discussion Games straight to point or games you have to grind?

[smiley789]

i think having some sort of gameplay loop is important cause why not just look at a gallery otherwise but i do notice some games take it way too far and theres not enough payoff for the amount of time they expect you to play and thats just artificial bloat at that point

 

[Ryuji]

I would say games with build up and some game play are way better, as I don't like the ones that go straight to the point much.
PS: I associate grind with something repetitive and boring, because by god I have played some games that were more of a shore than anything to get anything done, so I consider it something completely different to say a game is "grindy", or that it has "build up and game play".

 

[squishysquash]

gameplay is good, but gameplay that is fun and engaging isn't grind. grind is pointless padding and nobody needs that.

 

[Loliholic]

I dont want brainless sluts just waiting for the mc.
But i also dont want always the same repeated grinding.
Going step by step is the right course, repeating step for step is not.

 

[zark]

Hey,
what type of games do you prefer?
I can't really make up my mind about that topic.
Sometimes I like when you don't have to do anything at all to get to the lewd scenes in games and other times I like when you have to work for your pleasure. It feels more satisfying then for me.
Two of my favorite games are OSiL and Bernd and the mystery from Unteraltenbach.
OSiL is really straight forward and a pleasure to play but for Bernd to get the girls he likes you have to work hard and fight through numerous Game Over screens if you messed it up.
But if you finally hook up with the girl, the excitement is even bigger for me.
So, a quick fap or pleasent anticipation? What do you think?

More often then not, I have more that one game running. So for me, both. so if its a slow but fun game, I add a fast game or 2 to pop in to from time to time to brake it up.

 

[eezergoode]

But I do prefer games where it feels like the relationships and the sex scenes are something I achieved, not things that just happened while I was watching. That can be as simple as a game with choices where you may or may not wind up with a girl based on your actions (e.g. Once In A Lifetime or Eternum), or something more like a sandbox where you have to accomplish things in the game world to progress the story and relationships (e.g. Masters of Raana).

This right here sums it up perfectly. Actions with consequences and/or rewards.

BUT if I have to do a repetitive action, the story should be unfolding AS I AM REPEATING IT. In other words, each time you perform said action, it should be part of the story, not just to raise an arbitrary stat, and if i have to repeat it a dozen times just to unlock the next stage, I'ma nope out most of the time. I don't mind working towards a goal, I hate mind-numbing random repeating crap that is obviously just put in to extend "play time." I haven't checked out Summertime Saga in a long time, but last I played it wasn't horrible with grinding, although I do think it could have been a little better, and Man of the House wasn't a horrible experience either, but it was a little... grindier... than I prefer.

However, it really depends on the mood I'm in, I usually end up playing straight VNs where choices matter at least a bit, IE which girl or girls you end up with, or which ending you get, good or bad, etc. But I'll even play a kinetic novel if the story underneath is good enough and the author can actually do quality scenes. And I mean the writing of the scenes, not the artwork. I'll let the art slide if the writing is good enough. I have a harder time letting the writing slide because of good art.

 

[User_29852]

I dont want brainless sluts just waiting for the mc.
But i also dont want always the same repeated grinding.
Going step by step is the right course, repeating step for step is not.

These are wise words

 

[AlBetGam]

BUT if I have to do a repetitive action, the story should be unfolding AS I AM REPEATING IT. In other words, each time you perform said action, it should be part of the story, not just to raise an arbitrary stat, and if i have to repeat it a dozen times just to unlock the next stage, I'ma nope out most of the time. I don't mind working towards a goal, I hate mind-numbing random repeating crap that is obviously just put in to extend "play time." I haven't checked out Summertime Saga in a long time, but last I played it wasn't horrible with grinding, although I do think it could have been a little better, and Man of the House wasn't a horrible experience either, but it was a little... grindier... than I prefer.

I'd add that the amount of time and clicks it takes to repeat a task is a factor. E.G. if I need a Strength of 20 to unlock the next scene with my sister, and I can work out as many times as I like in a given game day at the cost of two hours each- well, it's not the greatest game design, but it's not a huge chore either. On the other hand if you make me click-navigate my way through ten screens to get to the gym, and I work out and get one point of strength, and I click on it again and my character says "I already worked out today! I'm tired now!", I'm probably dropping that game, because it's designed to force me to take three in-game weeks to make even trivial progress.

 

[AVG]

It is all about the balance. Without a story the game is just a bunch of images. When it feels that you did something for your reward, the reward is so much better. But if you have to grind and grind and need to resort to the skip button... than it misses its goal.

 

[AbbaDoo]

I don't mind "grind" games unless they have terrible hidden triggers, or they require a massive grind. Looking at you Big Brother where you have to give a massage like 10 times before you can take the massage to the next level.

 

[Riyuko00]

I don't mind "grind" games unless they have terrible hidden triggers, or they require a massive grind. Looking at you Big Brother where you have to give a massage like 10 times before you can take the massage to the next level.

I agree with that

 

[MattShizzle]

Straight to the point. HATE any sort of grind with the intensity of 10,000 blue-white supergiant stars. Grind sucks.

 

[CharlieV]

A good story that builds anticipation but then actually delivers is easily my favorite type of VN.

Problem is the amount of games that get abandoned before reaching this point

 

[MattShizzle]

Also hate teasing. A tag I filter out.

 

[Zeus179]

I dont think the problem is grind or no grind, imo its pacing. Generally I prefer grind because it has more of a build up, however, a lot of games have a lot of grind for no reward. Which comes back to pacing, if you do it fast or slow it needs to make sense.

 

[MattShizzle]

I dont think the problem is grind or no grind, imo its pacing. Generally I prefer grind because it has more of a build up, however, a lot of games have a lot of grind for no reward. Which comes back to pacing, if you do it fast or slow it needs to make sense.

No such thing as too fast for me. There are a few total blue ball ones out there that somehow are popular - ie not slow burn, but no burn.

 

[User_120092]

Grinding games that keep repeating the same scenes are the worst. If I have to grind, at least keep it fresh.

 

[dereguedeixe]

Something between those two. I like to it to be built with time but hate grind

 

[MattShizzle]

Grind should be a tag - if there's any whatsoever and another if it's a fuck ton.

For comparison:
buttload < shitload < shit ton< fuck ton.

 

[User_120092]

A good story that builds anticipation but then actually delivers is easily my favorite type of VN.

Problem is the amount of games that get abandoned before reaching this point

Could not have said it better.