Recommending Western Sharing Games List

[DarknessDai]

Sounds like you should delete your F95 account and stick to reality or the news...
Or as another dev said to someone, sounds like good points to consider for your own VN...
You're asking entirely too much of fiction, and your expectations are way too high for porn fiction.
Even the best fictional stories, TV shows, and movies don't live up to this manifesto...

I had a good chuckle at wanting female characters who "have their own desires, flaws, and agency"; then complaining about them needing "reasons" to cheat beyond their own desires, flaws, and agency... Comes across as complaining/criticism for the sake of complaining/criticism...

"real stories, with real emotions, and real consequences"...
People generally aren't reading these types of stories to be disappointed by reality...

happy that i made you Laugh at least bro

 

[HoM11]

The Future of Adult Gaming: Breaking Free from Tags and Tropes
The adult gaming industry has long been defined by rigid categories ,NTR, harem, corruption, sharing, each following predictable patterns that reduce characters to mere props in a fantasy. But what if a game could break free from these labels? What if it could deliver an experience that feels real, where characters act like complex human beings rather than caricatures, and where the protagonist isn’t just a blank slate or an all-powerful center of the world?
A Game Where Characters Feel Alive
Imagine a game where relationships aren’t governed by "porn logic." Where women have their own desires, flaws, and agency not just as conquests or villains, but as people with depth. A story where love, betrayal, and intimacy are explored in a meaningful way, not just as cheap drama or shock value.

No More "Just Because" Cheating: Instead of the usual NTR tropes (where women betray the MC for no reason), what if infidelity was a consequence of neglect, emotional distance, or conflicting desires? What if the MC could actually fail in relationships, not because of some forced cuckolding fetish, but because he made mistakes or didn’t put in the effort?


Harem Without the Fantasy: Most harem games operate on the idea that women will magically accept sharing the MC without jealousy or conflict. But what if polyamory was treated realistically with communication, tension, and emotional consequences? A game where the MC has to actually work to maintain multiple relationships, not just collect them like trophies.

Sharing Without the Fetishization: Instead of the exaggerated drama of most "sharing" games, what if an open relationship or threesome was just a natural, fun experience between characters who trust each other? No over-the-top reactions, no unnecessary humiliation just adults enjoying intimacy without manufactured conflict.


An MC Who Isn’t the Center of the Universe
Most adult games treat the protagonist as either a faceless self-insert or an overpowered fantasy figure. But what if the MC was just another person in the world someone with flaws, insecurities, and realistic limitations?

Real Struggles, Real Growth: Instead of an MC who always wins, what if he could lose? What if rejection, heartbreak, or poor decisions had lasting consequences? A game where character development matters, not just sexual conquest.

No More "Chosen One" Syndrome: The world shouldn’t revolve around the MC. Side characters should have their own lives, ambitions, and relationships outside of him. Maybe they date other people, maybe they leave if he treats them poorly real agency, not just scripted events.

A Call for Better Games
The adult gaming industry is stuck in a loop of low effort, tag driven content. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With better writing, smarter design, and a focus on human experiences rather than fetish checklists, we could see games that are not just "good for an adult game" but genuinely compelling narratives that stand on their own.

The future of adult gaming shouldn’t be about recycling the same tired tropes it should be about telling real stories, with real emotions, and real consequences. And with today’s technology, there’s no excuse not to aim higher.

just wanted to share these thoughts with you guys , so what do you think ? i'd love for all of you share ur opinions.

First of all, it's really cool that you started this discussion, it's fun to talk about something like that. So don't feel discouraged by my response or anyone else's.
On to the topic at hand. While there are some devs who do this purely as a hobby (and even they have limited time and other things to do in life), for a lot of the devs their game is, at least to some extent, a product. And when making any kind of product you have to consider whether particular work you put into it will translate well into sales and, ultimately, money. Here's a real life gaming example.

