Super Hero Games? What are Your Thoughts?

[Twistedrem]

Greetings, smutty hivemind!

I'm currently working on my first game. It's a neo noir super hero story-- with a healthy dose of eroticism, of course, because HEY, we all know why we're here, amirite?

What're your thoughts on supers-themed games? Your likes, your dislikes? Are there any unique pitfalls you've encountered when it comes to super heroic themes and erotic fiction? Any apparent strengths the genre lends to the medium of the visual novel?

I've only seen a couple games in this particular sub-genre, so. I thought I'd try and get some input.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kytee]

Please no mind control? Is probably the most boring superpower as far as porn superhero games are concerned. Besides, you can do that without the superhero theme.

 

[Twistedrem]

Please no mind control? Is probably the most boring superpower as far as porn superhero games are concerned. Besides, you can do that without the superhero theme.

I feel you. I can say this much: The game will have mind control, but not as a main theme, and it's not planned as part of the protag's power-set. What mind control is there is going to be treated as a hideous violation, dark as fuck, not "fun and games and mind rape for the lols!"

 

[Zippity]

Greetings, smutty hivemind!

I'm currently working on my first game. It's a neo noir super hero story-- with a healthy dose of eroticism, of course, because HEY, we all know why we're here, amirite?

What're your thoughts on supers-themed games? Your likes, your dislikes? Are there any unique pitfalls you've encountered when it comes to super heroic themes and erotic fiction? Any apparent strengths the genre lends to the medium of the visual novel?

I've only seen a couple games in this particular sub-genre, so. I thought I'd try and get some input.

Thanks in advance!

Well, I've tried most of the Super Hero/Villain based erotic VN/Games (outside of any Japanese imports) I've run across here and elsewhere... Some had great potential and eventually abandoned, others were some of the most grind based games available, and others were far more porn focused then having any kind of meaningful and/or deep stories in them...

Others have already mentioned some things others have already tried... Someone mentioned to avoid Mind Control, but I think it's a matter of how it's handled... The problem you typically find is that the Mind Control Power/Ability you typically see is more or less just a cheap way of running a Corruption game... While I do like corruption, it needs to be handled right, and not be so quick to influence... Some VN/Games have used Chemical Based Mind Control, also as a method of Corruption, but again they fall into the pit of having the corruption occur to easily and too fast... So, what do I think about Corruption as a tool and/or power in a Super Hero/Villain themed VN/Game, again it depends on how it's handled, but it's really already been done before...

If you plan to have a grind style, try to avoid it being too repetitive... I would like to see Grind Styles where if you have to have some repetitiveness, add lots and lots of random variation so it doesn't get so tiresome to read, watch, or skip through it... The grind style to definitely avoid is the Stat Grinder of Superpowered... That game's stat grind is horrible... I've seen it used in some other VN/Games, and it's horrible no matter what game it was used in...

If you are going the mostly Visual Novel route, offer lots of options, but be careful... Because the trouble some developers run into with offering lots of story choices in order to make it seem as though stuff isn't so linear, is ensuring continuity... Having lots of choices that alters the story time line and branches off onto lots and lots of mini-story lines (regardless if they lead back to a main line, lead into multiple endings, or just intertwine) is avoiding confusion and plot holes and so on... Pre-Planning and story outlines can help with that...

Work out your game mechanics problems early on, so as to not have to constantly bug fix rather then content create as time goes on...

Don't go overboard on the visuals... Like over the top muscles, or over sized penis', or breasts that defy gravity, or breasts that would make you have constant back problems, etc...

Heck, having a Female Protagonist that isn't the constant victim but instead is treated just like how a male protagonist is typically treated, being in control of her own destiny, not the sex toy of every person with a heart beat...

Zip

 

[Avaron1974]

I haven't liked most of those i've played but two, Superheroes Suck and C.L.I.T, seems really good so far.

Depends on powers and shit.

I hate mind control in these games, it's overdone and boring. I'v seen it all before.

 

[Twistedrem]

others were far more porn focused then having any kind of meaningful and/or deep stories in them...

Characters are a huge focus for me. This is definitely going to be "plot with porn" rather than "porn with plot". I mean, I'm sure not everyone's into that, but this is definitely planned as being more than easy fap material.

