Porn Game Tropes: The good, the bad, and the fugly

[DarthSeduction]

I mean, the kid in Absolute Power has a 6-pack, a tan, boy-band face and lady friends. I'm just saying, seems kind of odd that devs would choose such an MC for their power-fantasy kink game. Well, maybe not odd, maybe they just don't know how to design and write a less socially adjusted, more awkward, less attractive MC. And the males get off lightly, I can't remember the last time I've seen a chubby or unattractive female character in a game, certainly not one you're supposed to like or empathize with as a player or god forbid, have a relationship with. Even games touted for their maturity like The Witcher 2 love showing you that unblemished supermodel TnA despite the grimy medieval setting. Excessive standards are a bitch and hurt variety. I'd love to see such characters, especially in the context of a corruption-themed game, since they're more relatable and thus add to the immersion.

Absolute power also has the worst writing and most grind of any game I've had the displeasure of downloading. Not exactly a representative member. Also, you don't have to be short fat and ugly to have power fantasies. Again, I'm not unattractive but I enjoy a good mind control story. In short, I disagree with you on a fundamental level, because you don't have to be unattractive to be single and wanting a fantasy. Honestly your assumption kinda pisses me off as much as the assumption that everyone here is a virgin.

 

[Lykanz]

Dad's A Dick
"Sorry son, I'm kicking you out of the house, and by the way, I fucked that redhead you're in love with. Fuckity bye!"

Damnit... That right right at my story... Minus the redhead fucking part, ofc.

 

[DarthSeduction]

Damnit... That right right at my story... Minus the redhead fucking part, ofc.

Pretty sure that one was aimed directly at Au Pair Innocence. Considering Burt wrote it.

 

[Lykanz]

Pretty sure that one was aimed directly at Au Pair Innocence. Considering Burt wrote it.

I know, it's just the F in my story is a complete, huge dick

 

[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

I mean, the kid in Absolute Power has a 6-pack, a tan, boy-band face and lady friends. I'm just saying, seems kind of odd that devs would choose such an MC for their power-fantasy kink game. Well, maybe not odd, maybe they just don't know how to design and write a less socially adjusted, more awkward, less attractive MC. And the males get off lightly, I can't remember the last time I've seen a chubby or unattractive female character in a game, certainly not one you're supposed to like or empathize with as a player or god forbid, have a relationship with. Even games touted for their maturity like The Witcher 2 love showing you that unblemished supermodel TnA despite the grimy medieval setting. Excessive standards are a bitch and hurt variety. I'd love to see such characters, especially in the context of a corruption-themed game, since they're more relatable and thus add to the immersion.

I haven't played Absolute Power and thus can't comment on it. But the title already suggests it's going for the power fantasy angle. Personally, I don't think it's a wise choice game design wise to have the male protagonist be too attractive - If all sorts of hot babes just throw themselves at the protagonist, not only can the average player not relate to that, there's also no tension to be had, no sense of accomplishment. Except for incest routes, where the familial bonds themselves make things more challenging to even a moderately attractive MC. Unfortunately, the trope where an ugly, creepy, fat, old villain protagonist uses all kinds of black mail to abuse and outright rape innocent girls (until they like it) is almost exclusive to japanese games at this time. But I hope we'll see more outright villain protagonists in western (or russian) porn games, and not this wishy-washy "He's a creep but kinda alright" stuff.

As for unattractive women, experience has shown time and time again that even the people who say they want unattractive women in their movies and porn, don't actually want to look at unattractive women in their movies and porn. They just want to feel less bad about being unattractive themselves. Attractive simply means "pleasant to look at". What I'll say though is that if every female character in your game is a cow-titted bimbo, then you do lack variety. Swegabe, I'm looking at you.

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

Honestly your assumption kinda pisses me off as much as the assumption that everyone here is a virgin.

