What does it take to create a good action packed visual novel? One that's going to appeal to all audiences. This question had been rolling in my head for a good five months now, slowly reaching answers and dead ends. There has been action-related visual novels, and my question is, why aren't there more VNs like this? A controversial topic, I'm sure, but I've decided to take up the challenge. So I'd been modifying my story I had for about more than a year now to fit the requirements of a good visual novel with lots of choices and possibly side missions.
I want to mix the cute atmospheric school life with a hardcore action story. How do we do this? Well, its been done before! This would be more of an exaggeration of the action. What is action? Its nothing but conflict, something that every story has. But what takes it away from the emotional impacts it has on characters? To me, this is a small stereotype to the action genre, and its mostly because creators try going for epic battles instead of emotional battles that will break your heart. People die, traumatic things can happen, things that will effect the character's entire life, plot twists, etc. All you need is a rich story, not a villain trying to take over the world. That's what this is.
But its hard to write action in VNs. Maybe...but it's been done before, both in many, many books and in a few visual novels; Fate/Stay Night being the most successful one in my opinion. This is where the group will become an experimental group. More CGs, outstanding writing, choice-based, possible animation, and scrolling through different frames. A big risk, I know, but in order to create something new, unique, and good, you have to take risks. I can't stress it enough.
•Estimated to be about 10-30 hours long, expect to be working on it for a couple years
•Traditional Japanese visual novel inspired, anime/manga styled characters in an American School
•Genres: Science Fantasy, Action, Romance with Slice of Life and Comedy elements (Mostly in the common route)
•5 Romance characters, romance with alternate endings
•2 villain romances
•During the first civil war, choose your side; James Orman or Junko, what you choose in the civil war will effect the future
•Possibly a stat system for battle
•Possible side missions to spend time with your character of choice, take them with you in your free time
•Choices during battles
Adrien and his best friend, Kyou, enter a new school founded by one of his idols, James Orman. Kyou is disappointed at how unenthusiastic the clubs in America are and wants to build up new clubs and make her own. Adrien gives her the idea of a 3D printing club, so they go through with idea and do everything they can to meet up to the standards of a school club. Once they become a true club, form a small business around the school, making band instruments, backpack decorations, jewelry, key chains, phone cases, and even decorative food, they come up with the Biosynth project for the science fair, and attempt to create their version of a perfect human being. Thanks to Orman's dollar sign eyes, he goes after the success of the Biosynth. His political plans leads to a civil war that shreds people apart from their rationality.
Does this interest you as a consumer? Would you buy it for around $20 greens once it was finished? Why?
Which character would you choose first? Kyou, Pepper, Junko, Rin, Ran, Shoichi, Zack, Naoki, Azazel? Why?
Which villain do you like the most? Why?
How do you think I'll be able to pull off outstanding action. Is there a certain method you prefer? What's your opinion on that?
If it doesn't interest you, why?
Artists, Writers, Programmers, Composers, this is a big project and will require more positions than a regular VN. I understand it has risks, and I am in no position to offer anything right now as this is just the beginning, but this is what experimental teams are there for, they take risks in order to make something unique, new, and good. After hearing all this, would you take on this project? Does it interest you? Why or Why not?
Artists, Writers, Programmers, Composers, again, would you be willing to do the work for free until its time for release? I don't plan to do this all by email and be a complete stranger to my team, I want to be sure there's going to be communication between everyone through a Skype chat. I want this to be fun, so we can all just enjoy our passion and kick it together. I want both semi-amateurs and experienced people so we can learn from one another. I've got presentations, handouts and organization techniques all planned. After hearing that, would that be something you'd agree to?
Kyou Kanzaki
"We're not going off of faith and pointless assumptions, I saw what Orman plans to do with the biosynths, and since we can't live up to those expectations of business, we get tossed aside and its all your fault!"
─ Kyou yelling to Adrien during the civil war, choosing to side with James Orman
Name: Kyou Kanzaki (Romance)
Ethnicity: Japanese (From Japan, the only one from a different country)
Age: 17
Zodiac: Scorpio
Weapons: Katana
Grade: 11th, Junior
Personality:
Always strives to carry out the right decision
Kind-Hearted, Generous
Protective, Great Tutor
Bad at hiding emotions, Stubborn
Sometimes acts off of feelings instead of evidence
Pepper Townsend
"Found your underwear Adrien, hahaha!"
