Clicking the mouse doesn't consistently advance text?

[Rack]

I'm trying the demo on the Steam Summer Festival but it seems like there's some issue advancing text. Sometimes I click the mouse and it advances, others it shows ... and I have to click several more times. This is a complete deal breaker for any kind of text heavy game so if it's widespread it needs fixing. I can't imagine there's any reason it would be particular to my setup.

[Nightbloomer Studio]

Hey Rack,

First thank you for playing the demo and a big thank you for taking the time to post a comment. :)

Now regarding to how the text advances, you can choose between 2 possible behaviours in the options menu :

1. Automatic scrolling, at a pace we chose, which is by default how the text advances in the demo
   
2. Click to advance (the classic VN way of advancing the text ^^)

In automatic scrolling, clicks to advance the text are disabled. It only works when you have to make a choice or in the "point & click" phases.

So, reading your problem, my guess is that you're on automatic scrolling. Is that so ?

Anyway, thanks to your comment, I know now that there should be a way to tell how it works.

[Rack]

I'm assuming that's the auto scroll option in the menu? In which case no, I'm not. Clicking normally advances text but certain text boxes just get stuck for a second or so.

[Nightbloomer Studio]

Ok, I see now. Should have thought about it before!

There are in the script some moments where it pauses.
The intention is to show an hesitation or a moment of reflection from the character.
For example, in the first scene, there is 1,5s of pause after Heloise says "In the meantime, we squat!", before Ros says "Why am I here, Heloise?"

I wrote it with the auto scroll in mind, to help convey the state of mind of the characters.
Obviously, it isn't clear enough.

So, for the released version, we'll improve it.
I can already think of 2 ways :

1. It should be limited to the auto scroll option
   
2. There should be a screen before the game to tell how the game works and which options to choose from

Do you think it will improve the way you play the game?

[Rack]

Removing the pauses would definitely help for me as I'm struggling to focus on it now. It might also work if you made it visually clear input had been recognised but speaking for myself removing these pauses entirely would be preferable.

I think a pre-screen explaining how the the options could also be helpful as typically auto mode is an optional toggle rather than the default. You might need some options for controlling the overall pace though since people's reading speeds differ so drastically.

[Nightbloomer Studio]

Thank you for your answer.
I'll make sure we improve the way the text advances. Different options to control the pace is definitely going to be in the released version.