Thomas Jennings

Diversion Demo v1
ST: So, what am I supposed to tell you? MC: Well, Im pretty sure theyll want to know what the game will actually be about. ST: Ah, but therein lies the problem. MC: Theres a problem with telling people what the plot is? Isnt the point of a demo to entice people to play the full version? ST: Well, thats correct, but... MC: And this being a visual novel, there is very little in the way of actual game play, isnt there? Its all story. ST: Yeah, it isnt really much of a game at all, really, in the same way that choosing menu options on a DVD menu doesnt make it a game. MC: So whats the problem with explaining the basic plotline? ST: Well we cant really explain the plot; because a large portion of it wont work particularly that well if the player knows whats coming. ST: Which is also the reason why we cant do a regular demo, else we would have to showcase the start of the game, which isnt really all the indicative of the majority of the games content. MC: Im presuming thats the reason for this rather contrived fourth wall breaking. ST: Indeed. Though you should be thankful, as originally the entire game was much more metafictional in nature. Look at these obvious visual novel conventions were pointing out! ST: It also featured a rather egregious amount of references to visual novels and the culture... ST: If you can call it a culture, anyway. ST: The culture surrounding these types of games. MC: Sounds awful.

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ST: Well, I cant honestly say if its any better in this current form, but at least it has an actual plot now, and it hopefully wont make players want to hit the writer in the face anymore. (Thats a rather alarming lack of confidence in the material...) MC: And we definitely cant tell people what the actual plot is? ST: Aside from the slice of life shenanigans near the beginning, no, not really. MC: Can we at least explain who we are? You know, so this isnt a complete waste of time. ST: I dont see why not... ST: Im ST, as you may have gathered from this handy dandy label on top of this text box. ST: Im also acting as an author surrogate, so I can conveniently inform the player what to expect through a scripted conversation. MC: I didnt think the author was female. ST: He isnt. MC: This raises a number of questions. MC: Most of them beginning with why and followed by exclamations of disbelief. ST: Could you just get on with it and introduce yourself, please? MC: Fine, Mr. Author Surrogate. ST: I dont remember writing such an incredibly witty main character. MC: So wait, the author of this isnt confident in it? Thats clearly a good sign. ST: Please... just get on with it. This demo goes on long enough as it is.

Thomas Jennings

MC: Hello, Im whatever name the player has given me. Its probably something really stupid. ST: Oh, I can assure you that it really is incredibly dumb sounding. Well, thats what you get when you let people choose like that. MC: So why ST? Thats not really much of a name at all, is it? ST: ST stands for Suicide-Tan, because Id probably kill myself if you ever left me. MC: ... (Are you talking as the author or the actual character now?) ST: Oh, and Tan is like an even more idiotic sounding version of the honorific Chan. MC: Thats not the part of your statement that I had a problem with! ST: Then again, perhaps its just because it makes writing the script easier because my name doesnt require any abbreviation. MC: Thats a far saner explanation, lazy as it may be. MC: There are some characters with proper names right? So far weve left it to the player to decide what my name is and youve been given initials instead. ST: There are. And besides, if the player is really lazy you get a name assigned to you. MC: Oh, ok. So that is the official name? ST: You could say that. MC: And what, pray tell, actually is it? ST: Excellent question! MC: Well then, go on. ST: Nah, you dont need to know. MC: I would like to know my official name, please. ST: If you really want to know, the player would have to leave your name field blank at the start.

Thomas Jennings

ST: But Im sure they wouldnt be that lazy, now would they? MC: Could you not address the player like that? It feels like youre staring through me ST: You arent on screen, so really I am just facing the player. MC: So, I dont exist now? Great. Wonderful, even. ST: From the point of view of the player, no. Sorry about that. MC: You sounded so sincere just then. MC: Anyway, moving swiftly on, why not tell people about yourself? Weve wasted enough time as it is, really. ST: Well I live right next door to you, in flat number 214.Im a NEET like you, which stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training. MC: Why not just say shut in and avoid having to explain the acronym? The redundancy of that redundant statement was just... MC: Redundant, I guess. ST: But NEET sounds better, obviously! I mean, it even sounds like the word neat, thats just how neat an acronym it is. MC:... (Im not even going to dignify that with a response.) MC: So were both shut-ins? ST: Yeah, Im a mild agoraphobic and cyclothymic, whereas you just seem to enjoy being isolated from everyone. ST: Which is actually quite weird, if I do say so myself. (Youre one to talk) ST: Well, youre not really isolated away from me, I guess. ST: But thats pretty much your only social link. MC: So the only person I currently come into contact with is you? How splendid.

Thomas Jennings

ST: I dont know, you seem pretty fine with it in the actual game. MC: How come you know so much about the game and I dont, then? I thought I was supposed to be the main character? ST: You are. Well, kind of. MC: Kind of? ST: Yes. Kind of. MC: You arent very helpful, you know. ST: It cant be helped. MC: Anyway, whats a cyclothymic? ST: Form of bipolar disorder. Theres two phases of it, the dysthymic phase which has symptoms such as apathy, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, social withdrawal, self neglect, self destructive thinking... ST: ...poor judgment, lack of motivation, depression, pessimism, fatigue, guilt and poor memory recall. MC: That certainly sounds like a lot of fun for both me and you. The other phase is better, right? ST: The euphoric phase gives me unusually good moods, general cheerfulness and a large amount of motivation to do anything. MC: Well, that doesnt sound bad at all. ST: But then again it also has the other symptoms, such as aggressive behaviour, hypersexuality and an inability to concentrate. At all. MC:... MC: You know, Im not really seeing the potential for wacky visual novel shenanigans in this story. (And its making that Suicide-Tan explanation sound disturbingly more likely.) ST: Oh come on, do you think the writer would so obviously telegraph me killing myself later on in the game in a demo? MC: I didnt actually say that aloud.

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ST: No, I guess you didnt. MC: This isnt going to be yet another grimdark visual novel is it? MC: Because having untold misery being the only thing to occur to every character is not good writing. ST: I dont know, its at least better than having all characters being flawless and not having any conflict aside from Which one of all these beautiful and perfect women do I choose? MC: So, this is a grimdark visual novel, then? Splendid, I look forward to dying horribly after living a life of horrific physical and mental agony. MC: I can see it now: MC: IN THE GRIM DARKNESS OF THIS MANCHESTER FLAT THERE IS ONLY DESPAIR. ST: I didnt say that it was that dark! But a story has to have negative things happen to make it actually interesting, else were left with a conflict-less mess of moe stereotypes and obscure in jokes. MC: So Im not going to die horribly then? ST: No, probably not. MC: Probably? ST: Well, nothings certain, is it. I cant divulge what happens later on, so I cant say either way. MC: Thats so reassuring. ST: Well, I guess I could may*ST disappears into static* MC: Hey wait! I want to know if I die or not! *silhouette of FN appears* FN: Dont worry, I can certainly arrange that for you. MC: W-who are you? What happened to ST?

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FN: Doesnt matter. How would she say it? Important to the plot or something. Maybe. FN: I dont care, Im just tired of observing this conversation. *fade to black with noise of a TV cutting out* FN: There, that shut you up, didnt it. FN: As for you, you pathetic waste of air. FN: Yes, you, the one playing this game. FN: I have plans for you too. FN: I guess youll just have to see for yourself. FN: Ha.