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

[RogueKnightUK]

Should there be a separate discussion (or term) for tropes that are not, and never were, true or believable at all?

e.g. Porn Stars Love Sex
The truth is a lot closer to "The cobblers children have no shoes" or "the builder's house always needs fixing". The last thing most people want when they've spent their day working on an activity is to then spend their evening on the same activity for free. Hell, most porn stars didn't even love sex that much before becoming porn stars (one of the reasons they are able to simply sell it despite all taboos) and have a very cynical attitude to sex, where it is simply something that gives them power over marks (or Johns).

There's way too many games where mom or auntie or whatever are ex-pornstars, and so immediately have some incredible libido and lust. It's about as realistic as suggesting that if the mother is an accountant, she gets amazingly thrilled at seeing coins in your pocket, or bills in your wallet, and is immediately fantasizing about helping you count it, or bank it.

 

[OhWee]

This is just my personal opinion, but I don't think a Trope entry is complete without some appropriate pic or meme to go along with your trope...


Like this one...

The pics that some of you are coming up with are half the fun in this thread!

 

[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

Nice one! Title needs a little work though. Maybe rename it "Transactional Affection"? Or if you want to keep the mom angle "Motherhood is the Oldest Profession"?

Nah, you have to remember, half of using tropes is using them inline of a description. Like "This is a game where your mom doesn't love you unless you pay her", these types of titles are always preferrable to clever sounding but not inline-usable.

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

Nah, you have to remember, half of using tropes is using them inline of a description. Like "This is a game where your mom doesn't love you unless you pay her", these types of titles are always preferrable to clever sounding but not inline-usable.

Have you seen TV tropes? Tons of the tropes have clever names... or ones that get their point across in a couple of words. Not to mention we've actually made a lot of these different tropes pretty popular on the boards. I mean I hear people mention "The Stairway to Heaven" all the time now, and the Russian Grind is used a ton too. You have a great trope there, but it's not something people will drop in a sentence.

Maybe... "Mom only loves you for the money?"

 

[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

Have you seen TV tropes? Tons of the tropes have clever names... or ones that get their point across in a couple of words. Not to mention we've actually made a lot of these different tropes pretty popular on the boards. I mean I hear people mention "The Stairway to Heaven" all the time now, and the Russian Grind is used a ton too. You have a great trope there, but it's not something people will drop in a sentence.

Maybe... "Mom only loves you for the money?"

None of the alternatives have really struck me as more fitting so far. Maybe something like "Incest for pay" would work, but it'd have to be a lot more succinct than that.

Only in(cest) it for the money? (That doesn't work)
Family business? (Too many others)
I'm only a whore for you, son (Not an actual quote)

This is just my personal opinion, but I don't think a Trope entry is complete without some appropriate pic or meme to go along with your trope...

You're right, I added one.

 

[RogueKnightUK]

None of the alternatives have really struck me as more fitting so far. Maybe something like "Incest for pay" would work, but it'd have to be a lot more succinct than that.

It always seems, in the games where I've seen the trope, that the character somehow thinks "It isn't incest if its prostitution" or "Incest is morally wrong, but morals can be bought, son", and either of those could be a working name.

 

[Deleted member 795684]

You did it man! ''How to Make An Adult Game 101''.

I lost at this part:

That's all for now, more to come soon including: Dad's a Dick, The Best Bud, All Bosses Suck, The Weinstein, The Magical Cock, Mind Control's Not Rape, Rape isn't Rape, Older Sisters are sluts, Younger sisters are virgins, and Mom needs Dick

: DDDDD

And btw, Big Brother's mother is still the best fucking satisfying mother ever! I just wanted to say it after I saw her beatiful figure in your post at the op.

And I love BB so much! I just can't help it. :FeelsBadMan:

Edit: And like someone said in the above, BB is the milestone for these kind of games. For the millionth time: I wish it was completed. I can't imagine what would it be with a complete one, even with uncomplete version inspired all those games in this site.

