[Angel Beats!]

[img]http://f.cl.ly/items/0O1L3V3Q1b3r3v2Z1V0P/projectAAVN.png[/img]

Welcome to the beginning of a long term project, with a lofty goal of creating a half-decent free Visual Novel via our community. Anyone can help in some form, even if it includes only feedback on betas, demos, and of the such. We urge everyone to get involved, the more hands we have, the bigger and faster we can create this project!

As previously noted, this is an early-stages project dedicated to creating a Visual Novel. A Visual Novel is is an interactive fiction game, featuring mostly static graphics, most often using anime-style art or occasionally live-action stills (and sometimes video footage). They often feature "choose your own adventure" type story-lines. As the name might suggest, they resemble mixed-media novels. They are very popular in Japan, and western-made Visual Novels are starting to gain traction as well, due to the likes of projects such as "Katawa Shoujo" and "Ripples". If you are new to the art-form, I would give Ripples a try (you can play it in your browser!). While it's very simplistic, and very short (~5 minutes long), it captures the feel of a Visual Novel very, very well.

Our project will include 1-3 different paths/routes a reader can take, each with a variety of endings. This novel will not be commercial, and we are not currently taking any form of donations, so please don't ask. If we reach a point where we need to hire someone for advanced programming, CGI, et cetera, we look to find some donations, (perhaps even in the form of a kickstarter?), but that is quite a ways away, so if you have extra money, donate it elsewhere for the time being.

We are very much in PRE-PRODUCTION status. A word of the script has not even been written yet, we are still looking for writers to bounce some ideas around with, so we can finalize a plot direction.

We are mostly looking for staff right now. I will be doing most of the coding, and have already begun setting up the foundations for which we will need to create the novel, which you can find in the ongoing tech demo that showcases my production ability. Heads up for the programmers out there, we are using the Ren'Py engine, which uses the Python scripting language. If you are very familiar with Python, any added knowledge of the language can help, so please consider working with us on the program.

I've also started to gather some potential music as well. I've found a few sources of decent music that we can legally use for free. In the Tech Demo's main menu is a song that I composed and produced myself. The song that is actually in the novel once you start to read it is from on my legal music sources.

Directors
Angel Beats
Black Hole

:FULL:
Role
Directors are like the representatives of this project... While decisions about it largely come from the the community at large, the directors will make the final decision. We also manage the distribution of work, and try to create one cohesive vision for the novel.
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Artists
Programmargorp
Sejskaler (vectors)

:1-3 spots open:
Role
Create drawings for characters, backgrounds, and maybe a bit of scene work. Once a draft of the script is worked out, we are really going to need some decent artists for the project to continue smoothly. We are probably going to be a tad picky about our artists, however. We can spend hours on the script, music, and programming, but without really good visuals, a lot of the work's meaning can get lost in the process, especially in the cause of Visual Novels.
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Programmers
Angel Beats
crazyycast13

:1-2 spots open:
Role
Piece the game together with the Ren'Py engine (based on Python). People who know the engine and/or Python are welcome to join.
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Writers
Angel Beats
Black Hole
Fox
Rakshasa
Sejskaler (consultant)

:1-3 spots open:
Role
Write the script for the Visual Novel. Must know English well. Needs to understand people, and work well with others. Any writer accepted is asked to start brainstorming. After our writers are finalized, we will do a group chat (probably on Skype) where we bounce ideas off each other, and narrow it down to a few good ones we can present to the community, where we can seek more opinions.
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Sound Design
Angel Beats
Gl1tch3d (feedback)

:1-2 spots open:
Role
Produces/Composes/Arranges music for the game.
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Editors
Fireworks
Azsry
Programmargorp

:1-3 spots open:
Role
Edit the scripts written by the writing team. Needs to be extremely proficient in English grammar rules, and flow of speech. Needs to work well with others.
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Alpha Testers
TBA when at least 25 people signup to test.

