Anime Vice News

Why Everyone Will Buy (And Love) Love+ the Manga

Its science!


So, no one doubted that Love+, the manga, would happen; but that they would make five of them was a bit shocking. However, as I dwell on it, I realized that the evolution of these games was not only profitable, buy maybe even good for the viewer.
 
So, step by step I wanted to look at how this genre, of flipping interactive to non-interactive stories can both frustrate and excite the user, creating a more powerful experience. Okay, so maybe I'm the last person to pull back the wizard's curtain, but it suddenly just clicked... 
 

Step 1: Open it up



Medium of Story: Video Game
Approachability: +++++  
Control: +++
Plot: +++
Complexity: ++
 
Make a game. The characters are a little contrived, but hey... its a brand new video game, and the player is "in control." The game is highly approachable, since the players can regulate who they explore, and when they absorb it.
 

Step 2: Focus it down


Medium of Story: Manga/Video Game/TV Series 
Approachability: +++ 
Control:
Plot: +++++
Complexity: ++++ 
 
Plot goes through the roof, but control goes to squat as the creator literally tells the player how the story goes. Characters will get left in supporting roles, but that'll only further fuel obsession with them. Fan reception will probably be overwhelmingly critical, yet it will be amazingly popular. 
 
In the case of Love+, the manga, the player will have to read 5 different stories, develop a favorite, and then wait for an OVA or animated series to tie them all together. Adding an additional layer.
 

Step 3: Open it up, again



 
Medium of Story: Video Game 
Approachability: ++ 
Control: ++++ 
Plot: +++
Complexity: +++
 
Approachability goes further down, since the work is now being built on layers, but fans don't care. Fired up from how the "official" interpretation varied from, or matched, their expectations, the viewer rushes out to procure the game where they can once again have control over the experience again. Here, they

A) Joyously use their control to explore the nuances and new details. 
B) Joyously use their control to focus on the characters they felt were too ignored previously.
 

Conclusion

I'd complain, yet all they've done is exploit the formula to create an indepth, complex experiences. From Fate/Stay Night to Fire Emblem, Higurashi to Halo Legends, constant shift from interactive to non-interactive medium leaves an engaging struggle and frustration that ultimately ends up with more complex works. Well, that and empty wallets.
 
I'd complain, but, well, its kind of Brilliant.
 
(Outro note: Almost every somewhat generic (and some not so generic) high school romance series is based off a dating sim game.
 

Air
Ef: A Fairy Tale of Two
Kanon
Myself, Yourself
Night Wizard
School Days
Shuffle 
Tokimeki Memorial
True Tears
Triangle Heart
To Heart
Welcome to Pia Carrot
White Album

How many more can you name?
sora_thekey moderator on Feb. 25, 2010 at 12:52 p.m.

I have no intrest in the game whatsoever (well...) 
but who drew that?  
That is the most beautiful art of an anime girl I have ever seen!
RockmanBionicson Feb. 25, 2010 at 1:18 p.m.
@sora_thekey: If you love it so much then why don't you marry it!? :P
 
I'm so funny.
metalsnakezeroon Feb. 25, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
I can name many more dating sims. I don't feel that Love Plus has lot of depth to it when it comes to story and so it fails in my book.
sora_thekey moderator on Feb. 25, 2010 at 1:55 p.m.
@RockmanBionics:
Joke of the season... really! -_-
John_Martoneon Feb. 25, 2010 at 4:23 p.m.
@RockmanBionics said:
" @sora_thekey: If you love it so much then why don't you marry it!? :P I'm so funny. "
Funniest thing I've seen all day.
I actually had to explain it to people, since they started staring at me.

Dig Deeper into Love Plus

A popular Nintendo DS game that features a romance visual novel that, once completed, unlocks a real-time girlfriend simulator.

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