73 réponses à ce sujet

[Sshodan]

Practice shows that for me it isn't. At last not when it comes to RPG. You see the presents of romance is a good indicator to the level of social interaction in the game - Awakening is a good example of that - not only it has no romances, but I can't chat with anyone in camp either, there are some dialogs, but the game is mostly action orientated.
When I want action I buy action/adventure, when I want to build a base and think strategies I buy RTS, when I want to simply kill something I go for shooters. I buy RPGs for the story and in depths character interactions.
So lack of romance mens that I'm likely to skip an RPG and go play something like Assasins Creed - no on screen romance but the action part is much better than any PRG can offer, and the story is still great.
I'm skipping Dungeon Sedge exactly for that reason.

[MeAndMySandvich]

Cuddlezarro wrote...

they tried this with awakening and boy did they get a metric ton of flak for it

I'm honestly not entirely sure why. Awakening's companion issues didn't have anything to do with romances or lack thereof. (And honestly I thought Awakening did party interactions better anyway. Feeding people dialogue trees in camp after every mission is so artificial.) For me Awakening's suckitude was purely because of how hilariously easy it was.

[mykeme]

So it seems that, for the most part, the people who posted here are impartial to romances in Bioware games and instead choose to judge them by their gameplay value and art direction.

How do you explain, then, the sheer amount of people with "I heart Tali'Zorah" and "I support X for LI in next Bioware game" banners in their signatures, 100-page long threads about said romanceable characters etc.? Do you think "those" people could do without "cheesy romance" in Bioware games just as easily?

Another important question is, how do you reckon removal of romance options would affect Bioware's sales? Do you think Bioware is "stuck" making Twilight-grade romances in their games, because that's what their core fanbase craves?

Modifié par mykeme, 19 juillet 2011 - 08:40 .

[shepskisaac]

mykeme wrote...

So it seems that, for the most part, the people who posted here are impartial to romances in Bioware games and instead choose to judge them by their gameplay value and art direction.

How do you explain, then, the sheer amount of people with "I heart Tali'Zorah" and "I support X for LI in next Bioware game" banners in their signatures, 100-page long threads about said romanceable characters etc.? Do you think "those" people could do without "cheesy romance" in Bioware games just as easily?

Another important question is, how do you reckon removal of romance options would affect Bioware's sales? Do you reckon Bioware is "stuck" making Twilight-grade romances in their games, because that's what their core fanbase craves?

Because romance is already part of this franchise and the concept behind it. And since Kaidan's gay romance was cut from ME1 yet other romances made in, I want it back and have as full experience as other players got.

[BatmanPWNS]

Romance is not needed for the game to be good but I reckon some players just bought ME1/2 just to get virtual laid.

[Siansonea]

Not every game needs to have romance options. They do add a layer to some games, but they're not right for every story. If ME3 didn't have romance options, it would be odd, since the previous two games had them, and it would be an unresolved story element. I wouldn't like there to be ANY unresolved story elements, so I wouldn't like it if they suddenly dropped the romance subplots without any explanation. If subsequent ME games didn't have romance story elements, it wouldn't necessarily bother me though. If they're good games, they're good games. Certainly if you're playing as a salarian protagonist, for example, romance storylines don't make a lot of sense.

[Nerdage]

So long as the characters were still strong it'd probably be fine, but the 'friendship' progressions would probably have to be stronger than they are now to compensate. They've set a bit of a precedent for having them though, so their sudden absence would feel a bit strange with no in-game justification ("The mission's too important this time" or something like that).

I'd miss them though, I do think they add a lot to the companion, my character, even the larger narrative, to the extent that I do feel their absence in other RPGs.

Short answer: If they made a game without romances I'd still buy it, but it'd be starting at a disadvantage compared to the ones that have them.

[shepskisaac]

Rojahar wrote...

n ME3, for example, it looks like the only returning permanent squadmates are the LIs, and they dont have a good reason for being the ones to return as opposed to other characters, other than for the sake of fanservice.

With Tali and Garrus, yes. They're exactly just as killable as anyone else in ME2 but obviously they will be available to recruit as permanent squadmembers again because of their popularity, so it is a fan-service. But Liara ans VS are not. They're the only two out of all the squadmates in ME franchise to be guaranteed to live (VS in the sense that the death of either Ashley or Kaidan guarantees the survival for the other character). These two, Liara and VS just happened to be LIs as well. If they weren't, BW would still use them because they're unkillable.

[Jenetic]

Personally, I do not want romance in my games. I took part in the Mass Effect romances just because they were part of the game, and I wanted to experience the whole game. They did nothing for me though.

I love the character interaction of the games. But the reason I love BioWare games is the overall story. My real life is complicated enough; I just want to sit back and experience the story. I'm different though I guess. Romance just isn't a big part of my rpg characters.

I also think they open up a big, complicated can of worms with the inclusion of romance and I could certainly live without it. That's just my opinion though; I'm fully empathetic to others'.

[MeAndMySandvich]

Rojahar wrote...

Ever since the first Mass Effect (and including DAO), romances have just seemed like some fanservicey dating-sim minigame on the side, rather than something that actually enhances (or even relates to) the plot in any way.

DA:O actually did an acceptable job with integrating Alistair and Morrigan into the story, I thought. But yeah, in general modern bioware is terrible at integrating romances. Honestly, even Witcher 1 (i.e., that game with the sexist "sex card" mechanic and generally immature take on sex in general) did a better job at making relationships part of the story than Mass Effect 2.

Modifié par MeAndMySandvich, 19 juillet 2011 - 09:29 .

