Touhou Visual Novel~?

[Necrocarnival]

Of course~ c:

Well, I am hoping to find a programmer, so the engine would really be down to what they're good at, but I'm hoping for it to be made in Ren'Py. I'm currently learning to code in it, {a slow, painful process. x_x} so that if we can't find a programmer, I can step in to put it together.

We've actually decided to step away from the romance genre now, and we're going down a slightly more, well 'action' based route I suppose you could call it. xD To summarize, the routes for each character are based around popular pairings for that character, but that's pretty much where it stops. So yes, it will be a lot more about development. xD Obviously, this is unless there is popular demand for a dating sim element.

If I can work out how to code it, or if we get a good programmer on board, when you first start the game, you will be given a choice as to whether you play through with Reimu or Marisa. Both characters have completely different routes they can go down, but share a couple of bad endings. xD Both characters, thus far, have four different 'good ending' routes they can go down, and they will all be based on decisions you have made throughout the story, as is the norm. c:

I was thinking having Sakuya be an unlockable protagonist, so perhaps after you've gotten all of Reimu and Marisa's good endings, you can choose to play her.

There isn't MUCH overlap in them choosing the same person, I think that the only overlap is so far with Remilia, Flandre and Patchouli, but I may well change this later, if I can think of other pairings.

I am in the process of musing outlines for different routes, and for endings {I have a pretty strong idea for the basis of the good endings}, but nothing else is quite set in stone yet. Really, I'm waiting on writers to help with that. =w=

I currently have two other people helping me, both of which are artists.

[Nitori-chan]

Ren'Py sounds like a good place to start. It's simple, easy to use, and has everything you need. But I've been looking around for other engines to use as well. There's one called Novelty that's still in beta, but it looks like it could be useful. There are also a couple of Japanese visual novels that look great, but are impossible to use unless you know Japanese. I'm actually not a programmer myself, but I can learn quickly for the sake of the project.

What do you mean by "action" based route? I see you don't want it to be so much about romance, which is fine, but what does that entail?

Other than that, I think I can work out the details with you at a later time. I can work best as a writer for the story and dialogue. Like I said before, I can try my hand at programming, and I think I'll learn quickly. I've never composed music from scratch before, but I've done piano and music theory, so I think I can do Touhou remixes. x3

The only thing I can't do is draw, so it's a good thing there are three artists already on board. I can pretty much do everything else, though. So I'm definitely interested in helping out with you guys as a writer, among other things.

[Necrocarnival]

Ahhh. I'm very familiar with Novelty, it's a dream to use, but I don't like the fact it's so limited in what you can do with it. :\
I've heard that an advanced version will be coming out for it, but not for a while yet. e_e

Having you on board as a writer would be wonderful! I can double as a writer, since I have experience in it, but honestly if I'm going to be programming, I'd rather use my time to throw myself into doing that and the art. xD

And by action... well I'll try and run the storymode summaries by you. xD

Basically, once trapped in the Netherworld, whichever protagonist you choose to play as will explore the Netherworld, with Youmu as their guide\information desk {for lack of a better description xD} looking for information about how to escape. On the way, the protagonist will be given choices about which other person or group they want to team up with in their bid to escape, which will ultimately decide on which ending you get. I'm also debating about whether or not to have a few youkai still lurking around, such as a few of the cast from Ten Desires, which might challenge you or something.

Still need to fine tune a few details. xD

[AmethystxRose]

Whoa, I had forgotten I had an account here. [Considering it's been three years, I guess that's not surprising... XD]
I'm glad to see you're gaining some interest and it looks like people are willing to help you out. ^o^
I may be too busy to contribute anything, but you know I'm always here for morale support and motivation.... and I'm willing to be a bug tester.

[Nitori-chan]

Ahhh. I'm very familiar with Novelty, it's a dream to use, but I don't like the fact it's so limited in what you can do with it. :\
I've heard that an advanced version will be coming out for it, but not for a while yet. e_e

Ah, I see. Then I'll fun around with Ren'Py for now and figure out what I can do. If something changes with Novelty, I'll look into that.

Is there a way I can contact you faster than email, like an instant messenger program? Or is that the only/best way? =/

[Ziassan]

Hmm, well~
Just finished writing an article on Touhou for a fanzine, and then I fall on that ahah, what a coincidence.
Your project looks interesting, I'll say what I think about differents points and where I can land a hand.

Overall : Never seen much Touhou OELVN, so, eh, why not. I wonder if the OELVN community is a bit mixed with the Touhou not-japanese community, that's worth a try.