The problem you typically find is that the Mind Control Power/Ability you typically see is more or less just a cheap way of running a Corruption game

Right, I hear you. No spoilers, but mind control is going to be used very sparingly. When it does come around, it's going to be an "OH, SHIT" sort of moment, not some cheap gimmick. The scenario I have envisioned which involves it will have serious consequences, and it'll feed into the larger themes of the game. None of this "Fall before my mental might and suck this diiiiiiiick." I'm not into that. It grosses me out, honestly.

If you are going the mostly Visual Novel route, offer lots of options, but be careful

This will sort of address your next few points all in one.*Clears throat*

Grinding's not my thing. There will be absolutely no stat-grinding whatsoever. This will purely be a visual novel. (Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but no game can be all things to all people, so.) Choices will make up the majority of the gameplay. There will be obvious decision branches-- door "a" rather than "b", so to speak-- but there will also be a system in which certain decisions will have an affect on the MCs mental state and worldview. At various points, you'll be prompted to choose the MC's internal reaction to events, which will raise one of a number of stats. Depending on your dominant mental stat at certain points in the game, different scenes will trigger. (There will likely be an affection score type system for the heroines, as well, but I haven't made a final decision on that just yet.)

Don't go overboard on the visuals

Right. This is definitely going to be heavily influenced by the ins and outs of comic books, so a lot of the supers in-setting are going to have "fantasy" type proportions, to a point, but it'll be more subdued, more within realistic bounds. Normies will have more typical physiques, generally speaking. Nothing too over the top / gross, unless being gross is the point.

Heck, having a Female Protagonist that isn't the constant victim but instead is treated just like how a male protagonist is typically treated, being in control of her own destiny, not the sex toy of every person with a heart beat...

This is a huge deal for me. Like I said, this is meant to be "plot with porn" (and spandex, I suppose. ) So yeah. Characters have to be handled with nuance and given some goddamn agency. The heroines will have their own wants, needs, etc. Honestly, I'm considering having a route in there where there's no sexytime whatsoever, but I don't know how into that people would be. In any case: characters come first. I'm not interested in making a game where the ladies are just Daz-issue fap-bait and little else.

Whew! Thanks for giving such earnest feedback. Wanted to try and respond in kind.

 

[SpikeZg]

Hate them, just like incest games

 

[Twistedrem]

I hate mind control in these games, it's overdone and boring.

I'll take that as a challenge! Nah, but like I've said before, I generally despise that shit, but I also felt like I couldn't get away from it entirely, given the larger context of the game I have planned. But I think people will appreciate the way it's handled in my game. We'll see! Feel free to drag me relentlessly if it's ultimately disappointing.

 

[Twistedrem]

Hate them, just like incest games

Oof! That's fair, though. Definitely not going to be for everyone. I can say there's no incest planned for this one, so. There's that.

 

[Zippity]

This is a huge deal for me. Like I said, this is meant to be "plot with porn" (and spandex, I suppose. ) So yeah. Characters have to be handled with nuance and given some goddamn agency. The heroines will have their own wants, needs, etc. Honestly, I'm considering having a route in there where there's no sexytime whatsoever, but I don't know how into that people would be. In any case: characters come first. I'm not interested in making a game where the ladies are just Daz-issue fap-bait and little else.

If you want to have a path with no sexual content, by all means do it, as it's your baby to do with as you please... I would probably warn folks up front, that it's an option... Just so they are aware of it before hand, as I would hate to have some reader/player download it expecting erotic content, and make all the wrong decisions and never see any... They would probably be upset... hehe...

Zip

 

[Felicityskye]

I've always wanted and still look out for superhero themed VN and or games. For me personally, in general regardless of theme, if it has a well written story I am in.

Like a few people have already said, mind control isn't that high on the list. If the villain is the MC I would rather see actual corruption like the Darkseid ending from Injustice 2 where he basically "broke" and corrupted Supergirl to finally be on his side, instead of mind controlling her.

My ideal Superhero themed VN/game would be something as ambitious as Being A DIK in terms of choices. Molding your hero to be the perfect boyscout who romances the heroines. Or becoming a villain and corrupting the heroines a long the way.

