jack1974
Aug 08, 2012
I was talking with the writer about the gameplay of the game that must be reflected in writing. In summary: Anne has very good grades, while Max isn't really a great student. I was thinking, for gameplay reasons only, to have each character have some kind of bonus:
- Anne would be able to study faster or get higher grades without much rest, but would get tired quicker than Max while doing the jobs (there will be several part time jobs)
- Max would be the opposite: have more resistance while doing the jobs, but get tired much faster while studying
I was wondering if that could raise complaints from players (because makes a difference based on gender) or it would be fine? I think it would be fine since it's not something due to the gender but of the character personalities, but you never know
Lilly hime
Aug 08, 2012
I think it would be fine. Like as you said, its a personality thing.
Sylrissa
Aug 08, 2012
Sounds fine to me, I'm in support of it since the characters personality has it make sense like this.
jack1974
Aug 08, 2012
Cool, then I think will really do that. Also add more variety if you replay with a different character (not sure how many will do that, but still...)
fleetp
Aug 08, 2012
JAck,
I don't see aproblem with it wither. I know people of both genders that exhibit those characteristics.
thesleepykitten
Aug 08, 2012
Cool, then I think will really do that. Also add more variety if you replay with a different character (not sure how many will do that, but still...)
I will for sure. >.>b
And yea, I agree with everyone else. It's a personality thing, not gender. :D If you're worried, you can always have the character clarify juuust in case. I don't know much about the characters, but it seems accurate for Anne and Max (Anne is a shy bookworm and Max is into music/in a band...? ^^; )
jack1974
Aug 08, 2012
Yes exactly, Anne is shy bookworm type and Max is lazy student with rockstar aspiration
Aleema
Aug 08, 2012
They're different personalities, yes, but since I know there's two different personalities, my choice is going to be unfortunately influenced by which personality I want rather than what gender I want to play as. And frankly, I have zero interest in choosing a shy bookworm character as my avatar, because that's so cliche. Makes me a bit sad that only the dudes get the interesting personality and can't be shy bookworms. I guess because that's who I really was in school and it's not an escapist fantasy to play a video game doing the exact same thing.
In a perfect world, you'd do it like Spirited Heart and not force genders to have certain personalities (and ultimately: certain types of romances, because the rocker vs the bookworm are going to approach dating much differently, probably).
jack1974
Aug 08, 2012
Well, for sure can't change Anne personality now. However in all my previous games so far (and also many future ones) with females protagonists, they all had strong personalities and definitely not shy... so well, I guess can have 1 game with that kind of character. But Anne is not really boring ! I was shy when I was young too, but definitely I wasn't boring once people got to know me better
In my very first dating sim, Summer Session, the role was reversed, you played as a shy (not bookworm though) boy, very clumsy with women. Just to say that I already did a game with a similar character but boy (in that game you had only that character though).
Still I understand what you mean - it wouldn't be a game you'd like to play because of the main character personality. That's OK - I'm not thinking that everyone should always like all my games!
jack1974
Aug 08, 2012
Also forgot an important thing: the writer mentioned that is not like Anne will always be shy the whole game until the end, but there will be character development. Similarly, Max won't be a total slacker the whole game too! I guess is better to wait and play the game because once again maybe I'm giving the wrong impression with my posts. I should ask writers to even write my blog/forums posts so I don't screw up
Pace675
Aug 26, 2012
I will have to agree with Aleema. The shy book girl is kind of trope/mime when it comes to character portrayals. But I also tip my head in acknowledgement to the writer for (s)he is the one that envisions the character concept and storyline, which would ask the question is it cliche or is it correct character representation? Since you mention that there is character development in this game, which bodes well, one can hope for this game to break free for this stereotype.
jack1974
Aug 26, 2012
I just read the Thanksgiving/Winter Break scenes and I really think it won't be a problem, I mean Anne (the female protagonist) is shy but as the game goes on she changes a lot and it's not like "OMG this guy is nearby what I'll do!!" things
for example, in a scene she invites Max to her house:
"I came to this city to break out of my shell. And if my parents want a chance to see my new life, I don't think anybody represents that better than Max."
"As long as I can get him to promise to be on good behavior, I think he and my parents will do fine."
"I try knocking on his door once, but he's playing his electric guitar, so I have to really bang a few times to get through."
so I think is definitely not the stereotype of "the shy-geek-weirdo-girl who never speaks to anyone and runs away from any embarrassing situation"
thesleepykitten
Aug 26, 2012
I do like the character development. Reminds me of Steve in Flower Shop who was a slacker but improved during his stay in Fairbrook. I used to be the super shy bookworm as well, and it wasn't until university that I was more outgoing.
So I'm interested to see how Anne grows as a person, and Max. :D
reader
Aug 26, 2012
I was talking with the writer about the gameplay of the game that must be reflected in writing. In summary: Anne has very good grades, while Max isn't really a great student. I was thinking, for gameplay reasons only, to have each character have some kind of bonus:
- Anne would be able to study faster or get higher grades without much rest, but would get tired quicker than Max while doing the jobs (there will be several part time jobs)
- Max would be the opposite: have more resistance while doing the jobs, but get tired much faster while studying
I was wondering if that could raise complaints from players (because makes a difference based on gender) or it would be fine? I think it would be fine since it's not something due to the gender but of the character personalities, but you never know
The way I've usually seen this done is that say a smart character is able to raise the knowledge stat faster because of this trait. Only if they are weak in strength will they conversely have a harder time with physical activities. Would prefer to have these as two different stat traits instead of bundled together as it seems to be suggested here.
jack1974
Aug 26, 2012
Well nothing of the simulation is done yet, but as I imagine is just a sort of bonus, but not an absolute value. I mean if we talk in skills we could say that Max starts at Physical 25 while Anne is 1 while the opposite is true for Discipline (I wouldn't use the term smart because Max is just lazy, not stupid). BUT along the game you could still manage to raise Anne's Physical stats higher than Max and vice versa. Anyway, still long time to go before I decide to code the simulation part
MrEnvy8
Aug 30, 2012
I kind of feel like my thoughts have been expressed here already. Suffice it to say if the writing conveys their personalities correctly, the gameplay bonuses should feel natural. It should feel like- "Oh, of course Max got tired after studying. I just got done reading about how he spent three hours working on one problem, threw his book down and decided to build a playing card fort instead. These elements gel in my head in a consistent narrative format. I don't know why I talk to myself like this..."
or something like that.
thesleepykitten
Aug 30, 2012
"Oh, of course Max got tired after studying. I just got done reading about how he spent three hours working on one problem, threw his book down and decided to build a playing card fort instead."
Giving me flashbacks when I took statistics. =,) Card house included.
tnek89
Sep 20, 2012
Are academics and the endurance of part-time jobs both equally important?
jack1974
Sep 20, 2012
Well I guess so - right now I haven't done much at all about the gameplay coding/design so hard to reply to this question, but I'll try to make them equally important
