Introduction to Visual Novels
If your first response to that headline was “what are these words, and why are they being put in that order?” that’s understandable. The present discourse taking place in the Japanese gaming community is centered around a genre we don’t often discuss: the visual novel. Let’s take a look at the recent debate surrounding this genre, sparked by an incident earlier this month.
The Incident: Apathy Murder Club and Streamer Controversy
Earlier this month, Takiya Iijima, the author and developer of the visual novel ‘Apathy Murder Club,’ announced he would be taking legal action against a streamer. This individual had violated a request on the game’s Steam page, which implored players not to stream the game until August 8. We are here because that didn’t happen. While game companies typically allow their products to be freely livestreamed as a form of advertising, the situation is different for visual novels in Japan.
The Crux of the Issue
Visual novels are often likened more to books or movies than games. If you watch someone play a traditional game, you miss out on much of the experience. In contrast, watching a visual novel is akin to experiencing the whole story. This leads to stricter attitudes towards streaming. Last year, someone was arrested and charged in Japan for posting clips of a visual novel online. Given this context, it’s not entirely unreasonable for developers, especially smaller ones, to want to protect their intellectual property by restricting streaming.
Community and Industry Reactions
The conversation surrounding Iijima’s initial tweets has grown enough in Japan that Takuro Mizobe, CEO of Pocketpair (developers of ‘Palworld’), felt compelled to weigh in. As reported and translated by Automaton, Mizobe is largely sympathetic to Iijima. He remarked that the debacle was “caused by an individual with poor manners.” While Mizobe acknowledged that most content creators do follow rules, he stressed the importance of mutual respect between developers and players.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the controversy highlights the unique challenges faced by visual novel developers in the digital age. Agreements like the one on the Steam page seem like a reasonable compromise to protect the story-heavy nature of these games. As streaming continues to grow, it will be crucial for creators and players to navigate these nuanced issues with respect and understanding.
