We Need to Talk About Kinkies


Hello everyone!

This time I come with a different post than usual, since it's about a topic that might be a bit strange.

As right now I'm planning the content for version 0.9 onwards, I would like to explore another kind of kinks that are not yet available in Lucky Paradox so far. For which I would like to add a new project in the Museum called the "Pink Heaven".

The "Pink Heaven" consists of a new location that will be a kind of BDSM training room, which in turn we will be able to visit with each of the girls, once we get enough Lust level. Like the potion store, this is optional content, so if this type of Kink is not of interest to you, you can easily avoid them.

However, I think there is a kind of problem with some story events that carry some Kinks that probably aren't to everyone's taste. This is something that some players have reported to me, and that I can fully understand (During the beginning of Maxy's story, for example). But at the same time, I feel conflicted with myself as a creator, as some of these scenes are necessary for the development of the story.

This could be especially controversial, considering a scene that will happen in the future during the Tournament Arc that directly involves Cassandra, and a new villain that will be quite relevant during this arc.

After much thought, I think I can reach a middle ground in these situations, so that some can avoid this kind of scenes, but at the same time, not lose progress or affect the story, and that solution would be...

Optional routes!

These optional routes will be easily identifiable, through a quite explicit choice before each of these scenes, and will have no impact on the development of the story other than avoiding certain uncomfortable Kinks, but unlocking that scene in the Blue Firefly (Gallery), in case you want to see them in the future.

The downside of this, is that adding these optional routes requires more planning for these scenes, and as a consequence also means more development time for them.

I would like to know your opinion on this.

Do you think it is a good alternative to add optional routes to avoid certain kind of Kinks during future updates?

Taking also into consideration that, if so, it would also have an impact on the time needed for some updates.

Maybe it would be a good idea to make a vote among the Patreons, to be more sure...

I am eager to know your opinions on this matter, and I also open the possibility of alternatives or advice.

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(+2)

Maybe you can add some warnings at the beginning of the path. I'm ok with every kink except r*pe and p3do (because those are not kinks but nasty crimes)

(+1)

get them pregnate

xray 

and maybe some ovulation chatt bevor like its risky today^^

I'm sure that a lot of people will be whining about the longer planning and coding needed for these optional routes, but knowing the AVN community like I know it after more than 4 years playing those, this is the ONLY logical and humanly possible way to literally please everyone (i.e. people that like or don't mind lesbian scenes and people that don't like those at all and treat it as NTR/Sharing content {for some fricking reason}). If my opinion as someone who isn't a patron counts, I say go for it.

(+2)

     Kinks and the creative process... not easy.  First step, identify what is core to the 'brand'.  If the kink fits along with the branding, then there is rarely push back because interested parties already know what the property is about.  For example, lust is a meter in your game.  It's also a romantic harem brand, so I don't think anyone is going to have issues with themes of light BDSM since the core concepts are already present in the brand, even though they aren't fully implemented.

     If the kink is not core to the brand, then it becomes an issue of if the creative narrative would be compromised if the content is optional instead of mandatory.  If there is no compromise in the narrative if the content is optional, then making it optional is always preferable to mandatory.  This allows a player to opt out of the content with no value lost (good customer experience).  The best examples of this are the various games with opt in/out gay/lesbian/futa/NTR content.

     If the kink is necessary for the creative narrative and not on brand, this is what you really need to plan for and there is no one size fits all 'best' plan.  One method could be to get someone close to you whom you can trust as a sounding board (a positive bias toward you is ok).  Also get trustworthy people who will not leak content as critics to keep you grounded (an offsetting negative bias).  If you can make them all happy, you might be able to integrate the content no problem.  Their sensitivities can highlight ways you need to make online posts to give fans the fair warning of what is coming up, but that's not always a foolproof plan.  I'm not sure what the effect on reader numbers for ebluberry's S.E.X.pedition comic was, but I do remember the author signalled to the audience that a rape scene was going to occur in the future.  You might be able to look up forums from that audience engagement event to get a taste of the kinds of pushback you can expect with sensitive, off-brand kinks.

(+1)(-1)

Bro can you please not add the possibility of NTR also? no one wants that i'm co-signing with grifffffff about the kinks thing as long as those and this isn't added they are really messed up in multiple aspects

(+1)

as long as there is no scat or inflation or cheating tor gore then you should be fine as those kinds of kinks are really fucking messed up anything else is fine in my book

(1 edit) (+7)

it's your game, you dont have to pander to a few people who don't like a certin kink. not all porn games have to include the same kinks nor do they have to be enjoyed by everyone, especially since it is impossible to please everyone when making any type of video game. If you want to do anything about it, just add a content warning before scenes and allow people to skip scenes with content they don't like. it is not your responsibility to cater to everyones whims; you only have to make the game you want to make. there will always be haters complaining that certain kinks trigger them or people who demand more and more kinks that you may not be into. Just make the erotic game you enjoy, and everyone with similar tastes will enjoy it too. And if you are ever looking to add more kinks you can always ask us for suggestions and choose the ones you like best. just dont fall down the rabbit hole of polls deciding everything, it never ends well.

