Go Farther: DateSims?

Datesims have a rather creepy reputation in the US.  The ones we see from Japan often contain questionable content.  By questionable of course I mean soul-searing horror that would make Cthulu call for his mommy and curl up in a blanket.  Yes I know there are Datesims that don't have objectionable content, you just don't hear about them that much.

Except I'm thinking Datesims may have more of a future.  I'm not talking that people will begin playing them instead of Modern Warfare 2.  But I'm thinking that the time may be right for more of them in  . . . well places that aren't Japan.  Oh, and datesims that aren't of a prurient nature.

Before you get scared, let me explain my logic.

• Datesims are casual games.  Casual gaming has obviously been on the increase.
• Their relatively simple nature would let them take advantage of the increased use of Downloadable content - reducing the cost, reducing the investment.
• Let's be honest, the standard Datesim is not overly complex as a piece of technology.
• Romance is always a big genre, and companies doing romance novels (Hey, Harlequin, want ANOTHER initiative?) could jump on the bandwagon.
• Their multimedia nature may tie-in well to people's interests.

So the reason I think Datesims have a future could be summed up as, I think they're viable because you can deliver them fast and cheap, they'd have good appeal, and you have audiences that would be interested in them.  If anything, I see the marketing being a bit troublesome - you'd probably have to call them "interactive romance novels" or something.

I don't see them as being big business (though I see the "interactive novel" idea having more of a future), but I think they may be a viable product for some companies, and a valuable addition to publishers of romance novels and products.  After all, if you got a modern anime-style artist to do a Datesim/romance with hunky vampires, and it cost $10 with the purchase of a novel, and maybe had unlockable desktops and themes - yeah, I think it'd sell.

- Steven Savage

Comments

[Kouban]

I've never thought of datesims as casual in any real sense. God knows when I've tried playing them casually, I'd wind up with the "nobody" ending.

[Steven Savage]

I think they're casual compared to games that may take 40 hours of level grinding to complete and can be enjoyed by people not interested in more complex mechanics or challenges of manual dexterity.

Which reminds me, defining casual gaming may be a good column . . .

[Ayu]

Visual novels are certainly taking a larger share of the western market these days. I know at least three indie producers who specialize in visual novels alone. As for the romantic ones, I have seen a pretty heavy trend towards romantic visual novels for girls. The standard "dating sim" still doesn't seem to have a serious hold outside hardcore otaku, though.