I really don't know how to start this single blog post for
two reasons. First being that I can't seem to relate this to anything in the
real life and the second being that the article itself is just too shocking for
me. You see, I got into playing dating simulation games just recently because
my dorm mate got influenced by her class mate and in turn, she influenced the
rest of us inside the room. Now, three out of four (since the last one is new
just this term) of us inside the room is addicted to this particular genre of
video games. But as I was searching the internet on dating sims, what shocked me
is that almost all the searches came up of this erotic and sexual type of the
game genre. How would you feel like if you found out your favorite game was
treated as porn? My eyes were twitching the entire time I was reading some of
the articles ones like by Cracked.com.
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| Riddle Garden(Eroge Game) |
Thankfully, one article that was talking about the same
topic of dating sims in a perverted light but made it seem like it was at least
respecting the genre, caught my attention. This article was by Patrick W Galbraith entitled Dating simulator games inspire legion of followers—and detractors. According to the
author, Dating sims have different sub genres and it just so happens, the
yaruge and eroge genres were the most popular in japan and most controversial.
Why won't it be controversial? Those games have erotic and sexual scenes in it! "A game that sells 150,000 copies is considered a smash hit, and industry insiders estimate there are between 200,000 and 300,000 players in Japan. Of these, a core of maybe 10,000 users buy at least five to six games a year, each of which can cost between 7,000 and 10,000 yen." the author said.
This just proves that dating sims are really a smash hit in Japan.
"Thanks in part to the
controversy, Japanese lawmakers have recently proposed a bill that would outlaw
underage pornography, including its animated forms." The author
also said. This is because of another game created called "Rapelay (a
combination of Rape and Play)." Because of this, some countries protested
about the genre being unhealthy for their minors. Since the government
themselves protested to the Japanese companies, some sites for the games have
been closed off to other countries besides Japan.
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| Re-Alistair (Otome Game) |
This subgenre of dating sims has
overshadowed other subgenres which are Galge (or Bishojou or pretty girls game)
which is targeting male heterosexual males, and Otome games (otherwise known as
the maiden game) which is targeting female heterosexuals. These subgenres are
the ones that focuses on the romantic side of the games. In here, though there
would be some kissing, hugging and touching scenes, it would all be purely
romantic. Nothing that will give it a rate of R-18. These two genres being
overshadowed by eroge suffered the consequence of being said that if it's a
dating sim, it will all be eroge games and nothing on the other subgenres. I'm
betting the market suffered with I too. In
truth, I can say this because as I said, I just got into the game and I found
it difficult to come across a site that has a decent game of it!
Is it really that if a game is a
dating sim, it is already a porn? Won't the others consider the subgenre s of
it? People have choices whether they would play the eroge or the galge or the
otome genre. Does this game being popular in Japan really prove that Japan
itself is really a wasting country since they chose to use their talents in this game? Will a type of game easily stereo type
an artist? Will playing a dating sim make me a pervert? Even though I
don't play the eroge genre and only the otome? In my opinion, the answer to all
this questions are no. I won't be called a pervert because of it. Games can't
classify a whole country's aritstic quality. And a dating sim isn't only eroge. But I
have to admit, these games can really affect you. My question is, how does it
affect me and you, as a player and a human?
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