Have you ever played a Visual Novel?

[Cosign]

A brief introduction... In my spare time, I work as a fan translator for visual novels. http://vndb.org/d6
Currently the project I am working on is called Katahane. tlwiki.tsukuru.info/index.php?title=Katahane

And so as a fan translator, I am overly curious. Have you heard of visual novels before? Have you played one? And most importantly, why not if you have not?



List of all translated visual novels to date:
http://translationlibrary.blicky.net..._vnlibrary.htm


http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1883/moe20903500.jpg

My blog.
visualnovelaer.wordpress.com

Any comments appreciated.

[Asarii]

As a rule, let's keep anything R-18 out of the discussion. Thank you!

I'm familiar with Hakuoki ~Shinsengumi Kitan~ through the anime but haven't played the game before. I'm a fan of Kazuki Yone's character design so I would love to play the other titles she's worked on. What do you mean they're all otome games? XD

[segua]

I play them but so many of them are in Japanese and learning it seems to take too much effort. (Yea, I'm lazy but I think the kanji is appears so overwhelming, sigh.) The ones I usually play are eroge but I'm kind of sick of those types of VN. So many VN out there are eroge and a few of them are non-eroge.

The only non-eroge game I've played thus far is Ever 17: Out of the Infinity. My favorite and it showed that a market exist for non-eroge games.

That aside, for some of the eroge VN games I've played are old school such as those that were originally available for DOS/Win 95/98. The were good but I guess that's memories for ya. Anyway, played some of the newer ones out there and thought it was just crap. I know they are erotical games but I guess these days, I'm looking for more depth.

Best wishes for your project.

But, I think I'm getting more into action type games and the whole clicking through isn't that appealing. That or I haven't found a good VN to play.

[Crude]

I've played two Visual Novels: Tsukihime and Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (first episode).

[Kaiten]

I've never played a VN, only seen some anime based on. I've watched the Key Studio's adaptions (Air, Kanon, Clannad) and the ef franchise but never played them. I'd be interested if there were some way to play online.

[Crude]

If you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you can download the first episode of Higurashi for free. The second one has just been released in the App Store, but you have to pay to download it. It might be free later on though...

[LilaChan]

I played a little bit of Memories Off, but got bored because it was boring. The only thing that saved it was the songs by Mizuki Nana.

I started Starry*Sky, my first otome game, for the seiyuu cast.

Oh I played the Hetalia mini games by the original mangaka. They were visual novel styled.

I'd be interested if there were some way to play online. I know you can *watch* Clannad visual novel, someone uploaded the game play on youtube. There's not much difference if you just want to watch the happy end storyline. I cried while watching Kyou's arc, since back during when Clannad season one was airing, Kyou's arc was full animated. Obviously it got animated when Clannad AS ened.

[~FrienD~]

It's hard to find non r-18 vn nowadays with all those new and popular titles. I got tired of VNs since they almost have the same plot and same character types anyways.

[Jiraiya-sama]

@Segua: Kanji is a nightmare, I say that as someone who has sworn to be able to read and write in Japanese as an eventual life goal. I am currently playing Hotel Dusk and I'm a hardcore fan of Phoenix Wright, if they count as visual novels.

[LilaChan]

@Segua: Kanji is a nightmare, I say that as someone who has sworn to be able to read and write in Japanese as an eventual life goal. I am currently playing Hotel Dusk and I'm a hardcore fan of Phoenix Wright, if they count as visual novels.That's why you play fully voiced games...

I managed playing Starry*Sky...I learnt ALL my Japanese from knowing chinese (so I can read the kanji and give it a guess) and from anime. :p

[~Coffee~]

Ive only fully played Fate/Stay Night.... XD

I would love it if Hollow Ataraxia would get translated~

[CBlitz]

hmm I've played all the Umineko question and current answer arcs so far. They're fantastic, but I'm probably being biased since it was also my first Visual Novel. I've also played all of Type Moon's stuff (Fate/Stay Night & Tsukihime). Ataraxia is being translated but its coming along kinda slowly. I think Tsukihime is getting a remake or something but don't take my word for it. F/SN is great, it even has a non-eroge version too. I'm currently playing Ever 17 (really good) and Clannad right now. Clannad is insaaaaaaaaaaanely long though, it'll take me ages to finish lol

and as soon as I get my new desktop, I'll probably buy the Higurashi question and answer arcs from Mangagamer. Will have to get the ps2 sprite patches though

so yeah, if you're new to visual novels and stuff, I fully recommend Umineko. Its easy to get into, has no eroge, and is absolutely incredible. A PS3 port is coming out in the winter, and its apparently gonna be fully voiced and have better sprites. I hope it gets reverse-ported back onto the PC lol

[~Coffee~]

Ataraxia is being translated but its coming along kinda slowly..... Tsukihime .... Ever 17 ... and Clannad

Ya Ive been attempting to help with the translation efforts of Ataraxia but years and years go by XD, and those 3 Ill probably Play, Though Ive never seen or heard of Ever 17, but if its "Really Good" then maybe I should look at it.

