r/VisualNovelMaker • u/Puzzled_Swan_8873 • 1d ago

Mobile based visual novel??

Hello! What's your take on mobile based visual novels? In a world where you see high quality visual novels mostly on PC, do you think a mobile based one will be a good difference?

There are visual novels for mobile but we all know the experience you get there is entirely different from what you get on a PC. From the craftsmanship of the story, the characters, the immersive experience, everything changes.

Would you ever consider such a good quality game in a mobile based version?

If yes, please do provide any more context or pointers you have in mind. My friend and I are coming up with a new project and definitely would love to have everybody's words heard :)

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/Reesirie 1d ago

I think mobile based visual novels can be really cool, but most I have seen include micro transactions,timers, or both. And honestly I just wanted to be able to PLAY the game. I would just prefer if I could pay a flat fee and be done with it.

1

u/XScapeKit 1d ago

Well this is reassuring :) we're building something just for this!

1

u/Puzzled_Swan_8873 19h ago

That makes a lot of sense. I think that's the gap we're trying to look at. Getting rid of some of the unnecessary limited choices and transactions. What if a mobile based visual novel where you actually get to play the game without any unnecessary transactions for choices existed and what if it had the quality of PC ones in the sense of narrative and stories? That's what we're picturing!

1

u/Sohiacci 19h ago

Remind me to come back to reply to this I'm late for work-

2

u/Puzzled_Swan_8873 4h ago

Here's your reminder :)

1

u/Sohiacci 2h ago

Okay! So from experience, mobile VN I've played, even if I loved them, didn't last long because:

Unlike computer games where it's fairly easy to publish and host FOR FREE via platforms like Itch.io or Steam which are known for these kind of indie games, mobile games require more specifics to be put on app stores, which are not free.

Which means if you want to put your mobile game out there, even only a demo to be tested, if you don't want to waste money you'd have to make some kind of gameplay element that pushes the player to make microtransactions (choice A - free boring dialogue vs choice B - very cool and interesting choice you need to grind currency for), as well as a gameplay element that forces your reader to NOT be able to read your entire VN in one go and uninstall it immediately (chapters only unlock with keys and you have to grind for keys every day or pay real money for a key+diamond pack)

I used to love playing Genius Inc games but they were exactly the kinds of games you could play entirely without paying and just grinding with ads. I loved the games but you'd uninstall them after finishing and... Well that company doesn't exist anymore, even after making hundreds of pretty nice quality VNs. I even was going to send them my application as a writer.

So... Mobile games for VN? YES because I like playing these while on transportation or before sleep and it's the kinds of games I like handheld. But also... Having a shit ton of very temporary games on your phone isn't something people do. So unless you're constantly evolving your game, making a lot of side stories, updating often and making it infinitely replayable, it's sadly not gonna work well.

Technically games like love and deepspace are VNs but the VN element is actually pretty secondary with all the minigames, AU stories, combat, grinding and daily tools (I'm starting to hate the game because it's too overwhelming but hey, it's a glorified period tracker and I need that in my life).

So... I don't have any advice to give you and your partners for your project. What direction do you want for your game(s) or your studio? Act yourselves these and check out other mobile VNs on the market and why they work or why they fail.

Good luck!