Pet Project Revived (Writers Wanted)

[LVUER]

Well, it's still on idea phase, nothing detail has been fleshed out yet (she could as easily enter the abandoned idea bin). It just in my path, I think it would be interesting if there is another love interest (that appear later half of the week). If everyone else think she couldn't be any of use, then it's alright.

Anyway, there's still no one that submitted what kind of supporting character they'll use... BTW, the childhood friend doesn't have to be romantic involved with MC in all path, you know. We could easily change the friend that have restaurant into a girl. And anyone who want love-triangle path could make some kind of flag that trigger that path. It's the writer freedom to do so, in case you want it (note: there's no yaoi here, so...).

The new Nemui sprite is sooo cute ^_^ I can see your skill progressing (while me... ceh, no progress at all).

Oh, and any comment on the new background story and the professor? If not, I will make it as official back story.

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And here's the list of BG that will be used in the game (again, still an idea, if you definitely need to add something, say it ASAP):
1. The living room Note that this apartment that MC lives in, is an apartment where there's only one big room (kitchen, living room, bed room in one room). Since I can't believe if the MC could afford a big multiple room apartment.
2. Bathroom Don't know if all pet gonna need this one, but since there's Koi-tan... but in case you do use this room, please remember the all-age rating.
3. Random street
4. Random park in consideration since I don't know if there will be a scene that need to take place outside the apartment but not in the street.
5. Friend's restaurant in consideration since we don't know if that character is going to be used.

That's all for now. The less BG we used the better, so think carefully if you really need a certain BG or not.

[Fawn]

A bedroom cg would be a good thing to have too! Also, should they be drawn or be filtered photos? If everyone's okay with filtered photos I could do all the bgs myself very quickly, haha.

Hmm, since we're talking about graphics, what about screen resolution? I personally like widescreen for vns (such as 1280x720 pixels), but all the artist should know how big they should draw cgs.
Also, related to art, I'm thinking of making a "moe palette", which would be a bunch of different colors and shades for moe art. That way everyone could have soft moe colors for their art What do all you think of this?

[Sapphi]

On the topic of science vs. fluff: I don't care either way. It would actually make it easier to write if I didn't have to account for the sci-fi background. And what if I want my bad ending to be something other than "You didn't take care of her right! ZAP!" ? Since we have a limit of 3 endings, I would possibly like the (likely) one bad ending in my story to not be too comedic. I think since we are trying to downsize this project from last time, it could be okay to say "That's just the way they are" and leave it at that. People are going to want to play this for the pet-tans, not the sci fi. And it could still be a mysterious corporation that sends the pets; you just don't know the details behind them.

Regarding the backstory: I would prefer a college-age protagonist personally. That way we don't have to explain his circumstances. He's just a regular guy. Also, on the topic of his occupation, maybe he could have off-and-on jobs? Like "Argh, I got fired again!" and has to pick up another one. That way any occupation we pick for him will make sense kinda? Just a suggestion. Also, his motive for getting the pets could really vary... but I think just to say "I'm lonely" would probably work.

As for supporting characters, I don't have any in mind. I'll just use whoever everyone wants to use. But I would like to throw it out there that most games like this give the guy a male friend for balance's sake.

As for BGs... can there be a BG of the inside of a pet store?

[LVUER]

@Fawn:
I think one bedroom CG is not a bad idea (though I'm pretty sure most cheap apartment doesn't have a separate bedroom)... but only one, meaning the pet need to sleep in living room or on the floor... or vice-verse if the MC is being nice ^_^ Or they could even sleep on same bed!!!

My original plan is to ask Mugenjohncel to draw the BG, since he was once told me that he's interested in making the BG in case this Pet Project get revived (that's why we must strictly limit the BG amount, the lessen his burden).

Resolution, huh? Completely slipped out of my mind (o_O) I think 1280x720 is a good choice since it's a common wide screen resolution, isn't it? That... or we stick to the good old 800x600.

