What's with eyes in hentai games?

[Fronzel]

Specifically, the eyes of the protaginist...they don't exist!


Protaginist Boy always seems to have a little bit of hair over his face with the eyes in shadow....or sometimes just not there.....it's rather creepy sometimes....not very emotive.


Anyone know why, and/or some exceptions?


The only thing I can think of, without much confidance, is that the artists don't want to spend time drawing the boy when no one's going to be looking at him very hard.

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Thats a very good question. One thats been bugging me for a while. Oh and this isn't just in Hentai games. It seems to be in almost every single dating style game as well. Like Tokimeki memorial.

[Alphonse]

It's because you don't want to look at a pretty boy in the picture. You want to imagine yourself in there...haha~ :heh:

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Well if thats the case. Then thats a stupid reason.

[Bandersnatch]

It's because you don't want to look at a pretty boy in the picture. You want to imagine yourself in there...haha~ :heh:

Exactly, its supposed to be you I think.

[ramune]

Exactly, its supossed to be you I think.
That's the reason why every non-voiced dating games has the option to change the protagonists' names.

[Fronzel]

You know, I was thinking that actually.....but it's still really creepy.

[jennwenn]

Do girl style dating sims do this too? I know there are girl-oriented dating sims out there, like Angelique, but I rarely see them.

Yes, the lack of eyes and general personality (if you noticed that too) is so the gameplayer can "role play" and envision himself as the protagonist. I think its creepy too. But when you think about it, most RPGs let you pick the name of your main character so you can name it after yourself or whatever you want. Many games are first-person point of view. Still freaky if you ask me.

[zalas]

Most bishoujo games will do this. There are some exceptions though, like Vagrants (and yes, the guy is voiced too). It's so prevalent that there are 4koma comics about it. For example, in one about Kanon, Yuuichi comments on it and walks past Nayuki, who doesn't him because he didn't have a face :)

[SPINAL-BRAIN]

...so there are no interruption between you and your beating off.... :heh:

[omaren]

are hentai games fun?? I wanna play one...but my family'll think i'm weird...and perverte... :heh:

[kj1980]

are hentai games fun?? I wanna play one...but my family'll think i'm weird...and perverte... :heh:

and I refer you to: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=66447&postcount=350

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Depends on what kind of Hentai games you get and depends on what you want out of the Hentai game.

[kj1980]

Anyone know why, and/or some exceptions?

It has been some sort of tradition among the soft-houses not to show the eyes, or as it more populary known: 典型的な顔なしエロゲー主人公 (tenkeitekina kao-nashi eroge- shujinkou: "a typical no-faced ero-game male protagonist)

There are reasons, such as the examples many of you have cited that the male lead you are playing is a virtual rendition of yourself. It has been tradition since the early days of such games, more likely with the idea: "who the heck cares how the male lead looks - you bought this game to ogle at the cute girls anyway."

Lately however, there are increasing games where they do give character to the male lead that you portray. A good example of these are Key's "AIR" and "CLANNAD," TYPE-MOON's "Tsukihime" (though this isn't technically an ero-game since it is an ero-doujin-game) and "Fate/stay night," Circus' "D.C.~da capo~," age's "MuvLuv," Nitroplus' "Demonbaine," and the like.

[zalas]

are hentai games fun?? I wanna play one...but my family'll think i'm weird...and perverte... :heh:
ero-ge for the most part are oriented towards a male player interested in females. There are, of course, ero-ge oriented towards females with male characters to choose from. Generally, unless you are interested in cute girls and/or sex with them, ero-ge oriented towards males usually aren't that fun to play. There are however, quite a number of boys love ero-ge, like ones published by Pink Clover (http://www.web-giga.com/pinkclover/jade/index.htm)

PS: Here's the comic I was thinking of regarding eyeless male characters: http://ragna-fan.net/~himuro/kanon/mina1/m08.htm

[Kyuven]

Lately however, there are increasing games where they do give character to the male lead that you portray. A good example of these are Key's "AIR" and "CLANNAD," TYPE-MOON's "Tsukihime" (though this isn't technically an ero-game since it is an ero-doujin-game) and "Fate/stay night," Circus' "D.C.~da capo~," age's "MuvLuv," Nitroplus' "Demonbaine," and the like.
i've been wondering, what exactly makes Tsukihime different from other ero-games? (besides the rather unique plot)
heh, after watching the anime, if i were to have made a game of it, it probably would have turned more into something like Thousand Arms or Azure Skies (an H-game action RPG!)
i always wanted to cut things along the death lines like shiki, or summon weapons from seemingly nowhere like Ciel ^_^;

Oh yes, and Omaren: while most H-games are made with horny guys in their early to late 20s in mind, there have been many console ports with the sex scenes removed (Comic Party i think is an example of this) and other things added (heh...some of the games got kind of short when you removed the sex) such as new characters (i.e., Subaru for comic party) so you could play those with fewer weird looks
another interesting thing is some company has taken some ero-games and turned them into overly intricate DVD menus and released them in the states (unless these titles were already overly intricate DVD menus)

[TronDD]

i've been wondering, what exactly makes Tsukihime different from other ero-games? (besides the rather unique plot)

Someone had posted a really great write up about Tsukihime's creators. Of course, I can't find it now. :(

It started as an ero-doujinshi-game and they basically took the industry by storm from there. It was just that good.

