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How many programs would I need to begin developing my own game?

A topic by R34CTz created 41 days ago Views: 195 Replies: 6

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Hey guys, I'm relatively new to this site. I've only known about it since about September of last year. I'm mainly here to read visual novels. I've read some that are incredible, and plenty that are...well...something to pass the time.

However, I'm wanting to make my own. I've noticed some glaring similarities between so many of the novels that have begin to be a little annoying when I come across them. So I'm wanting to make my own that doesn't include this slight annoyances. To be more specific, I'm looking for programs that I'd need to make novels similar to ones like Eternum, Summer's Gone, My Bully is My Lover...

It will be a minute before I start on anything, as I'm getting a new laptop for while I'm OTR which will be much more capable than the one I'm using now. I'd just like to start my research and learn any possible coding I might need.

Thanks for the help.

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No Time To PlayModerator41 days ago(+1)

To make visual novels, all you need to get started is Ren'Py. (Many other engines exist.)

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No Time To PlayModerator moved this topic to General Development 41 days ago

redonihunter41 days ago

How many is a question that asks for a number ;-) So I am gonna put 10 as an answer.

If you have issues with renpy particularities, maybe you can "hack" them away. It is as simple as putting a text file mystuff.rpy in the game folder (the folder named game) and content like this, to for example add a key binding to auto forward. Some "clever" devs hide the button for it and renpy has no keybinding for it.

init 900 python:
    config.keymap['toggle_afm'].append("q")

As for the tools, look at your favorite games in the more information box. Some cite the tools used. For the visual novels, you obviously "need" a visual novel engine. But there are so many, since the tech required for visual novel is so basic. Any engine can display graphics and text and react to user input. Even html. You can code a vn as a website. There is also an engine for that, Twine.

To state the obvious, making a game is an activity that requires multiple tools and areas, that all have their own answer and subanswers. So you need to ask yourself, how do I create graphics? How do I write a (branching) story? Sounds? And so on. And there is tools for all of those.

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R34CTz40 days ago

Thanks for the info. I think creating graphics is my biggest concern. I've noticed many novels share assests for the background. I don't want to create character models from scratch because I feel like it be absolutely terrible at it. Are there websites where they offer free or cheap character models that I can use and animate? Or do I actually have to use Blender and create from scratch?

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redonihunter40 days ago

That's one of them subquestions ;-)

My advice would be, look at the games you like and what tools they used, as some give that information in their profile or in the more information box of the games. And then start from there with the usual internet searching. Or even the forum here. There is also an asset category besides the games category on itch. And you can be sure there is a ton of tutorials on youtube, if you wanna do it yourself.

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mnasr40 days ago

I know that a lot of people here don't like my answers but the quickest way is to use AI tools. It will be easy and quick to learn how to generate high quality backgrounds and characters.

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Magicsofa38 days ago

There are lots of free resources out there that artists willingly share and only ask for attribution (or not if it is CC0). There are also free character creators, basically like a paper-doll thing where you choose a base and then costume with premade pieces.

Or if you want to steal from artists without consent then go for AI <3

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