One of the developers from Obsidian Entertainment (I think it was Josh Sawyer, but I am not sure) was asked why they didn't include romance options in Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity 1. And the answer was: they didn't like how romance was usually handled in games and developing proper romance was too much work for too little payoff. Usually in games romance goes like this: characters flirt with each other a couple of times, then have a confession, share a kiss, a night of love — and that's it, the romance is pretty much over. "Thing is", Josh said, "irl, that's where the relationship proper actually starts". But developing it well is a lot of work. And they actually conducted research on how many players cared about romance in games and how strongly. And it turned out — not that many and not that much. So doing all that hard work just wouldn't make the games sell better.

Same thing with porn games. Ultimately, we play them to fap (at least I assume you guys do). And for that purpose good renders/art, good animations and some trope dialogue works just fine most of the time. Adding fantastic dialogue might just be double the work for 10% increase in subs numbers or something.

Second, pretty much all the things that you mention as a clear improvement are not objectively better. They are better for you, they might be better for me, but not necessarily better for other players. The easiest example would be "having to actually work to maintain [multiple] relationships". I can easily imagine the response being "Hell nah, man. I already have to work to maintain relationships irl, I don't need this in my porn game! I just want beautiful girls to fall for me because I said "hello", gave them a couple of compliments and a good dicking." And that's a perfectly valid position. Same can be said about any improvement you suggested.

 

[CursedByAll]

Whilst we are talking about motivations and character engagement in a sharing thread, and in light of some comments I have made and read here and in other threads of games that have sharing content...

I like the games where both MC and FMC have a shared reasoning and dialogue about the play involved in every scenario, where both of them are actively pursuing the interest, and equally excited about what occurs. Where it is game that THEY are playing, not where one or the other is being controlled by the other, or by other characters (eg the wife being subverted into actions by a third party). The way they share their interest, every step of the way, with any other characters being subject to their decisions, not just "omg, look at his cock, I will just fuck him, and MC doesn't have to even know, 'cos I am just a sub-slut now, and he did ask me" (substitute for other sex where necessary)
The relationship being the most important factor, simply and honestly. No matter the kinks and fetishes being explored, it is always a partnership, being experienced and loved by both. Where they are both excited by it. Nothing hidden, always open and trusted. No humiliation or control of the other, no cheating by either partner. Where discussion and engagement is key, emotions are honorable, and love is front and centre always.

Oh, and my oldest bugbear....devs who start with a theme or themes, then change the whole thing halfway through, or just doin' the old bait-and-switch, thereby dropping most of the main story in favour of some other bullshit. Those guys lose me every time. Just seems to happen so many times, but especially in sharing games. What is that, honestly?

 

[Pr0GamerJohnny]

Whilst we are talking about motivations and character engagement in a sharing thread, and in light of some comments I have made and read here and in other threads of games that have sharing content...

I like the games where both MC and FMC have a shared reasoning and dialogue about the play involved in every scenario, where both of them are actively pursuing the interest, and equally excited about what occurs. Where it is game that THEY are playing, not where one or the other is being controlled by the other, or by other characters (eg the wife being subverted into actions by a third party). The way they share their interest, every step of the way, with any other characters being subject to their decisions, not just "omg, look at his cock, I will just fuck him, and MC doesn't have to even know, 'cos I am just a sub-slut now, and he did ask me" (substitute for other sex where necessary)
The relationship being the most important factor, simply and honestly. No matter the kinks and fetishes being explored, it is always a partnership, being experienced and loved by both. Where they are both excited by it. Nothing hidden, always open and trusted. No humiliation or control of the other, no cheating by either partner. Where discussion and engagement is key, emotions are honorable, and love is front and centre always.

Oh, and my oldest bugbear....devs who start with a theme or themes, then change the whole thing halfway through, or just doin' the old bait-and-switch, thereby dropping most of the main story in favour of some other bullshit. Those guys lose me every time. Just seems to happen so many times, but especially in sharing games. What is that, honestly?

problem is ntr fans LOVE the opposite of this, and crave EVERYthing being hidden. I agree with you - I really do. Nothing makes me roll my eyes faster than playing a game with where there's a possibility of sex outside a relationship and the wife/gf/LI has some dialogue like "well I can't possibly tell him that!" That seemingly minor utterance can so quickly tell you what kind of game you're playing.

