Video Game Romances

[yonah]

I play a lot of games like Fire Emblem and Dragon Age where you (the player character) have the option of romancing other characters. I usually do because I don't see my characters as extensions of myself (I'm aro ace), but rather different people, and I like to see all the dialogue options -_-;

[Sage Raven Domino]

Romancing characters governed by the computer is quite easy, doesn't contradict aromanticism, as it can't have real-life consequences anyway 

 

Romancing a character governed by another human in an MMO, with no intention to get to know that human IRL, is a more controversial option. Would you consider it a reduced form of human romance or a non-romantic relationship?

[Tos]

22 minutes ago, yonah said:

I play a lot of games like Fire Emblem and Dragon Age where you (the player character) have the option of romancing other characters. I usually do because I don't see my characters as extensions of myself (I'm aro ace), but rather different people, and I like to see all the dialogue options -_-;

SAME. i'm aro ace, but i always go through with the romance options in the games i play because i like to know what happens. i don't like straight romance though, so i romhacked fire emblem awakening and made them all gay lol. planning to do the same for birthright

[NerotheReaper]

I think romancing to some players help enhance their storyline. To them it is part of their character, or their journey. While some players may enjoy the intimate scenes in video games, that is their choice to experience that part of the game. You don't have to though. That is one of the cool things about these games that have choices, and relationships involved. You can be a total player or a loner. 

 

 

[Grumpy Alien]

I’m not ace or aro but I also do not see characters as extensions of myself so it depends.

[iff]

I remember in a version of Sims that I was playing in 2005 or so, (I'm sure most versions), there was the option to get married. In it, I got married to both men and women and I thought that was great, and did get married in it to both men and women. 

 

[Mae 🌼]

I think in some games romance makes up a fair amount of or enhances the story line (mass effect and dragon age for example) and since I don't think of the character as myself I find it enjoyable to play

[fiѕh]

it's just what you do in sims when they've achieved everything  

really depends on the story actually. I wanted to romance chloe in life is strange but she won't have it, lol. 

[Larkaloke]

They're roleplaying games. I'm aro ace, yeah, but not all of my characters are, so sometimes I do end up doing romances in games. However, the only reason I ever will is if it's the obvious in-character thing to do, so I certainly wouldn't say that I go out of my way to to do it... and in fact, I think the Dragon Age games are to date the only games in which I've ended up with characters who it made sense for.

[AbyssGaze]

I like the romance in this kind of videogames, though I usually roleplay as the character I create to play and just cringe a little whenever there's sex cutscenes in the story... (but mostly in Bioware games,lol)

 

@Tos Omg, I didn't know you could romhack the game to do that, I totally have to try it! *3*

[champagnerain]

On 3/31/2018 at 2:22 PM, yonah said:

I play a lot of games like Fire Emblem and Dragon Age where you (the player character) have the option of romancing other characters. I usually do because I don't see my characters as extensions of myself (I'm aro ace), but rather different people, and I like to see all the dialogue options -_-;

I play Fire Emblem, and I've done multiple playthroughs of several of the games (I'm actually replaying Awakening right now!), but I actually only romance characters to try to breed different variations of children (different hair colors, different class options, different status strengths/weaknesses). I actually skip all the support dialogues...

[SilentRose]

I guess I'd call myself grayromantic, but possibly aro, still a little confused on it. But yeah, I always go for the video game romances...or not always, but definitely if the guy is attractive!  I know that sounds stupid, but I figured for the sake of your poll I'd be honest

 

[Tos]

17 hours ago, AbyssGaze said:

 

@Tos Omg, I didn't know you could romhack the game to do that, I totally have to try it! *3*

you can, and it even has new support convos! idk how much experience you have with romhacking, but i had zero and i got it to work just fine. here's the info!

[ripley]

I love romance choices in games, as long as they don’t feel forced or shoe horned in. As others have said, they can build on the story and the characters. If it’s an option, I always have my characters romance, mostly because the characters are so well written. Even if romance options aren’t there I sometimes ship them anyway and just write them as if they had a romance plot (Knights of the Old Republic 2 comes to mind, especially considering Atton basically confesses in a piece of cut content that he’s always loved the female Jedi Exile).

 

One of my favourite games right now doesn’t have romance options although I ship my character in it with another. But, with the sequel that’s coming out next month the company hit a high enough goal on their kickstarter for it that they’re now including romance, and with the character in question being one of the few returning I am very excited they might be a potential option.

 

The thing I love with romance options though is that they are, mostly, optional. So if you don’t want to take that route / no character seems to be working for the character you’ve made for that run, you can totally ignore the romances. I have Dragon Age characters made that end up with no one, and other Dragon Age characters that end up with someone. It’s really cool!

[AbyssGaze]

3 hours ago, Tos said:

you can, and it even has new support convos! idk how much experience you have with romhacking, but i had zero and i got it to work just fine. here's the info!

Thanks a lot for the link! I've already got a hacked 3DS, so it'll save me some time already^^

[Ytterbium]

I prefer games that are focused on puzzles and challenges rather than characters, so no romance for me.

[Ultima]

I only do romance in video games if there is a reward like a special weapon.

[RK800]

I'm a gay guy and I do romance in video games. But I don't think anyone would find that surprising.

[Pramana]

I didn't know that romancing was an option for some video games (outside of Japanese hentai video games), but I suppose that I would like to see the dialogue options.

[ExanaZen]

I DO do romance, and I usually find myself a emotional wreck afterwards. (It hurts, ok?)

I honestly enjoy playing romance, especially in BioWare games, (though they have a tendency to rip your heart out of your chest and stomp on it)

One thing though, that really bothers me, is the sex scenes. 

