Do you prefer the relationship or the chase?

[teacup]

In renai games, one thing I've noticed is that most of the game, the protagonist spends their time 'chasing' the love interest. It isn't until the later parts of the game (or sometimes not until the very end of the game) that protagonist and the love interest get together. There are a lot games that end with the two characters accepting each other's feelings or kissing for the first time. There may be an epilogue afterward to see what their relationship is like, or the game will just end after you've 'won' the guy or girl.

Do you prefer your romance games like that? Or would you rather have a romance game where the protag and love interest get together early on, and the rest of the game explores their relationship as a couple?

My 1st game was mostly 'the chase', with no real kissing or romantic scenes until you got near the end of the game. My 2nd game however, I'm trying to decide if the characters should get together halfway through, and let the player experience their relationship in the second half. They will stay together, or might even break up, depending on your choices through their relationship.

So how do you prefer in romance games? More relationship, or more 'chase'?

[redeyesblackpanda]

When it comes to those sorts of love stories, the thing that interests me most is the character being pursued. Personally, I'm more interested in the relationship and interaction between the main character and the other character. I've found myself dissatisfied with some of these "chase only" games because they don't always show enough interaction between the characters, so I suppose I'd be more interested in the second type that you've mentioned.

[Sharm]

Some of my favorite moments in a romance are after they "get together" and it really bothers me when the story ends at the first kiss or equivalent emotional marker or worse, the sequel breaks them up because there's no chase in an established relationship. Stories where they're brave enough to continue the relationship afterwords have a special place in my heart. Things like Lois and Clark or the Mummy. I think it's not done as often because there is a tone shift from chase to established relationship and it's much harder to write in a satisfactory way.

[LVUER]

In most game I played, first half of the game spent with protagonist meeting with all the cast and falling in love with them (chasing them in the process, being kind, etc) while the second half spent with them as a couple (failing meeting the criteria to get the girl means game over).

And this is the "format" I love. The first half should be (inevitable) spent with the protagonist getting know all the heroines and chasing them. This present a problem on itself. While the second half should be spent dealing with problem rises in their relationship... or dealing with the heroine's problem (or past).

[Auro-Cyanide]

I like the chase. I tend to get bored once characters actually get together. Or they do that horrible thing where rivals turn up but they don't actually have a snowflakes chance in hell. Augh.
I like the mystery and the sexual tension that comes from whether something will or will not happen. I just find it more interesting. Plus, I'm not super fond of all the cheesiness that comes when people come together and they are in their honeymoon period. I prefer to see couples that have been together a long time and have that awesome sense of dynamism to them.
Frankly I prefer stories where the romance is technically secondary to the story, so the sense of the chase and the relationship is effected by and affects the current situation. When there is more at stake then just a character falling into another's arms, but that is what makes it so much more exciting.

*I should probably note that I think I'm generally in the minority when it comes to relationships in stories. I am a-ok with characters having unresolved relationships at the end of a story. Sometimes I actually prefer if it's a bit open ended. But I think that opinion is far and few in-between.

[gekiganwing]

Sometimes when two characters become an official couple, that drains all the conflict from the story. If you want some good and frustrating examples, see the Shipping Bed Death discussion. But if a story is 98% buildup to the romantic confession, and only 2% resolution, then we only get a hint of how the characters will change and grow.

My interest is somewhere in the middle. If you write about two people who may become lovers, then I'll be interested in seeing both the chase and the relationship. Even if your story is not focused on romance, I'll apply the same principle.

If you write love triangles and polygons, then there will probably be a point where two of the people become a dedicated couple. This is a pretty logical break in between the chase and the relationship. Though again, it's usually important for a new conflict to arise, or for the old conflict to continue. (For instance, what happens to the girl who wasn't chosen?)

[Steamgirl]

For me it depends on the characters - but usually I prefer the chase. I think the parasol protectorate series (books) was a good example for me of how you can keep the interest and tension going even after the couple gets together, gets married, and (SPOILER ALERT DONT READ IF YOU WANT TO READ THE BOOKS!) even when the MC gets pregnant! The important thing is that there's an interesting dynamic between the characters, either something that keeps them apart, or something that puts their relationship in peril, or some kind of challenge which they must overcome together. If it's just their happily ever after, holdy hands and dancing in meadows I probably would enjoy it a little bit and then get bored.

[wyverngem]

Depends on the game, if it's a character you have full control over, personality and what not, I prefer just the chase and imaging my own ending. Though a scene or two is just fine with me. Though if there is a defined personality that I'm just making life choices of I'd rather have more of them together then the chase.

[RunicV]

I actually prefer the relationship. I'm the sort of person who hunts all over for shoujo mangas that are filled with fluffy relationships just so I can squeal over them.

You could have the main part of the game about the chase, then maybe through in a short part about their relationship? It could be a small cutscene that has no options, or it could be a mini-bonus-episode with a few choices, but a short play time. Something like that.

[Minnfae]

The chase tends to be more interesting for me, unless there is a main plot somewhat unrelated to the romance. Then, I like seeing how the plot and the fluffly moments overlap.

[Destiny]

It depends.
If the relationship will be interesting, then I would love to play through it.
Like a relationship between an alien and an human.

But the chase can also be really interesting. Mostly because it can also provide "normal" guys without making it boring.
But I guess, a mix would also be nice like in the game Clannad.
First the chase and then the relationship (even though it gets really strange after the first half, but it provides both anyway).

[Blane Doyle]

For me, it depends on the characters and the game they are in. If there is a sort of story within the game, then I find it understandable that most of the game would be related to the plot and the chase rather than being with the girl/guy in a full on relationship.

But if the game is a dating sim and the story revolves around being with a character, then I expect some kind of "with the girl/guy" romance before the ending. I love the chase, but sometimes the romance aspect is just as, if not more, important. Especially if the characters are bland or stereotypical.

Sometimes the chase itself gets boring or annoying, while at other times being in the relationship is what is boring or annoying. It all depends on how the couple is written and how good the writer is and writing relationships. I tend to go 50/50 for chasing and relationships, depending on the type of game I am playing. As stated above, if there is a plot then I am just fine with the chase being the main part of the romance. If there isn't, I would prefer the couple to be together at least part way before the ending.

[Veniae]

As soon as the protagonist gets together with their love interest, the main conflict in their relationship is usually resolved. That's why it's easy to get boring, so I'd say I prefer the chase.

On the other hand, after a whole game of pursuing one character, I'd like to be rewarded with the knowledge of what happens after that, so stories that end with their first kiss/whatever leave me a bit unsatisfied.

That's why I'd say you have to search for the golden mean. I personally think that would be something like the characters getting together as a climax of the story and having the rest of the game (Falling action, denouement and perhaps a nice epilogue) with them as a couple. But as always, it depends.