Although most of the visual novel scene is populated by Japanese developed bishoujo games, did you know that there’s a thriving English doujin (fan-made) market? With the announcement of commercially released titles such as Shira Oka: Second Chances by Okashi Studios and now Date Warp by Hanako Games, the market seems to be increasing while the genre slowly starts to get accepted in the West.
Gaming Conviction sits down with MPact Games to discuss their upcoming multiplayer samurai game Hanako: Soul of the Samurai
"Just this weekend I found myself on Steam with money in my pocket and a skip in my step. As I trolloped and danced around looking for deals, a certain game caught my attention. This game, titled Magical Diary, promised me so many things. I could go to a magical high school where demons and werewolves all learned how to be magical beings. There I could focus on learning various arts that would make me a powerful sorcerer one day. I would also be given the opportunity to fall in love and find true romance in this magical world.
What the game neglected to mention was that while character customization existed, the capacity to maintain a Y chromosome was a luxury I would not be afforded. In other words, I was going to be experiencing this magical world as an angst laden 15 year old girl. What more, I was soon going to learn that the promise of finding true love was not optional."
Big sale for PC and MAC includes Gemini Rue: Award-winning oldschool sci-fi adventure game created mostly by Joshua Nuernberger and published by Wadjet Eye Games)
Date Warp: Sci-fi visual novel with captivating and mysterious plot (created by Hanako Games)
Bionic Heart: Sci-fi visual novel with 24 different endings (created by Winter Wolves)
and Planet Stronghold.