I never even mentioned the word, nor do I think that. You're taking it too personal I think, I'm not making assumptions about this community as a whole, nor any individual members. Not that awkwardness or not being conventionally attractive are even damning traits to have imo, I find them cute in the opposite gender.

 

[Lykanz]

the assumption that everyone here is a virgin.

But everyone here IS a virgin.

Spoiler

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[Pretentious Goblin]

As for unattractive women, experience has shown time and time again that even the people say they want unattractive women in their movies and porn don't actually want to look at unattractive women in their movies and porn.

I think everyone can be attractive to someone in the world (how many there are and whether you'll actually meet them may be pretty grim in some cases though...) but I was talking about women best described as ''plain'' or ''homely''. I assure you I'd play a game with such characters if it's well-written. Way moreso than one where every female character looks like a realdoll with huge melons and perfect skin.

 

[DarthSeduction]

I never even mentioned the word, nor do I think that. You're taking it too personal I think, I'm not making assumptions about this community as a whole, nor any individual members. Not that awkwardness or not being conventionally attractive are even damning traits to have imo, I find them cute in the opposite gender.

I didn't say you did, it's simply a common one. What bugs me is the presumption that only those who are what we as society traditionally consider inferior would ever have a power fantasy. Its a problem we all have where we assume that those who look better, or dress nicer, or have more, simply never feel powerless or never have an issue getting a date or any number of things. I know two guys who, in my opinion, are sexy as hell, both of them have deep rooted issues. One has body image problems as well as family problems. The other simply thinks too little of himself, has a hard time accepting compliments and suffers from depression.

The idea that these people don't have problems is just as toxic in my opinion as the idea that someone who doesn't have the typically sexy body is worthy of love or attraction. We tend to make everything us vs them and no one realizes that we all have our own struggles and that whatever we are going through, they probably have their own issue. You might still think I'm taking it too personally, but I feel like you're projecting your desire to see diversity in the wrong way. Should we maybe have more characters who don't fit ideal body types? Sure. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't cast the guy with abs and a gorgeous smile in the power fantasy, we should simply have a power fantasy for both.

I think everyone can be attractive to someone in the world (how many there are and whether you'll actually meet them may be pretty grim in some cases though...) but I was talking about women best described as ''plain'' or ''homely''. I assure you I'd play a game with such characters if it's well-written. Way moreso than one where every female character looks like a realdoll with huge melons and perfect skin.

Chloe18 is a good choice imo. Chloe is made fun of for being flat as a board. She has no eyebrows to speak of as well. But aside from her, popular characters for the game, like Pizza Girl, actually do look rather plain in comparison to the more common supermodel representations we see, with PG having uneven teeth. The smart girl, who's name I can't remember for the life of me is probably one of the least attractive girls in games, yet I have plenty of fun corrupting her as Chloe and also watching her fuck her brother.

Sadly the game makes the only "fat" character it included as chloe's nemesis, as she got a spot on the cheer squad and chloe resents her for it. There is a scene involving her, but its the cheerleaders and chloe hazing her by making her use a dildo in the bathroom.

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

Okay, I get your point now. Yeah, you can have issues even if you happen to be attractive and otherwise well-adjusted.

 

[S1T355]

I find it interesting that people are discussing about how to make porn games and stories more "interesting/believable/immersive/etc etc". Not that I'm against it or anything but it is rather fascinating.

Makes me think of how movies of old (not all of them though) used to be very "flat" and/or outright "outrageous" change over time. Is this another slowly changing development of the genre?

Considering that I think most porn games are to help you get off and is kind of literally used to satisfy a primal need, stuff like action movies function in a somewhat similar way but of a different sort.

Though I people also like to just play em if they are bored and not jack off. Is kinda off topic so please do forgive me.

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

I didn't say you did, it's simply a common one. What bugs me is the presumption that only those who are what we as society traditionally consider inferior would ever have a power fantasy. Its a problem we all have where we assume that those who look better, or dress nicer, or have more, simply never feel powerless or never have an issue getting a date or any number of things. I know two guys who, in my opinion, are sexy as hell, both of them have deep rooted issues. One has body image problems as well as family problems. The other simply thinks too little of himself, has a hard time accepting compliments and suffers from depression.

