Lemma Soft Forums

Hello, this is actually my first post. ^^'
I am planning to write a VN that is basically a slice-of-life which starts out happy-go-lucky and easygoing but gets slightly darker once you get to know the character's paths. (somewhat like real life; most people put on a happy face to shield their real problems at home, etc...)
The story begins with the protagonist in a fake relationship. His female friend of a few years has confided in him that she is gay, which he already somewhat surmised. After her mother began to get suspicious of this fact, she asks the protagonist to pose as her boyfriend in an attempt to to throw her mother off the scent (her mother disapproves of same-gender relationships and might even kick her out if she knows the truth) while she pursues the person she REALLY likes. The main character accepts and the two go through a rather simple song-and-dance of holding hands and dating publicly (which is not too far from their usual hanging-out) for a few months. The story begins after the female friend relinquishes the protagonist of his duty after her true love interest inspires her to tell her mother the truth.

Since this is a non-commercial VN, I feel that readers can suspend disbelief, so even if that seems a little unrealistic, I don't mind. My problem is that I am not gay, and so I don't know if the concept of a beard is really at all realistic, and I don't know how it feels to love someone that my parents would not approve of, male OR female. Basically, I don't want to potentially offend anyone. (And I'm NOT talking about straight readers who don't like the idea of same-gender couples.) I know the idea is slightly far-fetched, but I'm wondering if it is too stereotypical or extremely unrealistic. Please tell me what you think.

You know, I'm straight so I can't really let you know how someone that is gay would think about it but I actually had a similar situation at one time. You see, the school I go to is primarily men, and as such the few girls that are there get hit on almost constantly. One girl was so tired of it that she asked me to be her "pretend boyfriend" just to get them off her backs so you could route it to her parents want her to find "a nice man to be with" and to get them off her back she does it, but then she develops the other relationship. <shrugs> No idea, but sounds interesting enough for me to try it out. I wish you luck!

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Technical Designer/Programmer
Game Design Portfolio - Project updates on my Twitter - Check out my 2D Platformer: Lunaris
Experienced in: C/C++, Python, Unreal, Unity, and Flash
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"Space can be very lonely. The greatest adventure is having someone share it with you."

(Gay Male)
Fake relationships happen all the time, but usually where the person in the closet is using the other without telling them. As long as you don't have a route where she ends up with her "fake" boy friend because he "changed" her or whatever I won't get offended.

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Echo: Legend of the Centennial Bells

Based on your description, I don't think it's offensive.

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All of my VNs are at http://wolflore.net Some recent works on lemmasoft:
Vera Blanc and the Purloined patient http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=20801
Something Strange (modern fantasy/romance) http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=17127
Arnie and the Hitchhiker (vampire romance) http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=15382
Poorly done hand drawn art is still poorly done art. Be a Poser (or better yet, use DAZ Studio 3D) - dare to be different.

A bit offtopic : I've always thought hayzel is a female! XD

And no, I think it's all right. That kinda happened to my friend who happens to be gay, he uses a girl as his shield while is actually romantically involved with another man. And since it's fake and she has no absolute feeling for him, she agreed to help.

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I might not write on your thread, but I am lurking and watching. Intently.

I'm straight so far, so maybe take this with a grain of salt, but as I understand it, it is at least somewhat common for people, especially teenagers, who think their sexuality is defined in one way, to find through experimentation or association with a somehow exceptional person that this isn't always the case. As in the 1, 2, 4, and 5 on the Kinsey scale.

See this topic where we were talking about that recently: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12443

To sum up: Yes, many people's sexuality isn't as cut-and-dried as they think. However, it's an element that needs to be handled CAREFULLY.

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Hanako Games

I don't find your ideas offensive or unrealistic ... everything seems normal for me from the view point of a straight person (at least I think that I'm straight ^^; )


Yeah, I'll be dissapointed if I'm watching yuri anime/read yuri manga and in the end the protagonist ended with a guy ^^; ... however, I'm fine if a normal manga/anime ended with a yuri ending lol

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My Deviant Art Link

It's not unrealistic. It's my life story. I had a beard for a while, and when I finally got with my fiancé, my parents found out and completely disowned me. Having lived it, I don't find it offensive or unrealistic at all. The tricky part is capturing the emotions of the individuals involved.

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Thank you all for your feedback. ^^
I'll definitely continue with this idea and try to make it as realistic as I can.

Being familiar with the gay community where I live, I can say that a fake relationship between two friends happens more often then you think. It's just for protection against the close-minded, which seem to be everywhere here in Missouri. It's not offensive, in fact I'm glad people actually learn about this shit. good luck with the project.

Besides I would like to add that you should make the game you want to do.
And if you just think that your game may be offensive to some others just give them a hint in advance…

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Project: Wayang Kulit - A Shadow Play
Status: First demo version "Proof of Concept" of my first project is out.

No, not offensive, and still not if she decides at the very end that she likes him after all. Having been the male end of such an arrangement (and winding up with the girl), any of those scenarios are entirely possible. Taking what has been said in the rest of the thread, it's not even particularly uncommon.

If you add a BxG ending, though, make it difficult to achieve. It'll keep the offended people off-guard

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I'm going to get off my soap-box now, and let you get back to your day.

Academy Daze- Demo pending
Knights of Chaos: Ghost- Coding underway
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