Well, we still do. BUT for now I've decided to stop sitting around and waiting for artists and just make my own images for the mini-VN.
That being said, when I say "make my own images" I mostly mean taking screenshots from the first episode and fan-art off the web and editing them to serve my purposes.
But it's better than having placeholder images that just look ugly.
Hopefully I won't get sued by anybody.
Erm... Either way we're still looking for artists, so if you're willing to put in a few hours making art for something that may or may not potentially ever be finished, go ahead and shoot me an e-mail at vnmaking044@gmail.com, or just leave a comment here.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Script For The Mini-VN Complete
Exactly what it says on the tin.
I'm too tired and I'm afraid I won't make sense if I say anymore, so I'll just leave it at that. We'll be entering polishing/editing stages next.
I'm too tired and I'm afraid I won't make sense if I say anymore, so I'll just leave it at that. We'll be entering polishing/editing stages next.
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Mini-VN
Okay, so, we've actually started work, as in actually working IN Ren'Py on the Mini-VN.
It's looking pretty simple so far, but we'll see how this goes.
In the mean time, I'm looking for artists who want to join this, at the moment very tenuous, project. For the mini-VN, all we'll really need is sprites made of the pre-existing characters, and backgrounds made of the pre-existing environments.
I've got dummy artwork set up for the scripting so I know everything's working, but man does "MIO SPRITE HERE" and "SCHOOL AUDITORIUM HERE" look pretty bad.
It's looking pretty simple so far, but we'll see how this goes.
In the mean time, I'm looking for artists who want to join this, at the moment very tenuous, project. For the mini-VN, all we'll really need is sprites made of the pre-existing characters, and backgrounds made of the pre-existing environments.
I've got dummy artwork set up for the scripting so I know everything's working, but man does "MIO SPRITE HERE" and "SCHOOL AUDITORIUM HERE" look pretty bad.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ren'Py
Good news, everybody! I've actually sat down and actually looked at Ren'Py.
And it's not as easy as I thought it was going to be.
But that's okay! I'll sit through hours of YouTube tutorial videos if I have to to make sure I know how to use this and use it right.
If anybody knows of any really good Ren'Py guides, though, I would appreciate it greatly if you let me know about them.
And it's not as easy as I thought it was going to be.
But that's okay! I'll sit through hours of YouTube tutorial videos if I have to to make sure I know how to use this and use it right.
If anybody knows of any really good Ren'Py guides, though, I would appreciate it greatly if you let me know about them.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Mini/Training VN
I'd like to thank /a/ user darkness_and_light for making this suggestion.
So, rather than being a group of idiots and jumping straight into the big project without any experience with VNs or, more importantly, any experience working with each other as a team, the plan, for the moment, is to make a short, mini-VN.
We won't allow it to take us more than a month, so that we don't go off track or burn-out and completely drop the main project.
The idea is going to be that we'll adapt the first episode of K-On into VN format, so that all of us can get used to Ren'Py, (Fuck it, we'll go with Ren'py. No reason not to.) the process of making VNs, and each other. Experience is key, I guess.
It shouldn't be more than 30 minutes long to play, and, as I said, it will NOT take us more than a month to make.
Once we make it, we'll post it on /a/ as a sort of "Hey guys, look what we made. Now look at what we intend to make in the future!" thing.
Opinions?
So, rather than being a group of idiots and jumping straight into the big project without any experience with VNs or, more importantly, any experience working with each other as a team, the plan, for the moment, is to make a short, mini-VN.
We won't allow it to take us more than a month, so that we don't go off track or burn-out and completely drop the main project.
The idea is going to be that we'll adapt the first episode of K-On into VN format, so that all of us can get used to Ren'Py, (Fuck it, we'll go with Ren'py. No reason not to.) the process of making VNs, and each other. Experience is key, I guess.
It shouldn't be more than 30 minutes long to play, and, as I said, it will NOT take us more than a month to make.
Once we make it, we'll post it on /a/ as a sort of "Hey guys, look what we made. Now look at what we intend to make in the future!" thing.
