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Adult content - I'm not talking about porn
Rockniss
Member Posts: 1,034
I'm seeing alot of buzz about adult focused games or more so the lack there of. So what is it "adults" are looking for in thier video games? Try to explain this first without reading any posts, I think we should get a good mix of responses or maybe not either way should be interesting to see what the "adult" expectations are.
Comments
"Hand holding" often seeps into the conversation, too. Games littered with pointers and "hints" make a game less adult, for me. It takes less brain power to play them when all is nicely laid out in front of you.
Difficulty should not be included here, as it can mean so many different things, from a maneuver that takes some exact key combo to accomplish to grinding for hours to accomplish something. I saw Total Biscuit review a game that was downright impossible to beat. That did not make the game more "adult", in my eyes. Just frustrating
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
Grand Theft Auto V.
"We can be as bloody as we want to, without parents crawling up our...because Little Johnny got it for X-mas."
Of course, we get to talk about booze and drugs and crime and T&A too.... and Rockstar did a few other little easter eggs that didn't go over quite so well.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
This post is about single-player games:
In adult game, I'm looking for a world and a story that have depth, and don't have stupid taboos.
By depth I mean that characters aren't one-sided, that moral choices are more complex than siding with either good or evil, and that there are situations where you'll really want to stop and think about what to do.
By not having stupid taboos, I mean that the game should't shy away from any subjects, or censor anything. NPCs should curse when it's appropriate, deaths shouldn't look too clean, and there should be also sex and drugs when it fits the setting and the story. Also children shouldn't have their magical immunity to everything bad until they turn 18.
Sex and violence are just fine (to me) as long as it is not gratuitous and it moves the story forward. If it lacks purpose, it actually seems a good deal less adult to me, and more the fantasy of a 13 year old boy.
A game that handles mature subjects, things that might not even be interesting to a 13 year old boy, are generally what I consider adult oriented games. Not a great game over all, but the first Medal of Honor Warfighter game had an ending that hit me kinda hard, and actually got me thinking. Really the only example I can think of to be honest.
It is not a message if I would have gotten had I been a 13 year old boy.
I think people are often too dismissive of kids. Usually, adults are the impatient gamers who need huge pointers and want instant action. I know plenty of kids, including the younger version of myself, who enjoy turn-based strategy games and other things that are much more complex than even old-school MMOs.
I'd only call a game with really mature themes "adult", as Naral described.
I agree.
Adult games have nothing to do with depth/complexity as it has been proven that kids play these types of games.
I actually find that its the adults that want to take the easy/casual route.
Anyone remembers "Carmageddon"?
To me "adult" games are games with content unsuitable for children.
Just like "Game of Thrones" and "Sons of Anarchy" are "adult" TV Series.
My computer is better than yours.
For me a video game should always strive to exceed reality, we play games for fantasy.
Even GTA 5 is tame imo, when compared to the real world.
The sex, the violence, that's the world we live in and real life is way worse than any video game has EVER made it.
And trust me when I say the people living that reality aren't sitting around playing video games.
Firstly, I don't know what this buzz is. Has not been in my ear at least. For all I know this thread is said 'buzz'. But, assuming that having more adult rated and themed MMORPG's is a strong desire in the community I can take some good guesses at the potential appeal. But, if I go ahead and talk about all the facets of what might make a mature game appealing. It will be so long that I don't think any one will read it. So i will try and stick to one -what I feel is an - important aspect:
I think a principle difference, is that you might get away with more. And, I don't mean that you would get away with more if given that range of freedom. Only that you likely could in such an environment.
I would think in a mature game that there would be far less enforced social moderation. There might at best be a few community guidelines. Yet, not strict rules about how we are to be in our interactions with others.
What am I calling social moderation? In a lot of games I have played there are literal rules about being, polite and courteous at all times, about little to zero tolerance for profanity. And, prohibition from starting, getting involved in, or staying on topics related to politics, religion, and real life. A lot of these carry temporary to indefinite mute penalties for breaking and some, in a few games, are ban-able offenses.
In a mature game I see the players worrying about them selves in these regards. Under an idea of "If we are all adults; then we all should be expected to have a sufficient level of maturity; And, should be capable of behaving maturely most of the time; And, willing to do so, without someone looking over our shoulder."
