I really hate to do this cause I know so many people put a lot of hard work into the cases they design but...
I've returned to the PW scene after about a year when I heard about Perfect Prosecutor, I haven't been around since before case makers actually existed. Now the Ace Attorney fever has set in again and I'm trying to found someway to satiate the hunger I have for Objection based action. All these case makers exist now and I figured, there has got to be something in here.
Erm....
I've tried a few cases so far and, I've been really disappointed. Stories are usually thought through to an extent, and character animations are great, everything that a regular old Ace Attorney game has would be in there, but they all are missing a key component. I play PW games for a few reasons, one being the joy I derive from poking holes in testimony and pretending I'm a lawyer, but the other is the writing. PW games are always written so well and the character's personalities jump right off the screen its so well done.
I know we aren't all professional writers here (I'm not) but every time I crack open a case I'm repulsed(sorry for strong language, I can't think of a synonym) by the writing.
I remember one instance where a character was talking and the dialog included "<.<" and I was like, "emoticons, seriously?" Some of the witness statements are just, "It was a blunt object that killed him, We found his blood on the weapon, it happened at 4 O'clock." I can't stand it!
I'm really sorry if I'm stepping on toes here because I know a lot goes into these things and writing can easily be overlooked, but as a franchise, the writing of PW is what has kept it afloat all these years, and thats what I'm looking for.
So my point, is there any game that stands out for excellent writing? One that, whilst playing, you forgot you were using a fan based game and it felt like a real PW game?
Thats really what I'm looking for.
Fire away!

I'm putting a lot of effort into that department, as I'm sure many others are. However, there is one thing you must remember: Longer, more drawn-out cases are still in development. It takes several weeks (perhaps months) to produce a fangame whose caliber is on par with actual PW cases. Mine won't be finished 'til November, at least, and I started in April (albeit, I've had breaks and haven't focused 100% of my attention on it.). But there will be Phoenix/Maya banter galore, among other things.

---

If you understand german, maybe this game would be interesting, since the english patch isn't finished yet.

Phoenix Wright - Hidden Traces

I still hope, that the english translation won't be canceled.

Comming up with a good case, and commit it to a casemaker is no easy task. Not all good ideas are simple to lay out.
There are good games out like the Hidden Traces.

---

You're absolutely right.
By the way, although English isn't my native language, I'm putting a lot of effort into the writing process of my own fangame.

---

I really expected to get burned on this, but I guess not. Thanks a lot guys, your positive words have actually inspired me to start my own fan case. Its my turn to take a crack at it.

No, it won't get cancelled, I just currently cannot progress. I have no translator.

---

I just hope it's not another CM3...

---

Nope - he's posting status updates. MB only ever posted news in the CM3 topic.

---

I'd like to point out that it's not just the big game projects that can be well written or good practice. That's why I'm trying to inspire some of the community to try 1-casers. When it all gets more established I hope to hold that challenge I posponed ages back, that might help :)

---

THANK you. I completely agree. Some of the contradictions/logic, not to mention the dialog, feels really bad. I don't want to make anyone feel bad because it's definitely hard, but we should probably start conducting lessons for making good cases. I feel like my own case that I've written might have better writing than some of the others out there, but I acquiesce that I completely fail when it comes to commitment, or getting others to help make it a reality.

---

Oh, agreed, no question. It's just that with the release of so many casemakers, what better opportunity to make something long-lasting than a series of cases?

That being said, I simply don't have the drive for something like that, so I will be sticking to just one for now.

---

Yeah, that's what's been said on the other topics. The thing is, to get big things done right takes time. And generally, you'll want to do something different before you go out your mind. I think 1casers are a good way to refresh your brain. XD I mean, that's part of why writers make short stories.

Oh, that reminds me. I've got to plan my case 'Bullet for my Turnabout' (It's nothing to do with the band, don't worry. XD It's a case set on Valentines day.)

---

Sounds interesting. Have you decided on a Defense Attorney, Prosecutor, victim, and criminal yet?

Oh, and you play TF2? :D

---

None of those. I just know the defendent. XD

---

I admit, writing a case is difficult, we just have to be aware of some of the few key aspects that keep us drawn to the Gyakuten Saiban series. It was something I realized when I got three select individuals to read over my cases script so far.

Humor. Epic Moments. And individual personalities.

Humor has always been present in the series and has always been cleverly added in here and there to lighten the mood a little whenever the need be, although it also ties in with the individuals personalities also.

Epic moments, typically this is referring to the "I've got you now!" parts when you're about to win, but there are other moments also I can't recall any off the top of my head right now... Unless you call..

Individual personalities, this is quite a strong point for writing of the cases. You have to remember each character has a personality that you have to remain true to, this is why I generally refrain from things that make permanent changes to the official characters, simply because I do not feel it is right for us to change how they would act by our own experience. Because how can we be sure it would be how they would act? I cannot stress enough that you have to be cautious to how characters act and feel about things. For example in a fan case, all of a sudden Phoenix is as cold and ruthless as Von Karma. Could you personally enjoy a case where Phoenix had become that? Even with a perfectly reasonable explanation from the storyteller, I wouldn't be able, because it's not how he would act.


p.s If you like TF2, perhaps you should consider Checking out GamersLan's server?

---

Last edited by DDRKhat on Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

Well, I'd like to think of myself as a decent writer. You should keep your eye on my fangame. I find that there's a lot more room for creativity when designing cases when using entirely your own characters.

It's a struggle every step of the way. Coming up with the cases (contradictions, events ect.), making the sprites and such, but I'm determined to make it, even if I have to rewrite the cases dozens of times :D

Even running a fan-trial online, where the players can supply some of the personality, is hard. Running one-player cases over AIM is pretty fun, but translating them into a playable, fair game is a major challenge.

---