Otome Games: Modern Japan or Antique Japan?

[MidoriAmatoya]

As for the setting, I prefer one depending on my mood. For example, I really wanted to play a role of a high school student recently, so I went out of my way searching for a good otome game with this setting without a good result only to stumble upon Walpurgis no Uta, Gekka Rouran Romance and Kuro to Kin no Akanai Kagi accidentally. However, I can also find games in the dark fantasy setting like Black Wolves Saga really enjoyable. I also like Hakuouki.
As for my recommendation, could you tell me whether you have any preference for a heroine's age, occupation and etc? For example, a 17 year old high school student, a married housewife, a working woman in her twenties and etc,[MENTION=29903]Maỉanna[/MENTION]?
The last game in the modern setting I finished was Sachi no Tenbin. I didn't like that the story focuses on revenge since I'm not a revengeous person at all and don't want to make suffer even those who hurt me, but I know that you and I share the interest in yandere characters, so I think you may find this game really interesting since both romantic interests in this game are yandere. Also, it's 18+ and it's not that long since there are only two guys. They have long and detailed enough routes, though.
I can also recommend Kuro to Kin no Akanai Kagi - it's 18+, has yandere love interests and the plot is okay.

 

[Maỉanna]

Thanks a lot MidoriAmatoya for your opinnion like always intelligent. Well... I think whatever is the age of the heroine is fine. Frecuently in otome games she can be a teenager, like a high school student or +18 but not more than 30. Anyway, other games like Dragon Age you can create as a oldwoman XD and don't problem, characters will love you for personality XD jaja, so I don't really matter the age. And I think if you can create the heroine or at least decide openly his personality much better. I have Kuro to Kin no Akanai Kagi but I don't played yet. What a shame! Anyway... When I finish this week with this year of university I will play it! I swear! Thanks a lot for your recommendation! +18? And a yandere love? I can't not missed it!
And... I don't know much games about heroines so older, do you know anyone? It will be interesting know about that. I know games about old mans, but olders heroines, that will be new! If you like older (really olders) men (as Lorrighan in DAO, but I don't think, because if you're team Alistair, I dude) you can play The Bell Chimes for Gold and Pub Encounter. What do you think about this ones? XD

 

[MidoriAmatoya]

[MENTION=29903]Maỉanna[/MENTION] It's been a while since the last time I saw you here. I'm glad you found time to drop by.

Here are all otome games with adult protagonists. Almost all otome games I've played had teenager protagonists, the oldest were Yuki from Sachi no Tenbin and Chizuru from Hakuouki (since she was a teenager at the beginning, but got several years older by the end of the game). I wonder if there is an otome game with a protagonist older than 30.

If you like older (really olders) men (as Lorrighan in DAO, but I don't think, because if you're team Alistair, I dude) you can play The Bell Chimes for Gold and Pub Encounter. What do you think about this ones? XD

I don't mind men who are about 40 year old depending on their personality. I actually liked Loghain from DAO for his intelligence and strategic thinking. I might like an older man, but only if he's still good-looking. Otherwise, can't imagine him as a romantic interest even if he has an ideal personality. May feel platonic love for him, though.

......I checked out the two games you mentioned. A bit too extreme for me, especially "The Bell Chimes for Gold". >_<

 

[EdgeyBoi]

I wonder if there is an otome game with a protagonist older than 30

Well, I don't know why other platforms severely lack adult protagonists, but on mobile, there are quite a few titles with the heroine in mid 20s or early 30s. Mostly are of Voltage though XD

Finally in Love Again features a 34-year-old MC. Kiss of Revenge, In Your Arms Tonight, Liars Uncover the Truth all have 25-yo MCs.

Heroines of other titles have a career too, but their age wasn't explicitly stated. I guess MCs are also ~22-25 in MetroPD, Our Two Bedroom Story, Seduced in The Sleepless City by Voltage, and Love Tangle by SWD.

 

[__Aoki__]

Well, I don't know why other platforms severely lack adult protagonists, but on mobile, there are quite a few titles with the heroine in mid 20s or early 30s. Mostly are of Voltage though XD

Finally in Love Again features a 34-year-old MC. Kiss of Revenge, In Your Arms Tonight, Liars Uncover the Truth all have 25-yo MCs.

Heroines of other titles have a career too, but their age wasn't explicitly stated. I guess MCs are also ~22-25 in MetroPD, Our Two Bedroom Story, Seduced in The Sleepless City by Voltage, and Love Tangle by SWD.

Mobile games mostly cater to the adult female audience, that's why. When you're a housewife in your 40s, you'd rather carry around a smartphone to play while doing housework or something. Console or PC games are for the younger audience or hardcore(?) female otas who'd be willing invest in gaming, and would prefer more interesting, not-your-average-Voltage plot.

