So about a year ago, 4chan released a videogame. What? What yous aaay?
Yeah, 4chan, the hive of the internet, got together their artists, game programmers, music makers, and whatnot, and made a video game. And not just any video game, a 20+ hour long visual novel with four plus writers.
With a team consisting of 20 plus members, it was the first project of its kind. And the game was free. No cost to anybody, and was a fan creation based on the last page of a doujin. A doujin artist said in a page "I'd totally play a game called Katawa Shojou where you could date disabled girls!". And so 4chan answered years later.
After 5 years in development, Katawa Shojou was released in 2011. And 4chan, and the general internet exploded. It was everywhere. Even here on Bungie.net. Everyone was talking about 4chan and this game and the scale of the project.
The game itself? Great. Although the writing is not as good as an average novel, you really can't beat the price of free. And you can't say you've ever played a videogame where you date crippled girls. It was unique. And damn was it good. At least...if you went the right routes.
The general consensus is that of the 5 "routes" (paths you can take in the story), Hanako (burnt face) and Rin (no arms) have the best writing, and the most compelling stories. Then it goes Lilly (blind girl), Emi (no legs), and Shizune (deaf/mute) in dead last. I went Hanako's route, and probably like many people, I even shed a tear. I wouldn't be the first person to shed a tear for a game, although that's how deep the story was.
Some people on the internet though took the game way too seriously. Videos were posted on the internet of people actually in love with the characters from the game, going as far as to post youtube videos literally CRYING while confessing their love to a fictional character.
And now, a year later? Nobody really talks about the game anymore, which means it's a good time to look to the past. I might replay it. I never did any other route, only Hanako's, so I have no idea what the other routes are. Have you played it? Thoughts? Routes? No spoilers here, thanks.
[Edited on 12.03.2012 12:35 AM PST]