Sandbox/Simulation Gameplay Mechanics?

[DuniX]

What ideas do you have for an Actual Sandbox Game with real Gameplay Mechanics?
Things like life sims, management games? Maybe strategy games?

I find Sandbox games to be pretty boring in the gameplay department. It's all boring grind, especially the "Life Sim" ones.
Even Illusion or Kiss can't make it work even if they are perfect in terms of character customization and sex content.
The best I have seen is brothel/prostitution managers and slave trainers, but even that doesn't have much challenge and gameplay in the long run.

The usual crutch is to add some sort of RPG combat, that can work but I am wondering if there is more we can do then that.

What kind of Mechanics would you like to see in a Life Simulation style Sandbox? Less linear scripted scenes and more actual gameplay with maybe some form of challenge?
Preferably integrating the gameplay into the porn to give it meaning.

 

[Juuda]

While I do enjoy a concept of a sandbox game, one thing that I notice - often it lacks the story, the world doesn't live without a character action. While it's understandable that there is actually no point in putting such effort in animating the world in the porn game to the degree when it becomes independed - I still think that's the main problem of such games.

Basically, a lot of sandbox games feel like a combination of small separate mini-games, stand-alone stories and events connected via common interface of the game.

So the trick is - balancing the freedom of a sandbox adventure wih gameplay mechanics (like crafting, combat, dating, breeding and etc.) and actual story line, or multiple story lines - giving the player the opportunity to choose, if he wants his character to participate in one or another, or not participate at all concentrating on activities of his choice. While the story lines should develop with time even without character actions (like example, the story is going, but the character more occupied bulding his own castle/spaceship and starting his own dynasty, still, the outcome events can change the situation in the world and will put effect on character situation also).

And of course - character creation (ability to choose MC, Fem. Pro or Futa, or species from different races).

The problem - such game will require a good team for creation and a lot of effort.

 

[aspar4gus]

I don't know how to exactly put this into game dev lingo, but so far the kind of H-game that i found to be satisfying in terms of sandbox are actually sex mods of already well-established sandbox game (think of Crusader Kings 2 sexlab mods, Sims 4 mods), so maybe can also find inspiration / reference from normal sandbox games' mechanics and "lewdifying" it

 

[DuniX]

So the trick is - balancing the freedom of a sandbox adventure wih gameplay mechanics (like crafting, combat, dating, breeding and etc.) and actual story line, or multiple story lines - giving the player the opportunity to choose, if he wants his character to participate in one or another, or not participate at all concentrating on activities of his choice. While the story lines should develop with time even without character actions (like example, the story is going, but the character more occupied bulding his own castle/spaceship and starting his own dynasty, still, the outcome events can change the situation in the world and will put effect on character situation also).

I am complete opposite to that, I don't want any defined story.
There are already games like that and they bore me to death, too much meaningless talking not enough porn or game.

I don't know how to exactly put this into game dev lingo, but so far the kind of H-game that i found to be satisfying in terms of sandbox are actually sex mods of already well-established sandbox game (think of Crusader Kings 2 sexlab mods, Sims 4 mods), so maybe can also find inspiration / reference from normal sandbox games' mechanics and "lewdifying" it

I would consider The Sims and CK2 still too limited in terms of gameplay mechanics. They aren't that Dramatic or Challenging for that.

 

[Sphere42]

A sci-fi/fantasy game where you "collect" sexual attributes and body parts to customise characters. Actual "gameplay" can be anything from typical RPG combat or minigames to essentially using the collected parts as equipment in sexual "combat" encounters.

Pornoland Tycoon: manage a porn studio or adult amusement park, pretty self explanatory.

More "normal" life sim game except you are subject to traditionally female societal norms, meaning sex is easy to get but the challenge comes from keeping your public appearance together and/or dealing with the consequences of failing to do so.

Honestly just spitballing sex mods/sex conversions is pretty easy, properly implementing them to satisfy anyone is the hard part. For example OP cites Illusion, they don't provide genital customisation due to censorship and due to that restriction they don't put any work into collision physics either. That's a big no-no when you can titfuck a girl with melons larger than her head with a dick most mares wouldn't be able to take...

 

[Mr. Lemonade]

I find Sandbox games to be pretty boring in the gameplay department.

That's because life isn't full of sex. Any life-simulation game that also strives to be inherently erotic needs to reconcile being a life-simulator with being a game where sex can happen at the beck and call of the player. Hence:

The best I have seen is brothel/prostitution managers and slave trainers

These games are working from an inherently sexual premise. It's much easier to give the player plenty of sexy things to do when you're working towards a sexual conclusion (Build a successful brothel, train a dutiful sex slave). There's a reason why you're having lots the raunchiest kinds sex with tons of different women in these games.

but even that doesn't have much challenge and gameplay in the long run.

