Dating sims, or romance simulation games (恋愛シミュレーションゲーム, ren'ai shimyurēshon gēmu), are video game subgenre of simulation games with romantic elements.
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Dating sims are often dialog-heavy and focus on time management. The player must befriend and carefully build and maintain a relationship with one or more characters.[1] The gameplay is largely dependent on statistics.[2] These games also often involve raising stats that reflect the player's skills and can be combined with other genres. Series such as Sakura Wars and Persona combine RPG gameplay with dating sim gameplay.[1]
The term 'dating sim' is also sometimes used incorrectly in English as a generic term for romance-driven games (恋愛ゲーム, ren'ai games), especially visual novels focused on romance.[3] This can lead to confusion, as visual novels are considered a subgenre of adventure games and are not included in the dating sim genre. While the two genres often share a common visual presentation, dating sims are considered to be more statistically based, whereas visual novels focus on telling a branching story.[2]
History[edit]
Visual novels where girls romance a harem of boys are rising in popularity with English-speaking gamers. This Valentine's Day, Anne Lee picks out the cream of the otome game crop. Moove: 3D Chat and Dating. Moove is a German virtual world that aims to provide smooth and interactive 3D avatar chatting and dating simulation. Unlike some other virtual worlds, it isn't based on a world itself, but it works more on a 'room basis'—think habbo hotel style—you walk room to room and interact inside those rooms. Play romance games at Y8.com. Enjoy the top collection of romance games on the internet to finally meet your perfect partner. Play your cards well and find your way to a loving relationship in these lovely games only available at Y8 Games. How Sims Dating Games Differ. If you've ever played a Sim game such as The Sims, then you understand that the outcome of the game depends on how well you can control what each of your characters wants and needs. While dating Sim games follow the same general guidelines, this type of game focuses on romance and seduction.
The first game that set the standard for the dating sim genre was Dōkyūsei (1992), which relied more on timed events than dialogue choices. However, Tokimeki Memorial (1994) truly popularized dating sims in Japan, in which the player, a high school student has the ability to date a dozen different girls.[4] Games such as Sakura Wars and Persona are RPGs with dating sim elements.
Characteristics[edit]
In a typical dating sim, the player controls a male avatar surrounded by female characters. The gameplay involves conversing with a selection of girls, attempting to increase their internal 'love meter' through correct choices of dialogue. The game lasts for a fixed period of game time, such as one month or three years. When the game ends, the player either loses the game if he failed to properly win over any of the girls, or 'finishes' one of the girls, often by having sex with her, marrying her (as in Magical Date), and/or achieving eternal love. This gives the games more replay value, since the player can focus on a different girl each time, trying to get a different ending.
Dating sims often revolve almost entirely around relationship-building, usually featuring complex character interactions and branching dialogue trees, and often presenting the player's possible responses word-for-word as the player character would say them. Dating sims such as Tokimeki Memorial, and some role-playing games with similar relationship based mechanics to the genre such as Persona, often give choices that have a different number of associated 'mood points' which influence a player character's relationship and future conversations with a non-player character. These games often feature a day-night cycle with a time scheduling system that provides context and relevance to character interactions, allowing players to choose when and if to interact with certain characters, which in turn influences their responses during later conversations.[5]
While bishōjo games make up the bulk of dating sims, other types of games exist. Games where the player character is female and potential objects of affection are male are known as GxB or otome games. Homosexual relationships are also possible, as there are games with no specific gender lines ('all pairings'). There are also Girls' Love games, which focus on female/female relationships, and Boys' Love games, which focus on male/male pairings.
There are many variations on this theme: high-school romances are the most common, but a dating sim may also take place in a fantasy setting and involve such challenges as defending one's girl from monsters.
One game series that often includes dating, with the goal of marriage, is the farming sim series Harvest Moon. The subplot of dating is more focused towards choosing one of several girls or guys (dependent on the player character's gender) and offering them presents or joining them on events in the game. The Star Ocean series of RPGs also feature dating sim elements in a similar manner.
Some Japanese dating sims may allow the player to have romantic or sexual relationships with characters in their teens.[citation needed] The degree of sexual content varies, but may often include intercourse. Sexually explicit dating sims may fall into the category of H Game or Eroge. Eroge only gets released to PC because large Japanese game companies do not want to release games with sexual content on their game consoles. Because of this, Eroge companies make a censored all-ages (15+) version of the PC version for various consoles. Censored versions often contain additional endings and added scenes to compensate for the absence of sexual scenes.[citation needed]
Examples[edit]
- Girl's Garden (1984)
- Tenshitachi no gogo (1985)
- Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School (1987)
- No-Ri-Ko (1988)
- Dōkyūsei series (1992 onwards)
- Tokimeki Memorial series (1994 onwards)
- True Love (1995)
- Magical Date (1996)
- Persona (1996 onwards)
- Sakura Wars (1996 onwards)
- Thousand Arms (1998)
- Summer Session (2008)
- Amagami (2009)
- Love Plus (2009)
- Hatoful Boyfriend (2012 onwards)
- Boyfriend Maker (2012)
- House Party (video game) (2017)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abLebowitz, Josiah (2011). Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: a Player-centered Approach to Creating Memorable Characters and Stories. Klug, Chris. Burlington, MA: Focal Press. pp. 45. ISBN9780240817187. OCLC706802880.
- ^ abCavallaro, Dani (2010). Anime and the visual novel: narrative structure, design and play at the crossroads of animation and computer games. McFarland & Company. pp. 8–9. ISBN978-0-7864-4427-4.
