Parallel Pain

I was in the shower after finishing Steins;Gate 12
 
And I thought about the phenomenon of writing characters by archetypes. You've all seen it.
Whether in design, personality, or back story, it's all there. Certainly this is not a phenomenon limited to VN. It's in all genres of fiction, even if the archetype is different.
 
The supporting comic relief. The good samaritan. The empty. The confident. The shy. The rebel. The smart guy. The dumb guy. The charismatic leader.
The tsundere, kuudere, tomboy, yamato nadeshiko, bookworm, cutsie-moe
Big breasts, loli, ojou, longhair, shorthair, twintail, cutsie-moe, cat, dog
Abusive family, child mistakes, promises, lost stuff, bully, owe the protagonist one
 
Now personally, I don't like how they are used. It feels very unrealistic and unrelatable.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that all type of people exist in the world. And there are probably a heck of a lot of people who know not only people with such archetype traits but are as if they're carbon copy of a fictional character. And there's nothing wrong with that, or the archetypes themselves inherently. I actually feel I have a far higher tolerance for characters. I've read a lot of people go "I don't like this or that character". But for me, as long as s/he's not a selfish narcissist asshole, I'll accept whatever quirk s/he has.
 
What make me feel it's unrealistic/unrelatable are:
#1 People usually make friends with like-minded people, whether interest or personality or backstory. So to me an tomboy sports captain, shy bookworm, charismatic ojou, neighborhood tsundere etc, would all hang out in the same group when they share no interest or personality or backstory seems...odd. I'm not saying they can't be close friends, but they're really more likely to have their own separate group with like-minded people instead. But this point is very minor if it was only by itself.
 
#2 The archetype is too exaggerated. I'm fine with them if they are "within reason". Take tsundere for example, and I actually like tsunderes. If this happen when they're really flustered then fine. If every other interaction has a tsundere response then, that breaks my suspension of disbelief. And this really, really increase the problem of #1, so much so that #1 is not really the problem, #2 is. This is especially a problem for supporting characters, whose archetype are too played up to become distracting yet do not get enough time to develop into a well-rounded character.
 
#3 The characters become more identifiable and identified by their archetype and less by their, well, character. People have many different traits, complicated motivations, and act differently depend on the situation. People have different sides. So there's two parts to this problem: a. focusing too much on the more identifiable but shallow archetype traits (oh look, #2 again) and b. not writing enough different traits when putting together the character. When this happens, it makes it really easy to get the feeling that "I've seen all this before". It also make me feel like say "the MC argued with old-conservative commander" instead of "the MC argued with Commander Denniston", or "the old mentor type died" instead of "Obiwan died", or "I'm romancing the doggy girl" instead of "I'm romancing Mikamo". I am sure going to care a lot less about an archetype than I do an individual.
 
 
I've often read people complaining this or that work has "plain characters" and point that as a weakness.
But to me, I much prefer this weakness to carbon archetype cutouts. "Plain characters" are people who have a bit of personality, but let the situation decide what's appropriate to do, just like most people do every day at more restrictive settings. "Plain characters" might be boring and interchangable sure, but they are both acting realistically (and therefore relatably). Archetypes to me act unrealistic (when the situation calls for it), unrelatable, and only distract me from the main character spotlight and plot.
 
It's easy for me to chalk this up to lazy writing. But is it really lazy writing? I do not know. Archetypes are a useful writing tool for sure, and their traits themselves are most definitely realistic, even if the way they're played is not. But I have to say these archetypes are at least just as lazy writing than plain characters. Plain character are carbon copies of the average Joe, while archetypes are carbon copies of X different types of fictional Joes. You're still copying common knowledge.
 
And yet, if you throw enough traits together (skillfully enough), an archetype becomes a character.
 
Which is why I have hesitated for a long time from moving from NekoNekoSoft VNs (who's common route, if there's one, is incredibly short), and I have always preferred single-route VNs and I often like gaiden games better than the VN they came out of.
 
tl;dr I feel that writers are using archetype copies too much and too exaggeratedly. If they're not going to be given proper time and focus for development, being toned down and plain, or just be given one or two identifying traits, is better than being exaggerated archetypes.
 
 
What do you think about the use of Archetypes in VN (or fiction in general)

Merry Christmas everybody, from me to you in Japan!
 