Opinions?
Moar Script + How Many Choices?
This does not necessarily sequentially follow the last script, I'm sort of just writing whenever I get ideas.
It is also obviously a first draft and will be subject to many edits and changes. If you yourself can offer any (constructive) criticisms, feel free to do so. I would like to say that I wrote this while both tired and sick, so if there is a number of errors, don't be surprised.
BG: Sakuragaoka High
The first day of school is here. As I walk past the gates of Sakuragaoka Gir- Wait, no, I suppose it wouldn’t be a Girl’s School any more. I walk past the gates of Sakurgaoka High School, and immediately feel a hundred stares in my direction. I look around, and sure enough, most of the girls in the school are looking straight at me.
I understand I might not exactly be the most common sight - A boy at, up until a month ago, an all girls school - But did they have to look at me like some sort of freak show? I notice lots of girls chatting while looking at me, laughing as they do so. What, is there something on my face?
I decide to not be out in public any longer than I have to, and begin to hurry towards the gym for the entrance ceremony.
FN: [PN]-chaaaaaaan!
Or so I thought, anyways. I feel a mass slam into my back and arms wrap around me as [FN] half tackles, half hugs me. I notice the stares get a bit more intense.
PN: Would you get off me!
I push him off my back. If there’s going to be rumors about the new boys at this school, I’d rather they not be those sorts of rumors.
FN: How can you be so hostile, PN-chan? The fact that we both got into the same school proves that the countless gods want us to be with one another.
He gives me a wry grin, which I have to fight back the urge to slap off his silly looking face.
PN: And amongst the countless gods are countless trickster gods who enjoy seeing the misery of humans.
FN: Sure, sure. Hey, PN, let’s go sit together for the entrance ceremony!
I know no matter what I do, FN is going to be right by my side, so I let him tag along.
Fade to: BG: Auditorium/Gym
We find seats in the designated boys section for the entrance ceremony, and wait for the principal’s speech to begin.
Principal: Ahh, yes, umm, welcome to Sakuragaoka High School, previously known as Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School…
The speech is the usual hour-long drivel about being responsible students and making sure you study, the sort of stuff that I nearly fall asleep to. FN, on the other hand, does fall asleep. I turn to see the poor kid completely knocked out by the principal’s speech, head nodding as he tries desperately to stay awake.
Principal: Ahh, yes, and, umm, as you all, uhh, know, with the unfortunate accident which robbed us of one of our most honoured institutes of learning last month, but which thankfully took no lives, Sakuragaoka has compassionately opened it’s arms to some of the former students of that school.
This was our cue. It was going to be annoying, but we had to do it. I shook FN awake
FN: Uhh, the… The answer is… Four, teacher.
PN: This isn’t math class. We have to go up on the stage, come on.
FN somehow manages to wake up enough to walk up the stage with me. We stand in spots marked by tape, as the principal spouts some more stuff about the importance of generosity. FN looks as though he might fall asleep where he stands.
As the principal gives his speech, I take the time to look around. Apparently there’s about nine other boys from our same school who are transferring in with us, but I don’t recognize any of them. I look out at the crowd and see the mass of girls sitting and staring intently at us as the principal gives his speech.
I sincerely hope that the time I spend here isn’t going to be time spent being stared at all the time. Are boys really that much of an oddity to these girls?
Principal: Ahh, yes, umm, I would now like to ask our new boys to please introduce themselves.
He says “Ask”, but the fact of the matter is this is just something we have to do for the sake of politeness and tradition.
The other boys go up one by one, each giving an extremely unenthusiastic introduction, each getting an extremely unenthusiastic round of applause. I almost imagine there’s a sign above the stage that lights up with an “APPLAUSE” to let them know when to clap. Eventually, though, it’s my turn.I walk up to the microphone, trying to be as calm and normal looking as possible. It’s a bit hard to do with a few hundred girls all staring at you.
PN: Nice to meet you. My name is PN. Please take care of my for my stay here!
