Makers of RPG Maker make Visual Novel Maker
On the make
The makers of RPG Maker are making a new maker called Visual Novel Maker which makes the maker make the makings of okay I’m going to stop now. The piece of DIY software is a “tool for Visual Novel Creation aimed towards aspiring artists and writers,” say creators Degica Games. Like its RPG brethren, it comes with basic assets (characters, backgrounds, sound effects, etc) but is managed by a “simple point-and-click or drag-and-drop interface” with some scripting also available. It’s coming out on November 16.
This makes sense, given the developer’s seemingly endless line of RPG Makers and attendant DLC. But Ren’Py already has something of a stake on this ‘ere land, being the free visual novel suite used by storytellers such as Ladykiller in a Bind creator Christine Love. There's also the Visual Novel Engine which is free as well. It looks like Degica want to make it easier for absolute beginners to throw together dating simulators and horror stories, but this will likely include a price tag (although we don't know what that is yet).
For those worried about Maker games gridlocking the videogames highway, it’s good to remember that a lot of good things have come from RPG Maker. To The Moon, OneShot, Space Funeral and Rakuen were all made within its confines. If you have to ignore a few thumbnails on Steam to get a roster like that, I’m not complaining. It’s making a maker’s work make more make and to make it make make it makes maker make making make make make make make make make--
[Brendan has been removed for servicing - Ed]