Dating Sims and Visual Novels

The Portopia Serial Murder Case (Free on Steam)

Angelique

Tokimeki Memorial

Steins; Gate ($29 on Steam)

●  Medium: What is the experience of reading a visual novel, especially one without much (or any) major interactive elements like? How does it feel similar or different from other narrative prose, such as a traditional novel or comic book? What does the digital nature of the medium afford this style of work?

●  Audience: Why do you think that the visual novel has historically failed to penetrate western game markets, and what has changed in the past decade or so that allowed them to finally gain traction? What forces are at play that influence these sorts of market-based realities? Culture? Finance? Something more?

●  Write your own Visual Novel! The engine tool Ren’Py  (free- Install and follow tutorial) is a lightweight and easy-to-use game engine which allows for easy creation of visual novels. Don’t worry about good art or music – jump in and write a short story!