:10-15 spots available:
Role
While we won't need private testers for some time, when the day comes, the Alpha testers will get the demos first. Only respected AA members are allowed into this group.
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Beta Testers
TBA when at least 25 people signup to test

:25-50 spots available:
Will be able to play the game before it comes out for a few private demos of the game. Anyone can become a beta tester, but limited spots are available. We won't need testers for some time, but still sign up to get your spot early. We will not allow more than 50 testers, perhaps even less than that.



We have no formal application form at this time, but we do have different requirements for different roles. For all of these requirements, you can post your application here or PM either me or Black Hole. It will be read regardless of where it's posted.

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For artists, you must post at LEAST 3 images of either people or backdrops/scenery.

For writers, you must post at least one fictitious original work you have created.

For sound designers, you must post at least one original production.

For programmers... Just PM me. We will talk.

For editors... Just PM me or Black Hole. We will talk.

If you wish to be an Alpha OR Beta tester, simply post here saying you wish to be a tester for the game. We will determine whether or not you are fit to be an Alpha or a Beta tester based on your quality in AA.



In this section I will post public demos that anyone can play.

AAVN Proof of Concept Test v3
Currently just messing around with the engine (Ren'Py), but I've created a proof of concept demo that shows my cababilities regarding the engine thus far. It's very short, and NOT a demo of the actual game, just what I can do with the engine. I made it hone some of my abilities and to show that we actually have the means to make the novel.

The demo supports Windows, Mac, and Linux, as all of our demos and products will. Let me know if it's working for you. It's hosted on Google docs, which scans the file first before letting you download it, so it may take up to 30 seconds to start downloading, but it will start automatically. I haven't really tested out Mac or Linux installations, but they should work fine. For windows, just unzip, find AAVN Test v3.exe, and run.

Windows:
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downlo...WdWakNIbkE

Mac:
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downlo...1dmOXBtTzg

Linux:
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downlo...nVGTHQ5eWs



We wish to have a decent demo of the game out by the end of 2014, and we'd love to have the novel finished by the end of Summer 2015. After we get some plot and art directions figured out, this thread will get a pretty decent overhaul, so expect that by the end of February hopefully. We may setup a Kickstarter for the project eventually, to get funds to add some professional touches on it toward the end, but the game will be released for free.

[GL1TCH3D]

I will apply for critic / editor since people are stupid and need to be corrected
On second thought... I hate people and probably wouldn't be so good at being a team player for editing.
I'd probably be better off just giving input on the sound bits which you can already do with me over skype

[iFap]

I was interested in being the applicant for the editor or just an alpha tester. I can correct words and I can spell things like rendezvous, not sure if that is enough but atleast I posted.

[KinGxKeV]

I'll test. My artistic skill has been lacking recently and so has my programming.

:D

[Kanade Tachibana]

Sign me up for a tester! I cannot contribute much to any of the other spots.

[Programmargorp]

I'll work on character art and possibly editing as well. Could do programming too if you're lacking people.
Tbh I can fill in writing as well, but I would prefer not to post things that I've written before.

So as requested, stuff I've drawn:

Original Design



I actually have alot more than this in my thread. Although some of them are pretty crap when I just started.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3973567

Will PM about editing role.

[+Cloud]

can i be an alpha tester :0 that would be kewl

[Sejskaler]

I'll work on character art and possibly editing as well. Could do programming too if you're lacking people.
Tbh I can fill in writing as well, but I would prefer not to post things that I've written before.

So as requested, stuff I've drawn:

Original Design



I actually have alot more than this in my thread. Although some of them are pretty crap when I just started.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3973567

Will PM about editing role.

But, can you freehand them?

I mean, it would be no good making a novel with already existing characters, also you would need to redraw them on pc, possibly vector.

I can possibly do that though, despite it taking a lot of work, but well, if the story's good I would likely help with no problem.

A problem though might be the backgrounds, I am not good with drawing fine details etc. unless I have a refference, and I usually also need a refference for drawing characters, unless it's just tracing of course ^^
____

Despite graphics I can also help with the plot, I am not too good with english for such a case, but taken the fact I wouldn't mind helping out with the story

[Programmargorp]

But, can you freehand them?

