Touhou Project

[Moekou]

Here's to the marvel that is Touhou Project! Somehow visual novels and Touhou seem to go hand in hand and most of the visual novel fans I know also love Touhou!

What is Touhou Project? It is series of doujin bullet-hell shooter games by a one-man team called Team Shanghai Alice that has attracting an unprecedented amount of fan creation. Thanks to the creator ZUN's lax attitude towards fanworks, they've popped up by the millions. The fanworks span just about everything, from manga to games to music remixes. You can find out more about it here!

What are people's speculations for the upcoming Touhou 13.5-Hopeless Masquerade?

[ElectroNick]

Not sure about visual novel fans and Touhou fans going hand in hand. Most of the crossover is secondary fans who only like everything surrounding Touhou and not the games themselves (not necessarily a bad thing although it can be at times). I can't blame them though, the games can get frantic and hard and they have a very steep learning curve. I enjoy how thrilling they can be and I always end up shouting "OHHHHHHHHH...DAMNIT/YES!" on just about every boss.

The Touhou franchise is pretty normal by shooter standards. The only thing that really makes the games rise above the others is the mystical setting and phenomenal soundtracks. I've played plenty of shooters and I think its time for Touhou to actually step up and get on the level of some of the newer shooters. In terms of graphics and gameplay. Ten Desires was very disappointing for me. At least Touhou hasn't delved into some of the creepier games like Let’s Go! Burunyanman Portable. That one was tough to stomach.

I enjoy the music remixes a whole bunch. Especially the Jazz remixes by Swing Holic, and the Tokyo Active Neets.

[ilegend]

Here's to the marvel that is Touhou Project! Somehow visual novels and Touhou seem to go hand in hand and most of the visual novel fans I know also love Touhou!

What is Touhou Project? It is series of doujin bullet-hell shooter games by a one-man team called Team Shanghai Alice that has attracting an unprecedented amount of fan creation. Thanks to the creator ZUN's lax attitude towards fanworks, they've popped up by the millions. The fanworks span just about everything, from manga to games to music remixes. You can find out more about it here!

What are people's speculations for the upcoming Touhou 13.5-Hopeless Masquerade?

Nice, the 4th fighting game for the touhou series. Can't wait to try it out

[Guest]

Except he also restricts commercial use of HIS franchise (as though somehow touhou can still be completely HIS) such as refusing commercial anime adaptations and preventing erotic adaptations of HIS characters (even though ppl make them anyway).

[trhvmn]

Oh yay, Touhou. I've played some of the games before and enjoyed them considerably, though since I kind of suck at shmups I end up being the person that just prefers to check the fan works out instead. I especially like some of the comedy doujins... and I'm actually listening to some of Shibayan Records' remixes right now too.

Regarding 13.5, it's looking pretty interesting, and I might check it out, since it seems like it'll be pretty different from the previous fighters. I just hope Meiling stay in.

[harry_kinomoto]

Not sure about visual novel fans and Touhou fans going hand in hand. Most of the crossover is secondary fans who only like everything surrounding Touhou and not the games themselves... I can't blame them though, the games can get frantic and hard and they have a very steep learning curve.

I must say I find it quite remarkable that by including very little storyline content the series has shot to popularity solely because that very lack of information has created flexible, mouldable characters that fans can use. There's probably 2 types of Touhou fans as a result: the gamers and the so-called "secondaries". Though I probably wouldn't use that word because the fanworks produced are still unmistakeably Touhou, no matter how much the purists whine about how far they've deviated from "canon". Of course, this is coming from someone who's crap at the games, and I blame nothing but my horrendous reaction times B)

Except he also restricts commercial use of HIS franchise (as though somehow touhou can still be completely HIS) such as refusing commercial anime adaptations and preventing erotic adaptations of HIS characters (even though ppl make them anyway).

I've heard many arguments for and against this line and my current stand is that he's implementing these as guidelines and not rules he'll go out of his way to impose. Personally I feel his stand on copyright seems a good compromise that both enables

while safeguarding his work from being taken in a direction he doesn't like (eg by restricting porn). At the very least, he's not doing what Disney does - who's all rather draconian about it and suing everyone just for even mentioning their works before they first get paid!

[Moekou]

Oh, what are some of people's favorite characters and doujins, and why? Although it's hard to choose since there are so many!

Also I'm currently following the wrestling 4koma Touhou Tag Dream, which is perhaps the longest running Touhou 4koma or at least one of them. Finally the conclusion looms after almost a thousand strips!

Except he also restricts commercial use of HIS franchise (as though somehow touhou can still be completely HIS) such as refusing commercial anime adaptations and preventing erotic adaptations of HIS characters (even though ppl make them anyway).

Isn't the first part a good thing though? ZUN didn't want to make Touhou into a commercialized intellectual property since that could result in a stifling of fanwork by middlemen. He just wants to make his games and sell them in person at conventions.

Unfortunately, it appears to have cost him, because apparently since he never registered Touhou Project as an trademark, some random golddigger recently registered it and the Japan Patent Office rejected ZUN's objection because the registration did not break any of the trademark laws, according to this article.

Also, did he really say he'll restrict ero? Because I remember hearing that people thought that but they misinterpreted his words and he specifically wrote another post to clarify he didn't mean it like that.

[Saber]

nah I don't think ZUN not allowed an anime adaptation because he wants to protect his works since I'm sure he realize most of his success comes from the heavy fanbase for touhou. In my opinion, it is more into the line of him wanting to develop the characters further perhaps or maybe wait for the right time? I could be wrong of course but that's what I think anyway

[Guest]

So with public domain items, any commercial entity can create a touhou anime adaptation if they so want to. and that is separate from the stifling of fan or non-fan work. Just as you can create a touhou work so I can create a touhou work. i guess competing in a free market is asking too much from the Japanese anime industry...

