Get the fuck outta here with your stupid dream sequences.

[hakarlman]

That's right. If you're a developer of a game, DON'T add sex dream sequences. All the sexual scenarios in the game should be presented as actually happening, not a dream sequence. The fact that the dream represents an event that hasn't happened is a TURN OFF.

Let's say the main protagonist's name is Harold. Harold likes a character named Stacy. You don't need to show a dream sequence of Harold fucking Stacy. Get that stupid idea out of your head. Just having Harold seduce her like normal, with some teasing here and there.

Sorry, I had to vent. These stupid dream sequences have ruined so many games. Tired of it.

REPEAT THIS TO YOURSELF: "Dream sequences are not happening, and if they're not actually happening, then it's NOT a turn on".

A sex dream sequence basically means you're a lazy developer who cant' come up with something creative or original. DON'T DO IT. FIGHT THE URGE. DON'T DO IT. You know what would be better? JUST BE HONEST with your patreons and tell them you're out of ideas. Your patreons will be gladly to help you out of your creativity slump.

EDIT: I'm an old guy. I come from an old generation of tough love, in your face kind of arguments, with the hopes of finding a solution through rigorous debate. Today's generation doesn't understand the concept of learning through opposition. So if this post upsets you, don't get upset, it's only meant to come on strong in the hopes of stirring up a no holds barred debate, to fix the problem.

 

[Adabelitoo]

I imagine some dev must be reading this and thinking "Oh shit! I have to remove all the dream sequences of my game just because this random guy is mad at them"...

I much prefer not dream sequence than dream sequence, but if not overused and with an actual meaning/idea behind them, they can be a good way to move the plot forward. If Harold never had feelings for Stacy, his neighboor/childhood friend, and he suddenly has a dream with her and he starts thinking "Hey wait, do I love her?" and he changes his attitude after that, I'll think the dream scene was completely justified.

 

[hakarlman]

I imagine some dev must be reading this and thinking "Oh shit! I've to remove all the dream sequences of my game just because this random guy is mad at them"...

Dream sequences can easily be re-used mid to late game, and presented as actually happening; not a dream. So it's very easy to re-use dream sequences as actual in game events, so the mistake is salvageable.

So the developer doesn't have to remove them, just present them as actually happening, not a dream.

I much prefer not dream sequence than dream sequence.

Agreed.

I much prefer not dream sequence than dream sequence, but if not overused and with an actual meaning/idea behind them, they can be a good way to move the plot forward. If Harold never had feelings for Stacy, her neighboor/childhood friend, and he suddenly has dream with her and he starts thinking "Hey wait, do I love her?" and he changes his attitude after that, I'll think the dream scene was completely justified.

The dream sequence you just proposed between Harold and Stacy is not about sex, but if he loves her or not. That is a good example of proper writing. So in your case, I would be accepting of the non-sexual dream sequence, because it reveals Harold subconsciously always loved Stacy. Very rarely do I see dream sequences implemented properly though. I'd say for every 10 dream sequences, only one developer actually knows what he's doing. So in the context you just described, it'd totally work.

On a side note, I really like your recent poll, nice!

 

[Adabelitoo]

The dream sequence you just proposed between Harold and Stacy is not about sex, but if he loves her or not. That is a good example of proper writing. So in your case, I would be accepting of the non-sexual dream sequence, because it reveals Harold subconsciously always loved Stacy. Very rarely do I see dream sequences implemented properly though. I'd say for every 10 dream sequences, only one developer actually knows what he's doing. So in the context you just described, it'd totally work.

I meant Harold dreams about Stacy but they have sex in the dream. Maybe Harold or Stacy say some romantic things to each other that seems uncharacteristic for them at that point of the story and those things is what will make Harold think "Wait, what?" the next day, but they say it while having sex.

As a personal idea as a dev, I'd make them like 3/4 times shorter than a not dream sequence sex scene, keeping them strong and right to the point.

