an horror otome game

[jack_norton]

This idea was suggested by a twitter user, and I think is cool. I would like to do such a game (well, after I finish all the ones I have on hiatus right now!! lol).
I was wondering if people would be interested in it. I mean, otome and horror... I am not sure it can be a good combination? By horror I mean real horror, frightening one, with zombies, mutants, blood, etc
Of course I'd use manga art, something like Jisei or maybe even more "realistic", but quite full of ... the typical things you find in a horror movie.
I have in mind a story about it, and it wouldn't be a VN but more like a simulation/RPG with a story (well, like Planet Stronghold but with also a strategic map).
Just an idea for now since for sure won't be able to start this before next year, but was curious to know what people think about this combination. I am really not an expert of original JP visual novel market so don't know if otome+horror has been done already in other games ?

[Mirage]

I'm pretty certain it has been done before in Japan, but it's not that many as far as I know. Also it depends if you are talking about horror as in Resident Evil/Fatal Frame, or something like Higurashi. The one I know leans more to Higurashi, as in the pursuable guys turn out to be real creepy serial killer or just plain crazy.

I say it will be interesting to see one. I did think of making one, but some girls I know mentioned that they will not touch anything scary. lol~ So I don't know how well stuff like this fare with girls. There are girls who really enjoy horror though.

[jack_norton]

I say it will be interesting to see one. I did think of making one, but some girls I know mentioned that they will not touch anything scary. lol~ So I don't know how well stuff like this fare with girls. There are girls who really enjoy horror though.

Yes that's what I was wondering I think "Mystery" is fine, but really HORROR stuff (like resident evil indeed)... not sure.
In casual games is pretty common now (there are lots of horror/scary hidden object games) but as is well known casual and visual novel market are quite different.
Though probably, since I would just use mostly static images, I don't think it will be as scary as a full 3d-real time game!

[OtomeWeekend]

The game "Kurayami no Hate de Kimi wo Matsu" is a sort of horror(well not really, just that one by one they are killed by a crazy killer which is actually on their own group). It didn't receive much attention probably because of the art(which is mostly the reason why someone would play a VN---collecting beautiful CGs) but it wasn't really THAT bad.

Anyways, I dunno much but in my opinion. A horror otome game would be a nice game to those who love horror. since it seems hearing horror itself discourage some female players. Horror attracts male customers much more...

I have problem sleeping for weeks whenever i watched horror, so yeah, with the word zombie and resident evil, I'm pretty discouraged to support it now *shivers at the corner* ---but if it was that attempting to play, i might overcome my fear and play it. ---well, THAT'S MY OPINION.

[LVUER]

How about 999? Is it scary enough? Though I think 999 is not a horror (and I know 999 is not an otome game, this is just an example).

[SilverxBlue]

I agree with OtomeWeekend on Horror being more appealing to the male-audience but that doesn't mean that all the girls out there doesn't like them. There's bound to be some girls who are very much willing to try it out. For me, it actually sounds interesting and it would be something that I'm going to play.
Screw the fact that horror gives me problems sleeping at night, I already have insomnia.

The art or the obtainable guys have to be way good-looking though, that'd make a lot of girls forget that it is a horror game and buy it.

[jack_norton]

Well maybe I can have user choose his character like in Planet Stronghold, so you can actually play as male and female. Probably a better idea so if turns out girls are too scared by it, maybe boys would still love the setting. I don't think it would be REALLY that scary, even using a somewhat "realistic" art, is still an artwork, and I am not sure that if in the end can be "so scary"
Personally I don't like horror stuff either, I rarely watch a horror movie

[OtomeWeekend]

@silverblue:

yes, and that's what I'm exactly saying. That's why jack_norton's idea of making it a choose-your-gender option would be the best bet.

I am NOT sure if there are REALLY few female horror lovers but as far as I am aware of, female are more on the fluffy cute stuffs without the zombies or the undeads exists :\

[DaFool]

You don't need to have a male protagonist option even.

Horror attracts male customers much more...

I second this. Key word being: HP LOVECRAFT

There is a subgenre of steampunk horror eroge written by a female writer and has female protagonist (with heterosexual love interests even) but is male-targeted eroge with action and sex.