(+1)(-1)

I agree with the main sentiment, but content warnings and skip prompts interrupt the flow of the story and ruin the moment by spoiling what's about to happen. That should never happen unless it serves the story somehow.

So I'd go a step further and say that if something is going to happen mandatorily, it's best to just show it. No skip, no warning, full immersion. 

And if there are content warnings despite their detrimental effect on immersion, there needs to be toggle to turn them off in the options. My only trigger are immersion-breaking trigger warnings.

I respectfully disagree. While the game is pretty linear in most cases being able to choose the outcomes you like is still a core feature in these games. While I can sympathize that it can be immersion breaking, it respects the player's freedom by allowing them to opt out of sequences that may or may not be tailored to them.

It's a different case if it's crucial to the narrative in which case they don't have to please everyone and continue but if it's just optional content then I don't see why not.

I don't necessarily think you dilute your experience just because you miss out on a few kinks. 

There's also the possibility of negatively affecting the consumer with content he didn't sign up for, which may trigger an emotional outburst. You can say it's his responsibility to be aware of it but it's also the responsibility of the author to warn him if content may be triggering or highly offensive. 

(-3)

Learn to read. I'm specifically talking about MANDATORY events and skips that DON'T affect the story.

And if it's wrong to trigger people, don't trigger me with trigger warnings and fake skips. See how that logic falls apart when you apply it equally? Check the fetish listing if you want to know what you're "signing up for", there's your fair warning. There's no need to ruin everyone's immersion mid-game for a few oversensitive snowflakes, and that is not part of the author's responsibility either.

(+2)(-1)

i cannot believe that anyone playing this game will have a problem with kink, if they dont like it dont do it and move on, it is your game and you shouldnt have to stifle your creative juices to censor yourself. i think you should push the envelope even further, objects, sister/sister 3 some, even monster shit, dont let anyone else's opinion reflect on what is YOUR CREATION. i love this game and will play it no matter if you have things that i dont agree with in it, i dont like something i move on. i hate when i get involved with a character and suddenly their storyline ends. but i still play. Love Liz and her story ended, Charlotte had her story end and she was great, its a game that you created for people to enjoy, if they get upset with content then they shouldnt be playing an adult game. you choose the course of the game and we just play and enjoy. you are the artist, director and father of this game, 

thank you for asking for our imput but my imput is for you to follow your own path. the game is great and people will play.

(-4)

Optional routes in a terms of an optional girls? You did a vague term description.

I'd not suggest it. This optional girl can be loveable, and if she will lock with an (for instance) BDSM route, it means the guys which against DBSM will not able to date her. 
To make it work (like, really) you will have to make two routes for this one girl (one kinky route and one classic, "vanilla"). And if you asking just this - should you making two routes (for players can choose) - than yes. This is your solution, and it will cost you double work on this, but it will pays with LP flexibility and appreciation by more players.

(+1)(-2)

That is the worst solution of all. It means that you will always miss out on one route, no matter how you choose. One of the main draws of harem games is that you're not forced to drop one route for another, that you can have all the girls and all the events if you want.

It's also the least flexible model of all. If you have events ABCD, then making A and C mutually exclusive allows only ABD and ACD paths, whereas optional routes allow AD, ABD, ACD, and ABCD. 

(-2)

Probably, i didn't explain it clear:
My thought: you making A event twice: A with vanilla kink and A' with BDSM kink. They are mutually exclusive, but has very same outcome. This way player will do A event but with the way he prefer.

(+1)(-1)

That's not the same event though, even if you use deceptive variable lettering. There's quite a difference between the same event and the same outcome. 

And that's only if I was willing to accept the false idea that the outcome can be the same when you're clearly continuing on a path with a different history of events - which I'm not.

horrible solution, he doesn't have to make every girl have a scene that everyone would enjoy. thats just ridiculous. the amount of work you would have to do to include the various kinks with the different girls is absurd. not every porn game will fit your tastes, no game will fit everyone's tastes, it's a waste of resources to even try because of the added length of development with diminished productivity.

There was a question - there was an answer. It's only for the asker's attention. You don't need to criticize other's opinions, it's rude, since you wasn't asked, give yours instead. It's only the developer, who was intended to read and use it, or ignore it, up to his liking.   =)

(-1)

i did answer and its a forum I can read and reply to whomever I wish. I also chose to criticize a stupid answer, because I wanted to let someone know their opinion is horrible for the development of games since they clearly don't understand the effort they can take to make. I am aware I didn't need to criticize it since no indie ero game dev is gonna go through that kind of effort i simply wanted to.

(+7)(-2)

I think it might be a bit of work to add optional routes. Maybe a button to skip the scene visually and just get a summary of what happens so you are aware of how the story progresses without having to witness something you might not want to see is a cheaper solution?

