Dragon Age: Inquisition Pre-Release Thread

[Necroscope]

I'm seeing assertions but no proofs. Granted I don't have proof either other than a firm conviction that "detailed sex scenes" is low on the priority list when it comes to most peoples' video game purchases.

I believe you're right. However, once you're already into the "M" age bracket, the number of people who won't buy your game because of detailed sex scenes is probably lower than the number that will.

I can definitely picture some dudebros sitting on a coach:
"Yo brah, I heard you see Triss's vag in this one"
"For real though? Hafta get that shit"

I remember buying Fear Effect just because there were lesbians.

 

[DalekFlay]

Inconsequential.

Emotional anger clouding reasonable analysis is certainly not inconsequential to evaluating one's logic.

 

[Andyman Messiah]

Inconsequential.

Emotional anger clouding reasonable analysis is certainly not inconsequential to evaluating one's logic.

Why not?

 

[DalekFlay]

Why not?

Are you saying emotional decisions are logical decisions?

 

[Andyman Messiah]

Why not?

Are you saying emotional decisions are logical decisions?

I think it is largely inconsequential to consider that the people who yell of DECLINE and this "TROLOLO" thing are detracting from the Codex' status as a place of good discussion. The only places where such a thing matters is certain *other forums*, all of which are forums who the Codex are strongly "aligned against" for lack of better wording. While sad, for them anyways, it's inconsequential.

Btw I love learning new words.

 

[Roguey]

It's expensive and can be hard to coordinate. It doesn't really have much of any impact on how we write, though.

No shit, because you're already used to writing voiced RPGs exclusively.

Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Van Buren, and BG3 weren't fully voice acted.

Besides, why take writing advice from a man who has admitted he doesn't do writing for RPGs anymore and in fact dislikes writing for RPGs?

He said "I don't write for RPGs anymore" way back in the mid-late 2000s and changed his mind for New Vegas. Plus "I have also never had someone come to me with a writing problem involving full voice over or lack thereof."

I'd really like to see Sawyer's face when faced with the full voicing costs of a game like BG2...I won't say PS:T because I don't desire him ill and the sight of that bill will surely give him a heart attack.

BG2 didn't have much dialogue. Dragon Age: Origins has a great deal more.

Yes, but why do you think they are dumb, pointless and a waste of effort?

The Witcher 2 is a highly cinematic game and its cutscenes, which are of top-notch quality, serve the purpose of advancing the story, like all cutscenes do. What does it matter if the cutscenes portray a couple engaging in romantic activities? Do you think this way when you watch a movie? Does watching sex scenes in movies make you feel the same way as watching sex scenes in games?

But they don't advance the story, they're gratuitous. Watching actual human beings grind together is different. Are you actually getting off on these uncanny valley-inducing 3D models?

 

[Cromwell]

But they don't advance the story, they're gratuitous. Watching actual human beings grind together is different. Are you actually getting off on these uncanny valley-inducing 3D models?

From a story perspective this is bullshit. If you want, for whatever reason, have a sexscene in your story it doesnt matter if its only text, a cutscene in a game, or a scene in a movie. And aside from porn they are part of the story. You can't simply say they dont advance it and then disregard them and in the same sentence say they are ok in movies because with real human beeings its different. Not all Sex scenes are there to get you off.

From your perspective they would, in all mediums be gratuitous, you just are ok with it in Movies because theres a chance they get you off.

 

[Roguey]

Sex scenes do exist to get you off considering they can be handled with a fade-to-black unless something story-significant happens during the sex (usually it doesn't).

Does anything significant happen during Geralt's swimming pool fun time with Triss? Nor with the prostitutes nor the elf from the burning tower nor the succubus nor Cynthia and likely not with Ves either.

 

[Cromwell]

Sex scenes do exist to get you off considering they can be handled with a fade-to-black unless something story-significant happens during the sex (usually it doesn't).

Does anything significant happen during Geralt's swimming pool fun time with Triss? Nor with the prostitutes nor the elf from the burning tower nor the succubus nor Cynthia and likely not with Ves either.

It does, the story theese elves telling summs up to something like "they are enchanted and will never leave". Its not the best Story ever but the sex serves a purpose, bottomline they fuck exactly there because the place "forces" them and they will forget Time and probably would have died there if Roche wouldt have showed up.

Aside from That I think Sexscens can advance the Story, they can tell you something about the characters engaging in it, what they do, where they do it, etc. Theese scenes can be just another way to establish certain things about characters. And yes they dont have to be explicit or 10 Minutes long. And yes mostly they dont.

 

[Roguey]

Sex scenes do exist to get you off considering they can be handled with a fade-to-black unless something story-significant happens during the sex (usually it doesn't).