So maybe cut down the gore (and of course the blatant sex), make the males more bishie, but keep the dark moody setting and you can get both demographics.

Just don't call it otome.

[OtomeWeekend]

now that you think about it, it won't be otome anymore if you choose which gender the protagonist is.

I think I half agree on DaFool. But, not making it an otome would turn off more female gamers since there would be some that would buy because it is an otome game. But then, it would indeed increase even more male gamers though.

[gekiganwing]

I figure that when horror is written well, it crosses genre lines. But if you want to create a game with two lead characters, that's not a bad idea. Regardless, decide who you want your audience to be, and think about whether they're interested in buying VNs or 2D simulation games for computers.

Zeiva Inc's recent game X-Note is at least borderline horror... it's a serious story about revenge and psychic powers, but at the same time it's a simulation game with several potential love interests.

You may not be interested in survival horror, but you may wish to read TVTropes' current thoughts on how to (and how not to) write that particular video game genre.

Looking at the site's general list of horror-themed video games, I recognized the name Uninvited. As a graphic adventure game, its emphasis is on puzzles and gameplay. And though it's not the first horror game, it was a product that made me think that horror could be done seriously in a video game. (I bring it up because I wonder how well a combination of room-by-room graphic adventure and romance game would work.)

The Megami Tensei series has been combining horror and serious, difficult gameplay for years. In the last few years, spinoffs such as Persona 3 and 4 have added romance elements to the franchise. I know there's a group of fans who are interested in a similar game with complex gameplay as well as relationship elements.

Some otome games mentioned in the VNDB that seem to include horror elements...

* Bloody Call
* Love Drops ~Miracle Doukyo Monogatari~
* Princess Nightmare
* Queen of Darkness (and a related game, The Second Reproduction)
* Under the Moon
* the Vampire Knight licensed game for DS

And there's probably more I'm forgetting. Unfortunately, I don't play untranslated games, but I'm sure that at least a decent amount of information on these visual novels' stories has been written in English.

[DaFool]

Here's the perfect example of what I mean about a horror game that transcends genres:

http://vndb.org/v1027
(I heard an English translation is currently being worked on)

Notice the utterly exquisite designs that's one of a kind, even in the Japanese market.

But if you make it plain comic-style you'll be competing in a saturated market.

Heck, I'll even want to be an investor for the production if you schedule production next year. It's a game I would want to make myself if only I had more experience in writing genuine horror (I have none)

[Silvere]

As long as you put at least 1 GxG in there, I´m with you!
I actually hate that 90% of the games here are Otome games which don´t have anything interesting for us guys (At least for me as I just don´t like going for "AHHH, BEAUTIFUUUL <3<3" guys. ^^)

[OtomeWeekend]

@gekiganwing:

I played those games except princess nightmare and bloody call... but i think except that some are 18+ games, there really is nothing horror especially in love drops and vampire knight(there are vamps and demons though)
On the other note: School Days was labeled a horror due to heavy psychological contents and gore ending( i heard the manga was worst than the anime). but again, it appeals male gamers again.

[DaFool]

I actually hate that 90% of the games here are Otome games which don´t have anything interesting for us guys (At least for me as I just don´t like going for "AHHH, BEAUTIFUUUL <3<3" guys. ^^)

The answer, my friend:

http://visualnovelaer.wordpress.com/201 ... verynthia/

So basically it goes like this:

Few female hackers (who can reverse-engineer otome games) + elitist "You should learn Japanese" otome players = lack of otome games in English ----> MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTOME EVNs

Everyone and their brother fansubbing / pirating eroge = access to the best content (or at least good enough to have many fans) ----> no motivation to create standard BxG (why make something of a type that's easily available, if all you're doing is just making a cheaper version which nobody will play since they're too busy playing EF or whatever fancy new eroge is out?)

So what are old-timers like myself concentrating on making? (cue mugenjohncel's blog) Masturbation material: themes / topics we haven't encountered yet that has lower overall appeal and are just ourselves trying to find a selfish creative outlet.

Sorry for the OT.