Posted on 09/01/2010 3:51:49 AM PDT by markomalley
ATAMI, Japan—This resort town, once popular with honeymooners, is turning to a new breed of romance seekers—virtual sweethearts.
Since the marriage rate among Japan's shrinking population is falling and with many of the country's remaining lovebirds heading for Hawaii or Australia's Gold Coast, Atami had to do something. It is trying to attract single men—and their handheld devices.
In the first month of the city's promotional campaign launched July 10, more than 1,500 male fans of the Japanese dating-simulation game LovePlus+ have flocked to Atami for a romantic date with their videogame character girlfriends.
The men are real. The girls are cartoon characters on a screen. The trips are actual, can be expensive and aim to re-create the virtual weekend outing featured in the game, a product of Konami Corp. played on Nintendo Co.'s DS videogame system.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Must...Not...Give...In...To...Temptation!
Ewww...
What a bizarre society; this is probably the first human “species” we’ll see go extinct in our lifetime. We’d probably be headed for the same, except for the fact that we have infusions of millions of immigrants (legal & illegal) every year. For “European-Americans” on the coasts, the only archeological evidence will be the pet cemeteries they leave behind...
Brilliant branding /s Good luck with that.
Hey, speak for yourself. I’m a “European American” and I’ve got kids.
But your point is well taken and your image of the “pet cemeteries they leave behind” is amusing.
I assume by now they have vending machines over there with “Rent a sexbot” at some motels.
No offense to American in Tokyo.
I get a weird image of a porno version of Wii.
Cartoon characters at that!
I believe RONCO is going to do an infomercial to introduce their Jack-O-Matic 1500 there this fall.
It will only cost 4 payments of $19.95. But wait! If you order 2, the next one is free. You only pay for the additional shipping and handling.
Attachments optional.
Good grief...
You win best comment of the day, already!
Since DS and Wii games can hook together, I bet you’re right.
> At 450 yen ($5.30), the store has been selling out its daily allotment of 150 cakes—50 for each girl...
Um. Allotment??
I had to look the game up
http://kotaku.com/5243198/love-plus-has-your-virtual-girlfriend-experience-covered
It’s Nintendogs, with girls!!!
*facepalm*
Every time we think that America has out-weirded the rest of the world, we get a report from Japan like this. It’s some small consolation.
Konami code?
So do I - I've started a whole new bunch :)
Seriously, my grand kids are older than my new children.
Somebody has to stand against the extinction, planned or not, by negative genetic practices, such as homosexuality, abortion and birth control, of the great peoples of Western culture.
>>> I get a weird image of a porno version of Wii.
I’ve copyrighted “Wheeee!”
Turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so. Repeat three times...
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