What's the point of eroge?

Viga

I was slacking on you tube when I found a vid of the top eroge (hentai video game)of 05. I thought to myself why play a game when you can just watch hentai or read a doujin? There's so many other outlets to do that to so why choose eroge?

I like to make a point to try everything and anything in the geekery world at least once. I like learning about new thing this way and understanding the people who do them a bit better. I just wondered what others opinions are on the eroge crowd and eroge.

chaosof99

I think the point of them is that the simulated interaction with the partner of desire is supposed to deepen the experience somewhat.

I also don't know how they really survive or why they are even popular since there are easier, cheaper, more interesting and less time consuming methods to accomplish for what one is out for when he or she is playing an eroge. It's rather strange to me since they are trying to simulate relationships when the average user of porn is rather trying to get a quick fap. I think their market is mostly the curious and the super hardcore otaku with no social interaction whatsoever, the hikikomori otaku.

To paraphrase Zero Punctuation: "I have no idea why the visual novel style of gameplay is so popular in Japan. At least the porn ones I can understand since they have the promise of tits but most of them play like choose-your-own-adventure-books with half the pages ripped out."

Tyashki

why play a game when you can just watch hentai

Isn't this like saying "why play a game when you can watch an anime", regardless of the genre? It depends what the consumer is getting out of it.

I would argue that the average eroge fan is not merely trying for a quick fap. Obviously they want what is being offered, otherwise they wouldn't have it. Perhaps it's simply that in Japan porn + unlockable content = Profit!

I personally quite enjoy the visual novel format, though trying to find examples that are not eroge (or at least have some substance underneath) is difficult. As such I wouldn't consider myself an expert in any way.

HMTKSteve

Perhaps they use eroge as a substitute for interacting with girls? Those people may be so shy that they can't handle the real thing so they buy the eroge stuff instead.

Omnutia

Eroge usually feature pretty outlandish situations. If you want to play a good non sexual visual novel I suggest you try Narsissu, but holy crap is it depressing.

One Sin

I suspect that at a certain point, every hentai-consumer feels the need to justify their consumption by "earning" their hentai. Hence the H-games.

Viga

Eroge usually feature pretty outlandish situations. If you want to play a good non sexual visual novel I suggest you tryNarsissu, but holy crap is it depressing.

I played two chapter so far. They don't show the actual people enough. The story is good but this seems like it would be better in a novel, movie, anime or manga form rather than visual novel. then again it's probably just me. Also there is no game aspect to this. It's just clicking enter to read another sentence and look at pictures.

...

Also there is no game aspect to this. It's just clicking enter to read another sentence and look at pictures.

That's the case with all visual novels. With here and there an option though. Though the options are mostly "Make her happy", "Make her sad" and "Make her angry".

Neito

he story is good but this seems like it would be better in a novel, movie, anime or manga form rather than visual novel.

The problem is you're looking at a VN as a game.
I'm a fan of VNs, and I honestly don't think of them as a game at all. They're a book on the computer with pictures.

Viga

he story is good but this seems like it would be better in a novel, movie, anime or manga form rather than visual novel.

The problem is you're looking at a VN as a game.
I'm a fan of VNs, and I honestly don't think of them as a game at all. They're a book on the computer with pictures.

True true.

So anyone has any recommendations? Something not hardcore preferably.

Symmetry

I've played both Utawarerumono and Tsukihime and enjoyed many aspects of both, but not the sex bits. Its weird, I think that the idea of porn involving fictional characters you've come to care about as people is a pretty good idea and I think I like it in terms of Doujinshi, but the writing in the erogames I've played has made it not enjoyable to me. Maybe its a clash between Western and Japanese sensibilities?

In any event I'd recommend people read the Tsukihime manga and play the recent translation of the Utawarerumono game. Its cute and has a fun FF Tactics style combat system.

Neito

he story is good but this seems like it would be better in a novel, movie, anime or manga form rather than visual novel.

The problem is you're looking at a VN as a game.
I'm a fan of VNs, and I honestly don't think of them as a game at all. They're a book on the computer with pictures.

True true.

So anyone has any recommendations? Something not hardcore preferably.

OMGWTFOTL
Anything on this page
Or this page

Viga

Synopsis

GENUFLECT OR DIE! Now, finally, the lunatic novel game which received enthusiastic applause from ... an incredibly small number of rabid Japanese fans ... comes to invade the English-speaking world! This piece will have you going OMG, WTF, and OTL all at once -- and as such it is entirely not appropriate for those under the age of 18 or those with delicate sensibilities. Consider: at different times, it features things like tentacle beast rape, kamikaze suicide attacks, and clubbing baby bears to death with crowbars. Proceed with utmost caution

That sounds like to much for me! Wahh!

HMTKSteve

The only game even remotely like this I have played was Brookside High on the PSP. It is a high school dating sim. It was OK but not something I would spend money on.

For testing purposes I tried playing through it as a female character and just couldn't do it... It was bad enough that as a male character I kept picking the lesbians to go out with...

Omnutia

Wow, I am surprised to see this many efforts dedicated to visual novels.

iruul

I am a big fan of Eroge games and have played many of them. There are two different kinds. One is the dating sim type that can be considered a game. These can be fun as you attmept to chase after a particular girl(s) and you get an H scene as a reward. The other kind is the "choose your own adventure style" which is more like a book. The reason why eroge games are popular is that you have an oppurtunity to affect the actions of the protagonist through a first person perspective. This allows you to have deeper attachments with the main character (representing yourself) and the other characters. Furthermore, depending the the VN, faping may or maynot be the main purpose of the "game". Many have deep emotional stories to them while some are just escuses for characters to have sex. Most VN's have a gallery feature that allows you to replay the sex scenes by themselves for quick access. Many people would rather watch characters that they have "interacted" with rather than random characters. Furthermore, the H scenes are much more satisfying when it feels you have worked for them.

