Do you seek innovation?
A few days ago, IGN had an audio discussion on whether video game fans are interested in innovative games, or whether they want refinements on the same old high-budget multi-million sellers. (You can find it here: http://games.ign.com/articles/121/1211794p1.html )
This problem seems evident in video games right now, since the games with the most hype are entries in established series. It's certainly not a problem unique to games. Think of how many movie sequels, remakes, and adaptations there have been. Consider how many books, TV series, comics, and visual novels can be called derivative. Yes, there's reasons to be concerned about rehashes and sameness.
On the other hand, is lack of originality really that much of a problem? After the cut, a few TVTropes references will be made, and a question or two will be asked.
Twain's Observation On Originality reminds us that it's possible to fail both in terms of selling the audience the same old stuff and in terms of innovation.
Cliche Storm is not necessarily bad or good... it's subjective. Sometimes a rote genre exercise can be tremendously appealing.
Sturgeon's Law is pretty much true everywhere. And depending who you ask, there are some media forms/categories/styles where more than ninety percent is crud.
It's not exactly bad to Follow the Leader. At least some of the problem is rooted in how the audience reacts. People outside the fandom might only see a string of cheap imitations. After a while, even dedicated fans might start to label things as bad knockoffs.
And I'm struggling to remember the trope name, but there's a tendency in all types of media where the only people who make the product are established fans, and they only sell their products to fellow veteran fans. There's gradually less diverse material, and stuff which might attract new people, or people who have become disillusioned. In this way, the fanbase slowly shrinks.
...That said, in terms of visual novels, what do you look for? Can you forgive a dull-to-average premise if there's quality writing/art/music/gameplay? Are you more interested in avant-garde ideas, and you're willing to forgive zero-budget production values? Do you fall somewhere in the middle?
Also, what are you willing to buy? Will you be more likely to purchase a VN based its high production values, even if there's not much new about its story or presentation? Do you buy experimental indie/doujin VNs? Or is there some other factor?
This problem seems evident in video games right now, since the games with the most hype are entries in established series. It's certainly not a problem unique to games. Think of how many movie sequels, remakes, and adaptations there have been. Consider how many books, TV series, comics, and visual novels can be called derivative. Yes, there's reasons to be concerned about rehashes and sameness.
On the other hand, is lack of originality really that much of a problem? After the cut, a few TVTropes references will be made, and a question or two will be asked.
Twain's Observation On Originality reminds us that it's possible to fail both in terms of selling the audience the same old stuff and in terms of innovation.
Cliche Storm is not necessarily bad or good... it's subjective. Sometimes a rote genre exercise can be tremendously appealing.
Sturgeon's Law is pretty much true everywhere. And depending who you ask, there are some media forms/categories/styles where more than ninety percent is crud.
It's not exactly bad to Follow the Leader. At least some of the problem is rooted in how the audience reacts. People outside the fandom might only see a string of cheap imitations. After a while, even dedicated fans might start to label things as bad knockoffs.
And I'm struggling to remember the trope name, but there's a tendency in all types of media where the only people who make the product are established fans, and they only sell their products to fellow veteran fans. There's gradually less diverse material, and stuff which might attract new people, or people who have become disillusioned. In this way, the fanbase slowly shrinks.
...That said, in terms of visual novels, what do you look for? Can you forgive a dull-to-average premise if there's quality writing/art/music/gameplay? Are you more interested in avant-garde ideas, and you're willing to forgive zero-budget production values? Do you fall somewhere in the middle?
Also, what are you willing to buy? Will you be more likely to purchase a VN based its high production values, even if there's not much new about its story or presentation? Do you buy experimental indie/doujin VNs? Or is there some other factor?