Pet Project Revived (Writers Wanted)

[Auro-Cyanide]

I can't remember what came from where anymore. My main problem with the whole genetic thing is that it is very disturbing. Someone has taken humans, mixed them with animals and then sold them? It sounds like something from a horror movie and not very cute at all. It would be torture. Anyone remember the chimera from Fullmetal Alchemist? That is what pops in my mind and it isn't what I planned my pet for. I didn't know about the scientist thing when I created her and I don't really remember a vote.

I basically think the less restrictions in terms of the storyline, the better. If we all have to have a different protagonist because we think people will get confused, so be it. I do think people will get the whole different story/ same protagonist, but if we are going to keep getting caught up in silly details instead of getting stuff done, then we should change it.

[TsukiShima]

To be honest, I really prefer the one boy approach, instead of many. But perhaps it's because it has been very common for a visual novel. For me, it's easier if we stick to one MC, his attitude can change during the days of the story, but his personality in the beginning remained the same, even after the New Game.

I do have to agree with Sapphi. We shouldn't restrict ourselves too much. We can share the same place, names, MC, but I think it's better if the story would be different for every pet. The restriction can only be, like mentioned earlier, the words count, number of CGs, and the number of endings. 1000 words, 5 or 4 CGs, and 3 endings, is what I recommend.

I guess, in the end, this game should be make based on its original goal. Do we want to impress the players? Or do we want to let out each of our creativity? Or do we want this to be a serious game? To me, it's better if we set a goal or target for this project.

[Sapphi]

I do have to agree with Sapphi. We shouldn't restrict ourselves too much. We can share the same place, names, MC, but I think it's better if the story would be different for every pet. The restriction can only be, like mentioned earlier, the words count, number of CGs, and the number of endings. 1000 words, 5 or 4 CGs, and 3 endings, is what I recommend.

I guess, in the end, this game should be make based on its original goal. Do we want to impress the players? Or do we want to let out each of our creativity? Or do we want this to be a serious game? To me, it's better if we set a goal or target for this project.

To go even further with the problems with the restrictions... If we want to have one main character, we have to decide what country he lives in. But we all live in different countries with different cultures. While we could try and do our best to make his setting generic, people write what they know, and it could get difficult.

And, as LVUER stated in the original post, "it will be all about MOE". Even originally this project wasn't meant to be a grand epic, we just wanted a game where you get to choose a cute pet-tan.

PMing my vote now...

[TsukiShima]

And, as LVUER stated in the original post, "it will be all about MOE". Even originally this project wasn't meant to be a grand epic, we just wanted a game where you get to choose a cute pet-tan.

That's why. I'm not sure if it's just me, but we are only talking about the MC now, and there's already a conflict. I guess this is what collaboration project is for. We should keep in mind this game is all about 'Moe', cuteness, fun, and happiness. And the people involved should enjoy this as well.

I wasn't around when the original Pet Project was still here, but I don't think we have to follow it as much as we can. We already got others involved, I hope they won't lose their interest because of this.

Even if we must change the intro of Iguana-tan entirely, I'm sure some of the path is not affected.

[LVUER]

@ Auro-Cyanide:
Pet-tans is not created by mixing a human being with animals DNA (and hence creating pet-tans)... that would be horrible o_O It's more like creating a brand new creature (synthetically) by mixing human DNA with animals DNA. Kinda like homonculus when you're talking Alchemy... It's a breakthrough and currently impossible to do IRL (playing god, mwahahahaha), but who cares? This is a game ^_^

@Sapphi:
We could avoid that by avoiding explicitly mentioning where the MC live and having a generic setting/events. Yes, it could be difficult to do and somewhat plain (you must avoid culture festival or things like that), but that's where the creativity needs to kick in, right?

Anyway, still waiting for PM to pour in before deciding anything. I've actually prepared for some background story from the first, in case something like this happened. There some story that support Cute and Fluffy project-like settings... but that will wait until all votes comes in.

[Fawn]

@Auro: The splicing part is inspired by games like Kinyoubi no Koneko (http://vndb.org/v4197) and Wanko to Kurasou (http://vndb.org/v812)
The animal girls in those games were simply born like that and treated like pets, no pain involved, they just have genes that give them cute ears and tails and animal abilities. I hope you understand now
Also there wasn't a vote, people seemed to like the idea at time so there wasn't really a need for one o3o~ Honestly it just seems to make the most sense, but I'm open to people coming up with something different (as long as it's not ridiculous)

@Sapphi: I agree with LVUER- Most of us (nearly all, I bet) live in a 1st world country that has typical houses, universities, online jobs, ect. Many things are really the same around the world since good ideas are often shared. Also the MC will most likely be a typical guy, so there shouldn't be anything too special about him that would say what country he lives in.

[Sapphi]

I was thinking more cultural stuff like what foods they're eating for dinner, what sports they're playing in the backyard, etc. I mean, if in one story they go to a baseball game, and another story a cricket match, that would be a little weird. And even I was going to mention a specific brand of cereal in the story, then realized that some places people might not have that particular breakfast cereal and might not know what it was. Also, the wildlife varies from region to region, too. I mean, it's not a big deal really, it's just yet another thing I thought of that I could see getting in the way of the overall goal.

