Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Forum rules
Ren'Py specific questions should be posted in the Ren'Py Questions and Annoucements forum, not here.
Ren'Py specific questions should be posted in the Ren'Py Questions and Annoucements forum, not here.
-
- Regular
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:14 am
- Projects: Dr. Book's Book Store ~ Episode 1 ~ Enigmatic Mind
- Location: Australia
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Another reason could be, that the clothes define the character.
The punk wearing the black muscle shirt and cut off jeans, the cute girl next door wearing the floral pink dress ect.
Anyway, not all VN's try for realism, and many that do fail.
Cartoon characters don't change their clothes much either, or if a lot of the time, ever. And these characters are redrawn frame by frame, there's no real reason they can't have their clothes changed from episode to episode, other than the fact that the clothes help make the character, they give them personality and make them easily identifiable.
It isn't really an issue, VN's aren't the only medium in which clothing is never changed.
The punk wearing the black muscle shirt and cut off jeans, the cute girl next door wearing the floral pink dress ect.
Anyway, not all VN's try for realism, and many that do fail.
Cartoon characters don't change their clothes much either, or if a lot of the time, ever. And these characters are redrawn frame by frame, there's no real reason they can't have their clothes changed from episode to episode, other than the fact that the clothes help make the character, they give them personality and make them easily identifiable.
It isn't really an issue, VN's aren't the only medium in which clothing is never changed.
- sake-bento
- Eileen-Class Veteran
- Posts: 1909
- Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:58 pm
- Completed: http://sakevisual.com/games.html
- Projects: Every Sunrise, Shinsei
- Organization: sakevisual
- Tumblr: sakevisual
- Deviantart: sakevisual
- itch: sakevisual
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Not only is it easier on everyone involved, I think giving a character a set outfit makes him or her more recognizable. A lot of live action media features characters in a very small selection of clothing as well. Even the Doctor only changes his suit once a season.
sakevisual visual novels (and stuff) | sakevisual dev blog
-
- Regular
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:01 am
- Projects: | ZUKUNFT | Wayang Kulit - A Shadow Play (WIP version 0.1) |
- Location: Germany
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Ah, The Doctor!
But he may be a bad example, as he changes his face every now and then … … well!
I agree with you!
But he may be a bad example, as he changes his face every now and then … … well!
I agree with you!
Project: Wayang Kulit - A Shadow Play
Status: First demo version "Proof of Concept" of my first project is out.
Status: First demo version "Proof of Concept" of my first project is out.
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
The really cheap way to do this is to have one set of clothes and then do pallete swaps. Worked for Final Fantasy.
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Changing clothes is easy to do in 3D (I use 3D, but 3D VNs aren't popular).
I've played several games by winterwolves games (the Vera Blanc games and Bionic Hearts), and in those games the characters change clothes. It's also not that hard in 2D VNs, using layers in Photoshop or GIMP (or palette swaps as suggested by Funnyguts). I've made mods for both the Vera Blanc and Bionic Hearts games.
I appreciate artists willing want to put in the 'extra work'.
I've played several games by winterwolves games (the Vera Blanc games and Bionic Hearts), and in those games the characters change clothes. It's also not that hard in 2D VNs, using layers in Photoshop or GIMP (or palette swaps as suggested by Funnyguts). I've made mods for both the Vera Blanc and Bionic Hearts games.
I appreciate artists willing want to put in the 'extra work'.
Some of my visual novels are at http://www.the-new-lagoon.com. They are NSFW
Poorly done hand-drawn art is still poorly done art. Be a Poser (or better yet, use DAZ Studio 3D) - dare to be different.
Poorly done hand-drawn art is still poorly done art. Be a Poser (or better yet, use DAZ Studio 3D) - dare to be different.