 

[hakarlman]

I meant Harold dreams about Stacy but they have sex in the dream. Maybe Harold or Stacy say some romantic things to each other that seems uncharacteristic for them at that point of the story and those things is what will make Harold think "Wait, what?" the next day, but they say it while having sex.

As a personal idea as a dev, I'd make them like 3/4 times shorter than a not dream sequence sex scene, keeping them strong and right to the point.

IMO, the first sex scene between Harold (MC) and Stacy should be actually happening, and not a dream sequence.

Hear me out. What if you made a dream sequence where Harold and Stacy love each other, but the dream ends right before the sex happens? THAT would be clever, because you leave the player with wanting more. The player would want to have sex with her even more so, and will be even more driven to seduce and fuck Stacy, because the dream served as a tease/buildup.

So using dream sequence as a potential buildup and tease, that sounds okay to me. The player wakes up in the game, and the dream just teased them, and they're like, "I"M GONNA GO OUT AND SEDUCE STACY THEN TELL HER I LOVE HER!"

Shoot right back if you want though. I want to dig deep into why sex dream sequences are good or bad. So I'm open to back and forth debate.

 

[Adabelitoo]

IMO, the first sex scene between Harold (MC) and Stacy should be actually happening, and not a dream sequence.

Hear me out. What if you made a dream sequence where Harold and Stacy love each other, but the dream ends right before the sex happens? THAT would be clever, because you leave the player with wanting more. The player would want to have sex with her even more so, and will be even more driven to seduce and fuck Stacy, because the dream served as a tease/buildup.

So using dream sequence as a potential buildup and tease, that sounds okay to me. The player wakes up in the game, and the dream just teased them, and they're like, "I"M GONNA GO OUT AND SEDUCE STACY THEN TELL HER I LOVE HER!"

Shoot right back if you want though. I want to dig deep into why sex dream sequences are good or bad. So I'm open to back and forth debate.

It isn't bad or wrong, but it gets to the point where it's just personal preference for the dev/player really quick. Sex in dreams doesn't ruin nor replace sex outside dreams for me, it's clearly different for you.

If Harold is already decided to seduce and win Stacy after just a little teasing, without knowing any details about that story, I'd feel like it's rushed as hell, but if that's how the dev wants to make it then okay, I'll join for the ride or drop the game if I'm not interested.

 

[Ying Ko]

An example of a dream sequence done right, it conveys the protagonist's inner turmoil but doesn't give up the goods.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[Hagatagar]

Sexual dream sequences are legitimate methods, but should be used reasonably, like in the scenario described by Adabelitoo.
However, dreams are used by too many devs as a cheap way to have early sex scenes (without the characters being in that kind of relationship yet).

It's worse when the dev treats these dreams like every other sex scene and especially if the player doesn't realize until after the scene is over that it was just a dream.
This is poor writing. But this is to be expected, since almost no devs are real writers.

 

[rayminator]

looks like someone never had a wet dream in his life

if you don't like those types of game then don't play them

 

[MarshmallowCasserole]

REPEAT THIS TO YOURSELF: "Dream sequences are not happening, and if they're not actually happening, then it's NOT a turn on".

(At the risk of coming off glib) As opposed to the other scenes in the game actually happening and not being... fiction?

Maybe it's because I can name exactly one game I've played that had strictly pornographic dream sequences—and I generally enjoyed them. So I can't exactly relate to being fed up with them, but in general, it's a framing device and none of known framing devices are bad in on themselves. Like if we want to talk about framing devices, FUCKING HATE lore dumping + POV changes. "The demon lord sits on his throne and plots... He is evil and his smile is cruel. A woman is sucking his turgid cock." UHHHHHGGGHH.

Obviously, using DS as a crutch, and also using writing that's misleading and not signaling that it's a dream either through writing or setup is a bad idea, and leads to justified frustration. But I guarantee bad writers won't become significantly better by following the easy advice "no dream sequences!"