Unlike some sharing game players I don't need constant checking in; for me it's more about the overall tone. Like you said, are they doing it for/with each other, or themselves/and others? I hate hate HATE the "shitty female best friend" trope as you listed - because again, it's a huge billboard sign that says "she will be doing things for reasons outside the couple".

I usually see the change in content when devs open things up to design-by-committee, and invariably things swing towards cheating and behind-the-back sluttery. That specific style isn't unique; as anyone who's played avns for awhile knows; giving a story choice to fans will always result with the "harder" option, not once are things steered towards "hey maybe mc and li should have more date nights" People who would call that boring miss the point, it's not about it competing for titillation, but building the characters more so sex scenes in the future are even more gratifying.

 

[reidanota]

Unlike some sharing game players I don't need constant checking in; for me it's more about the overall tone. Like you said, are they doing it for/with each other, or themselves/and others?

Lately I've found that not even open relationships cut it for me. In a lot of titles, it seems more like each member of the couple doesn't care about what the other's doing, than something that brings them both some excitement. A good example is the sharing (dubbed "NTR" route) in Rebellion: Rise of The Damned - first thing I didn't like is the excuse the author used to "convince" the good and loyal wife to sleep with Spartacus: a "tradition" among Romans that brothers in arms should share each other's wife? *rolling eyes* And if you decide to share, you're locked in a mostly kynetic path - with one or two avoidable scenes with roman soldiers - where you go on missions and come back to camp to find your wife sitting in the arms of Spartacus or some other guy. Nothing's explicitly mentioned but you get the impression that you're now in a free-love community, or that your wife is now the public slut of the gang. Would make sense if the author's intention was to develop this more as a NTR route if the game hadn't been cut short, as it has, with an abrupt ending. TBH what bothered me the least was the one actual NTR scene in the game, where your wife fucks an old guy because she needed sex as a ritual to open a portal to ancient Rome, and you refused her repeatedly. You get at least half a dozen off-ramps, so nothing's forced, but if you don't choose to stop her (agreeing to go to Rome together) the scene actually plays out as your wife taking charge to get what she wants, not really cheating for lust. There's a note of outrage, coupled with a decent justification and, more importantly, it doesn't lock you into any route at that point. You have to be an asshole to let it happen, and once she goes and you follow her, you're forced by circumstance to get a grip on things again.

Another good example is the sharing/"democracy" route in New Earth, where your gf IS a brainless slut who's determined to stay with the "most alpha" male on the planet, so you don't even get a decent relationship to begin with, even if you end up in the exclusive route. And the sharing route is, again, a feast of polyamory, no kinkiness, no tension and no control. I wonder if all of the Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games deal with sharing in the same way? I was looking at Summer of Love trying to decide whether to play it and Turret's summary mentioning how Nina is an "ice queen" in most paths reminded me exactly of New Earth.

 

[reidanota]

While there are some devs who do this purely as a hobby (and even they have limited time and other things to do in life), for a lot of the devs their game is, at least to some extent, a product. And when making any kind of product you have to consider whether particular work you put into it will translate well into sales and, ultimately, money.

Your point is valid, but it's the same as discussing whether or not painters should be painting for their own sake, or for the public taste. Musicians, directors, etc... Likely even the best of the best do it for a complex mix of reasons, not just one. To fully justify the market-driven approach to game development is legitimate in a consumerist environment, but still leaves us room to wish for there to be some devs who do it mostly for their own satisfaction and according to their vision. That's at least where I stand, I don't expect market-driven games to satisfy me at all, so I tend to avoid a game I perceive as such. The only games I'm interested in playing are the rare ones where the author's vision more or less aligns with mine. So far, a minuscule fraction. I only wish it weren't true that I've, so far, spent several times more time looking through games and forum threads, than enjoying games that I like.

