Choice between KN & VN

[DragoonHP]

It should not affect the general gameplay of the story, but is including both KN and VN a good idea?
I mean, having a choice between both those...

For people who like KN, can just play the KN part and proceed to what will be the true ending in the VN and another arc for VN lovers who like more interactivity...
For some time, I even thought about using radical choices (the ones which will only lead to a single ending, no matter the route chosen) but decided against it... since it will dampen the fun for both KN and VN lovers...

So what do you think?
Is it a good idea to include both these version, or should I just go with just KN or VN?

PS: The KN script is short, with only 5,000 something words...

[redeyesblackpanda]

Here's what I think at least:

3 types of people, those who want the KN only, those who want the VN only, and those who want both.

The KN people will have to download more data to get their KN (this could be bad)
The VN people will have to download a little bit more data to get their VN (this could be a little bad)
The people who like both only have to download once (this is more convenient for them)

You could do it as two separate files, and this would be the result:
The KN people only have to download a small file (this could be pretty good)
The VN people download a slightly smaller file (this could be a little bit better)
The people who like both have to download 2 files (this is a bit less convenient)

I'd say it's up to you to decide what's better overall, but these are the + and - of doing what you are considering.

[Sapphi]

I think KN vs. VN is a question you should ask the story you're writing, not the players.

That is to say, if you write a visual novel, I doubt it would be as good with the branches hacked off, and if you write a kinetic novel, it's not a good idea to insert random choices just to appeal to the VN crowd (because it won't).

[DragoonHP]

@redeyesblackpanda: Thanks for the info...

@Sapphi: I get what you want to say... but the thing is I had planned it as VN, but during the course of writing I lied the Kn part so much that I decided to just omit out the VN part because I kind of felt that the other arcs/routes were meek in comparison...
But yes, in the end I will have to decide it...

Thanks to both of you... ^.^

[LVUER]

Last Window is KN that want to be a VN. There are only two endings: THE ending and one bad ending.

[DragoonHP]

Just wiki-ed it and it sounds interesting...

And I had four endings planned... but I am now thinking that going with one option will be better...

[Anna]

As others said it depends entirely on your story. I'm not sure what kind of story it is, but routes are only necessary if you think they improve the story; if they add something good. If you still want to use choices in your novel, but avoid real routes, then you can add choices to improve the tension or something (if it fits). Though the fact THAT you can ditch the routes is actually a bit worrisome to me, since apparently they're not that important for the story then :p.

If both your KN and VN idea are already completed or near completion (as in you don't need to do tons of work for them anymore), then I would just post both since you already did it. If you still need to do a lot, I would pick one, because if you pick the KN, then you'll be writing a lot less and can nitpick more on the story or make it look awesome. Whereas if you pick a VN with routes, it's silly to give people the option 'less content' 'full content'.

I actually wrote something specifically about this a while ago, so maybe that will help. Read this and consider for yourself if you really need choices and routes or not.

In the end, I'm fine with whatever you choose :D! Don't let your players decide such a thing for you (ever)!

[DragoonHP]

As others said it depends entirely on your story. I'm not sure what kind of story it is, but routes are only necessary if you think they improve the story; if they add something good. If you still want to use choices in your novel, but avoid real routes, then you can add choices to improve the tension or something (if it fits). Though the fact THAT you can ditch the routes is actually a bit worrisome to me, since apparently they're not that important for the story then :p.

Nah... it's that when I was writing the "True Ending", I really liked it and decided that other routes didn't need to be there (also the fact that at that time I didn't have much resources at my disposal...)

If both your KN and VN idea are already completed or near completion (as in you don't need to do tons of work for them anymore), then I would just post both since you already did it. If you still need to do a lot, I would pick one, because if you pick the KN, then you'll be writing a lot less and can nitpick more on the story or make it look awesome. Whereas if you pick a VN with routes, it's silly to give people the option 'less content' 'full content'.

They will both need work, since I am doing major edits in the storyline...
And that's the thing that is worrying me... and forced me to ask the question...
I actually thought of this because well I am a KN lover :-p and generally prefer KN's over VN's... but the interactivity VN is a rather strong factor...

I actually wrote something specifically about this a while ago, so maybe that will help. Read this and consider for yourself if you really need choices and routes or not.

I read it and it was quite good.... ^,^

In the end, I'm fine with whatever you choose ! Don't let your players decide such a thing for you (ever)!

I always mess up my wordings...
It was not asking the players, it was just.. umm... gathering data to come to a conclusion...

Thanks for your view...

[fleet]

Not too long ago there was discussion here at LSF about mini-games in visual novels. Jack_Norton took it to heart and for at least one of his Vera Blanc visual novels, enabled the player to chose whether or not to play mini-games by making a menu choice at the start of the visual novel. Jack_Norton's Vera Blanc VNs are made with Ren'py.
You can probably do something similar.
I don't use Ren'py, so I can't give you specific "how to" instructions.

[DragoonHP]

Of course fleet...
Thank you for your suggestions... and I believe I can code that...