During their industry panel at Otakon 2014 earlier today, international visual novel localizer and publisher MangaGamer announced their acquisition of Minori’s visual novel *Eden.
This acquisition is for two different versions of the visual novel, the first being “eden*” which will be an all-ages release, and the second being “eden* plus mosaic”. Eden* Plus Mosaic will contain all the content present in the all-ages edition plus some additional adult content (ie. sex scenes) and a bit more blood in others. If the title didn’t give it away, there will be mosaics covering up the naughty bits in the 18+ release.
No release date has been confirmed for either edition…. but wait continue reading to hear about something ambitious that MangaGamer and Minori are teaming up to work on.
eden* is a tale set just before the apocalypse, after most of humanity has been evacuated to outer space. One of the few soldiers left on Earth, the expert sniper Ryou is assigned to a remote research facility to guard the most important person on a dying Earth. She is the engineer behind the spaceships that saved humanity, a genetically modified breed of human that possesses incredible intelligence: The supreme felix, Sion.
At this odd research facility, Ryou will encounter a polite, if at times suggestive maid, an outspoken and beautiful partner who -loves- using knives, and a major who he would just as soon kill due to their tragic past. What awaits Ryou in this place?
Screenshot Time!
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Eden* is not just a visual novel acquisition which MangaGamer plans to publish, make money on and then forget about it. With plans to release Eden* on the Steam service, the publisher have a goal of earning $100,000 in profit. Should they achieve this feat, the funds will go towards the localization of Minori’s visual novel Supipara.
Some people who have been following Minori might recall that Supipara was a grand project for the studio which sought to extend it over several chapters. Unfortunately it failed in the Japanese market and was discontinued. Claiming that this is a time for Western Visual Novel fans to “prove to Japan that there is a strong market for Visual Novels here in the West” and have a “chance to revolutionize the industry”, MangaGamer have said that if Eden* and Supipara: Chapter 1 are successful, it will help fuel further development of Supipara.
Minori is working closely with MangaGamer on this project, and should the “development plan” succeed with good sales, the chapters will be released in western markets before making their way to Japan. This will be one of the first occasions where a visual novel developed by a Japanese company will be released here before Japan (or at least chapters of a visual novel series).
Who knows…. it may also lead to other localization projects in the future.
Supipara – Alice the Magical Conductor. is an interactive novel themed around “dynamicism” depicted by rallying all of the production techniques minori has accumulated to date. Character portraits have expressions and hair that move, show gestures such as turning around, and even display subtle changes in emotion, making it feel like you’re actually talking to the characters!
The protagonist, Yukinari Sanada, has returned to his hometown in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura City, for the first time in seven years, and is greeted by his older cousin, Sakura Narumi (complete with maid outfit). He wanted to live in peace, but his life at the academy placed on the coastlands becomes bustling and brilliant while surrounded by the a lineup of members with booming personalities like Hotaru Amano, the sharp tongued, half-Japanese beauty, and Alice Kamishiro, the lazy witch who loves modern-science and mail-orders.
Eventually, our protagonist is coaxed into joining the action committee for the academy’s traditional beauty contest by his close friend. He interacts with the heroines participating in this contest who are cute but each have an idiocyncrasy or two. Fun events (with their own difficulties) pop up again and again. Your story with “her” about smiles, peace, passion, and love, all while borrowing the power of a witch, is about to begin!
Should it be released, Supipara – Alice the Magical Conductor will be released via the MangaGamer Official Store and Steam.
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