Open-source Anime gaming
What is DNML?
DNML, or what stands for Digital Novel Markup Language, is a markup language to create so-called "Visual Novel" game using HTML-like syntax. If you have never played "Visual Novel" games available from Tyun-Soft, Leaf, AliceSoft, etc., these are simply a computer-based readings with some music, sound effects, and sometimes a bit of split in the story for multi-ending. So you can say it's more like a book than a game in some aspect.
Since this "Visual Novel" style has very limited functionality from the viewpoint of
programming - i.e., no action or complicated parameter to handle - it's possible to create a
game just by writing scenario in plain text and adding extra multimedia data to it. And that is what DNML is for. It allows you to attach multimedia effect into your text-based
scenario. If
you are thinking of writing a "interactive" book with some multimedia capabilities, DNML is
for you.
History
Historically, this "Visual Novel" style was first introduced to Japanese game scene by
Tyun-Soft (or Kouichi Nakamura, I should note, as a game designer) in their game
"Otogirisou". This game was the first to effectively combine both
scenario and sound to bring truly-realistic game play, and this style become widely acknowledged once "The Night of
Kamaitachi", their next product, hit the market and had a larger success. They called this
style a "Sound Novel".
But it was not until Leaf's "Kizuato" and "To Heart" that this style become widely known as
"Visual Novel". In 1996, Leaf started a series of "Visual Novel" game starting with
"Sizuku", which was somewhat successful, and had a huge success with following "Kizuato" and "To Heart". Soon after "To Heart" was out, other developers like Tactics and AliceSoft followed
with "ONE" and "Atrach=Nacha", both now known for its superb storyline.
With these huge success of "Visual Novel" games, very much of doujin game creators also
shifted for developing their own novels. After all, many of what they used to create was
more of a reading than game, so it was natural for them to move this way. And with this
background, DNML was born. As soon as Karin, the author of DNML, released DNML on
Project Angel Wing HomePage, it has spread wildly and now acknowledged as a de-facto
standard among doujin "Visual Novel" creators in Japan. In 1998, DNML was
introduced in the english-speaking community by the outstanding anime news
site namely Anime Densetsu but they abandoned the project because of the
lack of documents that was written in Japanese. In 1999, Jmigs and Galo
asked Karin to developed DNML. Jmigs wrote some real-world applications for DNML
such as the online examination. Later, the group launched DNML Network
webpage for the international audience. Right now, JMigs is working
a DNML editor similar to MS Frontpage that will be out this
year.
Note: Because a lot of personal problems that I encountered during the
past years, the development was halted. So we will use the old version.
Capabilities:
Since DNML was directly inspired by Leaf's "Visual Novel" series, it can do anything that
was done in those games. On the other hand, it has several unsupported feature to create
full-fledged games. To clear the points out, lets see the feature list below:
You can control how text is displayed (speed, size, font, color...) You can use plugin modules for loading images, allowing you to use almost any kind of image. Even graphics used in commercial games can be used!
It has number of built-in image switching/wiping effect, which should be enough for developing "Visual Novel". All effects used in Leaf's game is available.
It supports CD, WAV files, and several more uncommon formats for sound. It can (sort of) synchronize image and sound, so game with CV (character voice) can be supported.
It's not full programmable, so games like action/shooting can't be done. Nothing is known about animation, though it might support it with proper plugin
module selected. It can automatically/manually save status as "bookmark", allowing you to restart from where you suspended and also keeping flag status.
In another word, DNML can do anything expected for digital booklet with limited
interactivity, but as for full-interactive video game, you shouldn't expect much from it.
.
Who can use DNML?
DNML can use by everybody as long you have a knowledge with HTML ( you can
buy books and some schools are now teaching HTML). Young
individuals ranges 8 years old and above can enhance their talents by
using DNML as a part of their creativity, they can be a:
- Game designer/Programmer
- Artist
- Musician
- Voice actor/actress
- Script Writer
So if your a anime/hentai fan or just want to make a game you can use this excellent programming language.
Who's who?
Get to
know the people who was involved in the project, click here.
Information provided by Puregirl
There will be a DNML discussion here located at the Gamers Paradise Section (you need to register first)
Join and have fun with these forums...you can also PM me here...
Gamer Zaibatsu Forum
FADE Forum
Remaining Forum
Site maintained by jmigs/kamuixtv
Your DNML projects
will be posted here.
Yukiti
A project from DNML Japan.
If
you already have a DNML project please tell it to us then we will post it
here.