If you would write your own VN...

[Waytfm]

You would play the VN or the game show? o.O

Definitely the VN. Maybe the gameshow, as long as I was bigger than everyone else, and they all hated eachother as much, if not more, than they hated me.

[TheLastMelody]

You would play the VN or the game show? o.O

Definitely the VN. Maybe the gameshow, as long as I was bigger than everyone else, and they all hated eachother as much, if not more, than they hated me.

Here is someone who would do well in "Hunger Games" ^_^

[scopedknife]

You would play the VN or the game show? o.O

Definitely the VN. Maybe the gameshow, as long as I was bigger than everyone else, and they all hated eachother as much, if not more, than they hated me.

Here is someone who would do well in "Hunger Games" ^_^

By "Hunger Games" I assume you mean "Battle Royale", "Lord of the Flies" or "The Long Walk"? I liked it better when it was called any of those things... "Hunger Games" just makes me hungry.

[TheLastMelody]

You would play the VN or the game show? o.O

Definitely the VN. Maybe the gameshow, as long as I was bigger than everyone else, and they all hated eachother as much, if not more, than they hated me.

Here is someone who would do well in "Hunger Games" ^_^

By "Hunger Games" I assume you mean "Battle Royale", "Lord of the Flies" or "The Long Walk"? I liked it better when it was called any of those things... "Hunger Games" just makes me hungry.

Fun fact: I didn't know it had other names XD

[Waytfm]

Oh yeah, the idea of people fighting to the death is nothing new. In lord of the flies, it's a bunch of British schoolboys on a deserted island. In the long walk, it's a bunch of guys who have to walk forward above four miles an hour, without breaks, until all but one die. I highly reccomebd both books.

[TheLastMelody]

Oh yeah, the idea of people fighting to the death is nothing new. In lord of the flies, it's a bunch of British schoolboys on a deserted island. In the long walk, it's a bunch of guys who have to walk forward above four miles an hour, without breaks, until all but one die. I highly reccomebd both books.

Hmmm, I will be honest with you, I don't ever think I will be reading them, got enough backlog as it is already >.<

[TheCynic]

I've read The Lord of the Flies; like waytfm said, it's epic. You really should read it when you get the chance.


I haven't read The Long Walk. Any plot summaries, waytfm?

[Waytfm]

Stephen King makes a bunch of younger guys walk until they die. That's pretty much it. There's a Wikipedia summary on it

[Hivemind]

There haven't been too many space opera/sci-fi VNs, (TV Tropes counts 14), I've been thinking of a Mass Effect style VN, with the same big moral choices, but with fewer people shooting things (but depending on you're choices, that number could raise drastically). And your attitude towards many things starts to shift, also depending on your choices, (i.e, siding with the alien character will make the MC more sympathetic towards aliens)

I'm gonna rattle off some characters I thought up.

Main character: Nothing special, at the start, you can choose their background, Human Officer, Mercenary Raider, Alien Sympathizer (which will affect how certain characters react towards you, i.e Human military officer won't fly with certain aliens, but will with others, you'll have the chance to prove that you're different. For better or worse.). It should be pretty clear which grants you points with who, but at the same time, not so much.

"Bro"-character: The essential "bro" character, he's been with you through thick and thin, never disobeying an order, but always remarking on how stupid it is. Regardless, he's one of the best, and he won't let you hear the end of it. You've saved his ass several times, and he's saved yours even more, resulting in a sort of bickering camaraderie. He also flies your ship, and in the event of you're absence, is the head honcho of your ship. He'll give you hints as to how to garner points with who (i.e Hey, did you hear that XYZ really doesn't like ABC? Or so-and-so happened to such-and-such, be careful when talking about it).

Energy Being: A member of an race of pure energy (baffling xenobiologists everywhere). Humanoid in shape, but clearly not in nature. The energy that they give off and are composed of can easily melt any alloy known to man and his allies, making attempts at physical contact with them brief and fatal. As such, they wear flexible suits of unknown material to avoid vaporizing anything within a few meter radius, though the minuscule amounts of energy released still make people uneasy around them. She has agreed to join you're vessel, as a social experiment by her higher ups. Eager to learn, eternally curious, and has no concept of personal space or prying into other people's business, to some of the crew's chagrin, though some find it "cute" and entertain her. One of the plot points would be the impossibility of physical intimacy, suits don't transfer the feeling of touch very well.

Cyborg (Is this the proper word?): Formerly a cybernetically augmented human, but chose to take the next step and become completely robotic. Stronger, faster and smarter than much of your crew, but at the same time is cold, detached, and aloof (and vulnerable to EMP weapons). Very little of her humanity (figuratively speaking), remains, if any, in fact, the crew speculates that she was never human to begin with. Not well liked to say the least. Life and humanity play a big role in her path.