I bow, and get an extremely unenthusiastic round of ap- Wait, no I don’t. There’s something different about the clapping this time. It’s like… They’re almost excited for me. I come out of the bow, and notice that the girls are staring at me with those same looks. I return to my spot, confused a bit. FN goes after me.
FN: Hello!
God damnit. I need to make sure I act like I don’t know him after this entrance ceremony.
FN: Nice to meet you all! My name is FN! I humbly ask that thou all take care of me.
I really, REALLY need to make sure I act like I don’t know that kid.
He actually gets a few laughs as he cheerfully walks back to his spot. If you told me this kid was a wizard, I wouldn’t be surprised, the things he manages to do.
The others after us finish their introductions, and we return to our seats to try desperately to stay awake for the remainder of the principal’s speech.
Eventually, the principal’s speech ends, and we’re released to find what classes we’ve ended up in.
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
First of all, if anybody has detailed knowledge on how the whole first day of Japanese high school works, I'd love it if you could contact me so I know how to make this go.
Second of all, what do you guys think for the number of choices we put in this VN? Many VNs have many different philosophies regarding that. Some have choices every ten minutes, others have only a handful of choices, and some seek a happy medium.
So let me ask you guys: How many choices do you think this VN should have?
It is also obviously a first draft and will be subject to many edits and changes. If you yourself can offer any (constructive) criticisms, feel free to do so. I would like to say that I wrote this while both tired and sick, so if there is a number of errors, don't be surprised.
BG: Sakuragaoka High
The first day of school is here. As I walk past the gates of Sakuragaoka Gir- Wait, no, I suppose it wouldn’t be a Girl’s School any more. I walk past the gates of Sakurgaoka High School, and immediately feel a hundred stares in my direction. I look around, and sure enough, most of the girls in the school are looking straight at me.
I understand I might not exactly be the most common sight - A boy at, up until a month ago, an all girls school - But did they have to look at me like some sort of freak show? I notice lots of girls chatting while looking at me, laughing as they do so. What, is there something on my face?
I decide to not be out in public any longer than I have to, and begin to hurry towards the gym for the entrance ceremony.
FN: [PN]-chaaaaaaan!
Or so I thought, anyways. I feel a mass slam into my back and arms wrap around me as [FN] half tackles, half hugs me. I notice the stares get a bit more intense.
PN: Would you get off me!
I push him off my back. If there’s going to be rumors about the new boys at this school, I’d rather they not be those sorts of rumors.
FN: How can you be so hostile, PN-chan? The fact that we both got into the same school proves that the countless gods want us to be with one another.
He gives me a wry grin, which I have to fight back the urge to slap off his silly looking face.
PN: And amongst the countless gods are countless trickster gods who enjoy seeing the misery of humans.
FN: Sure, sure. Hey, PN, let’s go sit together for the entrance ceremony!
I know no matter what I do, FN is going to be right by my side, so I let him tag along.
Fade to: BG: Auditorium/Gym
We find seats in the designated boys section for the entrance ceremony, and wait for the principal’s speech to begin.
Principal: Ahh, yes, umm, welcome to Sakuragaoka High School, previously known as Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School…
The speech is the usual hour-long drivel about being responsible students and making sure you study, the sort of stuff that I nearly fall asleep to. FN, on the other hand, does fall asleep. I turn to see the poor kid completely knocked out by the principal’s speech, head nodding as he tries desperately to stay awake.
Principal: Ahh, yes, and, umm, as you all, uhh, know, with the unfortunate accident which robbed us of one of our most honoured institutes of learning last month, but which thankfully took no lives, Sakuragaoka has compassionately opened it’s arms to some of the former students of that school.
This was our cue. It was going to be annoying, but we had to do it. I shook FN awake
FN: Uhh, the… The answer is… Four, teacher.
PN: This isn’t math class. We have to go up on the stage, come on.
FN somehow manages to wake up enough to walk up the stage with me. We stand in spots marked by tape, as the principal spouts some more stuff about the importance of generosity. FN looks as though he might fall asleep where he stands.
