11- Man Marries Virtual Girlfriend!

                I have read many things that made me say "weird." And while I was searching for a picture for my previous article "Video game affects to relationships," I found a picture that had me saying "huh?"

                The picture on the right was what I found and it had me doing more research about the news. And yes, I found out that this article was true. A man really did marry his girlfriend from a game called Love Plus! it was a bit shocking but not really repulsive to me. I can't really judge the man since I don't know what he really feels and thinks about in doing the marriage.  and after watching a documentary about dolls being used as replacement girlfriends in every sense of the word, nothing can really surprise me in that department.

                One of the articles entitled "Japanese Man Marries Virtual Girlfriend" written on December 1, 2009 about this news was written by  Amar Toor in the site switched.com. He said that the man, Sal9000, married his girlfriend in the game named Nene Anegasaki.

" The man, known only as Sal9000, tied the knot with Nene Anegasaki during a 'Meet: Japan' event at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. As BoingBoing contributing editor Lisa Katayama reports, the ceremony was held before a live (and virtual) audience, replete with an MC, an actual priest, and, of course, the "girlfriend," who apparently said her own vows. "

Another article from Foxnews.com written on November 22, 2009 said:

" Since the girl doesn't really exist, SAL9000 reportedly took his Nintendo DS to Guam for a legal ceremony and honeymoon, and will livecast the upcoming wedding reception online, MyFoxDFW.com reported."

                I was thinking, "weird…just plain weird…" I mean I know I myself love to play dating sims and all that but I would never go as far as marrying a character in it! Just… weird…

Can this mean that relationships in games be a replacement for real life relationships?

10- Video game effects on Relationships

          

          There are many factors in which can affect a relationship. Other people meddling in it, tasks you have to do, events and other circumstances.  In the Philippines, there is one other thing that not many may agree as to a factor that can affect a relationship. And that is a video game.

          There are many studies that proved that video games have affected relationships. There are many reasons as to why video games affect this. The most famous reason is that of the time spent by the gamer playing the game.

          According to Howard Brown in his article entitled "AreVideo Games Harming your Relationships?" video game addiction is one of the ten most common addictions in our society. And in every addiction you spend so many time in it, causing your time with others to lessen considerably.  Howard also said that symptoms of addiction included:

• Spending several hours each day playing video games
• Becoming defensive about the amount of time spend playing games, if confronted
• Staying home from work to spend more time playing games
• Neglecting friends, family, and significant others to play video games

          As he said, you tend to neglect your significant others and loved ones. Thus, it will affect the relationship and may actually end it.

          This got me thinking, since dating sims are sub categories of video games, won't it still have the same affect for those relationships that the gamer addicted to it have? Furthermore since it is kind of another relationship inside the game itself. Isn't it kind of worst than playing a normal relationship? Is it really a ground to end a relationship already?

9- Courting man style!

          Man says that girls are a mystery that is impossible to solve. Still, some succeed in courting them.

          According to an article at Lovepanky written on January 20, 2013, There are 10 ways into courting a girl of your choice. These are: 

• #1 Spend time with her. 
• #2 Compliments and charm. 
• #3 Remind her of you. 
• #4 Be the dependable guy.
• #5 Open up to her. 
• #6 Avoid becoming a friend. 
• #7 Flirt with her. 
• #8 Let her know you think of her. 
• #9 Slip the word out. 
• #10 Ask her out. 

          These steps can also be applied in playing a dating sim. You have to know the type of character the girl that you have chosen has. Then you have to answer her questions during events correctly or in other words, your answer will have to charm her. You also have to be at the right place where events will happen for her character. You'll have to speak to her, of course and flirt at good times. Then slowly ask her out and viola, you get the Character you want!

          As you can see, it's practically the same. No, let me ask you, since those in reality can be applied in a game, shouldn't those in the game also possible to be applied in reality? I mean you're just reversing the position but the process is the same... like in algebra, the commutative property of addition and multiplication? exchange the positions of the number but have the same process, you get the same answer. Shouldn't it be the same for courting, whether it's in a game or in reality? 