 

[EdgeyBoi]

Console or PC games are for the younger audience or hardcore(?) female otas who'd be willing invest in gaming, and would prefer more interesting, not-your-average-Voltage plot.

Lol Voltage has definitely lost their touch in recent titles by subscribing to formulaic plots and archetypes. The older titles happen to feature mature MCs and more interesting plot. I myself was done with Voltage due to some problematic ethics presented in their games after having finished ~ 50+ stories from more than 20+ of their titles. Yet, I can't just dismiss this company entirely as you did, which made me wonder how much experience you had with Voltage before making such a claim.

Mobile games mostly cater to the adult female audience, that's why. When you're a housewife in your 40s, you'd rather carry around a smartphone to play while doing housework or something.

Regarding your statement of the target demographics of Voltage games, or even Otome mobage in general, I'm giving it the benefits of the doubt. I hope you didn't mean to stereotype housewives or older gamers whose preference of platform may or may not happen to differ from yours.

Also, if you want to say console gamers are more willing to invest than mobile gamers, you may want to reconsider the data. Even if each console gamers are spending more/ title, total revenue from console can't still quite surpass that from mobile. At the end of the day, total ROI is all that matters for gaming companies.

Mobile gamers have long surpassed console gamers as the major source of revenues for both global and Japan's gaming markets.

Otome may be amongst the last few genres to observe such a shift in revenues from console to mobile platforms, but I think it will occur eventually (or has it? I lack data to ascertain).

Anyway, I mentioned Voltage games and their MCs' age only as a matter of fact. The same applied to my observation that console games lacked such MCs. I was apparently puzzled by those 2 facts, without judging either as negative or positive.

 

[Maỉanna]

[MENTION=29903]Maỉanna[/MENTION]
I don't mind men who are about 40 year old depending on their personality. I actually liked Loghain from DAO for his intelligence and strategic thinking. I might like an older man, but only if he's still good-looking. Otherwise, can't imagine him as a romantic interest even if he has an ideal personality. May feel platonic love for him, though.

......I checked out the two games you mentioned. A bit too extreme for me, especially "The Bell Chimes for Gold". >_<

Hi! MidoriAmatoya!:60:
What!!? You actually liked Loghain? But... But... How!? And... Duncan? And the King?:55: I don't know... You even need to decide between him and Alistair. Not matter how Alistair love you... If you decide to forgive Loghain, Alistair leave your team.:135: Jaja. Thanks for checking both. Yeah... A little extreme, especially "The Bell Chimes for Gold" XD Thanks for your list about otome games with adult protagonist. That's a intereting theme. I know that exists heroines +18 but not too much older than twentys. I will do a more deep investigation.
I know that this don't have nothing to do with the theme of my thread but... you like Loghain? Seriously? That's really interesting! I need to know more.:180: For example, you see Game of Thrones? Who will you prefer if you are Daenerys? Jhon Snow or Sir. Jhora? Poor Sir. Jhora. He is sooo in the Friendzoned. T-T Or you will be loyal to your death husband, Khal Drogo?
I don't know... I'm too confused about your answer... How you can be Team Loghain and Alistair at the same time? I'm fascinated with you! and your way of think!:143:

 

[__Aoki__]

Lol Voltage has definitely lost their touch in recent titles by subscribing to formulaic plots and archetypes. The older titles happen to feature mature MCs and more interesting plot. I myself was done with Voltage due to some problematic ethics presented in their games after having finished ~ 50+ stories from more than 20+ of their titles. Yet, I can't just dismiss this company entirely as you did, which made me wonder how much experience you had with Voltage before making such a claim.



Regarding your statement of the target demographics of Voltage games, or even Otome mobage in general, I'm giving it the benefits of the doubt. I hope you didn't mean to stereotype housewives or older gamers whose preference of platform may or may not happen to differ from yours.

Also, if you want to say console gamers are more willing to invest than mobile gamers, you may want to reconsider the data. Even if each console gamers are spending more/ title, total revenue from console can't still quite surpass that from mobile. At the end of the day, total ROI is all that matters for gaming companies.

Mobile gamers have long surpassed console gamers as the major source of revenues for both global and Japan's gaming markets.

Otome may be amongst the last few genres to observe such a shift in revenues from console to mobile platforms, but I think it will occur eventually (or has it? I lack data to ascertain).

Anyway, I mentioned Voltage games and their MCs' age only as a matter of fact. The same applied to my observation that console games lacked such MCs. I was apparently puzzled by those 2 facts, without judging either as negative or positive.

