How do you feel about a guy playing otome?

[Cardia31]

Do you think it's okay for guys to play otome games, or should the genre remain strictly for women?

 

[ninnikuryona]

i dont really care. i myself as a woman play galge (games for straight men) and bara (games for gay men) no problem! it only becomes an issue when they start insisting on inclusion of elements that dont belong in otome. like, sexualized mc, needless fanservice, hype moments and aura, stuff like that. go away. oh and also when they act like some massive pickme, like "hey im a guy but this game is pretty good even by my standards! its not as simple as other otome, its really one of a kind in the entire genre heehee XD (i only played three highest rated games on vndb btw)". basically what happened with infinity nikki on release, or that stupid article that came out yesterday on twitter w

i also dont want to see devs trying to sell their games to men, like claiming "this is an otome even men can enjoy!" or making the mc needlessly sexy or giving her a voice in r18 titles or not labeling their otome games as otome or hiring porn artists to draw art for their game (ill never forgive bustafe). how about you focus on making it a game that women can enjoy first and foremost?^^
but then again, im not japanese, and i dont expect japanese devs to un-japanify their own games. women love erotica too, and women love sexy women in their works as well. still, its nice when an otome looks and acts like an otome and not a galge with a female protagonist..!

though i cant say i dont understand girls who feel alarmed or annoyed by men who play otome. i get it. the genre is already being attacked left and right by galge players, fujoshi, and even those who have no idea about the genre at all. so i totally understand the wish to gatekeep the genre as much as possible. i disapprove of preemptive strikes, but relaying some general fandom rules is always good methinks

tldr the genre is already strictly for women but anyone can enjoy it just like anyone can enjoy any other genre in the world

 

[Leviathan_01]

I wouldn't see any problem with it since I myself also play dating sims geared towards men from time to time

 

[orionsbestie]

Anyone can play anything they want and any romance enthusiast would probably enjoy many otoge, but I won't welcome any man or anyone in general who starts demanding the genre not meant/aimed at them starts catering to their specific taste that's the polar opposite of what Otome is, like demanding BL routes, shipping of the love interests within the game content and male protagonists.

 

[ninnikuryona]

Anyone can play anything they want and any romance enthusiast would probably enjoy many otoge, but I won't welcome any man or anyone in general who starts demanding the genre not meant/aimed at them starts catering to their specific taste that's the polar opposite of what Otome is, like demanding BL routes, shipping of the love interests within the game content and male protagonists.

interestingly enough, those who ask for a male mc are usually women who are into bl.. its gotten to the point where japanese women actually welcome men into the space as creators because this way there is a lesser chance to stumble upon a landmine..!(?)

 

[satory]

the genre is already being attacked left and right by galge players, fujoshi, and even those who have no idea about the genre at all

I can imagine why fujoshis would enjoy otome genre, but no idea why fujoshis would attack otome community. The world is vast and there are a lot of stuff I don't know about, it seems o_O

On the topic - I saw a lot of men on Youtube playing female-oriented games, and it's logical as their audience mostly female. As long as it's not openly for "points", and a person is genuinely enjoying - why not.

 

[ninnikuryona]

I can imagine why fujoshis would enjoy otome genre, but no idea why fujoshis would attack otome community. The world is vast and there are a lot of stuff I don't know about, it seems o_O

its the usual. "they dont allow bl, theyre homophobic!! wheres the freedom of speech and creativity!!" which was amplified after the garumani fiasco. basically if you come into the space, at least have the decency to follow its rules, these rules being no lixli shit and no whining about male protagonist. this is why people are so sensitive about this topic

 

[Hyacinth004]

My guy just play whatever u want! My friends n I trade games so often they became fanboys of otome themselves ^^

Do you think it's okay for guys to play otome games, or should the genre remain strictly for women?

 

[satory]

its the usual. "they dont allow bl, theyre homophobic!! wheres the freedom of speech and creativity!!" which was amplified after the garumani fiasco. basically if you come into the space, at least have the decency to follow its rules, these rules being no lixli shit and no whining about male protagonist. this is why people are so sensitive about this topic

I see. It's not different from people saying that "MC should be more this and more that", demanding their favourite character's route to be "fixed" because they didn't like ending, complaining about main story being too short|long|simple|hard to understand. In other words - just being your regular people on the Internet XD But from your answer I now understand why in Japan they have so hard to find tags

 

[ninnikuryona]

I see. It's not different from people saying that "MC should be more this and more that", demanding their favourite character's route to be "fixed" because they didn't like ending, complaining about main story being too short|long|simple|hard to understand. In other words - just being your regular people on the Internet XD

id argue that it is indeed different! because its still in the range of the genre, meanwhile demanding for a male mc inclusion or some canonical lixli stuff goes directly against it. consumers are allowed to express their displeasures after all, including those regarding mcs, in a genre aimed at self-inserting

 

[orionsbestie]

this way there is a lesser chance to stumble upon a landmine..!(?)

In the end it's all about genre separation lol!! But I've seen mostly trans men and gay men making a fuss over male protagonists online too, mostly in the LADS community because that's The mainstream otome rn. I always ended up confused because how do people look at a game with a woman as a protagonist, with women as a target audience, marketed with women in mind and go hm you know what this HAS to be about men!! How disrespectful of you not to include me, a man! How dare you FORCE ME to be a *gags* woman!!! >:( then again this was back when I still used social media often, nowadays I only poke at it when necessary for real life things so idk if it's changed.

"they dont allow bl, theyre homophobic!! wheres the freedom of speech and creativity!!"

