Wireframe_-_Issue_23_2019

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A beginner’s guide to Ren’Py

Toolbox

nteractive fiction is an oft-overlooked

genre that hosts some fantastic

games in a wide variety of styles,

from the world of visual novels to

Twine’s hyperlink choose-your-own-

adventures to 4uest’s parser format to 0ulti-

8ser 'ungeons. In Wireframe , we looked

at Twine and how to create your first text

adventure using 6ugar&ube or +arlowe.

This time, we’re going to take a look at an

alternative engine that’s free to download and

similarly easy to use 5en’3y.

WHAT IS REN’PY?

'eveloped by Tom 5othamel and first released

in , 5en’3y provides creators with an easy

to understand engine that uses text, images,

and sounds to create high-Tuality visual novels.

I

With a visual scripting language and 3ython

functionality, 5en’3y can be used to create

straightforward visual novels or complex

simulation games.

In a more direct sense, 5en’3y is the

tool behind thousands of visual novels on

platforms like 6team, itch.io, Android, and i26.

Its popularity is likely because the software

is open source and free for commercial use,

easy to grasp for beginners with no coding

experience, compatible with 3&, /inux, 0ac,

Android, i26, and &hrome 26, is freTuently

updated, and has a large and helpful community.

ENGINE OF CHOICE

If you like visual novels, you’ll likely have played

a 5en’3y game high profile titles like Doki

Doki Literature Club!, Black Closet, and %XtteUȵ\

Creating a visual novel is a snip thanks to the free

engine, Ren’Py. Anna shows you how to get started

A beginner’s

guide to Ren’Py

AUTHOR

ANNA BLACKWELL

Anna Blackwell is a freelance game journalist and hobby

game designer in both the digital and tabletop worlds.

Check her out at blackwellwrites.com

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