If you are familiar with the animes Air, Tsukihime, Kanon, or Fate Stay Night, they are all based off of eroge games. Personally, I think the stories are much better told through the VN medium (not because the VN has H scenes in them).

Viga

Well I loved choose your own adventure books as a kid. Those eroge would probably be the most fun. I did play this flash dating sim called ganguro girl on newgrounds. It was alright.

One Sin

I tried a few flash dating sims out of curiosity and they all have that stupid formula of:

1. Use all your points on INT.
2. Work to get lots of cash.
3. Spend that money to get more INT.
4. Go to sleep.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you max out your INT.
6. Max out STR and Charm.
7. Buy lots of presents.
8. Talk to your victim target of affection until you learn every insignificant detail about their lives.
9. Go on dates.
9.2 Give them your presents.
9.4 Answer their random trivia questions.
9.6 Take a picture.
9.8 Either kiss or GTFO.
10. Repeat step 9 until you win.

gomidog

I have played a few otome games, such as right now I'm working my was through Tokimemo GS2 (Tokimeki Memorial Girl Side 2) on the DS. I've played a couple of non-pr0n BL titles, but having a mac limits selection somewhat. I think the point of the games is the fact that, as opposed to an anime or a novel, there is no forth wall and the characters interact directly with you as the main character. I find the games fun and semi-addicting, but probably not for the same reasons fanboys do. I hear that some people really into these games develop a real attachment to the virtual characters of their H games (see Piro from Megatokyo). I am more like "Aww, man. I made the kansai-ben guy feel bad, oh no! But sports guy is happy!" It's fun!

Two games I am actually looking forward to:
AUGH When will Emily stop talking about Ppoi!?
From the lady who brought you Hanakimi comes BOXING BOYS! With touching!

iruul

I tried a few flash dating sims out of curiosity and they all have that stupid formula of:

1. Use all your points on INT.
2. Work to get lots of cash.
3. Spend that money to get more INT.
4. Go to sleep.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you max out your INT.
6. Max out STR and Charm.
7. Buy lots of presents.
8. Talk to yourvictimtarget of affection until you learn every insignificant detail about their lives.
9. Go on dates.
9.2 Give them your presents.
9.4 Answer their random trivia questions.
9.6 Take a picture.
9.8 Either kiss or GTFO.
10. Repeat step 9 until you win.

Amateur flash dating sims are bad. If you play any descent japanese ones, the chacters that you interact with are much deeper. It will make you want to know more about them and you will feel emotionally attached to them. There may also be an overarcing story that will keep you entertained and involved. Furthermore, the multiple story arcs associated with each of the characters and the different paths that you can take give it a high replay value. Story-driven eroge and dating sim games are like a very good book that you can reread with a different alternate storyline each time.

One Sin

If you play any descent japanese ones, the chacters that you interact with are much deeper. It will make you want to know more about them and you will feel emotionally attached to them. There may also be an overarcing story that will keep you entertained and involved. Furthermore, the multiple story arcs associated with each of the characters and the different paths that you can take give it a high replay value. Story-driven eroge and dating sim games are like a very good book that you can reread with a different alternate storyline each time.

Care to provide a specific example?

Omnutia

Uh oh, someone's found a substitute for real girls.
That aside, I was playing HL2/2 and I was really taken by the story, something I haven't really felt before with a western game. I suppose plot and characters is to eroge what graphics are to most modern FPSs.

Neito

Also, can I just say something a bit terminology naziish?
Eroge == Erotic Game.
Unless it has boobs and sex, it's not an eroge.

Omnutia

NO! We will not get onto the discussion of terminology, you know where that leads!
Anyway, we don't have to stay on topic.

Unless it has boobs and sex, it's not an eroge.

This is Japan we're talking about right?

Neito

Unless it has boobsandsex, it's not an eroge.

This is Japan we're talking about right?

Ok, fine. For liberal definitions of the word sex.

...

Unless it has boobsandsex, it's not an eroge.

This is Japan we're talking about right?

Ok, fine. For liberal definitions of the word sex.

I think Omnutia fell more over the word 'boobs' than the word 'sex'. It is Japan after all.

iruul

If you play any descent japanese ones, the chacters that you interact with are much deeper. It will make you want to know more about them and you will feel emotionally attached to them. There may also be an overarcing story that will keep you entertained and involved. Furthermore, the multiple story arcs associated with each of the characters and the different paths that you can take give it a high replay value. Story-driven eroge and dating sim games are like a very good book that you can reread with a different alternate storyline each time.

Care to provide a specific example?

An example would be the eroge "Crescendo". Its a mixture between dating sim and the normal eroge; you date girls but there isn't a stat based system. The writting is fairly well done and enjoyable. A classic Japanese stat-based dating sim that can be easily found is "True Love". Its an old game and not the best, but there aren't many of these being translated. Also, there are the two unique eroges named "Summer Days" and "School Days". These are eroges but instead of reading text, its an actual anime. You watch scenes and every once inawhile it pauses for you to make a decision and it will continue based on your path. The story is fairly entertaining, what you would expect from a typical highchool romance anime that you can sort of control the outcome.

One Sin

Note how I said "flash games," which specifically refers to browser-based games. None of the ones you listed fall under this category.

iruul

Note how I said "flash games," which specifically refers to browser-based games. None of the ones you listed fall under this category.

Ahh, I ment that all flash based dating sims are bad. The only good dating sims are non-flash based.