Welcome to our weekly feature, “Question Of The Week.” As you can tell from that entirely original title each week we pose a question to our panel and they chime in with their opinions. No one sees one another’s responses until the story is posted, so each contributors thoughts are their own. Responses are posted in no particular order.
And remember, as with all editorials, the views expressed in this editorial are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Cliqist.com.
The question of the week for the week of 9/7/14 is :
What are your thoughts on Kodoku Chronicles?
[divider]Suzanne Verras
My feelings towards Kodoku Chronicles are pretty mixed. On the one hand, I’m interested in how they will combine the Japanese folklore with H.P. Lovecraft to create an interesting horror experience. The combat system is also something that has gotten me wanting to know more. But… then there is the cover photo that just screams boobs like a cheap promotion strategy. Some of the art also features sexy woman in bondage and it just put me off. Of course, a Visual Novel is mostly reliant on its art style, but they could have emphasized on the gore aspect more. Judging by the art style there are plenty of other pictures they could have used as a cover photo. Still I’m going to follow this for a bit and see how it goes.
To read more of Suzannes’ work click here. To learn more about them check out our About Us page.
[divider]Marcus Estrada
I’m someone who was quite excited when Kodoku, the adventure/horror game was announced for consoles. Even though Carnivore actually revealed very little, it seemed like a wonderfully creepy, atmospheric game. Their spin-off (sort of) Kodoku Chronicles should be right up my alley as a horror visual novel. With that said I was definitely taken off guard by the multiple pieces of artwork depicting women with body types that have been okayed as stereotypically attractive. The insistence on this artwork for a game that (as far as I know) isn’t actually trying to plunge into erotic/eroge territory seems fairly odd. Sure, it will draw attention of some visitors more quickly – but a developer proud of their work shouldn’t feel the need to use such “proven,” lowbrow marketing tactics.
To read more of Marcus’ work click here. To learn more about them check out our About Us page.
[divider]Charlotte “Charlie” Humphies
From first appearances, I think that the developers aren’t confident that their game is going to make their target and so have decided to advertise it with sexy, white woman. But not just any sexy, white woman, but woman who are being tied up and tortured. So my first thoughts are, where’s the trigger warning for this kind of content?
My other thought on this is: if you have a battle system for a visual horror novel: why aren’t you making a bigger fuss about it? This is genre-breaking stuff here! I want to know more about that rather than having sexual violence pushed in my face: women get enough of that on a day-to-day basis.
I won’t be backing this campaign.
To read more of Charlottes’ work click here. To learn more about them check out our About Us page.
[divider]Julie Morley
I have some very mixed feelings about Kodoku Chronicles. Visual novels are outright awesome. Horror anything is outright awesome. Combining them is always welcomed in my book. There are an array of interesting (and extremely, er, interesting) content in visual novels out there. But the thing is – these visual novels are made for people that enjoy that particular kind of content by people that share those interests. It’s a niche. That being said, sometimes there are some incredibly odd niches out there that are very likely to get a rise out of people (whether intentional or not – and I’m not saying Kodoku Chronicles is). Maybe it’s a matter of overdoing it in the violence or making things needlessly sexual when it is truly there for fan service.
Kodoku Chronicles has a girl drawn up in an uber sexualized manner. She is covered with a liquid of some sort, her clothing is much too small for her really curvy figure, and just her facial expression is particularly suggestive. Everything about it is arguably unnecessary and unneeded. But, I’m not bothered by it in the slightest. It’s not necessary and it’s unappealing to me in particular, but it appeals to others. The developer wanted it in there because he would play games that included that kind of content. He’s making something he’s interested in and believes in for people that also share the same interests.
This game will attract a bunch of negative attention because of it and certain groups with strong opinions will not refrain from expressing it. But it seems pointless to argue over the matter, in my opinion.
To read more of Julies’ work click here. To learn more about them check out our About Us page.
[divider]Greg Micek
I don’t have a strong opinion of it other than to sigh heavily. Sigh at the fact that visual novels have some much potential to telling compelling stories, but get lost in sex. Whether that sex is flirting and getting to second base with a school girl, or whatever is happening in that Kodoku Chronicles images. I’m not saying that more visual novels need to be artsy, or even appeal to the Call of Duty set, but I’m still struggling to find ones that are anything more than sex delivery vehicles. I understand that that’s an incredibly ignorant statement based in ignorance; but I feel that I look at visual novels more than the typical game and the sex angle is the thing I see the most. It’s time to evolve.
To read more of Gregs’ work click here. To learn more about them check out our About Us page.
[divider]Have a question you’d like our panel to answer? Post it below, or email greg@cliqist.com with your toughest crowdfunding questions! If you’d like to check out some of our previous Questions Of The Week., then go right ahead!
[facebook][tweet][Google][pinterest][follow id=”Cliqist” size=”large” count=”true” ]