I'm assuming the two lines are what came before
 

Update: 12/20/2014
Translation:  3879 / 3879 - 100%
Translation Check:  3611 / 3879 - 93%
Editing:  174 / 3879 - 4%
 
Overall Progress:  7664 / 11637 - 66%
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-TL is complete.  
-TLC has finished all main story endings (only 2 Extra Scenes left to TLC).  
-Editing has just started! I'm not sure yet, but we might need more Editors to help (just to lessen the work, and speed up progress).

Update: 12/15/2014
Translation:  3618 / 3864 - 94%
Translation Check:  1278 / 3864 - 33%
Editing:  - / 3864 - 0%
 
Overall Progress:  4896 / 11592 - 42%
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The main story endings have all been translated^^  The remaining TL are the Extra Scenes.  I might make a 20-30min video of the game in a few days for people to see how it'll be like and just an introduction/teaser

Oh man, I'm really excited for this! Thank you so so much for doing this <3
Like mentioned earlier, the tetrascope games have been really well liked and I even got the paid version of Sakuya myself, I couldn't resist. Apparently the R-18 scenes tie in with the plot, which is nice to hear. Plus, I'm a sucker for human x robot romances, as the angst that comes along with it really hits my pings haha. 
 
Ooh I'm Canadian too, nice to see more fellow canadians around here! Winter came way too early this year though
 
Anyways, cheering you on guys, good luck!!

Sorry, been busy coughing a lot.
 
Lots of catch-up to do now.
 
 

Thanks for your work~ That's a surprising pace, even for a short game! I'm super impressed!
 
 
 
Doki-ing intensifies. A robot... that does housework... A househusband... The ideal.... Sounds like I'll have to learn how to install/use VNR soon!

So, celebrating reaching the half way point (and crying a bunch again) without it being taken off Youtube.
 
I'm posting the videos of the story on auto-playthrough here. People who want to check the gameplay can just dig into the channel.
 
I'm also annotating the video a lot to fix all the blatant translation mistakes I see.
 
Also since a lot of my enjoyment comes from references to Roman history, mythology, and Christianity references, I'll also use annotations to point out and explain the references.
 
Playlist is here.
 
If you like it please buy the game. I still want to see it in anime form.

So, celebrating reaching the half way point (and crying a bunch again) without it being taken off Youtube.
 
I'm posting the videos of the story on auto-playthrough here. People who want to check the gameplay can just dig into the channel.
 
I'm also annotating the video a lot to fix all the blatant translation mistakes I see.
 
Also since a lot of my enjoyment comes from references to Roman history, mythology, and Christianity references, I'll also use annotations to point out and explain the references.
 
Playlist is here.
 
If you like it please buy the game. I still want to see it in anime form.

Just an update for today:
Translation:  2209 / 3864 - 57%  (yay, halfway done!)
Translation Check:  539 / 3864 - 14%
 
TLC has started^^  Thank you Parallel Pain!

...てもらえない implies that the speaker is actively trying (and failing) to get someone to do those things, instead of just being passive. But it doesn't really change much in this case.
 
Otherwise I just don't like using things like "that person". It sounds awkward in English. Japanese don't like to use pronouns, but English use pronouns whenever possible, so in English I feel it flows more smoothly if we use a pronoun.
 
Really at this point it's personal taste.

Okay, I admit there are times I've read specifically looking forward to the hentai-scenes.  However, there are also times I've read specifically for the plot and characters, and the hentai-scenes don't matter at all.
 
I think of the hentai scenes like extra icing on the cake.. something extra that can be enjoyed, but without it, it'd be fine too as long as the story & characters are great.  Although, there are times I also think it would have been better without that extra icing xD since it's overdone.
 
Ex: I recently played Soukoku no Arterial... that first hentai scene felt very out of place and out of character to me... I would have been happier if they left it out completely.  I like hentai scenes if it flows well with the storyline and characters, otherwise it'd just be awkward and better left out.  Still, you have the option to skip such scenes, so in the end it doesn't really matter.
 
I think I'm mixed about it.  I usually just like to feel like I have the whole experience of what something can offer without any censorship, so if I had a choice between an all-ages vs 18+ I'd pick the latter.  There might even be extra things I can learn about the characters or story that was taken out in the all-ages... and if I dislike it, there's always the skip button.
 
-Overall, I'd pick the awesome epic story and great characters  (with or without hentai).
 
 

Here we go with the "you're a pervert, I'm not" thing again...

