51 réponses à ce sujet

[Highdragonslayer]

I don't understand the purpose of them.

[Sarah1281]

They're supposed to be fun and help with immersion. If you do not like them, just ignore them.

[Remmirath]

They're an opportunity for roleplaying your character, and, well, the more of those in a roleplaying game the better. So, pretty much the same point as having and talking to companions at all. They can also give you insight on interesting characters. They can add to the story. When done well, they make the romancable characters feel more real (and obviously, like anything, when done poorly they aren't a good thing).

They're very nice to have around if they fit with what your character would do, and also typically quite easy to avoid. I've done so in most games.
The only time they annoy me is if the only way to avoid the romance is to repeatedly insult the character in question, but that is thankfully quite rare.

[phaonica]

They can also further invest your character's emotions into the conflict. You may not care about "saving the world" but you might if that's where your love interest lives.

[Addai]

Highdragonslayer wrote...

I don't understand the purpose of them.

Drama.  Story.

To get at human drama (by which of course I also mean elven drama!!!), you tweak the primal emotions of fear, disgust, longing, pride, and you tweak the primal relationships- parent-child, sibling, lover, enemy, protector.

Didn't an English class (or whatever equivalent for non-English speakers) cover this?  What do they teach in school nowadays? 

Modifié par Addai67, 11 juillet 2010 - 06:49 .

[errant_knight]

For the same reason that there are romances in books, on television, and in movies. They give the characters more depth and ways to interact with other characters, and people enjoy them.

[Evan748]

errant_knight wrote...

For the same reason that there are romances in books, on television, and in movies. They give the characters more depth and ways to interact with other characters, and people enjoy them.

this.

[Melca36]

Highdragonslayer wrote...

I don't understand the purpose of them.

This is not 1997. More and more adults are playing videogames and they want a little depth and substance to them.

[SOLID_EVEREST]

Melca36 wrote...

Highdragonslayer wrote...

I don't understand the purpose of them.

This is not 1997. More and more adults are playing videogames and they want a little depth and substance to them.

I wish it was . I would be going crazy at seven if I found out about Fallout... I was stuck playing nintendo 64 and playstation lol.

[ejoslin]

Even Final Fantasy 7 (1997) had romances...



Really, most stories have SOME romantic element to them. It definitely adds a lot. War stories especially. Caring for people, falling in love, I can't think of an epic tale without it!

[hudakj]

True. Unless the main character is some sort of Phillip Marlowe or Sam Spade type character, who simply cannot afford to give more than sarcastic flirtations to the opposite sex, romance is a huge part of fictional narrative. Particularly in RPGs, an important factor in making both NPCs and PCs feel alive to the player is in the way they interact and care about each other (whether it is a romantic attraction, or a non-romantic relationship).



To expand on what a few others pointed out, it has been only recently that games like this are given the quality of writing and direction to make such romances genuine, rather than seem cardboard or phony, such as happening because a happy ending demands it. Currently, the real challenge is, (at least in games like this), incorporating sex where it doesn't come across as tacky and exploitative nor laughably censored.

[Lady Catastrophe]

They're fun,sweet and add depth to the story.

[MKDAWUSS]

It's a substitute for a real girlfriend. A lot safer for your health and a lot more interactive than porn.





*Mark Levin Impersonation* THAT'S RIGHT I SAID IT!

[SusanStoHelit]

MKDAWUSS wrote...

It's a substitute for a real girlfriend.

Really? And I didn't even know I was gay! I think I'll stick to men, thanks.

Back to the point of the post - for reasons already pointed out by just about everyone else. If you don't like the romances, ignore them (they're not compulsory) - or don't play rpgs.

[SadisticChunkyDwarf]

I personally dont see what the big deal is either. It seems some people are infinitely amused by the fact you can romance characters on a video game and see a short softcore porn at the end. For me its amusing as well, for about 10 minutes while me and my wife laugh at my stumpy dwarf bedding one of my female companions. After that the novelty sort of wears off.

I havent got Zevran into the sack yet, that should be jokes for another 10 minutes. It seriously does get way too much attention for being just one small aspect of the game. I could name hundreds of things about the game that I found more entertaining.

I also find the compulsory love story implementation in most forms of media a bit contrived. I dont need "love" shoved down my throat every 30 minutes by hollywood or whoever to know about it. It just sort of trivializes the whole thing. Love and relationships are many different things to many different people, its pretty tacky and presumptious to get romance refined and packaged in a bottle over and over.

Modifié par SadisticChunkyDwarf, 12 juillet 2010 - 08:58 .