─ Pepper annoying the heck out of Adrien
Name: Pepper Townsend (Romance)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Age: 15
Zodiac: Leo
Weapons: Jagged Flame Sword
Grade: 9th, Freshman
Personality:
Humorous, Cheerful, Airhead, Energetic, Gullible, Annoying
Hyper/Carefree when having fun with friends
Easily gets lonely and worried
Social Anxiety/Personality Disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, and Borderline (Being treated)
Junko Hackett
"I'm a rebel, which means the only way to bring down the rich is to kill James Orman and all of his business partners. I want to see them dead so minorities can be the ones to be strong. I want to see those pathetic mansions in flames."
─ Junko preaching to her fellow rebels
Name: Junko Hackett (Romance)
Ethnicity: Spaniard
Age: 18
Zodiac: Virgo
Weapons: Magnetic Gloves, Pistols, Sniper Rifle, Knife
Grade: 12th, Senior
Personality:
Passionate about the things she believes
Strong Leader, Serious, Busy
Weakness for anything Japanese food related
Strong in her beliefs
Ran Orman
"I've already had my dad set up the funding to this whole club. I've done so much, why should I have to pay for the next trip? My dad could've bought me a new green car with that money. I already own the other colors but I still need green to complete my collection. You're welcome by the way."
─ Ran being her greedy stubborn self
Name: Ran Orman (Romance)
Ethnicity: Japanese, Caucasian
Age: 16
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Weapons: Sword, and Saw shield
Grade: 11th, Junior
Personality:
Immensely Greedy, takes after her father
Hardcore Video Gamer
Careless, Rude, Sarcastic, Conceited
A slight bully, especially to Kyou, Refers to Kyou as "Stretch."
Rin Kano-Huang
"Sometimes...in order to achieve your goals...you have to take risks. Even if its risking valuable friendships...or even that friend's life. I can't just sit around, I have to become something!"
─ Rin in tears, during the war, siding with Junko
Name: Rin Kano-Huang (Romance)
Ethnicity: Chinese
Age: 16
Zodiac: Scorpio
Weapons: Syringe talons for combat and injecting poison and acid
Grade: 10th, Sophomore
Personality:
Devoted to her goals of being a manager for James Orman, possibly a president of the company
Dutiful, Ambitious, Supportive, Helpful
Intelligent, Fair, Business Enthusiast
Azazel Ikeda
"Hey, that's actually a good idea. Instead of spending the money on ourselves, lets spend it on things we can do together as a club. I vote first trip; the beach. Cheap and easy to get to."
─ Azazel to the club
Name: Azazel Ikeda
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Age: 17
Zodiac: Libra
Weapons: Mechanical bow with blades and whip gadgets
Grade: 11th, Junior
Personality:
Kind-Hearted, Generous, Spiritual, Laid Back, Patient, Well-Mannered, Humorous, Fun, Strict
A great teacher when it comes to spiritual techniques
Great at verbally challenging people
Zack Breaker
"I figured it out. Adrien, Kyou, you failed on your project. I know why he put me through all this ever since you began the experiment, why he did what he did with Orman and Junko. I would've never understood if he hadn't intervened. He was my teacher, and master. I get it now."
─ Zack to Adrien and Kyou, then whispering to himself during the final war
Name: Zack Breaker
Ethnicity: Caucasian, German
Age: 16
Zodiac: Gemini
Weapons: A long talon equal to a short sword, with tri-bladed electric whip gadget
Grade: 10th, Sophomore
Personality:
Emo/Gothic but with incredibly good reasons
Submissive
Awkward, Hateful, Paranoid
Naoki Jarvis (Jericho)
"Everyone's basically telling me to be strong or weak. I'm told to man up, then I'm told being sensitive is okay. I don't get it! If I'm suppose to be perfect, then what is perfect? You gave me free will, but I can't be a certain way. Its confusing! Does this mean I don't have free will? I have access but I can't use it?"
─ Naoki to Adrien
Name: Naoki Jarvis (The Biosynth, also known as Jericho by James Orman)
Age: 1 month
Zodiac: Aries
Personality:
Swaps back in fourth from strong personality traits to weak personality traits
Listens to random people, gullible, abnormal
Confused
VILLAINS
James Orman
"With money, comes, power..."
