White Album (ホワイトアルバム,
Howaito Arubamu?) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Leaf, and was originally released on May 1, 1998 for the PC as a CD-ROM. A PlayStation 3 version published by Aquaplus with several modification and a sequel to the original visual novel, titled
White Album 2: Introductory Chapter, were announced to be released in Winter 2009. The gameplay in
White Album follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters.
White Album has received several transitions to other media. A manga adaptation illustrated by Japanese illustrator Chako Abeno began serialization in the shōnen magazine
Dengeki Daioh in August 2008. It was followed by an anime adaptation produced by Seven Arcs, which began broadcast in Japan on January 3, 2009.
The gameplay in
White Album requires little player interaction as most of the game's duration is spent on reading the text that appears on the screen, which represents either dialogue between the various characters or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Before the beginning of every week in the game's storyline, the player is given the option to plan a schedule, and is allowed to participate in various activities or to take the day off for rest. Different events associated with different characters occur depending on the activities the player chooses to participate. During several of these events, the player will also be given the chance to engage the character in a conversation, where he or she may also pick a topic as the basis of the conversation. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point", where he or she is given the chance to choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time. The time between these points varies and can occur anywhere from a minute to much longer. Text progression pauses at these points and depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress in a specific direction. To view all of the plot lines, the player will need to replay the game multiple times and make different schedules and choices during decision points to progress the plot in an alternate direction.
The player assumes the role of Tōya Fujii (藤井 冬弥,
Fujii Tōya?,
voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno),
White Album's male protagonist. Tōya is a twenty year-old university student in his second year attending the Yūnagi University (悠凪大学,
Yūnagi Daigaku?). He has a timid, yet vulgar personality, and is often unorganized. He often laments the amount of time he has to spend with Yuki Morikawa (森川 由綺,
Morikawa Yuki?,
voiced by: Aya Hirano), whom he is romantically attracted to. Yuki,
White Album's main heroine, is an idol singer rising in popularity, and is affiliated with the Ogata Productions. She has a warm and kindhearted personality, and is in her second year attending university with Tōya, with whom she attended high school together. Rina Ogata (緒方 理奈,
Ogata Rina?,
voiced by: Nana Mizuki), another heroine, is a popular idol singer under the same management agency as Yuki. Rina is elegant and intelligent, and maintains a mutual friendship with Yuki. She is often occupied with work, and becomes attracted to Tōya to compensate her loneliness.
Tōya also meets several other characters throughout the story. Misaki Sawakura (澤倉 美咲,
Sawakura Misaki?,
voiced by: Megumi Takamoto), also a heroine, is a gentle and caring third year university student. She holds an affection towards reading and cooking, and like Yuki, she has attended high school with Tōya prior to commuting to university. Haruka Kawashima (河島 はるか,
Kawashima Haruka?,
voiced by: Nozomi Masu), another heroine, is Tōya's childhood friend since kindergarten, and is in her second year attending university. Haruka is often very quiet and rarely remarks on her surroundings. She is athletic and generally prefer leisure sports such as taking walks, and has once participated in tennis prior to her brother's death. Mana Mizuki (観月 マナ,
Mizuki Mana?,
voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu),
White Album's fifth heroine, is a high school student tutored by Tōya. Mana has an impudent, and aggressive personality. She is antisocial and dislikes interacting with others, to the extent where she at times skips school or refuses Tōya's tutoring sessions.
Source:
Wikipedia 
