Ask!

[scott1and]

When you (whoever you are) created the April Fools Day characters, Saki Enomoto and Rika Katayama, did you somewhat regret you couldn't have them in the game?

While we're on Saki and Rika, were they created randomly in as short a time as possible or did some effort go into thinking of them?

[sabre98]

First, thanks for a great game. I really enjoyed it. and now questions:

1. Who came with the idea to make Emi´s mom such MILF? I have to say she was, well, distracting me from my goal.

2. How did Lilly found out about Hisao´s condition? It´s never explicitly stated and there´s a lot of possibilities, so I just wanted to know if there is an answer or if you just left it for our imagination.

3. Why have you decided to kill both of Hanako´s parents? The website and even manual states that only her father died in that fire.

4. What happenned to those politically incorrect panties Shizune wore during her fight with Lilly in Act 1 Preview? The ones with 'Stop stem cell research' written on them? I noticed she wears plain white panties in full game during this scene.

5. When I played Rin´s path I got feeling that her bad end would involve her suicide. Everything was pointing at it somehow - Rin talking about destroying herself, Hisao finding her in atelier on verge of breakdown, Sae talking about her husband´s suicide and Picasso´Blue Period. Simply pointing at chance she would literally destroy herself in her quest to change as a person. So my question is: Have you considered the possibility of Rin commiting suicide as possible outcome of player´s choices during writing of her path?

6. During writing of previous question I realized that in every path plays death it´s role in some way. Hisao falling from roof in Deep End, death of Hanako´s parents, death of Emi´s father, suicide of Sae´s husband in Rin´s path, Hisao´s near-death experience in Lilly´s path and Misha considering whether would Shizune be better without her if she just died. So the question is: Why? There´s probably some hidden meaning I simply failed to notice so I would like you to enligthen me.

[Aura]

I have a question for the writer of Rin's route (Aura?).

Were you by chance inhaling any leafy green substance when you wer writing up her story? I've only played her Act 1 so far but her way of thinking is really out there, it reminds me a lot of how my thinking process becomes when I'm high.

No.

[Aura]

First of all, thank you for the amazing game you've done!

So, I think that what makes Katawa Shoujo such a unique game is how the characters' problems and personalities are present in our 'normal' lives, but are 'boosted' by their conditions. And I think it is something really really hard to do in a history, something that you must have a great time to work on and a great team to relie on to make it possible. I guess this is my first question, I would like to know how you manage to get this, how was the work like?

I would also like to know how you think the fact that Katawa Shoujo is a free game was important to make it such a good game? Because I think that having the time you wanted to work on it until the realising (there was no estipulated date) and working only with people really dedicated and you get along with (a little bit, at least hahaha) was crucial to make the game this great, and I don't think you could have this condition working on a commercial game

As for the first question, I recommend reading our blog, it has a whole bunch of writings about our times with the project.

Us being completely independent gave us massive creative freedom. We didn't have to give a damn about anything at all. I'd say it's certainly a factor.

[Aura]

- Does Rin have any family? How is their relationship?

- What's Rin's favourite food (besides oranges)?

She has a family, yes. http://shimmie.katawa-shoujo.com/post/l ... _parents/1

I don't know what she likes to eat.

[Aura]

Is Yamaku a normal school with a 24/7 nursing staff available or does it also offer classes to help students get used to their disability as well?

Yamaku has a lot of stuff to assist its studentbase, from special classes to physiotherapy and counseling and whatnot.

[Aura]

When you (whoever you are) created the April Fools Day characters, Saki Enomoto and Rika Katayama, did you somewhat regret you couldn't have them in the game?

While we're on Saki and Rika, were they created randomly in as short a time as possible or did some effort go into thinking of them?

I came up with them very quickly. There was no need to think about them too deeply. Saki was in the game as a minor character for a while but was cut. No regrets about it (nor about the lack of Rika)

[Aura]

First, thanks for a great game. I really enjoyed it. and now questions:

1. Who came with the idea to make Emi´s mom such MILF? I have to say she was, well, distracting me from my goal.

2. How did Lilly found out about Hisao´s condition? It´s never explicitly stated and there´s a lot of possibilities, so I just wanted to know if there is an answer or if you just left it for our imagination.

