. Kind of funny story there, as I hated hearing about it because everyone was talking about it (the fandom is rather irritating), and the fact that I find the overworld sprites visually ugly made me not want to play it.

But I gave it a shot after learning more about characters like Toriel, Papyrus, and the mystery behind WD Gaster.

I can't imagine how hard the battle system would be with limited sight, it's really cool that you're able to play it. I'm awful at bullet hell games so I die a lot during random encounters, since I'm doing pacifist.

I really love Papyrus though, he's so funny, and the stuff he has to say (along with Undyne) if you call them is gold. I really like Sans too.

And I've always thought that Toriel would be the perfect caretaker.

If it gets to a point where you can't play it, you could always watch lets plays of it. Most lets players voice out the dialogue so you wouldn't be missing out on much, since the dialogue is the bulk of the game.

I am so happy when I hear from you, Skye. It makes me smile every time. :)


If I can no longer play it, I think I'll just do what I've been doing, which is letting folks tell me more about what they like about it. I actually shouldn't even be playing video games, but I'm pushing myself since the surgery on January 27th could end it all and, well, I'd rather know I attempted to enjoy some fun visuals while I had some sight left. No sense losing it before I truly lose it, right?


I'm getting ready to go past Toriel to meet the other characters. The dialogue in Undertale is so clever. It makes me very jealous as I get feelings of being sub-par in writing when I read content and story that I "feel" is better than mine. I don't get sad nor upset. It's more jealous with a follow-up of being inspired to do more writing of my own.


I hope you've been doing well as we've embarked into the holiday season, Skye. You're definitely going to be with me in spirit come surgery time. You and your spirit got me through the last ones I had. Thinking of you and how you've inspired me towards positive, mental health will definitely make this upcoming one a winner either way it comes out. :)

I've been doing better. I've actually been seriously obsessed with Undertale lately, so I'd totally be up to talking your head off about it, haha. Well, if you don't mind spoilers anyhow. It's kind of hard to talk about whats so great about it without spoiling like, everything. The characters are amazing. I don't really like the gameplay, but I love the characters so much.

It's cool that you're still giving it your all after all this time. I really admire how you can find positives in bad situations.

I had some really good teachers. *Wink-Wink Nudge-Nudge* :)


I'd love to talk Undertale with you, Skye. It would be fun to hear what parts of it you like. I don't know how far I'll be able to make it with what vision I have left so I'm not as concerned about spoilers as I am hearing what everyone enjoys most about the game.


How are the holidays looking for you?

The big character Isuper identified with for personal reasons is a Huge Spoiler.

The other one, Dr. Alphys though... also from the fact that I am also a chubby bi lizard person anime nerd, this game does something I've never really seen any other game do. She displayed a lot of the things I've had (or have) as someone with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder: panic attacks, insecurity, self-esteem issues, worries about being accepted even after making well-intentioned but horrible mistakes. But it's the first time I can remember seeing a character in a game displaying the same issues as me being portrayed sympathetically. She's loyal and passionate and enthusiastic and is just looking for acceptance and wants to help people.

Really? Alphys was actually the only character I didn't like, and I feel like the game didn't put much effort into redeeming her. I don't think she ever even truly apologized for the awful things she did. And on top of that, I have a huge issue with people who are dishonest and liars, and boy does she have that covered (Heck even Flowey was honest and only told a single white lie). Her being a personification of Tumblr doesn't help at all either, and her relationship with Undyne feels incredibly forced, not just her but pretty much anyone really. If she truly wanted to help people, if she was truly loyal, she'd be honest with them.

For me, the attempts at portraying her as "sympathetic" come out more of trying to guilt trip you into liking her, like "oh i ruined the lives of a bunch of people and tell nothing but lies to try and force people to be friends with me, but you must feel bad for me because i'm suicidal and i'll do it if you're not nice to me" just makes me more angry with her than anything...

I've seen plenty of characters having issues like that being portrayed in a way thats actually sympathetic. The biggest example would be Hubert Oswell from Tales of Graces, who is literally one of my most favorite characters of all time. Also Luke Fon Fabre, the main character from another Tales game, Tales of the Abyss. And Tidus from Final Fantasy X. Those are just off the top of my head, and that's just including games and not anime. Then again, most people seem to dislike those characters, while I feel a strong connection with them because of how relatable they are.

Ok

Pardon me, but I couldn't help but read this part of the thread since it was about Undertale.


I've yet to meet some of the characters you and Toroth were mentioning here, but your description of Alphys is quite interesting. I say this based on the description your provided as, well, I'm familiar with the situation. (Nobody in particular, but I've seen / heard some things as I have gone about researching how to make myself more self-accepting of myself while being better at understanding and respecting the feelings of others)


It's truly fascinating how we relate with different characters for different reasons. A character I relate to may be one someone totally dislikes. Heck, I even got trolled just today on Deviant Art for the story about Spike the Dragon I wrote. Fortunately, thanks to my friends, I've built enough self-esteem and self-validation to ignore it beyond kindly asking said troll to think before they say mean things to people they do not know. I know this is asking a lot from a troll, but it was worth a shot. :)


Something interesting is how I discovered, personally, how both Spike and Starlight Glimmer from MLP: FiM represent a real matter I had a tough time dealing with due to past events in working environments. This being "Victimstance". Spike, to me, accepts he will be the "butt of all jokes" and just rolls with it as it being the best that it gets. However, Starlight Glimmer sought revenge for the wrongs she felt were done to her. Both approaches are wrong, but can be handled by not taking things so personally.


It goes without saying how hard it has been for me to not take things personally when I am told harsh things about who I am, what I do, etc. However, thanks to my therapist, I'm much better at dealing with the uncontrollable cruelty others put towards me and am much better at deflecting it instead of absorbing it. :)

I'll talk to some folks, see what they can do.

Thanks a bunch, Byron. *Snugs* I truly appreciate it.


I've gotten some recommendations, but I always like to go with immediate pals first. If no immediate pals then I go with friends of pals. :)


Hopefully the holidays have been treating you well, my friend. Thanks for being such a kind and thoughtful pal.