How to Create Your Own Visual Novel: Tips and Tricks

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Now such a game genre as a visual novel has become quite popular. Novellas are developed not only by professionals in their field, but also by amateurs. How to make your own visual novel? What are the characteristics of this genre? What programs can I use to create visual novels?

What is a visual novel

Before answering the question of how to create a visual novel, it is worth delving a little into the essence of the concept. A visual novel is a genre of computer games that is characterized by not very high interactivity. During the game, an image and text are displayed on the screen, while the player has to move from one dialogue or action to another. Occasionally, the player will be given a choice on which the further course of the game depends. This genre originated in Japan, which is why most visual novels are made in anime style.

Sometimes visual novels are equated with dating sims. They are made in the same style, but have a different essence. In a visual novel, story is important, andThe further course of history depends on the choice of the player. In the dating simulator, the main thing is the player's strategy, aimed at communicating with the surrounding characters and gaining sympathy.

Gameplay

The player in the visual novel will have to make a choice that will influence the further development of events in the game. Usually this is some kind of action, or an answer selected from the list of phrases. Visual novels often have multiple endings, and it is the player's choice that will lead to one of them.

Visual novels have quite a lot of text, which helps to deepen the plot and characters. Some novels may also include mini-games that must be completed in order to continue the main game. Visual novels in Japan are voiced by professional actors, and the music is specially written for them.

Most often, the narration in the game is in the first person. The player will have to go through a kind of quest before reaching the main goal or reaching the ending.

During the game on the screen, we can see a set of backgrounds and character sprites (moving image). The main character remains behind the screen. Below the image is a line in which the text appears. At significant moments, more detailed art appears on the screen, which depicts the ongoing event. You can open all the arts only by beating the game several times and making different decisions each time.

Visual novels in Russian

This is a genre of interactive art that is rapidly gaining popularity in Russia. going onthis is due to foreign visual novels translated into Russian (in most cases, Japanese). But there are also attempts to create "their own product". The following fairly well-known games can be distinguished:

• "Red space".
• "Book of the Dead: Lost Souls".
• "Eugene Onegin".

It is also worth noting a large number of amateur projects. Therefore, many fans of the genre are wondering: how to create a visual novel yourself? Is there such a possibility at all? With the growing popularity of the genre, the number of visual novels created in Russia is increasing. Competitions are held among the creators of short stories, and entire teams are created for projects. In general, the genre has great prospects in Russia, and games are in great demand among the townsfolk.

How to create a visual novel

It is worth remembering that the three main components of visual novels are: graphics, text and sound.

A visual novel should have a lot of text, and it should make you want to read it, not skip it and move on. A fascinating plot is the main advantage of this genre over others. Therefore, it is important to initially think over and plan the outline of the plot well. It is also worth thinking carefully about the player's choices: they should influence the course of the story and its ending.

Graphics are an important part of a visual novel. In what style it will be done depends on the wishes and goals of the author, but do not forget that bad graphics are unlikely to cause desirespend a few hours playing. Graphics must be pleasing to the eye.

In Japan, the dialogue in the game is voiced by seiyu (voice actors), but it is quite possible to do without it. However, a very important component of the visual novel is the music. It is she who is called upon to maintain the atmosphere and help the player concentrate on what is happening.

Script

First of all, when creating a new project, it is necessary to think over the scenario of the future game. An important step in creating a good script is writing a plan. Once you figure out what exactly your story will be about, you need to make small sketches: briefly retell the entire plot and the future ending or endings in them. It is also important at this stage to roughly understand where exactly the player will have to make a choice, because the further development of the plot will depend on this.

Equally important in visual novels are the characters that will interact with the main character. The author should know a little more about his characters than the reader, which is why it is important to think through the characters well in advance: their character, motivation, strengths and weaknesses.

Visual novels are mostly dialogue, which is why it's important to make them lively, interesting and not clumsy. Don't add too much water to them. The characters must communicate with each other like real people.

Graphics

An important part of a visual novel is graphics. When working on a new project, it is important to consider notonly an exciting plot, but also roughly imagine what style will be used in the game. If you yourself have artistic skills, you can master the drawing of the game using various graphic editors. However, if you don't know how to draw, you should consider bringing in an outside artist.

There are three components to the novel's graphics:

• backgrounds;
• sprites;
• arts.

You can create backgrounds yourself or look for them on various picture sites. Do not forget about the license to use and copyright. It is better to study the rules of the site you are going to use well.

The same goes for sprites. You can search for them on the Internet, hire an artist or draw them yourself.

Software

Thanks to the popularity of games, many programs for creating visual novels have appeared. Most of them are in Japanese, but there are also Russified.

You can list some of the programs used to create visual novels:

1. Ren'Py.
2. PONScripter / ONSlaugh.
3. Blade Engine.
4. KiriKiri Adventure Game System.
5. Novelty.

Don't know how to create a visual novel without being a programmer? One of the most popular and convenient programs in this area is Ren'Py. This is a fairly easy to use engine, which is also free. Ren'Py is a well-oiled program that runs like clockwork. It takes up little RAMand it is quite possible to modify it in the absence of any necessary functions. However, to use it, you need to have at least a little understanding of coding, otherwise problems may arise, since this is not a visual program. Graphics for the game will also have to be done in separate graphic editors.

Thus, the creation of a visual novel is a laborious and rather complex process, which, however, can be mastered alone. To do this, it is enough to have a certain amount of knowledge and skills, as well as diligence and imagination.