Creating a Visual Novel!

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
I definitely don't have much to say at this point. I am getting back at the track I wasted. Kinda will update any info on this thread about my progress on creating a visual novel. Gonna make it slow and steady, plain and normal. I was thinking of doing it back to Unity, but then I decided to head over Ren'Py. For the most part, I am learning what I've forgotten again—mostly basic programming. Once I am done with that step, I am gonna head over to Unity to try out different things or not. The bad news is that I can only program, write the script, and change the options and UI's. My skills in illustrating are almost as F-tier so I will pay illustrators whenever I am done with my training. Hope me well and good luck lol.

Edit (16/12/2021):
As supposed of today, I was going to take the holidays. But scratch that, holidays are for the weary. So to report my progress, I finished the Python(4h+) tutorial for basic programming—however, I've forgotten a little of it (the "for" and "while" loops, "def" and "if" which are essential for making different games)... which is justified since I wasn't really using these functions and that I started making a website first. How did I go from there to this? First of all, I've been meaning to make a website for releasing my games so I thought I should start from there. Second, job diversity is a thing in this world so I might as well learn everything related to PCS. Lastly, this is for making a project that will involve coding which hasn't happened yet. (lmao advanced thinking)

image_2021-12-16_094749.png

PROGRESS 1.png


(This whole website is actually about Advocacy on Abolishing Poverty. It was my deciding theme for my very first website) I've already commented on all of my to-do lists as you can see here. After finishing the HTML(2h) tutorial, I finally am at the part of styling HTML which is also known as CSS. I thought it was gonna be hard which it wasn't. That's pretty GREAT I guess. I was doubting if I could ever make one, but it took only like a day to get used to programming (credits to stack overflow). There's more to the screenshot, but I think showing one is enough. I am not here to flex. :LOL: I still am not done with the website so I am gonna do it rn.

Anyway, I am gonna change the title to avoid misunderstandings! After this, I am gonna start making a 30-minute visual novel (which uses common assets and it's gonna be amazing! Cya! :s_wink:).

09/01/2022:
The paradise was but a long yet short adventure, but the temptation was still there for me to continue that paradise. Then again, training is training! I cannot let such an opportunity waste just because of self-fulfillment. From home to office, my hand reached out for my stylesheets and continued what I just left. So, dragging on, I still haven't mastered Javascript. I was watching a few crash courses while I was out on a vacation, but ended up stopping halfway through. I was doing HTML and CSS though... but not enough to make something stellar. As a casual programmer, the road to reaching the pinnacle is a long and hurdle-filled road.

Here is my progress:
First of all, I wanted to immediately try what I've been thinking for a long time and some @media and @keyframes while skimming through source codes from different works of professionals. They were out of my comprehension, as usual, but there were some tricks that I discovered. Soon enough, I'll understand most of them. Second, I haven't started on the sections yet. I'll be starting on them after a long break.

When I started to create a website, one of my thoughts was about "what would it look like if the width of the screen is different—how the content would look and whether if it would overlap against each other?", "how to make use of box-sizing to make a good layout?" and "how do I create animations that are for everyone?" so comes the point of finding their solution and coming up with what I've learned. I am not yet therefrom finishing the website, but I am getting there. This single-page website will soon be finished with Javascript in it.
Screenshot 2022-01-09 145859.png

1641711636751.png
 
Last edited:

hyperkvlt

Lowkey Game Developer
Joined
Jan 12, 2021
Messages
83
Points
33
I definitely don't have much to say at this point. I am getting back at the track I wasted. Kinda will update any info on this thread about my progress on creating a visual novel. Gonna make it slow and steady, plain and normal. I was thinking of doing it back to Unity, but then I decided to head over Ren'Py. For the most part, I am learning what I've forgotten again—mostly basic programming. Once I am done with that step, I am gonna head over to Unity to try out different things or not. The bad news is that I can only program, write the script, and change the options and UI's. My skills in illustrating are almost as F-tier so I will pay illustrators whenever I am done with my training. Hope me well and good luck lol.
Well, unity is not the best game engine for VN. Though, there was a paid asset that allow you to make VN using excel in unity.

 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
Well, unity is not the best game engine for VN. Though, there was a paid asset that allow you to make VN using excel in unity.

Oh, thanks! I know Unity is a more difficult process if it's about VN since you have to make everything from scratch. I am kinda forced to do a fresh start in Ren'Py. I'll keep that in mind if I ever start using Unity for VN which is prolly never.
 

Minx

Procrastinator Mongrel
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
492
Points
133
Renpy sounds like a good platform to go from what I heard when it comes to visual novel.
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
Renpy sounds like a good platform to go from what I heard when it comes to visual novel.
True btw. Efficient and simple. It has more western appeal, although making a great VN requires basic programming.
 

GodlessEmperor

Emperor of trash writing
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
195
Points
83
True btw. Efficient and simple. It has more western appeal, although making a great VN requires basic programming.
Doesn't require any programming skills in renpy.
All the "coding" is:
define xyz "name"
show xyz "emotion"
xyz "words"
background "filepath"
bgm "filename"
sound "filename"
jump to decision_5

Unless you buy a good assett for unity you'll have to actually put in some "huge" effort into making a runnable VN in unity. Unless you make something fancy it's really not worth the effort. renpy has everything a simple VN needs.
By fancy I mean something along the lines of adding minigames, a city building sim that influences your progression or dungeon crawling roguelike for the story etc. I'm not talking about a complex story.

