Posts Tagged 'Visual Novel'

Feedback Loop: Many choices, or none, make a game.

Is just one choice all it takes to turn a novel into a video game? Before you say yes, consider when a game is created out of many choices and when we are left with none.

Richard Eisenbeis looks at Katawa Shoujo in an April 24 Kotaku article. Eisenbeis holds up the dating sim/visual novel as proof that one choice is all it takes to turn a novel into a game. It is a shallow analysis and the implication that one can stick a choice in a novel and have a game is just false.

If we step away from the screen with only Eisenbeis’s assertion, we lose out on understanding what developers have to do to take a story and turn it interactive.

Creating a good game means understanding the times when a million choices create an interactive work and the instances where no choices are required.

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Feedback Loop: Many choices, or none, make a game.

Is just one choice all it takes to turn a novel into a video game? Before you say yes, consider when a game is created out of many choices and when we are left with none.

Richard Eisenbeis looks at Katawa Shoujo in an April 24 Kotaku article. Eisenbeis holds up the dating sim/visual novel as proof that one choice is all it takes to turn a novel into a game. It is a shallow analysis and the implication that one can stick a choice in a novel and have a game is just false.

If we step away from the screen with only Eisenbeis’s assertion, we lose out on understanding what developers have to do to take a story and turn it interactive.

Creating a good game means understanding the times when a million choices create an interactive work and the instances where no choices are required.

/ Comments Off on Feedback Loop: Many choices, or none, make a game.

We're smarter than you think

Over the years exploration has been rewarded with collectibles. Mario taking a separate path got him to a magical switch. Items you scoured levels to collect rewarded you with items that provided minor gameplay benefits. Exploration made you stronger or

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We're smarter than you think

Over the years exploration has been rewarded with collectibles. Mario taking a separate path got him to a magical switch. Items you scoured levels to collect rewarded you with items that provided minor gameplay benefits. Exploration made you stronger or

/ One Comment

Love Interest: Second Date – Ikezawa Hanako, a Trans* Narrative

In Love Interest, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Ikezawa Hanako from Four Leaf Studio’s Katawa Shoujo. Spoilers ahoy!   (Warning:

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Love Interest: Second Date – Ikezawa Hanako, a Trans* Narrative

In Love Interest, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Ikezawa Hanako from Four Leaf Studio’s Katawa Shoujo. Spoilers ahoy!   (Warning:

/ 3 Comments

Wish upon a Starwish

Flash game Starwish has only the best of intentions. It combines JRPG style advancement and narrative with shmup style combat reminiscent of Gradius, and endeavors to make an entertaining soup out of them. And while it stands as definite proof

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Wish upon a Starwish

Flash game Starwish has only the best of intentions. It combines JRPG style advancement and narrative with shmup style combat reminiscent of Gradius, and endeavors to make an entertaining soup out of them. And while it stands as definite proof

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Objection! Ace Attorney 5 + Ace Attorney 123 HD announced

With Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Miles Edgeworth, or should I say Gyakuten Kenji 2, remaining unlocalized for nearly a year I began to lose hope for the Ace Attorney series. It’s a great series, but it isn’t as popular in

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Objection! Ace Attorney 5 + Ace Attorney 123 HD announced

With Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Miles Edgeworth, or should I say Gyakuten Kenji 2, remaining unlocalized for nearly a year I began to lose hope for the Ace Attorney series. It’s a great series, but it isn’t as popular in

/ Comments Off on Objection! Ace Attorney 5 + Ace Attorney 123 HD announced

Love Interest: Werner Herzog, the Power Fantasy

Every Sunday, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Werner Herzog from Langmaor’s Absolute Obedience. Spoilers ahoy!   (Warning: There are

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Love Interest: Werner Herzog, the Power Fantasy

Every Sunday, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Werner Herzog from Langmaor’s Absolute Obedience. Spoilers ahoy!   (Warning: There are

/ One Comment

Dating sim Katawa Shoujo finally releases

The road has been long and hard for the dating sim Katawa Shoujo, for five years it has been in the making. The story began in December 2000 with a single piece of concept art for a doujin called Schuppen

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Dating sim Katawa Shoujo finally releases

The road has been long and hard for the dating sim Katawa Shoujo, for five years it has been in the making. The story began in December 2000 with a single piece of concept art for a doujin called Schuppen

/ Comments Off on Dating sim Katawa Shoujo finally releases

Love Interest: Arianna Bell-Essai, the Teacher's Vixen

Every Sunday, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Arianna Bell-Essai from Christine Love’s Don’t take it personally, babe, it just

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Love Interest: Arianna Bell-Essai, the Teacher's Vixen

Every Sunday, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Arianna Bell-Essai from Christine Love’s Don’t take it personally, babe, it just

/ 8 Comments

Love Interest: Derek Nevine, the Anti-Gamer

Every week, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Derek Nevine from sakevisual’s Re: Alistair++. Spoilers ahoy! Derek Nevine is the

/ 6 Comments

Love Interest: Derek Nevine, the Anti-Gamer

Every week, Mattie Brice picks a date from a visual novel and breaks down how they represent culture’s expression of sexuality. Today she talks about her time with Derek Nevine from sakevisual’s Re: Alistair++. Spoilers ahoy! Derek Nevine is the

/ 6 Comments