(+2)

I would agree with this option. It is not fair, or reasonable, that the dev has to make multiple variations of the game because some of us don't like certain visuals. Let the dev create the game as one story line, without options, other than "The following scene contains: Urination, BDSM (Hard), pain and whatever Skip/Show" and if you skip, you progress to the point after the scenes. Period, easy as that. 

(+6)(-2)

Personally theres not too much that Im personally against, but for those that are, Im with the majority that a simple skip before to after scene would suffice, just need to be a bit cautious for future content about how the scenes are written to avoid too much characterization happening that might be missed if skipped.

A skip shouldnt have to mean pretending like a scene or an act didnt occur. Mostly its just people don't want to have to witness certain ones. And if they're willing to skip it, then that's the accepted risk.


As for the future, if you believe you can create a quality alternative route that's worth it, I say go for it. But if the alternative is there simply for the sake of avoiding something potentially uncomfortable for a few, then id say save the hassle and go with a simple skip with warning.

Skip button its a good option, on Patreon some people thought the same and I had not considered it until now lo

(-4)

What's the point of just not seeing a scene if it still happened? You're still interacting with a character that did things you dislike so much you couldn't even see them, and you still know what they did. 

At that point, there's no reason to even make a skip, because the events happen either way. Your best choices are to save the effort entirely and just have the story proceed, or implement real skippable scenes.

(+4)(-1)

You are doing a great job by yourself so yes My vote would be "I can wait a little bit more if it means I can play more of lucky paradox" 

(+7)

I've seen other stories, comics, etc. where the author is listening to much to the wishes of the reader. Everytime the story went down.

Please don't listen to people, who don't know how to write a story as good as yourself. Make the game how it should be, in your eyes. 

We love the story just the way you like it.

(+2)

I understand what you are saying, you don't have to worry about that on this occasion :)

(+2)(-2)

I'm always for options. I understand it means longer development times and I'm fine with that. I would also be fine with simply having the option of skipping a scene I didn't want to deal with and carrying on with story line. In any case, whatever action you decide to go with will be okay with me.

(+2)(-2)

I think the best option is the one that allows you to create the artistic vision you have for the game while also keeping the majority of players comfortable. So I'd say having the optional routes is great even if it adds to the development time.

(+2)

Reading through comments I can understand some are more "vanilla" and that's fine. Don't over work youself, as a few say if you add a skip option for them. I have seen some pretty extreme vn's out here. IMO, you have a lot of leeway before anyone should  be complaining. Love the game keep up the good work!

(+7)

You're the creator, this is your work. Imo do whatever you want to and tell the story you want. It's an amazing game so far and 0 doubts it will only get better.

(+7)

Too much niceness. If they want the cake, have them pay for it. Don't wanna see that content? Nice, then you miss it. No "I will find another way so you'll be able to see that thing you don't wanna see". Stop spoiiling the kids, Staw.

(1 edit) (+5)(-4)

Reading the other comments, I see a lot of people advocating for just skipping content. That's good, as long as the skip is actually canon. If you skip content and it really didn't happen, that's fine. If you only skip the scene and the skipped events remain canon, it's pointless to even bother. 

This means that there should be a visible choice and at least a minimum of optional narration that ties the parts before and after the skip together, to establish a new canon where the skipped scene really didn't happen. Future events should acknowledge those events only if they happened, not if they were skipped.

Alternative sex scenes sound great at first [edit to clarify: they aren't], since it looks like you're giving the player something to make up for the missed content. But now you have two paths where one will always be missed, and that FOMO does not feel good, particularly in a harem game. I mean, harem games are specifically targeted at completionist players who don't want to drop one route for another. [Edit to clarify: Optional paths are great, forced choice between alternative paths is bad.]

I would wholeheartedly agree with having the skipped content in the gallery, so you can see it as a kind of fragment from that alternative timeline. If the scene contains important dialogue, make sure to include it.

[Edited for clarity.]

Deleted 256 days ago
(-3)

Umm... I kind of said the opposite though? Canonical skips are optional routes, that's not quite the same as alternative routes.  I was talking specifically about the fact that alternative routes would be detrimental to the game, but optional ones are fine.

Also, this is quite clearly a harem game, and that's a great thing. 

Thank you for clarifying, i didn’t get it at first. I understand that alternative universe aren’t a good fit a a specifically harem universe. It’s just my opinion that i like them. I mean there are great games like Eternum that managed to do both but Lucky Paradox it still awesome regardless.

(+1)

interesting, sometimes a skip could work, but sometimes an alternative route should be better, cause there are canonical things that must happen for the story to unfold

(-1)

Now you've got me confused. If certain things must happen, aren't they neither optional nor alternative? 

Optional: You can have chocolate, or not. Also Vanilla, or not.

Altenative: You must choose between chocolate or vanilla, but only one.

Mandatory: You can't order without a cone, Sir. No, Sir, I'm not scooping it into your hand.

Something that must happen is just regular mandatory event, or am I missing something?

if there are alternatives, you can just do both seperately. Like taking the chocolate today, and coming back tomorrow for the vanilla

(-1)

No, that would be optional, not alternative. And it still doesn't answer my question.

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