[Fawn]

Don't worry about little details too much. You can always be general in your descriptions, I doubt many people don't know what cereal is. xD

A lot of people around the world eat similar things- fried eggs and toast for breakfast, you could use that instead. Cake, bread, noodles and steamed vegetables are also international dishes. Like I mentioned many things are similar in first world countries since we've all taken different good ideas from eachother over the years.

[Auro-Cyanide]

Having humans with animal characteristics and treating them like pets is still all kinds of creepy. Especially Wanko to Kurasou. That is why I kind of made my pet more along the lines of a Japanese minor goddess. I don't mind that people want to do gene spliced pets, that is their choice, but it does make me feel uncomfortable. I keep thinking Frankenstein and Nazi concentration camps. Genetic experimentation is never going to be a happy fun place in my mind.

Anyway, I'll vote now and we will see how it goes.

[Fawn]

I could understand how you feel, but it's not morbid like that at all. You're being a bit negative :<

The fantasy of having a half-human-half-animal person is basically the wish that we could talk to animals, that humans could have the abilities animals do. If it makes you feel better, think of it more as a silly lab accident. Or read Tokyo Mew Mew (another inspiration for the splicing idea)

[Mink]

Yeah...the way Auro puts it can't help but make me think that this is more like slavery than anything else. Also, The Island of Dr. Moreau. We know how well THAT ended.

Otherwise, I don't think this is the project for me. If I'd tried writing for it, it'd only end up turninginto a 'Petshop of Horrors-esque' sort of story. 8D

[Sapphi]

I think people are always going to have different views about these kinds of subjects. Just in another current thread, someone mentioned how to them, vampires are nasty because they see it as necrophilia. Obviously not everyone sees it that way, or stuff like Twilight wouldn't sell like it does. But it's still a valid viewpoint. Some people think teacher-student relationships are cute. Others think they're squicky. The list goes on... but what is light-hearted and comedic in one person's mind isn't necessarily going to be that way in everybody else's, that's what I'm trying to say.

[Auro-Cyanide]

Probably more realistic than negative. For me, genetics isn't a play thing I can think lightly about. Ironic commentary, yes, cute, not so much. I can't help thinking about the complications of the storyline. Like I said, I don't mind others using this storyline, but I prefer having the option not to, as I thought I would with the opening post. My Koi has a perfectly reasonable storyline that doesn't involve experimentation and as I said before, I don't see a reason why all the pets have to come from the same place and have the same story. Everyone gets what they want kind of thing.

[Fawn]

I guess it's just our backgrounds. I was hugely impacted by Tokyo Mew Mew and games like Wanko to Kurasou that are all very cute, so I don't find the idea creepy at all.

In Wanko, the girls knew they were pets and were happy in their lives just like any normal pet. There are still issues that can create tension in the story because they are animal girls/pets, but it was never very serious.

The pet girls are loved and treated humanely, even if they are spliced- the moe-ness of a pet-tan is that you get the warmth and companionship of a pet while also having the warmth and companionship of a cute girl. The girl is even more innocent because she is part animal and doesn't understand human interactions completely, so she does the cute things that animals do.

Well, they don't really need to come from the same place but, at least having the online adoption service introduction would be a good idea for all the stories since it gives a more real feel to the game. It could just be a shelter for animal-girls from around the world, maybe.

[LVUER]

Well, since we're talking about this... my other back story would be... Mysterious pet adoption center. It's a pet adoption center that not just everyone can visit. It's placed in that corner between that intersection. Strangely not just anyone could find that place... Too make things even more mysterious, it seems people all around this world could visit that adoption center... people speculate that there are multiple branch of that pet center.

Only those who want to adopt a pet and fulfill some criteria could find the place. And for those who could find that place, they could choose one (and only one) pet from currently available list. No second chance since it's highly doubt they could find that place again. From the story, there is no even a single person who could visit that place twice.

The game begin when the MC somehow arrive at the front of the adoption center. There s/he choose one pet by picking an animal picture that sorted on a billboard (not realizing they will get a pet-tan instead)... After that? It's up to you.

It's not about one MC that could choose one pet from various kind of pets. It's about multiple protagonist that choose their pet. And the pet center is just a front of a place where all kind of pet-tans gathered and looking for their master. You decide on their background story if you want to make one... but please make some kind of connection (even the slightest) that the pet-tan use (or forced to use, whatever...) this pet adoption center to find her master. So you (writer) could write all about them freely (including their background).

The only limitation is: CG count limit (I guess minimum 5 and maximum 9 should be enough), word count limit (haven't decided yet, perhaps 1500 words?) and ending count limit (minimum 2 and maximum 4). That's it. Not default bad ending this time, that's why I increase the ending count limit. No BG limit either, but the consequences is make your own BG... But I want all music to be shared (with perhaps the exception of the unique theme of each pet). This is solely to keep the download size as small as possible)