As the principal gives his speech, I take the time to look around. Apparently there’s about nine other boys from our same school who are transferring in with us, but I don’t recognize any of them. I look out at the crowd and see the mass of girls sitting and staring intently at us as the principal gives his speech.
I sincerely hope that the time I spend here isn’t going to be time spent being stared at all the time. Are boys really that much of an oddity to these girls?
Principal: Ahh, yes, umm, I would now like to ask our new boys to please introduce themselves.
He says “Ask”, but the fact of the matter is this is just something we have to do for the sake of politeness and tradition.
The other boys go up one by one, each giving an extremely unenthusiastic introduction, each getting an extremely unenthusiastic round of applause. I almost imagine there’s a sign above the stage that lights up with an “APPLAUSE” to let them know when to clap. Eventually, though, it’s my turn.I walk up to the microphone, trying to be as calm and normal looking as possible. It’s a bit hard to do with a few hundred girls all staring at you.
PN: Nice to meet you. My name is PN. Please take care of my for my stay here!
I bow, and get an extremely unenthusiastic round of ap- Wait, no I don’t. There’s something different about the clapping this time. It’s like… They’re almost excited for me. I come out of the bow, and notice that the girls are staring at me with those same looks. I return to my spot, confused a bit. FN goes after me.
FN: Hello!
God damnit. I need to make sure I act like I don’t know him after this entrance ceremony.
FN: Nice to meet you all! My name is FN! I humbly ask that thou all take care of me.
I really, REALLY need to make sure I act like I don’t know that kid.
He actually gets a few laughs as he cheerfully walks back to his spot. If you told me this kid was a wizard, I wouldn’t be surprised, the things he manages to do.
The others after us finish their introductions, and we return to our seats to try desperately to stay awake for the remainder of the principal’s speech.
Eventually, the principal’s speech ends, and we’re released to find what classes we’ve ended up in.
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
First of all, if anybody has detailed knowledge on how the whole first day of Japanese high school works, I'd love it if you could contact me so I know how to make this go.
Second of all, what do you guys think for the number of choices we put in this VN? Many VNs have many different philosophies regarding that. Some have choices every ten minutes, others have only a handful of choices, and some seek a happy medium.
So let me ask you guys: How many choices do you think this VN should have?
First Stuff
I'm sure there's some witty quote out there by some famous guy about how it's good to start quickly or early or something like that, so just imagine I used that quote here.
Anyways, I've decided to just go ahead and start. I mean, this project isn't exactly going to get anywhere if I don't START, you know? So I wrote up the script (I have no script writing experience, so bear with me.) for the first five minutes of the game or so. This is obviously subject to massive changes and edits, especially since I just wrote it up in the past half hour.
And so, here is the first actual work on the K-On visual novel:
-------------------------
[Black Screen]
On Christmas Eve, in the winter vacation after the end of my first year, my high school burned down.
Christmas morning, we woke up to the ‘present’ of hearing the news that our school was gone.
[Cut to CG of a burnt down school]
Fortunately, the fire was at night, when nobody was there. Unfortunately, being Christmas Eve, the response to the fire was slower than it would be normally, and almost the entire building was burnt down.
A week later, all of the now former students of the school and their families were called to a meeting by the local school district. With no school left to go to, we were to be transferred into new schools. As no single school was willing to accept all 500 or so students from our school, it seemed like we were to be basically thrown into whatever school had room.
[Cut to background of exterior some administration like building]
A week after the meeting, we went to find out which schools we’d be headed to.
As I heard towards the building, I hear someone call out my name.
[Voice]: Yo! [Insert Protag Name Here]!
…
And I was hoping to avoid him today, too.
I turn around, and sure enough, I see him running straight towards me.
[Sprite of Best Friend Dude]
He grabs latches onto my arm, and starts rubbing his head on me like a lover.
[Voice]: Ooooh, [PN (Protag Name)]-chan, my dear, where have you been!