About moe palette, I don't mind, but your palette won't always work for other artist. Not to mention that every artist have different coloring style (like me, I always use hard cell style) and different software (with different capability to create color).

But of course it's good if you want to upload the palette. So for those who want to use it, they may. But if they want to use their own palette, I think it's fine too...

@Sapphi:
Regarding to bad ending, read below. At first I want the background story to be fluff, but it seems people want sci-fi background story, so I just go along with the flow.

High school graduates meaning that he is college-age, right? About 18-20 years old? I purposely choose that time frame (choosing which uni/college to go) so that you don't have to bother explaining his background story or his occupation or just what the heck he's doing all this time, before, or after...

Please be aware that even if I add the background story, it doesn't mean you have to explicitly tell audience about it in your path. It's just there to establish the setting.

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Forget to add this
Professor bad ending doesn't count toward your ending counts. Since it's the DEFAULT bad ending which will be used in every pet. I will make the bad ending (with label "default bad ending") so you only need to jump to that label whenever the player reach that bad ending in your path.

[Sapphi]

High school graduates meaning that he is college-age, right? About 18-20 years old? I purposely choose that time frame (choosing which uni/college to go) so that you don't have to bother explaining his background story or his occupation or just what the heck he's doing all this time, before, or after...

Please be aware that even if I add the background story, it doesn't mean you have to explicitly tell audience about it in your path. It's just there to establish the setting.

Yeah, 18-20ish is what I had in mind. And it's not that I really care what his occupation is, but it makes a difference if his parents are paying his rent or he is. If they are, he has lots of free time with pet-tan. If not, he sees pet-tan in the morning at breakfast, and when he comes home from work that night. The former scenario is probably what everyone is thinking of... the latter scenario would be easier to write for me personally (not to mention is more realistic). So I don't care what his story is, I just need to know if he works or not so I can write accordingly.

Also, for the default bad end, will there be if statements to customize it for whatever bad thing you did to specific pet-tan?

[LVUER]

The parents pays all tuition and basic necessities (including rent), but not much that MC could use it to have fun... or other things like buying the pet-tan some clothes or swimsuit, hehehe... (to do that, MC have to take part-time job).

So if you want the MC to work (from morning to night), you could make him take lots of part time job, perhaps to buy a motor-bike or something. If not, you could make the MC stick around the house all the time either. Flexible ^_^

About the bad ending. No, there will be no parameter to go along with it. So once the ending kick in (jump to "default_bad_ending" label), it will kinda auto-play and exactly the same for all pet (so there's no sprite involved other than the professor sprite... or no sprite at all).

The ending would be more or less like this:
The next morning, the MC wakes up, can not find <insert pet name> anywhere. Suddenly, he notices that there's a stranger in living room, holding some kind of strange device. The moment later, the MC couldn't remember anything and fall unconscious. Some time later, the MC wakes up and find it strange days passed so fast and he couldn't remember what he did these several days. And then he go on with his daily normal life...

[Fawn]

Hmm, well to be realistic, a college aged student with a basic parttime job can't afford a house usually. He'd need a house because not only do most apartments not allow pets; they also don't have much space and there are people around all the time... Aka they'd easily notice your pet-tan and the jig would be up! xD
It would be nice for him to have a job, but for it to be realistic too... We have the capability to make this a very good VN, we shouldn't allow plot holes. If we're all going to work hard on it we should make a coherent story.

It would actually make it easier to write if I didn't have to account for the sci-fi background.

Don't worry, there shouldn't be too much detail... All you have to do is mention that they were all created by their scientist father. Infact you don't even need to mention he's a scientist, readers will probably be able to guess that themselves.

