POLL : Images without dialogue
We're playing Visual Novels. I'm big on the "Visual" side of the storytelling and adhere to the maxim of : Show Don't Tell.
Sometimes - an image has to be able to speak for itself and tell it's part of the story alone without words accompanying it.
But what to do on those images?
Previously, I used a small countdown bar with the words "Click To Advance" overlaid but when the bar counted down, the VN would advance anyway if the player didn't click. But some got confused. Thought they had to do something quickly. What will happen if I don't do something before the countdown hits zero?
But is just leaving the image without an indicator to click to advance better?
The image below shows what I've currently got when there's no dialogue .. But what do you think?
If you have another suggestion - then put your ideas in the comments below
Comments (6)
Everyone who's played a VN or two before, knows that you need to mouseclick (or press spacebar) to advance to the next render. For my part, adding the symbol of a mouse on the screen is superfluous. In other VNs the appearance of a mouse (or other symbols like arrows etc) on the screen, usually means you have to click something very fast, which is why I think people got confused. I'd rather not have any symbols on the screen, unless it requires a non-standard response. So the question for me would be whether to require a mouseclick (or spacebar) to advance on renders without text, or set it on an automatic timer to give it a natural flow. The former would be the most natural for me as a player, while the latter would give the artist control of what they want to show and how, and that *could* have a small symbol on the screen indicating that it's an automated sequence much like an animation.
I tested it with my Mrs and she kept waiting for something to happen when there was no on-screen indicator .. although, she isn't a VN player so maybe that explains it! :) I'm probably going to end up placing it in the options so it covers all bases for all players No On Screen Indicator On Screen Indicator The individual "click" screens already advance themselves when AutoPlay is on but might also include an option to advance automatically whether AP is on or not .. maybe set your own timer from 1 to 5 seconds
I suppose that I'm more toward the other end of the spectrum and I like to have words to read. It's difficult to divine character and intent from visuals alone. It can be easy to get the wrong end of the stick with words let alone without them. Just because someone has labelled this genre 'Visual' novels and the old adage 'show don't tell' keeps bobbing to the surface doesn't mean one has to do it one way or another, so I try to avoid such critiques. Tell the story in your own way, and if that means fewer words then sobeit. Vive la difference! (or whatever they say in France!).
We're only talking one or two images here and there .. Sometimes it might be a transition from one thing to another and no words are needed or would be just inserted as fluff. Or an action scene, for instance. Couldn't have two guys having a fist fight, visibly depict that fight but have them having a conversation while the punches are flying just so words are on-screen .. sometimes you just have to have the image of the punch connecting on the end of somebody's nose and leave it at :)
Well, it's a visual novel. So I like seeing visuals without reading any worda sometimes. And yours are a delight. I learned so much from you. So I say yes to visuals without words. I do it myself.
It's not the without words that's the issue - it's the indication that something is JUST an image - no words or explanation needed. Oh! And I'm glad you're liking the images I do and happy to help you out where and when I can!