Midterm: Final Draft of Introduction

DATING SIMULATION GAMES IMPACT TO SOCIETY

A Research Paper Presented to

Mr. Dustin Celestino of The English Resource Center

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Course

RESWRIT-Research Writing

Mary Kristelyn F. Blas

February 2013

INTRODUCTION

A.  Background of the Study

Numerous of different kinds of dating simulation games were developed from anime. Anime industries greatly influenced the development of dating sims. With the help of anime fans, who were greatly involved by liking this media, developed an idea to create a game where you can date, talk, and share wonderful moments with your favourite anime character. Dating sims that originated in Japan have different kinds of categories like Otome (maiden) games for females, Bishojo (pretty girl) games for males and other subgenres like Eroge (erotic) games, that involves pornography. But there are still a lot of other dating sims that involve a homosexual relationship because of the popularity of yaoi (boys’ love) and yuri(girls’ love) in animes and mangas http://www.nz17.com/anifanatikku/articles/31.php).

Many dating simulation games were based on anime, and anime based on dating sims. It was considered to be one of the major reasons why dating simulation games became popular. Mainly the fact that the art style and genres of anime were really popular among anime fans, otakus, and gamers these days (http://antiotaku.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/what-the-heck-is-a-dating-sim/).

The popularity of adapting animes for dating simulation games in Japan also spread throughout the world. In other countries, especially Western countries, these games were easily adaptive and made into their own art style, wherein the character’s looks are realistic rather than anime-based characters (http://louardongames.blogspot.com/2012/08/do-westerners-play-dating-sims-or-stop.html). And according to Yano Research Institute, dating simulation games that are played for females gave the great impact in sales in 2010(http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-14/yano-research-reports-on-japan-2009-10-otaku-market)

The wide growth of dating sims industries influenced a lot of people in their lives either in a positive or negative way. Just like for females who are satisfied in a virtual relationship as indicated in the article of Kimiteru Tsuruta (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/17/net-us-japan-love-game-idUSBRE8BG03120121217), where it states that “love games” popular in Japan make women happily secured of having a safe relationship, even when the marriage rate in Japan fell.

Being a famous among a lot of people, dating sims became a major issue of how they were used. Since dating sims like otome games became popular among women, it also became popular among men in the same and different reasons. Same, because some men are romantically involved but others are only sexually involved. Like eroge games and other subgenres that focuses on pornography, caused some problems for men. Example of this case is an article of Dr. Mark J. Kline (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/ask-dr-mark/8726-Dating-Sims), where it helped a certain avid gamer to answer his problems about the effects of dating sims to him.

There are a lot of reasons why people play dating sims. The only fact that it was a part of entertainment that developed and become popular throughout the years, although there are consequences and risks when it comes to one’s lifestyle. Therefore, having further understanding about the positive and negative effects of being a gamer of these dating sims.

This research paper focuses on the reasons why many people were motivated to use dating simulation games as substitute for a real relationship.

B. Statement of the Problem:

This study aims to answer:

1. What are the reasons why many people were motivated to use dating simulation games as substitute for real relationship?

C. Significance of the Study:

 Gamers: This research paper would be able to help the gamers in learning more about the dating sims. This research paper will include the different effects of dating sims in a person.

Anime enthusiasts: This research will benefit Anime enthusiasts in learning more about the dating sims that are adapted in anime and vice versa. Including the news about the animes and dating sims.

Future Researches: This research can be recommended  for future researchers who are interested in learning this study. Since the beneficial information are given it can be help as a guide for their study.


D. Scope and Delimitation:

This study focuses on the reasons why many people were motivated to use dating simulation games as substitute for real relationship.

This study will emphasize on the effects of different kinds dating simulation and the reasons why it was being played. Therefore, this research paper will study focus mainly on the people who experienced playing this game and changes in their lives.

E. Materials and Methods:

This research will be based on the articles about dating sims, visual novels, animes and the experiences on a person who have positive and negative effect on playing the dating simulation games. Since the researcher aims to let the readers know the reasons why many people were motivated to use dating simulation games as substitute for real relationship. A descriptive method will be recommended since there is a need of explanation in the process.