And I think ''bad guy's name is Eric'' is kind of an inside joke for adult games for some time and I like it. Fuck Eric! :FuckYea:

 

[HoneyHotDog]

The Stickiest Sticky Shirt​

Yup. That fucking shirt in almost every daz game on this planet. That shirt that needs to go against the earth's gravitational pull and every scientific explanation to stick to the woman's breasts. Especially the under boob. You thought the you as the MC would experience every curve the woman offers? Then you better be that outfit your woman is wearing, 'cause nothing sticks to 'em more than those. Not to mention those shirts only come in breast size A to Z. So you'll never have to fear that it won't fit your woman when you get her that gift.

Oh wait? You think you're a developer and have the power to fix it? Think again. The shirt will just throw a tantrum and break itself so you undo your silly attempt. What's that? You'll use another shirt? Jokes on you because every other shirt you have is its relative.

Example:

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[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

The Shirt That's Stronger Than Superman​

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I'm guessing you just returned from a several-hours-long session of trying to get the Daz3D shirts to behave? x'D

Two things to this Daz3D trope though:
a) it definitely needs a picture, since this is in essence a visual glitch
b) May I recommend a different title, such as "Clothing made of body paint" or "clingy clothing" because they're not "strong" (unless you try to wrestle some realistic folding from them) but what they are is clingy and stick to the skin in an uncanny manner

 

[toolkitxx]

The Sisterly/Motherly doormat

No love harem would ever work without these stereotypes. They lack backbone, try to please whenever needed and will go to almost any length to avoid conflict. Like a good doormat they usually allow the MC to use them as better sexdolls without the risk of voicing opinions themselves. These are often paired with the Naive Virgin type if they are very young or the Sexually Supressed MILF type.

Both types will happily await visits and attention of the MC without ever taking too much first action themselves. As for any good harem member they dont care that there are loads of other objects of desire around them - a doormat only reacts when stepped on!

P.S. As @baraka rightfully points out - missing examples:
good examples for this are the mother and/or sister in LabRats, D from DmD, both mother and sister in glassix etc

I am far too old for memes - someone else has to take care of that Best i could do is this:

 

[Baka_Energy_studios]

you forgot the examples and the meme @toolkitxx

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

Every Man but you is an Asshole:

Yeah, we totally aren't out to rape your family, kid. Don't worry.


It's true, the Main Characters in porn games are often, less than ideal protagonists. They might be

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They might like using

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or seducing their

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-year-old daughters/sisters/neices/students. They may peep, they may molest women in their sleep. The probably cheat, lie and steal to get what they want. That being the case why is it that all the ladies want to get with them? Well, it's simple. Compared to the rest of the male gender, they are god damned SAINTS.

Every man but the MC is a douche, and not just a little douche, we're talking elephant-sized Summer's Eve here. All other men are corrupt businessmen, hardcore players, criminal bosses, abusive fathers, douche bag frat boys, blackmailers, and of course violent rapists. These men like nothing more than to drug, cheat, blackmail, steal and force their way into the hearts, and panties of every girl they see. They have not a shred of human decency, because they are a man and not the main character of the game. Men like this are so common, that things like Casual Attempted Rape are just a thing that every girl puts up with.

Generally, the only exception to this rule is possibly the Best Friend. Double points if he is the Black Best Friend.

Examples: Babysitter (Silver, Robert), Our Fate, , Retrieving the Past (Random rapist frat boys), Depraved Awakening (Every major character not the MC is a douche, but the trope subverted in the beach scene.), The Tyrant (Everyone not the MC has no issues drugging women for sex, raping them, or just being general shit heels.), Acting Lessons (Peter (abusive rapist), Dick (just abusive), Lancaster Boarding School (Jason), School Days (Shitheel best friend), School Dreams 1 - 3 (Gary and Mike are douches, the principal also blackmails underage girls into sex. Literally raped a girl over it.), Pervert Action Legacy (Hiroshi. Nuff said), Sisterly Lust (Guy who blackmails Bella), Dating My Daughter (Photgraphers, Elena's Dad, Creepy Doctor), Dreams of Desire (Cult members, asshole frat boys), School, Love and Friends (Martin, asshole jocks), Big Brother (Eric, of course, but also Paul), Culture Shock (evil NTR friend) and so many more.