[Yamo425]

They are so you can look at the characters touch each other in their underwear and laugh and then people defend it because it is"immersive".



And I REALLY don't get the people who fall in love with a character in a game...

[SadisticChunkyDwarf]

On another note, why is there a general perception that to get to know characters you have to have sex with them? I know plenty of people in real life very well that I havent had sex with. Sure, they may harbor some fetish or dark pervesness that I am not aware of otherwise, but its completely possible to share a genuine relationship with a person without sticking anything inside them or vice versa. Maybe you guys just need to get laid, not hear a good story.

[Highdragonslayer]

To get at human drama (by which of course I also mean elven drama!!!), you tweak the primal emotions of fear, disgust, longing, pride, and you tweak the primal relationships- parent-child, sibling, lover, enemy, protector.

Didn't an English class (or whatever equivalent for non-English speakers) cover this?  What do they teach in school nowadays? 

I didn't feel any of these emotions when I played D age, except when Bhelen betrayed me.

[ejoslin]

There were two moments in DA:O that had me staring in disbelief my first playthrough (unspoiled), stunned and heartbroken. First one was when Loghain gave the order to retreat (I could NOT believe that). Second was when Alistair dumped my city elf.



The romances bring a depth of feeling though, for many, that make the whole experience more emotional and enjoyable.



And yes, I know that a few think that's really funny. But you know, I'm married, not desperate at ALL, not starved for romance or sex (thankyouverymuch) but I love a good drama. I cry when reading books occasionally, I cry at movies as well sometimes, and yes, I also go through those emotions while playing a well-written video game.



I don't like chick flicks, bodice rippers, or anything that goes for the cheap thrill. But give me a work that has me identify with the characters, even better if there's a grand adventure with it, present it to me well in a movie, in a book, or in a video game, and yeh, part of me will fall in love with some of the characters, hate some of the others, feel betrayed if I trusted one of these characters and they went against what I felt they should, etc.



Video games to me are just another way of telling a story. Not everyone will like all elements of the story. But video game romances, especially when part of a grand adventure, are written to be enjoyed by a wide variety of people.



I think they're great when done well!

[SOLID_EVEREST]

ejoslin wrote...

There were two moments in DA:O that had me staring in disbelief my first playthrough (unspoiled), stunned and heartbroken. First one was when Loghain gave the order to retreat (I could NOT believe that). Second was when Alistair dumped my city elf.

The romances bring a depth of feeling though, for many, that make the whole experience more emotional and enjoyable.

And yes, I know that a few think that's really funny. But you know, I'm married, not desperate at ALL, not starved for romance or sex (thankyouverymuch) but I love a good drama. I cry when reading books occasionally, I cry at movies as well sometimes, and yes, I also go through those emotions while playing a well-written video game.

I don't like chick flicks, bodice rippers, or anything that goes for the cheap thrill. But give me a work that has me identify with the characters, even better if there's a grand adventure with it, present it to me well in a movie, in a book, or in a video game, and yeh, part of me will fall in love with some of the characters, hate some of the others, feel betrayed if I trusted one of these characters and they went against what I felt they should, etc.

Video games to me are just another way of telling a story. Not everyone will like all elements of the story. But video game romances, especially when part of a grand adventure, are written to be enjoyed by a wide variety of people.

I think they're great when done well!

That isn't at all odd for women (the crying), but I don't think a male could live that down if they said that in public lol...

Anyways, I never really understood the necessity of a romance in most novels/plays. I think they are just a distraction/fluff. My favorite movie The Godfather didn't use such corney themes in order to get the viewers attention. I think romance steals a lot from the main point of the movie. If the movie was solely based on romance, then I would understand the significance, but movies/books out there don't need it interwined in their themes/plot (Lord of the Rings movie for one). I absolutely adored the Seven Samurai, but the whole romance between the samurai kid, and the farm woman really just didn't hit me well. As for movies that need the romance factor, Blade Runner comes to mind, which is almost what Dragon Age used in the Morrigan romance.
 
In Dragon Age, yes, it was indeed needed because Morrigan's romance played a significant role. The rest of the romances, though were just used as a fluff because there was no meaning behind them. If Alistair/Leliana/Zevran's romance was enshrouded in mystery that would play a significant role, then I would reconsider my post, but so far I have found no reason to pursuit any of them other than for the purpose of dialogue...

[ejoslin]

Michael Corleone got hit with the Thunderbolt. Sonny's love of his sister got him killed. Michael's second wife (who was his girlfriend before he went to Italy) loved him very much. He loved her so much, though he couldn't show it, that after she left him, Tom brought them back together, making it very clear to her that if Michael knew that he did that, he (Tom) would be killed.