Additionally this operates under another line of thought that, "The mature mind should be fully capable and expected to give correction to another mature mind. Where it is that the latter falters; And, A mature mind that has gone astray, should be able to, and be expected to, accept such correction."
This is a noble concept. And, I call it a noble concept in the sense that it requires reliance on the best of human nature to operate correctly. Unfortunately...I feel that any one given a degree of anonymity will be far more susceptible to behaving less maturely then they normally would. I have seen so called 'Mature environments' go south real quick. Humans have a tendency to descend into chaos when given the chance. We always strive to pull ourselves back out of the depths eventually. Sometimes we just have a need to find that extreme limit. But, in regards to online gaming...usually by the time we do it is too late, to make adequate repair.
I think the idea of a mature environment is nice...And, the application and execution of such is far more difficult. I think any adult would like to think that they would prove themselves deserving of an an Adult MMORPG. I don't think many of us actually can.
No matter how cynical you become, its never enough to keep up - Lily Tomlin
Children proving to be as mortal as their grown up counterparts and losing their immortality shield made of " pure love and innocence" by god
Soccer moms or sensitive people dont approve? well stick a mature rate on it and break their criticism with it
Thats not what makes an adult game an adult game, but its a step towards it
"It has potential"
-Second most used phrase on existence
"It sucks"
-Most used phrase on existence
Handling mature subjects intelligently. Sex, drugs, conflict, politics, etc.
I have no problem with games (or any media) depicting gratuitous sex and violence but I usually don't partake in those games because as one poster put it, it feels like the fantasy of a 13 year old boy.
Been there done that.
Also, games that make you think, that don't hold your hand and that allow failure.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
An MMO that includes choices and REAL consequences would rock... So many games claim to have this feature, but in reality it does not work that way - your choices may change the landscape or the questing hub for a short while, but they do not change your own personal storyline and quests. I want a game that is truly worthy of making alts (if every choice you make changes your personal storyline AND the world then making alts will always be different!)
A game with more puzzle-like content would be nice as well. When I was 11 I was playing Myst, Riven and those games and I loved that every aspect of the game involved puzzles that require writing clues down and using them later on to open a door or work an elevator... I don't mean for an MMO to be completely puzzle-based, but some would be really nice. Just to take a break from killing things, give your mind a workout too!
I think a game that would be more mature would also give more things to do than just questing and grinding... I know people would call this fluff, but sometimes you want to grow a garden and then use the bounty for something useful! Or go exploring and not running into invisible walls all over...
Anyways, just some thoughts.
I would have to disagree on that. Whole modern society is based on the rule that you should never expect sufficient level of maturity from adults. All the ridiculous signs on the street like "don't touch that" or "don't park here" etc. are directed for adults not kids. If you'd ever work in police or court you would know that adults need just as much restrictions written in the most obvious way possible, or they will do the most stupid things you can imagine...
Less enforced moderation would create chaos in any game, since maturity =/= age.
If you would say adult game doesn't need restriction because most of adult people are immature and don't care about the rules anyway then I would agree.
When people say that adults need more complexity, this is extremely wierd statement, since it is said over and over that games are being dumbed down for casuals. And everyone knows, casuals are adults that have family and job and don't have time to play few hours a day, not kids that play entire day after school.
So again the opposite, the simplicity of current games is directed at adults, not the other way around. When gaming industry was all about teenage geeks, we had difficult and complex games. When more and more adult people started to get interested and geeks also became adult, this is were problems began. "I am adult, I have a life, I need to enjoy a game in the short time I have for it".
I think that to give a correct answer we should seperate being adult from maturity....
So we would have two questions: What content should a game for adults have and what content should a game for people with intellectual and emotional maturity have...
First one probably what we have now, easy experience, no patience required, and little effort and time because well "I am a grown up man, I have a family and I am very mature! So I can't be playing stupid little games all day".
Second option would be a sophisticated plot, very well-developed characters, nothing pure good or evil, but gray like in real life, and no taboo's and censorship. I would even accept erotic content, if it was very important for the plot, not just some boobs with physics for someone to jerk off to. Game should also require patience, because it doesn't matter if I have 2h a day or 10h, I can still do all the content it will only take me longer...