The idea that these people don't have problems is just as toxic in my opinion as the idea that someone who doesn't have the typically sexy body is worthy of love or attraction. We tend to make everything us vs them and no one realizes that we all have our own struggles and that whatever we are going through, they probably have their own issue. You might still think I'm taking it too personally, but I feel like you're projecting your desire to see diversity in the wrong way. Should we maybe have more characters who don't fit ideal body types? Sure. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't cast the guy with abs and a gorgeous smile in the power fantasy, we should simply have a power fantasy for both.



Chloe18 is a good choice imo. Chloe is made fun of for being flat as a board. She has no eyebrows to speak of as well. But aside from her, popular characters for the game, like Pizza Girl, actually do look rather plain in comparison to the more common supermodel representations we see, with PG having uneven teeth. The smart girl, who's name I can't remember for the life of me is probably one of the least attractive girls in games, yet I have plenty of fun corrupting her as Chloe and also watching her fuck her brother.

Sadly the game makes the only "fat" character it included as chloe's nemesis, as she got a spot on the cheer squad and chloe resents her for it. There is a scene involving her, but its the cheerleaders and chloe hazing her by making her use a dildo in the bathroom.

Just wanted to say I actually love Fat Beth. I always felt that the way everyone makes fun of her just makes them all look awful. Not to mention Beth isn't Chloe' s nemesis. Chloe just hates her for no good reason. In fact I think Beth is the only genuinely good person in the game.

 

[DarthSeduction]

I find it interesting that people are discussing about how to make porn games and stories more "interesting/believable/immersive/etc etc". Not that I'm against it or anything but it is rather fascinating.

Makes me think of how movies of old (not all of them though) used to be very "flat" and/or outright "outrageous" change over time. Is this another slowly changing development of the genre?

Considering that I think most porn games are to help you get off and is kind of literally used to satisfy a primal need, stuff like action movies function in a somewhat similar way but of a different sort.

Just wanted to say I actually love Fat Beth. I always felt that the way everyone makes fun of her just makes them all look awful. Not to mention Beth isn't Chloe' s nemesis. Chloe just hates her for no good reason. In fact I think Beth is the only genuinely good person in the game.

I agree, beth did nothing wrong. It is Chloe and Chloe alone who makes Beth her enemy.

Though I people also like to just play em if they are bored and not jack off. Is kinda off topic so please do forgive me.

I see it as an apropos observation. I'm actually of the opinion that developers and game writers should be taking their inspiration from movies. These games are a visual medium and as such have a lot more in common with movies than books. With visual storytelling the use of dialogue changes, the amount we should use narration drops, with a preference on letting the art tell you what narration used to. And film went through a similar problem. It started as filmed plays. It took innovators to take time and develop simple ideas like, the camera doesn't have to be static. We can take our shots from whatever angle we want. We don't need to have someone talk to the audience, because if there's something we need them to know, we can show it to them. We don't have to be completely linear we can chop our story up and put it together as we need.

 

[LeopoldWilliamReynolds]

This thread is amazing.

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

Makes me think of how movies of old (not all of them though) used to be very "flat" and/or outright "outrageous" change over time. Is this another slowly changing development of the genre?
me.

There are various genres of porn, even porn games. Most of those here have a psychological bent to them, they make an effort at pacing and character development, they're not just foreplay and screwing. It actively hurts the game if you can't relate to any of the characters, or the plot doesn't make any sense despite suspension of disbelief. Good writing is crucial to these games. And that's nothing new, visual novels and dating ''sims'' have existed since at least the 90s, though I don't know how developed the western equivalents were at the time.