Ah I see. When presented with counter evidence all you can do is close your eyes, cover your ears, and yell lala.
 
One who is an adult and mature enough to understand that sex is both an accepted and important part of life. And who defines "pure love story" as including the lovers having sex. There's a reason why how often/good the sex is a question in marriage counseling: It's actually important.
But if you want to call people like Maeda Jun, the TetraScope team, and I perverts, go right ahead.
 
Seriously we have tonnes of creators of non-18+ stuff making 18+ doujin of their own creation. Why's it so hard to accept creators of actual 18+ content actually did it themselves?
 
"How dare you defile my waifu". Lol

Fact. You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.
 
Maeda Jun gave his own thoughts on what he aimed for when writing each Hscene of Tomoyo After in the visual fan book.
 
Taking Little Busters! EX：
Komari and Midori's Hscene are the traditional Key wtf bad end.
Kudo's Kurugaya, first Haruka, Mio, Saya, Sasami, and Rin are normal making love between lovers.
Second Haruka and Kanata add to their character and plot.
 
Now take Sakuya 18+ version. Of 4 Hscene, 3 are plot important. And the only reason the 4th isn't is because it's tucked away in an after story.
 
What Clephas said. Also please stop pushing your own morality onto other people. And please don't project your own values onto a people who highly prized Shunga.
 
Sounds like sunk cost fallacy.

Ah I see. When presented with counter evidence all you can do is close your eyes, cover your ears, and yell lala.
 
One who is an adult and mature enough to understand that sex is both an accepted and important part of life. And who defines "pure love story" as including the lovers having sex. There's a reason why how often/good the sex is a question in marriage counseling: It's actually important.
But if you want to call people like Maeda Jun, the TetraScope team, and I perverts, go right ahead.
 
Seriously we have tonnes of creators of non-18+ stuff making 18+ doujin of their own creation. Why's it so hard to accept creators of actual 18+ content actually did it themselves?
 
"How dare you defile my waifu". Lol

I have to disagree a bit with down, if eroges were only hentai games, the % of H-scenes of them would be significant, extremely significant, but for example, if i take Coµ, you have approx 10-12 H-scenes, that are spread through the different routes, and they represent...0.1% of the play time if you read them seriously, saying that Eroge are mostly hentai games is a little "off", because, if you take any kind of VN (Chunni, serious story, romance-focused, Otome ...etc Except Nukige ofc) you'll see that the part of H-scenes are even significant.
 
 
Now, if they impact my feeling or not, i can say that : NO, completely NO because Sex exists in Real life, and it's just a component of our lives, nothing more nothing less, and if you are shocked by H-scenes, WHAT about the action scenes when you just see mayhem, destruction, blood, sadness, horror, gore...etc? Yes, that do you nothing, but just, watch the result.
 
Sex = Happiness + life.
Action = Horror + sadness + death.

Yeah, I kinda wonder about that myself.  I'm guessing it could be because they think girls like more innocent stuff or prefer it without?  or maybe they don't know how to do porn for girls, lol..  -shrugs- 
 
I'm thinking maybe BL games have more because girls like to see the guys xD.  It might be more awkward with the boy-girl, especially when the main char is the girl maybe?   Mostly guessing!  It personally doesn't bother me since I tend to like heroines more than the males.
 
Anyways, I still enjoyed this game without the hentai^^  and I probably will like the 18+ version too.

General Information - Visual Novel (Short Story) / Otome Game (Doujin)
Sakuya by Tetrascope - Free Version (no hentai)
 
http://youtu.be/eJtGCoFsl9U
 



 
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Current Progress



 
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Current Team



 
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I'm focused on translating the Free Version (no hentai) first since I haven't even read the 18+ version yet.
 
After completion, we will be uploading the script onto VNR community subtitles for others to play along with it (subtitles will be under username sakusora project).

I had a quick look at the extra section of the free one, and I don't think so. Though there might be more side stories in the paid version. And of course H-scene
 
I have to say this is one of the few VN where the H-scene is plot relevant and makes sense.

I can't wait!

Almost.  って言うのは is more of a verbal quotation mark or clause marker than literally "to say" (I wish we had that in English).
 
"It doesn't feel very good to have someone be so close, yet unable to get him/her to look at me/you/oneself, to care about me/you/oneself."
 
Choose one of the pronouns. It doesn't matter which in English as long as it matches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0B-bvhJmI
 
From a doujin game.