Reminder and a Poll!

If there's just e.g. MC and another character, that's cool without individual portraits. But if there's more than one, it feels clearer if a portrait is included, if that makes sense. Either way, keep up the fantastic work and bests to hubby.

I think on a one-on-one conversation, no portrait is totally fine. Like if the only character on screen is the one speaking - and it's clear what lines are spoken by our own character - cool. The moment there's more than one character on screen, especially since with updates being monthly, I tend to forget who is who... and I feel like portraits are kind of needed? 'Dozer' really doesn't mean anything to me if I can't recall who that is. Easily fixed by going back, maybe, but not having to do that would be nice, IMO. Knowing who is who at a glance is useful.

I like how it is currently. I don't need any extra heads floating around if the character is on screen already. Also the face portrait looks better for me, than the half body image in the second picture and if half the body is already there, he could've been on the screen anyway.

Three, bc those thighs

If the expressions match, then I say drop the portraits. Although, sometimes a portrait displays an expression that is different from the expression in the main image. Ive enjoyed the dimension that adds. But maybe the effect could be achieved another way

Something something AO3 writing curse

i feel like you should keep the rule of no portrait if the character is already on screen but i like the portrait style of image 2... maybe you could keep the rule and if a character is off screen use a portrait in image 2 style so that the screen is not cluttered

I like version 3 the most. Would be even better if the textbox and font could be scalable to some degree - for all the people having trouble seeing small texts or just like to lean themselves back while reading (like me 😁). As for the clutter-problem: I've seen some other VNs that have a custom text box for all the key characters - like 'Lyre' VN. Or you could simply solve the problem entirely with a small colour coded headline at the top with the speakers name: Coach - orange Dwayne - brown Rando/NPC - 'XYZ' in white MC - 'You' in white Just some thoughts 🤔😁

When the character who speaks is on the screen then the side portrait isn't really necessary. When the character is not on screen however then I'll gladly take the portrait. However, this can probably be incredibly tedious to code I guess, so in general I'm fine with no side portraits.

I like seeing who is talking. The thin text box is great for images but the heart of vns is in the text. You can also have one character on screen whilst the other is in another room or further away and have them still talk and see their expressions. For instance doing tennis you can zoom in one players serve and the text image shows the opponent reaction. Or zoom in a face for an emotional reaction moment and use the little face text image for the person saying the words

Image 3, and keep the name colors on who's talking. I like that the best.

I prefer how you have it currently.

(Also, great to hear big lion bro doing better, ans wish him the next appointment goes equally if not better from the last one 😊🫂)

Honestly, I prefer the first version, as things were all together. More big bara men is always good, for sure, but for this game, I believe the main design is what feels the best, and works the best too. Plus, to give a small personal take I have from playing various games over the years, the extra image of who is talking does not fit well when it comes to VNs. I mean, we have the main cast on the screen for that reason. The small image box could definitely work too, but mainly I do believe it works with rpg based games, similar in gameplay like FF 2d titles, paper Mario, etc. I would highly suggest to go with your gut at the end, though, and add the style you prefer the most. As for my take, yeah, I stick with what I said and do believe the original designs you had there fit the best.

I like 3, but maybe with a small bust in the corner of the guy speaking. I always enjoy the corner portraits

You're gut reaction is the best option. It's too cluttered otherwise. If you had static images as the default, then I could see the side images being a benefit for displaying the emotions tied to the dialogue.

Just as a suggestion. Why not instead of a full image of the character you make a little chibi head version of the character speaking? You can scoot the name over to the right a little and put the head there. Would be less clutter on screen and still show who speaking.

side image feels too cluttered, I'm fine with either 1 or 3

3! SHORTER TEXT BOX! PLEASE!

I think with the cluttering problem, the answer could be just having the head, or maybe a small icon, similar to the photos they have when they are texting each other. The safest options remains the number one tho

I think the always side image only makes sense if the character's expressions don't change in the main image. Then the artist can just have a couple face only images with different expressions and use them in the side image to give the player the idea of how the character looks when they're speaking.

I like image 2, feels like I’m playing a jrpg like persona and such

No image needed and lower text means more to look at but that's just my opinion

Having the sprite by the text box while the full character sprite is also on-screen just feels too busy and a bit confusing for me. Definitely a “less is more” thing for me