Moekou: oh right didnt know

[ElectroNick]

If he was smart he would monetize his product on a larger level. Money is the name of the game folks. Just think if a Touhou game had the budget of say a Cave game (not sure on either but Cave games look more well produced). Better art could just be the start.

[harry_kinomoto]

Oh, what are some of people's favorite characters and doujins, and why? Although it's hard to choose since there are so many!

Burnt Croquette's Be Happy strongly recommended for Mokou/Kaguya fans! Downloadable from Touhou Wiki HERE

My last recorded favourites were Byakuren, Hina and Kogasa - though I'd much rather not choose favourites and say I love them all <3

Also, have a Moko-tan :3

If he was smart he would monetize his product on a larger level. Money is the name of the game folks. Just think if a Touhou game had the budget of say a Cave game (not sure on either but Cave games look more well produced). Better art could just be the start.

Not everything in this world can be bought with money! Trying to make something better by spending money on it often has the opposite effect

[ElectroNick]

If I had such a big property I would monetize it and live like a king with disregard to the fanbase. Creative control is important if you have artistic vision, but money is money. And money is always nice.

[harry_kinomoto]

While I can definitely see where you’re coming from, money is worth only as much as what it lets you do.

Money could get the top developers to work on your game, a big house with servants to wait on your every need, and the finest, most expensive gifts for your spouse and kids.

However, it will not get you is the satisfaction of growing your own project, the loyalty of your team of devs, the satisfaction that comes from a simple meal with friends, or the warmth of a loving family whom you were there to support.

Creature comforts can be nice and living like a king definitely does have its perks, but there are still times where I’d prefer my dirt-poor life any day~

On topic: like Reimu

[Saber]

If it's a favourite, that's a tough choice. But I think that in the end, it has to be sakuya for me

[Moekou]

For me, I first learned about Touhou way back when I was a Higurashi fan and mistook Marisa Stole the Precious Thing for a Satoko video! When I searched "Touhou" on YouTube a video of the fight against Mokou was the first option and really drew me in. After a while Mokou became my favorite character. She's usually quiet like me but likes helping people who are lost.

But Byakuren became my co-favorite when UFO came out because she's such a kind big sister character! I like nice people! ^^

I just got caught up on The Wild and Horned Hermit today. So does everyone think Kasen is an oni?

[Saber]

For me, I first learned about Touhou way back when I was a Higurashi fan and mistook Marisa Stole the Precious Thing for a Satoko video! When I searched "Touhou" on YouTube a video of the fight against Mokou was the first option and really drew me in. After a while Mokou became my favorite character. She's usually quiet like me but likes helping people who are lost.

But Byakuren became my co-favorite when UFO came out because she's such a kind big sister character! I like nice people! ^^

I just got caught up on The Wild and Horned Hermit today. So does everyone think Kasen is an oni?

I like the story of mokou as well, and the long, long, LONG rivalry of her and Kaguya. They got me to research the whole Kaguya hime story in the end, and it was worth it~

I also like Byakuren, and how she is kind of human. Most of my top 10 are humans or mostly humans. Moving on, I believe Kasen is a hermit or a sage or something along that line correct? I have read only up to a certain part of that manga. I have read many doujin of touhou as well, but because of that, I can't remember most of their names either. It really impress me again and again, how powerful the fanbase of touhou is.

[Moekou]

Well, Kasen claims to be a hermit, but since the beginning I and many other fans have speculated that she is in fact the third Deva of the Mountain, alongside Suika and Yuugi. The way she ran away and hid herself from Suika in the manga further aroused suspicions, to the point it seems like the obvious conclusion.

Kasen Ibaraki is seen wearing chains, an oni fashion, and is most likely named after Ibaraki-douji, Shutendouji's adoptive son and apparently in some versions of the mythology, wife. Note that Shutendouji was known as Ibuki-douji, aka Suika, who ruled over the four devas of the mountain, including Hoshiguma-douji (Yuugi).

And of course, the title of the manga is The Wild and HORNED Hermit.

We'll have to wait for her to strip off those little buns!

[Saber]

yes, I'm aware of that speculation as well. But for now, she's a hermit~

and I can't wait for the next manpukuninja anime they're going to do. Supposedly, it should be release this month

[okami55]

I must shamefully admit that I have never played the Touhou games before. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the Touhou games? Are they sold online?

[Saber]

if you want to get them legally (that is buying them) you have to go to sites like Jlist. Otherwse, there are plenty of places where you can download them

[okami55]

if you want to get them legally (that is buying them) you have to go to sites like Jlist. Otherwse, there are plenty of places where you can download them

Thank You.

[Rirai]

Give me my drunken loli and I'm set for life

I'll also take Remilia :3 She's awesome in Hisoutensoku

[Kaguya]

Double Dealing Character is out!!!!!!!! Get ready for the Danmaku! I was waiting for it from such a long time!

Sakuya is also back. Awesomeness X2

My fav touhou character should be clear because of my avatar~

[Eurobeatz]

Touhou is awesome. Does anyone here listen to the Toho Eurobeat music series by A-One? T. Stebbins in particular makes some amazing remixes.

[Kaguya]

Touhou is awesome. Does anyone here listen to the Toho Eurobeat music series by A-One? T. Stebbins in particular makes some amazing remixes.

Never heard of it, but I'll listen to it.

On another note, Embodiment of Scarlet Devil in a Shellnut:

So true.