discussion Your thoughts on MC having a male best friend?

[MattShizzle]

Fine as long as it IS a "no ntr" thing AND that it doesn't do that trite thing where he turns into an enemy. Also, best he's not a complete idiot you have to keep saving.

 

[guliver]

I don't mind it if it's implemented well. It can even be a fun addition depending on what you're in a mood for. Though I'm more into a netori scenarios most of the time lol
I think the male friend in Secrets of Sorcery is an example of it being implemented well, even though the game overall is mid.

 

[angband]

Depend on how the character is written. If the best friend actually adds something to the story — like emotional support, humor, or helping move the plot forward — then he can be a great addition. But if he turns into a constant obstacle, gets overly involved in every decision, or just exists to drag things out, then he becomes more of a nuisance than a valuable character. In short, it works as long as the best friend doesn’t become dead weight or annoy the player more than he helps.

As always, it depends on the writing and the role of the friend.
Action centered games always need a brother-in-arms, because women can not fit properly on that role.

That's fair, a lot of things come down to the quality of writing, and the friend being a good friend is really important, but for me, even more important is the reverse of this--you being a good friend to him. While I can compartmentalize and get past a lot of things that I don't like about the characters in a story, ideally I like to play someone who is a good person and doesn't hurt the people around him. Banter is fine, but I don't want to play someone who is constantly insulting my friend or putting him down. And, most of all, I don't want what is normally a godlike ability to attract female attention to cause hard feelings for my friend. Also, I don't want to be competing for LIs so if my friend is going to have a LI of his own, it needs to be handled in a way that I am not distracted by her or feeling the need to compete for her. This adds a lot of difficulty to the writing, and if someone gets it just right, I can totally appreciate their ability.

 

[Captain Panda]

I love having a buddy in the games. Chang wong in eturnim is a real homie.

 

[hangdangle]

I personally don't mind other M's being in the plot. I love a the rival trope, especially with an option to cuck them or steal their girls. At the same time though I don't particularly enjoy getting cucked or sharing. I agree the scene in LiY was tough with the best friend but it adds to the story and aided in character development. Maybe it makes me different, but as long as I'm into I'll get through what most artist are trying to do. Particularly if it aids in story (however uncomfortable some scenes may end up being for me.)

 

[jinxed]

Either I'm ganna back his mom or sis or him there's no other way I can view this

 

[Akiry]

something i haven't seen much is a male friend that joins in with any stupid shit you character do. in sisterly lust you have a male friend who will help you quite literally get blackmail footage to intimidade a guy who's threatning the mc's sister, and you do that by making a sex tape with the guy's mother, and you can do it yourself or ask your friend to do it. we need more dumb friends commiting casual crime together

 

[LcUser123]

I'm open to it, but they have to have value to the story. The two main examples I can think of are Chang from Eternum who's a total bro, and Ian from Pale Carnations.
Chang doesn't provide any competition but he's a solid character in his own right who plays a part in the plot.

Ian is a little different because the branching choices mean you can

Spoiler

Steal his girlfriend because he's kind of a piece of shit even if he is your best friend and/or double team another character with him because he's your best friend which is pretty funny.

That game is meant to be rougher though, and his character feels fleshed out enough for it to work.

 

[careful_cube]

I love a good male friend if he's actually a character with, like, motivations and goals and stuff. I've even got a soft spot for the comic relief types, who doesn't like a man with a sense of humor. Hell, as one of the depraved bisexuals, I'm even open to them becoming love interests. What I can't stand though, is when they're just used as a way to make the MC look good. Either because they strike out, or because the MC steals their girl, it all reeks of insecurity. Let the friend have a girlfriend. In fact, let him get with one of the MC's love interests. It makes for more variety in the game and adds replay value and character depth. People who play these games need to stop being selfish and learn to share, smh.

 

[BigBeanhead]

Depends on the type of game. Plot heavier games i find its fine, but on games clearly meant to be for a quick fap it usually interrupts the flow too much for me.

 

[MattaMus11MattaMus11's icon]

Im always worried that it will turn into some gay shit lol

 

[RainbowEraser]

I don't mind it. As long as he stays away if you catch my drift xD

 

[plooyo]

Derek in Being a DIK, he's more complex than seen in the early episodes, even if most of his scenes are humorous or make him the butt of the joke. There's bits and pieces proving this in a lot of his heart to heart scenes with the MC, and he generally always has your back, even when it ends up stinging him.

Liam in Acting Lessons, same developer as BAD, a legit bro, and you actually care about him.

Chris in Leap of Faith, written pretty well, a fan of one of your Love Interests, but never goes passed that. A goofball, that does have trouble with women and you can pitch some of the LI's off on him, but he can pull his own women. It kind of makes sense, when you're in the same circle, that he may end up with someone in your proximity, just like real life.

Jalen in West View Academy, didn't know what to think of him at first, he's a bro, comes off as annoying sometimes, but he's the cool Childhood Friend that is just as talented as the MC. He isn't interested in any of the FMC, as he right away gets interested in a girl that is pretty much facially obscured, as a running gag.

Some things, I dislike when another character is potentially interested in a LI, but as I grew up I understand if you don't go Harem, that girl will have to move on eventually, so if they seek others I'm okay with it. I just generally don't like when it happens in game, if it's an epilogue or after-story, it's fine.

derek is the broooooooo

 

[newusers]

I dont mind , even i like it if he have mom/sister to seduce

 

[LewisCarroll]

No issue with it. Not many even try to add a buddy and those that do are interesting. There's a limit though. Like others have said, good stories are good and bad ones a bad. Almost anything can be made good by a talented writer/dev.

 

[HornDragon]

honestly fine addition for story reasons but depending on the genre could be a bit weird

 

[jakecart]

I like it, when it's done well of course. I think it helps provide opportunity for comedic relief

 

[Fxfa]

Depends how hot my friend's mom is.

 

[ooshlaga]

ive never minded a male best friend. i usually like the character when its done.

 

[aljza]

I feel kind of the same, so I'll provide 3 examples I know of
Sisterly Lust
your male friend feels kind of awkward to me here, but he's not annoying all the time, having to spend a lot of time with non romantic interests is usually boring, he's kind of balanced, helps you out on your things and you have the chance of either sharing, not sharing or giving him his token girl, which doesn't feel bad because it's his own sister after all
Midlife Crisis
while you don't have quite a male friend, you have a couple males that show up, one of them, the super ultra gay fat ugly father of one of your girls, who is also your most important client and a mafia boss, he's supportive of your relationship and it's always helpful towards you, a relationship of pure trust, he doesn't seem out of place at all
the other, your employee, who is the butt of the joke, but serves the purpose of introducing one of the girls to you
Summertime Saga
not an AVN, so mostly you meet your friend whenever you want to, hard to describe, he's just there, normal, he gets his token girl, which is not one of you love interests, doesn't have a lot of screen time and is "uglier" than the others, just like your friend, so it feels right, you can also get his mom, share it with him or give her to him, which again, doesn't feel bad bc it's his mom lol

so, imo, the male friends feel better when they don't have a lot of screen time, a father-son or little-big brother supportive relationship kind (in behavior, not blood) feels best, if you make them feel equal and always around, they feel like competition rather than help