On another note, I was reading the skills and other information about the Characters in the Fate Stay Night game a few nights ago, when I got to Casters Skills and noticed that there was a Neko Arc hidden on the screen XD XD, I was sorta creeped out for a second XD

[Zeltrax]

9 Hours 9 persons 9 doors.

is the first thriller vn that I've ever tried.

So awesome. I don't know what to say without going off topic here but anyone into VNs should check it out if they have a DS.
Since it's only available on the ds.

Oh, and phoenix wright, Lawyers/attorneys are cool there.

[feisu-chan]

I started playing Fate/Stay Night. But it bored me. I didn't get past day one. maybe when i have nothing to do, I'll continue playing it. I want to hear more of Sugiyama Noriaki!

[~Coffee~]

like most novels or anything - if you dont stick with it long enough, you dont get interested

[CBlitz]

yeah F/SN has a lot of boring moments in the beginning. But at least get past the prologue. Not that the Fate route is that good or anything, UBW and Heaven's Feel are the reasons people read this VN

[feisu-chan]

^^I've only played the PSP game! But thanks for that! Will continue with F/SN sometime! Any other vn suggestions? I downloaded Narcissu but haven't got it installed yet. Is it good? Worthy to try?

Oh, and there probably are more eroge out there than wholesome ones. Any great suggestions that are "not too much"? I live in an apartment, and sometimes with my little cousins. I don't want to risk having them walk in on me and get wrong ideas! :p

[Zeltrax]

Sad thread. Reviving it.
For anyone that has played Ever17 will probably know this, it's amongst one of the best vn for romance, mystery, story and
characterization. It's true, I just played it and wooooow.
It's one of those vn with no eroge at all and succeed extremely well. By the same writers from 999 on the ds, I recommend
anyone new to visual novels to give ever17 a go.
I could have wrote a review of it but I'll pass, going in there fresh and unaware is the best.
E17 also have the best characters I ever met and interacted with as a player, it draws you in and makes you fall in love :wtf

[phio_chan]

I've only played Umineko no Naku Koro ni. But I haven't finished that one yet, it's quite long and full of texts. XD
Visual novels are interesting. It builds the environment of the story better because of the pictures and the soundtracks, unlike when we read physical novels. That's what I like from visual novels. But from what I heard several visual novels involve the readers as well, in which you can make choices and lead the plot to different results. That is so interesting. :3

[Asarii]

I really want to play Amnesia, which is an otome game released in August. The situation is pretty unique in that you start out in a relationship with one of the guys and actually work to develop the personality of the protagonist. :o However, I'm pretty intimidated by the fact that there are way more bad endings than good.

[Zeltrax]

I think that you should take the bad endings as a form of experience. And like me, give it many hours
of thought why this had to happen :p and how all the factors affect that end. I just find it interesting.
Besides having so many bad endings and then a good ending, that feeling.. :wtf

[Asarii]

You're more optimistic than I am. :XD Now that I think about it, having more bad endings will be a good challenge to be careful with the choices I make throughout the game. It seems that the right answer is quite ambiguous in visual novels which is good! A game that is too easy to beat is no fun.

[phio_chan]

Someone has tried reading/playing a visual novel titled Katawa Shoujo?
A friend of mine, a boy, read that visual novel and he said it is good. He, who is not a fan of reading novels and not a fan of shoujo. :XD

I gave it a try for few minutes yesterday, the beautiful music was the first thing I enjoyed. Graphic, not much, but not bad either. I wonder about the plot, though.

[Zeltrax]

I have KS on my comp, i just downloaded it a week ago :p
and really, I've played the demo(which covers up to a certain part) and it's not bad at all, at least for a fan-made game.
I want to play it as soon as I'm done with umineko, it seems interesting enough.
Uh, but I got to remember to turn the ero scenes off(or maybe not..:teehee) because I'm not sure I want to see them.
The girl that is closest to me atm is the one with that loves running but lost her foots..

I thought the graphic was okay(except for the background) for a fan-made game..its pretty good.

[phio_chan]

Ero scenes? And there is even an option to turn it off? :blink I thought it is rather a calm, peaceful, and pure VN. :p

Either way, what bugs me so far is how I feel the letters are a bit too small, and with loads of texts in each wall, I feel a bit lazy reading it. Unlike Umineko with its huge fonts, makes it easier to read. ^^;

[Asarii]

I yanked this Gameranx article from aramatheydidnt: Are Otome Games the Next Big Thing? (http://www.gameranx.com/features/id/4284/article/are-otome-games-the-next-big-thing/)

Otome games will most likely not be a financial success due to the fact that video games are still perceived as being for men only. However, I've seen a sizable amount of English-speaking otome fans in online communities so I'm sure they'd be delighted. It's great that a new genre is making its way around the globe.

[phio_chan]

I finished Katawa Shoujo this afternoon. Faster than I thought, even with all my pauses along the way. By finished, though, I meant the completion was only as far as one of five heroines provided in the story. I'm not sure if I will re-play the series and to see what the outcomes would be through other characters, considering how I just finished one and that I couldn't really imagine things could be much different if I had chosen another girl along the plot. Still, it was a great journey. It taught you how to respect and appreciate life more, because you were luckier than these people who had disabilities.

