The game developer of Yandere Simulator discusses the game's protagonist, Yandere-chan, and how her character was intentionally designed to be simple and emotionless to avoid criticism and focus on gameplay. The developer shares their thought process behind Yandere-chan's backstory and personality, including her condition that makes her feel empty and her obsession with Senpai. They also consider alternative characterizations, such as making Yandere-chan a girl who has felt unfulfilled her entire life, and how this could add depth to the character. The developer emphasizes that the game's story and characters are still in development and that they value community feedback in shaping the game's narrative.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The game developer quit their job at a video game company in July 2013 to pursue their dream of becoming an independent game developer.
2. The developer spent 2013 and 2014 coming up with game ideas and pitching them to various message boards.
3. The developer was frustrated when discussions about their game ideas focused on story and characters rather than gameplay.
4. Yandere Simulator was initially well-received, but discussions turned to complaints about the protagonist and premise when the developer added story cutscenes.
5. The developer decided to make the main character a "blank slate" with no past, backstory, interests, hobbies, or personality.
6. The main character was initially called "Yandere-chan" and was intended to be a simple avatar who carried out the player's orders.
7. The developer wanted to minimize complaints about the game by not providing a reason for the main character's emotionlessness or Senpai's ability to unlock her emotions.
8. The word "Yandere" comes from the Japanese words "Yanderu" (mentally ill) and "Deredere" (lovestruck).
9. The developer did not intend to create a masterpiece and initially expected only a few hundred people to play the game.
10. The developer thought they would work on the game for about 8 months and release it with a simple gameplay mechanic.
11. The game's popularity exceeded the developer's expectations, and they consider changing the protagonist's character but are hesitant due to established expectations.
12. The developer has come up with a backstory for Yandere-chan's mother, grandmother, and ancestors, as well as an explanation for Senpai's specialness.
13. The developer intends to deliver a good story despite the main character's simplicity.
14. The game's characters will have varying levels of complexity and depth.
15. The developer encourages feedback and is open to refining and polishing their ideas based on community input.