I am feeling increasingly redundant these days.
First, bloggers took away my livelihood – now, everyone can write. Second, Twitter took away the need for breaking news – now, everyone can report from the trenches. Third, TripAdvisor took away my job of travel writing – now, everyone is a reviewer.
And just when I have just about reinvented myself into a mashup “I can do everything” kind of person, along comes news that I could be replaced as a travel companion for men.
A new dating sim or simulation game called Love Plus allows men to bring virtual girlfriends with them on holidays. The game, that is played on handheld Nintendo DS consoles and has “augmented reality” application for iPhones, is apparently very popular with Japanese men.
Seems they’re all heading down to a beach resort called Atami where they go straight for a bronze statue of a couple from an old love story set in the town.
“The focus of the men’s attention – and of their smartphone cameras – was a tiny black and white square, a two-dimensional barcode that, thanks to AR software, brought to life the object of their desire”, said the report.
Virtual girlfriends are nothing new in Japan, the land of the wackiest trends. The creator of Love Plus, Konami Digital Entertainment, has “long thrilled young men obsessed with high-tech, manga and anime, known as “otaku”, by letting them chase virtual girls in the alternate universe of their digital dreams”.
But now they are taking these virtual girls on the road. They have selected 13 romantic locations in Atami which can be overlaid with images of these virtual girls. (I can hear the sound of destinations in Asia queuing up to see how they can cash in on this trend already.)
According to the Konami spokesperson, Kunio Ishihara, Love Plus is an open-ended communication game with basic voice recognition and a screen clock that keeps real time to make players feel like they are really sharing them with a girlfriend.
“That means that the girl can get moody when neglected by a player who is not sufficiently committed or she demands attention when she feels unwell.”
The difference is, “Love Plus is fun because the relationship continues forever.”
Now how can any girl compete with that?
Those of us who have travelled with non-virtual lovers/partners know that even the best of relationships can be broken on the road.
How does he pack? If he’s too organized, could he have OCD? If he’s too sloppy, is he a PIG?
How does he tip? If he is over-generous, is he a show-off? If he tips too little, is he a meanie, meaning he’ll be mean with gifts and love?
How does he treat service staff? If he is over-obsequious, could it mean he is insecure? If he is over-rude, does it mean he’s a PIG?
Virtual girlfriends would never have such doubts. I think I’ll go reinvent myself as a mashup “otaku”.
