Post 3: Differences About Dating Sims and Visual Novel

What are the differences of visual novels from dating simulation games? I’ve been questioning myself about this topic since, I started researching about the articles in dating games. The terms “visual novels” and “dating sims” are used somewhat interchangeably. I can’t longer understand the meaning of these two words. For me visual novels are more in story telling while dating sims are more in questioning.

For further understanding, about the differences of visual novels and dating simulation games or misconception of their meanings, I read an article by Mikoto titled “Visual Novels Vs. Dating SimulationGames”, lots of important information and difference throughout topics discussed on this article.

According to this article, visual novels and dating sims has the same aspects of choosing the path of every non-playable characters of a specific gender and the right methods to achieved the every end of character. It states also that some dating sims are always have to be in dating while visual novels are not just about romance but also consist of different heroines in the game-play.

Pornography on visual novels and dating sims are one also of the misconception to the public. And it an idea to them that visual novels = perverted dating sims. Along this information, it assumes also that dating games, anime, and mangas consist of erotic topics but, not all media related information are correct. Some dating games and visual novels are also into field of comedy and simple romance.

Lastly, according also to these articles it differentiates the idea of the game-play of dating sims from visual novels. Dating sims are more in application of player’s ability to lead his/her protagonist through the gameplay, while the visual novels are more on images and reading of the content just like reading mangas, novels or watching an anime with a background music that provides life in the gameplay.

In general, visual novels often involve romantic and/or sexual relationships as a key part of their narrative and dating sims involve a lot of reading text and making choices but in terms of overall structure that they differ quite significantly from one another. Specifically, in a dating sim, you're often given a lot more freedom in terms of how to pursue your dream partner and a consequent greater potential to mess things up entirely. Whereas, in a visual novel you're typically following a more clearly defined, linear narrative.