- ^Cavallaro, Dani (2010). Anime and the visual novel: narrative structure, design and play at the crossroads of animation and computer games. McFarland & Company. p. 8. ISBN978-0-7864-4427-4.
Western audiences sometimes tend, erroneously, to regard visual novels as synonymous with “dating simulations” (or “dating sims”), a videogame subgenre of simulation games.
- ^Barnholt, Ray (2012). The National Girlfriend: The Not-So-Innocent Story of Japan's Puppy Love Video Game Phenomenon. Bipedal Dog.
- ^Brent Ellison (July 8, 2008). 'Defining Dialogue Systems'. Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
Get a virtual lover, because dating IRL is too hard
Adapted from source
Let’s face it: dating is difficult. In this day and age – where texting someone to come over for “Netflix and chill” replaces in-person invites for real dates – we often find ourselves playing a twisted dating “game”, with no hint of whether the other person actually fancies you or not.
Forget about analysing your love interest’s latest text or worrying about side chicks – the ever-innovative Japanese have created a bunch of actual simulated dating games for people who are sick and tired of trying (and failing) to find real love.
These 5 games take the phrase ‘love has no limits’ to an entirely different level. But hey, I’m not one to judge.
1. Uma no Prince-sama
A screenshot taken from the game – yes, I’ll admit, I’ve played it
Just when you thought the Japanese couldn’t come up with anything weirder, out pops Uma no Prince-sama, starring a horse with a human head. You’re playing a girl born in the year of the horse, who’s strangely the only one who can see this majestic half-horse, half-man. While it is both confusing and hilarious, it’ll have your heart inappropriately thumping at times.
Uma no Prince-sama is basically a ‘tapping game’ where you feed your horse-man carrots and help him work out on a treadmill. He pays you back by feeding your character home-cooked food and defending you from bullies. Sounds like a good deal, ‘cause it’s hard to find a man like this in real life – for obvious reasons. I’ve never seen such a handsome face on a horse’s body. Call me crazy, but I think this harvests for a stable relationship.
Download Uma no Prince-sama for iOS and Android
2. Hatoful Boyfriend
Although most people call pigeons ‘rats with wings’, bird enthusiast Hato Moa, the creator of Hatoful Boyfriend, sees them in a different light. In this game, you are the only girl in a school full of birds.
But these feathered friends are by no means bird-brained – full of surprisingly deep conversations and terrible puns that you won’t be able to resist laughing at, the pigeons might even end up winning you over. After all, real human males do have a lot to live up to after these intellectual fowl have set such a high bar.
Don’t worry if you don’t like one particular pigeon – there’s a whole flock to choose from! However, reviewers say that winning over the pigeons’ affection is surprisingly difficult. Choose the wrong option, and nobirdie will smooch you, or so much as give you a peck.
3. Brother’s Conflict
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While Brother’s Conflict looks like a “normal” dating sim, do not be fooled. These 13 guys are your new step-brothers, and you may just develop romantic feelings for them. Uh-oh! While borderline stepping into some Lannister stuff, I guess it’s okay cause you’re not really related? Hmm…
But just imagine: your pick of 13 hot guys, all of whom you’ll be in close proximity with every single day. Surely every girl must have fantasized about this. Just me? …Okay, I’ll leave now.
4. Jurassic Heart
Just look at that shy dinosaur, sweating and blushing at the thought of asking you out. Won’t you give him a chance? Source
If you’re short on time, maybe you won’t mind a man with shorter arms too. What this T-rex is lacking in length, he makes up for with his ukulele skills! This short and sweet game involves Taira, your dinosaur classmate who broke his ukelele in a performance you encouraged him to give. While it’s not really your fault, you do feel a bit guilty – so you ask him out to the music store to buy him a new ukulele. The rest is history.
Don’t laugh. Jurassic Heart is an absolute classic in Japanese dating games with a growing dinosaur-loving fanbase.
5. Paca Plus
In Paca Plus, the male protagonist takes his girlfriend to the Alpaca Kingdom farm to celebrate her birthday. However, things take a twist when he wakes up the next morning to see a fat alpaca wearing his girlfriend’s clothes – turns out, she’s transformed into the fluffy animal overnight! #shewokeuplikethis
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Obviously, he’s a bit startled but quickly gets accustomed to it. Props to him – it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right?
However, he’s the only one who sees her as an alpaca – everyone else still sees her as a normal human. Your job in this visual novel game is to uncover the mystery of what altered his vision.
While the English translation is a bit off, I think it makes the story even funnier. If you’re looking for a chuckle, and wish to live out your obsession for alpacas – the Japanese have finally invented the perfect game for you.
*Bonus* Koi Suru! Brother-kun
And by ‘Brother-kun’, they mean a ‘Brother’ brand printer, not your sibling – not sure if that’s a relief or not, but either way, 100 points for product placement. Why stop at step-brothers and animals, when you can fall in love with an inanimate object? #dontdiscriminate
While Koi Suru! Brother-kun doesn’t come in English, I think we can all imagine the deep, growing love story between human and printer. One’s kind of not living, after all.
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Love really has no limit with crazy Japanese dating games
I’m not sure what was going through the minds of these game creators, but I’m partly terrified – there seems to be a disturbing trend of animal lovin’ here. I struggle to think of the kind of dating experiences, or lack thereof, they had to go through in order to come up with such things.
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But while these crazy dating games are laughable at first, after having played a few I’ll have to say that some of them were pretty well thought out, with intricate storylines and great graphics.
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Who needs a real relationship when you have the pure sweet affection of your 2D lovers? Don’t worry though – when it all gets a bit too real we can adopt a bunch of cute cats instead.