Japanese developers have been gradually inserting "dating sim" games that have made it over to our shores without going full creep into virtual relationship territory. Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and 4 immediately come to mind, which offered streamlined JRPG experiences enriched by a subtle relationship building mechanic that powered up your characters in combat. The social link system of those games made virtual high school dating seem much less disturbing in-game than it did on paper.

This style of "combine pretend dating with something that takes gamers' minds off of pretend dating" is starting to be a trademark of Atlus, since the upcoming Catherine is using pretty much the same formula, though significantly less veiled. Catherine even has different routes players can go down based on how they treat their lady of choice, with eight different endings. There's even a drunk texting mechanic! Unfortunately, the accompanying gameplay seems like an acquired taste, even more so than the dating sim aspect. Almost 30 levels of what's been described as glorified Q-bert, with the equivalent of an optional dungeon considering over 100 more. The jury's still out on how that's going to fly.

Still, I'm really looking forward to how this game does, though I predict it's going to be close to how Atlus' other games fair. I.e. great amongst fans with little exposure elsewhere. I'm hoping I get proven wrong about that. If it's any consolation, Famitsu gave it a promising 35/40. Maybe the Giantbomb crew can rub some of that Zojirushi magic off on it. And let's hope more dating sims make it over here for everyone to enjoy! I have no shame in saying that!

Also, has anyone seen the limited edition for this thing? I don't usually jump on LEs, but...

That pizza box is so hot.

Japanese developers have been gradually inserting "dating sim" games that have made it over to our shores without going full creep into virtual relationship territory. Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and 4 immediately come to mind, which offered streamlined JRPG experiences enriched by a subtle relationship building mechanic that powered up your characters in combat. The social link system of those games made virtual high school dating seem much less disturbing in-game than it did on paper.

This style of "combine pretend dating with something that takes gamers' minds off of pretend dating" is starting to be a trademark of Atlus, since the upcoming Catherine is using pretty much the same formula, though significantly less veiled. Catherine even has different routes players can go down based on how they treat their lady of choice, with eight different endings. There's even a drunk texting mechanic! Unfortunately, the accompanying gameplay seems like an acquired taste, even more so than the dating sim aspect. Almost 30 levels of what's been described as glorified Q-bert, with the equivalent of an optional dungeon considering over 100 more. The jury's still out on how that's going to fly.

Still, I'm really looking forward to how this game does, though I predict it's going to be close to how Atlus' other games fair. I.e. great amongst fans with little exposure elsewhere. I'm hoping I get proven wrong about that. If it's any consolation, Famitsu gave it a promising 35/40. Maybe the Giantbomb crew can rub some of that Zojirushi magic off on it. And let's hope more dating sims make it over here for everyone to enjoy! I have no shame in saying that!

Also, has anyone seen the limited edition for this thing? I don't usually jump on LEs, but...

That pizza box is so hot.

you lost me completely about a sentence in when you called Persona 3 and 4 'dating sims'.

@jadeskye: I didn't call them dating sims, I said they had dating sim elements. Were social links not akin to dating sims?

America doesn't need virtual dating when we have fleshlights.

I'm ready.

America, land of the AVN and pron central is really concerned with dating sims. Also, you're a weeaboo.

Plastic surgery being the state it is I'd say some already are dating virtual women.

@Crash_Happy said:

Plastic surgery being the state it is I'd say some already are dating virtual women.

Catherine isn't a dating sim.
 
Like, at all.
 
Also, this is weird. And Creepy.

Dragon Age and Mass Effect, not only Japan.

@jadeskye: I didn't call them dating sims, I said they had dating sim elements. Were social links not akin to dating sims?

First off Catherine is not a Dating sim at all. Second, what ending you get has nothing to do with how you treat the girls. Third, I'm already married to my 2D Wife.

Seeing how much Bioware wants you to have sex with one of your party members in every single RPG they've ever made, I'd say that they're the ones trying to push virtual sex.

I was born ready.

Can i virtually put my penis in her mouth?

Seeing how much Bioware wants you to have sex with one of your party members in every single RPG they've ever made, I'd say that they're the ones trying to push virtual sex.

Why is it empty at 1.5 hearts?

@Aronman789 said:

Seeing how much Bioware wants you to have sex with one of your party members in every single RPG they've ever made, I'd say that they're the ones trying to push virtual sex.

Yeah, I think Bioware is actually doing a "better" job at this virtual dating mechanic than Atlus.

@mnzy said:

Why is it empty at 1.5 hearts?

Complete guess: "Empty" is part of the health bar. Or the label like on a fuel gauge.

The limited edition is creepy as fuck. 

@TheDudeOfGaming said:

Can i virtually put my penis in her mouth?

That was more than I needed to hear

People like this stuff a lot more than they are willing to admit. I forget who it was, but someone from Bioware (maybe even one of the doctors?) was once sharing some funny anecdotes about how anytime they ask a person, face to face, what their favorite parts of Bioware games are, they'll say 'the story, the RPG mechanics, the combat,' etc, etc-- Basically anything but the relationship stuff. But, any time they take anonymous survey data, the positive comments about the relationship/dating mechanics in their games rank significantly higher than you would ever expect from listening to people speak about the games out loud. Pretty interesting.

It makes sense-- It's kind of embarassing. But it's also fun.

@TheDudeOfGaming said:

Can i virtually put my penis in her mouth?

That was more than I needed to hear

@mnzy said:

Why is it empty at 1.5 hearts?

Because if they're all empty, then who's to say they aren't just all full? :O