As for another visual novel to try... My long-life debt to finish Umineko still haunts me here, but I'm thinking to try another visual novel too. :P Reading how everyone says Ever 17 is great, I might give it a try.


I yanked this Gameranx article from aramatheydidnt: Are Otome Games the Next Big Thing? (http://www.gameranx.com/features/id/4284/article/are-otome-games-the-next-big-thing/)

Otome games will most likely not be a financial success due to the fact that video games are still perceived as being for men only. However, I've seen a sizable amount of English-speaking otome fans in online communities so I'm sure they'd be delighted. It's great that a new genre is making its way around the globe.

Interesting. I didn't know that there are visual novels aimed for girls too; not that I played visual novels a lot, but so far they seem to be neutral or more towards men. That being said, I share Asarii's opinion about this. Also, from reading a back, it seems like visual novels would always have the erotic part. As much as it could be something interesting, perhaps it is also the cause of such low attention?

[Asarii]

Interesting. I didn't know that there are visual novels aimed for girls too; not that I played visual novels a lot, but so far they seem to be neutral or more towards men. That being said, I share Asarii's opinion about this. Also, from reading a back, it seems like visual novels would always have the erotic part. As much as it could be something interesting, perhaps it is also the cause of such low attention?
The reason why I think otome games are becoming immensely is because of the success of Hakuouki- it made the genre mainstream in a way. A growing number of otome fans = demand for more otome games to be made.

I do think that erotic scenes are probably one of the reasons why visual novels are less likely to be released overseas. There are definitely sex scenes in Western games as well, but those aren't as graphic as the ones in visual novels. There's also the mindset that violence (e.g. Grand Theft Auto) is acceptable in entertainment while anything sexual is still controversial. On the other hand, the gaming industry is probably going for otome games because it's usually rated no higher than R-15.

[Ruciful]

Hakuoki series is a popular one. It now has it's own anime series, OVAS, and movies.
Recently for Valentines Day, a North American version was released(No english dub).
The guys are really pretty ha. It was a lot more reading than I thought but still fun.
http://www.gamestop.com/psp/games/hakuoki-demon-of-the-fleeting-blossom/97906

[Asarii]

I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that Hakuouki is the most popular visual novel game at the moment. It has two seasons of an anime adaptation under its belt as well as a manga series. The popularity might also attribute to the fact that Japanese fans already know the "characters" through historical figures; being familiar with the names and situations will make it easier to dive into the story.

[In Flames]

I've seen a few anime adaptions from Visual Novels. Including: Fate/, Clannad, Chaos;Head and recently Steins;Gate. As for playing any visual novels, I've started playing through Clannad and Steins;Gate. :)

[Asarii]

I've seen a few anime adaptions from Visual Novels. Including: Fate/, Clannad, Chaos;Head and recently Steins;Gate. As for playing any visual novels, I've started playing through Clannad and Steins;Gate. :)
I forgot that Steins; Gate was based on a visual novel! The anime most likely took the safest route so it'll be interesting to see what other options there are for the ending.

[wintercry]

I know No R-18 but School Days should be fine, right. It's a famous one, afterall, I'm surprise no one ever mentioned it.

[phio_chan]

I forgot that Steins; Gate was based on a visual novel! The anime most likely took the safest route so it'll be interesting to see what other options there are for the ending.

I heard so too. A friend who played the visual novel told me that there were so many different kind of endings to the original plot as we made each choice. That is actually one of the best points of a visual novel. An anime based on such kind of story would be rather boring since we will have to stick to one kind of ending. In Steins;Gate specifically, something 'wilder' perhaps would be better. :P

I haven't been playing visual novels for so long. Last time I played Katawa Shoujo, and I haven't tried new ones at all. Too time consuming, unfortunately. :(

[Asarii]

I heard so too. A friend who played the visual novel told me that there were so many different kind of endings to the original plot as we made each choice. That is actually one of the best points of a visual novel. An anime based on such kind of story would be rather boring since we will have to stick to one kind of ending. In Steins;Gate specifically, something 'wilder' perhaps would be better. :P
I agree. A lot of gamers don't seem to take visual novels seriously, but this type of game involves a lot of careful planning: one seemingly insignificant action can drastically alter the outcome of the game. What's special about Steins; Gate is that you watch the anime, become interested in the game it was based on and find out just how difficult it is to make everything work "right".

[Doraku]

I didn't know this thread exist :XD

Before I went to college, I used to play a lot of VNs, Little Busters, Fate/SN, Clannad and others. I think what makes me interested in VN was because it is such a unique concept, I really like how the story may have several alternatives ending and there are a lot of surprises ahead if you don't make your plan meticulously. Unfortunately the last time I played a VN was 3 years ago due to RL business (and it's just time consuming, like phio said), I might play Steins;Gate and Robotics;Note just to find out the alternative outcomes.