At the same time, I agree with you that porn games are to fap, or at least to put you in the mood. So while Iwont reject literature simply on the grounds that it doesn't align with my views, I feel it's natural to be more picky about these kinds of games/stories.

 

[DarknessDai]

Your point is valid, but it's the same as discussing whether or not painters should be painting for their own sake, or for the public taste. Musicians, directors, etc... Likely even the best of the best do it for a complex mix of reasons, not just one. To fully justify the market-driven approach to game development is legitimate in a consumerist environment, but still leaves us room to wish for there to be some devs who do it mostly for their own satisfaction and according to their vision. That's at least where I stand, I don't expect market-driven games to satisfy me at all, so I tend to avoid a game I perceive as such. The only games I'm interested in playing are the rare ones where the author's vision more or less aligns with mine. So far, a minuscule fraction. I only wish it weren't true that I've, so far, spent several times more time looking through games and forum threads, than enjoying games that I like.

Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games feels as if they share the the same dev ,their games are soul less and shallow , and kind weird ,MC doesn't feel like person , the gf is always slut with no personality , anyhow what are your Best games on this sites ? which game that doesn't have sharing/ntr that you wish it has ?

 

[reidanota]

Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games feels as if they share the the same dev ,their games are soul less and shallow , and kind weird ,MC doesn't feel like person , the gf is always slut with no personality , anyhow what are your Best games on this sites ? which game that doesn't have sharing/ntr that you wish it has ?

Those two on my sig, for different reasons, are among my favourite, with Deliverance still reigning alone as the best achieved one, imho. Feels like an author who did their thing despite pressure to do otherwise and just happened to coincide with my tastes in almost every way. I'm glad I came late to the party and missed all the drama during development. I'm sure I'd be less satisfied now, having lived through the anxiety of pushing for my own "party" and experienced disappointment when the author's vision didn't exactly match my own. (I hope) I'm done with that shit. I prefer to pay for a finished game that I like the reviews of, than get captivated by an ongoing story only to get my expectations frustrated at some point - because almost every author has a different view than mine, and, just as myself, 99% of other anxious players would be shouting for their own preferred nuances (and tropes). So, Deliverance hit the mark, I'm happy with that, glad it's complete, wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Pr0GamerJohnny]

I wonder if all of the Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games deal with sharing in the same way?

Spoiler; they do.

On the plus side he puts out a LOT of games, but they all play similarly - usually the "netorase" route is more 'ntr-lite' and typically is quite difficult to navigate to without a walkthrough.

 

[DarknessDai]

Those two on my sig, for different reasons, are among my favourite, with Deliverance still reigning alone as the best achieved one, imho. Feels like an author who did their thing despite pressure to do otherwise and just happened to coincide with my tastes in almost every way. I'm glad I came late to the party and missed all the drama during development. I'm sure I'd be less satisfied now, having lived through the anxiety of pushing for my own "party" and experienced disappointment when the author's vision didn't exactly match my own. (I hope) I'm done with that shit. I prefer to pay for a finished game that I like the reviews of, than get captivated by an ongoing story only to get my expectations frustrated at some point - because almost every author has a different view than mine, and, just as myself, 99% of other anxious players would be shouting for their own preferred nuances (and tropes). So, Deliverance hit the mark, I'm happy with that, glad it's complete, wouldn't change a thing.

same Deliverance is top game for me as well , i was happy af when i heard that the dev is making other game , to my surprise he didn't include sharing in it , despite making one of the Best sharing content of all time ....

 

[reidanota]

I assume everyone here already knows this, but I love NTR/NTS best when it’s not the main focus of the game. As I mentioned earlier, I feel like games that center entirely on harem or NTR/NTS tend to become repetitive falling into the same predictable loop.