This is what I suppose you could call my “best friend”, [Best Friend’s Name (Hereby shortened to FN].
[FN]: Hearing about that fire was so traumatizing for me [PN]-chan. Where were you when I needed you?
I tear him off my arm and push him away.
[PN]: Oh really? I recall a certain voice calling me over the phone on Christmas Day, telling me “Merry Christmas”, since we both had gotten the best gift possible.
I sigh.
[PN]: Did you honestly think just because the old school burnt down, that meant you weren’t ever going to have to go to school again?
He gives me his rogue-like, sly smile that he always has ready.
[FN]: Oh, [PN]-chan, stop being so tsun-tsun with me. You’re much more cute when you’re in dere-dere mode.
I feel my hands clench into fists.
[PN]: Tsun-tsun this!
I make a lunge for him, but he quickly jumps out of the way, that smile still on his face.
[FN]: Come now, [PN]-chan, there’s no need for violence.
I make another lunge at him.
[PN]: You can say that, but that doesn’t make it true.
He dances around my attacks, easily avoiding me.
[FN]: Didn’t your parents ever teach you to respect your elders?
He laughs as he avoids me again
[PN]: You’re only a day older than me.
[FN]: Oh, these young-uns today. Whatever happened to that good ol’ Showa-era?
[PN]: You wouldn’t know Showa-era if it dropped on you from the sky.
He continues to avoid my attacks, when I realize we’re being stared at. All of the other students are giving us looks as we continue this manzai routine. I finally manage to grab him, and start dragging him into the building.
[PN]: Come on, let’s go find out what schools we’re going to.
[FN]: Oh, [PN]-chan, don’t treat me so roughly!
[PN]: AND STOP CALLING ME CHAN!
[FN]: Sure thing, [PN]-chan.
[Black screen]
[Background of interior of administration building]
[FN] and I are standing in line together, waiting to get the paperwork that will let us know which schools we’re going to.
[PN]: I can only hope the numberless gods have seen fit to separate us into different schools.
[FN] makes some sobbing noises.
[FN]: You’re so cruel, [PN]-chan.
[PN]: I said stop calling me chan!
[FN]: Fine, fine. Oh, [PN], did you hear that some of the all-girl schools in the area are accepting some of us!
A certain light appears in his eye, one I’ve grown to distrust.
[FN]: Wouldn’t it be nice if we got into one? All of those girls… All to ourselves!
[PN]: That’s all you think about, isn’t it?
He gives me a look.
[FN]: Are you saying you don’t?
Well, I can’t deny I DON’T think about girls. I am sixteen, and it’s not like being at an all boys school wasn’t suffocating. But…
[PN]: You’re still a lech.
He grabs onto me again.
[FN]: Oooooh, don’t worry [PN]-chan. There’s no girl on the planet who could ever make me leave you.
[PN]: Go die.
The comedy act continues for the entertainment of those around us until we finally get to the desks. I show my ID and grab the envelope that has all the information for me in it. I go to the side and begin tearing it open in anticipation. What [FN] said is still in my mind. I mean, what if I did get into one of the all-girls schools?
I read the name of the school I’m being sent to.
No, that’s not likel-
“Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School”
-------------------------
And I'll leave it at that because I've always loved a good cliffhanger.
Anyways, I've decided to just go ahead and start. I mean, this project isn't exactly going to get anywhere if I don't START, you know? So I wrote up the script (I have no script writing experience, so bear with me.) for the first five minutes of the game or so. This is obviously subject to massive changes and edits, especially since I just wrote it up in the past half hour.
And so, here is the first actual work on the K-On visual novel:
-------------------------
[Black Screen]
On Christmas Eve, in the winter vacation after the end of my first year, my high school burned down.
Christmas morning, we woke up to the ‘present’ of hearing the news that our school was gone.
[Cut to CG of a burnt down school]
Fortunately, the fire was at night, when nobody was there. Unfortunately, being Christmas Eve, the response to the fire was slower than it would be normally, and almost the entire building was burnt down.
