As the title says, how much of an impact does self inserting make on whether you play a game or not?
How decisive is self-inserting for you? (Poll)
- Thread starter nulnil
- Start date
- Sep 13, 2016
- 3,540
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I always play as the character, never as myself. So I assume that's option "2.I'd rather not self-insert."
I would pick option 1 if it was "I never self-insert" instead of "won't play self insert games" because I don't mind playing self-insert games I just never name the protagonist "me"...
I would pick option 1 if it was "I never self-insert" instead of "won't play self insert games" because I don't mind playing self-insert games I just never name the protagonist "me"...
- Jan 22, 2023
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I don't care either way, I'm in it for the ride. There are pros and cons to both and the only thing that determines if one is good or bad is execution.
For me it depends on whether the protagonist is male or female. If it's male I automatically self insert without thinking about it. If it's female I play it with more of a spectator or puppeteer mindset. So I tend to get more drawn into the ones with a male protagonist. This is also why my tolerance for having questionable things happen to the main character is a lot higher if the protagonist is female. It doesn't feel like it's happening to me. It's more like a movie.
So for instance a game where the female protagonist gets used and abused by the villains doesn't bother me, but a game where a male protagonist's girl gets similar treatment gets a pass from me.
So for instance a game where the female protagonist gets used and abused by the villains doesn't bother me, but a game where a male protagonist's girl gets similar treatment gets a pass from me.
I prefer to self-insert, but can also play games without inserting. If story and game is good then i can also game where the character is predone. Problem is you just cant self insert for most "games" couse they dont have much options. I like full sandbox games. Like "the Fixer" or "Masters of Raana" where you can choose how you play game.
As a Male i certainly cant self insert on female protag games. But when i play as female i dont like to be some fucktoy, victim, but in control of my choices. Right now i play "the Fixer" and i have 2 games running. One game where my charcter is total slut ready for everything for victory. On other safe character is Virgin where i alwayz grind proper attributes to avoid being a victim or forced to be abused or sell body. Important is choices. VN games dont offer much choise.
As a male character in games i somewhat self insert, trying to avoid certain situations, like NTR or anal interactions, game sthat dont have thouse choises i usually dont play. Only exception is games where story is realy well written and it will make sensible choise, not just another get off adventure, bone everything you can style.
I think most people dont self insert couse they use game as some porn jerkoff material. I consider games like entertainment that includes adult content.
As a Male i certainly cant self insert on female protag games. But when i play as female i dont like to be some fucktoy, victim, but in control of my choices. Right now i play "the Fixer" and i have 2 games running. One game where my charcter is total slut ready for everything for victory. On other safe character is Virgin where i alwayz grind proper attributes to avoid being a victim or forced to be abused or sell body. Important is choices. VN games dont offer much choise.
As a male character in games i somewhat self insert, trying to avoid certain situations, like NTR or anal interactions, game sthat dont have thouse choises i usually dont play. Only exception is games where story is realy well written and it will make sensible choise, not just another get off adventure, bone everything you can style.
I think most people dont self insert couse they use game as some porn jerkoff material. I consider games like entertainment that includes adult content.
- Apr 14, 2021
- 5,436
- 14,059
50/50
I am the character, but i am also myself.
So i guess "i don't care" is the closest fit for me.
I am the character, but i am also myself.
So i guess "i don't care" is the closest fit for me.
It's somewhat fun and interesting to self-insert in female protag games.
It's usually unbearable to try to self-insert in male protag games (with a few exception).
Gonna pick answer #2, mostly due to the average quality of games.
It's usually unbearable to try to self-insert in male protag games (with a few exception).
Gonna pick answer #2, mostly due to the average quality of games.
- Jun 10, 2017
- 10,382
- 15,291
I don't starts a game expecting to self-insert or not, it's something that happen, or not. And if it happen it's because the story drew me inside the game, making me not just have a hard-on, but care for the characters.
Therefore, at least for peoples like me, it's not something you can plan, but that will happen or not, depending on your writing skill.
Therefore, at least for peoples like me, it's not something you can plan, but that will happen or not, depending on your writing skill.
It's not so much a preference thing for me as it is the simple fact that both methods lead to different playstyles. A pre-defined character is good for a story that's specific and told well (very much not something most devs can do effectively. Yes, narcissist dev reading this post, that probably includes you, especially if your English sucks and you don't read much), but not as helpful for customization or making broadly different plot choices. Loser comes to mind here: there's a lot to do in the game, but all under the aegis of the specific character Nathan. Still, there are things you can do that seriously change how the story and game works because the narrow range of choices you could make allows the dev major story shifts rather than having to return to particular baseline points.
Self-inserting works better for games with a less-fleshed-out narrative that give you much broader character-defining choices. I think here of games like A Spell for All or (the early part at least of) College Daze. In those games, your character has a lot of latitude in what they do, but it's more about locking or unlocking content rather than changing the game's overall narrative direction.
I honestly don't have a preference between them. Either can be done well or poorly, and I've seen a range of them both. So 'I don't care' is as close as I come to a resolution, i.e.: it depends on how well/sexily it's done.
Self-inserting works better for games with a less-fleshed-out narrative that give you much broader character-defining choices. I think here of games like A Spell for All or (the early part at least of) College Daze. In those games, your character has a lot of latitude in what they do, but it's more about locking or unlocking content rather than changing the game's overall narrative direction.
I honestly don't have a preference between them. Either can be done well or poorly, and I've seen a range of them both. So 'I don't care' is as close as I come to a resolution, i.e.: it depends on how well/sexily it's done.
Voted on I don't care. I can play as a predefined character with his personality OR a blank one.
I never stopped to consider that on the MC of my game. It's supposed to be a self insert but he has his own motivations and, at certain extent, personality, which is molded by the attitude that the player choose.
I never stopped to consider that on the MC of my game. It's supposed to be a self insert but he has his own motivations and, at certain extent, personality, which is molded by the attitude that the player choose.
Last edited:
- Aug 29, 2020
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Self insert characters tend to lead to a weaker narrative. Game devs also typically don't include decisions I would want to make if in the character's place, so I can't really self-insert very often anyway. I'd rather have an MC with their own personality so watching their story unfold feels more natural.
It depends. I can self-insert if the game doesn't judge me for the decisions I make. But I can also play as a character if the choices feel well written and I'm given meaningful opportunity to get into character.
There are some of us that do not need games to self insert...
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