Folio Verso is a visual novel game created by Sine Causa team. Though visual novel games are popular all over the world, they are not typical and rather unusual to Russian gaming market. The major peculiarity of the video sequence of the game is that it was created not by means of animation, like in many classical visual novel games, but by means of photography. Using this simple technique we were able to bring more natural emotions to the characters and to enhance the spirit of the game by inserting small video clips between the dialogues. The main character of the game is able to move around, which, however, doesn’t make Folio Verso an adventure or a quest, for cut-scenes should not and will not be controlled by the player. They appear rather like bonuses, showing the player that (s)he’s doing well and allowing him/her to set mouse aside for a bit and enjoy a small break from reading the text and following the game’s story. Text is the main tool for the player of a visual novel, and the game can be controlled mostly through the text window at the bottom of the screen. Thus, the text, i.e. the storyline of the game written on the screen, is the key element of the game and a specific feature of all visual novels. And the video sequence is used to illustrate the events you read about in the text window.
Visual novel game is very much like a book, but with a picture to illustrate each paragraph. And the connection between gaming and literature is obvious if you look at the name of this gaming genre closely. However, the major difference between the two is that interactive visual novel allows the player (or should we say ‘reader’?) to create the story.
For sure, many of us have at least once wanted to change the storyline of our favourite book character, to have a chance to give the character a hint on what to do in a difficult situation or to give him something that he needs badly…

Well, now we have it.

The main character of Folio Verso game is a reporter who has been assigned to write an article on a much talked about issue. He has everything he needs to complete the task successfully: his notebook, voice recorder, photo camera, a number of characters willing to share their information with him and, of course, the player who is ready to help the main character solve the mystery.
Folio Verso provides the player with maximum opportunities to influence the behaviour and the destiny of the main character. Thus, the player can choose the questions the reporter will be asking, the answers the reporter will be giving to other characters and the reporter’s thoughts and conclusions as well. We know nothing about the main character’s temper, his moral or professional qualities, because they all depend on the player’s will. Say something rude? Flatter? Spill coffee in your opponent’s face? Fascinate the girl you liked? You can do that.
Google the issue you need, copy/paste and bring the article to your editor? Yes, it happens sometimes.
Run all over the town, interviewing everyone who knows at least something on the issue? Find out something that nobody should know? Take a risk? You can try it.

One of multiple endings provided by the game will become a decent final chapter for the novel written by the player. Pardon? You don’t like your final chapter? Well, you can always replay. There are no winners and no losers in Folio Verso. There’s only a final chapter that the player reaches through the path of his/her choice.

And remember. It is just a game.

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