Thoughts on VN with characters inspired from mainstream games?

[Ch!]

Hey guys, I'm Chi.

I've been creating lewd comics (with different alias) for a couple of years, and now I'm thinking to expand my horizon by creating a VN. Yes, comics are easier to make but I've been longing to make some VN because, from the first few impressions, I feel that the immersion part is better. I'm primarily a writer and a Daz pervert, and I just found myself a good programmer to make this plan a reality.

However, I have some doubts about the story that I'm currently working on. What do you think about VN characters created to bear resemblance to other mainstream game characters? For a context, I'm not planning to use their character's names, personas, or anything of their mainstream games. I just wanted their looks.

And since I will use Patreon to fund this VN later on, do you think I should keep them or just use different characters (non-resemblance) entirely?

This is a preview of the characters I'm talking about.



Both their morphs are sculpted and dialed independently, and they have their own set of textures and hairs which aren't part of their game. But yes, I've been trying on their resemblance.

Thoughts?

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

I have no idea who they are supposed to be, so depending on your viewpoint that could be a good or a bad thing. Also, there are plenty of successful games on Patreon that use straight up copyrighted characters like Lara Croft or Hermione Granger, so I doubt having Daz characters that kind of resemble some popular character is a big deal.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Think a bit of a issue, will be the reader/player will always connect the dots, so regardless of what you name the characters or whatever backstory you give them. People will always regard them as who their origin is.

If you make a story where you can actually use the characters origin names/story I think it would fit better. God knows the internet is full of fan fiction of just about anything already.

Having unique models and scenes is what make you stand out these days imho. People get a bit tired of watch the same old. Same shit, new wrapping... kinda...

 

[Joshua Tree]

I have no idea who they are supposed to be, so depending on your viewpoint that could be a good or a bad thing. Also, there are plenty of successful games on Patreon that use straight up copyrighted characters like Lara Croft or Hermione Granger, so I doubt having Daz characters that kind of resemble some popular character is a big deal.

Yeah, but those characters kinda used in the same universe the characters reside in. You don't really make a game where "Lara" is a stay at home house wife etc..

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

Yeah, but those characters kinda used in the same universe the characters reside in. You don't really make a game where "Lara" is a stay at home house wife etc..

Why not though? People keep reusing that bitch from Dating my Daughter and most people don't seem to care. Games like Lewd Island are successful even though their main love interest is a complete copy/paste from another game.

Also, maybe I'm not hip with the kids these days, but I'm assuming whoever these two are supposed to be are less well known than Lara Croft.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Why not though? People keep reusing that bitch from Dating my Daughter and most people don't seem to care. Games like Lewd Island are successful even though their main love interest is a complete copy/paste from another game.

Also, maybe I'm not hip with the kids these days, but I'm assuming whoever these two are supposed to be are less well known than Lara Croft.

Yeah, but a characters such as "Lara Croft, and Hermione Grange", have a whole other origin story to them. Which also bring expectations. If EA make a Pizza Tycoon game and the one running the show is Lara Croft... the fan's of Tomb Raider wouldn't be the ones buying that game. Use these kind of characters in the universe where they belong add to the immersion, and why people like the characters.

 

[Ch!]

Think a bit of a issue, will be the reader/player will always connect the dots, so regardless of what you name the characters or whatever backstory you give them. People will always regard them as who their origin is.

If you make a story where you can actually use the characters origin names/story I think it would fit better. God knows the internet is full of fan fiction of just about anything already.

Having unique models and scenes is what make you stand out these days imho. People get a bit tired of watch the same old. Same shit, new wrapping... kinda...

Agreed. And that's my initial concern with them. Even with their new names, people will still think of them as their original characters. Oh man, I just like their shapes.

Why not though? People keep reusing that bitch from Dating my Daughter and most people don't seem to care. Games like Lewd Island are successful even though their main love interest is a complete copy/paste from another game.