8- The World God Only Knows

          In our generation, there is what you call an Otaku culture. A part of this culture is the love for Anime. In truth, I'm one of those who can be considered as one of this culture. I love Anime so much! And one of the latest anime shows out there that i love so much is the anime "The World God Only Knows." I heard about this anime from my dorm mates and they got me hooked to it too.

          In this show, the main character, Keima Katsuragi, is known as the known on the Internet and in gaming circles as The Capturing God because of his exceptional skills and experience in "capturing" (winning over) virtual girls in dating sims. But in reality, he is one of those who are considered lame and a nerd since he spends so much time playing his games. He even plays it during his classes. Keima is only attracted to virtual girls in the game world. When he is in danger, Keima prioritizes saving his game. 

          One day, Keima receives a challenge mail asking him to conquer a girls heart. Thinking it was that of the usual challenging him to get a 2D girl in a game, he accepts it right away. It turns out to be a contract from Dokoro Skull. Keima meets Elsie, a demon whose job is to capture Loose Souls, also known as Weiss. He must work with her in capturing the spirits, which have hidden themselves in various girls, or he will be beheaded. After he researches his target, he acts out scenarios from his girl games, and puts himself in situations where they are together. When he determines the root cause of her problem, and the solution path he must take, he utters his catchphrase "I can see the ending." 

          Since he doesn't know anything in dating real girls, he uses the strategies he does in his games. Like in one episode he had to capture the heart of a girl pretending to still be rich in school but was really poor. He found out about this and so he enacted an event he played once in a game to get a character with the same traits the girl had. In the end, the girl fell for him and they kissed, enabling Elsie to capture the Weiss residing in the girls heart. 

            There are many reasons why this show is really popular. Not only is this a romantic comedy but it is also has a great art style. According to Aiden Foote in the site T.H.E.M:

"The show looks and sounds good too. Its art is soft and 

pleasing to the eye and the character designs are 

universally pretty, unique and colourful. Its animation 

seems slightly hamstrung by a less than tremendous 

budget but it does better than most, especially in the 

opening sequence. The music too, is top quality. 

The OPs for both seasons are by ELISA and I think

 they are two of the best OPs I’ve ever heard, especially

 the OP for the first season. The actual score for the 

series is cute and pleasant too, adding a cute and bubbly 

atmosphere to the show’s sweet content." 

He actually compared the main characters to Holmes and Watson! Nice right?

He also had some bad comments;

"The actual romance arcs have some problems too. 

Firstly, some of the girls are more interesting than others 

and if you really like a girl then too bad because the next 

one is going to turn up in a few episodes time and replace 

your favourite. That’s a flaw in the concept, it’s not much 

that the show could do about it, but the second thing is what

 really holds this show back. The World God Only Knows

 isn’t very romantic. It really is more like watching a detective 

show than a romance. Sure, it’s interesting and quite often funny 

but it too rarely delivers the emotional hook that would make 

the show great and it’s not funny enough to make up for that."

          But despite all this, he still liked the show and said, "That all said, the show is good and it has only been getting better."

          I have to agree with him. The show is great and I love this romantic comedy but the harem concept kinda adds a turn off point to it. But the pros outweigh the cons! 

          Now my question, since in an anime show, dating sims can help get one to fall for another, can this be proof that it can also be done in reality?

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 1

Introduction

A. Background of the study

            It cannot be denied that in this date and age, specially for the recent generation of teenagers, video games are taking a big part in ones lives. It even seems like no one can actually say that he or she has not played even a single video game in their life. It can be an old game like Pac man, or a role playing game like Ragnarok, even a fighting game like Taken. There are different varieties of game out there now, even simple life stuff has become basis of these games. One sample is that of Dating Simulations, a sub genre of video game which is based on romantic dating lives of people.

            Dating Simulations are games in which the main character of the game will have encounters with different characters in which the player can choose from. They will have to make the right choices in answering questions, doing tasks and achieving a goal to be able to get the ending they want with the character.

