Something I'd like to find out to improve my game

[dreamwhizz]

Hey guys! I'm Dreamwhizz, the creator of a H game called Warrior's Quest VX.

After playing a few adult games, I've found that most of them have some narrating or description during the sex scenes while my game is more focused on the animation. So since I'm trying to improve my game for future demo release, I'd like to know which you guys think is the more important feature for a sex scene in a game.

Your feedbacks are much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Adabelitoo]

What do you mean by "narrating or description during the sex scenes"?

If you mean a description of what they are doing or things/detail during the act like "she was holding her moans to hide her pleasure but her face left little to the imagination", then I'd say it's the classic "Show, don't tell". Focus on a better animation and all those things will be implied anyway.

If you mean dirty talk or arousing dialogues, then I'd prefer to focus on Dialogues/Narrations because sex scenes tend to be pretty short anyway and a good dirty talk can make a short animation feel way much longer and hotter.

 

[woody554]

I think the idea of the scene in relation to the kink is what matters. the context and how the scene relates to that. no babble is gonna fix the lack of sexual tension.

 

[Fatalmasterpiece]

You need a balance. There are games like Corruption of Champions with no graphics at all that do such a good job of setting up a scene that they are still entertaining. Setting up the scene is most important. Remember the Golden rule. Wanting is better than having. You need to make the player want something enough that the pay off is worth it. In games like CoC you literally have to fight your way to the good scenes.

On the other end is the visual aspect. Of course the higher the quality of animation the better but at a certain point you're just making plotless gonzo scenes like an old Hustler DVD that feel empty besides the gratuitous action.

The key is to have the best quality of both at the right times.

 

[dreamwhizz]

What do you mean by "narrating or description during the sex scenes"?

If you mean a description of what they are doing or things/detail during the act like "she was holding her moans to hide her pleasure but her face left little to the imagination", then I'd say it's the classic "Show, don't tell". Focus on a better animation and all those things will be implied anyway.

If you mean dirty talk or arousing dialogues, then I'd prefer to focus on Dialogues/Narrations because sex scenes tend to be pretty short anyway and a good dirty talk can make a short animation feel way much longer and hotter.

I think the idea of the scene in relation to the kink is what matters. the context and how the scene relates to that. no babble is gonna fix the lack of sexual tension.

You need a balance. There are games like Corruption of Champions with no graphics at all that do such a good job of setting up a scene that they are still entertaining. Setting up the scene is most important. Remember the Golden rule. Wanting is better than having. You need to make the player want something enough that the pay off is worth it. In games like CoC you literally have to fight your way to the good scenes.

On the other end is the visual aspect. Of course the higher the quality of animation the better but at a certain point you're just making plotless gonzo scenes like an old Hustler DVD that feel empty besides the gratuitous action.

The key is to have the best quality of both at the right times.

By narrating/description I mean the details of what they're doing during that particular scene. Currently in my game there's only dialogues and animations. I think the build up to the scene is there, but since I'm not that creative in the writing department, dialogues during the scenes seems to be a bit on the short side and not very interesting.

And thanks for the feedback. Do you guys have any recommendation on games that have a good scene writing that I can play and get ideas from? Gonna look up and play Corruption of Champions first. Hehe.

 

[desmosome]

Animation without any text to go along with it is pretty much worthless as a scene. Who would sit there and watch a 3 second loop of "in and out" for long enough to fap? I often see noob devs make scenes that end in 3 clicks because they think their janky animation would carry the weight. It really doesn't by itself.

A well constructed scene involves proper buildup throughout the game (sexual tension), a good lead up to the scene (setting, circumstances, foreplay), and some sex dialogues or well crafted erotic narration during the sex. Adding animations on top of this is always welcome, of course.

Now, the dialogues during the actual sex kind of depends on the genre and fetishes. Corruption and other hardcore tags live and die by the sex talks during the scene. For vanilla sex, it doesn't hinge on the dialogue as much, and it even might detract from the quality sometimes (banal banter or cringe "humor" during vanilla sex, for example).

 

[LewdSinner]

Both, but if I had to choose, animation.

Animation is very important.

 

[DanThaMan]

In my opinion dialogue is the most important factor in all situations, if the game has bad writing i just quit that shit straight away.

 

[Basilicata]

Each aims to a different crowd.
Text lovers are more reader type. They like sophisticated games, not the hit and run type.
Animation lovers are not fans of reading much. They might have a language barrier or maybe they want a quick fap.

My opinion? There are some people that want to hear dirty words even during the sex act. Some paid for phone sex.
That means that words are more powerful not only animation but even the sex act itself.

Anyone can make a good animation with practice. Few can make you cum with words.

Examples? Corruption of Champions, Good Girl Gone Bad and many more.

 

[Jaike]

By narrating/description I mean the details of what they're doing during that particular scene. Currently in my game there's only dialogues and animations. I think the build up to the scene is there, but since I'm not that creative in the writing department, dialogues during the scenes seems to be a bit on the short side and not very interesting.

