Branching Story, Unlocked Dialogue: Designing and Writing Visual Novels

Description

This book covers the distinguishing characteristics and tropes of visual novels (VNs) as choice-based games and analyzes VNs like 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors; Hatoful Boyfriend; and Monster Prom, some of the best examples of the genre as illustrations. The author covers structuring branching narrative and plot, designing impactful and compelling choices, writing entertaining relationships and character interactions, understanding the importance of a VN’s prose, and planning a VN’s overall narrative design and story delivery. The book contains exercises at the end of chapters to practice the techniques discussed. By the end of the book, if the reader finishes all the exercises, they may have several portfolio pieces or a significant portion of their own VN project designed. Features: Discusses different aspects and genres of VNs, what makes them enjoyable, and successful techniques developers can incorporate into their own games Analyzes various VNs and choice-based games that use these successful techniques Shares tips from developers on portfolio pieces, hiring a team to work on VNs, and plotting and outlining VNs Branching Story, Unlocked Dialogue: Designing and Writing Visual Novels is a valuable resource for developers and narrative designers interested in working on VNs. The book will show them how they can design their own VN projects, design branching narratives, develop entertaining plots and relationships, design impactful and compelling choices, and write prose that’s a pleasure to read. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Glossary CHAPTER 1 ◾ In Less Than 10 Years… Notes SECTION I: Visual Novels and the VN Audience CHAPTER 2 ◾ Choice-Based Games and Visual Novels What are Choice-Based Games? Choice-Based Genres The Rise of Visual Novels A Brief History of Visual Novels The 1980s The 1990s The 2000s The 2010s– The Versatility of Visual Novels Notes CHAPTER 3 ◾ Visual Novel Genres and Platforms Kinetic Hybrid/Games with VN Elements Romance Subgenres Otome Bishoujo Boys' Love/Yaoi Yuri Bara Stat Raising Dating Sims Mobile VNS Notes CHAPTER 4 ◾ The Visual Novel Audience Reading is Good! The Role of Metagaming in the Player's Experience Getting All of the Endings Figuring Out Who the LIs Are Perceptions of the Writing and Writer Nontraditional Ways Players Interact with VNs Engage Your Audience! Notes SECTION II: Designing and Writing Visual Novels CHAPTER 5 ◾ The Story Delivery of Visual Novels What is Story Delivery? UI Narration Text Box Dialogue Text Box Choice Text Boxes Character Sprites Background Art (Environmental Art) CGs Sound Design and Soundtrack Simple ≠ Plain Note CHAPTER 6 ◾ The "Novel" Part of "Visual Novel": Perfecting Prose Prose Fiction Conventions The Role of Narration The Role of Character-As-Narrator The Unreliable Narrator Scene Setting and Atmosphere Characterization Sensory Details, Subtext, and Engaging the Player's Imagination Characteristics of "Okay" Writing Surface vs. Subtext Invite Players to Use Their Imaginations Sensory Details in Interactive Stories Sensory Details Engage the Player's Imagination Beyond Sight: All Five Senses Beyond Adjectives and Nouns: Sensory Parts of Speech The Importance of Word Choice Keys to Effective Prose Exercises Notes CHAPTER 7 ◾ Designing Branching Narratives: Choices, Variables, and Relationships Branching Narrative Structures Branching Structures with Fewer Endings More Complex Branching Branch Lengths Designing and Plotting Keeping Track of Variables and Branching Designing Multiple Endings "True/"Good" and "Bad" Endings Secret Endings Hatoful Boyfriend's Hidden Lore LIs' and Other Characters' Endings Outlining the Story: Some Techniques Exercises Notes CHAPTER 8 ◾ Choice and Consequence Design: Actions and Reactions Choice Design Types of Choices to Avoid or to Use Sparingly Strong Choices Branching Narrative and Consequences What Is a Consequence? Why Consequences Are Important Consequences and the World Major vs. Minor Consequences NPC Reactions to Consequences Plotting Consequences Seeding Consequences Consequences and Scope How will the Player Experience Consequences? Exercise Notes CHAPTER 9 ◾ Character Development and Routes: Writing MCs and NPCs Using Archetypes MC Archetypes NPC Archetypes The Main Character and Types of MCs Choosing the MC's POV Multiple MCs? What Is Each MC's Relationship to the Player? Switching MCs and Changing Perspectives How Do the MCs' Stories Come Together? Character Interactions The MC's Relationships with NPCs NPC Relationships with Each Other Character Development and Character Routes MC Development NPCs and Character Development Character Routes Locking into Character Routes Character Development along Multiple Branches Love Interests (LIs) LI Routes “Hard to Get” and Difficult LIs Keeping Your Writing Unbiased Exercises Notes CHAPTER 10 ◾ Dialogue in Visual Novels and Choice-Based Games: Choose Your Words Carefully Dialogue is Always Functional Dialogue Choices and Dialogue Trees Dialogue Choices and the MC's Personality MC Character Development and Characterization NPC Character Development Dialogue Trees Writing and Presenting Dialogue Voiced vs. Unvoiced Writing Visual Dialogue Dialogue and Portraits Dialogue and Color Dialogue and Emphasizing Information Dialogue and Text Boxes EXERCISE Notes CHAPTER 11 ◾ Writing for VN and Other Choice-Based Apps When You Write the Outline Working From an Existing Outline Fleshing Out an Existing Outline Designing Characters and Locations Designing Premium Content Types of Premium Content Selecting Assets Delivering Drafts Color Coding Delivery Schedules Exercises Notes CHAPTER 12 ◾ Developing Your Own Visual Novels and Choice-Based Games: A Quick Guide Sources of Inspiration and Communicating Your Vision Personal Experience Analogues Art Assets Characters Character Bios Sprite Size Camera Angles and Character Positions Emotional States Physical States Offscreen Portraits Locations and Background Art A Sense of Place Associating Characters and Scenarios with Locations Designing Locations CGs Music/Soundtrack Sound Effects UI Assets Game Logo Hiring Team Members Finding Talent Limited Assets Aren't a Limitation Exercise Notes CHAPTER 13 ◾ Resources, Planning, and Processes Visual Novel Engines Ren'Py TyranoBuilder Fungus (Unity Add-On) Scripting Languages and Story Engines Twine ink Yarn Spinner Planning Brainstorming and Outlining Designing When Players Unlock Content Processes Prototyping Sticky Notes and Paper Connected by String Slide Prototypes Designing Flowcharts and Wireframes Sketching Designing Screen Flow Some Final Words of Encouragement Notes Index