Mature Content in a Plug

thedecline

Just as a matter of interest I'd like to know what peoples view on mature content in plugs is?

Do you mind four letter words being used, for example in mission strings if it makes the story realistic. Do you mind various dark and dank activities like prostitution and drug trafficing taking place in plugs?

The majority of people who play escape velocity and its sequels would at least be over fifteen, so I don't think there is such an issue when it comes to protecting the younger generation, more just an argument of what is plesant in a game.

You have games like Soldier of Fortune 2 which are voilent beyond any real parameters (doom 2 is even disgustingly voilent), and voilence is obviously not a problem in EV, so can one make up for it by including other 'mature' things?

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The galaxy is about to become apocalyptic: (url="http://"http://3114.spyw.com")3114:A Nova TC(/url)

Bomb

Quote

Originally posted by thedecline:
** <Mature Content in a Plug>
**

I don't think anyone would mind very much- it'd add some cool flavor to the scenario. That said- maybe some kind of warning beforehand, depending on how graphic you're talking. If it's only references to drugs or prostitution or whatever, I don't think it'd be a big deal. After all, every plug-in that has ever been made has had many, many references to drinking. (the spaceport bar is the only place to get missions in EV/O besides the mission computer) Obviously, there is a difference, but I'm pretty sure even the younger members of the board can distinguish between the RPG-ness of a game and the real thing.

Also, violence tends to be pretty rampant in plug-ins. Personally, I've written some of the most bloody plug-ins made for EVO- and I've never heard a word about it.

_bomb

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"I want to tell you about a time I almost died...."

Kame

Personally, I don't care. I work on computers all day so cursing a like a second language. But what is tiring is when vulgarity, in any form whether it's language or violence or sex, is thrown about carelessly and overused. Couple of examples that come to mind was someone recently posted a story segment on the Nova Board. In it they substituted "frag" for cursing. They used it so repeatedly that it got hard to read the story. Another classic example is the token sex scene in the heat of battle. It just gets old. Things that add flavor and substance and give the story and characters dimension is great, but they can't be thrown about carelessly.

I tend to prefer descriptions that elude to what's happening. My good friend who happen's to be a writer refers to this as showing a story rather then telling it. Much easier said than done. Every gory detail doesn't need to be described to have an impact on the reader. But if the atmosphere and the words used are right, your story will hit the readers much harder than just describing how someone blew up. I wish I could give you an example but I'm a terrible creative writer. Contracts and proposals on the other hand are no sweat.

I'd have to agree that if you feel areas of your plug are more "adult" orientated, puting a small warning on wouldn't be a bad idea. Prolly wouldn't hurt if we all began a self imposed rating system. Course, I can't imagine it would have a positive impact except for the very few adults that play the game with their children or those that would appreciate steering clear of such plugs. I'd imagine most people would go in search of the "hardcore" plugs. Whew, I'm just rabbling off. Sorry 'bout that.

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Skyfox

I wouldn't mind the FLW's but it just turns me off when people overuse them just to try to make something more "mature". And out of curiosity, why the heck to you need to make your plug "mature"? A plug for everyone can be just as good and sometimes better then a plug with bad content.

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"...yet gradually we recovered, venturing cautiously back into the void of space afraid of what we might find there."

Meaker VI

I'd personally prefer to refrain from such content, if possible. I'd rather a plug be made that was had high quality graphics and was more realistic, and though vulgarity seems to be rather real, I'd just prefer it wasn't used; and I really hate when it's over used.

On another note, my computer is making clicking noises and typing very slowly. Must have something to do with my downloading of the 1.0.4 patch...

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I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

mrxak

I've got no problem with it, as long as it's tasteful. If you think it's bad enough that some people may not want to play it, you should probably add a disclaimer in your readme file, and potentially in the description you give it when you upload it to the addons section.

simon

Another option (something I've thought about doing) is to include another plugin which replaces all the "mature" content. That would give the use the choice of playing how the author intended it, or "family" version.

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Pan Sola

Nothing new to say, but I just wanna support what Kame and Bomb said (-:

Pan Sola, Eater of Snacks

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mrxak

Quote

Originally posted by simon:
**Another option (something I've thought about doing) is to include another plugin which replaces all the "mature" content. That would give the use the choice of playing how the author intended it, or "family" version.