It sounds like your main issue here is how progression works out in these games. I've had to ask myself this question recently while working on my own game in my spare time. I'm solving this problem by tieing progression with the player's sexual experience.

In my game, your custom avatar (an anthropomorphic humanoid) develops "sexual vitality" from hunting, breeding, and challenging their rivals. It takes place in a sort of dark-ages like setting. As your breeding potential improves, your character unlocks new position types and kinks that can be tried on any potential mate in the game.

Before long, you earn a reputation for being so well bred you eventually gain access to a harem of mates desperate to be bred by you. On the other hand, if your breeding potential as a mate is too low you may not gain access to some sexual opportunities. If you lose in a fight for example, you also lose sexual potential.

The idea is to make the grind about as relevant (and erotic) to the player as the reward. I'm still working out exactly how best to do this. It's a very interesting problem to try and solve.

 

[Sphere42]

That's because life isn't full of sex. Any life-simulation game that also strives to be inherently erotic needs to reconcile being a life-simulator with being a game where sex can happen at the beck and call of the player.

That's only true for mundane life. Not extraordinary or fantasy life which is most non-porn media depict as well. Even if you're an incel you still have more experience with sex than with fighting orcs or interstellar travel. Or even with being a top manager in an international corporation at least for the vast majority of us.

The idea is to make the grind about as relevant (and erotic) to the player as the reward. I'm still working out exactly how best to do this. It's a very interesting problem to try and solve.

One key point to me as a potential player is to make fetish content optional! Based on your brief description it seems fairly obvious that sex will happen and by the sound of it offering a non-furry version would almost double your art needs but that doesn't mean everyone interested in your game will enjoy gay/lesbian/herm sex, smelling feet, licking assholes, pissing inside their partner or fucking the wound you just tore into an opponent's chest. If you take the notion of "grind" seriously that also excludes massive XP boosts for being more perverted even though they are "technically" optional.

 

[Mr. Lemonade]

Based on your brief description it seems fairly obvious that sex will happen and by the sound of it offering a non-furry version would almost double your art needs but that doesn't mean everyone interested in your game will enjoy gay/lesbian/herm sex, smelling feet, licking assholes, pissing inside their partner or fucking the wound you just tore into an opponent's chest.

That's a good point. I can't get away with gore/vore or waterworks even if I wanted to, but nonetheless on paper it does sound like I'm creating an incentive system that rewards players for being more perverted. I would have to design a feedback system that first allows the player to make it clear what they want to see and what they don't want to see early on. Second, I could give players more space to easily discover content that is consistent with their interests as they play the game.

That's only true for mundane life. Not extraordinary or fantasy life which is most non-porn media depict as well.

I should clarify - Players are attracted to simulation games because they allow them to do whatever they want. However, players also want the world to be believable. Grinding seems to come about as a result of trying to create immersion with tedious and slowly progressing available tasks because that's what they think makes their world more relatable (and thus immersive) and If they added too much challenge, players won't feel as though they have agency. This approach can result in gameplay that might not be as compelling as it could be.

Either way, I think we're talking about bad pacing, and setup more than anything. An uncompelling setup can color how much we enjoy gameplay, even in a life simulation game. If the story is dull, the gameplay won't be compelling either. I think developers can run into this issue regardless if they're set in a realistic setting or a fantasy setting.

 

[DuniX]

That's because life isn't full of sex. Any life-simulation game that also strives to be inherently erotic needs to reconcile being a life-simulator with being a game where sex can happen at the beck and call of the player. Hence:

Life is boring with or without Sex. Sex itself doesn't have much point other than being a reward.
But to be a Reward you need to lock it behind a "Challenge". And in most games that is just boring linear progression.
I want Good Gameplay if Sex is going to be a Reward. Heck I even want Sex to be Actual Gameplay instead of just being a Reward.

However, players also want the world to be believable.

Internal consistency doesn't mean you can't have whatever magical or fantasy premise. There really is no limit to the setting and what you can do, worst case you isolate the area in the middle of bumblefuck nowhere and add a mysterious past.
Not to mention the complete Isekai or Fantasy or Sci-Fi settings.