 

[Ennoch]

And i just can't get it out of my head that this being done to make the MC appear as a likable/relatable fellow. Being a peepingtom, sleepcreep blackmailer is not so bad all of a sudden compared to the rest. I think this is a classic StarWars school. Everyone in the empire is a complete idiot and no stormtrooper can aim.. so the Rebel Alliance and the witless fool Luke and his gang could "outsmart" them while a single capital ship they could muster outgun the whole imperial fleet.

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[IhaveNoPornAndIMustFap]

It's pretty logical: Lewds have to happen. And we can't just have girls randomly get their baps out at the MC, because a) the Player has no sense of doing something, lewds just happen to him, and b) if they just get their baps out like that they're sluts and thus their baps have no value. So it has to be the player doing a thing to the girl for lewds to happen. That's where the peeping and molestation comes in. That makes the MC a pretty horrible guy. But to distract the player from begging for a "fellate a gun" option to pop up, you have to bedazzle the player and appeal his protective instincts by exposing those Retards in Lechertown to even worse guys, and wanting to protect them from this vile lechery. 2 seconds peeping is enough, sir, a gentleman should know how to grope making it look like an accident.

This is why I see more fundamental potential in female protagonists. A female protagonist is only ever one wardrobe change away from lewds happening, can be proactive without it being creepy, and if she's slutty, it's because the player wants it that way.

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

And i just can't get it out of my head that this being done to make the MC appear as a likable/relatable fellow. Being a peepingtom, sleepcreep blackmailer is not so bad all of a sudden compared to the rest. I think this is a classic StarWars school. Everyone in the empire is a complete idiot and no stormtrooper can aim.. so the Rebel Alliance and the witless fool Luke and his gang could "outsmart" them while a single capital ship they could muster outgun the whole imperial fleet.

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I don't disagree. Despite being a trope that is used in a game that I am actively writing, it's one of the ones I very much am tired of. And it is everywhere. And even in games where NOT every other guy is a complete asshole, a not insignificant number of them are. It's often used to make the player look like a hero or to raise the stakes in an artificial way, though not always. But I don't know how many times I can see someone who is an attempted rapist, or drug dealer, or daughter/wife beater without a shred of human Charisma at all. I don't know if I succeed myself in that regard. I hope I do. But I'm sure some will disagree.

Then there is how people react to these idiots. But I'll get to that when I handle "Casual Attempted Rape".

 

[Ennoch]

without a shred of human Charisma at all

This. I'm still waiting for a charismatic main antagonist. I mean when the guy who suppose to be the sole driving force behind a war, invasion, corruption of a whole city, monoplizer of the criminal underworld.. is nothing but a bratty child with constant temper tantrums with a manner of a goon who thinks wearing an armani suit means power. In case of a woman antagonist its Cruella De Vil.

Funny thing is that in movies we so often see that the main antagonist steals the show, with good reason. Gary Oldman once said that playing bad guys is so much more rewarding, much more fun. Well, not in porn games Gary! No Norman Stansfield, Emanuel Zorg or Jack Grimaldi for you to have fun with the girls.
Sean Bean on the other hand. I feel like Sean Bean inspired the whole indie porn game/VN industry. Our dad.. died.

 

[Burt Reynolds Mustache]

This. I'm still waiting for a charismatic main antagonist. I mean when the guy who suppose to be the sole driving force behind a war, invasion, corruption of a whole city, monoplizer of the criminal underworld.. is nothing but a bratty child with constant temper tantrums with a manner of a goon who thinks wearing an armani suit means power. In case of a woman antagonist its Cruella De Vil.