 

[whizwart]

" I come from an old generation of tough love, in your face kind of arguments, with the hopes of finding a solution through rigorous debate. Today's generation doesn't understand the concept of learning through opposition. "

Now now, lets not get cranky. Here, lets put on something familiar from your day that you'll enjoy:

 

[Banality]

oh no! there is fictional sex in a PORNGAME that's not reality.....
How do people come up with this kind of brainfarts???

 

[Penis Parker]

oh no! there is fictional sex in a PORNGAME that's not reality.....
How do people come up with this kind of brainfarts???

Bruh.

These sex dream sequences fucking the tension between characters.

If I already see love interest's nude body in dream sequences, and also fucked in dream sequences, what the hell is just waiting for me in next update?

Faggot dev already give the everything with dream sequences, fucked the experience, because I already see the fucking merchandise in dream sequences, why am I need to wait for another update?

 

[Meaning Less]

Are they lazy? yes
Do they bother me? not really

Mostly because they enable a developer to be more creative without much effort, often you see them being used not to spoil the sex but actually to show another side of that character that isn't going to be seen outside of the dream sequence.

In those cases you are able to unlock unique CGs that would be harder to write-in storywise depending on the game.

 

[Rafster]

If the dream makes sense in that point of the game, why not? it's a sex scene like any other.

As with everything, all depends on context.

 

[Banality]

Bruh.

These sex dream sequences fucking the tension between characters.

If I already see love interest's nude body in dream sequences, and also fucked in dream sequences, what the hell is just waiting for me in next update?

Faggot dev already give the everything with dream sequences, fucked the experience, because I already see the fucking merchandise in dream sequences, why am I need to wait for another update?

okayyyyy.... so your goal in those games are one-night-stands only. Saw her, fucked her, NEXT?
Well... how about thinking of a dream sequence as a little appetizer, because you won't get the "real thing" until next two updates?
But kinda cool you are so story focused. Most players just click trough games to get to the hot scenes. But you are willing to wait. respect

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

If the dream makes sense in that point of the game, why not? it's a sex scene like any other.

It's not though. The whole point of playing a porn game is that we don't just want to watch random sex scenes because "ooga booga, me see boobies, me likey." For a sex scene to be hot and rewarding in a game, I need to know and like the characters and there needs to be some form of chase or buildup to it. That doesn't mean I want to be strung along for two years with titty flashes and a handjob, but it also can't happen too fast. Dream sex spoils this progression, it shows the goods before it would make sense in the story for quick and cheap gratification (for someone, presumably,) so the actual first sex with that character will seem less special.

 

[DummyDelta]

*Looks at his own game*

Oh my. It seems I'm in danger.

So in danger that my dreams are to die for.

Literally.

 

[Rafster]

Dream sex spoils this progression, it shows the goods before it would make sense in the story for quick and cheap gratification (for someone, presumably,) so the actual first sex with that character will seem less special.

Again, context. What you refer are poorly done dream scenes, made for quick fuck. Of course these will be poorly written.

What if the MC is a shy guy who daydreams all the time? or he has met this wonderful and sexy girl in the cafeteria and dreams about her in the night? I'm not opposed to that. I didn't include (yet) dream scenes in my game, but I thought about adding a random sex dream system, and if some characters and plot milestones have been reached, special ones might unlock. Unfortunately, I can't find time to implement it

 

[fitgirlbestgirl]

What if the MC is a shy guy who daydreams all the time? or he has met this wonderful and sexy girl in the cafeteria and dreams about her in the night? I'm not opposed to that. I didn't include (yet) dream scenes in my game, but I thought about adding a random sex dream system, and if some characters and plot milestones have been reached, special ones might unlock. Unfortunately, I can't find time to implement it

You can have the perfect story justification for it and good writing and it will still be content that I won't enjoy. It's not just about "spoiling" upcoming content, I dislike it for the same reason I dislike mind control content. It's just not "real" when there's no agency from the other party involved and it has no consequences or meaning besides self-gratification. Now, someone will say "lol, none of it is real, it's a game," but if you strive to make something more than just a bottom of the barrel fap-fest and you want your player to get immersed in your game, these sorts of things matter.