Hanako Games

Hanabira - New Games In Production

#1 by hanako - Aug 19 2014

In more secret news... we're working on a new game. However, this is not one that should take too much time out of existing development schedules, because it's a straight VN and the script is already written - and not by me! This will be the first test in a new offshoot range of games I'm publishing but not writing myself, which will be released under a specific sub-brand ('hanabira' - petals. Appropriate for a hanako offshoot, no? And for those of you who've just gone "But that's..." YES, I KNOW.)

What I can tell you right now:

It's otome
It's fantasy
It's not terribly long (and will probably be about $5 on release)

More news coming eventually when things are further along.

Re: New Brand...

#2 by LiaTabris - Aug 20 2014

In what sense or senses do you mean 'straight' here? Multiple interpretations come to mind.

Re: New Brand...

#3 by hanako - Aug 20 2014

Heh. In that case I meant that there's nothing to it but reading and making choices, no extra gameplay mechanics, so it doesn't require Spiky doing any complicated code when he should be busy with other things.

... I mean, it IS straight GxB as well, but that's not what makes a difference to dev time!


(Which doesn't mean that future projects under the same sub-brand will be exactly the same, I'm mostly sub-branding to indicate that I did not personally write the story.)

Re: New Brand...

#4 by Spandex Faffy - Aug 20 2014

hanako:

... I mean, it IS straight GxB as well, but that's not what makes a difference to dev time!

What do you mean, we all know that if you code both boys AND girls in a game development takes twice as long.

Re: New Brand...

#5 by hanako - Sep 20 2014

For loyal forum visitors, a super sneak peek at the first hanabira title...

Re: New Brand...

#6 by ark99k - Sep 21 2014

Oh my goodness! The character art is amazing!

Re: New Brand...

#7 by kyoli - Sep 21 2014

that artwork looks absolutely amazing!!!

Re: New Brand...

#8 by FantasyFan - Sep 22 2014

Gorgeous!

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#9 by hanako - Oct 18 2014

You wanted some more information, right?

This game is all about Tyrna, a girl who's spent her life dreaming of fame and adventure and treasure and all that good stuff. So the last thing she ever wanted to do was fall in love, because then she might wind up married with kids and never have a chance to slay dragons! After years of self-training, she's on her way to enroll in the warrior elite and begin her glorious career, when the caravan she's traveling with is attacked...



As mentioned, I did not write the plot. This is actually a licensed adaptation of a 1980's fantasy gamebook - not from the choose-your-own-adventure line, but a similar sort of thing. Which means there are lots of choices and every choice branches the story, so there are a LOT of endings and ways for this to turn out. (And that's also why I'm not saying the name of it until it's finished, so you don't get too tempted to go buy the book and then not be interested when the VN version is done!)

Along the way, you may meet:


A stern elven ranger


A friendly desert guide


A dispossessed prince


A mad wizard

Or you might not meet them at all! You might just get eaten by monsters and die an ignominious death. Turn back to page 1 and try again?

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#10 by FantasyFan - Oct 20 2014

A LOT of branches and endings? Sounds like my kind of game!

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#11 by M_Keith - Oct 23 2014

Will this be available on Steam?

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#12 by hanako - Oct 23 2014

Ask Steam.

More practically - maybe, eventually? But it will certainly be released here first. After all, this is a project that's not currently involving Spiky, but Spiky does the Steam integration. And I need em doing other things right now!

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#13 by Miakoda - Oct 23 2014

This is actually a licensed adaptation of a 1980's fantasy gamebook - not from the choose-your-own-adventure line, but a similar sort of thing. Which means there are lots of choices and every choice branches the story, so there are a LOT of endings and ways for this to turn out. (And that's also why I'm not saying the name of it until it's finished, so you don't get too tempted to go buy the book and then not be interested when the VN version is done!)

I have a good idea of what book it is...and let me say, it is a good one for a computer adaptation

I will certainly purchase the game when available. As for being on Steam, I'd love to see it there, but then again, I also am a fan of the Choice of Games text adventures available as well.

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#14 by Oki - Oct 28 2014

Oh I havent been to the Hanako site in awhile I wonder what they have in st-

*dies*

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#15 by Anonymous - Nov 11 2014

Ever since I read the Lord of the Rings I have always fantasized about getting to know Legolas. The Elvin Ranger has already hooked me.

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#16 by hanako - Dec 20 2014

SO CLOSE on this one. I've put a surprising amount of work into what was already a complete story, the art is all in at least sketch phase by now though not all done... but with Christmas looming I probably can't actually release it until January or nobody will notice because they'll be too distracted by holiday stuff. Sigh.

I've posted a couple of screenshots over on Lemmasoft if you want to see more art.

... and if you're dying to know the name of the game, the only way at the moment you can find out is by checking out the Paradox Girl comic, since those had to be sent to the printers already and therefore they do feature advertising for the game despite it not being officially announced yet.

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#17 by BloomingLilac - Dec 21 2014

I'll buy it! I looked at the art you posted on the Lemmasoft site and I think I'm gonna like the male characters. The story sounds really interesting, which is the main reason I buy these games.

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#18 by Bunni89 - Dec 23 2014

...Is this based on a certain book whose initials are "S D"? That's the only thing that comes to mind, and now I'm wishing I could remember more of that book, lol. But then that would spoil the surprise of the game so I guess I'm glad I only read it once years ago! XD
I'm excited to see what this is like, the realistic painting-like art style is so beautiful and the plot sounds interesting! I'm hoping for the option of a no romance ending, just because personally whenever anyone says "She didn't want to fall in love, but she did" then I get kinda grumpy. I'm bored of plots where a woman's decision about romance is wrong and the world makes the decision for her... its such an omnipresent cliche. But then again this is a 1980s book and it wasn't so overused back then, so I won't judge it for that.
Also I just like stories where there's an asexual character or an option to at least headcanon the protagonist as asexual.

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#19 by hanako - Dec 23 2014

I suspect you do know what book it is, yes. Wait and see!

Re: Hanabira - New Games In Production

#20 by boatgnome - Dec 25 2014

Am eager to hand over money for this game at the earliest opportunity. Thanks for the updates!