[LVUER]

It's the parent that provide the money to rent the house (if we couldn't use apartment, then we switch it house rent, though it would be strange for a single person to rent an entire house too, don't you think?). The MC do part time job (if you want him to work) to buy something. You could make it PS3, motor-bike, electric guitar, whatever... as it's not something you could say to your parent "Hey, I'm outta this house and I want to buy something... can I ask some money?" The parents also provide money for basic necessities (like food and electric bill) and tuition fee.

Of course it's not a problem if we want the MC to be older and graduated from college and supposed to have job... but then we have to think what job it is, why he isn't working in some pet path, why the job is different in different pet path, and if he's currently out of job/keep getting fired, why he have the nerve to have a pet (even if it's one week free trial, he still needs to think about after one week period expired and all the cost to raise a pet... which is not a small amount, believe me)... someone who's in money trouble won't feel that lonely since I believe he will think about money instead of some company.

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Really, this is getting more and more complicated. It's supposed to be simple at the beginning... don't make it more complicated than it's needed to be (by wanting to have it perfect) like the first pet project. If there's nothing REALLY wrong or big problem, that make you unable to progress with your story, I really want to go with this setting. I've think about it for so long and I think this setting is the best since it's not restrict writer too much and it's already have lots of people's suggestion in it.

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I've PMed Mugenjohncel about the BG but haven't received any reply (well, it's just been several hours). Other than Sapphi's request for a pet shop BG, is there any additional BG request? Is another bed room is essential for your plot?

And how about the side character? Anymore request? Should we keep the friend gender as male or female? Personally I go for female, just in case we need another female (but like always, I open for suggestion).

[Mocha07734]

I personally like the idea more if he has a part time job instead of a full time one. Just like LVUER had explained, it would be a whole lot easier as a collaboration project.
I think the simpler the better and easier it is. There will be less chance of plot holes and give the writers more freedom to write.

I think one bedroom bg would be enough, considering he is living in an apartment and not a house. And since he is living in an apartment by himself, he wouldn't have a need for another bedroom.

I also think the friend should be female. Not really because we need another female. (so far the only males I have counted is the main character and the scientist father person...) But since I think a Moe game like this needs a female character who isn't a pet, i guess.

[LVUER]

Ah, by bed room, I mean having the bed room and living room separated. If there is a bed room BG, then there will be no bed in the living room. Just like, you know, cheap apartment where there's only two rooms; main room + bath room.

But if we go with renting house (which is I think, have it cons too since it would be strange for a person, having full time job or not to rent an entire house for himself), then there must be a separated bed room and living room.

[Mocha07734]

Ah! I see.

Hmm, I think sticking with the apartment would be the best idea. I'm not sure about others but if I were the parents I would never ever pay the rent of an entire house for just one person unless I had that much money to waste, especially if they were just a college student or old enough to get a decent job.

With the bedroom background, I guess we just have to wait and see if any of the writers are going to need it.

[TsukiShima]

I have some few ideas, but just in case it might help even a bit.

To make things lighter, how about making the prologue easier? The MC is living inside his own house or apartment (I think apartment is better, just a cheap one) because he lives in a city, near to his college, while his parents living somewhere else. One night, before he gets to sleep, he got into a deep thinking (this is when he should tell about his life).. Um, my idea is like this:
"I'm finally able to live on my own. But now, it feels a little lonely.. I wish I could have a pet of my own. They seem nice to make company for me. It's not a bad idea, and if I had one, it would be...
a) A peacock, it is beautiful and proud.
b) A koi fish, it is beautiful and calming.
etc. etc."
Then the next day when he wakes up, he finds something laying on him, which is the pet. It seems that his wish was granted.
For the bad ending, maybe, when he wakes up after a day, the pet disappears, and he was never able to find it again. And perhaps for the good ending, the pet remained to his side.

If the professor to be exist here, he can be the one giving advice to the MC, like the professor being his lecturer or teacher. It's like, the MC will search for him to ask what should he do with his pet, and wonder why the pet disappeared after that.