And I agree with you here, stated as much myself, too. I think I agree with you on each of your paragraphs, but would like to remark on this one:

My ideal game would be set in a medieval world where you play as a powerful lord

I'd love to play a game where you're a powerful lord with a complex personality. Who naturally dominates the political and social game, but has some private kinks that he explores with his wife. This is the perfect scenario for some roleplay femdom, imho - I deeply dislike femdom and bdsm when there's a premise of fixed roles in power dynamics, and find no interest in playing either submissive or toxically dominant characters. But think something like Dijkstra and Philippa in The Witcher, if they were true equals and Dijkstra weren't actually dependent on Philippa. If they played their games behind closed doors and Philippa "trained" Dijkstra through multiple "lessons" involving submission and dominance, in order to strengthen Dijkstra's self knowledge and control, and further their common goals. A relationship that would have started as political, semi-antagonistic, but where trust and admiration would grow between them and, eventually, would make them inseparable, which would be put to the test at some point in the story, and you, the player, could decide their victory through betting on each other rather than on each of their own factions. I see femdom (and maledom), sharing (both ways, but no polyamory, always with political machinations behind it), crossdressing, bisexuality. All of which are outside of what I enjoy in most games. Already mentioned my feelings about BDSM in non roleplay scenarios, don't enjoy gay romance at all - my preference only, nothing against it; "sissification" games are 99,99% about spineless MCs, and sharing only works for me under the right premise. But I would enjoy all of those themes for the scandal effect, if they were episodes that challenged the MC's self image, and furthered his goals in some way.

So, really, my point is that "kinks" or "tags", as you suggested, aren't the main thing that makes a good game for me, it's how it's all put together, and whether the overall story is interesting and provoking, with dynamic characters that, at the same time, never lose their main characteristics. Again, like Deliverance.

 

[DarknessDai]

And I agree with you here, stated as much myself, too. I think I agree with you on each of your paragraphs, but would like to remark on this one:



I'd love to play a game where you're a powerful lord with a complex personality. Who naturally dominates the political and social game, but has some private kinks that he explores with his wife. This is the perfect scenario for some roleplay femdom, imho - I deeply dislike femdom and bdsm when there's a premise of fixed roles in power dynamics, and find no interest in playing either submissive or toxically dominant characters. But think something like Dijkstra and Philippa in The Witcher, if they were true equals and Dijkstra weren't actually dependent on Philippa. If they played their games behind closed doors and Philippa "trained" Dijkstra through multiple "lessons" involving submission and dominance, in order to strengthen Dijkstra's self knowledge and control, and further their common goals. A relationship that would have started as political, semi-antagonistic, but where trust and admiration would grow between them and, eventually, would make them inseparable, which would be put to the test at some point in the story, and you, the player, could decide their victory through betting on each other rather than on each of their own factions. I see not femdom (and maledom), sharing (both ways, but no polyamory, always with political machinations behind it), crossdressing, bisexuality (I don't enjoy gay romance at all - my preference only, nothing against it - and "sissification" games are 99,99% about spineless MCs, but I would enjoy both themes for the scandal effect, if they were episodes that challenged the MC's self image).

So, really, my point is that "kinks" or "tags", as you suggested, aren't the main thing that makes a good game for me, it's how it's all put together, and whether the overall story is interesting and provoking, with dynamic characters that, at the same time, never lose their main characteristics. Again, like Deliverance.

i agree with everything you just said and i hope in the future my future self will be happy playing game like this lol , because as of now there is not much to play Honestly , maybe in 15 years when AI reaches AGI and people can make VN and games with single promet then someone can enjoy his dream game lol

 

[HoM11]

Your point is valid, but it's the same as discussing whether or not painters should be painting for their own sake, or for the public taste. Musicians, directors, etc... Likely even the best of the best do it for a complex mix of reasons, not just one. To fully justify the market-driven approach to game development is legitimate in a consumerist environment, but still leaves us room to wish for there to be some devs who do it mostly for their own satisfaction and according to their vision.