- gundestiny
- Regular
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
While it's true that it's not overly difficult if you utilize layers properly, it can still take some time (particularly if there are many characters). And there's always the risk that the extra effort or work you put in, may not ever get published. (eg, the game is dropped)
Although, VN's where characters do have different clothing sets are much more immersive and realistic as said previously :3
Although, VN's where characters do have different clothing sets are much more immersive and realistic as said previously :3
- Mink
- Eileen-Class Veteran
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:00 am
- Completed: Say You Love Me (Short Version), C!P (NaNo12), Lady Misfortune, NatH, W/K, MtF, SMQ, TBM, TMHK, LoC, MMDG
- Projects: Stuff
- Organization: Metal Orphans
- Location: Somewhere that's green
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
Eh, depending the VN, it could be little pay off. Also, it could depend on whether or not you're paying money or if the artist is doing it for free. If you've have, say, upwards of ten characters, and the game takes place for about a month, and if they change clothes in a realistic way...that's a lot of work. A free artist would have to be *really* dedicated to do that amount of work. If the artist is getting paid, you'd probably better be willing to shell out some money.
As for the art, even if you do use layers, drawing/coloring the outfits are still going to take some time. Even then, some people may want really ornate clothes, which would take even more time.
And I've seen way worse leaps in logic in realism than just how often a character in a show/game/whatever changes clothes.
As a note, not to sound harsh or anything, if you want a realistic change of clothes that badly, there's always learning to draw yourself.
As for the art, even if you do use layers, drawing/coloring the outfits are still going to take some time. Even then, some people may want really ornate clothes, which would take even more time.
And I've seen way worse leaps in logic in realism than just how often a character in a show/game/whatever changes clothes.
As a note, not to sound harsh or anything, if you want a realistic change of clothes that badly, there's always learning to draw yourself.
"I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love."
***Say You Love Me***Human Enough***Cheerful!Polymorph [NaNo12][Complete!]***
"Couldn't you stop this?"
"Probably, but I don't want to."
*Website, yo*
***Say You Love Me***Human Enough***Cheerful!Polymorph [NaNo12][Complete!]***
"Couldn't you stop this?"
"Probably, but I don't want to."
*Website, yo*
-
- Miko-Class Veteran
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:51 pm
- Completed: May-chan, The Country with no People, Him&Me
- Location: Oregon
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
I guess I'm lucky, my artist ( who is doing everything for free) has every sprite have around 2 different outfits ( besides their school/main outfit) awwwww~! I love her so much!
-
- King of Lolies
- Posts: 4538
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:57 pm
- Completed: R.S.P
- Location: Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
@fleet:
It's not making the program to change the clothes, but the extra time and effort you have to churn in order to design and make the additional cloth.
It's not making the program to change the clothes, but the extra time and effort you have to churn in order to design and make the additional cloth.
"Double the princesses, quadruple the fun!" - Haken Browning (SRW-OG Endless Frontier)
DeviantArt Account
MoeToMecha Blog (under construction)
Lolicondria Blog (under construction) <- NSFW
DeviantArt Account
MoeToMecha Blog (under construction)
Lolicondria Blog (under construction) <- NSFW
- Auro-Cyanide
- ssǝʇunoƆ ʇɹ∀
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:02 am
- Completed: http://auro-cyanide.tumblr.com/visualnovels
- Projects: Athena
- Organization: Cyanide Tea
- Tumblr: auro-cyanide
- Deviantart: Auro-Cyanide
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
As someone who would be doing so called 'extra work', I would like to say that I don't mind doing extra outfits, but they do take up time and effort and they stretch out timelines more than they already are for a game. Getting something close to reality (as in the characters change clothes everyday or so) would be a waste of effort for the amount of pay out you get. A single pose, single outfit sprite is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to do than multiple poses and outfits. Basically, artwork for games take long enough to do without freaking out over details. I would rather see a finished game where characters never change outfits, than an unfinished game where several characters have a whole wardrobe.
