simulations’

Calum Leatham, University of Huddersfield. @CalumLeatham

https://twitter.com/MidAgesModGames/status/1278702852760915969

1) #MAMG20 Japanese dating-simulations are video games with a narrative that revolve around dating & romance. They allow players to role-play as an individual who explore romantic experiences with multiple characters, typically ending the game in a relationship with one.

2) #MAMG20 The overall complexity of dating-sim games is low. The graphics are usually a 2D Manga style and the gameplay and controls typically boil down to a choosing your own adventure by clicking on one of a select number of dialogue options when the narrative demands them.

3) #MAMG20 I’m analysing 3 subgenres of dating-sims: Bishōjo, usually aimed towards men and typically have erotic content. Otome, primarily aimed towards women and a focus on conventional romantic narratives. Yuri, which feature Lesbian relationships, aimed at all genders.

4) #MAMG20 How do dating-sims relate to medieval game studies? My thesis is about how the medieval is depicted & used to explore & debate female identities and social ideologies surrounding women – specifically, how medievalism is used to analyse women in Japanese pop culture.

5) #MAMG20 For 50 years Japanese media has drawn upon traditional ideas of medieval Europe to analyse Japanese women, a theme dating-sims inherited. E.g. the manga Princess Knight (1953) has a heroine who cross-dresses as a prince, struggling to identify with either gender.

6) #MAMG20 Using fantasy and pop-culture to explore gender, significantly, is a very medieval premise. Princess Knight and the dating-sims that feature cross-dressing are similar in narrative to 13th century medieval romance Le Roman de Silence, exploring nature vs nurture.

7) #MAMG20 I am not suggesting that Silence directly inspired Princess Knight or cross-dressed Japanese heroines. However, the parallel between the medieval and modern pop culture signifies the timeless act of using fantasy to examine contemporary ideology and identities.

8) #MAMG20 There already exists a sizable study of popular medieval romances & medievalism in gaming. Nevertheless, like some ‘ugly ducklings’ in medieval pulp fiction -see N. McDonald -, dating-sims have been ignored by scholars, possibly due to its typically sexual content.

9) #MAMG20 E.g. the Japanese Bishōjo game Evenicle uses the medieval to explore female identities from a male perspective – focusing on male wish fulfilment. The narrative revolves around a male protagonist Aster and his quest to become a knight and sleep with multiple women.

10) #MAMG20 The Yuri dating-sim Sakura MMO’s narrative revolves around the female protagonist Kotone & Eleri who are transported into a medieval fantasy realm where they are free to explore their identity away from modern Japan – with aspects of male and female wish fulfilment.

11) #MAMG20 Finally, the otome game Princess Arthur in which Alu, a teenage girl, becomes King Arthur, joining and dating- the knights of the round table. All while Alu explores the benefits of being a woman in charge and the important role women play in relationships.

12) #MAMG20 Highlighting dating-sims demonstrates contemporary alternative uses of medievalism in modern media. Yet, despite this, there is almost no previous scholarship surrounding them. Through my analysis I hope to inspire future examinations of more ‘ugly duckling’ games.