I need your opinion on whether or not to run a review

[Knightshade Dragon]

We've been offered a chance to review a title called "Seduce Me" from an Indie company out of Amsterdam named "No Reply Games".   I'm all about supporting indie developers, but rated M doesn't cover it - this title is AO, no doubt.   I wanted to reach out to the community and see what you think?   Part of me says "I'm a journalist, this is just another game, and it supports the Indie movement".   Another part of me says "I'm not getting into the hentai business, and this is the edge of that slope".   What do you folks think?

[IamChuckles]

If you feel so strongly that you are asking our opinion,  I would say go with your gut and say no.

[Knightshade Dragon]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

[spigot]

Sounds more prudent to just skip it then.

[CeeKay]

you've probably already seen it Ron, but here's some gameplay (NSFW warning) if that helps with the decision.

[gellar]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

Ahahahaha no.  This isn't a game.  The only reason to 'review' it is to drive traffic to the site via controversy.  Other than that it isn't worth any time at all.

[Teggy]

I think you know the types of games the audience for this site plays, and this isn't one of them.

[Turtle]

You know, I've got no problem with sex and stuff, but the whole point of it is that for this game.

If it was an interesting social sim about relationships, or just trying to get hookups while out, sure. But from that youtube video, this is just a porn game dressed up with a few nonsensical puzzles.

[Vikki]

Skip it

[Soulchilde]

skip it

btw, Ron while I understand you want your community  opinion on this and I appreciate it, but  I would advise not letting this become the norm.  I just don't want some of the major Dev houses looking at the forums and thinking the inmates are running the show

[Caine]

it doesn't fit in the gamer culture we have on the site, so I vote to skip it. 

[pr0ner]

Remember the "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend" article?

Yeaaaaah....

[Victoria Raverna]

It is just a game. Review it and give your honest opinion on it. If it is a good game with AO rating then some readers of your site might want to know about it. If it is very bad then some of your readers also want to know.

[ATB]

I think you know the types of games the audience for this site plays, and this isn't one of them.

This.

And this:

Remember the "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend" article?

[Purge]

Ignoring my staff member status (eek, bad choice of words in this context ), I'd vote to not bother reviewing it. While it would drive some controversy, it'd be better as an editorial article (much like the WNTPIFOYGF one), where you could discuss the merits / demerits of the adult nature of the internet, and how limited sex-based games have remained.

It isn't worth a full review.

[Laner]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

Ahahahaha no.  This isn't a game.  The only reason to 'review' it is to drive traffic to the site via controversy.  Other than that it isn't worth any time at all.

This.

[CeeKay]

And this:

Remember the "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend" article?

when you can get pr0ner and ATB to agree on something you know what needs to be done

[Gratch]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

Ahahahaha no.  This isn't a game.  The only reason to 'review' it is to drive traffic to the site via controversy.  Other than that it isn't worth any time at all.

This.

I'll add a +1 to this as well.  No reason to go down this particular road, IMO.

[davidrobots]

AHAHAHAHAAHAHA I just watched the video and I'm drunk enough to say yes but this is probably a bad idea.

[Crusis]

AHAHAHAHAAHAHA I just watched the video and I'm drunk enough to say yes but this is probably a bad idea.

This.

[EngineNo9]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

Ahahahaha no.  This isn't a game.  The only reason to 'review' it is to drive traffic to the site via controversy.  Other than that it isn't worth any time at all.

I would argue that this is as much of a game as The Walking Dead is.  It's a series of choices leading to some conclusions in a story, with zombies instead of boobies.  And that bunch of quicktime events is winning GOTY from a bunch of places. 

Having said that, in all seriousness I would just consider that reviewing this product is not really going to do anything positive for the site, its readers or you.

[Greggy_D]

I'd skip it.  From the looks of that video, it wouldn't garner a score of over 20%.

[ATB]

And this:

Remember the "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend" article?

when you can get pr0ner and ATB to agree on something you know what needs to be done

Don't cross the streams!

[Zarkon]

I haven't watched the video (and can't right now, I'm at work), but here is my opinion (for what very little it's worth). 

It's AO.  This is bad simply because these games can't ... well, be bought anywhere other than J-List and a few sites like that (yeah, all hentai). 

However, I have a personal disbelief in the ESRB in what considers 'M' and 'AO', given the amount of violence that's in our games.  Not that I mind violence, mind you, but I do mind the double-standard in our society as regards sex vs. violence.  A bare boob is horrible, but blowing holes in people, man that's just a-ok with us!