Grinding seems to come about as a result of trying to create immersion with tedious and slowly progressing available tasks because that's what they think makes their world more relatable (and thus immersive)

No. It's because they have No Idea on what Gameplay Mechanics they can implement for this type of games. To some extent that is fair since the Porn is the most important content.
Some even consider themselves writers, but I personally can't stand writing in Porn games, it is always cringy as fuck to me and I can never take it seriously.
Since Writing is not an option to me my only other option is Actual Gameplay. Thus the point of the thread.

If they added too much challenge, players won't feel as though they have agency.

Define "Challenge" and how would that impede Agency? In Real Games it's through Player Agency how they Resolve Challenges.

This approach can result in gameplay that might not be as compelling as it could be.

That's more about the absence of gameplay in the first place.

Either way, I think we're talking about bad pacing, and setup more than anything.

Sure Setup and Progression is important, but it's also about the actual Gameplay Mechanics.
The Setting is there to facilitate the Mechanics. Mind Control, Magic, Technology, Super Powers, whatever.
Progression is getting more Power to tackle bigger challenges.

 

[Joraell]

That is problem....

There is almost no really true sandbox game in proper AAA industry.
That sandobx games in Adult industry are 99% just linear games with map like mine. ( I'm 100% honest ).

All sandbox games was done by modders not by studio itself.

 

[DuniX]

There is almost no really true sandbox game in proper AAA industry.

Why would you expect them to?
It's up to us enterprising developers and the power of Porn to boldly fuck where no one has fucked before.
After all if it doesn't work out that well you still got porn.

 

[Joraell]

Why would you expect them to?
It's up to us enterprising developers and the power of Porn to boldly fuck where no one has fucked before.
After all if it doesn't work out that well you still got porn.

I was just talking about the difference. On adult games mostly working one to maybe 50 people maximum? On AAA titles working thousands of people and not able to do.

 

[LewdCatgirl]

The biggest thing is that I'd suggest you put in long term goals *involving* sex, rather than long term goals requires to *get* to the sex. Like if you can prostitute yourself for cash you need to achieve long term goals, get pregnant lots and train your children as apprentices that support you, etc that works better than having to grind kissing forever to be able to finally have the sex.

As for making those long term goals feel more meaningful I think one route is to give the player moral/philosophical choices about their long term goals. Like maybe you're raising money for a cause and you select the cause(s) you support in the game or you can choose whether you're gathering sex mana to support or oppose a group of sorcerer's bid at immortality, etc. I feel that sort of thing makes people more committed to and more rewarded by the process of grinding.

 

[Mr. Lemonade]

Internal consistency doesn't mean you can't have whatever magical or fantasy premise.

I agree with that. When I said believability I meant more in terms of and how relatable the characters are within the world they live in. Characters, even in a fantasy setting, need to behave in a way that you would imagine someone might behave given the situation they're in and the rules that have been set up. I can understand how it can become difficult to offer players massive amounts of sexual options while maintaining this believability.

From what I can tell, this problem tends to be solved by gameplay mechanics that come off as a bit grindy. I'm not saying that this approach is any good, but I understand how developers ended up designing their life-sim games this way.

Some even consider themselves writers, but I personally can't stand writing in Porn games, it is always cringy as fuck to me and I can never take it seriously. Since Writing is not an option to me my only other option is Actual Gameplay. Thus the point of the thread.

Some players prefer more story tho. There is a poster here who says that he thinks sandbox games actually don't tend to have enough story. It depends on what you value in a game. In something like Summertime Saga, I always considered gameplay to be any moment that gives the player agency. Dialogue choices, branching paths, etc. It sounds like you might be talking more in a conventional sense? RPG mechanics, combat, etc? If so then yeah, I agree. There aren't as many porn games out there that offer those mechanics. If you're not into story then it could be difficult to find a game that you're into.

Define "Challenge" and how would that impede Agency?

Fail states and not knowing where to go etc. After enough of this, players can feel stuck. Hence the loss of agency.

 

[DuniX]

It sounds like you might be talking more in a conventional sense? RPG mechanics, combat, etc? If so then yeah, I agree. There aren't as many porn games out there that offer those mechanics.

Pretty much. Strategy, management, rpg.
With the exception of combat as that is kinda a cop-out and we already know how combat works.

 

[aspar4gus]

What ideas do you have for an Actual Sandbox Game with real Gameplay Mechanics?
Things like life sims, management games? Maybe strategy games?

just realized that you also mentioned that you were looking for game ideas and i had written one before that may actually fit in said sandbox genre, maybe this can also help spark some ideas:
https://f95zone.to/threads/noahs-new-ark-game-idea-open-for-anyone-who-want-to-make-it.51786/