**

Or perhaps, make a chär that alters the game dëscs a bit, similar to how Nova has gender differences based on the players gender. Instead of using the gender tag as a test, use a bit that's set if the non-mature chär is used.

See the Nova Bible under dësc for more info...

(This message has been edited by mrxak (edited 04-03-2003).)

UncleTwitchy

Ooh, or even have a mission at the beginning which allows you to toggle between a mature or PG version through a ncb test in the text.

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mrxak

Quote

Originally posted by UncleTwitchy:
**Ooh, or even have a mission at the beginning which allows you to toggle between a mature or PG version through a ncb test in the text.

**

Right. That's what I was saying, except use a chär to set the ncb, not a mďsn.

Vast Deathmaster

Quote

Originally posted by mrxak:
**Right. That's what I was saying, except use a chär to set the ncb, not a mďsn.

**

Oh, come on, if you were given the choice of a Mickey Mouse game or a Max Pain game, wouldn't you automatically choose Max Pain? (Note: I've never played Max Pain)

Unless one of your parents is into the game (or are responsible enough to be watching what games you are playing) the choice of ()Strong Sexual Content or ()Meant for Young Readers wouldn't work. Or, your Dad reads H.P. Lovecraft and really sees no problems at all!

I'd say the disclaimer is good enough.

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spacecowboy

I wholeheartedly agree with what Kame said. When I was working on The Age of Exploration , which died a rather slow and agonizing death, one of the main storylines (the only one I actually got anywhere with) had what could kinda be considered "mature content". However, it was simply alluded to, and never actually said outright -- here's the par I'm talking about:

Quote

Your performance was magnificent, Joel.
Thanks. I honestly cant tell you how I knew to target their reactors, I just did.
Well, as to that, you were just very lucky. As you know, most ships including your own have their heaviest armor around their reactor cores, specifically to keep people from doing what you did. But since the Raider vessels have modified their fusion reactors for extra power, they had to skimp a little on the armor.
If you had been firing at any other vessel, you wouldve run out of ammunition before you had even halfway penetrated the hull plating. Of course, the damage inflicted by that 800mm cannon of yours didnt hurt you any.
You laugh, Alexi, honestly, give me a little more credit. It still worked, didnt it? As far as Im concerned, thats all that counts.
She smiles. True. Besides that, you scared the other Raider ships in the area so badly that they went into hiding.
That would explain why we didnt see any on our way back.
Yep. Well, all things considered, you did pretty well out there. So the Company has increased your pay from 50,000 creds to 150,000, and youve been promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations, Joel.
Thank you, Alexi. Uhm, how about a celebratory drink?
She looks startled and puzzled for an instant, then a smile spreads across her face and she simply replies, Okay. Lets go.
As you walk in the door of the spaceport bar, you ask, So whats next?
Her smile widens and there seem to be stars in her green eyes as she flips back a shock of her auburn hair and answers softly, Why dont we talk about that?
You cant help but grin as you sit down on a stool next to her and order your usual whiskeyandsoda.

Note that 'performance' in the first sentence is talking about the just-completed mission -- so what exactly were you thinking, you filthy little pervert? :rolleyes: Oh, and yes, an 800mm cannnon is frickin' big -- but the Wraith of the Stars is similar to the Unrelenting : it's a special ship, and the only one to carry that weapon.

As I've said several times before, 'mature content' does not harm a story, it actually helps it: it gives a depth and reality to the text that is missing in a fairy-tale world. But when you're telling any story, you tell it with style, and most importantly, with class. Don't turn EVN into a porn game, it won't work, and you'll get flamed out of existence. If you're gonna do it, do it like nobody's ever done it before: right.

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Suddenly, the little scoutship disappeared and then reappeared right behind the alien warfleet. The gravitic ship's captain hailed the armada. "You are going to be destroyed, but I will give you a choice as to how you want to spend eternity: big pieces, little pieces, or quarks?"
Dead silence.
"Quarks it is, then."

Blackdog

Who remembers Clavius 3.2?

