The Future of Procedurally-Generated Smut

[Nightverge]

I've been seeing a growing trend that makes me giggle like a Stuffie in a room full of Zephs; multi-turn sex scenes that include random elements. DnP, KanadeRouge, MaidenSnow, even text-based ones like Newlife. Any game where the AI makes rolls and you get a little input or just hope for a happy ending. It drastically improves replay value and makes the game feel more organic as a whole. Personally, it's the kind of thing I want to see take off and become a new standard. On the downside, I assume it makes CG nearly impossible. On the other hand, I'm hoping it will encourage the development of better Paper Doll systems, because those seem to fit the theme more naturally. Thoughts?

 

[daemonhany]

The way I see it:

This creates a problem on the content generation front of the game making process.

Even if down the line a sistem like this will streamline the content ,as you can use the same assets in diferent orders creating a new experience, ( be it a sex or not you are creating a new flow of a scene, combat... etc) most if not all adult game devs are developing alone or on a such small team that even "indie developers" can be an exageration in the scope of what it can build in a similar time frame, "time frame" being the operative word, as I have seen this comunity deliver on excellent games with inovative and creative ways to deliver content but in a business perspective time = money.

Long story short: As a player, Yes, as a developer maybe.

Procedually generated content takes time and effort that needs to translate in value to the player and it may be better spent on just creating new content all together, but it varies from dev to dev, if the team can deliver and it can be designed nicelly within a market approved time frame, sure, but failing to hit that sweet spot has been the downfall many games.

That was my 2 cent on the topic and I don't claim to hold the truth about the matter.

 

[drossvamp]

As much as randomness can be good from a replayability standpoint, overall gameplay can still suffer from it. Sometimes you don't want to actually trigger certain h-events and rng takes hold and messes up plans. kanaderouge has a bit too much rng for my taste, I remember grinding for blue potions but never acquiring the necessary amount to actually withstand the slime h-moves. New life, well for that game, and text games like it, rng isnt really much of a problem now due to the point of the game right now being lower your inhibition to see new content(maybe that'll change when the creator adds his pregnancy system). maidensnow is a good game, just due the randomness and how old it is, cg is pretty bland, making it more gameplay focused than h focused, and I'm ok with it as is, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a replayable h-game.

I think my main problem with this though is that h-game replayability is something nearly impossible to do. The reason to add galleries in h-games is so someone doesn't have to grind to a certain point to see their favorite animation from a game. In addition, you can only see porn for the first time once, and each time after is less exciting unless you are super into it. I like h-games, but i don't think that replayability should be the first concern, but quality above all else.

That's just my opinion, but if anything, I always ask that creators focus on what they want to play when making an h-game, because trying to appeal to the masses can change a project from something you enjoy, to something you didn't have in mind in the end.

 

[Nightverge]

I almost feel bad for using newlife as an example, because it is pretty terrible right now, but sadly it does kind of show what kind of potential RNG can have on h-events. Also, I agree wholeheartedly about maidensnow's stale cg - this is why I'm hoping for the development of better paper doll systems. Hell, if I had any experience combining coding and art, I'd have a go at creating a customizable paperdoll interface for devs to use in their games. Kind of like what rpg maker is to devs right now.
Man, that's all ideals and dreams talking though, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

 

[Zepheral]

Galleries are great, especially with the common "You get scene when you lose" theme. The problem with rpg hentai games is that, the Cg's are great but the actual game itself, sucks dick. Take monster girl quest as an example, despite it being a H game, it still takes in account that it's a rpg. So the game play is both rewarding and challenging. While other some hentai game developers tried to copy and paste it for a quick buck, it's still trash.

Now the trend is leaning towards to action hentai games like night of revenge and Airi: Guilty hell. Night of revenge isn't just a good h game, it has good game play as well, basically a hentai version of castlvania. Airi may have o.k game play, but the h scenes, sounds and overall designs more than enough make up for it.

The key of developing a good H game is to remember, that it's a game with hentai scenes. If you don't remember that, then it's gonna flop......bad.

 

[otter_san]

Galleries are great, especially with the common "You get scene when you lose" theme. The problem with rpg hentai games is that, the Cg's are great but the actual game itself, sucks dick. Take monster girl quest as an example, despite it being a H game, it still takes in account that it's a rpg. So the game play is both rewarding and challenging. While other some hentai game developers tried to copy and paste it for a quick buck, it's still trash.

Now the trend is leaning towards to action hentai games like night of revenge and Airi: Guilty hell. Night of revenge isn't just a good h game, it has good game play as well, basically a hentai version of castlvania. Airi may have o.k game play, but the h scenes, sounds and overall designs more than enough make up for it.

The key of developing a good H game is to remember, that it's a game with hentai scenes. If you don't remember that, then it's gonna flop......bad.

I disagree with you in lots of points. Or maybe I misunderstand what you said, either way: just because an ecchi-game is made with a RPG engine it doesn't mean it has to be an actual RPG. Many people just want a linear/interactive storytelling in which they feel certain freedom for moving the character around and doing lewd stuff - battles should be secondary.

I've opted myself for RPG maker due to the immersion with the map/environment and the before-mentioned freedom it gives to players, something a doujin/manga can't comply. The same goes for VN - it's much text-heavier and harder to develop an environment/background.

Imo, a good RPG with erotic elements is something beyond the reach for most independent developers, so they do the other way around: a hentai game with RPG scenes. Writing a game with interesting plot and still keep the players horny/ready for an ecchi event is quite hard - and it'll mostly be worse than a dedicated RPG game. Grinding 99 hours battling just to unlock a scene while playing with one hand only (you know what I mean) is needlessly tiresome.

 

[Zepheral]

I disagree with you in lots of points. Or maybe I misunderstand what you said, either way: just because an ecchi-game is made with a RPG engine it doesn't mean it has to be an actual RPG. Many people just want a linear/interactive storytelling in which they feel certain freedom for moving the character around and doing lewd stuff - battles should be secondary.

I've opted myself for RPG maker due to the immersion with the map/environment and the before-mentioned freedom it gives to players, something a doujin/manga can't comply. The same goes for VN - it's much text-heavier and harder to develop an environment/background.

Imo, a good RPG with erotic elements is something beyond the reach for most independent developers, so they do the other way around: a hentai game with RPG scenes. Writing a game with interesting plot and still keep the players horny/ready for an ecchi event is quite hard - and it'll mostly be worse than a dedicated RPG game. Grinding 99 hours battling just to unlock a scene while playing with one hand only (you know what I mean) is needlessly tiresome.

Then what was the point of making it as a game? Why not just make it a V.N or a C.G gallery. I know some people who don't need any story just to beat off. Don't get me wrong , grinding for a scene sucks balls, especially if you have to lose for it. I get that people want freedom to do stuff. The problem with those games is the price don't match the actual worth of the product. Look at roundscape for example, yes it has some sexy C.Gs but the game has so many good elements that it's worth it's price. (But not it's bullshit.) Then you see others hentai game's like 15-25 dollars for like 2-3 hour content, without decent gameplay, glitched/ or rushed h scenes and poor sound.

Don't get me wrong, I know making a hentai game isn't easy. But don't sell crap and sell it like it's a triple A hentai game. Either put some effort in it or make it a cg gallery.

To anyone who's reading this, we are discussing here. Don't go ape shit and start flinging poo at people. XD