If anyone wants to try making a VN I can only encourage using renpy, it's super easy as long as you don't have writers block!

Edit: wdym by wester n appeal though?
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
Doesn't require any programming skills in renpy.
All the "coding" is:
define xyz "name"
show xyz "emotion"
xyz "words"
background "filepath"
bgm "filename"
sound "filename"
jump to decision_5
I meant, if someone wants a really good game then they need to learn basic programming or literally every Ren'Py inputs. Because when it comes to coding it isn't all about the aforementioned above. You can add RPG features, mini-game like clicking(Blue Reflection) or Unlocking the real route after the specified routes are completed (Boolean Statement) and some sort.

Unless you buy a good assett for unity you'll have to actually put in some "huge" effort into making a runnable VN in unity. Unless you make something fancy it's really not worth the effort. renpy has everything a simple VN needs.
By fancy I mean something along the lines of adding minigames, a city building sim that influences your progression or dungeon crawling roguelike for the story etc. I'm not talking about a complex story.
That is why it is a hassle to do it in VN. And also adding those features require basic programming so you're being contradictory.

If anyone wants to try making a VN I can only encourage using renpy, it's super easy as long as you don't have writers block!
True.

Edit: wdym by wester n appeal though?
I meant popular by its simplicity.
 

GodlessEmperor

Emperor of trash writing
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
195
Points
83
That is why it is a hassle to do it in VN. And also adding those features require basic programming so you're being contradictory.
What I meant was: Using renpy to make something normal doesn't need any knowledge of programming. But if you want to add something like that you'd need to know what you do.

From my experience renpy makes it easy to make simple stuff.

But once you have the basics unity is easier for extra stuff like minigames etc.
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
What I meant was: Using renpy to make something normal doesn't need any knowledge of programming. But if you want to add something like that you'd need to know what you do.
My point taken.

From my experience renpy makes it easy to make simple stuff.

But once you have the basics unity is easier for extra stuff like minigames etc.
Well, they have their pros and cons. Specifically, RenPy is more about VN stuff while Unity is great for different games, but you just have to start from scratch (unless you 'from' 'import'). I do have created a 3D Block Racing-esque in Unity, so my experience is its a hassle.
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
Sheeesh, it is really cold. A freaking STORM IS COMING! Anyway, just updated the OP progress.
NEW:
3.png

I've already completed the site. HORRAY! Now, it only needs a little tweak. The code itself should be able to run the website without any problems unless if I missed something. The CSS tutorials are really helpful for styling my website. It is still far away from what I am trying to create, but that requires learning the base code of another article. Investing time to produce an amazing website is gonna be difficult. So by all means, if I was a normal person with a normal goal, this should be an end to it.

For my next goal: Create a visual novel! (I am gonna build my foundation from Katawa Shoujo)
 
Last edited:

LinXueLian

Always Handsome
Joined
Feb 19, 2021
Messages
522
Points
133
Hmmm... color me confused, but is there a reason why you're not releasing your games on a gaming platform like Steam? You're gonna pay quite a bit for a personal website! :blob_shock:
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
Hmmm... color me confused, but is there a reason why you're not releasing your games on a gaming platform like Steam? You're gonna pay quite a bit for a personal website! :blob_shock:
Exactly. Until then, I am preparing my own website (stock of CSS). Again, I am not saying I won't be releasing in platforms like Steam. It is more of for leisure personal website. I can't really have a website when there is only little to show, despite the fact that I just started programming (gulp).
 

LinXueLian

Always Handsome
Joined
Feb 19, 2021
Messages
522
Points
133
Exactly. Until then, I am preparing my own website (stock of CSS). Again, I am not saying I won't be releasing in platforms like Steam. It is more of for leisure personal website. I can't really have a website when there is only little to show, despite the fact that I just started programming (gulp).
I see! I wish you luck! Websites cost money nowadays, and we'd need to promote them too. :blob_dizzy: I'm glad you might supplement it with other platforms. I'm personally on Itch; it's pretty easy-going imo and I don't feel pressured to push anything out if you're looking for leisure. :blob_melt:

The upside is that visual novels don't really need much programming experience if you're using easy engines like Ren'py! You'll have one up in no-time, bless! Good luck!! :blob_highfive:
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
I see! I wish you luck! Websites cost money nowadays, and we'd need to promote them too. :blob_dizzy: I'm glad you might supplement it with other platforms. I'm personally on Itch; it's pretty easy-going imo and I don't feel pressured to push anything out if you're looking for leisure. :blob_melt:

The upside is that visual novels don't really need much programming experience if you're using easy engines like Ren'py! You'll have one up in no-time, bless! Good luck!! :blob_highfive:
True. In general sense, it takes time and money to invest on a website (since programming really takes so much time). For the game, despite with little to no assets, I already have an outline for the game's script. Anyway, thanks, my handsome rival.
 
Last edited:

megu3

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Messages
23
Points
53
True. In general sense, it takes time and money to invest on a website (since programming really takes so much time). For the game, despite with little to no assets, I already have an outline for the game's script. Anyway, thanks, my handsome rival.
As long as you don't need a server (back-end), you can host your website for free on Github Pages
 

Motsu

REROCK: Change The World
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
1,108
Points
153
As long as you don't need a server (back-end), you can host your website for free on Github Pages
I am yet to learn about back-end programming, so there's no need to worry about that. Also, I already have a place to hold my test websites.
 
Top