The "Unorthodox" Dating Sim/Otome Game?

[Caveat Lector]

What would your idea of an "unorthodox" (or, at the very least, non-traditional) dating sim or otome game be? How far would it have to go before it went beyond just being "unorthodox"?

[papillon]

Poly dating sim where you are actually expected to have multiple relationships and manage the relations between the other members as well as your own. (That is to say, if you're dating two people, being expected to help them maintain a friendship with each other at least, if not more.)

So many games expect you to go after only one person at a time, and only allow brief two-routing to lead to Jealousy Scenes.

And I'm guilty of this too, even though I am poly, because it's easier to write. But it would be the most unorthodox thing you could do in a dating sim IMO.

[Asceai]

Unorthodox otome game- otome game with asshole protagonist. Bishoujo games have included some pretty truly horrible protagonists (I'm not talking incompetent, or clueless, or insensitive, or indecisive- I'm talking just plain mean), but I've never seen an otome game do this. Just once I'd like to see a female protagonist who immediately takes steps to antagonise everyone she meets. This is an awful character to include in a work of fiction, but if it's the protagonist it can work!

Basically, this idea appeals to me because after playing akatsuki works' Hello Lady! I realised how insanely fun this kind of character can be. I also view it as compensation (perhaps overcompensation) for the many years of doormat otoge protagonists I've had to endure.

[Rozume]

I'm planning to write for this Otome in the Summer where there's a false love interest, the actual love interest is unintentional and the MC wants to get rid of him. It also involves a caveman.

But yeah what papillion and Asceai said.

[curry nochi rice]

system-wise it should not be repetitive.

[Asceai]

system-wise it should not be repetitive.

This. One idea I had for a 'traditional-style' dating sim where you have activities available to boost certain stats is that you actually make them largely unique. The option set one day could be:
- Go out into the city (potentially meet people)
- Experiment with your daily makeup regimen (+5 appearance)
- Play a round of tennis at the courts (+5 athletic)
And for another time period it could be:
- Study for the test tomorrow (+5 scholastic)
- Phone X up and hang out (meet person)
- Go for a jog around the block (+5 athletic)

So you're not repeating the same thing over and over to boost one stat, because we can all agree that's ridiculous.
A small amount of flavour text associated with each action would also help this part of the game feel less repetitive and grindy. That's only if you're making this kind of game in the first place, though.

[KittyKatStar]

There's this Wii U Dating Sim called Death Match Love Comedy.

The entire point of the game is to *avoid* getting a love confession, or the MC will explode.

http://wiiuandmii.com/2014/04/wii-datin ... sequences/

I guess that's pretty unorthodox in premise at least?

[curry nochi rice]

if memory serves me right, I played this otome game called "Glass Hearts" where the heroine already had a heart transplant and has 2 or 3 more hearts left available to her. She shouldn't screw her up heart (by doki dokis on a date, or even just by exercising!) or she'd suffer a heart attack and gets one less heart. The game ends if all the hearts are used up. It was pretty unorthodox to me since I had to worry about something else other than romance.

[gekiganwing]

What would your idea of an "unorthodox" (or, at the very least, non-traditional) dating sim or otome game be?

1. No love triangle or love polygon. Instead, it's a multi-ending story or game just about a couple. "Virtually Date Ariane" is a rare example.

2. Adult protagonist with only adult heroes / heroines. Mature content allowed, but the work would *not* be pornographic.

3. Let the main character choose to date someone. Then emphasize what happens during their dates. Again, keep it relatively worksafe.

4. Distance between the player and the main character. For example, put the player in the role of a magical familiar who advises the actual main character, but who can't be seen by anyone else, let alone have a relationship with anyone.

[bearsrcute]

ah I just put an idea in the idea dump thread that I thought was pretty unorthodox for a dating game. I don't think I should just copy paste here so you should check my latest post there if you want an example

[Vin Howard]

How about this: Make a traditional date sim (one guy, multiple girls to choose from); however, have the player play as one of the girls. It would allow you to explore what it would be like for the girl in such games.

[Asceai]

How about this: Make a traditional date sim (one guy, multiple girls to choose from); however, have the player play as one of the girls. It would allow you to explore what it would be like for the girl in such games.

Snow Radish Vacation says hi.

[Lady-Cynic]

How about this: Make a traditional date sim (one guy, multiple girls to choose from); however, have the player play as one of the girls. It would allow you to explore what it would be like for the girl in such games.

That actually sounds like a good idea, considering it would have take in account if her route got picked or not, if she even wanted the guy to pick her, and how she would go about trying to lose/get him.

Now for my idea: an otome game where the playable character is asexual, so instead of getting a sexual/romantic relationship, they would have to make as many friendships and maintain them lest they all band together to kick you out of the group and you're left alone. The whole point wouldn't be to raise stats though but to see if you can have at least one meaningful relationship at the end of the game.

[kitsubasa]

I had a slightly unusual idea for an otome game that I'd like to make sometime, though I wouldn't be surprised if someone's done something like it before.

You have a fairly conventional female protagonist, who has to team up with a bunch of guys to solve a mystery. Each guy has a different suggestion for solving it, and the set-up suggests that they'll each be a pursuable romance... only it turns out that you really are just picking them for how they want to solve the mystery, because if you ask them, none of them want to date her. One is ace/aro, one is gay, another is taken, and the final one just isn't interested-- he'd rather be friends. Once you figure out the trick, it might lose some punch, but I think it'd be fun to make a game subverting the reciprocation people assume they'll get in a game context. Furthermore, it'd be interesting to see if people stick with the game after they realise none of the boys are going to date them. Will you stay for the mystery and a potential friendship with the guys, or will you drop the whole game? Dun-dun-duuun. Of course, then it could function as a friendship game, and some people would probably still like that, so, yeah.

The other thing I want to do sometime is a B/B game with only one pursuable character, whose appearance you don't get to see at all until the very end of the game. The player character wouldn't be classically handsome, so it'd be a gamble for players as to whether the other guy is going to be or not; basically, a game where everything hinges on appreciating the personalities of both of the characters, rather than the aesthetics of each of them/the aesthetics of them as a couple. Of course, this concept doesn't mean much if you do tend to play games for the personalities/stories, but usually there is a visual component at least when it comes to first starting a game-- books do, after all, imply certain things and attract certain people with their covers.

[Lishy]

What would your idea of an "unorthodox" (or, at the very least, non-traditional) dating sim or otome game be? How far would it have to go before it went beyond just being "unorthodox"?

When the Bells Toll. Cuz' there are no decision paths, and there are no white knights!

Also pot. I promise lots and lots of pot! (The typical dating sim doesn't have pot!)