Where the girls are obviously, unless Aksys is hoping to sell otome games to guys (unlikely). A thread on girlgamer.com would be the obvious choice, or facebook for a scatter-shot approach. And considering romance focused visual novels are essentially just that: novels with choice, there may even be an audience in the romance novel crowd. The ladies at SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com are willing to wade through a lot of -your mother is a classy lady- to find something interesting, maybe they'd pick up a DS too.
Otome games?!
(100 posts) (31 voices)-
Savvy said:
Where the girls are obviously, unless Aksys is hoping to sell otome games to guys (unlikely).Well, I thoroughly enjoyed Princess Debut.
You're exactly right, though. If Aksys wants to really to take it to the max, Belmont style, the word really has to be pushed out to where the core audience is at. I'm going to make a few posts about it at a few places that haven't heard about this yet.
Savvy said:The only games in North America that are made specifically for a female audience are utter garbage like Barbie Horse Adventures or that -your mother is a classy lady- Ubisoft releases.
Something like this...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shel
MemberI'm all for reaching out in a niche sub genre, within the niche genre. I love it when publishers take risks like this and lots of cult classics come from it. What would happen if Katamari was never released? I'd say it was a strange and risky game to bring over, and since the first game, 4 more games from the franchise (plus Noby Noby Boy) got released out of Japan!
Personally, I've thought dating games looked real interesting, after learning of some of the anime I've watched being based on the genre. But Otome would be real interesting! Harvest Moon games already have quite a large fanbase for something similar, so I think it's an idea to expand from there....
I'll definately buy them because I love to play such different titles ^^
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hollow_Ninja
MemberAnother factor to take into consideration is that a lot of US anime fans are girls. However, most of them are not gamers. So, Aksys should try to target them somehow. Advertise on Adult Swim, show up at anime cons, that kind of stuff.
Also, console choice is important. Avoid the 360, PSP and PS3 when targeting girls, as much as it pains me to say it. As much as I despise the Wii and DS and everything they stand for, most girls will have those consoles. So publish for those.
Better yet, publish for PC. Everyone has a PC, even girls. And I think otome games are a PC-only affair anyway.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shel
Member^ I'll agree with the "stick to Nintendo" idea, ESPECIALLY for DS. DS would be the perfect system for the games, since it's basically the home to Harvest Moon too.
As for the PC idea... I'm not too sure... Many developers are staying away from PC, for a reason. Unless it's Steam, but if you want to bring in a new audience, Steam is typically more a "guy thing". Facebook is where most of the female gamers (who don't play other PC games) will spend time on.
Bottom line? DS...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Savvy
MemberI'd also add that handheld gaming has the benefit of privacy. I'd think a person would be more likely to try something new like this if they don't have to worry about family members watching them play on the tv or family computer saying "lol romance games".
And yeah, I agree that the DS is the way to go. Since the 3DS has backwards compatibility I know I'll be keeping my DS library of games around when it comes out. And the piracy for the DS is more saturated in the hardcore crowd. Your average casual gaming girl is unlikely to have an R4 cart in their collection.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shel
MemberSavvy And the piracy for the DS is more saturated in the hardcore crowd. Your average casual gaming girl is unlikely to have an R4 cart in their collection.
Mmmm not so much... I find that alot of parents who know about it, will buy it for their kids to save money. Where I sell games, there's been parents that come in and buy a system and ask if we have an R4... Then just buy the system and leave without buying any software -_- Local flea markets I've been to (in search of rare PS1 games) also have R4s and of course, fake games all over! So it's definately out there!
I of course, am NO fan of the R4 and I'm definately aware of it's existance. Still, there are alot of people who WILL buy games and are completely unaware of it (fortunately...)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Savvy
MemberSure, there's bound to be some casual gamers with R4 carts, but you'd still have to know about them. Most people in the wider audience of gaming don't ever look up info on their consoles, and pick up games on an impulse buy. There's a reason so many of those terrible Imagine games are million sellers. Girly games can be successful on the DS, the game just has to be where people can see it.
Like Walmart!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Rogue Ninja
MemberHollow_Ninja said:
Another factor to take into consideration is that a lot of US anime fans are girls. However, most of them are not gamers. So, Aksys should try to target them somehow. Advertise on Adult Swim, show up at anime cons, that kind of stuff.Also, console choice is important. Avoid the 360, PSP and PS3 when targeting girls, as much as it pains me to say it. As much as I despise the Wii and DS and everything they stand for, most girls will have those consoles. So publish for those.
Better yet, publish for PC. Everyone has a PC, even girls. And I think otome games are a PC-only affair anyway.
I just want to say that's rather stereotypical and unfair to girl players. I know plenty of girls who have PS3s and 360s, and they are nowhere near hardcore gamers. They're current consoles, why wouldn't they? Girls like a good number of the same games guys like so it only makes sense they get the appropriate system. The Wii has more family friendly games, and is generally geared towards the younger audience, and yes girls, but that's GIRLS and not YOUNG WOMEN, mostly because developers tend to generalize girls the same way you just did and not market to them. The DS is more of a casual game system, and I believe I know just as many guys who own one as girls. Unfortunately state-side, you tend to either get Pokemon, a tv series/movie adaption, or stuff like Littlest Petshop.