Next Surveys and interviews will be conducted for dating sims players and non-players to ask their opinions about dating simulation games.

F. Definition of Terms:

Dating sims. A type of dating game that originated in Japan.

Otome game. A Japanese term called “maiden” in Japan and a popular dating game for females.

Bishojo game. A Japanese term called “pretty girl” in Japan and a popular dating game for males.

Eroge game. A Japanese term called “erotic” in Japan and a major genre of dating sims that contains pornography.

Yaio game. A Japanese term called “boy’s love” in Japan and a subgenre of datings sims that contains bisexual relationship among males.

Yuri game. A Japanese term called “girl’s love” in Japan and a subgenre of datings sims that contains bisexual relationship among females.

Anime. A popular media among a lot of fans that originated in Japan

Post 4: Secrets Behind Otome Game Magazines

 Reading is one of the leisurely activities that have seemed to go along with the progress of technology. Reading is of course first and foremost an activity centered in learning. We gain knowledge and information. And, there are different materials that are used by reading to bring useful information in our daily lives. One of the widely accessible material is by the used of magazines.

I start collecting my favorite magazines when I am still young like K-zone, Candy, and Otaku( anime magazine) as one of my hobbies. These magazines provided my interests on specific topics in loved. I can also say that the popularity of magazines have a huge use effect throughout the world, and there are so many different magazines available that everyone is sure to find one that appeals their tastes.

And recently, being addicted in otome games I started thinking if there is some kind of magazines all about otome games and I came a crossed about the article by Reveris called “TheDifferent Otome Gaming Magazines and What’s in Them”, an article that talked about the different kinds of otome gaming magazines and informed the readers of which otome game they want to buy. 

Here are the different kinds of otome game magazines that are presented to informed on which kind magazines for the otome gamer they want to buy which can be found in the article:

• ·     Dengeki Girl’s Style –  this magazines consist of basic information that provides an avid otome gamer might want. Have articles on some anime that are popular with girls and also includes news from games and CD dramas, to novels and manga. More substantial than B’s Log magazine because it provides more information and announcements for some events in Japan that are related to certain games.

• ·         B’s Log – a monthly magazine that covers up the upcoming otome games, BL games, yaoi games, and otome anime. It consists more information about otome news than BL news and visual novels/misc game news. And lastly, contains with freebies news all about in female-oriented merchandise.

• ·         Cool-B – a more matured BL magazine that consist of R18 games’ NSFW CG samples or artworks. Aimed for females who are really fans of boy’s love or yaoi. Also, considered to be one of the otome game magazine because it also contains information about otome games . 

• ·         Cool-B Sweet Princess – a seasonal magazine that published every once in three months or like a half a year issue. Just like Cool-B magazine it also consist of R18 images but the nice thing about this magazine was, it contains of CD with wallpapers, demos, Ops for the games featured in every issue and also the beautiful artworks that other magazines don’t have.

• ·         Cool-B Bitter Princess – features only R18 games and released once per year in unpredictable month of release.

On this article I have noticed that every otome game magazines have information or news about BL(Boy’s Love) or yaoi. I know some of my friends are fans of this genres. I personally never liked BL/yaoi, but at the same time I don’t mind sexuality but why is BL so addicting for girls? I only know that some of the girls didn't like the female protagonist in anime, mangas or games and also they go beyond to the content of the story of being have more sweeter romantic relationship than to a real boy-to-girl relationship.

As I searched for further understanding about my question, I found an article written by Eliza Strickland called “Drawn Together”, on this article I discovered that women in past were surprised about the idea of man-on-man relationship and instead it was curiosity that lead them to see, read, and think about the man-on-man version.

In general, different  ideas in relationship has developed especially the popularity of bisexual relationship that generated increased interest in public. Like yaois that gains visibility in the genres like anime, manga, games and otome game magazines that provides satisfaction among female fans.