What's the deal with Virtual Novels?? Part I

[XCIX99]

I have questions about visual novels and I bet, from all of you smart and less smart players, I can get some answers.

1) About the sound and music being on full blast when first opening a game/VN... Why?? Can't it be set so it's halfway or something before sending it to market?

2) I see the value in some "grind," but I truly am curious why some games are made with so much of it. What is the motivation to make it like that? These games take a lot of work, so why make it like that?

3) Many games, the most popular, have walkthrough and other types of mods. Do the Dev's like when others add these? Is it a compliment or an insult?

4) Music in VN's. Some have absolutely amazing music, but many have music tracks that end up grating on my nerves so badly I just turn off the music. I am alone in this? Is music a big deal for most players or not?

I have more questions, but I can save them. If you can help me with any one (or more) of the answers above I would love to learn more.

Cheers,
XCIX99

 

[Monokuma]

I'll try to give my point of view!
1) Many games, even AAA games in the Non-Adult sphere, have their volume controls all set to Max. It's normally user-descretion how you want to adjust it. Sound settings are different from everyone, same as Monitor brightness is.
2) Grind, I've just left a comment about in another thread, but my opinion is that Grind is added to make a game feel more "gamey" OR to give the player some kind of agency. When a Dev adds "money" into a game, for instance, I assume you're meant to feel the accomplishment of saving up the money and buying the item to unlock the next part. Same with grinding for affection, etc. Some games get the grind right, some get it wrong. Some people like it, some people hate it.
3) I can't speak for the Devs, but my opinion is that a walkthrough is fine. If it was a video, you could fast-forward it. If it was a book, you could skip a page. It gets more people viewing your work and enjoying it in a way they feel comfortable with. That said, I could see some Devs feeling like their hardwork is being overlooked... So, depends, I guess? (but if I was a Dev, go for it)
4) VNs are, more often than not, made by Solo Devs. We're asking this one person to code a game, write a story, produce the graphics, make the music, etc. It's natural they will fail at some of these hurdles (and sometimes ALL of these hurdles). So, music will be hit and miss, as will all the other elements. For me, I play on Mute for most games, so I am lucky not to be bothered! Haha.

 

[borregad]

for #2 I suspect it's an intuitive attempt on the designer's part to help you trigger that microdose of dopamine you get when you succeed

for #4 - totally agree that the music can be grating, like being trapped in an ice cream truck.

 

[walld]

A lot of music is hit or miss, and might depend on how hard the dev looks for free music. I doubt many devs use licensed music or even commissioned music and there are probably limited ways and variety in the free stuff.

Having it at full blast before the preference menu is a dick move though.

 

[XCIX99]

for #2 I suspect it's an intuitive attempt on the designer's part to help you trigger that microdose of dopamine you get when you succeed

for #4 - totally agree that the music can be grating, like being trapped in an ice cream truck.

#2 I did not even think about the dopamine hit angle. It makes so much sense. Making the player work for the reward, but then finding it a challenge to balance it with the pacing of the story, character development and other narrative elements. Games, porn, social media, advertising, movies, etc are so wired into dopamine you could say modern life is a dopamine paradise. Maybe one reason I enjoy VN's is because they also trigger oxytocin, endorphins, and other hormones with the story telling that occurs. I'm on a tangent, but anyway, yeah, the grind is the game part of the VNs. Figuring out how to balance it has got to be a challenge.

 

[hubb58s]

I have questions about visual novels and I bet, from all of you smart and less smart players, I can get some answers.

1) About the sound and music being on full blast when first opening a game/VN... Why?? Can't it be set so it's halfway or something before sending it to market?

2) I see the value in some "grind," but I truly am curious why some games are made with so much of it. What is the motivation to make it like that? These games take a lot of work, so why make it like that?

3) Many games, the most popular, have walkthrough and other types of mods. Do the Dev's like when others add these? Is it a compliment or an insult?

4) Music in VN's. Some have absolutely amazing music, but many have music tracks that end up grating on my nerves so badly I just turn off the music. I am alone in this? Is music a big deal for most players or not?

I have more questions, but I can save them. If you can help me with any one (or more) of the answers above I would love to learn more.

Cheers,
XCIX99

I believe the hardest part of making of the game is having a good story.
beginning middle end are the basics I think.
I think people that are the creators view VN are an easy start, for solo creators.

 

[fromabove]

A lot of music is hit or miss, and might depend on how hard the dev looks for free music. I doubt many devs use licensed music or even commissioned music and there are probably limited ways and variety in the free stuff.

Having it at full blast before the preference menu is a dick move though.

Pre-emptively turning down the volume before launching a new visual novel is something I learned pretty quickly as a VN enjoyer.