Feel free to toss a suggestion or two into the ring.

[Al Capwned]

I think an interesting sci-fi VN would be one that takes place in slums of the capital of the empire. I was thinking that capital planet would be Trantor-esque (Asimov), with the governing bodies and upper echelons of society live on the upper levels and the lower class and immigrants live of the lower levels. Most of the VN would take place between levels 8-12 with around 50 levels on the planet total. Since the VN takes place so far down, "out of reach from the law", almost everyone is involved in some sort of criminal activity. I was also thinking that there would be some sort of conspiracy with levels 7 and below that have been declared off limits.

That a little bit about the world, here are some of the characters.

Main Character: Had to dropout of school at 17 to get a job to keep his current residence, because his single mother overdosed on a highly illegal drug and the government wasn't sending him the money he was suppose to receive after her death. Due to these events he has become cynical and a bit apathetic. he currently work in transport an inter-level system that move goods a resources between levels. "Neighbor girl's" father set him up with the job.

"Neighbor girl": Same age as MC, essentially his "watchful eye". She had to give up a chance to go to a good university on a higher level, because her fathers untimely death in a hydrogen explosion on the hydro level 9 and her mother growing ill. She and the MC often travel the same route to work. She works on the Agriculture level 8. Her "crime" is theft of company property and distributing it for reduced prices.

"The Sisters": Not really sisters, however they treat each other as such though. The "younger" owns a store on commercial level 11, which is actually a front for black market operations. The "older" is security detail for the store and the "younger's" black market deals. The "younger" is from an outer colony that was raided by slavers from a rival empire. The "older" was a mercenary that was on a job to protect the colony that the "younger" was on. Both were captured during the raid, this is where they first met. They teamed up to escape, and after drifting from planet to planet they finally came to the capital. The "younger" has a sharp tongue and even sharper wit, and was the one that orchestrated the escape. The "older" has a particular set of skills that make life a living hell for certain individuals, she has become more up-beat and out going since adopting a slower life style, but retains her sense a grim humor.

"Co-worker": She went to the same school as the MC, but is a year younger. She was a aspiring athlete but an injury cut her athletic career short. She finished school and went straight to work. She works along with the MC in transport. Very headstrong and forward, people often think she pretty dense. She is a member of an underground extremist group (terrorists).

"The Socialite": is the daughter of a high ranking senator. She has fled to the lower levels after uncovering an assassination plot against the emperor. She tries to warn the emperor, but is accused of treason by the plotters. Now an enemy of the state and on the run she must learn how the "common folk" live in the underbelly, after living in the lap of luxury for so long.

So as we can see the MC can participate in, but is not limited to: aiding and abetting, terrorism, theft, smuggling, and possibly murder. There will also be highly unpredictable encounters when coming in contact with government agencies.

[Apologies for any stereotypes or clichés.]

[ILY]

Main character: Nothing special, at the start, you can choose their background, Human Officer, Mercenary Raider, Alien Sympathizer (which will affect how certain characters react towards you, i.e Human military officer won't fly with certain aliens, but will with others, you'll have the chance to prove that you're different. For better or worse.). It should be pretty clear which grants you points with who, but at the same time, not so much.

Perhaps instead of directly choosing an affiliation at the start, there could be a beginning sequence that notes your choices under the hood and picks the background that matches your actions best. I'm sure some people don't know whether or not they want to like the aliens in your universe before they get a chance to play. A mechanic like this certainly wouldn't be easy to make, but the payoff matches that effort nicely.

"Bro"-character: The essential "bro" character, he's been with you through thick and thin, never disobeying an order, but always remarking on how stupid it is. Regardless, he's one of the best, and he won't let you hear the end of it. You've saved his ass several times, and he's saved yours even more, resulting in a sort of bickering camaraderie. He also flies your ship, and in the event of you're absence, is the head honcho of your ship. He'll give you hints as to how to garner points with who (i.e Hey, did you hear that XYZ really doesn't like ABC? Or so-and-so happened to such-and-such, be careful when talking about it).

Would he just throw these hints up in a standard chit-chat, are you thinking of some sort of phone mechanic, or maybe free roam to an extent? The first option might pull people out of the story unless you disguise said hints very well.

Cyborg (Is this the proper word?): Formerly a cybernetically augmented human, but chose to take the next step and become completely robotic. Stronger, faster and smarter than much of your crew, but at the same time is cold, detached, and aloof (and vulnerable to EMP weapons). Very little of her humanity (figuratively speaking), remains, if any, in fact, the crew speculates that she was never human to begin with. Not well liked to say the least. Life and humanity play a big role in her path.

