Metal Gear Developers Addicted to Dating Sim
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Nintendo, DS, Konami, Date, Sim | Themes: Software, Digital Entertainment
Perhaps its a good thing your employees are addicted to the product they created.
Hideo Kojima, executive corporate officer of development house Kojima Productions, has ridden the waves of success with the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and other popular game series. But according to an interview with Famitsu (via 1UP), he seems rather surprised at the reaction of his employees for Konami's latest game, Love Plus for the Nintendo DS. Unlike many of the games they've developed over the years, Love Plus isn't action packed, but rather lets the player build a relationship with a virtual girlfriend.
So what's the big deal? In a nutshell, his employees are addicted. But then again, it may also be promotional hype to boost the overall sales. Are they actually sneaking off to the toilet to get a few minutes in with their virtual ladies? That's what Kojima claims. Kojima even told of one friend who found a man in a movie theater whipping out his DS and setting up the virtual girlfriend in the next seat.
"All everyone talks about is their 'girlfriends,'" Kojima told Famitsu regarding staff members. "I see them all standing in the shadows looking serious, and I go and see what's up and they're all bragging about their girlfriends--like, 'Oh, she changed her hairstyle for me' and so on. I'm not gonna give his name, but there's one guy who hasn't had a girlfriend for decades and talking about his virtual friend makes him so incredibly happy."
Akari Uchida, producer of Love Plus for publisher Konami, even added that a programmer cornered him in an elevator and offered thanks for the game. Surprised, Uchida could only smile. Game sales speak volumes about its addictive quality in Japan, going through 124,000 copies simply by word of mouth. An astonished Uchida said that he knew the sales would start off slow and accumulate over time, but the game has flown off shelves quicker than expected.
-
Previous News Article
JVC Blu-ray Recorder Has... -
Next News Article
Court Awards $16.5 Million in...
"Are they actually sneaking off to the toilet to get a few minutes in with their virtual ladies?" Hilarity at it's best. Reminds me of the Giga pets, lol.
why don't we ever see this genre?
wow...just wow....a nation of millions, with a higher female population, where a majority of them are pretty hot, and dudes are jerking off to a ds.....wow.
that's just sad that you get addicted to a virtual girlfriend >.>".
that's just sad that you get addicted to a virtual girlfriend >.>".
Agree with you, that's just sad. Although I can understand that some people aren't socially abled.
Maybe if the game taught them how to behave with women IRL...
Tell me Awesome-O... Are you a pleasure model?
of course they are addicted... virtual girls are going to be the only kind these code geeks ever get!!!
Just wait until they hit end-game and it cheats and tries to run off with all of their money.
alexmx, your right. i think in western culture were are more comfortable being more forward with women in general. a little scoundrel training game may be in order.
I guess the rumor that japanese game companies shelter their programmers from the real world is true...
Are people that sad that they go to a virtual gf instead of a real one? But I really can't argue with that because of these reasons.
1. Virtual GF cost nothing.
2. If they cheat on you, you can break the game (the real world you would get arrested)
3. If they argue with you, you can just turn them off or close the lid.
4. You can't get a virtual STD
There are more but I'm sure others will follow.
so sad.
*sighs* I wish I could be addicted and "love" A VGF , I cant get a real one. =/ Everyone where I live wants someone that can either make over 90 grand a year , or someone that beats up other guys for fun.
Tell me Awesome-O... Are you a pleasure model?
LAME!
Wow the japenese are wierd when it comes to women. Didnt we already know this. I mean they have been trying to build a sex bot for forever now. Its my sex box and her name is Sony.
Well, seeing how the world turns out... with the night life and all this forplay games for performance sexual encounters... I find it rather normal. Peoples are losing touch with peoples because peoples are only there to use others.
Peoples who don't have a clue about what I am talking about, will understand around their 60s when all their life will lose all kind of senses.
LAME!
You are lame!
Don't you see the guy spoke with a Japanese accent, and knows something of anime?
Well, seeing how the world turns out... with the night life and all this forplay games for performance sexual encounters... I find it rather normal. Peoples are losing touch with peoples because peoples are only there to use others.Peoples who don't have a clue about what I am talking about, will understand around their 60s when all their life will lose all kind of senses.
you don't need to be 60 to understand that the world is so full of diversity, and that you can call yourself 'absolutely lucky', if you found a friend for life!
They are Japanese..there is no surprise with this to me.
Sad. So sad. Is this what life has become?
I guess what can you expect from a country that also has vending machines selling young girls used underwear.
"Everyone where I live wants someone that can either make over 90 grand a year , or someone that beats up other guys for fun."
Sounds like you have girls wrong. Everywhere, girls want someone with either drive or sex appeal. Work hard or go to the gym dude.
[citation]"Everyone where I live wants someone that can either make over 90 grand a year , or someone that beats up other guys for fun."Sounds like you have girls wrong. Everywhere, girls want someone with either drive or sex appeal. Work hard or go to the gym dude.[/citation]
Creepy.
Oops, wrong citation, hahaha...(need an edit button Tom!)
"
All everyone talks about is their 'girlfriends,'" Kojima told Famitsu regarding staff members. "I see them all standing in the shadows looking serious, and I go and see what's up and they're all bragging about their girlfriends--like, 'Oh, she changed her hairstyle for me' and so on. I'm not gonna give his name, but there's one guy who hasn't had a girlfriend for decades and talking about his virtual friend makes him so incredibly happy."
THAT's creepy, lol...
If that's true, the way it's framed, it sounds pretty pathetic. I could understand a virtual pet as kind of a hobby, especially if your apartment doesn't allow the real thing, but girlfriends?
"Kojima even told of one friend who found a man in a movie theater whipping out his DS and setting up the virtual girlfriend in the next seat."
That's hilarious!
would whacking off on your DS void the warranty?
I feel sorry for the guy working returns at Best Buy that day.
Very clever use of words Kevin. +1 for you today.
Knowing Kojima, when your virtual GF catches you cheating she'll turn into a nuclear-equipped walking battle-tank with a railgun and first-strike capabilities over every nation on earth...
wow...just wow....a nation of millions, with a higher female population, where a majority of them are pretty hot, and dudes are jerking off to a ds.....wow.
Agreed, 90% of Japanese bitches are decent looking or better, there's something totally wrong with this...
Maybe they all have hot girlfriends and are sick of them, so they want a virtual chick... kinda like cheating, but not really, i could see the suspense in that i guess.
This is what happens when you abort girl children for decades
What is wrong here? I would gladly give up a game for a girl. Hell I gave up Magic the Gathering and DnD years ago for one.
Japan, you fail. You fail hard. No wonder the majority of your population are pensioners.
LAME!
For all of you who down graded this post, you don't get it. "Lame!" was cartmans (Awesome-O's) reaction.