Basically I want a superhero story VN/game where you can choose to be good "Superman" or Injustice "Superman", no mind control needed with a "super" man. lol

 

[Twistedrem]

I've always wanted and still look out for superhero themed VN and or games. For me personally, in general regardless of theme, if it has a well written story I am in.

Like a few people have already said, mind control isn't that high on the list. If the villain is the MC I would rather see actual corruption like the Darkseid ending from Injustice 2 where he basically "broke" and corrupted Supergirl to finally be on his side, instead of mind controlling her.

My ideal Superhero themed VN/game would be something as ambitious as Being A DIK in terms of choices. Molding your hero to be the perfect boyscout who romances the heroines. Or becoming a villain and corrupting the heroines a long the way.

Basically I want a superhero story VN/game where you can choose to be good "Superman" or Injustice "Superman", no mind control needed with a "super" man. lol

You'll be gifted powers shortly after the game begins, in a world where the villainess has already won. You will be most likely forced to be some sort of hero, but you'll be able to choose your own motivations, and you'll be able to decide how far you want to go to achieve your ends. So, the comparison between true Superman and Injustice Superman probably isn't too far off. Lol

Ideally, this will be a pretty involved, choice heavy game. Each release will be structured as though it were an issue of a comic book, with each of them making up smaller pieces of larger arcs, and those arcs slowly building towards the conclusion of the overall story.

I'm between jobs right now, stuck in lockdown because I'm high risk for Covid 19. So, for better or worse, I've got time to devote to this fucking thing. We'll see how it goes!

 

[Felicityskye]

You'll be gifted powers shortly after the game begins, in a world where the villainess has already won. You will be most likely forced to be some sort of hero, but you'll be able to choose your own motivations, and you'll be able to decide how far you want to go to achieve your ends. So, the comparison between true Superman and Injustice Superman probably isn't too far off. Lol

Ideally, this will be a pretty involved, choice heavy game. Each release will be structured as though it were an issue of a comic book, with each of them making up smaller pieces of larger arcs, and those arcs slowly building towards the conclusion of the overall story.

I'm between jobs right now, stuck in lockdown because I'm high risk for Covid 19. So, for better or worse, I've got time to devote to this fucking thing. We'll see how it goes!

Love the premise already! Like you said we'll see how it goes, and I definitely hope it goes well!

 

[Karnon254332]

Greetings, smutty hivemind!

I'm currently working on my first game. It's a neo noir super hero story-- with a healthy dose of eroticism, of course, because HEY, we all know why we're here, amirite?

What're your thoughts on supers-themed games? Your likes, your dislikes? Are there any unique pitfalls you've encountered when it comes to super heroic themes and erotic fiction? Any apparent strengths the genre lends to the medium of the visual novel?

I've only seen a couple games in this particular sub-genre, so. I thought I'd try and get some input.

Thanks in advance!

Sure, that sounds fun! I would, however, like to ask about the genre though: would it be some sort of porn parody, or totally original? I am just as happy to play story-oriented porn games and pretty porn games, but there are always expectations for either.
This is Karnon, a self-righteous fapper, signing off.

 

[anne O'nymous]

What're your thoughts on supers-themed games? Your likes, your dislikes? Are there any unique pitfalls you've encountered when it comes to super heroic themes and erotic fiction? Any apparent strengths the genre lends to the medium of the visual novel?

That they tend to all sucks really hard.
In top of what was already mentioned (grinding, fuck feast, ...), what bother me the most is the lame writing of those games.

You're a super-hero, flamboyant, straight as an i, as beautiful as a living Apollo, and everyone admire you, because you are admirable ; in short, you're the Hollywood definition of a super-hero. Then, once you come back at home, you go to your basement and become nothing more than a vile pervert who forgot all the virtues he have and preach outside of his home.
I'm totally aware that you can be a paragon of virtues at day, and a dominant sadist in the bed, but it's not two separate personalities. It's what you are and each face of your personality have an influence on the other. Therefore, firstly you don't capture your future slaves, nor turn them into sex slavery against their will. And secondly, whatever how sadistic you've been during your (consensual) sessions, you at least ask your partner if she's alright, if she need something ; simply because it's who you are.