"The Dating Sim is a type of game designed to set up goals, usually in the forms of schedules and stats corresponding to social skills, which must be achieved to discover a story focused entirely around the Character Development of the player's chosen girl/guy, get into his/her pants, or both. This leads to Multiple Endings, though some Dating Sims make it possible to see several of these "endings" in a single play through."

            This was according to a site entitled TVRopes. Of course, Not all dating simulations are about getting into someone's pants. But This kind of game is slowly becoming popular to different countries and is even already nationally known in Japan. More and more are trying out and getting hooked in this kind of game play.

            Since it seemed like playing video games are now important for many, and more are being interested in dating simulations, it can have affects to the player's lives and their style. It can also affect their relationships with those around them. As observed in a player's life, this theory can be proven. Many researches and studies have already proven it.

            With this in mind, the researcher has come up with the problem of the effects of dating simulations to the lives and relationships of the player with another person. She observed that since the game itself has been based on realistic events, can these events be used in real life? Will playing the game affect the relationship that is already established by the players themselves to another? The realistic events that is being played inside a video game by many players and the effects it has on one can be a major concern by many and this moved the researcher to do the study.

B. Statement of the problem

            This study aims to find out the affect of Dating Simulations to the relationship of one to another person. Specifically, it aims to answer these questions:

1.    Can Dating Sims guide one into having a romantic relationship with his/her opposite gender in reality?
2.    Is it considered cheating if one is to play a Dating Sim while having some feelings and imaginations for the game character?

C. Significance of the Study

            Single men and Women. This study will be able to help single men and women who play dating sims find out if the games they play will be able guide them into having a real relationship. Also, those single men and women who do not play these kind of games will find it beneficiary in a way that they may find out another effective guide into dating.

            Men and Women in relationships. This study would be ideal help with those who are in a relationship into identifying if ever playing a dating simulation will be grounds of an end to their relationship or if it is considered cheating.

            Game makers. Since this study is all about the effects of the game, the makers would find this helpful in terms of how they can add strategies in their marketing.

            Players. This study will help the players of the game see what they are getting out of the game that they love to play.

            Future researchers. This study can be a good reference to the researchers in the future that will also tackle a research that is similar to this one.

D. Scope and Delimitation

            This study will focus on the reality based events on Dating Simulations and it's effects towards those who interact with it in their relationships with others. Dating Simulation was chosen because more and more games are adapting this genre and so more people can be interacting with it now.

            Due to time constraints, the study will not tackle deeper meaning to dating simulations itself nor other effects it may have on those who plays it. This is also a reason so that the reality relationship basis of the game will be emphasized. More ever, the researcher believes that since it is a dating simulation, relationships can be one of the greatest one affected in a players life with this kind of game.

E. Materials and Methods

            This research paper deals with descriptive methods and so, it would be mostly based on research materials. The articles in the internet would be the main basis of the information that will be gathered by the researcher.

            Some of the more technical terms may come from books in which the researcher has read. Observations will also be used to have more reliable information to support those of which the researcher has found in the internet.

F. Definition of Terms

· Dating Simulations: a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually                                                 Japanese, with romantic elements.

·         Eroge Games: perverted subgenre of Dating simulation

·         Otome Games: maiden game
 
·         Galge Games: Bishojou or pretty girls game

What can define cheating?

                In every relationships, cheating is a dreaded and bad thing. If one cheats in a relationship, all ties can be broken and it will be a very hard thing to fix, most of the times, it remains broken. Not only are the trusts shattered, but also the feelings themselves will be severed. But since there are different kinds of people out there, cheating in a sense can have different meaning for a person.

            Cheating cannot be diffined straightforwardly. But one of the best ways to diffine it was written by Steve Pavlina in his article Cheatingin Relationships      "Not everyone defines cheating the same way. Society may condition us to think of cheating a certain way, but deep down we may not feel the same." said Pavlina. She gave some things that the couple may want to talk to each other with in order to clearly define in what the term cheating may be applied in it. Things that are physically doing or just mentally thinking may want to be considered. Like if they consider cuddling with others cheating, or if they think of anyone else as they masturbate. Will these occurrences be considered cheating? the couple should discuss it so as to not have any misunderstandings.

