Finding artists has never been a problem. In the last three months, I've had 11 sprite artists, 5 background artists, and 4 CG artists. If you've seen my website, you know there are a lot of projects. The issue right now is I need to divert my funds to something else, so I'm holding back on funding for a couple months until this real life issue is dealt with. As for returning artists, Auro-Cyanide (Name's CG artist) returned to the sprites and Tetiel (who did a couple of Syl's and Yoi/Name fight scene) is returning to do a large piece of the CGs. The artist who did Yoi's CGs might return, but there hasn't been any word. The change in art style isn't a spoiler, it is a tactical decision on my part. The number of game makers using those sprites grows larger by the second (Sentou Gakuen for example). Not to mention that I was restricted by the actual uniform they were wearing. The characters are actually older than the original images (the youngest being Yoi at 19, oldest being Syl at 28 or Sora at 31). It's me trying to get the series in line with the rest of the running plot I've been writing for the last decade. The original episode is also being redone with the new sprites.applegirl wrote:Hmm...the sprites look very different from episode 1. By the way, are the CGs being done by the same artist? I played the first one and really liked the art.... I ask because I noticed the first episode had CGs from more than one artist (which was very evident in style,like the CG of Yoi and Anton hugging).I understand how hard it is get get CG art, but having such different style in a VN is a bit distracting. Gosh, these sprites are very different in style! Are they supposed to look older or would that be a spoiler?
Anton wasn't inspired by James Bond. He isn't a good shot, can't fly a spaceship, and really can't deliver the one-liners. If anything, he is a socially defunct Sherlock Holmes. Chief... well, Chief is inspired by the IDHAS Chief Editor. I'm really surprised you see Anton as a Mary-Sue perfect agent. Syl, maybe, she's often walked that line before. If anything, Anton is the weakest link this whole team (a sharpshooter, an assassin, and an actual genius). The team has been together for three years, so existing relationships already are there (which is something I'm regretting. I should have converted Katajion's Dream and Luck and Chance to visual novels before releasing this one). The theme really is a romantic comedy, but there are pretty even traits of drama in it as well.Was this kind of inspired by James Bond? I always had the feeling that Anton was the kind of suave agent who got the girl he wanted in the end. Although, who was the Chief inspired by then? Overall, it was an interesting start. But I'd like to see an Anton who wasn't the perfect agent type. I mean, what kind of story has suspense when you know the agent is seriously the Mary-Sue/best at everything kind of person? The flaws and humanity of each character would help greatly. I guess it all depends on what you plan though, will this be a gritty space drama or romantic comedy? If it is a romantic comedy, I guess we can look forward to cute/sweet moments in a relationship (as well as the bad, like jealousy)?
Because I'm a remnant of the old days of this forum, when things weren't GxB. I also believe that while otome will keep some of the ground it has taken, there will always be a shift. It's the way of public opinion. I, most unfortunately, did not have time on my side. While I must expand my audience, which is something I am in the process of doing, I stay with Lemmasoft because it's the home turf. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I am prepared to hold out and fight against the current mainstream. While I traditionally write from a female perspective, I do enjoy making games from a variety of perspectives. A good story doesn't depend purely on who the main character is and who he/she is trying to get into bed with. I hope that the next episode, where we finally start getting into the actual plot (as I wrote the first episode with almost no idea of what the plot was going to be) that the hook will be better formed and be enjoyable by all genders. While romance is a very strong theme in the series, it isn't the only one.I have to admit, I think this series is very niche in terms of the forum/VN community. The otome games are easily the most popular and I bet that makes it very difficult to find artists who want to work on a game more geared for guys (I dunno if that is the intention, but it is a sci-fi game with the main character surrounded by women). I remember playing the first episode and feeling very impressed by the art. Story-wise, it felt like a huge prologue which makes sense in terms of the story needing to explain a lot of details (like who Anton was and why we should care).
Ramblings, sorry. I guess I wanted to answer a few things I've noticed popping up on your deviant art and twitter. You definitely pour your heart and soul into the VN. I can tell man, I played the original Dream of Skies, this, and the remade version. I can tell you pour blood, sweat, and tears into publishing these. I've played a heck of a lot VN (OELVN and japanese). When thinking about yours, I figured out that I needed to have some kind of hook to pull me in. The art quality is very necessary and I'd say you've definitely improved in getting the necessary art quality to get attention. The interface can be excused at times because let's be honest, most VN have the simple choice-consequence pathway. But storywise, I guess we all are looking for that pull, that reason to pick this VN up to read over all the VNs that get published each day/week/year. That's what makes it so hard to get attention and recognition, especially if your tastes go against the majority.
So I guess the real thing to figure out is: what is that hook? I've read so many VN that I only remember/care about the very best ones. The ones that told a story so dramatic/comedic/romantic/charming that I kept coming back for more. I honestly think a game on this forum (to succeed) would tend to be the romantic/comedy with brilliant art and a girl lead. I haven't seen the reverse for a long time and I can understand if you don't want to go that route. But I must say, I fear the fate of Vera Blanc (a Winter Wolves game) or Other Age Second Encounters (a very under-appreciated Zeiva Inc game) that had good art and story, but remained very, very unpopular because it went against the mainstream taste. Is it enough to publish stories you care about if you feel like the very small minority appreciates it? Or is it worth trying a new direction?
I do feel like the stories are not being marketed to the right crowd. This forum's most popular games are games geared towards girls. Why not also put this on newgrounds? Guys definitely frequent that area and would probably care a lot more about a sci-fi VN with pretty girls around the main protag.
The hook is something I do need to polish up a bit more. I think I've been trying to fish up an unspecified audience, which is just going to end up with me going home empty. Thank you for giving me something to think about.
I will never post on Newgrounds. I'm not a flash maker.