I say use your best judgement, Ron.  Watch as much preview info as you can, and see if it's actually a worthwhile game...or if it's just a cheap grab at a sex-sim.  If it's worthwhile, review it.  If it's a cheap sex-sim thing..meh.

That said, I'd love if the industry (both sides, game making and game reviewing) could have an actual mature way of handling relationships and sex in games without degenerating to 'hurr hurr' behavior like they're thirteen year olds.

[th'FOOL]

But would the discussion thread be in the handheldgames forum?   

[CeeKay]

But would the discussion thread be in the handheldgames forum?   

I don't know, it could turn out to be an MMO (multiple massive orgasms)

[th'FOOL]

A cursory glance online reveals a few things- it was removed from Steam Greenlight and IGN has a record for it along with articles and a wiki. There's a story in this, I'm just not sure if it's simply a review, maybe in regards to how the industry classifies AO games and the level of violence and gore that is allowed but anything with sex in it is reviled. IGN has assets up that have been censored so it definitely looks like the devs can provide that sort of thing.

I dunno. I'm of the mind that if the game has actual gameplay and is a true game rather than something that's just going for the cheap thrill, give it a chance. I think we could even provide an age gate on the article if necessary.

BTW, this is considerably different than "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend". That was intended to be a satirical article and it really didn't fit the tone and content of the site. Obviously this would be striking new ground content-wise but maintaining our tone with a critical editorial commentary might prove compelling.

My 2 cents.

[Dante Rising]

My personal feeling on it is "It's a product.  I review products.  Somebody out there wants to know whether or not this game is worth their cash" - it's more the community reaction I'm worried about.   The review itself will fall off the front page in a day or two and fall to obscurity with a news push or two.   I just don't want somebody tearing me a new ass because their kid read it or something.

Ahahahaha no.  This isn't a game.  The only reason to 'review' it is to drive traffic to the site via controversy.  Other than that it isn't worth any time at all.

I would argue that this is as much of a game as The Walking Dead is.  It's a series of choices leading to some conclusions in a story, with zombies instead of boobies.  And that bunch of quicktime events is winning GOTY from a bunch of places. 

Having said that, in all seriousness I would just consider that reviewing this product is not really going to do anything positive for the site, its readers or you.

I agree with this. In terms of mechanics they are similar, so by that measuring stick the Walking Dead falls into the same family as this title. In terms of content, well.....

I say play it, see if it has actual redeeming qualities, and then perhaps inform he community. But I probably wouldn't make a full fledged review. I do wish gaming would get to the maturity level that sex, lust and love could be expressed with maturity, but I imagine that day is generations away.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Yep, so the consensus seems to be noooooooo.    So I'm gonna skip it and spend my time on more important stuff.     

[Harpua3]

Yep, so the consensus seems to be noooooooo.    So I'm gonna skip it and spend my time on more important stuff.     

What if I wanted to legitamize masterbating to reviews? The dream is dead...

[stryker]

i was going to answer no point in reviewing whatsoever.

unless you are married and looking for cover from your users to play a pron game, in which case, i was going to help give you cover by saying as a professional you must review this, you know, for the greater good.

[Zinfan]

But you could have combined this review with the new twitch.tv feature and had a bunch of tag alongs watching you put this through its paces.

[rittchard]

Sorry I missed this thread over the holidays.  I have to agree with thFool - seems hypocritical to me that our society condemns sexuality in favor of violence.  So it's cool to play games simulating how many different ways I can kill or maim someone, but then we get morally outraged about games that simulate different ways to f someone? 

[Vidiot]

Sorry I missed this thread over the holidays.  I have to agree with thFool - seems hypocritical to me that our society condemns sexuality in favor of violence.  So it's cool to play games simulating how many different ways I can kill or maim someone, but then we get morally outraged about games that simulate different ways to f someone? 

I'm right there with these guys.  We spend so much time on moral outrage when the media attacks a game as a "murder simulator" that is "corrupting our children" but often do the same when a game like this comes along.  It took violent games years to figure out how to handle violence well (and well a huge segment still seem to be made with a middle school mindset).

[gellar]

Sorry I missed this thread over the holidays.  I have to agree with thFool - seems hypocritical to me that our society condemns sexuality in favor of violence.  So it's cool to play games simulating how many different ways I can kill or maim someone, but then we get morally outraged about games that simulate different ways to f someone?  