In my thoughts and in my dreams
They're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men
And elves
Come close Your eyes
You can see them, too.
Blind Guardian : The Bard's Song.
Would be nice to see games which are based on fantasy worlds of hobbits and such to actually act like one or even try.
So, did ESO have a successful launch? Yes, yes it did.By Ryan Getchell on April 02, 2014.
**On the radar: http://www.cyberpunk.net/ **
So here I go harping again on my game of choice RuneScape (just a little forewarning).
I have actually really been enjoying some of their new content. They now allow players to if-they-so-choose, align themselves with their god of choice. I allied myself with Zamorak (god of chaos. He loathes stagnation. And, believes true progression only comes through over coming adversities). This is some of the new 6th age content. And, given my choice. When they released a new quest (it's actually a complete remake -in every sense- of an old quest). I was able to change how things wound up. And, I would like to share some of that below.
Spoiler alert:
In this new Quest called "the Death of Chilvary". The god of Order (Saradomin) seeks to thwart the Krinsha (Black knights allied with zamorak), in their efforts to bring forth a powerful weapon. But, he is currently locked in battle with Zamorak over the ruins of lumbridge. I met Sir Owen (A white Knight aligned with Saradomin, and one of the games 3 signature characters), Outside a monastery. We have had a few past adventures together, and while talking a visage of Saradomin appears to commission our aid (only a smaller manifestation of him is able to be sent there as the bulk of his focus is in battling with zamorak elsewhere).
Given my alignment I am able to put it to him about a lot of things lore and call him out on his closeted skeletons and veiled hypocrisy, which he basically copped to and apologized for (had I done that to Zamorak he would have killed me before I finished my first sentence, lol.)...which was fun. But, more to the point. My alignment gave me a lot of opportunities to be a self serving, or apathetic. I wound Sir Owen Up dead In search of this weapon (a wand that can raise the dead and as long as the user is resolute in being fully good or fully evil in their intent can be used to control them). Saradomin wished to use the wand to bring him back. I of course chose to refuse to hand over this power to Saradomin, forcing his hand in putting me on my rear and taking it. And, he did manage to get the wand from me and use it on Sir Owens corpse. But, because of how I handled things, Saradomin ended up using the wand in anger. And his faithful follower came back corrupt because of it (sort of like the hero from the anime "Princess Mononoke").
And, in the future, quests will be released that allow me to bring this storyline I helped build to conclusion (he has to seek out a way to rid himself of the corruption or be fully consumed by it and become a monster).
Now in retrospect Given the name of the quest i felt as if things were a little rigged. I think the start and the end are rigged. But, that is okay. Because I got a real sense of it during the quest that the way things happened was due to my actions. And other players who do this quest will experience it in their own way as well. And, in Runescape 3 the developers are working very hard to make sure new content feels like you are in control. Content that makes you feel the weight of your own actions. Your not playing through the story any more. You are the story. And that feels awesome.
The last line is perfect, "The ability to fail."
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
The more violence the game has, the less mature it actually is. Like GTAV is quite immature in how its played...it is adult rated, yes. But, in reality, the things you can do and happen, it is not very mature.
However an adult (or mature game), would actually have less violence (if any) and no nudity.
My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB:
https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul
Thanks,
Mike
Working on Social Strategy MMORTS (now Launched!) http://www.worldalpha.com
I think games should try to implement more adult features naturally. Instead of making an 'adult game' make a game with 'adult' features.
Instead of dedicating it to an adult purpose don't fear treading into 'adult' territory to create a great storyline, or good lore.
Food for thought :P
Never fear, your dream MMO will be here....
just give me a decade or two to finely hone my Game development
and design abilities as well as start a Game Design Studio.
Thank you for your patience.
It is hard to qualify what is adult content. I'd put the line more towards the idea of how maturely subjects are handled. Games that portray morality as something deeper than "do I rescue the kittens or eat them?" and games that are able to portray serious emotions that cover the whole spectrum, often multiple at a time, rather than fixating on one or the other.