I agree with you. It is the same question everyone in a creative profession should ask themselves. Ultimately it comes down to what the dev wants to achieve with their game and how they manage their expectations. I'd just say that if they want to make it their actual job and a main source of income of several thousand dollars a month, then going through with DarknessDai's wishes might not be the most prudent strategy. The audience, I feel like, will be too niche, while the amount of work and time between updates would be discouraging for the dev and players alike.

At the same time, I of course am glad when devs put more nuance in dialogue, relationships, characters, etc. It is a joy to find games like Come Home, Nothing is Forever, Bare Witness and others.

 

[HoM11]

Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games feels as if they share the the same dev ,their games are soul less and shallow , and kind weird ,MC doesn't feel like person , the gf is always slut with no personality , anyhow what are your Best games on this sites ? which game that doesn't have sharing/ntr that you wish it has ?

I actually was thinking about including those games as examples of "you don't need good dialogue and characters for the games to be somewhat successful", considering how they keep releasing the same soulless stuff over and over again. Somebody keeps paying for those. Which is baffling to me, since there are so many other options.

 

[blkcrow20]

Lately I've found that not even open relationships cut it for me. In a lot of titles, it seems more like each member of the couple doesn't care about what the other's doing, than something that brings them both some excitement. A good example is the sharing (dubbed "NTR" route) in Rebellion: Rise of The Damned - first thing I didn't like is the excuse the author used to "convince" the good and loyal wife to sleep with Spartacus: a "tradition" among Romans that brothers in arms should share each other's wife? *rolling eyes* And if you decide to share, you're locked in a mostly kynetic path - with one or two avoidable scenes with roman soldiers - where you go on missions and come back to camp to find your wife sitting in the arms of Spartacus or some other guy. Nothing's explicitly mentioned but you get the impression that you're now in a free-love community, or that your wife is now the public slut of the gang. Would make sense if the author's intention was to develop this more as a NTR route if the game hadn't been cut short, as it has, with an abrupt ending. TBH what bothered me the least was the one actual NTR scene in the game, where your wife fucks an old guy because she needed sex as a ritual to open a portal to ancient Rome, and you refused her repeatedly. You get at least half a dozen off-ramps, so nothing's forced, but if you don't choose to stop her (agreeing to go to Rome together) the scene actually plays out as your wife taking charge to get what she wants, not really cheating for lust. There's a note of outrage, coupled with a decent justification and, more importantly, it doesn't lock you into any route at that point. You have to be an asshole to let it happen, and once she goes and you follow her, you're forced by circumstance to get a grip on things again.

Another good example is the sharing/"democracy" route in New Earth, where your gf IS a brainless slut who's determined to stay with the "most alpha" male on the planet, so you don't even get a decent relationship to begin with, even if you end up in the exclusive route. And the sharing route is, again, a feast of polyamory, no kinkiness, no tension and no control. I wonder if all of the Miztyl/CpKitty/InsanErotica games deal with sharing in the same way? I was looking at Summer of Love trying to decide whether to play it and Turret's summary mentioning how Nina is an "ice queen" in most paths reminded me exactly of New Earth.

Thank you for the info on Rebellion. I had it on my 'to play' list but now will drop it.

 

[reidanota]

Thank you for the info on Rebellion. I had it on my 'to play' list but now will drop it.

I wouldn't say it's worth playing for the sharing, but it's a game I didn't mind playing. For justice, renders are good, especially roman architecture, and some female models are worth it, but the writing isn't top. Paradoxically, the one true NTR scene ends up being possibly the best episode in the non-monogamous part of the game, which is something I never see in games and wouldn't mind seeing more. It was an "outrageous" action by your wife, who was given good reason for it, and when you meet in ancient Rome, you save her from her own screw-up and neither of you bear a grudge. That episode is gone and doesn't come between you. It's a rare episode that isn't driven by a path but by a (series of) one time choice(s). Purely flavour you can add to your story if you want to. You still have the same options going forward, to share or not to share her with Spartacus and others.