Funny thing is that in movies we so often see that the main antagonist steals the show, with good reason. Gary Oldman once said that playing bad guys is so much more rewarding, much more fun. Well, not in porn games Gary! No Norman Stansfield, Emanuel Zorg or Jack Grimaldi for you to have fun with the girls.
Sean Bean on the other hand. I feel like Sean Bean inspired the whole indie porn game/VN industry. Our dad.. died.

I think that might be because a great actor can make over the top dialog sing. What might be crazy over the top on the page can work and just be a joy if the actor pulls it off (I mean Gary Oldman in the professional is a PERFECT example) they can add the humanity in their performance. In games, we need a lot more of it to come through in the writing. And we don't succeed that often. A lot of times I think that villains seem 3d in our heads (ok, well speaking for myself) but may not come out that way when seen by the player. A villain intended to be a threat and signal darkness in a game might come off as a joke and that can ruin an entire experience.

 

[redknight00]

Nice one, looks like a porn version of Gray v Black Morality, especially this part:

A good litmus test for this trope is as follows:

1. Do the protagonists regularly get away with ruthless or amoral actions?
2. Are they still unquestionably painted as being "on the right side?" By virtue of the other side being worse? Whether the author is successful or not does not matter.

 

[DarthSeduction]

You did it man! ''How to Make An Adult Game 101''.

I lost at this part:
: DDDDD

And btw, Big Brother's mother is still the best fucking satisfying mother ever! I just wanted to say it after I saw her beatiful figure in your post at the op.

And I love BB so much! I just can't help it. :FeelsBadMan:

Edit: And like someone said in the above, BB is the milestone for these kind of games. For the millionth time: I wish it was completed. I can't imagine what would it be with a complete one, even with uncomplete version inspired all those games in this site.

And I think ''bad guy's name is Eric'' is kind of an inside joke for adult games for some time and I like it. Fuck Eric! :FuckYea:

I like the parody version of her from Game Legends more... In BB she is quite literally in need of intensive therapy. Seriously, BB did inspire me, but not because it was great, because of all the things it did wrong.

Both types will happily await visits and attention of the MC without ever taking too much first action themselves.

Is there a female character in a game who does take action themselves?(Obviously there are, I'm writing several of them, but still.)

It's pretty logical: Lewds have to happen. And we can't just have girls randomly get their baps out at the MC, because a) the Player has no sense of doing something, lewds just happen to him, and b) if they just get their baps out like that they're sluts and thus their baps have no value. So it has to be the player doing a thing to the girl for lewds to happen. That's where the peeping and molestation comes in. That makes the MC a pretty horrible guy. But to distract the player from begging for a "fellate a gun" option to pop up, you have to bedazzle the player and appeal his protective instincts by exposing those Retards in Lechertown to even worse guys, and wanting to protect them from this vile lechery. 2 seconds peeping is enough, sir, a gentleman should know how to grope making it look like an accident.

This is why I see more fundamental potential in female protagonists. A female protagonist is only ever one wardrobe change away from lewds happening, can be proactive without it being creepy, and if she's slutty, it's because the player wants it that way.

See, and this is exactly the issue with writing in our current environment. People can't imagine how a female character could be proactive even while the male protagonist has to work for it. The problem isn't that female characters can't be proactive, it's that Male characters have nothing to offer them. It's all creepers and no life dads. If we actually take the time to create an MC with something to offer we can actually have women want them while having them work for it.

I don't care how old your MC is, give them a job, hobby, or goal outside of sex with characters in the game that can be used as leverage in getting into a girls heart. Maybe he's a writer, whatever medium, and the girls in the game are fans or his editor or a character who he writes about and uses his script for something as a sort of love letter to her. There are plenty of ways to make this work, could even be a sandbox harem type situation if you wrote it right, but would likely work best with a small cast of girls where you can get with one or two, but will also definitely alienate others depending on what you write.

The point is, give your MC something to offer aside from a big dick and unlimited semen and you'll have a way to write a game without forcing him to be a sex offender.

 

[ilyo]

Thank for this informative thread, it can give some good ideas about how to manage tropes.
Unfortunately for me, I still can't come up with a full story to use the ideas this give me.