Virtual Dating Simulations
Virtual Dating Simulations, or dating sims, are a subgenre of adventure games and are modeled after the style of role-playing games that have gained popularity in recent years. In such a game, the player gains and develops a romantic relationship with one of the featured characters.
Contents
Characteristics
Players start by choosing a name and gender for their playable character. They can choose from a set of personality traits and physical attributes to give their character dimension. Users then complete a set of tasks in order to receive points and boosters for their personality statistics, such as attractiveness and intelligence. Characters will show increased or decreased attraction to the player based on decisions they make. Throughout these simulations, time plays a key role by helping to determine when specific events will occur as well as control the energy status of the player. Players are able to develop a storyline from their actions. They can then become friends with characters that they are not romantically pursuing. Rivalries and conflict come into play in most dating simulations, making them more realistic.
Styles
Dating simulations are usually divided into two different styles, linear and nonlinear.
Linear
Linear games have a set storyline and the least amount of game play. Within dating sims, linear games are most prevalent as visual novels. These games focus more on a storyline, and value dialogue over player mobility. Players have set actions and cannot explore different areas of the game. There are almost no statistics in these games, so a player’s ability to gain a relationship with a character is based solely on their answers to specific questions asked by the game characters.
A popular game in this style is Surviving High School.
Nonlinear
Nonlinear, or open world games, give players the freedom to customize their playable character and more regions to explore. They also have multiple ways to boost statistics through mini games and regular actions. More strategy is required for nonlinear dating simulations; there are multiple "correct" answers to questions, and the player's actions play a very large role in determining who the player ends up with. These games generally have multiple possible endings.
Popular examples of this style ranges from the extreme like in Second Life where players have the freedom to do whatever they choose and there are no limitations, to the more controlled, like in Star Ocean, Persona series, and Harvest Moon.
Popularity
Dating simulations have large audiences within East Asia, and Japan is one of the lead developer of these games in the world. A major difference between dating sims in Asia and the United States is that in Asia, visual novels are more prevalent and are considered more romantic and complex [1]. Their Western equivalent would be interactive, computerized versions of romance novels.
A well known Nintendo DS game known as Love Plus+ was released on July 10 for males. A specific aspect of this new game is focused on the ability of the user to spend real money over the game to treat their virtual dates. The game’s setting is based off the real resort town, Atami, Japan, once known for the many honeymooners that were present year-round. Overall, the trips to this town over the Nintendo DS internet service can costs actual money, can be expensive, and meant to imitate real life vacation. For example, some users are willing to pay double the rate for the hotels in the game in order to gain a companion since these virtual hotels charge per individual and not per room. A night stay with a virtual girl can cost almost $500. Aside from the money feature, Love Plus+’s virtual girlfriends can experience a wide range of emotions in correlation to the amount of game playtime you spend on them. The more game time the more positive the characters react and the higher chance they wish to spend time with the player. Many users, like college student Tatsuya Fukazawa, admit that through this interaction “…there isn’t a lot of romance in my life and this helps me cope with some of the loneliness.” [2]. Other realistic options in the Love Plus+ series include the synchronization of an actual calendar and clock. Thus, time also determines when the virtual girls are available and birthdays and holidays are essential dates to remember. Overall, this game attracted 1,500 users within the first month of promotions. In addition, sales of restaurants and shops on the real resort town in Atami have increased dramatically due to the popularity of the game. Many players actually choose to take a vacation to the real town in order to play their games in its “legit” location, increasing the romantic feeling associated with the game.[3].
Recently, Japan has created a new addition to their dating simulation and visual novel collection known as Webkare, or web boyfriend. A web game geared towards females, the site gained over 10,000 members just five days after its release on September 10, receiving around 3.5 million page views. This website is blend of social networking and a dating sim where players have to work with other players in order to advance in the game. The game also includes tweeting and status updates of players relationships. In general, Webkare’s social network functions are quite basic. Included is the profile page which features small icons that let users decorate their page, a instant messaging system and chat box, and discussion board that allow users to include all their status updates. As of now, usage is free with display ads and affiliate links being the main source of revenue for the company. Feature ideas of expanding the game include transforming it into a video game or dream novel, selling merchandise, creating cell phone apps of it, or adding premium features for paid users. [4].
18+ Adult Games
As popularity of dating sims grew, an adult version of these games emerged. In these versions, players can have romantic and sexual relationships with game characters. These games usually fit under the category of H Games. These games are usually made by private companies in Japan and are only available on the PC. They feature censorship, and are available to individuals 15+.
Criticism and Reception
While there are positive reviews for the creativity and original game play of certain dating sims, there are many arguments against them.
Critics generally argue that dating simulations detach people from reality. Instead of going out and meeting people in real life or on dating sites, the introverted and lazy can escape through dating sims. They can also cause people to hold unrealistic expectations of romantic partners. This separation from reality is considered unhealthy by many, and is seen as degrading principles and morals due to the explicit games available within this genre [5].
For women, there is even more criticism that comes from the fact these types of games are unnecessary and are seen as an inability to be coupe and speak for themselves in the real world [6].
Others say that role-playing games are learning experiences. They argue that players are able to judge their morals in these games and usually choose options that fit their ethics and principles [7].
It can also be argued that dating sims are beneficial to the LGBT community, as many games feature same-sex relationships.
Ethical Concerns
Virtual Dating Simulation games oftentimes end by either winning or losing, with the player losing by failing to "finish" off another member of the opposite sex, with the term "finishing" referring to either marriage, having sex, or falling into an eternal love [8]. As players learn the tricks to most effectively and efficiently win the game, especially in linear models, it can be argued that for some players, the line between reality and the online environment will become blurred and for those players, unnatural expectations in dating situations experienced in real life will occur. This could potentially lead to a more relaxed view towards unwanted sexual advances and an increase in rapes.
Dating sims can also be seen as an open door for those seeking child pornography, since animation created in other countries may violate existing laws in other countries.
See Also
- Online Dating
- Virtual Child Pornography
- Virtual Environment
- Virtual Reality and Computer Simulations - Philip Brey
- Women in Gaming
References
- ↑ Ishaan. "Visual Novels: A Cultural Difference Between The East And West." Siliconera. Retrieved 4 Oct. 2011. [www.siliconera.com/2011/02/17/visual-novels-a-cultural-difference-between-the-east-and-west/]
- ↑ Wakabayashi, Daisuke. "Only in Japan, Real Men Go to a Hotel With Virtual Girlfriends" Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 Dec. 2011. [1]
- ↑ Wakabayashi, Daisuke. "Only in Japan, Real Men Go to a Hotel With Virtual Girlfriends" Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 Dec. 2011. [2]
- ↑ Toto, Serkan. "Japanese Girl Sensation: Virtual Boyfriends (Webkare)" TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 Oct. 2011. [3]
- ↑ "The Missing Human Connection" Genius Coaching - Great to Significant. Retrieved 5 Oct. 2011. [4]
- ↑ Royse, Pam, Joon Lee, Baasanjav Undrahbuyan, Mark Hopson, and Mia Consalvo. "Women and games: technologies of the gendered self." New Media Society 9 (2007): 566-572.
- ↑ Simkins, David W., and Constance Steinkuehler. "Critical Ethical Reasoning and Role-Play." Games and Culture 3 (2008): 338-342.
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dating_sims