Also, maybe I'm not hip with the kids these days, but I'm assuming whoever these two are supposed to be are less well known than Lara Croft.

Actually, with you didn't recognize them, I feel a bit happy. Maybe with different hairs, they will lose any of their resemblances? The one in the front is Jill from Resident Evil Remake 3. The one in the back is Ellie from The Last of Us 2.

Yeah, but a characters such as "Lara Croft, and Hermione Grange", have a whole other origin story to them. Which also bring expectations. If EA make a Pizza Tycoon game and the one running the show is Lara Croft... the fan's of Tomb Raider wouldn't be the ones buying that game. Use these kind of characters in the universe where they belong add to the immersion, and why people like the characters.

Lara's Pizza Tycoon will be weird, indeed. Yeah, I can see the light now.

 

[Back]

I think it's fine. The character models to be used in Ch!'s story may resemble models from other games but apparently they are their own, original characters and not parodies of whatever. They'll have different names and backgrounds in a uniquely different setting in Ch!'s game. It's not unlike many games that uses popular assets in Daz (or other rendering software) that are out there now -- just like a certain boutique clothing store or a certain park with the odd lifebuoy. As such, there shouldn't be any expectation by the end-user to be armed with any kind of background information coming into the Ch!'s VN. Plus, Ch! has already mentioned in the example above that the models will be sculpted differently with their own textures / hairs. It's not that different than seeing folks in the real world where you've mistaken them for someone else, right? So, I'd say go for it and create the game that you want, Ch!!

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

Actually, with you didn't recognize them, I feel a bit happy. Maybe with different hairs, they will lose any of their resemblances? The one in the front is Jill from Resident Evil Remake 3. The one in the back is Ellie from The Last of Us 2.

I know Ellie and now that you told me I can kind of recognize the face, but she looks so different with that hair that it's hard to make the connection in my brain.

 

[Ch!]

I know Ellie and now that you told me I can kind of recognize the face, but she looks so different with that hair that it's hard to make the connection in my brain.

That's good news, because maybe if I tweak their hair more, they might look completely different.

I am perfectly aware that they aren't quite similar with their respective original models (different textures also a big part of this). It's just that I made them intentionally to bear some (even slight) resemblance that got me worried.

I feel lighter now about this. But I'm all ears for any suggestions.

 

[Joshua Tree]

That's good news, because maybe if I tweak their hair more, they might look completely different.

I am perfectly aware that they aren't quite similar with their respective original models (different textures also a big part of this). It's just that I made them intentionally to bear some (even slight) resemblance that got me worried.

I feel lighter now about this. But I'm all ears for any suggestions.

Tbh, I didn't look to close at the actual models, the topic was more interesting. But if it's the character "Ellie" from the "last of us", then it's kinda funny that when TLOU1 released back then Naughty Dog got accused of model the character after "Ellen Page". Around the same time "Ellen Page" was actual in "her own" game of sorts with "Beyond two souls". Fun fact there was a camera hack that made a shower scene in Beyond Two Souls more revealing than what was desired

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

Fun fact there was a camera hack that made a shower scene in Beyond Two Souls more revealing than what was desired

Fun fact: people made a bunch of rule 34 content with that model.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Fun fact: people made a bunch of rule 34 content with that model.

People make porn of the darndest things... If it exist, somewhere, somehow, there will be porn of it..
The model in the game didn't really do much to excite me tbh. "oh naked pixels, whatever...."

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

People make porn of the darndest things... If it exist, somewhere, somehow, there will be porn of it..
The model in the game didn't really do much to excite me tbh. "oh naked pixels, whatever...."

Well, I like Ellen Page, so it did plenty for me. Maybe not the shower scene in itself, but more the actual hardcore porn people put her in.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Well, I like Ellen Page, so it did plenty for me. Maybe not the shower scene in itself, but more the actual hardcore porn people put her in.

Tbh, knowing it's fake, I rather watch a real movie with her. The awkward sex scene in Juno probably more exciting