Handhelds, DS and PSP, are probably the best for games with a lot of text, I agree. But not because "more girls own them". I'm not sure what systems otome games are on in Japan, it depends on the developers, but they probably run the gamete. I'm sure PS3 owners would like a game for their system just like DS owners, so Aksys should probably see what GAME is most popular and would be the most profitable, not concentrate on the system. They do need to really advertise for them though, regardless of console, so word gets out. That part is the kicker.
Can I not elicit even a sarcastic quip?Posted 2 years ago # -
Hollow_Ninja
MemberThere are girls who own PS3s and 360s. There can be no doubt about that. However, the majority own a Wii or DS. And system selection is important. I think I see where you're coming from by saying that I'm stereotyping girls, but let's face it: stereotypes can be true. There are differences between what guys like and what girls like, no matter what certain people will tell you.
That said, once again, there are girls who are hardcore gamers and own PS3s and 360s. But that's an untested market, and only Aksys knows whether they can take that risk.
I'm pretty sure that otome games only exist on PC, PSP, and DS, and Aksys cannot localize a console game if it doesn't exist. So, I think this argument is pointless anyways.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh hey, looks like there's another survey up asking about things like platform and price. You could go fill it out, if you want.
Data, data, data. I cannot make bricks without clay.
Alles andere ist käse.
And in case there is any confusion, yes, I do work for Aksys. If you have a questions, or care to verify my identity, you can e-mail me by putting my username in front of @aksysgames.com.Posted 2 years ago # -
servantavenger
MemberI'd buy otome games, although I think it's a somewhat weird genre to go into. I think a company would probably find a bit more success going for the more universal non-gender-specific story-based Visual Novels.
*cough* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fate_stay_night *cough*
*hackweeze* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steins;Gate *hackweeze*
*omgwtf* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_ni *omgwtf*Posted 2 years ago # -
MAN did this forum seriously eat my post. :( Okay, let's try this again. (and again.)
@Hollow_Ninja You're stereotyping, and those stereotypes are actually incorrect.
(Source: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007055 )As you can see, the 18+ category for females (eg, the people with the fiscal independence to buy what they want) in terms of time spent playing PS3 or 360 heavily outstrips those playing Wiis (and let me remind you, a dating sim is designed for mature audiences, not kids).
Furthermore, you're incorrect in assuming otome games are only for the PC/PSP/DS. Most of them are actually developed for the PS2; if we look at IF's Otomate site (where most of the titles for Aksys' survey were gotten from), you'll see that the games/products section defaults to PS2 games, which is where the majority of their games are. Most of the PSP releases are ports of their PS2 counterpart. There are none for the Wii, and to be perfectly honest, the only Wii otome games I can think of are actually just ports of PS2 games.
"Aksys cannot localize a console game if it doesn't exist." Yes, you're right. ;)
@Rogue Ninja: Hi, your post is A+ and fantastic.
Posted 2 years ago # -
veregna said:
MAN did this forum seriously eat my post. :( Okay, let's try this again. (and again.)Sorry about that. :( I had to turn the spam filter back on after we got hit with some persistent spammers, and sometimes it gets false positives when you post a bunch of links and stuff.
Thank you for your post, btw. I was trying to find some information like yours, but I guess I wasn't looking in the right places.
Data, data, data. I cannot make bricks without clay.
Alles andere ist käse.
And in case there is any confusion, yes, I do work for Aksys. If you have a questions, or care to verify my identity, you can e-mail me by putting my username in front of @aksysgames.com.Posted 2 years ago # -
Savvy
MemberThe data feels about right to me. I tend to play for longer stretches of time for hardcore games on the big consoles, whereas on the Wii I just do a little Harvest Moon farming and the like.
When it comes to a visual novels like Jake Hunter or Time Hollow though, I tend to play in bed for a bit before I go to sleep. Which is probably why all my visual novels are on the DS, sitting on my nightstand on a stack of books as if they go hand in hand.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Shel
MemberI trust the data. However, since many female gamers ARE casual gamers, it doesn't say what they are playing. I'll often hear of couples who own say, a 360 and the guy plays all the hardcore games where his partner will play casual stuff on Arcade, like Fish Frenzy and Peggle etc. So, it doesn't really say what they are playing, exactly. I'm not even trying to stereotype here either, but just as observation from being in retail. Don't forget, the data does NOT include handhelds the amount spent on those (which I feel is probably alot more, being portable and not having to fight over a tv etc).
But, for all the hardcore female gamers out there that wouldn't mind something new, it's definately a great thing. Diversity is awesome, and we're in a fortunte time where imports are extremely diverse, compared to anything else we've had before^^
Posted 2 years ago #
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