I think a frugal mix of narration and dialogue is desirable. Just use the narration for describing action and such, not exploring other characters' thoughts, and keep the dialogue within reasonable bounds. The scene doesn't have to be long and it is alright if the style is unadorned. Lots of synonyms, slang and erotica clichés like "basking in the afterglow of an orgasm" are best avoided. Your scene will only be better if you omit gems like "trouser snake" and "custard cannon".

 

[anne O'nymous]

By narrating/description I mean the details of what they're doing during that particular scene.

Don't all players of Visual Novel are expected to see ? Even me, who's astigmatic, near sighted and far sighted (thanks to my age), can tell what I see on the screen. I can't always read what is wrote (it depend of the font and its size), but seeing that the guy is ball deep into the girl's ass, and biting her neck while fondling her left breast, this I have no problem ; not just because I'm a pervert.

If you need to narrate what they are doing in a scene, then you totally failed your CGs. And this especially apply for a game that, I quote you, "is more focused on the animation". With static CGs, it can be needed to narrate that he's going fast, rough, or that he punctually kiss her. But with animations, why tell what we are supposed to see ?
Therefore, in this case what you need to do, in order to improve the sex scenes in your game, is to redo all their CGs, in order for them to correspond to the action.
It's only my opinion, but I know that it's a shared one, but CGs that don't correspond to what is happening are really, really annoying. They don't just kill the mood, they tend to kill the interest I could have had for the game.

 

[imelman]

From what I generally experience, a product with no writing often has to you know, put something else, like a self-contained action experience, but that now often, if not always, into non-sexual territory, since seeing sex acts and nothing else is boring and has no personal, let alone distant investment into a work if we have no one to root for at all.

There's works with an interesting design, only to be put down by bad writing, and then there's good writing, but seriously hurt by other elements, like bugs in case of games, or terrible music for example. But when you have great writing, design, music and so on, they all form a great melody that will make a mark in many for sure, myself included. Extras, such as voices, animations and such are not necessary, depending on design, but there's always a place for any of them, as long it is done properly and not in a matter that actually hurts it, like bad voice acting - if you are likely to do it badly, then don't do it at all.

So yes, a good writing is a groundwork for a product to function. A particularly good one can end up raise questions beyond the product itself, which in itself a sign you succeeded at making a solid product. No cliches, nothing that comes off as generic better good versus weak evil, and you can start what you think of. But I admit, life can make that stall up until you have free time and courage to even do any of that, if anything.

 

[Rafster]

I think a combination of both is good. Narration can be good to give context of actions that happen before or after the scene, while dialogues add more..ugh, how I would say it...hotness? to the scene.

Good dirty dialogs add more spice to the scene for me...but I guess I'm more like a reader type.

 

[dreamwhizz]

Now, the dialogues during the actual sex kind of depends on the genre and fetishes. Corruption and other hardcore tags live and die by the sex talks during the scene. For vanilla sex, it doesn't hinge on the dialogue as much, and it even might detract from the quality sometimes (banal banter or cringe "humor" during vanilla sex, for example).

I'll keep this in mind, thanks!

Anyone can make a good animation with practice. Few can make you cum with words.

This is very true, sir. Thank you!

I think a frugal mix of narration and dialogue is desirable. Just use the narration for describing action and such, not exploring other characters' thoughts, and keep the dialogue within reasonable bounds. The scene doesn't have to be long and it is alright if the style is unadorned. Lots of synonyms, slang and erotica clichés like "basking in the afterglow of an orgasm" are best avoided. Your scene will only be better if you omit gems like "trouser snake" and "custard cannon".

I'll try to remember that. Thanks!

If you need to narrate what they are doing in a scene, then you totally failed your CGs. And this especially apply for a game that, I quote you, "is more focused on the animation". With static CGs, it can be needed to narrate that he's going fast, rough, or that he punctually kiss her. But with animations, why tell what we are supposed to see ?
Therefore, in this case what you need to do, in order to improve the sex scenes in your game, is to redo all their CGs, in order for them to correspond to the action.
It's only my opinion, but I know that it's a shared one, but CGs that don't correspond to what is happening are really, really annoying. They don't just kill the mood, they tend to kill the interest I could have had for the game.

I think you have a point there. Thanks for the feedback!

So yes, a good writing is a groundwork for a product to function. A particularly good one can end up raise questions beyond the product itself, which in itself a sign you succeeded at making a solid product. No cliches, nothing that comes off as generic better good versus weak evil, and you can start what you think of. But I admit, life can make that stall up until you have free time and courage to even do any of that, if anything.

Thanks, yeah you're right. I'm working on my game only during my free time, so it's either complete it quickly before people lose interest or take my time and risk people forgetting about my game.

Good dirty dialogs add more spice to the scene for me...but I guess I'm more like a reader type.

I should practice on my dialogue writing then. Thank you for the vote!

 

[Biceptual]

I don't want the MC telling me what he's doing or what he's feeling during a sex scene. I don't mind actual dialogue during sex, as appropriate.

 

[dreamwhizz]

I don't want the MC telling me what he's doing or what he's feeling during a sex scene. I don't mind actual dialogue during sex, as appropriate.

Yeah, I think that'd be weird. Thanks for your input

 

[Biceptual]

Yeah, I actually played a game recently, where the MC narration was saying what he was feeling and even how his partner was reacting, like it was a story.