Definitely not the emotional equivalent of NTR. The MC wins: a better version of himself, and the love of someone worthy of loving and being loved. He certainly doesn't lose her to another or experience betrayal. That's a different kind of pain entirely.
Most players play AVNs as a sort of wish fulfillment... they don't want any pain or aggro with their porn. Some of the denizens of this list are eccentric... but most of the players on this site would not touch a tragic AVN -- or even an AVN with a tragic sub-plot -- with a barge pole.
Since you took the time to answer my semi-facetious comment, might as well clear up a misconception: so, the appeal(?) of NTR is explicitly about the experience of betrayal, not loss? Fair point then, that
is a quite different pain.
A genuine question to those who do like NTR stories:
Is it a masochistic appeal born from empathy with the PC, a sadistic pleasure of watching someone unworthy experiencing betrayal or more akin to, say, watching a classic tragedy and experiencing catharsis after a catastrophe? Or varying depending on mood / personal predilection?
There's also something strange that can happen when someone who loves you unconditionally dies: they stay with you, and can become an immense source of strength, particularly in dark times. After all, if Mr. or Ms. X thought you were worthy of love... then maybe Y or Z dark moments aren't so bad. You're never quite alone. (Not sure if this makes me sound romantic or nuts, but it's true in my experience.)
I'd agree, but that's a perspective that requires distance and reflection (possible therapy too). If the protagonist is reminiscing about that part of his life in a couple of years, he might be able to think back with thankfulness for getting a second chance he didn't deserve and experience something transforming, no matter how painful, that ultimately will have changed him for he better.
But - depending on the nature and timing of the death - I'd imagine the immediate impact is more likely to throw an already shaky vehicle completely off it's tracks (if you'll pardon the tortured car metaphor) - survivor's guilt, depression, shame about all the time they've missed because he couldn't get his head out of his own ass, etc.
Finally, no -- there's no sub-genre of tragic AVNs. How do I know? Well, (A) because jufot would have a bunch of them on his list, and (B) they would be commercial disasters.
Most players play AVNs as a sort of wish fulfillment... they don't want any pain or aggro with their porn. Some of the denizens of this list are eccentric... but most of the players on this site would not touch a tragic AVN -- or even an AVN with a tragic sub-plot -- with a barge pole.
I'd argue that many of Ebi-Hime's games (represented on jufot's list with End of an Actress and Salome's Kiss) are tragic and can't be fully enjoyed without either a) empathy with flawed characters or b) a more abstract appreciation for misery.
While I'd agree that many are more likely to look for wish fulfillment or specific kinks in their AVNs I'm increasingly hesitant of assuming to know why and in which way others enjoy the things they do / that they enjoy them for similar reasons as mine.
So I'll let jufot answer for themself. @ jufot: Mind to reiterate? What
do you specifically like about Ebi-Hime's stories (and other tragic AVNs if you can think of more good examples, whether they constitute their own subgenre or not)?
Empathy, misery - masochistic/sadistic?, catharsis? Their approach to an unusual subject matter (for AVNs), all of the above, something else entirely, non-generalizable and specific to each story?
Also, is Salome's Kiss the emotional equivalent of NTR
(since it actually is about betrayal)?
![Stick out tongue :p :p](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)