I've had 3 years of playing Voltage games, so yes, I've played the older, more popular ones, like Pirates in Love or My Forged Marriage. After nine or ten games, every single one just gave me the same impression, same old line up of love interests, so I switched to console games. Recently, for the sake of nostalgia (plus they were giving the games out for free), I redownloaded two old games which Voltage have taken off online stores (Pirates in Love and Seduced in the Sleepless City), but quitted after finding the prologue to be much more ridiculous than I previously remembered.

I have my basis to say that housewives tend to prefer mobile games, since datas from many mobile otome game developers (eg. Yumeiro Cast) show that women over 40 contributes a large sum in their profits. Also I'm NOT saying that console gamers invest more MONEY than mobile gamers, as I've clearly seen the shift in market from console to mobile gaming recently. Afterall, we're in an age where almost everyone owns a smartphone. What I'm saying is, only a few gamers, mostly younger ones, those who wish to play a wider range of games, would be more willing to invest in CONSOLES. As women grow older, most of them will be worn down by the constant shift in consoles (PS2 > PSP > PSV > Switch), they don't feel like chasing after the genre any more, and choose to settle with what they already own: mobile phones. By that time they'd also be too busy taking care of their households to actually enjoy games anyway.

 

[EdgeyBoi]

[MENTION=3573]__Aoki__[/MENTION]
I understand that many gamers who grew up with consoles may still prefer these devices. Tbh, in my impression, console owners would be rather old as they could have started out with GBA, NDS, PSP, PS1, etc. in their childhood or teenage years. In fact, a recent report showed that the majority of console owners in US are >34 years old.

Most people I know who own and still play some consoles in real life are from late twenty to early 40. However, I never let my limited knowledge about console owners become a basis to stereotype them, regardless of how they were depicted in the media.

Moreover, I see no reason why older folks can't enjoy games. Also, housewives can have hobbies as diverse as students or professionals do, which include gaming on any platforms. If they don't want to buy some consoles, I think the console quality, performance and costs for peripherals may be the main reason instead of the lack of time.

Gaming is a hobby, and I don't intend to turn it into my religion. I wouldn't say I settle for games available on platforms I have access to, but rather, I have more than enough quality games to choose from, even without consoles.

Not to mention the hype of console games were often blown out of proportion because console owners want to influence others to join them. While some Otoge exclusively available on consoles indeed have high quality, many others are supbar even if compared to the average standards of mobile Otoge. No platform is perfect, so are their games.

 

[MidoriAmatoya]

What!!? You actually liked Loghain? But... But... How!? And... Duncan? And the King?

Do you mean, that Loghain abandoned them to die? As I remember, the number of enemies appeared to be much larger than was anticipated and Loghain didn't have many enough soldiers to win. He had a choice either to retreat, save his soldiers and try to prepare the country for defence, or execute the king's order and die together with his soldiers in Ostagar. Since his priority was saving the country, of course he would prefer the first choice. In this situation, if I had the same choice, I would do the same.

You even need to decide between him and Alistair. Not matter how Alistair love you... If you decide to forgive Loghain, Alistair leave your team.:135:

Oh, I replayed this game many, many times, creating protagonists of different races and making different choices during my playthrough. My first protagonist was from the Couslands, she fell in love with Alistair, made him the king and married him in the end. After that I started to think whether it was really a good decision to let Morrigan have a child with a soul of God and decided that it was too much of a risk since she would likely use him for super selfish purposes. That's why I stopped romancing Alistair in my subsequent playthroughs. If I had a choice either to let him kill the Archdemon and die, or die myself and make Alistair suffer because of the death of his lover, I'd rather keep him away from me from the beginning and let Loghain live so that Alistair hated me and not cared about my death that much. Also, I never regretted accepting Loghain to my team, his dialogues were pretty interesting and he was a good substitute for Alistair in battles. And, well, I was a bad warlord since I'd never send anyone to die instead of me, even Loghain, so I ended up sacrificing myself, much to his surprise.

How you can be Team Loghain and Alistair at the same time?

Loghain and Alistair both have qualities I value, that's all. Also, Alistair is lacking some good qualities Loghain has (cool-headedness, experience, ability to see the bigger picture, his skills as a warlord), and Loghain is lacking some Alistair's good qualities (romanticism, sense of humor, kindness, innocence).

I need to know more.:180: For example, you see Game of Thrones? Who will you prefer if you are Daenerys? Jhon Snow or Sir. Jhora? Poor Sir. Jhora. He is sooo in the Friendzoned. T-T Or you will be loyal to your death husband, Khal Drogo?

I haven't watched Game of Thrones.