Lemma Soft Forums

Project HITOMI
Unofficial title: Koutetsu Shoujo Hitomi (鋼鉄少女瞳)
Themes/Genre: Fantasy, bishoujo, supernatural

Ever since playing Kana Imouto, I've always obsessed with someday making my own bishoujo game. Renpy gave me just the right tools -- with the demo, the encoding is not complicated (though I don't expect to really use the more complex commands though, since I'll focus more on story than technical achievement) and gives me some pretty neat customization options off the bat! My compliments to the development team! ^^

Anyway, about the game.

I've already started on the first chapter (for now using ripped CGs and characters as temporary stand-ins and backdrops for my characters and BGs -- which I WILL replace as soon as I get them done), but for now I've stopped work on the encoding to focus on completing the plot maps first, to set a direction for my work. As of now, I'm down to figuring out the last chapters of the third plot arc. I expect to resume encoding work by this weekend.

I completely suck at drawing though, so I'll be relying on a friend of mine who's agreed to draw the characters for me. (and hopefully the CG)

The story consists of a main arc of about 7 chapters and 3 branch arcs of 5-6 chapters (now I've got even more respect for the guys at TYPE/MOON...). I'll hold off on the exact details of the game for now, since it's not yet complete and I'll be posting a demo of it here once it's available.

Do you guys mind if I come here to ask for help when I get stuck on anything? Thanks lots!

You sound like you have it planned out. Don't bite of more then you can chew!

The project sounds pretty impressive- I wish you luck!

For what we could guess from this I'd say... that I like the theme (given the title ^^;...). As Sailor Kitty says, if it's your first game and you're still writing the story, try not to make something huge ^^

Heya! That looks excellent, and I like the implications of the title. (I enjoyed Evangelion Girlfriend of Steel quite a lot.)

We'd certainly be happy to help you out if you have problems

I'd echo the advice to start small. Take a look at http://www.lemmasoft.net/projects_devcenter_tips.html : Blue Lemma wrote them years ago, but they're still very much applicable. I had been working on a giant idea for ages (well, it wasn't that big), and then I saw those tips and came up with another idea, much smaller (only 3 days of plot rather than 90), with much fewer characters (3 dateable girls rather than ... and that smaller idea still took me 4 years to finish >.<

So I suggest you write at least three or four of those 22 chapters before you go getting artists on board, just so that you've got an idea of how big your project is going to be, and also so you've got something to show the artists.

Just some friendly tips from someone who's seen too many gigantic planned games never get finished

I understand your concerns, and thanks for the advice. I won't divulge details, but I've decided to actually stake something valuable of mine on the completion of this project to ensure I take this seriously. If I fail at this, then at least I've been warned.

Of course, I didn't take this on without training. I have worked on smaller-scale experiment VNs before (most of them, as expected, never got off the planning stage due to various reasons). Hopefully I can apply the lessons I got from those experiments here -- especially in terms of sustaining my momentum. (Unfortunately I won't be posting them here since, being experiments, they're not exactly of a quality I'd like to show off to other people, if you get what I mean.)

Haven't played Girlfriend of Steel though, the title is actually related to one of the lead characters, and the story isn't related to Evangelion, unfortunately. I'm looking more toward Shakugan no Shana and Fate/Stay Night for inspiration right now.

I'll update u guys on my progress. Or maybe I should just start a blog?

Oh, a large scale game!

Looking forward to this muchly~ All I can offer is my support!

Well, slowly but surely it is coming along. ^^

Now if only my artist friend weren't so busy himself! XD

Btw, do you guys know someplace to dl background CGs or pictures of indoor locations, esp. settings like schools, malls, shopping streets, the like?

royal66 wrote: Btw, do you guys know someplace to dl background CGs or pictures of indoor locations, esp. settings like schools, malls, shopping streets, the like?

Check the resources thread for Japanese generic backgrounds.

People on the forum are sometimes willing to take pics and donate them, too (like me )

Blue Lemma wrote:People on the forum are sometimes willing to take pics and donate them, too (like me )

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

I could sure use some of those sites in the resources thread! Thanks a lot guys, big help.

well, I'd be willing to help with the pictures part...