Create-a-character

[HotLimit]

This is more of a discussion topic than a question, but lately I've been thinking about 'create-a-character' systems. First of all, what commercial simulation/VNs allow you to create your own character (by which I mean editing your appearance, not a stat-editing sim like Princess Maker)?

I'm sure there are many, but the only one I've played was Nana for the Playstation 2 (based on the comic book of the same name). Technically you could only pick from 6 different character 'styles', but you could buy clothes and dress you character up (which had an impact on the game). Fun game nonetheless..

In any case, I like the idea of implementing something like this into a Ren'Py game, obviously via a paper doll method (have separate face/hair/eyes/nose/etc. parts, and layer them when the player is prompted to create a character). Of course, this would be for a game where the player has a lot of decisions that affect the outcome of the game. Assuming you had enough choices, the player would feel a little closer to their character, but (if you have a distinct style of art) they would still be using one of 'your' characters.

[Aleema]

Actually, I can't think of many create-a-character VNs, but that's because I don't play a lot of VNs. =P But I do play games that have heavy storylines, like simulation games or RPGs, and have custom main characters. I think it takes away from the story aspect if the main character is an empty shell that you have to wear, so having a create-a-character should have some heavy game elements, rather than just ... VN elements. Did that make sense?

[Jake]

I'd have to agree with Aleema; you just can't write some stories to take a generic identikit protagonist, they lose some impact. So that's probably why you rarely see custom-protagonist VNs, because they're more story-driven than other kinds of 'game'... and why you can get away with it for things like management sims (of which I would include stuff like Princess Maker), because they tend to not have so much hard story.

The Nana game probably provides only 6 base characters for this reason - the more variety of character, the harder it is to fit them all into the same narrative in the same way. Dressing up your characters might seem to provide more variety, but then you'll have to limit the variety of costume to stay in character anyway... your punk-rock protagonist isn't going to be wearing sportswear.

This is all not to mention the fact that the majority of VNs - aside from occasional event images - don't tend to show the protagonist that much in-game anyway...

[afu]

I actually cant recall any vn based games that have this option?

The only thing I could think up that is sort of "create your own character" would be in the stat building tokimemo games. The only thing customizable is the outfits/accessories but even then... it is really only there to raise the affection for the character you're aiming to get.

I think you mean more customizataion of the actual player's features? Not only the story, but I think there would be limited CG to the game. Unless they could have the same cgs based on the choices that you made for the player. (and make it look like them?)

I suppose it's a reason a lot of the main heroine/heros in VNs are at times very plain and basic...?
I dont know how many gal games Ive seen where the main guy was wearing a gakuran, with dark brown hair and eye-less lol

[papillon]

There are at least two projects in the works with visual character customisation. Both of them, that I know of, are *also* doing Princess Maker style gameplay. (Only one of them is mine.)

I don't think anyone yet is doing custom character visuals on a pure visual novel. It's probably not a great idea unless you have only a very small number of options for the visuals or you have a system (3d graphics or the like) that allows you to pose the custom characters. Otherwise, you'd have problems with CGs and be unable to illustrate any dramatic scenes, unless you never showed the protagonist, in which case what's the point of customising him/her?

I suppose you could leave the protagonist out of all the CGs but use the custom information to design the headsprite and show the PC's head while they talk.

[pkt]

Well I was working on renpy code to do this exact thing and turning it into a framework too. I can easily see it going to use in rpg's where you might have a bunch of generic character types doing pretty much the same thing over and over. Or for one character who changes a lot but you want different moods and such for different scenes or what not. Or even the same mood for different characters. It could be a real time saver for some people.

@Papilon
With the 3d graphics part that could work too. It's somewhat more challenging since the average person know next to nothing about 3d. But it'd be useful for asset creation.

[Aquane]

That would take a lot of work... especially if there are CGs... different looks/clothes you know.. would need to make every combo possible for one CG