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NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:28 pm
by Geckos
So Nanoreno is coming up in March.

Feel free to use this post to list your skills to see if anyone wishes to pair with you, or vice versa.
Artist:
I have a lot of interest in volunteering my art for a game so long as it isn't a Japanese Highschool Drama type of thing.
I can do coding but I would prefer to be able to concentrate fully on the art for the game.
I do sprites, CGs and backgrounds. I am good for idea bouncing, I can proofread but I do not write.
As for genres: anything fantasy, sci-fi or generally out of the ordinary that would let me design creatures/characters/outfits that aren't school uniforms is what I'm really looking for.

Side note:
For any writers who are lacking an idea, an older one of mine is this:
Setting: City on the back of a giant turtle that roams around the world.
Main character idea: Female alchemist that enjoys collecting materials from all over to brew various potions. (Could be a click-adventure mini game with image maps to collect stuff?)
Goal/plot: Possibly trying to brew a transmography potion that would let her turn into a bird. (?)
These are just sort of general ideas, all of none of them need be used.


I've decided to try to complete a playable demo for my game Jacob's Island instead of create a new, smaller game. My writer is much happier for this news, haha!

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:49 pm
by saguaro
I'm glad you posted this because I thought it was in April for some reason. I'm in this year, for sure.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:17 pm
by CheeryMoya
I have been planning since last year December and I need to start buckling down to do proper research/story planning. Even though it's a high school game, it's a private school (in America! whoa) with fun and wacky uncommon character types. I've got placeholders downloaded even though they definitely won't fit the bill for the appearances of my characters one bit. If I'm doing a high school game, my goal is to at least not start off being generic.

If I learned anything from last year, it's that you should not improvise and start mapping out the details when NaNo starts. If you haven't already, start planning now. If you have your plot outlined you can jump right into the writing immediately.

Also, for newbies, I think these are the general rules of NaNoRenO:
  • Takes place in March
  • You can only begin actual production of your game in March
  • Brainstorming, plot outlining, character sketches, and anything that does not lead to the direction production of assets is okay
  • Sketches of sprite poses, backgrounds, and CGs is NOT okay
  • Creative Commons material is okay
  • There are no "winners," everyone who manages to release their game on March 31/April 1 has completed NaNoRenO
  • You may release a buggy version of your game by the deadline and fix it up later
I'd actually like to challenge everyone who can't get custom assets for their entry to use the CC stuff on the forum first if possible. The threads there have great stuff, but if you need more things they're over in the OELVN (or do we want to call it the EVN?) wiki's Pre-Made Assets page. Also, avoid Incompetech/Kevin MacLeod! The site may be easy to navigate, but his songs are so overused I swear I will turn the volume off on the next game I play that uses his music (TAM is also a culprit). There's so many other great places like: *waves arms around frantically and disappears over the horizon*

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:37 pm
by Maelstrom-Fenrir
So excited for NaNo again this year. Hoping to finish again, or at least get close.

Can't wait for it to start.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:38 pm
by ShippoK
I always wondered what the heck this NanoReno was. I'm kind of excited to try it out.

Is it OK to brainstorm ideas now or can you only do that in the month of march?

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:48 pm
by Maelstrom-Fenrir
ShippoK wrote:I always wondered what the heck this NanoReno was. I'm kind of excited to try it out.

Is it OK to brainstorm ideas now or can you only do that in the month of march?
You are free to brainstorm concepts ideas, outline, basic sketches.

You basically just can't work on anything that will actually be featured in the vn itself. So basically, work on sprites, cgs, bgs, the script, etc.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:53 pm
by Fungii
Hueuhagh I've always wanted to take part in a NaNo but I'm stretched so thin as is.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:58 pm
by ShippoK
Maelstrom-Fenrir wrote: You are free to brainstorm concepts ideas, outline, basic sketches.

You basically just can't work on anything that will actually be featured in the vn itself. So basically, work on sprites, cgs, bgs, the script, etc.
Thank you~

I was afraid that any little idea I thought up at any moment would break the rules. I feel less stressed now knowing I can brainstorm a bit.~

Working on something other then your Original VN for a whole month can be a good rest-taker. :)

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:00 am
by KomiTsuku
Technically, using the CC stuff or planning everything out ahead of time is breaking the rules. Everything should be made from start to finish in the month of March. That being said, "the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules". The only objective is to increase the pile of visual novels I have to play before the last day in March. However you do that is up to you.

Considering last year was the first year I failed to get something out, I need to make something extra special this year. Here's to hoping the idea bucket hasn't run out by then.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:06 am
by Mink
I figured it's more like NaNoWriMo, where you just can't start the novel itself, but outlines, character designs, and the like are all allowed; you know, just nothing final.
CheeryMoya wrote:If I learned anything from last year, it's that you should not improvise and start mapping out the details when NaNo starts. If you haven't already, start planning now. If you have your plot outlined you can jump right into the writing immediately.
^This is a mistake I won't be making again. 8| And I sure hope I can finish my needlessly complex game this year!

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:10 am
by latte
Mink wrote:I figured it's more like NaNoWriMo, where you just can't start the novel itself, but outlines, character designs, and the like are all allowed; you know, just nothing final.
Me too, wasn't it based on NaNoWriMo after all? There the forums are always bursting with concepts and planning much before November starts. I'd thought the only things limited to March are writing, scripting and drawing.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:13 am
by KomiTsuku
Mink wrote:I figured it's more like NaNoWriMo, where you just can't start the novel itself, but outlines, character designs, and the like are all allowed; you know, just nothing final.
It all depends on how hardcore you are. I personally don't think it is fun if you don't push yourself to the max. If your max requires outlines, so be it. Just try your best and learn something new from the experience.

As I said, there's no formal rules, just guidelines. Make it what you want it to be.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:24 am
by Mink
Yeah, but with school and stuff, I'd have a better chance at actually finishing if I do advanced planning, so I'm going stick with VN version of NaNoWriMo. >_>

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:27 am
by Geckos
I see.

That still leaves the one question unanswered: Is there usually one big place where people can offer their skills?

I would like to wait till the 1st day of it to start work on the thing; it just seems more fun that way. Hopefully I can find a small team to work with, they just need to be aware that I will be experimenting wildly with body types and style for funsies.

Re: NanoReno - 2013

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:36 am
by KomiTsuku
Geckos wrote:I see.

That still leaves the one question unanswered: Is there usually one big place where people can offer their skills?

I would like to wait till the 1st day of it to start work on the thing; it just seems more fun that way. Hopefully I can find a small team to work with, they just need to be aware that I will be experimenting wildly with body types and style for funsies.
Nah, normally you contact the people you are interested in via PM, but dropping offers in this thread would probably work as well.