3. Why have you decided to kill both of Hanako´s parents? The website and even manual states that only her father died in that fire.

4. What happenned to those politically incorrect panties Shizune wore during her fight with Lilly in Act 1 Preview? The ones with 'Stop stem cell research' written on them? I noticed she wears plain white panties in full game during this scene.

5. When I played Rin´s path I got feeling that her bad end would involve her suicide. Everything was pointing at it somehow - Rin talking about destroying herself, Hisao finding her in atelier on verge of breakdown, Sae talking about her husband´s suicide and Picasso´Blue Period. Simply pointing at chance she would literally destroy herself in her quest to change as a person. So my question is: Have you considered the possibility of Rin commiting suicide as possible outcome of player´s choices during writing of her path?

6. During writing of previous question I realized that in every path plays death it´s role in some way. Hisao falling from roof in Deep End, death of Hanako´s parents, death of Emi´s father, suicide of Sae´s husband in Rin´s path, Hisao´s near-death experience in Lilly´s path and Misha considering whether would Shizune be better without her if she just died. So the question is: Why? There´s probably some hidden meaning I simply failed to notice so I would like you to enligthen me.

1. That was Hivemind and Moekki

3. We wanted her to suffer more.

4. She changes her underwear regularly, like a lady should.

5. I don't think Rin is a suicidal type.

6. Death is a very fundamental theme in storytelling, has always been. It's a good theme to work with, and we all incorporated it in one way or another. Of course, the entire story begins from a near-death experience and follow's Hisao's struggle to appreciate being alive. You may derive some meaning from it if you will.

[Aerius]

I might already guess the answer on that one, but meh.

To the character writers: Did you ever have the feeling your characters developed in a way that you did not intend to? Like, 'developing a life on their own'? It's what happens to me frequently when I develop a character over time and imagine more and more scenarios involving him. Occasionally the character ends up extremely different than I intended to (or even would want him to be, to a certain extend), but that's just how the character is, for that matter.

I guess though, the process of iterating the writing over and over again and discussing it in such a big group over and over again makes something like this not as likely, hence the 'I guess I know the answer'.

[TehIshter]

The game has an amazing collection of music, but I was curious about a track.

Lullaby of Open Eyes, the first time I heard that, I immediately thought, "PLANETARIAN" (which is another great VN, but I digress). The similarity is uncanny. Is it on purpose that you guys referenced a track from Planetarian?

Here's the music links for your convenience:

Planetarian OST - Gentle Jena


Katawa Shoujo OST - Lullaby of Open Eyes

[Nolan]

Since the scene in which Hisao fingers Rin was so tastefully written, to the point of being very moving, I'm left wondering about some more carnal elements. Mostly, how many fingers did he use and did her get a boner? If so, why didn't Rin react to it since it would presumably be against her. Might seem crude, but damn it, this is what I was left wondering for some reason.

[Caesius]

Who came up with Akira's personality? Did Suriko have any trouble adapting to it?

And for that matter, did any of the writers find it difficult to write for Kenji?


Edit for brainfart.

[Guest]

[quote="sabre98"
2. How did Lilly found out about Hisao´s condition? It´s never explicitly stated and there´s a lot of possibilities, so I just wanted to know if there is an answer or if you just left it for our imagination.[/quote]

Same question, but also by extension, did Lilly return to Hisao on her own before finding out about his latest episode or did she return because of it? I've played through the ending a few times now and still can't quite figure it out. I understand the vagueness might be deliberate, but Suriko did also say that many things were cut/cropped over the years.

Thanks.

[Guest]

In her race, Emi begins in the outside lane, but in later artwork, you see she is in an inside lane. Why is that? Also, assuming Emi was the fastest person in the race, why was she given the outside lane to begin with?

[Fronzel]

I've only played a handful of VNs but the things that KS does with its sprites (moving them on screen to indicate actions described in the narration, displaying at different sizes to reflect character's distance from Hisao) are quite new to me. Was this an original idea?