Communities are often formed through a common liking of a franchise or media form. Dating simulators, for example, have had a symbiotic connection where both sides improve the other in a meaningful impact. The genre delivers an escape, providing remarkable characters and stories that resonate with communities. The dating sim community is integral to a game’s success as it can help shape notable titles.
Continue reading to learn more about the loyalty of dating sim communities and their role in creating dating sims.
Intended Audiences
Originally, dating sim titles were intended only for a male audience, but in the 90s, that started to change. Koie, a Japanese game developer and co-founder, Keiko Erikawa, realized that video games neglected half of the video game market population: women.
Erikawa wanted games made by women for women, and in 1994, Koie released Angelique. The game took ten years to complete because of its writing and lack of women developers. However, Erikawa was determined to create a game women could enjoy and even modeled Angelique after the average Japanese girl. She believed that a romance story would be appropriate for women, and soon enough, a community and franchise were born.
Gamers come from all backgrounds, and Erikawa knew this, opening up a broader player base where women were represented. Underrepresented groups could now be represented in dating sims, making stronger connections to the genre and developers. Communities felt enticed to show appreciation and community through vocal means.
Recommendations & Reviews
The connection and quality of a game can resonate with players as dating sims can tell unique romance stories. Players can now share their experiences with a game through reviews and recommendations that spread a game’s reputation, quality, and fanbase.
Additionally, game shops provide tags for genres, categories, and recommendations that suit a game’s quality, making it easier for players to find unique titles. For example, the LGBTQ+ community can pick up titles like Dream Daddy or Errant Kingdom based on LGBTQ+ Steam tags. They can also read favorable reviews of a game, making them new fans of a title or franchise. Fans of a game can take their appreciation a step further besides reviews and recommendations.
Online Discourse Appreciation
Social media has been integral in shaping dating sim communities as fans can connect and share their appreciation with other fans. For example, Fandom, a pop culture wiki, hosts community pages for countless games and movies where fans can discuss.
Discord, an instant message social platform, takes discourse further by allowing specific chat channels, voice calls, and community servers. Overall, discourse allows players to connect and share their thoughts and connection to the dating sim.
To Conclude
Dating sims and their communities have had an extensive history, but both sides have shared their appreciation for the other. Titles such as Angelique are the catalyst for opening dating sims to a wider and more diverse audience. Moreover, players share their love and appreciation through positive reviews, recommendations, and online discourse. Both sides helped shape what it means to be a dating sim and a dating sim community.
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