Does anything significant happen during Geralt's swimming pool fun time with Triss? Nor with the prostitutes nor the elf from the burning tower nor the succubus nor Cynthia and likely not with Ves either.

It does, the story theese elves telling summs up to something like "they are enchanted and will never leave". Its not the best Story ever but the sex serves a purpose, bottomline they fuck exactly there because the place "forces" them and they will forget Time and probably would have died there if Roche wouldt have showed up.

But did they need to show the bodyslapping? In Witcher the first, you get that funny scene where those guards think Geralt and red riding hood are ghosts haunting an abandoned house but you don't actually see them going at it.

 

[Necroscope]

I don't get what's so wrong with sex scenes/nudity in a game for mature audience and why it's such a big deal in North America (censoring boobs in a game with PEGI 18 - LOL). It's because the average american is so fat that he can barely see his dick - in a mirror?

 

[sea]

See, I don't consider this particular scene to be porn. It's just a woman undressing and jumping in a pool of water, with the clumsy warrior man struggling to take off his own clothes because golly! he sure would want to be in the water with the naked woman too! That's funny! Fuck's sake, people. Then there's light sexual content before the scene ends.

Not porn. Just a cute little scene.

I think this says a lot about the mentality people in North America have towards sex. In some parts of the world, people don't take sex completely seriously and can look at sexual content without being aroused. Meanwhile it seems like Americans have this weird thing where everything sexual becomes some kind of messed up voyeuristic peep show designed to get you off, but don't tell anyone because then they'll think you're weird and unwholesome! Lighten up.

As others have said, the sexual content of a scene can be used for many narrative purposes, including character-building (how people have sex can say a lot about their personalities, as well as their emotional connection), plot advancement (yes, people can bond using sex), comedy, and so on. CD Projekt do not really treat it as pure titillation nor is it intended to be seen as such. I'm not saying they are perfect and artistic works or anything, but to call it pornography is also a pretty limited view and says more about the person making the accusation than it does about the content of the scenes themselves.

Let's put it another way. Pay attention and you will notice that the content of the sex scenes changes significantly based on who is actually participating. Geralt, when having sex with Triss, is obviously infatuated. He behaves like an inexperienced kid at times, behaving rather clumsily, and yet at the same time obviously near-worshipping her in his obvious respect for her. Yet when he has sex with others, such as prostitutes, it's clear that the relationship is very different - we see him treating them much more as sex objects than as people to be cared for. That he also is rougher with yet more characters, like Ves, says something else about Geralt and about his partners.

This further reflects upon his character as a whole because we get an understanding for how and why he treats people certain ways - and surprise, it might not all be positive, and we might even look on Geralt as a different (more human) character when we see what we may consider to be flaws.

CD Projekt clearly put some thought into these scenes this time around. The question is, did their audience?

 

[J_C]

Sex scenes do exist to get you off considering they can be handled with a fade-to-black unless something story-significant happens during the sex (usually it doesn't).

Does anything significant happen during Geralt's swimming pool fun time with Triss? Nor with the prostitutes nor the elf from the burning tower nor the succubus nor Cynthia and likely not with Ves either.

It does, the story theese elves telling summs up to something like "they are enchanted and will never leave". Its not the best Story ever but the sex serves a purpose, bottomline they fuck exactly there because the place "forces" them and they will forget Time and probably would have died there if Roche wouldt have showed up.

But did they need to show the bodyslapping? In Witcher the first, you get that funny scene where those guards think Geralt and red riding hood are ghosts haunting an abandoned house but you don't actually see them going at it.

The question is, why wouldn't they show the intimate parts? Sex is part of the human nature. I'm oversimplifing it, but if they show the characters running, jumping, talking, fighting in the cutscenes, they can also show them having sex.

 

[Hepler's Vagina]

Meanwhile on BSN their thread of the day: Why not pixel "nude" models rather than force them to dress in underwear?

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/category/371/index

 

[Andyman Messiah]

Let's put it another way. Pay attention and you will notice that the content of the sex scenes changes significantly based on who is actually participating. Geralt, when having sex with Triss, is obviously infatuated. He behaves like an inexperienced kid at times, behaving rather clumsily, and yet at the same time obviously near-worshipping her in his obvious respect for her. Yet when he has sex with others, such as prostitutes, it's clear that the relationship is very different - we see him treating them much more as sex objects than as people to be cared for. That he also is rougher with yet more characters, like Ves, says something else about Geralt and about his partners.

100% this.

"Schoolboy crush" is what came to mind when I first saw the scene. Really sweet.

