Is there interest in an erotic game that embraces both aspects of 'erotic' and 'game fully?

[PomskeyKat]

Pretty much what the title says, is there any point for an aspiring dev to try to build an erotic game that tries to capture both aspects? It's not really necessary to know what game idea I have in mind to answer the question, but I put it down below anyways.

The game idea is a essentially a city sim that allows the player to develop it in different ways. For example, the player can adopt a dominance play style that enables (sexual) slavery, sending out raiding parties. Or the player can choose a more subtle playstyle that revolves around hypnoses/mind-control. Finally there would be a more 'vanilla' playstyle that would have as much eroticism as a game like Cyberpunk 2077, i.e. no fetishes. The game would express the player's choices in how the city develops, and also in how they interact with key characters, such as advisors or rival city leaders. The game would alternate between longer moments of serious gameplay, with shorter erotic segments in between to relax and jerk off to before returning to the actual gameplay.

So, I get back to the question in the title. Does it make any sense to put effort and thought into making an engaging, fun, and difficult erotic game? I may never get beyond the idea stage for this game, but I'm interesting in the question all the same.

 

[Musashi777]

Yes I say there would be an interest in that, as long as the gameplay and the porn was satisfying, because if the player puts a ton of work and the pay off is minimal like a lot of the really grindy games that give very little in return then they would drop your game in a heart beat. Do you have an artist because I do line art and coloring, I am also a game designer so I can help there as well.

 

[ImperialD]

i think there is already a ton of games like that .. altho 1 more wouldn't hurt us any

 

[PomskeyKat]

i think there is already a ton of games like that .. altho 1 more wouldn't hurt us any

You have any good recommendations?

 

[ImperialD]

You have any good recommendations?

its called searching for what you want ... ya should try it out .. just spend some time , like i did ... looking for games that suit your needs ... i got around 500 games on my system ... and well have i played them all probably around 350 - 400 .. hard to play them with so many games being updated .. i will never complain about it tho

 

[Crimson Delight Games]

No dev should put in time making a game if they themselves don't think it's the best thing since sliced bread. As far as interest goes, people tend to try out even games they might not like at first glance, then warm up to them if they're fun to play.

Does it make sense to dump months of work into a project? Well, only if you're really excited and passionate about making the game you yourself would like to play. Otherwise it becomes a chore to develop, regardless of its success.

 

[woody554]

it depends on your game. people like good games, people hate bad games. might sound obvious, but it's not as obvious what makes a good game. even most big companies seem to be completely clueless about it, although I don't think they're even aiming to make good games. instead they aim to hook you with addiction or exploit you, which is completely different.

another big issue is how you prevent the game aspects from undermining your porn aspects or vice versa, so it doesn't just become a distraction and annoyance. having any kind of strong sexual element in your game tends to murder all other aspects of it. if you hear a mainstream movie has a real blowjob scene in it, you won't be able to pay any attention to its story because you're just waiting for the blowjob scene. then the bj comes, and it's kinda meh because you couldn't concentrate on story. could've been the best movie ever made, but you'll just stare through it until the bj scene begins. you might even fast-forward to it.

I do always miss having more 'game' in my porn games, just to give it some obstacles. but I rarely get what I want, but instead another stupid combat mechanic. fuck combat, it has no place in a porn game. I'd like to see more resource game aspects and point n click adventure stuff. if a porn game could have some skill-related mechanic that would be great. like maybe you don't start as the macho power top satisfying each and every woman, but a one pump chump who cums in his pants the second he spies on his mom in the shower. then you train more skills, level up, unlock new positions, and even begin to give the women more than frustration. that seems like the obvious way to go, instead of stupid fighting or shooting mechanics.

some people hate minigames, but I think it's more about having bad minigames. maybe the scaling is off, maybe the timing, or maybe the game idea is totally irrelevant to the game. fix those and I think it'll go down much better.