                On the other hand, kanisemeekstdiva compared the versions of a man in cheating to that of a woman in her article entitled What IsConsidered Cheating men and women point of view. In her article, while men mostly say it is cheating only when any physical contact was made, women also considers that even without the physical touch, as long as another is inside your mind, it is considered cheating.

                "In my opinion I think some men don’t consider some actions to be classified as cheating until their women does it then its not considered cool anymore." kanisemeekstivida said. Which can really be true since most men just think of the now in the relationship instead of the when and if. They will only realize that they also think almost the same way as the women only when they themselves see it done by their partner.

                Now, with these contradictions, is cheating really just in a physical sense or also mentally as well. What if the one you're are thinking of doesn't even really exist. That the one you think of it about is just a character inside a game. Will it still be considered cheating? Does thinking about a non-existing person be cheating really? Or is it only limited to those that really walk the earth? Have any couples considered this? Especially when we are in a time of technology in which you can even date a non-existing person in the screen. Is playing dating sims be considered cheating too? I guess it really should just be left up to the couple themselves.

Human like characteristics in game characters

 Like in the real world, inside the dating simulation there are different kinds of characters to choose from. I don't really see how this one will work out in an essay form so I decided to put it in a table for to make it easier to understand.

Gender	Type in game/Anime	Characteristics	Comparison to real humans
Girls	Tsundere	acts cold, critical, hostile or even downright violent towards the main character/love interest but shows a softer, warmer side over time.	can be compared to the tomboyish type of girls.
	Kuudere	have a soft and squishy side buried beneath a hard shell, but while tsunderes tend to progress spunk and aggressiveness, kuuderes instead project an aura of aloofness, even coldness.	the emotionless type or the quiet but uncaring type of girls out there.
	Yandere	often have their sweet and gentle side right out in the open. Unfortunately, it is often accompanied with a rather large helping of sheer craziness and codependency.	the only thing that it can really be near to are either the stalkers or the over possessive fan girls. Those on the obsessive side
	Dandere	antisocial and the loner of the group. But when the right person comes along they show their soft sides and slowly become a bit social.	the outcast and shy one. The girls who stay in the corners and just quietly observes.
Boys	Wild	most popular type. Can range from totally cool to very perverted.	the flirting type. The party goers.
	Sporty	a teaser and outgoing. A sports man and is rarely to win the main characters.	the normal jock Mr. Popular
	Nerd	very rare and usually don't end up with the main character even though they have the most pasionate feelings for them.	the books smart type. Those who quietly likes someone but are too afraid to approach them.
	Cute	easiest to identify but usually only have friendship with the main.	the childhood best friend that one usually have
	Princely	the nice protective character which the main usually leans towards at the start. But usually the main gets to be with the wild one.	the gentleman that most girls dream about. The prince charming. Very rare nowadays though.

          The table states that anime/game girls can be classified as tsundere, yandere, kuudere and dandere, while boys can be classified into smart, nice, cute, princely and wild. It states each of the characteristics and how it can be alike with the real humans, to what kind of person it can be compared to. 

The Deres

          The characteristics of the Girls in the game/anime were mostly according to David Animattenborough in his article Anime Terminology 101: The“Deredere” Species. Kuuderes was found in an image shared by the FB group home for anime lovers.  According to the discriptions,  Tsunderes were the most popular since they are a mix of strong, independent qualities and the promise of a softer, kinder side.

Sample guys; Dandelion

         All the boys on the other hand, were characterized by IkutoKonneko in his article Anime Guy Character Analysis. According to him, the 5 main types of anime guys are smart, nice, cute, princely and wild. with wild being to most popular. 

         All in all, we can say that since the characters are alike any human, and since humans themselves made them, we can say they really base them on real people and how we are now. but in a dating game, simple choices can be made to get the one you want. Can it be also simple in real life? Can we really use the game's events to help us in real life relationship?