A week later, all of the now former students of the school and their families were called to a meeting by the local school district. With no school left to go to, we were to be transferred into new schools. As no single school was willing to accept all 500 or so students from our school, it seemed like we were to be basically thrown into whatever school had room.
[Cut to background of exterior some administration like building]
A week after the meeting, we went to find out which schools we’d be headed to.
As I heard towards the building, I hear someone call out my name.
[Voice]: Yo! [Insert Protag Name Here]!
…
And I was hoping to avoid him today, too.
I turn around, and sure enough, I see him running straight towards me.
[Sprite of Best Friend Dude]
He grabs latches onto my arm, and starts rubbing his head on me like a lover.
[Voice]: Ooooh, [PN (Protag Name)]-chan, my dear, where have you been!
This is what I suppose you could call my “best friend”, [Best Friend’s Name (Hereby shortened to FN].
[FN]: Hearing about that fire was so traumatizing for me [PN]-chan. Where were you when I needed you?
I tear him off my arm and push him away.
[PN]: Oh really? I recall a certain voice calling me over the phone on Christmas Day, telling me “Merry Christmas”, since we both had gotten the best gift possible.
I sigh.
[PN]: Did you honestly think just because the old school burnt down, that meant you weren’t ever going to have to go to school again?
He gives me his rogue-like, sly smile that he always has ready.
[FN]: Oh, [PN]-chan, stop being so tsun-tsun with me. You’re much more cute when you’re in dere-dere mode.
I feel my hands clench into fists.
[PN]: Tsun-tsun this!
I make a lunge for him, but he quickly jumps out of the way, that smile still on his face.
[FN]: Come now, [PN]-chan, there’s no need for violence.
I make another lunge at him.
[PN]: You can say that, but that doesn’t make it true.
He dances around my attacks, easily avoiding me.
[FN]: Didn’t your parents ever teach you to respect your elders?
He laughs as he avoids me again
[PN]: You’re only a day older than me.
[FN]: Oh, these young-uns today. Whatever happened to that good ol’ Showa-era?
[PN]: You wouldn’t know Showa-era if it dropped on you from the sky.
He continues to avoid my attacks, when I realize we’re being stared at. All of the other students are giving us looks as we continue this manzai routine. I finally manage to grab him, and start dragging him into the building.
[PN]: Come on, let’s go find out what schools we’re going to.
[FN]: Oh, [PN]-chan, don’t treat me so roughly!
[PN]: AND STOP CALLING ME CHAN!
[FN]: Sure thing, [PN]-chan.
[Black screen]
[Background of interior of administration building]
[FN] and I are standing in line together, waiting to get the paperwork that will let us know which schools we’re going to.
[PN]: I can only hope the numberless gods have seen fit to separate us into different schools.
[FN] makes some sobbing noises.
[FN]: You’re so cruel, [PN]-chan.
[PN]: I said stop calling me chan!
[FN]: Fine, fine. Oh, [PN], did you hear that some of the all-girl schools in the area are accepting some of us!
A certain light appears in his eye, one I’ve grown to distrust.
[FN]: Wouldn’t it be nice if we got into one? All of those girls… All to ourselves!
[PN]: That’s all you think about, isn’t it?
He gives me a look.
[FN]: Are you saying you don’t?
Well, I can’t deny I DON’T think about girls. I am sixteen, and it’s not like being at an all boys school wasn’t suffocating. But…
[PN]: You’re still a lech.
He grabs onto me again.
[FN]: Oooooh, don’t worry [PN]-chan. There’s no girl on the planet who could ever make me leave you.
[PN]: Go die.
The comedy act continues for the entertainment of those around us until we finally get to the desks. I show my ID and grab the envelope that has all the information for me in it. I go to the side and begin tearing it open in anticipation. What [FN] said is still in my mind. I mean, what if I did get into one of the all-girls schools?
I read the name of the school I’m being sent to.
No, that’s not likel-
“Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School”
-------------------------
And I'll leave it at that because I've always loved a good cliffhanger.
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