I can see it now, "Grand Result: Tsunderes in Space!"

[TheCynic]

I can see it now, "Grand Result: Tsunderes in Space!"

That is either the crappiest idea ever, or the most brilliant one. I can't decide.

[Hivemind]

Main character: Nothing special, at the start, you can choose their background, Human Officer, Mercenary Raider, Alien Sympathizer (which will affect how certain characters react towards you, i.e Human military officer won't fly with certain aliens, but will with others, you'll have the chance to prove that you're different. For better or worse.). It should be pretty clear which grants you points with who, but at the same time, not so much.

Perhaps instead of directly choosing an affiliation at the start, there could be a beginning sequence that notes your choices under the hood and picks the background that matches your actions best. I'm sure some people don't know whether or not they want to like the aliens in your universe before they get a chance to play. A mechanic like this certainly wouldn't be easy to make, but the payoff matches that effort nicely.

"Bro"-character: The essential "bro" character, he's been with you through thick and thin, never disobeying an order, but always remarking on how stupid it is. Regardless, he's one of the best, and he won't let you hear the end of it. You've saved his ass several times, and he's saved yours even more, resulting in a sort of bickering camaraderie. He also flies your ship, and in the event of you're absence, is the head honcho of your ship. He'll give you hints as to how to garner points with who (i.e Hey, did you hear that XYZ really doesn't like ABC? Or so-and-so happened to such-and-such, be careful when talking about it).

Would he just throw these hints up in a standard chit-chat, are you thinking of some sort of phone mechanic, or maybe free roam to an extent? The first option might pull people out of the story unless you disguise said hints very well.

Cyborg (Is this the proper word?): Formerly a cybernetically augmented human, but chose to take the next step and become completely robotic. Stronger, faster and smarter than much of your crew, but at the same time is cold, detached, and aloof (and vulnerable to EMP weapons). Very little of her humanity (figuratively speaking), remains, if any, in fact, the crew speculates that she was never human to begin with. Not well liked to say the least. Life and humanity play a big role in her path.

I can see it now, "Grand Result: Tsunderes in Space!"

I think that the background based on your choices is a better idea. As for the "bro", you have to ask him about the characters, and you have to pick out what you think is important.

If anything, the Cyborg would be the Kuudere, being cold, blunt, and analytical on the surface.

[jumjummju]

HOLY CRAP IT'S HIVEMIND CAN I HAVE YOUR BABIES

Pretentious and sarcastic fanboying out of the way (since no one did it yet. ), welcome to the forums, Hive.

ANYWHO BACK ON TOPIC

If I were to make a VN it would suck because I can never think of plotlines nor could I draw. If I were to WORK on one, it would probably be better, since I'm pretty good at writing out scenes and making characters act realistically. I'm just not that good at making my own story, which is why most of my creative writing abilities goes towards forum roleplays on other sites.

If I were to make my own story it'll probably involve a zombie outbreak with most of the characters being random normal people that spend most of their time (realistically) running from zombies rather than going Duke Nukem on them and will be more about emotions and stuff like that. It would probably be mediocre at vest, though, since it'd be hard for me to actually develop the characters perfectly or think of good plotlines. That and I can't draw a straight line, even with a ruler, because I'm just that much of a klutz.

[KillerSnail]

HOLY CRAP IT'S HIVEMIND CAN I HAVE YOUR BABIES

Pretentious and sarcastic fanboying out of the way (since no one did it yet. ), welcome to the forums, Hive.

ANYWHO BACK ON TOPIC

If I were to make a VN it would suck because I can never think of plotlines nor could I draw. If I were to WORK on one, it would probably be better, since I'm pretty good at writing out scenes and making characters act realistically. I'm just not that good at making my own story, which is why most of my creative writing abilities goes towards forum roleplays on other sites.

If I were to make my own story it'll probably involve a zombie outbreak with most of the characters being random normal people that spend most of their time (realistically) running from zombies rather than going Duke Nukem on them and will be more about emotions and stuff like that. It would probably be mediocre at vest, though, since it'd be hard for me to actually develop the characters perfectly or think of good plotlines. That and I can't draw a straight line, even with a ruler, because I'm just that much of a klutz.

Zombie romance option. Do it.

[Waytfm]

It's in the works, believe it or not.

[KillerSnail]

It's in the works, believe it or not.

What is?

[Waytfm]

It's in the works, believe it or not.

What is?

Zombie Romance

[TheCynic]

Zombie romance option. Do it.

^This is.

[johnmalkovich]

I've been doing preliminary writing work for a VN of my own.

