Rodoku Shojo X Falcom Heroines - Estelle Bright - (lost iPhone audiobook app; 2011)
Image of the app's launch screen.
Status: Lost
Rodoku Shojo X Falcom Heroines - Estelle Bright - (朗読少女×Falcomヒロインズ ～エステル・ブライト～) is an audiobook app developed by OTOBANK Inc. It was released on the App Store on March 31, 2011 for 800 yen, with additional content available through in-app purchases.
The app was a retooling of OTOBANK's previous application, Rodoku Shojo - Story Time Girl - , an interactive audiobook app that featured a selection of books narrated by a schoolgirl named Shiori Otoha. In this app, Estelle Bright from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky replaced Shiori, and the app used new assets that were themed after the game.
The app was developed through a partnership between Nihon Falcom and OTOBANK, with the intention of popularizing audiobooks among broader audiences.[1] It was the first entry in a planned series titled "Rodoku Shojo X Falcom Heroines," which intended to release similar apps featuring various female characters from Falcom games. However, the series did not continue beyond this initial release.
History
Rodoku Shojo X Falcom Heroines - Estelle Bright - was announced at the concert “Falcom jdk Band Live 2010 in Liquidroom” on August 21st, 2010. The release was scheduled for October of that year.[2] As part of the announcement, Estelle’s voice actress, Akemi Kanda, performed a live reading of the opening part from ”Carnelia”.[3]
Ten days after the reveal, Falcom announced via Twitter that they would accept user submissions for lines that Estelle could say within the app.[4]
The app went through several delays before its release. The first delay was announced on the official Rodoku Shojo blog on Ameba on October 24th, rescheduling the release to November 2010 to "ensure everyone’s satisfaction."[5] However, the November release was missed, and on December 9th, another delay was announced, pushing the release to spring 2011 due to "various circumstances.”[6]
An official website for the app was launched on April 15, 2011, providing update logs and more information about the app.[7]
Overview
The app shared many of the same features found in Rodoku Shojo - Story Time Girl -. Users could interact with Estelle in various ways, such as making her say the current time or by aggravating her. The background used a day-night cycle that reflected real-world time. As Estelle read, illustrations related to the story would occasionally appear in the background. Users could place bookmarks, and they were automatically added when the story was paused. Users could also change the page while the story was being read. The app also featured an alarm clock.[8]
"The Doll Knight" was the only book available at the app's launch. The first part was free, but the second part had to be purchased through the in-app store. The app was updated to include more books for sale, such as "Carnelia" and "Gamble Jack." There were also costumes for Estelle that allowed users to change her appearance. Dolls based on other characters from Trails in the Sky were also made available for purchase. They were placed on the shelf in the background.[9] Tapping on the dolls would make Estelle tell a story based on that character.[10] They were later updated to play voice lines.
Removal from the App Store
The app did not receive any updates after October 24, 2011. OTOBANK started to discontinue most of their iOS apps, beginning with Rodoku Shitsuji in 2016[11], followed by Rodoku Shojo - Story Time Girl - in 2017.[12] Rodoku Shojo X Falcom Heroines - Estelle Bright - was quietly delisted sometime after mid-2016, with no official announcement from either OTOBANK or Nihon Falcom.
Availability
The app is currently lost, as no IPA file or backup of it has been found. In addition, due to being a 32-bit app, it would require the use of an older iPhone model and firmware version to run as iOS versions beyond iOS 10 have dropped support for 32-bit applications.[13]
Gallery
Videos
Screenshots
Estelle reading.
Estelle Stare.
Estelle being irritated at the user.
Estelle being happy.
Front page of the in-app store. (1/2)
Front page of the in-app store. (2/2)
Estelle wearing her nightgown.
Estelle wearing her outfit from Trails in the Sky SC.
Mock-up screenshot showcasing most of the dolls in the app. The Zin doll is currently lost.
A notification from the app about the Tita doll.
Estelle reading The Doll Knight.
Estelle reading The Doll Knight.
Estelle reading Carnelia.
Estelle reading Carnelia.
Estelle reading Gambler jack.
Estelle reading Gambler jack.
Pre-release Content
Rough draft of an illustration from The Doll Knight.
Promotional Material
Image made for the app’s announcement.
Promotion art from a tapestry made for the app.
A flier for the app.
Turnaround of Estelle's model in the app.
Assets
The app’s icon.
Alternate launch screen.
See Also
- Sorcerian (lost builds of unreleased various ports of Japanese action role-playing game; early 1990s)
- Sister Sonic (lost build of cancelled "Sonic the Hedgehog" localization of "Popful Mail" Sega CD side-scrolling platformer; 1993)
External Links
References
- ↑ OTOBANK’s press release. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Rodoku Shojo website page about the collaboration. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ 4Gamer Article detailing Falcom jdk Band Live 2010 in Liquidroom. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Falcom’s line submission tweet. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Ameba blog post about the first delay. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Ameba Blog about the second delay. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Falcom’s tweet about the website opening. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ tar0073’s WordPress blog about the app. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ tar0073’s WordPress blog about the Tita doll in the app. Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Falcom’s tweet about the dolls in the app. Retrieved 09 Sept '24
- ↑ Ameba blog post about the termination of Rodoku Shitsuji Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Ameba blog post about the termination of Rodoku Shojo Retrieved 06 Sept '24
- ↑ Apple’s article about 64-bit Apps on iOS 11 Retrieved 06 Sept '24