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I think the one supporting character is enough, for myself, I think I only need a friend for the MC. The cafe and MC's friend can be use by everyone, perhaps, the MC himself taking part-time job there?
As for the BGs, an apartment doesn't mean that high building with so many house. I'm thinking the 2 floors apartment, with, again as LVUER said, only 2 or 3 rooms. I think the 2 rooms is enough. The bed can be at the side near the wall of the main room, with a TV, a long sofa, small table, a laptop, some small decorations, and a slide window, since I mostly seen that. If it's a house, a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom BG, to me is enough.

Other BGs are as said, random sidewalks, the cafe, the rooms.

Also, I think I would like that MC's friend to be a male, maybe just a best friend, who he can talk about boy's stuff, the friend would tease him with his pet too.
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Well, those I just my suggestion, and maybe if you don't mind, we can also illustrate on how MC should be like? And then we can vote for the most suitable one. I just hope we'll get that 'average yet attractive-deep-inside, funny, young man' as MC though. Someone like Tomoya from Clannad.

[Fawn]

Well, this was the problem with the original project... Everyone wanted to have a say in what the prologue was, who the friend was, the mc, ect. The only thing that should be completely up to the writer is the pet, since the pet is the most important part of their writing. Everyone should go with one template to start out with, just like in other collaborations. It shouldn't be too hard to adjust to one very simple setting.

If we want it simple, we shouldn't really even have to explain that much about the protagonist's life. Who cares about the protagonist's parents? By the time you get to the pet-tan part of the story those details won't matter, the player will be more interested in the pet than knowing about the protagonist.

My problem with a college student wanting a pet is that it's really unrealistic. As a college student myself, I know if I had a pet, it wouldn't live long... College is a big responsibility in itself, it's hard to even keep your assignments in order, how can you expect to put the responsibility of a pet on top of that?
And he's using his parent's money too. They wouldn't allow that. Also, as I mentioned before, apartments usually don't allow pets.

If you read Iguana-tans story, it's very well put together. The protagonist works online and makes a decent amount of cash so he can afford a small house, and due to his job being online at home he can spend tons of time with pet-tan! People won't care about the job he works, because there are online jobs that do pay well (Maybe he's really good at the stock market, who knows...) Has anyone read it besides me, though?

It's not strange for a person to own their own house if they can afford it. If you have the money, do you really want to live surrounded by noisy people pounding on your walls, having to leave your car in a parking lot ripe for burglars to steal it, having to deal with a crabby landlord/lady? Yeah, I wouldn't either.

[Sapphi]

Hmm, well to be realistic, a college aged student with a basic parttime job can't afford a house usually. He'd need a house because not only do most apartments not allow pets; they also don't have much space and there are people around all the time... Aka they'd easily notice your pet-tan and the jig would be up! xD

I thought the original premise was that the guy had just moved into an apartment that allowed pets, so it wasn't an issue. If it's unrealistic, it could be a trashy apartment Where I live at least, the really cheap apartments are in the bad parts of town where people occasionally get shot, and I don't think they usually care if the tenants have pets or not because the tenants are usually drug dealers or addicts.

Really though, I care more about getting this done than the details, so I'll inevitably go with whatever everyone else decides. I was just trying to put in some suggestions. I'll wait to start writing until we all agree on something though.

@Fawn: I have not yet read it (haven't had time) but I will attempt to do so soon.

[Fawn]

@Sapphi: That sounds like an awful place to live O__o hahaha! And yes, as far as I remember it was a house... But, I could be wrong.

Well, I was just thinking about Wanko to Kurasou, didn't the protagonist live in a condo? :O Like not a full house, but probably a place they allow pets. (though, human pets are acceptable in Wanko to Kurasou, while this project the plot is based on the surprise of buy a pet and finding it's a pet-girl, then having to keep her a secret)

I want to get this done too, but without a proper introduction to the story and some anchoring details the stories may become a confusing mess. It wouldn't be very good if players had to question the basis of the story, it would take away from the quality.