(And it's not that 3D VNs are unpopular per se, it is unpolished 3D graphics. 3D stuff quickly falls into 'uncanny valley' and so you have to work a lot harder for people to find them appealing. You pull of something like that which is seen in 3D movies, then people will love it. But half polished stuff will generally only make people feel uncomfotable)
(And it's not that 3D VNs are unpopular per se, it is unpolished 3D graphics. 3D stuff quickly falls into 'uncanny valley' and so you have to work a lot harder for people to find them appealing. You pull of something like that which is seen in 3D movies, then people will love it. But half polished stuff will generally only make people feel uncomfotable)
- gundestiny
- Regular
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
^ Agreed. The major time consuming constraint when producing sprites would be either: another pose, or a different wardrobe. With a new pose, you'd have to redraw the whole sprite (angle, position, clothing). And say if you want the extra pose to have both (or more outfits) there's even more time sucked down the drain.
Yes, money is a delicious incentive to putting in the extra effort, but it's still time constraining ^^"
Yes, money is a delicious incentive to putting in the extra effort, but it's still time constraining ^^"
- Sapphi
- Eileen-Class Veteran
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:31 am
- Completed: Boku no Taisetsu na Yumeko
- Projects: Twelve, PAW ★ PRINTS
- Organization: Kitsch-soft
- Location: Illinois, USA
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
This. If you're writing super straight slice-of-life then I guess various outfits could be expected, but... for me, as a character designer, I try to come up with the very best outfit I can for my character in the first place, and then I don't want to change it because it's iconic. As Meatpie noted above, sometimes outfits define the character. I mean, the clothes can be as recognizable (if not moreso) than the face. Think about everyone who cosplays... sometimes you only know it's a certain character because of the details in their clothes.sake-bento wrote:Not only is it easier on everyone involved, I think giving a character a set outfit makes him or her more recognizable. A lot of live action media features characters in a very small selection of clothing as well. Even the Doctor only changes his suit once a season.
And even IRL, I would bet that most of us have one or two "favorite outfits" that we wear more often than others, to the point that they could be considered a trademark outfit. If you were to draw yourself, more likely than not, you would draw yourself in those clothes. I mean, take Mugen for example, he's always wearing that red Hawaiian print shirt
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
So the bottom line appears to be that
(1) artists don't like the extra work (unless they are getting paid for piecework and do not have a deadline), and
(2) varying character outfits doesn't matter a lot to the readers of VNs
(1) artists don't like the extra work (unless they are getting paid for piecework and do not have a deadline), and
(2) varying character outfits doesn't matter a lot to the readers of VNs
Some of my visual novels are at http://www.the-new-lagoon.com. They are NSFW
Poorly done hand-drawn art is still poorly done art. Be a Poser (or better yet, use DAZ Studio 3D) - dare to be different.
Poorly done hand-drawn art is still poorly done art. Be a Poser (or better yet, use DAZ Studio 3D) - dare to be different.
- papillon
- Arbiter of the Internets
- Posts: 4107
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2003 4:37 am
- Completed: lots; see website!
- Projects: something mysterious involving yuri, usually
- Organization: Hanako Games
- Tumblr: hanakogames
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
and CREATORS don't like the extra work causing either huge delays or huge costs or both, too, don't forget that
- Crocosquirrel
- Miko-Class Veteran
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:28 am
- Completed: Mobile Food Madness, Super Otome Quest
- Projects: Academy Daze
- Organization: Polymorphic Games
- Location: Perpendicularly parked in a parallel universe
- Contact:
Re: Why do characters in visual novels rarely change clothes
The only time I've ever seen costume changes happen in VNs is when their clothing would normally *have* to change. Uniform/swimsuit/streetclothes/nightclothes/underwear, etc.
But even that is a significant multiplier. So you either have to keep movement to a minimum, or clothing. In those cases where you can do neither, expect much screaming an gnashing of teeth.
But even that is a significant multiplier. So you either have to keep movement to a minimum, or clothing. In those cases where you can do neither, expect much screaming an gnashing of teeth.
I'm going to get off my soap-box now, and let you get back to your day.
Academy Daze- Back in production! Complete with ecchi-ness
Academy Daze- Back in production! Complete with ecchi-ness
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users