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I was disorientedly changing my body orientation in a clockwise direction while simulateously expressing my appreciation of mikee's humor and watching my posterior disconnect -- ElG7

thedecline

Just from playing escape velocity and all of its sequels and plugs for so long I have kind of noticed that they really stay away from anything to harsh - voilence aside (I'm a playing the right plugs?). Things like dark plots and a bit of good old fasioned swearing tend to be ignored.

In my plug there are certain situations where people need to use four letter words, and where some nasty elements need to brought in. Its all about atmosphere and feeling and realism. The more atmosphere and feeling in any story (be it a plug of whatever) is good.

But yes on the other hand over excessive use and silly substituions for 'bad' words is about as bad as it can get.

One needs to be controlled.

As far as different versions of the plug for mature and PG, well I think Vast Deathmaster said it all - people are abviously going to choose the nasty version unless they are a small child who plays the game with a parent, and then the warning at the beginning should be enough

Also, another question of opinion: what about lengthy mission breifings. I know Nova has some pretty darn long ones, but how long do you think one can make them before it is too tedious and anyoying to play.

Personally I'm all for a slow build up and an explosive end (a fan of Quentin Tarantino) it turns it from being an action plug to a dramatic plug where the focus is on dialogue and build up rather than repetitive starfights (Fighting in Nova does tend to get repetitive at times).

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The galaxy is about to become apocalyptic: (url="http://"http://3114.spyw.com")3114:A Nova TC(/url)

(This message has been edited by thedecline (edited 04-05-2003).)

Admiral Zombat

Quote

Originally posted by Blackdog:
**Who remembers Clavius 3.2?:)

**

Ooo! Ooh! raises hand, shakes frantically I do! I do!

Gosh that was a while ago, but heh, yeah.

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HeWhoMustNotBeNamed

"Mature content" is a broad category. For instance, while it has happened before, there really is no reason to use nude pictures in a plug (see I remember Clavius as well :D). However, I am a big fan of darker plots, and this is why I don't play most plugs. Too many of them seem to be way too optimistic, and make the player some nearly god-like entity with a supership that can kill everything single-handedly. The storyline almost always leads to the player's allies success and conquest of the galaxy, etc. As a result, I rarely play the EV games anymore, and all of my EV related time (most of my freetime) is devoted to cruising the boards and doing my own development work.

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thedecline

Quote

Too many of them seem to be way too optimistic, and make the player some nearly god-like entity with a supership that can kill everything single-handedly. The storyline almost always leads to the player's allies success and conquest of the galaxy

I agree, the Fed or bureau strings almost appealled to me as they made you feel quite evil and purposeless. The first part of my plug is designed to make the player scared and appreciate life more. It will then go on to give the player a wide range of choices - they can become a feighter captain, a passenger ferry, a small time courier, a smuggler, a mercenary, a pirate, blah blah, etc, etc... just as in EV, except I am going to try and weave each of these choices together into one central storyline.

My other option is to just have one single story which continues throughout the entire plug - but this would then deny the player of many choices and turn it from an RPG style game into a static action level by level game.

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The galaxy is about to become apocalyptic: (url="http://"http://3114.spyw.com")3114:A Nova TC(/url)

spacecowboy

Quote

Originally posted by Russell Quintero:
**However, I am a big fan of darker plots, and this is why I don't play most plugs. Too many of them seem to be way too optimistic, and make the player some nearly god-like entity with a supership that can kill everything single-handedly. The storyline almost always leads to the player's allies success and conquest of the galaxy, etc. As a result, I rarely play the EV games anymore, and all of my EV related time (most of my freetime) is devoted to cruising the boards and doing my own development work.

**

WOW!!! This is the exact same thing as one of my beefs with Nova. I firmly believe that the player needs to be occaisonally knocked on his a**.

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Suddenly, the little scoutship disappeared and then reappeared right behind the alien warfleet. The gravitic ship's captain hailed the armada. "You are going to be destroyed, but I will give you a choice as to how you want to spend eternity: big pieces, little pieces, or quarks?"
Dead silence.
"Quarks it is, then."

Lizard

There's also the idea of drugs as mature content, as anyone ever complained about "substance E" in Frozen Heart?

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