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"Double Romance" should be out this January ^^ I'm doing the story, code, and art myself (everything except the music).
The setup is a little different than the dating games I've seen before, so I have some questions about it, further down. (It's my first time making a game OTZ)



Story
There are two characters for choices- Shwii (girl) and Shwinn (boy). It's set up like a tv show that takes place in their rooms. The host (Shwippie, who is a cat dropping) is presenting the two as bachelor(ette)s that are looking for a date. The player can choose questions to ask, and then choose who they want to ask, in order to find out which person they'd rather go out with. They can ask about the character's ex boyfriends/girlfriends, what their secrets are, what he/she looks for in another person, etc. and may get special scenes depending on what and who they ask.
It takes place on another planet full of quirky things. It's not sci-fi (it's a comedy)...I'm not sure how to describe it. The planet is populated by stick figures, cyclopses, cats fused to dogs and such. I'm trying (trying) to go for an air of strangeness/cuteness, so it's done in children's illustration style, and the characters have funny/unusual (I hope) personalities.
There will be multiple endings :3

Questions
I know that's a very short descripion, but I feel like it's a game you'd have to play to really get a feel of it ><; I have a few concerns, though, and would be grateful for any feedback n_n
1. Is the setup of having only two people a bad idea? When I'm playing a game, I'll date either a boy or girl just for the fun of the story and to see what happens, but I'm wondering if to some people, this would mean they only have one choice in the game (if they're set on only dating a girl, for example).
2. Can the question/answer format really work? I haven't played a game like that...but I thought it'd be fun for replaying just to ask the questions and get answers/scenes that one didn't try the first time around.
3. Can you spot any other issues?

@_@ wahh I hope it can work, since I'm already mostly done with the whole thing. I should've asked these things earlier ;u; Thanks for your help!!

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http://www.shwippie.deviantart.com

I have no problem with the format of the game. I do wonder if you're going to customize the interface - the art is so detailed, especially on the floor of the room, that it seems like a shame to hide it behind behind a dialogue window. Maybe it would make sense to put a frame around what you have there now, and put the dialogue inside the frame?

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Kosetsu, your idea is pretty intriguing. It sounds like your game is going to focus on interactivity, and I get the impression that the main character and the NPCs know they're in a TV show-like setting.

Have you played Zeiva Inc's indie game Other Age Second Encounter? It has some interesting ideas, such as beginning with a compatibility quiz. The demo is free, and the full game is $15 US.

Also, have you played Virtually Date Ariane? It's a Flash game which also has some interesting ideas. It's a bit similar to a text or graphic adventure game, has a fairly realistic setting, and unique pacing. Like most virtual date games, the graphics were created with polygon art, so the visuals didn't appeal to the part of me that likes moe and shoujo, but still...

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PyTom- I had thought of that, but liked the look of the transparent text box. I think I'm going to change it, though, since you've pointed it out. I did want to make a custom look, anyhow. Thanks for your input!

Gekiganwing- Thanks! I have played Other Age Second Encounter, but found it frustratingly difficult. I agree that it has some great ideas, though. I tried out the Ariane game you suggested and thought it was pretty neat (I was scared off by the 18+ so I didn't finish the game lol). They're both inspiring, so thanks for bringing them up. If you know of any more games you think would be worth looking at, please let me know!

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http://www.shwippie.deviantart.com

Sounds like a fun and quirky game - I think that having just two characters is perfectly fine, in fact, it's probably better that way since you say you're almost done, and putting in more characters would be more work and complication. Having both a girl and boy should mean that there's something for players who are only interested in dating one or the other, even if they have less of a choice. Anyone who was interested in both paths would get more choice anyway, regardless of how many characters there were.

The only thing that would bother me is that I feel vaguely ill whenever someone mentions cat droppings, but I think that's a purely personal issue.

Your artwork is so sweet.

I would love to try a game like this out. I'm a fan of cute/strange.

Susan

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The style is unique but very cute I'll be looking forward to this game. Oh, and what more thing:which art program did you used?

Adorable art is adorable. o.o
I personally would be fine dating only a boy and a girl.
But I think having a unique set-up will make a stronger game in the long run. Why conform to the standards of a generic dating sim when your game can be so much more creative, thus awesome?
I will definitely be interested in playing when you're done.

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Aetheria- That's good to know ^^ Haha yeah, I know what you mean, but it's cartoonized and wears a bow...she needs to be slightly off-putting for the storyline >>;

Susan-thanks so much! *o*

Sakura- I used photoshop :3

Carosene- Ahh, I don't think it's all that ;u; I just want to make something I would play myself (but my taste is probably not normal lol). Thank you, that's very kind!

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http://www.shwippie.deviantart.com

Wow!
You art is really pretty! It seems so nice and gentel. The girl makes me want to cuddle her

I don't think you need to worry about the number of dateable characters. It's just fine.
When looking at the screen i couldn't help but think, that maybe you should change the textbox a little, so taht it fits better with your artstyle!

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Thank you, Arithra ^^ I agree with you on the text box, I've been working on a different look for that (so it fits the hand-drawn look of everything else)

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http://www.shwippie.deviantart.com

Love your drawing!
it's like so... original!

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Blue Rose

Sorry for bad english, grammar etc. ;A;

thank you very much Yuuki! ;u; I appreciate that!

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http://www.shwippie.deviantart.com

It's complete! Download here: http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9200

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