Help, I have no ideia on How to start

[dedegervasio]

So, I wanna know, what should I do to learn how to program on Ren'py, I've read the tutorial, and the online guide, but I can't get myself to fully grasp the mechanics.
Any hints?
Or should I just keep trying with what I've got?

[MaiMai]

Well, at this point, I'd just say reread the game tutorial if you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

That and it helps to know WHAT you want to do. Visual novel with choices? Kinetic novel, no choices at all? A dating sim??

[OokamiKasumi]

So, I wanna know, what should I do to learn how to program on Ren'py, I've read the tutorial, and the online guide, but I can't get myself to fully grasp the mechanics. Any hints? Or should I just keep trying with what I've got?

Try this tutorial: How to Make a Simple Otome Game. It's designed for people who have never used RenPy before.

It also helps to know what kind of game you want to make so we can assist you more directly.

[Kokoro Hane]

Define what you mean by "program". Do you mean the basic use of Ren'Py, implenting codes from the cookbook, or inventing your own?

If you're learning it and are new to programming period, then...

What I did to learn is I opened "The Question" game to analyze how it is coded. This is a very short and simple visual novel, which will teach you all the basics you need to know to make a choice-based visual novel. You'll know how to use image statements, menus, character variables, etc. etc.! Ren'Py is easy also 'cause it automatically indents where needed. For example, if I were to set a label, for example "label variablename:" once I hit enter, it automatically indents and I can just begin typing up my content. Of course, it stays at that indent, so if something needs to be indented to the left instead of the right, backspace to the right indention.

Here's a basic example of a Ren'Py script for a simple choice-based VN;

Code: Select all

# You can place the script of your game in this file.

# Declare images below this line, using the image statement.
image imgvariable = "image.png"
image bg imgvariable = "bgimage.png"

# Declare characters used by this game.
define y = Character('You', color="#ffffff")


# The game starts here.
label start:

    scene bg imgvariable ##This is the scene statement, which is used for background images. This image will always stay behind sprites. Be sure that when you program background image variable names, it has "bg" in front of it, then a space with your variable. When you use the scene statement again to summon up another background, it automatically switches from this seen to wanted.
    with fade ##This is the fade transition, meaning it'll fade in or out. There is also the "dissolve" statement. These two you will use the most in your games.

    play music "musicfile.mp3" ##The play statement in front of music commands the audio file written in the strings to play in a continuing loop until commanded to stop with the "stop music" command, or another song is commanded to play.
    play sound "soundfile.ogg" ##The play statement in front of sound commands the audio written in the strings to play once. This is good for sound effects, since you only need them to play once. 
    

    "This is called a string. Character's thoughts in first person novels, or third person narration go in here."

    show imgvariable ##This is the show statement, which commands the image that has that variable to appear. You may use the fade or dissolve transition with it. There are also move statements, like moveinright or moveinleft if you want the images to move in front those directions.
    hide imgvariable ##This is the hide statement, which commands the image of that variable to disappear. You can use the fade or dissolve transitions with it. Or, if you want it to move, you can use moveoutleft or moveoutright so they can move out either of those directions.

    voice "voicefile.wav" ##This is a voice statement, commanding that audio to play once over this string, most likely the voice actor who recorded themselves recording said line for games with voice acting in them. 
    y "Strings with a character variable beside it will have the character's name appear above dialogue. This is used for when a character is speaking."
    
    menu:
        
        "This is choice button 1":
            
            jump labelvariable1
            
        "This is choice button 2":
        
        jump labelvariable2
        
label labelvariable1:
    
    "Selecting the first button takes us to content written under this label, as commanded by the jump statement."

    ##The "return" label below means, once player reaches this point, you are brought back to the main menu.

    return

    
label labelvariable2:
    
    "Selecting the second button takes us to content written under this label, as commanded by the jump statement."

    ##The "return" label below means, once player reaches this point, you are brought back to the main menu.

    return

Knowing just those simple things, already you can make a choice-based VN. When you create a new project in Ren'Py, put all the audio and image files you plan to use in your project's "game" folder, set the variables you desire for these files that the statements can summon up, and there you go! ^o^ You should try a few of those things in the example code, as the best way of learning is playing around with it. You can use that basic code as a guide, just place everything where you want them. Kinetic novels (no interaction, plain story) are even easier, as they have no choice menus, so you don't have to worry about menu and label statements.

Now if that's not what you're looking for, I can come up with a few other things, such as the use of stats, image buttons, playing cutscenes, adding more options to the menu etc.!

I hope this helps. Have fun learning Ren'Py! And feel free to keep asking questions~

[klonki]

I agree with Kokoro Hane. I think the best way to start (if you at least know the basics) is to look at The Question's script because it has pretty much everything you need to build a simple visual novel game. I'm already familiar with the basics at this point, but every once in a while I still go back to that script to refresh my mind (i.e. where to indent, how to label choices, etc.). c:

Here's a link to the script if you want to to look at it.

[dedegervasio]

Thank you. I'm now going over "The question" and it's helping a lot, oh and thanks for the example Kokoro Hane, it gave a pretty good idea of how to start.
Thank you all really.

[Kokoro Hane]

No problem! Don't give up; Ren'Py is easier than it looks and you'll have lots of fun when you get the hang out the mechanics ^o^