The idea came to me when I was taking a look at someones beta for a vn they were working on. Proofreading it and so on. However, the programming made me curious and I began playing around with the ins and outs of ren'py.

Unfortunately you should never tempt an RF engineer with something like ren'py code. We begin testing it out, blowing up computers, modifying, and learning as we go.

This peculiar mix of ideas eventually resulted in me coming up with an idea for a story. I have more detailed notes (What each character does, their personality quirks, their central struggle, how the resolution either shouldn't be about fixing this person, or stops this person from doing something stupid, or works with such and such character to find what it is they want etc) but it basically consists of 3 main routes, plus one bonus route that opens with the completion of the 3 main girls.

Anyways, the basic idea also came from working on a smallish island for a few years and one too many Jimmy Buffet books, and an aborted story I was working on (A lot of the characters have underwent a lot of revisions so far) until I got the following character ideas down:

M.C. recently was released from a hospital where he had been recovering from war injuries. In a search for a new purpose in life he moves to a small island in the pacific and begins setting up a tour/cargo company but isn't entirely satisfied. However, since he tends to go into the local town a lot, which is multicultural due to its location (Consisting of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Philippino , Vietnamese, and Native islanders (Implied as Saipan/Guam) With some Americans tossed in there because it's multicultural like that), and thus has a varied sphere of influences, he ends up encountering and interacting with a number of the local residents. He has a want for finding something that he would enjoy doing. In 2 of the routes he ends up opening a school for the local islanders. In 1 route he becomes a shortwave relay station and in the 4th he ends up remaining with the work he is doing, but shares the experience and his bliss with one of the characters.

Like I said before, 3 main female leads are in the story, with one unlocked later:

Ayumi: A Japanese woman who occupies a smallish sail boat parked in the lagoon. She helps run a local vendors stand and runs inter island transport of people and fishing services in her free time. She becomes something of a mentor character to the M.C. serving as a kind of virgil into the peculiar world he has wandered into. She is a bit on the wise side, offering him advice and occasionally tipping a few extra people off to him so that he has extra work. She has found her bliss in life, living an ascetic life that she feels is well suited to her desires.

Strelka: A woman who had ambitions for track and field at the Olympics but had to return from Russia due to her mother taking ill and her father requiring assistance. In order to relieve the burden she takes on most of the responsibilities but is still prone to continue her running. She is quick witted and very opinionated. She tends to be aloof about her personal situation, instead trying to see things from a perspective of "The greater good", she needs very little reason to celebrate and, after nearly plowing over the M.C. one morning as he was walking out to go fishing for the morning, tends to drag him from one bar to the other on Friday nights.

Nina: Something of the main heroine. She is a quiet and rather meek kind of character. She helps out at a local school teaching writing, languages, and science to the students she works with. When she isn't surrounded by children she tends to avoid talking about herself, constantly deflecting the conversation back to being about someone else. If, by some miracle confluence of the heavens and weather, you get her to be open about herself, she can be overly good natured. Her family is Indian, so she has a constant thing about doing good for others so that Karma is in balance, she never does talk about her past though.

Yuki: A Japanese girl who moved to the island to assist with its developing tourism industry. She applied for a liaison position but instead works as a public relations specialist aka a tour guide. She is the more girly kind of character with something of an innocent nature around her she likes to trade gossip about the goings on of the island but never reveals anything that would be damaging to other peoples reputation. She has an upbeat demeanor, almost unsettlingly so. She has a Miniature shinto shrine in her yard that she meticulously cleans (Back story reveals she is the daughter of a shinto priest but chose not to follow the same route feeling the experience of life was its own meaning) She meets M.C. shortly after he arrives on the island and tries finding the towns council chambers.

Each of the 3 main routes have an elemental feel to them and uses them as metaphors during their primary conflicts that the M.C. either assists with, stops them from doing something, simply gets to understand them, or inspires them in some way, to find what they want in life.

Primary conflict ideas I've been kicking around include:
Stranding on an island after a storm knocks out the engine on M.C.s boat.
Trapped in a submersible while helping the bro character test, (Metaphor for something else)
Stuck in the surrounding jungle after one of them takes ill
Existential problem of direct confrontation over the course of several nights after an incident on island leads to a crisis point.
Someone being stalked by people from their old life (Dealing with accepting someone as they are and not trying to change them)
Pulling one from a spiral of stupid decisions and delusions (Actual assistance... I'm not liking this idea too much)
And one POSSIBLE suicide attempt.

I know I'm being kind of vague with some of these ideas. I haven't attached the central conflicts to set characters yet though, I am keeping possibilities open but I'll be darned if I can figure out which conflicts would be the best considering the characters.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Tikis and Ukuleles will be handed out.