And more or less the same can be said about the super bad guys. Once out of the bed, they are generally way too soft compared to what they are in bed. They meticulously plan their action, study their prey, capture them secretly, and all. Then, once in their basement, they act like pure beast who don't even have a brain.
Either they are cold sadists, and have refined tortures, or they don't care to be caught capturing their future slaves. Here again, they can't be both at the same time.

The rare exceptions are the stories where the characters are just sexually active. But those are exceptions. Apparently, writers tend to think that, if they go really big on their character abilities, they also have to go really big on their perversion.

 

[desmosome]

I'd like a good or evil protag with a really shitty power that uses it in clever ways to bang chicks and defeat their enemies.

 

[Twistedrem]

Sure, that sounds fun! I would, however, like to ask about the genre though: would it be some sort of porn parody, or totally original? I am just as happy to play story-oriented porn games and pretty porn games, but there are always expectations for either.
This is Karnon, a self-righteous fapper, signing off.

This is envisioned much more as a serious narrative, with characters who are sexually active. There will be some characters who are more heavily influenced by archetypes, but not in the sense of a parody. At most, familiar elements will serve as a form of homage, if not a deconstruction.

 

[Twistedrem]

That they tend to all sucks really hard.
In top of what was already mentioned (grinding, fuck feast, ...), what bother me the most is the lame writing of those games.

You're a super-hero, flamboyant, straight as an i, as beautiful as a living Apollo, and everyone admire you, because you are admirable ; in short, you're the Hollywood definition of a super-hero. Then, once you come back at home, you go to your basement and become nothing more than a vile pervert who forgot all the virtues he have and preach outside of his home.
I'm totally aware that you can be a paragon of virtues at day, and a dominant sadist in the bed, but it's not two separate personalities. It's what you are and each face of your personality have an influence on the other. Therefore, firstly you don't capture your future slaves, nor turn them into sex slavery against their will. And secondly, whatever how sadistic you've been during your (consensual) sessions, you at least ask your partner if she's alright, if she need something ; simply because it's who you are.

And more or less the same can be said about the super bad guys. Once out of the bed, they are generally way too soft compared to what they are in bed. They meticulously plan their action, study their prey, capture them secretly, and all. Then, once in their basement, they act like pure beast who don't even have a brain.
Either they are cold sadists, and have refined tortures, or they don't care to be caught capturing their future slaves. Here again, they can't be both at the same time.

The rare exceptions are the stories where the characters are just sexually active. But those are exceptions. Apparently, writers tend to think that, if they go really big on their character abilities, they also have to go really big on their perversion.

All that shit bothers me immensely, so no. This won't be anything like all that. This is meant as a psychological character piece with action elements, wherein characters also fuck, because sex is rad, and sex when you have superpowers is even more rad.

Your character is angry at the world after a personal loss. You'll have a chance to decide if you're out to affect change, get revenge, or just survive. You'll also be able to decide if you're more of a paragon, like Superman, or more of a violent anti-hero. No straight-up villain route, most likely.

 

[Twistedrem]

I'd like a good or evil protag with a really shitty power that uses it in clever ways to bang chicks and defeat their enemies.

You won't be using your powers to bang people who otherwise wouldn't have you. That's not something I'm interested in. It could happen to you, or other characters, but rapey protags are not my thing. (What sexual violence does happen, I'm considering a skip option for. Not sure yet.)

If you mean using your powers to have sex in interesting, kinky ways that normies can't, then hell yeah, absolutely.

 

[DawnCry]

Personally the only game in which so far I liked the mind control theme would be Total seduction by mike Velesk, albeit it was a bit too fast, but overall as a game it was quite solid.

About the superhero game VN that you wanna make... my main issue with Visual novels is that most people literally don't know how to write and create horrible developments, even more they tend to be farming in a different way.

A typical visual novel I can find can be said to be "choose the right option to earn points/improve relationship" while choosing the bad one is just bad, while a true story is much more complex, with flags about relationships that will be remembered in the future and that people will take into account what you said.

An example of what I mean:

An amazon appears and says "all males should be slaves!", options:
-Yeah! (+1 relationship)
-Never! (-1 relationship)

A bad visual novel only cares that you get the +1 relationship, even if it isn't consistent with your future actions, while a good visual novel would reward you for actually building a consistent character and the penalty may end up being a reward in the future.