Thoughts on images in HTML/text-based games?

[snuffhusband]

HTML is my favorite kind of erotic game format, but I feel like a lot of them shoot themselves in the feet by putting random images they find on adult photoshoot websites in them. I think if you're a good writer, the images aren't necessary, and if you're really good at formatting, images aren't even preferable- but even if you want/need images, it'd be nice to have them be toggleable. What do y'all think about images in HTML games? Do they help the imagination for you, or are they just kind of in the way sometimes?

 

[Brosewood]

From a player perspective I'm not big on images unless they are consistent. It's far from a deal breaker, but I'm pretty unlikely to click on a real porn game unless it looks really interesting. I think the 'Hard Times to Hornstown/Female Agent' approach to images is the best for these kinds of games. Those games will have a character image to the side whilst providing text.

As a creator, I'm even less of a fan. I find it restricts my creativity as I have to find images that fit whatever scenario/character. I like to think my writing is good enough to stand on its own. That being said, it is quite a bit harder to attract an audience without any images, which is certainly a reason why I'm considering integrating some in my next game.

 

[snuffhusband]

As a creator, I'm even less of a fan. I find it restricts my creativity as I have to find images that fit whatever scenario/character. I like to think my writing is good enough to stand on its own. That being said, it is quite a bit harder to attract an audience without any images, which is certainly a reason why I'm considering integrating some in my next game.

*Nods*, I hear that. It's a shame that people tend to go towards games with images they like and pass up any games that might not be so visually engaging but have interesting things in them regardless. I guess I understand it, the preference for image-based games, but I just don't agree with it

 

[MissCougar]

I think if you don't have consistent art, I'd rather there be no art. Also don't just steal other people's art and throw it in your game (AI has made this less prevalent though). I also dislike the games that pull porn clips together to try to convey something. Like I'm playing a game or reading something because I don't like to see real people making out it getting it on.

So I do my job and just ignore those titles.

 

[Saerwen]

I prefer text based games without random images.

 

[Chiakipus]

Images that actually fit to the text are great, but yeah, random gifs that make little to no sense in the context are really annoying. I can just go to redgifs if I want that.

 

[Bangwe]

imagine a world where everyone can read and understand english ... personally , english is not my native language , so i need images or videos to illustrate what I find difficult to read ( translations into my language are even worse )

 

[MissCougar]

imagine a world where everyone can read and understand english ... personally , english is not my native language , so i need images or videos to illustrate what I find difficult to read ( translations into my language are even worse )

Honestly it seems like if this is the case you would want to avoid English text based games. Like, you may not be the target audience.

I love anime but I don't exactly even try to understand what's going on in an untranslated Japanese book/manga even with pictures. And if I'm just there for the pictures, they better be good pictures and not just stolen art or porn clips.

 

[Chiakipus]

imagine a world where everyone can read and understand english ... personally , english is not my native language , so i need images or videos to illustrate what I find difficult to read ( translations into my language are even worse )

Isn't that an even bigger argument against images that don't fit the text? If you already struggle with the text, they'll just mislead you.

 

[Deleted member 9257078]

I used to love HTML games, but over time I've started to really enjoy Renpt games.

With that being said, HTML games are still fine, and I still play them.

It's just that Renpy tends to be easier for newer gamers since all they have to do is run the .exe file.

 

[snuffhusband]

imagine a world where everyone can read and understand english ... personally , english is not my native language , so i need images or videos to illustrate what I find difficult to read ( translations into my language are even worse )

I can understand that! I imagine it's easier to understand the words with the image to fill in the gaps. Agree with Chiakipus, though, that any inaccurate images would make that harder for you.
I'm curious, are there many NSFW games in your native language?

 

[Vendiagrand]

Honestly the only Text based game I could even sit down and beat/play was Broken Dreams Correctional Center. If only there were more game like that but its understandable as that game is pretty self contained and the animations/pictures are only used for fighting/sex

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

I think XCL does a good job combining real-porn with AI-gen with a distinct style. They focus on specific actresses (presumably all pretty prolific) for the real-porn sex videos, and then use their likeness to AI-gen whatever else they need for still images. it is however a heavy-ass game at 9GB.

 

[KrokoBoy]

Personally, I prefer games with lots of realistic images or even (even better) videos. Purely text-based games are nothing for me. The images, of course, would be better if they were unique, not from other websites.