 

[Lykanz]

I think everyone can be attractive to someone in the world (how many there are and whether you'll actually meet them may be pretty grim in some cases though...) but I was talking about women best described as ''plain'' or ''homely''. I assure you I'd play a game with such characters if it's well-written. Way moreso than one where every female character looks like a realdoll with huge melons and perfect skin.

From my own, personal experience, "plain" and "homely" women are the wildest.

 

[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

From my own, personal experience, "plain" and "homely" women are the wildest.

Kinda like fat chicks give better blowjobs? I mean, they feel the sexual competition a lot more. A stunner can just get a relationship out of a guy by spreading her legs. An unattractive girl has to try harder, and is thus more likely to learn and practice things that require technique and skill - handjobs and blowjobs, and more obscure things seldomly displayed in porn like prostate massages. Fat chicks in general are much more easily to convince to go with "wild" shit because they have to, to hold on to their guys. I wouldn't mind seeing a game that kinda thematizes this discrepancy, and has a fat chick that just lets you do everything to her, while the stuck up cheerleaders only moves are "the starfish" and "sports fucking" because she has endurance, strength and agility on the fat chick. And then the player should get to cuckquean one with the other, depending on preference. Nothing like fucking a girl in front of another girl while abusing the other girl for being an inferior lay. Why is cuckqueaning such a rare thing in these games?

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

I see it as an apropos observation. I'm actually of the opinion that developers and game writers should be taking their inspiration from movies. These games are a visual medium and as such have a lot more in common with movies than books. With visual storytelling the use of dialogue changes, the amount we should use narration drops, with a preference on letting the art tell you what narration used to. And film went through a similar problem. It started as filmed plays. It took innovators to take time and develop simple ideas like, the camera doesn't have to be static. We can take our shots from whatever angle we want. We don't need to have someone talk to the audience, because if there's something we need them to know, we can show it to them. We don't have to be completely linear we can chop our story up and put it together as we need.

I always felt that the closet parallel for most adult games is less film and more comic books. Not that film influence isn't there, but I think the framing of shots with limited numbers of pictures for example makes a very close parallel.

Because text is such an important part of the experience... It changes how we consume the game as compared to a movie. Text can set the mood, it lets us get into the heads of characters, and it supplements the visuals as well.

While I think there is a lot to learn from movies... shot composition, dialog rhythm, use of music and more... games are very much their own thing.

 

[Lykanz]

Kinda like fat chicks give better blowjobs? I mean, they feel the sexual competition a lot more. A stunner can just get a relationship out of a guy by spreading her legs. An unattractive girl has to try harder, and is thus more likely to learn and practice things that require technique and skill - handjobs and blowjobs, and more obscure things seldomly displayed in porn like prostate massages. Fat chicks in general are much more easily to convince to go with "wild" shit because they have to, to hold on to their guys. I wouldn't mind seeing a game that kinda thematizes this discrepancy, and has a fat chick that just lets you do everything to her, while the stuck up cheerleaders only moves are "the starfish" and "sports fucking" because she has endurance, strength and agility on the fat chick. And then the player should get to cuckquean one with the other, depending on preference. Nothing like fucking a girl in front of another girl while abusing the other girl for being an inferior lay. Why is cuckqueaning such a rare thing in these games?

More or less, yeah. Those prude and plain women have so much repressed sexual energy that, when they find a guy they feel comfortable with, they kinda let it all loose.

 

[redknight00]

I always felt that the closet parallel for most adult games is less film and more comic books. Not that film influence isn't there, but I think the framing of shots with limited numbers of pictures for example makes a very close parallel.

Because text is such an important part of the experience... It changes how we consume the game as compared to a movie. Text can set the mood, it lets us get into the heads of characters, and it supplements the visuals as well.

While I think there is a lot to learn from movies... shot composition, dialog rhythm, use of music and more... games are very much their own thing.

Adult games can indeed learn a lot from comics, like how to make highly dynamic panels with still images, that's one thing most 3d games have a bad time with.