 

[megaplayboy10k]

it depends on your game. people like good games, people hate bad games. might sound obvious, but it's not as obvious what makes a good game. even most big companies seem to be completely clueless about it, although I don't think they're even aiming to make good games. instead they aim to hook you with addiction or exploit you, which is completely different.

another big issue is how you prevent the game aspects from undermining your porn aspects or vice versa, so it doesn't just become a distraction and annoyance. having any kind of strong sexual element in your game tends to murder all other aspects of it. if you hear a mainstream movie has a real blowjob scene in it, you won't be able to pay any attention to its story because you're just waiting for the blowjob scene. then the bj comes, and it's kinda meh because you couldn't concentrate on story. could've been the best movie ever made, but you'll just stare through it until the bj scene begins. you might even fast-forward to it.

I do always miss having more 'game' in my porn games, just to give it some obstacles. but I rarely get what I want, but instead another stupid combat mechanic. fuck combat, it has no place in a porn game. I'd like to see more resource game aspects and point n click adventure stuff. if a porn game could have some skill-related mechanic that would be great. like maybe you don't start as the macho power top satisfying each and every woman, but a one pump chump who cums in his pants the second he spies on his mom in the shower. then you train more skills, level up, unlock new positions, and even begin to give the women more than frustration. that seems like the obvious way to go, instead of stupid fighting or shooting mechanics.

some people hate minigames, but I think it's more about having bad minigames. maybe the scaling is off, maybe the timing, or maybe the game idea is totally irrelevant to the game. fix those and I think it'll go down much better.

If I was making a parody of some of the games out there, the MC would have to play a difficult minigame just to jerk off successfully. When the MC didn't "pull it off" well, a Dark Souls style caption YOU FAILED comes onscreen.

 

[megaplayboy10k]

We already have a hotel management sim(or three) out there, I don't see why a city sim couldn't have fap content too. The question is how the payoff would work. Obviously getting a handjob for successfully zoning residential, commercial and industrial together would be a bit underwhelming.

 

[kaiten]

As long as you remain cognizant that it should be first and foremost about porn, it should work. The reason I say this, if it has porn it will be pigeonholed into the XXX category, regardless of it being Deus Ex level in terms of gameplay. So if it needs to thrive in the niche everyone will stuff it in the porn needs to be hot enough.
Just my two cents. There are many "porn" games that have good(ish) gameplay and the porn is just there to milk some patron cash. Brothel City comes to mind and I'm sure there are at least 10 more games I've played I can't remember at the moment. Basically, 2-3 images, a line of text and an occasional gif. That's a travesty, in my opinion.

 

[woody554]

The question is how the payoff would work.

could just be that unlocking new areas unlock new VN subplots, or more resource management possibilities. more street corners to put more hookers on, more viewers for your webcams. maybe developing higher income areas gives your webcam streams more whales.

maybe the game has women who are far far above your league, unavailable for pizza-delivery income no matter how fast car you get. so you build your business until you can get that ridiculously expensive yacht and unlock the penthouses. but that still isn't enough for some girls, so you build your empire further to score that highest maintenance pussy. something like that could justify building city districts.

but they should also spawn problems like organized crime to deal with. maybe even overwhelmingly powerful opponents. rewards are nothing without risk.

I've always been interested in the idea of including untouchably powerful threats in games, something that just can't be dealt with. the way games give you reachable goals cheapens all of them, you always know it can be done. just like in hollywood the good guy always wins so there isn't much suspense. would be so much better if you couldn't be sure, there would always be the real threat of failing. then, when you against all odds win, it would be lengendary.

 

[hgameartman]

I basically decided "you know, rune factory's a great game, but... what if I set it in like, a persona 4/5 style school setting..... oh, and made the game somewhat like Violated Heroine with lots and lots of sex!"

Still need more work on my combat aspects, but a year in and I think it's coming together nicely in both gameplay and sexybits!

 

[megaplayboy10k]

I basically decided "you know, rune factory's a great game, but... what if I set it in like, a persona 4/5 style school setting..... oh, and made the game somewhat like Violated Heroine with lots and lots of sex!"

Still need more work on my combat aspects, but a year in and I think it's coming together nicely in both gameplay and sexybits!

Or you could think of it like the game Corruption but on a larger scale immediately.

 

[Machinist]

No dev should put in time making a game if they themselves don't think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Otherwise it becomes a chore to develop, regardless of its success.

Pretty much this.

Doing everything to appease your public may be good in the short run, but eventually it will kill you inside.
Do what you like and ask you audience's opinion on some stuff you are willing to change/remove. That may be a good compromise.