Devs; don't focus too much on romance.

[Chaosolous]

Been watching the game for awhile, will probably buy it after release.

Please don't overly focus on super cringe romance stuff. Saw the note at the bottom of one of the recent news updates. I can only say "ugh."

Only a vocal minority care about romance in games TBH. Normal people don't want to date NPC's. I'm betting the majority of your customers are or will be normal and therefor don't know or care about the forums and feedback. They just buy and play games if they're fun.

Just make sure the game is mechanically and narratively sound. That's the most important thing. Along with like, not having bugs that break the game or questlines.

Otherwise, game looks good.

[smanj440]

agree

[Schrobes]

Everybody wants a Honey by their side. They just don't know it yet. Ha!

[mad.king.corduroy]

I agree with this, leave it out. Not every game needs to be cringe dating simulator and it's way too much of a trend to put that stuff in everything these days. I remember when GTA SA first did it and it was a big deal. I felt super embarrassed buying the game for the first time when I was 18 (back when you had to go to a store to buy PC games. lol) because I thought it had a bad reputation for that stuff. lol Thank god it wasn't a focal point of the game like so many are now. GTA IV for instance made me insane with all the useless social garbage. No I don't want to go bowling!! :P

So please spare myself and the other adults who don't want to simulate dating in a video game. lol

[Bandy]

I don't think there is anything wrong with romance in games, you either follow that quest or ignore it in any game. Your choice.

That said this is a dark-themed game, so can't imagine fuzzy feelings fitting the narrative. But nothing stopping darker themes in that aspect as well, say taking an interest in a pox-ridden prostitute.

[lemon key]

Yeah I can do without it in games. Especially in game this dark and brutal.... Imagine if Dark Souls firekeepers were just thirst traps instead of characters some players develop feelings for (i dont know why but hey....)
Solaire was the most romantic a character should be in a dark fantasy setting

[$7\//-\|<3]

I don't mind a romance plot so long as it's compelling and well-written. My problem with romance plots in games is that they're always extremely shallow, if there even is any plot to them *cough*Skyrim*cough*. That, or a game adds an absurd number of romance options and only barely develops each one. I would rather see a smaller number of romance quest lines, each with more depth & better storytelling. At that point it feels like a properly fleshed out part of the story, rather than a tacked-on "feature" to gain an extra .2 review score by appeasing the gooners.

[Sparhawk122]

I hope it is hot and spicy just for the OP.

[Baltar Thorngrapple]

What a weird thing to take away from their post.. I guess romance is dead.

[Chaosolous]

Originally posted by Baltar Thorngrapple:

I guess romance is dead.

It is not. It's just super cringe in video games.

[sansee]

What's really "normal" people? "Normal" people actually don't mind romance as long as it doesn't detract from the experience..

What really is cringe is to have romance options without any thought or reason behind it. I prefer that the game has more focus on some type of bonus that actually benefits you rather than just some cringy ad-hock story or dialogue.

And yes, there are miles between a dark fantasy like this game or Bleak Faith, and something like a cute bunny VN, or a dating sim, or even GTA. If someone fear that then they've poorly understood what this game is.

[SzargontheCultured]

Originally posted by mad.king.corduroy:

I agree with this, leave it out. Not every game needs to be cringe dating simulator and it's way too much of a trend to put that stuff in everything these days. I remember when GTA SA first did it and it was a big deal. I felt super embarrassed buying the game for the first time when I was 18 (back when you had to go to a store to buy PC games. lol) because I thought it had a bad reputation for that stuff. lol Thank god it wasn't a focal point of the game like so many are now. GTA IV for instance made me insane with all the useless social garbage. No I don't want to go bowling!! :P

So please spare myself and the other adults who don't want to simulate dating in a video game. lol

Yeah thy even added a dating sim to warframe..... LOL the space ninja genocide game

[SirHallin]

I would like to say that my experience with this game was small, but i think "romance" is the least of the concerns. Tone might be more at risk. One thing i can appreciate in a grim setting is the presence of innocence and wonder, and that is what separates something from being a dark fairy tale that sticks with you forever, and a grimdark edgefest of an experience that you trudge through and forget. Love is something to explore in theme, and maybe don't waste on characters you wont be able to flesh out, you will only fetishize and waste great potential. Romance and tragedy go hand in hand, like the best horror fiction, recent example (recent iteration i know there are 3 films) Nosferatu, great semi modern example, pans labyrinth.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

Been watching the game for awhile, will probably buy it after release.

Please don't overly focus on super cringe romance stuff. Saw the note at the bottom of one of the recent news updates. I can only say "ugh."

Only a vocal minority care about romance in games TBH. Normal people don't want to date NPC's. I'm betting the majority of your customers are or will be normal and therefor don't know or care about the forums and feedback. They just buy and play games if they're fun.

Just make sure the game is mechanically and narratively sound. That's the most important thing. Along with like, not having bugs that break the game or questlines.

Otherwise, game looks good.

Romances were and are extremely popular in CRPGs. All big CRPGs had them, starting from the original Fallouts, Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape: Torment, and up to Mass Effect, Skyrim , and BG3. In Skyrim - which is possibly the most popular CRPG of all time and the direct inspiration for this game - you can literally have a wife and adopt children who will all live in your own house.

Saying that romances in games are "not normal" is absurd. Computer games are narrative art, like literature or theater or film, and romances have always been extremely popular in all art, especially narrative.

Now, with regard to implementation of romances in a game such as this one, my own view is that a romance would work best if it was built upon a follower mechanic. I.e. your "significant other" wouldn't simply be an NPC in town whom you bring gifts and "woo", but an actual companion accompanying you in combat and quests, and sometimes voicing their comments - like Skyrim followers. My favorite romance in Skyrim was with Serana, who was also a great follower, and her two roles - as follower and romantic interest - really reinforced each other to flesh out her character.

[Jean-Maurice Nya]

Romances are not a problem, especially in non linear games. The only problem with them is that most are written by people listening to their sphincter.

[frakthefriendly]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

Normal people don't want to date NPC's.

The Lord of Normal speaks! Hail the Arbitrator of Public Opinion! Only he has the wisdom to tell all of you peons how to live your lives. May his reign last forever!

Get out of here....