Page 1 of 3

Li'l Red [V1.2 released]

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:16 pm
by Donmai
Completed game: Lil Red-1.2

I started working on this on March 5 (or 6? I don't remember very well) because I was waiting for the release of Ren'Py 6.15 and because until then I simply did not know what to do for NaNoRenO.

As I create VNs just for fun, I decided to have all of the fun this time. I wrote the story and I am creating the graphics as I write the code. I decided to create the soundtrack, too. I am not exactly a musician, but I can make some noise with a sequencer, some simple chord progressions, sampled instruments and soft synths. I even discovered a soft synth to generate ambient sounds (wind, water stream, crackling fire and so on). Surprisingly, I am liking the results, but I suspect that real musicians and people with a trained ear for music will ran away screaming! Anyway I have attached the opening sequence theme "Defeat the Darkness" to this post.

The story is loosely based on very early versions of an obscure european folk tale I am sure nobody here have ever heard of ... :lol:

The story is simple: a father and his son are talking under a beautiful full moon. The father is remembering the sad night, years ago, when his daughter went into the forest without warning, to never return. The son is very interested in the story, as he was a baby then and he never knew what happened to his sister.

I hope I could finish it before the dead line.

If someone is interested in proofreading my bad English, just let me know.

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:36 am
by Kessie
I will definitely play this when it comes out.
The screenshots look beautiful and have that mysterious feel to it.. I actually feel teased as we don't get a closer preview of the girl's face who I assume is the protagonist?

Much luck with this! I'd offer to proofread but I am bombarded with enough work as it is :( Sorry, but I hope you find someone soon!

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:29 pm
by Donmai
Thank you, Kessie! Yes, I would say the girl is the main character, but the wolf certainly will be doing his best to ... hmm ... steal the bacon! :lol:

Here are the girl's sprites (still needing some work):

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:58 pm
by try10
Is this a KN? I kind of feel that this story is a sad one. The backgrounds give me the chills. :D I think you would do a great job creating HORROR games! :D I really like what I'm seeing.

Good luck! I'll be playing this when it's finished! ;)

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:04 pm
by Donmai
try10 wrote:Is this a KN?
Hmm ... no, and yes. Let me explain: I understand that all VNs are in fact KNs. We can put some menus and choices here and there to give the reader the illusion he is "changing" something. In the end ... Maktub! All is written! Let's say Katawa Shoujo is a collection of 5 x 3 KNs, and you simply decide on each order you will read them). There are menus and choices in L'il Red that will change how some events are narrated, and that will try to make you see some things kinda different. But you can always start again and read it the other way.
try10 wrote:I kind of feel that this story is a sad one. The backgrounds give me the chills. :D I think you would do a great job creating HORROR games! :D I really like what I'm seeing.
The earlier versions of this story that we still know are in fact very depressing. Charles Perraut heard these narratives from peasants (he was a XVII century man). My version only uses some key elements of the original story. Yes, it is always a sad story ... for the wolf! :(
try10 wrote:Good luck! I'll be playing this when it's finished! ;)
Thank you!

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:00 am
by fioricca
Ahhh oh wow I love the look of this VN so much. The graphics are simply beautiful; I love the blue hues and textures and how Red's gorgeous hair stands out. Her poses are dynamic, and the backgrounds mesh so wonderfully with everything! The wolf's design is equally incredible; the way he stands, and just the fact that he's heavily silhouetted gives an eerie feel. The visuals are haunting and charming. A+ and I'll be looking forward to this when it's out! *__*

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:00 am
by CaseyLoufek
Let me explain: I understand that all VNs are in fact KNs. We can put some menus and choices here and there to give the reader the illusion he is "changing" something. In the end ... Maktub! All is written! Let's say Katawa Shoujo is a collection of 5 x 3 KNs, and you simply decide on each order you will read them).
Strongly disagree. You can just as easily describe Chess as such a series of fixed states. There's even a finite number (though probably difficult to calculate) number of creatures you can make in Spore. There's a big difference between a totally non-interactive KN and something where things are dynamic and you have the ability to influence them.

I'll will take a look at this when I have time. The premise is interesting and the art looks amazing. Plus I'll take what interactivity I can get.

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:43 am
by Donmai
Thank you fioricca!
CaseyLoufek wrote:Strongly disagree. You can just as easily describe Chess as such a series of fixed states. There's even a finite number (though probably difficult to calculate) number of creatures you can make in Spore. There's a big difference between a totally non-interactive KN and something where things are dynamic and you have the ability to influence them.
Don't you worry, it's just the way I see it. Remember the game of chess has 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000 ... possible moves. Maybe it is not fair to compare it to a humble VN. I know I should not have brought this tired discussion again, but KNs are interactive too (they wont play if you don't click here and there :wink: ).
CaseyLoufek wrote:I'll will take a look at this when I have time. The premise is interesting and the art looks amazing. Plus I'll take what interactivity I can get.
Thank you!

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:00 am
by Donmai
Nearly there!

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:39 am
by Donmai
I think I have shuffled (some will say "messed") the narrative elements a little. They are all there: the girl, the wolf, the hunters, the ol' lady ... but who is bad? Who is saving who? And ... who is eating who?

Beware of my English (no proofreaders till now).

Re: Li'l Red [Concluded. Testers welcome!]

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:51 am
by Donmai
Oops! Forgot to add another screenshot!

Re: Li'l Red [Concluded. Testers welcome!]

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:36 am
by Nuxill
Congrats on getting it done! I'm going to check it out in a bit after class :)

Re: Li'l Red [Concluded. Testers welcome!]

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:37 pm
by ixWishing
Oh gosh, this seems so haunting ;A;
Even looking at the screenshots gave me chills!

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:24 am
by arachni42
Donmai wrote:I think I have shuffled (some will say "messed") the narrative elements a little. They are all there: the girl, the wolf, the hunters, the ol' lady ... but who is bad? Who is saving who? And ... who is eating who?

Beware of my English (no proofreaders till now).
Grats!

How long is it? I can proofread it for you, but not for a couple of weeks (due to my own project and other commitments).

Re: Li'l Red

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:02 am
by Donmai
Thanks everybody! :)
arachni42 wrote:How long is it?
As you could expect (for a work done over 20 days) it is a short VN (I would call it a VT-Visual Tale).
arachni42 wrote: I can proofread it for you but not for a couple of weeks (due to my own project and other commitments).
Thank you very much! It is okay for me. Anyway, I will be on the road for some days and will only be back in April. :D