How many people here likes kinetic novels?

[Ikka]

Do you prefer Kinetic Novels, or Semi-Kinetic Novels with only one or two choices in them? Tell me your opinions!

[killdream]

I'd say I prefer a more interactive approach, altough both my favorite VNs are kinetic (Stage-Nana's Narcissu and Key's Planetarium).

[Vatina]

I prefer interactive. If it's kinetic, then it has to be really interesting, or else I'd rather read a book/manga (I don't like reading on the screen to begin with...).

As an example Planetarian was good enough for me to really enjoy it, story art and music combined. A few novels here have been nice as well.

[ebonyskies]

Like previously stated, if a kinetic novel is interesting enough, it doesn't really need the interactivity to spice it up, but most people tend to lean towards the interactivity. ^_^ It adds to the replay value as well.

[IceD]

It depends. I like both kinetic and interactive stories though kinetic ones tend to succeed more with delivering message to readers. My first novel was Planetarian and maybe because of it, I tend to look more brighter upon short stories with nice impact rather than very long, confusing tales, they're just easier to grasp.

[Coatl]

My only Kinetic novel was LEAVEs, and I honestly didn't enjoy it. The next closest thing was Ballad of the Evening Butterfly, and it only had on choice but I liked it.

[Sapphi]

I like them, but they have to have GOOD art, music and story.
Basically, since I don't have the luxury of choosing the story's path, it better the mood right and give me something pretty to look at instead. XD

I had never played a kinetic novel before and thought the whole idea seemed boring and a slight waste of time... until I played True Remembrance. Now I understand why people like them.

[Samu-kun]

Whether a novel's kinetic or branching usually doesn't factor into whether I like a game. I pay more attention to story, art, and music.

[Wintermoon]

Most of the novels I read have no choices, no sound and no pictures. None of these things are necessary. Put choices (and sound and pictures) in if you want, but worry about writing a worthwhile novel first.

[LVUER]

If the story is extremely good (like Higurashi) perhaps I don't mind... but generally I prefer interactivity (and I would like to avoid single ending). Too much interactivity also could be bad in VN but the point is I don't really like kinetic novel (and semi, if there's only 2 or 3 choices in 8+ hours VN).

[chronoluminaire]

It makes quite a big difference to me if there's choices - even just one or two. I much prefer having some small amount of control to having none at all.

[LVUER]

Well, if the game is only 2 or 3 hours long, then one or two choice is acceptable. But if the game is more than 8 hours, less than 5 choice is kinda unacceptable (at least for me). The longer the game, I prefer more options/choices.

[jack_norton]

I prefer lots of choices! in my upcoming game Bionic Heart I put 59 menus, that is one every 74 screens of dialogue (not including the interactive sequences).
I agree with others, if I have only to read, is better to read a book/comic. Computers are really great because you can interact/change the story

[azureXtwilight]

I also choose Visual Novels, because I don't like single ending. The only kinetic novel I played was Dream Chasers and I love it very much!

[pinkmouse]

I do like having choices - as other people have said, if there are no choices, then it might as well be a comic.

However, realistically, beyond a certain (fairly small) number of choices, the author(s) aren't going to be able to generate new content to fill the extra branches, so it just means the same amount of difference is being spread over a bigger number of menus IYSWIM.

That in turn means that there's more combinations to try when you're trying to get different endings. So as the number of menus/menu options expands beyond the number of story branches, more choices are a bad thing.

Mind you - I've no idea what that "sweet spot" of just enough choices is. Can anyone with more experience chip in?