Programming : I'd say, Ren'py looks better because I think you don't want to, right in the middle of the project, discover that you're limited by the choice you made. Ren'py asks a bit more at the start but hasn't the limits Novelty has.
Also that's not my main skill but I know how to code so that's a place where I could help.

Art : Just looked to the tumblr, to be honnest (because I like to-) some things looked really strange on what I seen (for instance about the lips or the eyelashes, or some face shapes), some others things were quite good (like Aya and her pose). Out of the character themself, the theme (title look, GUI, tumblr backgruond) is good enough and a reminds ZUN style.

Music : Ah, speaking of "Zun style", as a composer I'm glad to say that, if you're interested, I can make music that reminds the Touhou's spirit. Just composed a short example of the kind of thing possible: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/spirit%27s_canvas.ogg or a straight remake of Ancient Temple using these instruments : https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/TH07_10.ogg

Story : Pretty "out of nowhere" and random at first (speaking of the 'plot'), but that's totally the Touhou stories spirit' after all ahah (even if often more on the nature itself). Do you plan some... hmm "mystere" ? I mean, some turnarounds that could be guessed before by sounds little things, I often think it adds "something more".

Depending on the deadlines, I'd be pleased to be part of the project, mostly as a composer.

[AmethystxRose]

Music : Ah, speaking of "Zun style", as a composer I'm glad to say that, if you're interested, I can make music that reminds the Touhou's spirit. Just composed a short example of the kind of thing possible: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/spirit%27s_canvas.ogg or a straight remake of Ancient Temple using these instruments : https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/TH07_10.ogg

Your second link didn't work D:
But the first one sounds wonderful! May I ask what you use to compose your music? I just purchased a bit for myself, but I'm 100% newbie. ;.;

[Ziassan]

(ah, shutted down my computer to use my laptop, forgetting the song was uploading on the not-laptop PC, meh)

Well, what would you know exactly ?
For these "Touhou sounds" I use my own synth - a Technics WSA-1, a good synth to create and edit your owns sounds, so I worked with it to try to sound a bit like "Zun music". ; and some VST directly by computer. And finally some from another synth keyboard I have, a Roland TTS-1 that is based on Hyper Canvas by Edirol.
ZUN use an Edirol SD-90 (hardware MIDI module) so you can understand why something based on Hyper Canvas could reminds of it.

But you know, even some the basic "midi sounds" that everyone can do without any instrument, can reminds quite enough Zun's music (pianos bass guitar and drums are already really "midi sounding" and the first Windows Touhou - after the 6).

[Necrocarnival]

Hah, in terms of the poster that I assume you looked at, {the group one, right?} dear god I agree with you. xD Not my best work by far, it was a rushed effort and the faces came out a bit... funny. :\ The Yuyuko poster came out much better, if you haven't seen that?

Thank you very much about the theme\GUI, however. ;w;

And I'm really glad you're interested in composing for us! :'D Your work is very ZUN like, congratz on getting the style down.
I'd like to hear some more samples if you have any, since the music style we were hoping to go for was more of a remix of Touhou songs. {classical versions, house remixes, etc. We're still deciding on a set genre that will fit the VN best.}

And by turnarounds, you mean plot twists, I assume?
A story would be nothing without them. XD

[Ziassan]

Ah, of course it's not a problem to use others kind of instruments more "real", trying to sounds like ZUN instruments is more work than using normal instruments ahah.
So, ok, I played two touhou songs with my piano if you want to hear his sound (a bit masterized) : https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/th_inv ... _sound.ogg and https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/Th_shinkou_piano.ogg (longer)

Some violins/cello : https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/TH06_17_cello.ogg (started the "action" part but.. ahah well)

Also music box sounds nice : https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2379296/green_ ... nalMel.ogg

If you think that's more near to what you want for your project, I'd be glad to help you (but not until mid-July, currently busy)
Btw that's just touhou songs played/remixed quiclky for the example, for real works follow my sign.


About the art you mentionned two others artists ? So if you're 3, can you adapt your work enough to have a certain "uniformity" in the sprites ? (too much difference of style between them can be disturbing)

[Necrocarnival]

Ahhhhh, the violin one was absolutely beautiul. Q.Q <3
Yep, I'd definitely be more than happy to have you on board. :'D

As for the art, we are going to make our best efforts, to keep everything looking uniform, as you say. There shouldn't be too much trouble with that.

[Astrid]

ah, this could be nice.... what kind of people are you looking for?

[snowflakepixie]

The Tumblr didn't work o-O Are you still doing this? I may be able to help :33

[yu1988]

Touhou visual novel... Would love to try =D. Been a fan of these girls for a long time =).