While the central focus of the story wasn't love, the Godfather did place huge importance on relationships.

Edit: While not as much detail is put into the movie as into the book, these were not things left out of the movie.

Second edit: And that's kind of my point.  Not that love and relationships should be in the forefront, but as part of the characters.  Because, face it, loving people makes us more human.

Edit: And there is definitely love in LotR.  Again, these are not stories ABOUT love, but the characters in them often DO love, fall in love, etc., and it influences their decisions.

Dragon age also wasn't about love.  The romances were just a small part, something to give the whole story more personal meaning. 

Gah, done editing now!

Modifié par ejoslin, 13 juillet 2010 - 04:38 .

[Addai]

Highdragonslayer wrote...

To get at human drama (by which of course I also mean elven drama!!!), you tweak the primal emotions of fear, disgust, longing, pride, and you tweak the primal relationships- parent-child, sibling, lover, enemy, protector.

Didn't an English class (or whatever equivalent for non-English speakers) cover this?  What do they teach in school nowadays? 

I didn't feel any of these emotions when I played D age, except when Bhelen betrayed me.

So this particular story and these characters didn't engage you.  They certainly did engage me, many times.

[Addai]

SadisticChunkyDwarf wrote...

I also find the compulsory love story implementation in most forms of media a bit contrived. I dont need "love" shoved down my throat every 30 minutes by hollywood or whoever to know about it. It just sort of trivializes the whole thing. Love and relationships are many different things to many different people, its pretty tacky and presumptious to get romance refined and packaged in a bottle over and over.

And the romances weren't mandatory to playing the game, isn't that nice how that works out?  For people who find them compelling, however, they're... compelling.  But because you don't get it, you resort to generalizing insults.  How creative.

[SOLID_EVEREST]

ejoslin wrote...

Michael Corleone got hit with the Thunderbolt. Sonny's love of his sister got him killed. Michael's second wife (who was his girlfriend before he went to Italy) loved him very much. He loved her so much, though he couldn't show it, that after she left him, Tom brought them back together, making it very clear to her that if Michael knew that he did that, he (Tom) would be killed.

While the central focus of the story wasn't love, the Godfather did place huge importance on relationships.

Edit: While not as much detail is put into the movie as into the book, these were not things left out of the movie.

Second edit: And that's kind of my point.  Not that love and relationships should be in the forefront, but as part of the characters.  Because, face it, loving people makes us more human.

Edit: And there is definitely love in LotR.  Again, these are not stories ABOUT love, but the characters in them often DO love, fall in love, etc., and it influences their decisions.

Dragon age also wasn't about love.  The romances were just a small part, something to give the whole story more personal meaning. 

Gah, done editing now!

Wow, that is a whole lot of editing. I understand your point, but I can't help but feel uncomfortable when romance is intertwined into stories that don't need it. Much like an action movie, I never understood the significance of having the hero go out and bang every broad on earth; although, James Bond does that well.

As for the Godfather, yeah, maybe you are right I used the wrong movie reference because Michael does get another girl in Sicily. The Lord of the Rings one was a perfect example, though. The whole relationship between Aragorn, and the elven woman really was unecessary. I was kind of cringing when they introduced that whole romantic element into the movie...

I think Blade Runner does the whole romantic tension extremely well. The ideas from that movie can be relevant even 1,000 years from today...

[Addai]

SOLID_EVEREST wrote...
If the movie was solely based on romance, then I would understand the significance, but movies/books out there don't need it interwined in their themes/plot (Lord of the Rings movie for one).

The LOTR movies actually made more of the central romance (Aragorn + Arwen) than the books did, but that doesn't mean relationships do not figure heavily in the LOTR story.  The overt romance is more in the background, and more sublimated to capital-R Romance, but it's still heavily there.  Take Gimli and Galadriel.  Their interaction is a Romance in a more medieval form- the figure of an unattainable lady which inspires the heroic deeds of a warrior.  That is essentially the Arwen romance, too.  Just because no one's rolling around in the sheets doesn't mean that romance is not present.

This is not even getting into the pathos of friendship that is all through LOTR.

My point is that relationships engage the emotions.  I like a good adventure story or war movie, but if it has no humanness in it, it entertains me for a little while and then is forgotten.  The unforgettable stories are the ones that grab you in a deeper place.  And no, I do not mean grab the package.

Modifié par Addai67, 13 juillet 2010 - 05:25 .