All of this is in the second chapter, the first is harem only. By the way, if you want any sexual content at all in the first chapter, you need to cheat on your wife like hell. In the second, some year later, you've told her all about it and it seems like she's convinced you experienced a completely different society and tolerates your ongoing cheating (if you persist while returned to the present) but that isn't explored in any way - so much wasted potential. It's a bit like Miztyl in reverse: the wife is cold to your adventures, she's neither angry nor excited about them. If you reconsider playing the game, shouldn't be out of curiosity for the sharing experience, that part is sketchy at best.

 

[reidanota]

Ultimately it comes down to what the dev wants to achieve with their game and how they manage their expectations.

And how they manage their supporters' expectations... I have a feeling that the ongoing development support model is flawed because it causes a number of misconceptions among parties inolved:

- creates the feeling that the dev SHOULD be catering to supporters, defeating the idea of indie development
- creates anxiety among supporters that wish the story would go more towards one way than another
- potentially creates toxicity and competition between supporters with different opinions on how the game should proceed
- increases the potential for the dev(s) to deviate from their original vision in order to satisfy perceived trends

Don't claim my assessment above should be universal, but rarely have I seen cases where "constructive criticism during development" resulted in a better game, I think the merits of user feedback during development are relative. Better to have a closely knit circle of reviewers who align, from the start, on where the story should go. They should be fully in on the big picture, the overall plan. Supporters who don't know where the dev is taking the game, especially if the dev is keen on avoiding spoilers, can develop expectations and become disappointed, some angrily so.

Not to say there aren't also cases where cool communities are built around the ongoing development, but I think it's not a lie to say that these are a minority. Some developers like to engage and, among these, some do so in a way that helps "tame" the community, build trust rather than expectation, but these are a minority as well.

I think that, sometimes, an honest relationship with backers, based on progress reports and a few treats now and then, may also be a good model. The absence of a release date is stated, the lack of guarantees as well. Fewer people will sign up for it, but perhaps the right people? The WIP release model lives off the same things as social media in general, exposure, engagement, sharing. An author may even feel tempted to fuel flames in order to generate more engagement, "thinking algorithmically" even when no algorithm is present.

As an alternative, the model of releasing reports and a few renders here and then, rather than wip versions of the game, may afford the author less noise and a community made with people who believe artists should do their thing and not be told what to do, and who support their potential, rather than an expected outcome. Less disappointment, pain, fear and gnashing of teeth. And death.

 

[Ratadan]

I work with a couple of board game designers as a play tester. They send me a 'white box' copy of the game and it's my job to play it with my games group and try to discover the flaws. The same could be done for a Dev's project, however, the review group need to understand that their role is to discover the flaws not to suggest how to to fix them, that's for the developer. From the game testing experience I know that designers don't want solutions (other than technical ones) but are usually happy to hear if they've missed something that breaks the game.

 

[HoM11]

From the game testing experience I know that designers don't want solutions (other than technical ones) but are usually happy to hear if they've missed something that breaks the game.

It's pretty much the mantra for any industry/project/product/service, etc. "Your customers are the best at spotting what's wrong with your product, but they are not good at providing solutions".

 

[reidanota]

The relationship being the most important factor, simply and honestly. No matter the kinks and fetishes being explored, it is always a partnership, being experienced and loved by both. Where they are both excited by it. Nothing hidden, always open and trusted. No humiliation or control of the other, no cheating by either partner. Where discussion and engagement is key, emotions are honorable, and love is front and centre always.

Found this in another thread (showing what a NTR fan's perspective may be):

To me it shows how limited people's perspective can be when they fall into dichotomy like that. Discussions on this thread have helped me distil what I look for and it never falls into black or white categories. The way you put it, "game that THEY are playing, not where one or the other is being controlled by the other, or by other characters" (while still presented as a dichotomy) deserves its own category, imho. What should we call it? It's not netorase (typically, netorase purists say netorase is about a dominant male MC who pushes his female companion to have sex with others). It can include swinging, but it's broader than that. It implies parity within the couple - cuckold fetish is sufficiently its own thing to be called, well, cuckoldry. Sharing is good, but vague.