Artist/Writer looking to lend his skills

[PyTom]

Ok here we go, I finally got around to typing out one of my game ideas. This should give you a little example of my work. If you like it just ask me and I will let you use it and I will also write out the rest of the story and a script out for you.

Hm... You seem to be capable of drawing character art, from what I've seen, and you also are able to write stories and scripts. These are the two main skills required to be able to make your own game.

There are three other disciplines required to make a visual novel game: programming, background art, and music. But these three parts are less important. Programming is largely a solved problem, with the exisitence of pre-made game engines and people who can help you use them. Background art can be simplified by using photographic backgrounds, as in TOL1 and the various ATP games. Music can be automatically composed, or perhaps even omitted.

So, given that you have a number of original ideas, story-writing skill, and art ability, why are you looking to others for approval rather than simply creating your own game?

[kmsgameboy]

Hm... You seem to be capable of drawing character art, from what I've seen, and you also are able to write stories and scripts. These are the two main skills required to be able to make your own game.

There are three other disciplines required to make a visual novel game: programming, background art, and music. But these three parts are less important. Programming is largely a solved problem, with the exisitence of pre-made game engines and people who can help you use them. Background art can be simplified by using photographic backgrounds, as in TOL1 and the various ATP games. Music can be automatically composed, or perhaps even omitted.

So, given that you have a number of original ideas, story-writing skill, and art ability, why are you looking to others for approval rather than simply creating your own game?

Lol, funny you say this. And actually I can also do backgrounds also! So yes, I could probably make my own game. However, I have tried programming before and never had much luck with it. It is all just to tedious for me and I can never stick with it very long with out getting super frustrated ( I don’t have a very mathematical mind so when I make an error some where I never can find it. ). I have also tried to use some of the pre-made game engines out there like Game Maker, Flash, RPG Tool kit, and some others. But I just don’t have the time to learn how to learn how to competently use the them and then do all the game by my self. So I guess the whole reason Im posting is because I am looking for some people to partner up with just to make a game or two. I have always wanted to make a Visual Novel, just time and patients hasn’t allowed it. So...maybe I should make a post entitled “Looking for some partners to help make a Visual Novel”???

[Sai]

Or just specify "Looking for a programmer"
A musician would be good too but you can use music mixing software if needs be. Naturally not as good as a real composer but it's something.

I'm not very technically minded either but I decided to learn some programming because it is really useful for bringing your creations to life in an interactive way. You should check out the RenPy section of this forum. RenPy is a ren'ai engine designed so that people who aren't so tech-savvy can still create a visual novel game. It does this by replacing code with english alerternatives e.g.

In Lingo, I would probably have to do this to make my image of a girl appear in the center of the screen and say Hello.

Code: Select all

global sandraTalk
member("sandra").visible=true 
member("sandra").rect=rect(277,16,89,100)
member("dialogue").text=sandraTalk.hello

In RenPy it probably would be

Code: Select all

show sandra in center
sandra: "Hello"

Which is simpler.
I haven't used RenPy yet, but that's the gist of what it's about I gather.

And if you ever have any problems. PyTom is extremely helpful.

Good luck.

[PyTom]

Warning: This post contains a gratuitous Ren'Py promo. It just kinda turned into that.

Have you considered using my Ren'Py language and engine (http://www.bishoujo.us/renpy/)? Unlike some of the more general-purpose programming languages you mentioned, Ren'Py is intended for writing visual novels. I designed the language keeping in mind the idea of an executable script... that it should be about the same amount of work to make a working game as it is to type the script for the game into the computer.

A Ren'Py script looks as follows.

Code: Select all

label start:

scene room
show katie happy

k "Hi, and welcome to my game."

k "I'll cut to the chase... do you want a good ending or 
   a bad ending?"

menu:
  "A good ending.":
    k "Of course. Everyone wants a good ending."

    k "So, we get together and live happily ever after, or 
       something like that."

  "A bad ending.":
    show katie mad

    k "What sort of masochist wants a bad ending?"

    k "Well, you got it, buddy."

"The end."

You can see how the representation of script lines and menus is roughly what you'd type yourself if you're typing the script into a computer. The indentation does matter a little, to distinguish one menu item from another.

Of course, this script won't run standalone. Ren'Py needs a few declarations to know about the k character, and the katie happy, katie mad, and room images.

Code: Select all

init:
  $ k = Character("Katie Mascot")
  image room = Image("room.jpg")
  image katie happy = Image("katie_happy.png")
  image katie mad = Image("katie_mad.png')

And that's a complete Ren'Py game right there. The only programming is that last part, and you can think of it as a bunch of boilerplate to be copied and pasted, rather than actual programming.

Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know, or ask on the Ren'Py forum. If you can write the script and art, a number of people (including myself) would be happy to help you get the actual program working.

[PyTom]

Code: Select all

show sandra in center
sandra: "Hello"

Close. It's actually:

Code: Select all

show sandra at center
sandra "Hello"

And thanks for the kind words.

[Tage]

Hey, I'll recommend Ren'Py too. I'm using it... n.n PyTom is extremely helpful when you ask for help too; so that is a really big help. If you still cannot manage it, I could try teaming up with you as a programmer... I've never teamed up with anyone before though. o.o; So it could be doomed to fail, lol.

[kmsgameboy]

Hey Sai, PyTom and Tage, thanks a bunch you guys. This sounds great. I will try to play around with it some tonight and let you know if I need some help.

Code: Select all

Show kmsgameboy happy

k "Hi, I am happy! Now I can make a game!"

YAY!

[kmsgameboy]

just finished another drawing. i thought i would post it for fun. the style is quite different than my other drawing. let me know what you all think.

http://img96.exs.cx/img96/9710/kat6wo.png

[RedSlash]

I think it is much more improved than your last one! You have given it more detail, which is good. Nice job.

[kmsgameboy]

I think it is much more improved than your last one! You have given it more detail, which is good. Nice job.

why thank you! the fist pic i was realy going for the simple anime look...kind os like what you would see in a children's anime. but this one i did with a game in mind. so i added a lot more detail.....now all i have to do is figure out how to get it colored. (colored WELL anyway!)

[rioka]

Hey kms,

This is definitely an improvement from your earlier drawing. Way to go!
Aside from some anatomical improvements the only major thing that caught my eye is her shorts - it looks like a skirt. I suggest you stagger the end of the shorts so it doesn't look like they run in one whole length. If you did draw a skirt (whoops <.<'), the wrinkles at the crotch aren't the proper ones to use. Draw the whole length of the lines from one thigh to another.

Btw, nothing beats practicing when it comes to CGing. =)

[kmsgameboy]

thanks eclipse, those are some good tips. i see what your saying about the wrinkles. im working on another drawing right now thats better than this one. i will post it as soon as im done.