Every single romance I've played out thus far have culminated in a sex scene. It's apparently the most important part of the relationship, and I've only ever played games where turning down sex stops the romance.

 

It's frustrating that I can't have a asexual character, but I am a sucker for romance, so I guess I'll have to deal.

[Scott1989]

I'm ace aro and I keeo changing on what I do. If there is a major advantage doing the romance option, I'll do it. Otherwise I just do what I feel like. Skyrim I never seem to do it for example, Mass Effect I did. If I get a chance to do so, I would chance it when given the option, I will try to have my cake and eat it too (if you catch my drift) just to see the outcome.

[Larkaloke]

5 hours ago, ExanaZen said:

One thing though, that really bothers me, is the sex scenes. 

Every single romance I've played out thus far have culminated in a sex scene. It's apparently the most important part of the relationship, and I've only ever played games where turning down sex stops the romance.

 

It's frustrating that I can't have a asexual character, but I am a sucker for romance, so I guess I'll have to deal.

Yes, that's really quite annoying. It would be better if it were optional, and I'd much prefer if there were ever in-character asexual responses (as in, turning a character down for that reason, rather than disliking them, which is apparently what is usually assumed).

[ExanaZen]

13 hours ago, Remmirath said:

Yes, that's really quite annoying. It would be better if it were optional, and I'd much prefer if there were ever in-character asexual responses (as in, turning a character down for that reason, rather than disliking them, which is apparently what is usually assumed).

YES. 10000% YES. I'd play the kriff out of that game. Can we make this happen somehow?! 

[(A) & A]

My orientations don't matter, since I don't play characters as extensions of myself.   I've played asexual characters, sure, or at least characters that had such a focus on their goal that sex and romance completely disinterested them.  I've also played a pansexual character.  

 

Mind you, I'm not usually a fan of how romance is handled in games.   It's usually written fairly poorly; say the right things a couple of times, maybe give them their favorite gift, get rewarded with a sex scene, and suffer no repercussions if you never see them again.   I don't feel they get handled naturally.

[Karst]

I wish more games had really nuanced friendship and romance plotlines.

That aside, I'm a sucker for both Garrus and Tali in Mass Effect.

[HonoraryJedi]

I go for romances when I feel they suit my character, so it really depends. I ignore them if I don't feel they fit, but also the first times I have been truly invested in romances in media has been in video games. And I have been surprised myself by the fact that I cared so much (Dragon Age Origins specifically here). I probably count as ace aro, but I can still totally enjoy romance in media. I think I am way more picky about it than the general population though. But that's another thing that is great about romance options in videogames! If I feel the romance is forced, I can opt out, and just not do it ^^

 

@invokeLogic I have been roleplaying in MMOs, though in doing that I also befriend the other players. In my opinion, characters are characters so it works similarly. Romances will start if both players agree that it fits and would be fun or interesting, but the relationship between the characters have nothing to do with the relationship between the players. I will say though, that sexual things are way more awkward to write to another person who I know, than it is when interacting with a only a computer x)

 

[Bronztrooper]

If a game has romance options and said romances are well-written, I'm all over that.  One of the reasons I love the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series.  I guess I'm a pretty big romance buff at heart.

 

Also, anyone who says that guys shouldn't like romance can get drop-kicked into a volcano for all I care.

[Araminta]

I'm ace but not aro and I do romance. Most of the time I don't care much for fictional ships, but if my character gets to be in one I'm super excited!

 

I have to admit I'm annoyed when it comes to sex scenes though, I don't want to see them. Actually this is why I chose to romance Solas in Dragon Age Inquisition: I knew from the start that there isn't any scene like that with him.

[Bronztrooper]

On 9/19/2018 at 3:17 PM, Araminta said:

I'm ace but not aro and I do romance. Most of the time I don't care much for fictional ships, but if my character gets to be in one I'm super excited!

 

I have to admit I'm annoyed when it comes to sex scenes though, I don't want to see them. Actually this is why I chose to romance Solas in Dragon Age Inquisition: I knew from the start that there isn't any scene like that with him.

I don't really care either way about sex scenes, so long as they're done in a 'tasteful' way (as in, not meant to be basically the same as soft-core porn (assuming I'm using the term correctly)).

 

As for Solas, tbh, for DA:I I was originally interested in romancing Sera as male Lavellan before she was announced as being les, then I switched to going with a female Lavellan.  Then, the more I learned about Solas, the more I wanted to romance him instead, and I eventually gave up on Sera and decided to go with Solas in my first playthrough.

 

Probably worked out better that way for 2 reasons; 1) Sera isn't a fan of the Dalish and Sera/Lavellan ends up with a rather insensitive ultimatum that I would have responded negatively to since I'm pretty pro-Dalish, and 2) I'm of the mindset that Solas' romance is best experienced in your first playthrough

 

Josephine's romance is pretty good too and doesn't have a sex scene, but it kind of felt like Bioware took hints from Disney as far as her romance went.  I kind of wish there was the option to have cuddle scenes with your LI instead of sex scenes because of Josephine's romance, tbh.

[Kahlan]

The first time I saw romance in a video game it was in FFX and I thought it was great... but I think the most beautiful romance story in a video game I saw was Life Is Strange. That game got me right in the feelings, the broken friendship between Max/Chloe and how the adventure made them grow into more (depending on the choices you made); I thought that was beautiful

 

I'm ace/aro but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the beauty or hardship of love for others. Love is great and has many shape but just because I don't seek it for myself it doesn't mean I can't enjoy witnessing it. What I don't do though is live by proxy, through a fictional romance ^^ that's a no for me. Wether it's tv/movie/books or games, I just don't do that ^^