I'm right there with these guys.  We spend so much time on moral outrage when the media attacks a game as a "murder simulator" that is "corrupting our children" but often do the same when a game like this comes along.  It took violent games years to figure out how to handle violence well (and well a huge segment still seem to be made with a middle school mindset).

I'm cracking up at this argument in this thread.  While yes, certainly our society is pretty fucked up when it comes the acceptance of violence over sex, that's hardly at all the point here.  The point here is that this isn't a game worth reviewing on any site that takes itself remotely close to seriously or has any idea what it's readership is..  It's jerk off material loosely disguised as a game. Are you saying movie sites should review porn alongside the current releases?  Come the fuck on.  Get off the soapbox.

[th'FOOL]

Sorry I missed this thread over the holidays.  I have to agree with thFool - seems hypocritical to me that our society condemns sexuality in favor of violence.  So it's cool to play games simulating how many different ways I can kill or maim someone, but then we get morally outraged about games that simulate different ways to f someone?  

I'm right there with these guys.  We spend so much time on moral outrage when the media attacks a game as a "murder simulator" that is "corrupting our children" but often do the same when a game like this comes along.  It took violent games years to figure out how to handle violence well (and well a huge segment still seem to be made with a middle school mindset).

I'm cracking up at this argument in this thread.  While yes, certainly our society is pretty fucked up when it comes the acceptance of violence over sex, that's hardly at all the point here.  The point here is that this isn't a game worth reviewing on any site that takes itself remotely close to seriously or has any idea what it's readership is..  It's jerk off material loosely disguised as a game. Are you saying movie sites should review porn alongside the current releases?  Come the fuck on.  Get off the soapbox.

My original point was that it may not warrant a review, but there might be a compelling story here. I don't know, I haven't played it.

[skystride]

I think we are starting to see some real games that deal more openly with sexuality like Catherine and a little bit in Witcher 2.  But I would like to see more of it.  Nobody thinks of those HBO shows with a lot of nudity as porn.  We need games that deal openly with sex in the same manner.

Of course context is important.  It wouldn't make sense to have lots of sex in a Racing game but it makes perfect sense in a RPG with an adult storyline.

[CeeKay]

Of course context is important.  It wouldn't make sense to have lots of sex in a Racing game but it makes perfect sense in a RPG with an adult storyline.

NASSCAR Back Roads Extreme 2014: Ride 'em Rough Edition

[Soulchilde]

Of course context is important.  It wouldn't make sense to have lots of sex in a Racing game but it makes perfect sense in a RPG with an adult storyline.

NASTYCAR Back Roads Extreme 2014: Ride 'em Rough Edition

FTFY

[rittchard]

Sorry I missed this thread over the holidays.  I have to agree with thFool - seems hypocritical to me that our society condemns sexuality in favor of violence.  So it's cool to play games simulating how many different ways I can kill or maim someone, but then we get morally outraged about games that simulate different ways to f someone?  

I'm right there with these guys.  We spend so much time on moral outrage when the media attacks a game as a "murder simulator" that is "corrupting our children" but often do the same when a game like this comes along.  It took violent games years to figure out how to handle violence well (and well a huge segment still seem to be made with a middle school mindset).

I'm cracking up at this argument in this thread.  While yes, certainly our society is pretty fucked up when it comes the acceptance of violence over sex, that's hardly at all the point here.  The point here is that this isn't a game worth reviewing on any site that takes itself remotely close to seriously or has any idea what it's readership is..  It's jerk off material loosely disguised as a game. Are you saying movie sites should review porn alongside the current releases?  Come the fuck on.  Get off the soapbox.

My original point was that it may not warrant a review, but there might be a compelling story here. I don't know, I haven't played it.

Exactly the point!  Without this site, I honestly would have no idea what this title is about because someone has/had already a priori deemed it not even worthy of reviewing based on what?  A personal moral code/standard?  That's as much a soapbox as anything else.  Maybe there was an interesting game somewhere in there or not, but a review would have given me an actual impression from someone I trusted.  Just as there are great games I would never have heard of it weren't for this site, a review of a crappy game could steer me clear from it (or toward it) as well. 

As far as movie "porn" is concerned, sure bring on the reviews - one man's porn is another man's action adventure lol.  Again, why is a violent/torture movie like Saw 7 considered "legitimate" whereas Tittyfuck 69 is not?