─ James Orman's famous quote
Name: James Orman
Age: 38
Zodiac: Scorpio
Occupation: Business Man, Founder and Owner of Orman Industries Conglomerate Business
Personality:
Energetic, Wisecracker, Fast-Talking, Blunt, Greedy, Professional Speaker, Persuasive
Inspirational and a hero to his fans through hope and encouragement
Always trying to make a deal and promote business, Knowledgeable about business
Lover of anything including Rock Music \,,/,
A fraud, a liar
Government and media friendly
Will easily fire anybody
Deathshroud
"It's the harsh truth. It's nothing but humanity at it's finest. So what to do? It's your turn now."
─ Deathshroud
Name: Deathshroud
Age: 44
Zodiac: Cancer
Weapons: Disintegration Staff, Regenerating Healing Factor Pack
Occupation: Anonymous Criminal Business Man, Runs a Bounty Hunter Business, Partnership with Orman Industries
Personality:
Pessimistic, Realist, Cruel, Torturous, Intimidating, Calm, Intelligent
Strong dislike for competition
Humanitarian
Kaori Townsend
"If Adrien and his friends pull it off, we might be able to use him somehow."
─Kaori to James Orman
Name: Kaori Townsend
Age: 39
Zodiac: Leo
Occupation: Business Woman, Owner of Worldstones Medical Hospital/Healthcare, and OmegaBank, Partnership with Orman Industries
Personality:
See's people as a useful tool if she likes them, otherwise everyone else is worthless to her
Just work and money
Calm, Arrogant, High-Class, Tries to be hip to get people to like her when she likes them
Government and police friendly
Koldril Avanook
"We'll start the operation by replacing the skin around your stomach with a glass sheen since I'll need to be able to monitor progress from every possibly way. Your organs will have to be moved to a life support machine. The Arctos Plant will attach itself to you as your body will feed it the proper nutrients, similar to an infant."
─ Avanook explains to Ran in chains while she cries in fear and apologizing to Zack
Name: Koldril Avanook
Age: 44
Zodiac: Virgo
Occupation: Scientist Criminal, Partnership with Deathshroud, Adds to a Sci-Fi horror scene
Personality:
Kuudere, Calm, Super Intelligent
Doesn't give a damn about anybody or anything but his experiments
Comes up with horrific experiments
Known for taking a human and turning him into an immobile and emotionless machine of labor.
Kiara Maddox
"Stop missing, come on I'm right here. Open your eyes you stupid Asian. Hahaha!"
─ Kiara bullying Kyou while pushing her around and dodging her punches
Name: Kiara Maddox
Age: 18
Zodiac: Taurus
Grade: 12th, Senior
Personality:
Immature, School Bully, Smart-Mouth
Competitive, Always has to win
Despite her being a delinquent, she's quite smart
Violent, Delinquent
Takes her anger and hate out on Pepper most of the time
John Creed
"My info helps stop cyber-bullying. I'm actually helping society."
─ John to Kyou
Name: John Creed
Age: 23
Zodiac: Pisces
Weapons: The Deep Web, Sometimes The Dark Web
Occupation: Information Broker/Doxer, Partnership with Junko
Personality:
Intelligent, Computer Hacker
Uses rational talk to try to challenge people and defend his way of thinking
Obedient to Junko
Skull-Face
"You have a deal! One more thing before I leave, your watch?"
─ Skull-Face to James Orman making a deal and stealing his watch
Name: Skull-Face
Age: 46
Zodiac: Capricorn
Weapons: Pistol, Mechanical Arm made out of programmable matter
Occupation: Comedy relief villain, Anonymous Criminal with government connections
Personality:
Clumsy, Silly, Energetic, Intimidating through psychotic behavior, Easily persuaded
Loves to play small games and bet on someone's life
All the skin was blown off half of his face, leaving his skull, modifying him to become half cyborg (I say this because I don't have a picture of him yet)
Heath Knox (Koma)
"A cold sloth like me could never comply with a deadly executioner like Deathshroud, I run my own business."
─Koma to Pepper
Name: Heath Knox (Koma)
Age: 21
Zodiac: Aquarius
Weapons: Hypnotic and sleep inducement technology
Occupation: Scientist, School Consular
Personality:
Kuudere, Appears to be one of the most nicest and generous people alive
Emotional despite his strong attitude
Always wears a gentle smile on his face
Fair, Rational, Neutral between disputes
A manipulative liar, though he does have feelings and good intentions