"Movie" VS "Episodes" Your opinion?

[StarDrop]

I'm doing some brainstorming ^-^.
I may have a post of many questions later, but here's one I really need opinions on.
Would you prefer multiple, shorter VN/KN or one *super* long VN/KN?
Can you try and explain why?
Thanks!!~

[zankizuna]

multiple? maybe, if you can do the work repeatedly and show progress and improve more
and learn and be awesome that's what I dream to do.
my "Erasers" will finish soon, then I'll make another one and so on and on.

[Hijiri]

I personally feel that splitting things up will be best in the long run. After all, by splitting into episodes you can:
-Offer people a glimpse of the full product
-Have a smaller file size (Even smaller for those that can patch up to a new version)
-Let readers with less time on their hands actually read through your work.

The episode plan is what I'm having in mind for Dual-Chain Rhapsody since the first half is smaller than the second half (codename: Kairos)

[AxemRed]

Depends on what you define as super long... 50+ hours?

I tend to prefer large single releases, episodic VNs have a bad tendency of getting cancelled halfway through.

[Taleweaver]

Moved this thread because this is directly about game creation.

[Nuxill]

Episodic means it's easier for me to find the time to sit down and play/watch the content. If at the end you take all the episodes and put them into one big game (kind of like the different cases in phoenix wright) that makes it even more appealing because it's all in one neat package.

[TsukiShima]

From my own opinion, I appreciate a single, yet large VN.
If it's a large project, I'm sure the quality would be at least average or above average and I would be able to enjoy the story without waiting too much ( I am an impatient person ). I guess it's also requires the creator's creativity to create a perhaps average or long, yet memorable VN. This is because the single or must you say Movie style of VN is easy to get in and easy to get out unless you can create an impact that would last long to the audience. An example of this type of VN is Saya no Uta (this one really left a big impact on me, and I shall never forget). You can also create a sequel later on if the fans demand, or you simply one to (Fate/Stay is a good example for this).

While an episodic VN has it advantages as well, but for a person like me who most likely late in following updates, missing a single episode will result us not understanding the next. Then the next one won't make much sense. And I get annoyed when there's too many series of it ( like Harvest Moon, I really love it, but nowadays there's too many series that I've stopped following about them ). I guess some example of these are... No, I don't have one.. Because I really don't follow any VN that has multiple episodes.

[dramspringfeald]

Depends, if it gets too long then it gets boring and I loose interest. However if it gets used as a money ploy it will gain you little fans.

The next issue would be consistency. "Can you keep it up over MANY projects?" Which usually requires you know how the entire thing will end before you ever get started as well as at least 60% of the plot for all of them. So as not to trip over your own plot holes.

Either way good luck

[Desu_Cake]

It depends on what kind of story you want to tell.
Some stories lend themselves better to being told all in one go, others to being told in episodes.
If you're planning on splitting a story up into episodes, you should ask yourself "Does each of these episodes stand on its own as a story?" Each episode needs a full three-act structure (Or whatever structure you prefer), a climax, and a satisfying conclusion. It needs to be possible for someone who hasn't read the previous episodes to understand most of what's going on. And one other thing you have to consider - if you release episode by episode, there will probably be many people who would prefer to wait for all of them to come out and read them together.
On the other hand, if you have a long, sprawling, convoluted story you need to ask yourself "Is this all one story, or is it several?" If the story starts out being about a bunch of characters doing one thing, and ends up being about a different bunch doing a different thing, there's a chance that what you've actually got is more than one story, and it may be better to split it out into several that cross over with one another.

[StarDrop]

Thank you to all of you!!

I will keep every one of your answers in mind ^_^.

I like the large story part, and then just having sequels if needed (best for an old story idea I had.) I have other story ideas that would work for the episodes thing as well. So all input really helped. Sorry I haven't bee on in a long time D: got very busy.

Anyways, thanks! :3

[Destiny]

Hm, I think, something in between?
It really depends on what you define as "super long".

I mean, the Kingdom Hearts story is REALLY complex and REALLY long.
So they chose to make that fricking long story into several medium long games.

If your game is as big as "any other game", then just make it like that.
If you like episodes, then just divide the game in chapters (meaning: combine both).

I myself like the long game more then the episodes.
But I like the chapter system (one reason why I enjoy Ace Attorney so much)

[StarDrop]

I like the chapters idea!
It would make it easier for me to create is I only needed to complete a chapter every deadline. But I'm not sure how gameplay would turn out with that.

I just had a brain explosion that makes a really, really complex story.

It would be WAY to much for just one vn. So I chopped it into a prequel, main story, sequel, type thing. I could work on the main story, but also the prequel at the same time. The prequel would work as a preview to the full game, and the sequel would be more of a closing to the entire story or/and opening of a continued but new storyline. I'm thinking if I make the main story amazing enough, I'd like to have a price on it possibly (persuade me to work my butt off, I like having a reward... Happy audience is nice, but if it's worth it, money would be lovely. But that's another discussion, possibly for another thread xD).

I guess my question is: Would it be best to release a prequel first (especially if I want to charge for the main, and most complex, story/VN? Or should I release the main one, then make a prequel and be all like, "Oh, here a preview in case you weren't sure about buying it/ here's a little introduction to the whole event!" I don't think I'd make the prequel needed, more like a different perspective before the main event of the main story. I could possibly even make it a VN all on its own... BRAIN-EXPLOSION Oh, the ideas!!

Thank you for your input, too c:

[SusanTheCat]

I'm in the "Long Game with Chapters" camp. I like to sit down at a game and play for a couple hours and end with the feeling I got somewhere.

Mind you, I prefer "Episode-that-actually-gets-released" over "Long-Game-that-never-gets-done".

Susan

[StarDrop]

All these replies are wonderful <3!

I ran into a bit of a problem. I'm trying to map out this entire (main) story...
I end up with something like this...
Main Game
-3 or 4 different "divisions" that will become the main plot.
--Within each division, there are 2 or more character choices that will be played through, within two sides per division.
---Is this too much and too complex to be in one game?

[Destiny]

Well, depends on what you are able to take o.o
My actual game has eight branches and nine endings.
And the game that I will probably start after that has chapters which can all end in three ways, defining the main ending (I think, I had about 20 endings because of that).
But I'm a very persistent person and I'm pretty fast with art, so I can probably take that work.
Others already have problems finishing a game with "only" 10.000 words.

So it is really just your choice.

BUT if you already think it could be too complex, then don't do it.
You know the story (more or less), so you can judge it best.
It's your instinct telling you that this will be hard to chew. I would trust that instinct.
Chop it down so it can fit your mouth or, if that isn't possible, try something different (first, maybe you take it on later).