[Ending]

From what I have seen, most games of *that* type are pretty similar and, unintentionally, funny. I mean: "Ahn... Ahn... Ahnahnahnaaaahn!!1" is supposed to be erotic? I think it's hilarious. :D

As to details like eyes; are there other "details" either? Asian artists are lazy bums. ;)

(With their salary, can't blame.)

[zalas]

From what I have seen, most games of *that* type are pretty similar and, unintentionally, funny. I mean: "Ahn... Ahn... Ahnahnahnaaaahn!!1" is supposed to be erotic? I think it's hilarious. :D
Maybe you should ask someone Japanese who isn't very familiar with anything outside of Japan whether 'oh yeah baby! harder!' is erotic.

[Yamano667]

well in holland.. ha.aha harder baby harder... sells like hotcakes
try to go to a cinema there and you will see how the sex business makes billions
in revenue


Maybe you should ask someone Japanese who isn't very familiar with anything outside of Japan whether 'oh yeah baby! harder!' is erotic.

[Ending]

Maybe we should come up with a new variation and make a hentai-game out of it? :D

:thinker: I know: the next summers hit-phrase will be... "Owh."

"Owh! Pump it! Owh-owh-owh-oooowh!" :heh:

[durrem]

Someone had posted a really great write up about Tsukihime's creators. Of course, I can't find it now. :(


This one? (http://www.geocities.com/max3075/top.htm)

[Kyuven]

wow, great site, answered a lot of my questions...and..makes...me...want...to...buy...Ts ukihime...

[Ero-Sannin]

well dont no about u guys but this is a given fact, if its a serious hentai game its gonna suck, ur propably gonna play the role of a rapist, horny teacher/boy/wtvr

unless there is a hentai game out there that is based on something like... i don't no comedy?

wow I imagine walking into an electronics store and finding this hentai title on a console like PS2 or gamecube.. LOOOL

[TronDD]

This one? (http://www.geocities.com/max3075/top.htm)

Nah, it was like an essay someone either wrote themselves or pasted from somewhere else, they didn't provide it as a link. I forget what the actual topic of the thread was which is why I can't find it. It's a really great success story.

[DingoEnderZOE2]

well dont no about u guys but this is a given fact, if its a serious hentai game its gonna suck, ur propably gonna play the role of a rapist, horny teacher/boy/wtvr

unless there is a hentai game out there that is based on something like... i don't no comedy?

You want some comedy Hentai? Well you better start learning Japanese. Because the ones that are in english over here, aren't nothing compared to some of the Hentai games I've play. I actually laughed at some of the events in some of the Hentai games I've played.Don't judge the whole Hentai Genre because of some of the English ones that are already out here.

[Arwyn]

well dont no about u guys but this is a given fact, if its a serious hentai game its gonna suck, ur propably gonna play the role of a rapist, horny teacher/boy/wtvr

unless there is a hentai game out there that is based on something like... i don't no comedy?

wow I imagine walking into an electronics store and finding this hentai title on a console like PS2 or gamecube.. LOOOL

Actually that really isnt accurate. While the vast majority of ero-games translated into english do tend to be aimed at the pervert market, that isnt the entireity of the genre.

There are several titles in translation that are entirely story driven, and while there may be graphics in them, they are less than 1% of the game. Your typical tentacle pervert isnt going to sit through something like Kana or Crescendo, those games are entirely story driven.

Japan has far more of these games being released, and if you look at the big sellers, its not the the tentcle titles. Unfortunately, the translated market is biased heavily twoards those titles because thats where the money is right now.

wow I imagine walking into an electronics store and finding this hentai title on a console like PS2 or gamecube.. LOOOL

Actually, that is pretty likely with most title released in Japan. The releases tend to go;
1- PC based, with sex scenes. If the title does well then it moves on to;

2- Console based- sex scenes removed and some additional content added.

Also if you look at the very successful titles, the ones that get turned into anime do so because they have a strong story, not because of the sex.

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Well said Cornholio.....A.K.A. Arwyn.

[Sid_Burn]

there are already hentai games that are available... I did'nt know...

[asaqe]

what are you talking about not all male chars eyes are covered some actually show how they look like and usually the main chars look very good looking

[zalas]

what are you talking about not all male chars eyes are covered some actually show how they look like and usually the main chars look very good looking
The male main character has the tendency to have eyes not shown. All the other male characters will have them shown.

[jb_morris]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

Actually, that is pretty likely with most title released in Japan. The releases tend to go; Actually, that is pretty likely with most title released in Japan. The releases tend to go;
1- PC based, with sex scenes. If the title does well then it moves on to;

2- Console based- sex scenes removed and some additional content added.



I've been wondering about this lately while playing some new console titles;
I've played through most of Aoi Namida on the Xbox and I've played bit's and pieces of Lost aya Sophia and Pizzicato Polka on Ps2 and there's not so much as a hint of tentacle...

is it because games companies are trying to keep their images squeaky clean?
I would find it hard to believe that people would be more offend by some animated nudity than something from GTA or Manhunt...
it annoys me somewhat that I can't get the same amount of nudity as a PC user although I can feed on even more violence...

:sad: J

[Zephronite]

The male main character has the tendency to have eyes not shown. All the other male characters will have them shown.
Studio e.go! Is the only company I know of in which the male leads have a proper face. And voice too.

[zalas]

Studio e.go! Is the only company I know of in which the male leads have a proper face. And voice too.
You do see Yukito's face in other parts of AIR ;)