One is a charismatic heir to a multibillion-dollar empire. Another is an o irresistible bad boy with a heart of gold, and the other is a dreamy surfer with a mega-watt smile and washboard abs. They’re hot, single, and looking for love. Who would you pick to fall in love with?
If it sounds too good to be true, well, it's probably because it is. These gorgeous alphas and McDreamies exist in the world of Otome, video games with romantic storylines targeted at women.
Created in the ’80s in Japan, with its origins steeped in manga comic books, Otome is seeing a resurgence in the smartphone age decades on, in the form of free-to-download apps with interactive storylines (read: saucier with sound effects), dialogue and graphics – alongside a choice of messenger apps (yep, you receive romantic “text” from lover boy) and visual novels.
Today, female fans can fuel their imagination in escapist fiction with hundreds of Otome apps created by game developers around the world.
It’s no surprise that Asia is the top money-spinner with Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan dominating half of the US$6.5 billion global market share, according to the last Global Games Market Report in 2016. While America and Canada trail behind at 21.7 per cent, Europe and Australia generate 7.8 per cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively.
Now, one may ask what’s the lure of investing in a fake romance? Think of it as an alternative to watching a rom-com, or reading a romance novel. The difference is: You, the protagonist, get to call the shots, steering the plot through selective responses in the nearly every scene in each episode, while the hot alpha male who's a bit of a tease woos you obsessively
Customise Your McDreamy
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Her World Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Her World Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Heritage in a Bottle
Crafted by Swiss perfumer Christine Nagel, Barenia is the first chypre fragrance from Hermes, a seductive scent that is a dance between the delicate butterfly lily and the vibrant burst of miracle berry.
Is my adult acne caused by hormonal changes?
Quinn Chen answers.
BEST IN CLASS
MOVING AWAY FROM INTRODUCING ENTIRELY NEW PRODUCTS, BRANDS SUCH AS SHISEIDO, CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE AND SULWHASOO HAVE CHOSEN TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO ELEVATE TRIED-AND-TRUE FORMULAS. THESE ICONIC CLASSICS ARE MORE EFFICACIOUS AND LUXURIOUS THAN BEFORE.
Sneak Peek
We've got our sights set on these new must-haves that promise to breathe new life into tired-looking eyes.
ACTS OF SERVICE
Beauty brands are enticing customers with a range of in-store treatments and services that offer expert tips, demonstrations and pampering.
BREAKING DOWN THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID
Here's why this popular skincare ingredient is a potent fix for dehydrated complexions.
November favourites
Here are some of the must-haves you will not regret adding to your beauty shelf.
Against the rules
Step into the dark side with grunge-inspired moody tones and smoky, smudgy eyes.
Is it ever a good idea to engage in online discourse?
Sarah Bagharib answers.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Half a month in Mongolia living with nomadic families and exploring the country's storied beauty taught senior advertising strategist Uli Chan the beauty of impermanence.