INTRODUCTION
This is a completely independant visual novel made using the Ren'Py framework/programming language. Everything is and will be hand-drawn and inked by me and written by me, and this project will not utilise any free materials. VinnyVideo, who does not have an account on this forum, will be assisting me in composing the music, and perhaps some other things.
I want to make a Dating Sim that really defies the stereotypes that the genre is often thought of in. I felt that the heroine should not be a pushover, or just a way to put yourself into the game, for instance. Isn't the point of a Visual Novel to tell a story? I sure think so, and that is what I aim to do. Though it starts of a bit generic, the routes you can choose to go through are anything but, thanks to the odd personalities of the characters and strange events occuring.
The graphics are completely hand-drawn by yours truly, from sprites to backgrounds, and are almost totally in black-and-white with the occasional red for significant objects. I feel that the game should have a very unique visual style, so I did not try to tone down my style to be more "cute" or "attractive". Many have supported me in this decision, and were happy that the characters didn't look totally generic.
The most important part of a Visual Novel is the story, I believe! So let's get to it!
STORY
You play as Jun Ono, the daughter of a plain ol' salaryman and his stay-at-home wife. She lived in the Southern city of Osaka, Japan, for most of her life, and she was perfectly content to live in such a large, crowded, business-minded land. However, after some problems at work, her dad is forced to find a new job. With a lack of job offers in the area, he takes the best possible plan, but that means his family has to move to the Northern city of Sendai, smack-dab in the middle of an area full of hillbillies and rice farmers who had never seen a skyscraper in their life. Jun know the reputation well, and she is NOT happy about it.
On the first day at her new school, she run into a girl named Rin Tanaka. Or, she runs into Jun. She's the weird type, you know, the chick that snorts when she laughs. Apparently, she's blind to how much she annoys Jun, and becomes determined to help her find her way in a strange place. Jun really doesn't think she need help with that, as she's gotten along fine by herself before, but whatever.
Here starts the beginning of a long period of test-taking, hanging out with people who seem to be completely out of their minds, possibly encountering the supernatural, and general adventure... With some making out eventually, of course. Probably. Maybe. Okay, who knows.
CHARACTERS
JUN ONO (小野純)
Jun is the protagonist of this game. She is from Osaka, and moved to Sendai when her father found a job there. She’s not particularly impressed, at least at first. Jun can be a little harsh sometimes, but she’s a good person, really. She absolutely loves to play video games and watch TV, especially the series Kamen Rider.
RIN TANAKA (田中凛)
The first person to talk to Jun on her first day at her new school, they quickly become “friends”. Rin is cheerful, and sometimes annoying, but she is the type to always be there when someone needs her. She’s not really all that attentive. She enjoys watching TV dramas and talking.
MAKOTO SATO (佐藤誠)
The obligatory childhood friend. He didn’t keep in touch with Jun after his family moved, but they have met again at last. He’s shy, and a bit of a pushover. Much of his life revolves around food, and his dream is to be a professional chef. He likes to cosplay, too, and tries his best to be top-quality.
RYOICHI SASAKI (佐々木良一)
He’s popular. He’s smart. He’s got legions of fangirls following him in the hallway. He’s the class representative and bound to be Student Council President. He’s a decent person, but his fame has gotten to his head a little. Deep down, he’s just baffled by all the attention.
SHIN HEITAKU (平沢進)
Shin is the type to always try to be different. He doesn’t even read the kanji in his name correctly, just so he doesn’t reveal a semi-common name. He has a bit of a temper. He loves rock music, and got his hair dyed and permed to resemble Roger Daltrey, of The Who. He is set on making his after-school band club a success.
KATSUO ASAI (浅井勝雄)
Katsuo is a school politico, gunning for the Student Council President position that has been just out of his grasp for quite a while. He has incredible charisma, and he's very skilled with presentations. However, he’s kind of creepy, and up against a much more popular opponent, Ryoichi Sasaki.
KURO DATE (伊達九郎)
Katsuo's right-hand man. He acts as somewhat of a secretary, doing paperwork, designing pamphlets, and fielding questions directed towards Katsuo. Not that anyone would talk to Kuro on their own free will. He scares even the most hardened person, and he doesn't have a heart of gold under that personality either. He’s extremely smart, and can play shamisen well. Also, he’s in more extra-curricular activities than most, including fencing and flower arranging.
JUDAS MCCALMENT
Jude, of course, is not Japanese. He hails from England, and belongs to an upper-class family who hates him. They sent him to Japan as a foreign exchange student to get him off their hands. He seems confident, but he’s really quite timid and afraid of making a bad impression. His stereotypical qualities are deliberate on his part.
DAISUKE DAISEN (大山大輔)
Daisuke thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips, basically. He dresses as a stereotypical “bad boy”, complete with silly hair. In reality, he’s a cowardly weakling. He wants attention, and picks on others as an attempt to make himself look tough. He doesn't mean real harm, and would stop short of anything that would cause real pain.
RENSHU YINGHUO (熒惑忍恕)
He’s Chinese. He’s very intelligent, perhaps more so than Kuro, but nobody wants to admit it. He has an insufferable attitude, which doesn’t help. Renshu also has little social skills. He’s an awkward nerd, basically. Being in a foreign country where he’s constantly mocked for various reasons, fair and unfair, doesn’t particularly make him want to reach out to others, too. He’ll give just about anything a chance, though. He’s an extremely talented chess player.
LEN TAKEDA (武田蓮)
Very spacey and in his own little world. He doesn’t care much for other people, and tends to keep to himself. This is because he just doesn’t pay attention, not because he is antisocial. Of course, he daydreams a lot. He often keeps his eyes closed, and everybody just assumes he's sleeping. Len is quite passionate about keyboards, and he plays synth in Shin’s band.
CURRENTLY WORKING ON
-Sprites
-basic programming of calendar events
I have been working on this on-and-off for years. When I chose the age of the characters (16-17), it seemed so far away! Now look! I'm very happy that I feel safe to make a topic about this game now. I hope you are interested.
Thank you for reading!
I will answer any questions about it here. Please ask some, even if they are insignificant!
