Heileen 1: Sail Away Visual Novel Now On Steam For Linux

So basically you don't understand what people see in Choose your own Adventure books because you only read Tolkien. ;)
Or rather, you don't understand what people see in video games. Why wouldn't they rather read a book or watch TV?

I'm only half-kidding. Visual Novels are in a realm of their own, and it's not everyone's cup of tea. But for those who like it, it engages them in ways non-interactive stuff can't, and most other genres don't.

Have you ever watched Clannad, Liam? Maybe you should. The whole stuff, including After Story. Then when you realize by the end of the show you would have spent even MORE time with those characters, and would have ended up even more attached to them, and would have made other choices, and would have had insights into other "what ifs", you'll have a glimpse of why people love Visual Novels.

That's assuming, of course, you're not one to dismiss a show because it's animated (alas, there are such people). :)

Actually I'm a big Anime fan and watch a lot of it which is I guess for me where it comes from as I am so used to sitting back with a rum & coke and just watching it play out.

I really should just give one a go soon...

Can't say I don't understand. I like visual novels, but they really have to grip me from the start and never let go, or I feel the same as you. :)

Plus, western visual novels are an odd bunch. Sometimes close to their japanese roots, sometimes so far gone I can't even see the point.

Anyway, as far as Heileen is concerned, things only take off with the second one and the addition of other mechanics. But this one gives the background (although not all endings are canon, obviously).

Quoting: liamdaweActually I'm a big Anime fan and watch a lot of it which is I guess for me where it comes from as I am so used to sitting back with a rum & coke and just watching it play out.

I really should just give one a go soon...

I watch anime too and don't get the appeal of visual novels. I like a good anime-esque JPRG like the Tales games, but have never been tempted by these.

Out of curiosity, have you seen Welcome to the NHK? Just reminded me of this because they make a hentai visual novel on it. I guess how easy it is to make one is the reason why there are so many.

Quoting: MikeI guess how easy it is to make one is the reason why there are so many.

Actually, it's not. It may be /technically/, but you gotta have a VERY strong writing for it to work. And not everyone is a Jun Maeda. Not even close. Quite the contrary, in fact.
There are so many BAD ones. ;)

Quoting: Hyeron

Quoting: MikeI guess how easy it is to make one is the reason why there are so many.

Actually, it's not. It may be /technically/, but you gotta have a VERY strong writing for it to work. And not everyone is a Jun Maeda. Not even close. Quite the contrary, in fact.
There are so many BAD ones. ;)

Well I got Loren The Amazon Princess through a Humble Bundle a while back. Would you recommend that as an introduction to the genre for someone wwho has never played a visual novel before?

Actually the writing is what made me think of NHK, because he can't write so takes ages to do one, while the programmer by comparison has relatively little to do.

Yes and no. Yes, because it's actually pretty well crafted by my standards, although the universe is as bland as they come; and no, simply because it's an RPG in disguise, more than a visual novel, just like Long Live The Queen is a Princess Maker in disguise.

Good introductions? I'd go with Planetarian - The Reverie of a Little Planet. Simply because it's short, intriguing, quite engaging, to the point, and rather representative of what a visual novel can stir in the long run. It falls short simply because it doesn't give you enough time to really root for the characters, but its universe I found quite impressive. It's one I still remember, and it's been a couple years.

If you want to play natively though, go with other Key games. Brace yourself, get Clannad or Kanon (seriously, unless you've seen the anime) and rlvm and take your time. It may seem counterintuitive, but the Choose your own adventure comparison holds. Except one "book" paragraph can last a few dozen minutes. Or a few hours.

Or, if you want something else entirely: Katawa Shoujo. Now I've got mixed feelings about this one. Some characters grow on you, some are plain insufferable, the writing varies wildly at times, (is what you get for having a bunch of writers, I guess) and the sex scenes feel like you're reading a football commentary. They're absolutely awful. Clickfest through them though, and there's still something to like. Plus, this one's free.

I might also mention Analogue, except... Yeah, it's... weird. Rather Digital: A Love Story then. Which is also short and quite phenomenally well done. And is also free.

EDIT - Actually forgot to mention: Planetarian is a Kinetic Novel - i.e. there are NO choices. At all. It's just a story.

Well, Winter Wolves guy is crazy, he is capable of making anything from Ren'py, including RPGs and strategies. So not all of those are just classic visual novels (most of them are adventure games). IMO Heileen is one of worst games from Winter Wolves, it doesn't offer anything interesting, it only creates the illusion of choice... But I liked Nicole, Always Remember Me nad Vera Blanc: Full Moon :)

Visual Novels dominate the eastern market, especially Japan, while shootemups dominate the western countries. It is a matter of culture. In Japan for example, good story is the essence of the video games while in USA people tend to prefer violence, unfortunately.

There is an interesting wiki here:
http://visual-novels-general.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ

That thing was written on Ren'Py if I'm not wrong (meaning porting this from windows to linux should have been no harder than just packaging it lol)