Meanwhile on BSN their thread of the day: Why not pixel "nude" models rather than force them to dress in underwear?

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/category/371/index

Baby steps.

 

[pan]

You missed out on something important during your teenage years if you consider this porn.

It would better be described as erotica, but the wording is largely unimportant as most people aren't familiar enough with the definitions to make the distinction.

 

[DalekFlay]

I think this says a lot about the mentality people in North America have towards sex. In some parts of the world, people don't take sex completely seriously and can look at sexual content without being aroused. Meanwhile it seems like Americans have this weird thing where everything sexual becomes some kind of messed up voyeuristic peep show designed to get you off, but don't tell anyone because then they'll think you're weird and unwholesome! Lighten up.

Americans are obsessed with sex but also have this stupid cultural need to think it's dirty, naughty and forbidden to enjoy for women. Most of our sitcoms emphasize how much wives hate sex, there's an intense need for female media personalities to maintain an image of chastity... yet at the same time there is also pressure to always look sexy and act like you're ready to go.

It's downright schizophrenic honestly, and really weird. Drives me nuts.

Good post overall btw.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Why not give Consequences to walking naked instead? Like getting cold and/or being fined, arrested, assaulted and raped? Not to mention having ruined reputation. Choices and Consequences.

 

[Cromwell]

Americans are obsessed with sex but also have this stupid cultural need to think it's dirty, naughty and forbidden to enjoy for women.

I would love it If all my sex was dirty forbidden and naughty. Even if it was just in my imagination : (

 

[Necroscope]

(...) CD Projekt clearly put some thought into these scenes this time around. The question is, did their audience?

Honestly, I've never gave it much thought, or at least not in the context of your post; simply: "finally someone had the balls to show nudity in a game" and carried on with my playthrough. It seemed to me just as unessesary or iconoclastic as any other scene with mature content. And I would actually have felt offended if it was blakened, or even more if performed in underwear because sex/nudity is just as dumb and pointless in a fantasy game introducing tortures, executions, dismemberment and all other sorts of violence as the very mentioned. For as long as sexual content, in the broad sense, is not out of place I'm ok with it. Now what IS out of place is a robot chick with silicon pussy, or a soldier wearing latex porno suit (Triss casual wear is absolutely normal btw) - especially when followed by a shower sex scene where two lesbians magically fuck each other in clothes. How fuckin' retarded one must be to even come up with something like that? Seriously, I'd prefer to do it the Demolition Man way...

This whole sex taboo in games is even more funny when you realise that every internet user is about 5 seconds away - the average time needed to type "redtube", "xvideos", or alike - from hardcore porn.

 

[Roguey]

Let's put it another way. Pay attention and you will notice that the content of the sex scenes changes significantly based on who is actually participating. Geralt, when having sex with Triss, is obviously infatuated. He behaves like an inexperienced kid at times, behaving rather clumsily, and yet at the same time obviously near-worshipping her in his obvious respect for her.

Not during. That all happens before.

Yet when he has sex with others, such as prostitutes, it's clear that the relationship is very different - we see him treating them much more as sex objects than as people to be cared for. That he also is rougher with yet more characters, like Ves, says something else about Geralt and about his partners.

As far as I can remember, every other sex scene uses one of two variations. They also contain awkward clipping.

In conclusion, it's totes pornography for heterosexual men and your fanboyism is disgusting.

 

[Necroscope]

The only pornography in this thread are your posts - fall into scat category.

 

[Wilian]

In conclusion, it's totes pornography for heterosexual men and your fanboyism is disgusting.

What is disgusting is your apprehension towards a depiction of a natural and normal human relations. While it might not be 100% necessary to go to those lengths to show what happens on the screen, it's fairly obvious you only use this chance to further your silly feminist agenda on the expense of a game.

 

[Roguey]

What is disgusting is your apprehension towards a depiction of a natural and normal human relations. While it might not be 100% necessary to go to those lengths to show what happens on the screen, it's fairly obvious you only use this chance to further your silly feminist agenda on the expense of a game.

My biggest concern is resource wasting. I find animating sex scenes in games to be a waste of resources that could be used to better effect elsewhere. Or alternately downsizing the cinematics team to keep the budget lower.

 

[~RAGING BONER~]

In conclusion, it's totes pornography for heterosexual men and your fanboyism is disgusting.

hmmm...I'm actually of the opinion that those scenes and romances in general appeal more to "women" and homo-trans-bi-and-tri-sexual BioWare fans.

I'm a member on BSN and have even read a few threads on occasion...there is simply no way those people are hetero/white when all they do is harp about how there needs to be a "cullen romance or frankly [insert whatever] romance" in DA3 and other similarly gushing topics of such low caliber.