Episode 4: Romance – Massages, Moustaches and Macrame

The relationship episode, which doesn’t contain any sex.  We discuss how relationship building in games affects our sense of character, and how our characters affect relationships.  Do predefined characters, such as Geralt in the Witcher games, encourage more meaningful relationships than ‘blank canvas’ characters?  And is ‘blank canvas’ character an expression of our wish fulfilment?

Spoilers ahead for The Witcher 3, Dragon Age Inquisition, Life Is Strange and the Mass Effect series.

Referenced resources:

Romantic Dilemmas – How Witcher 3 Builds Character through Choice – Extra Credits

How BioWare Elevated The Video Game Romance, by Robin Burks