[Mr. Gogeta34]

I don't think Jade Empire had romance...

[Nerdage]

Why do they need to be part of the main plot? Does everything need to be interconnected? It would feel really unrealistic and contrived if everything had to be connected to the main story.

[MeAndMySandvich]

nerdage wrote...

Why do they need to be part of the main plot? Does everything need to be interconnected? It would feel really unrealistic and contrived if everything had to be connected to the main story.

They need to work as a storytelling device - i.e. telling you more about the characters, the world, or something. Mass Effect 2 doesn't really do that, except arguably in the case of Jack. Of course, that romance is problematic for different reasons, but I digress...

[Jade5233]

The reason that BioWare games are my favorites is ENTIRELY due to the fact that the company has the best companion system and romance system of any video game company.

I used to be a Final Fantasy fan. I liked the love stories in the games. However, from the moment I played Knights of the Old Republic, I was hooked on this style of story telling with romance (and friendships) being a large part of the game. In fact, I have FF XIII at home that I bought over a year ago that I STILL haven't touched because I continue to replay ME, ME2, DA and DA2 (as well as KOTOR).

If BW was to remove or scale back the system that they have become known for (for instance like in Awakening), I would cease to buy their games.

[C9316]

I buy bioware's games for the story and gameplay, of course I would still buy ME3 if there were no romances.

[Fidget6]

Sure I'd buy a Bioware game with no romance if it were as good as Mass Effect. But Bioware is one of the only companies I know that you can pick who you romance and have as much emphasis on your romanced character. So, it's kind of one of the big things Bioware is known for. Sure you could pick who you went on a date with in FF7, but you'd always ultimately end up with Aerith. For me, it helps me get into the story and increases character depth and how much I care for the supporting cast. As for how to handle the love scenes I would say maybe about the level of ME1, or slightly more graphic, as long as it's tasteful. I think there should be rear nudity of both genders though to be fair. Kaidan was the only one who didn't show much skin in ME1. =(

[JamieCOTC]

It would depend on the story, but yes, I would still buy a BW game sans romances. Will TOR have romances? I haven't heard and never played an MMO, so I have no clue as if it is possible or if people even want it in TOR.

[mopotter]

I think without the romance I personally, wouldn't have any reason to buy them before I buy any other game. The character creation, character/NPC interaction, story, including the romance, are what make them special for me. The romances add a special something that makes the game complete. A friendship only story wouldn't do that, for me. That said, I don't like romancing everyone or the majority of your companions. I can do that in Fable and I find it boring.

FallOutNV has done a better job with their characters but they are still a bit stagnant (to me). It's fun but BW games are so much more.
If BW still had the great story, ability to play male or female and went down a friendship only path I'd be disappointed but still play them, They just wouldn't be in the pre-order, 1st to buy list if two games came out at the same time.

[Destroy Raiden_]

If romance is placed into the game then it become part of the game if no romance is presented in game that that lack of romance is also part of it and I don't go hey I wish I could romance my person because they clearly just want to be friends or killing partners with me. It's like the original Robin hood had no Maryann she was added much later the story was very popular before her then she came in and it made it even more so but sense she was added now no Robin Hood is complete w/o her taking her away now makes people upset where is she! It even makes people not watch it she is integral to the story evolution as much as robin is.

w/o romance the main character is solely integral to the story.

with one both main chara and love interest are.

Modifié par Destroy Raiden , 19 juillet 2011 - 10:59 .

[ThatDancingTurian]

I don't know if I'd buy a new BW game without a romance option, honestly. I didn't buy Awakening.

I'm a romantic. I ship characters in most of my favorite TV shows and movies, and I'll watch shows I probably wouldn't have watched otherwise if I happen upon an episode and see two people with chemistry being adorable together.

I appreciate that the romance storyline is not what the entire game is about; I don't play dating sim games or whatever either. I want to have my cake and eat it too, adventure and romance. BioWare games are the best of both worlds.

[mopotter]

Mr. Gogeta34 wrote...

I don't think Jade Empire had romance...

HAHa  Joke right?  Not only straight romance for male and female,  but two women; two men and two women with the guy.  

[Blacklash93]

I would support this.

[Finis Valorum]

mopotter wrote...

I think without the romance I personally, wouldn't have any reason to buy them before I buy any other game. The character creation, character/NPC interaction, story, including the romance, are what make them special for me. The romances add a special something that makes the game complete. A friendship only story wouldn't do that, for me. That said, I don't like romancing everyone or the majority of your companions. I can do that in Fable and I find it boring.

FallOutNV has done a better job with their characters but they are still a bit stagnant (to me). It's fun but BW games are so much more.
If BW still had the great story, ability to play male or female and went down a friendship only path I'd be disappointed but still play them, They just wouldn't be in the pre-order, 1st to buy list if two games came out at the same time.

True the optional romances are a nice touch and help to distinguish Bioware from its competitors as well as provide an in game motivation for your character should you wish it. If Bioware were to actually make a game with no romances whatsoever I would most likely still buy and play it if the story and setting appeal to me, but I would wait until there was a good mix of both professional and personal reviews available before making the actual decision to buy it and not place a pre-order.

FalloutNV was excellent (especially in the way they treated gay and lesbian characters as actual people) but NV being a sandbox world makes it that much more difficult to really integrate companions into the story the same way that Bioware can. I would actually be curious to see how the writing team behind New Vegas would handle a more character driven linear RPG of the sort Bioware's famous for since I was quite impressed with their handling of the companions in New Vegas.

[Cephalopods]

My canon romance is Leliana because I couldn't have Velanna