I mean, it would be no good making a novel with already existing characters, also you would need to redraw them on pc, possibly vector.

I can possibly do that though, despite it taking a lot of work, but well, if the story's good I would likely help with no problem.

A problem though might be the backgrounds, I am not good with drawing fine details etc. unless I have a refference, and I usually also need a refference for drawing characters, unless it's just tracing of course ^^

Yes. The first one is an original design without a reference at all.
I also have a few original designs in my thread which I didn't link.

[Sejskaler]

Yes. The first one is an original design without a reference at all.
I also have a few original designs in my thread which I didn't link.

Got ya, If you can scan, I can draw them over with no problem in a smooth vector graphic, with no problem ^^

It would take too long for me to both draw the concepts to then throw them on the pc and redraw them I would say

[+Cloud]

Got ya, If you can scan, I can draw them over with no problem in a smooth vector graphic, with no problem ^^

It would take too long for me to both draw the concepts to then throw them on the pc and redraw them I would say

wow much progress already o-o cant wait to ALPHAhint hint test this

[voltology]

If you are looking for someone to critic i would love too help used too be a huge gfx designer on youtube & other forum sites pm me .

[Angel Beats!]

Wow, the response so far has been great guys. I fell asleep pretty much right after posting the thread last night (I was working on getting it all together from about 11:30 to almost 2 A.M. :c), so I'm glad it got a decent amount of posts overnight. Me and Black Hole will be reviewing all applications sometime today probably, so we will update the thread with all of the updated positions for everyone.

We still need some more writing talent though!

---

I'll work on character art and possibly editing as well. Could do programming too if you're lacking people.
Tbh I can fill in writing as well, but I would prefer not to post things that I've written before.

So as requested, stuff I've drawn:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Original Design




I actually have alot more than this in my thread. Although some of them are pretty crap when I just started.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3973567

Will PM about editing role.

Your our #1 contender for our first artist role so far, those are pretty decent. Thanks for the application.

But, can you freehand them?

I mean, it would be no good making a novel with already existing characters, also you would need to redraw them on pc, possibly vector.

I can possibly do that though, despite it taking a lot of work, but well, if the story's good I would likely help with no problem.

A problem though might be the backgrounds, I am not good with drawing fine details etc. unless I have a refference, and I usually also need a refference for drawing characters, unless it's just tracing of course ^^
____

Despite graphics I can also help with the plot, I am not too good with english for such a case, but taken the fact I wouldn't mind helping out with the story

For backgrounds, we might take a Katawa Shoujo approach, at least for now. Don't know if you played that game, but from what I can remember, a good amount of their background were just photographs with filters on them to make them look sort of drawn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hV7l0p68PY
If you just kind of skim and skip through parts of the video, it looks that a good majority of the backgrounds don't seem to be actually drawn.

In terms of helping with the plot, we could use you as a consultant, sure. Maybe you wouldn't help write the script per say, but you can join our writers chatroom, and help us develop plot direction and help determine what the story and characters will all be about.

Got ya, If you can scan, I can draw them over with no problem in a smooth vector graphic, with no problem ^^

It would take too long for me to both draw the concepts to then throw them on the pc and redraw them I would say

I can do some vector tracing as well, it's not entirely too difficult, just takes some time. But yeah, if you want to help with that, that's great, we could definitely use you.

wow much progress already o-o cant wait to ALPHAhint hint test this

Still going to be a while before any sort of actual test occurs, the story hasn't been decided on yet, still waiting on getting some more writers! Hopefully we can have an alpha test done before summer starts.

[+Cloud]

:0 you should make a chat group on skype that way everyone can input their ideas and other bits to make the perfect AAVN

[Gladly]

This task will be a pretty large one, but I am sure it can be done with enough people collaborating. I most likely do not have the time to draw original concepts, but if any of you draw free hand I can do some vectoring/digital art. In terms of backdrops, would they be original drawings? Also you should start investigating in terms of a soundtrack. Best of luck, private message me if I can be of any help at all.