This too omfg the way they talk sometimes is like they believe gay relationships for their consumption are the pinnacle of creativity, it's actually lowkey scary. Like all heavens forbid someone wants a woman as the focus of a story and/or a beautiful (if fictional) man's attention and love lol

 

[dogiwall]

Don't really care if a man plays an otome game either, anyone can play anything despite not being the target audience lol.

While there's respectful men that don't go out of their way to mock the genre, I've seen a few male Youtubers talk about or play otome games just to mock it (like that one dude who did that to Diabolik Lovers). Which outright annoys me to the point where I use a browser extension just to block them lol.

 

[Hyacinth004]

In the end it's all about genre separation lol!! But I've seen mostly trans men and gay men making a fuss over male protagonists online too, mostly in the LADS community because that's The mainstream otome rn. I always ended up confused because how do people look at a game with a woman as a protagonist, with women as a target audience, marketed with women in mind and go hm you know what this HAS to be about men!! How disrespectful of you not to include me, a man! How dare you FORCE ME to be a *gags* woman!!! >:( then again this was back when I still used social media often, nowadays I only poke at it when necessary for real life things so idk if it's changed.



This too omfg the way they talk sometimes is like they believe gay relationships for their consumption are the pinnacle of creativity, it's actually lowkey scary. Like all heavens forbid someone wants a woman as the focus of a story and/or a beautiful (if fictional) man's attention and love lol

omg oofm not the LADS community

 

[Hyacinth004]

I was there when it happens ueueue. Those discussions got so heated I gotta get off Twitter, and I was only a spectator:((

 

[orionsbestie]

like that one dude who did that to Diabolik Lovers

Diabolik lovers is the punching bag of otome haters ATP people looked at the franchise of sadistic vampires clearly aimed at masochistic women and decided OMG THIS IS SO PROBLEMATIC AND CRINGE HOW COULD ANYONE LIKE IT?!?! THIS SHOULDN'T EXIST BECAUSE I HATE IT PERSONALLY!!!!

The target audience minding their own business:

SORRY FOR THE RANDOM REPLY it's hard to be a DL enjoyer and finding those things

 

[ninnikuryona]

I always ended up confused because how do people look at a game with a woman as a protagonist, with women as a target audience, marketed with women in mind and go hm you know what this HAS to be about men!! How disrespectful of you not to include me, a man! How dare you FORCE ME to be a *gags* woman!!! >:(

its all about misogyny covered up by "inclusion" :"3 what people need to understand is that not everyone HAS to be included in everything. like 70% of vns have male mc, does that mean women are not allowed to read them? or that they wont be able to enjoy them? does it make any sense at all w?
it almost like theyre saying that a game with a female mc is lesser than other games and is unworthy of any attention, which is obviously insane LOL

This too omfg the way they talk sometimes is like they believe gay relationships for their consumption are the pinnacle of creativity, it's actually lowkey scary. Like all heavens forbid someone wants a woman as the focus of a story and/or a beautiful (if fictional) man's attention and love lol

i mean shipping canonical gay male characters with female characters should count as freedom of creativity too, but i dont think these people would take kindly to that.. oh well!

 

[orionsbestie]

omg oofm not the LADS community

It's not all of the LADS community, but it's almost always the LADS community

 

[satory]

id argue that it is indeed different! because its still in the range of the genre, meanwhile demanding for a male mc inclusion or some canonical lixli stuff goes directly against it. consumers are allowed to express their displeasures after all, including those regarding mcs, in a genre aimed at self-inserting

These demands will never be implemented, because everyone wants different things, and it's impossible to create product to please every single person, that's why I see it as similar things. Let the people complain, this is basicly what we are doing right now

 

[nekoky]

I don't really mind. Games are made for people to play. I also play some bishoujo games myself. However, some male players act with a sense of superiority and criticize the preferences of us female players. That kind of attitude bothers me. If they just keep quiet, it's fine, but once they join community discussions or stream the games, it becomes really annoying. There was this male streamer I followed for his horror RPG gameplay, but he ended up switching to otome games and hasn't played horror games for a long time. That left a bad taste in my mouth. I play bishoujo games too, but I don't go into male gaming communities to discuss them. So I think mutual respect is important.

 

[ninnikuryona]

While there's respectful men that don't go out of their way to mock the genre, I've seen a few male Youtubers talk about or play otome games just to mock it (like that one dude who did that to Diabolik Lovers). Which outright annoys me to the point where I use a browser extension just to block them lol.

Diabolik lovers is the punching bag of otome haters ATP people looked at the franchise of sadistic vampires clearly aimed at masochistic women and decided OMG THIS IS SO PROBLEMATIC AND CRINGE HOW COULD ANYONE LIKE IT?!?! THIS SHOULDN'T EXIST BECAUSE I HATE IT PERSONALLY!!!!

insane how these people act like women are those delicate fragile flowers that CANNOT distinguish between fiction and reality and therefore HAVE to be protected. "omg this is definitely written by a man omg women dont even enjoy that" women write/draw some of the most degenerate shit on the planet for both women AND men!!!!! you people dont know anything!!!!!!!!!
and also, yui is still treated better in dialovers than your average female character in a dark galge. why not call them out too while we are at it? (better not because who the hell cares)

 

[ninnikuryona]

These demands will never be implemented, because everyone wants different things,

and then virche/tengoku struggle happened. and then grmn stuff happened. and then animate april 1st joke happened. two of four of these things got retconned precisely because girlies were loud with their criticisms, so its not bad to protect your hobbies at all!

 

[Hyacinth004]

It's not all of the LADS community, but it's almost always the LADS community

Tbh, considering the game was produced in Chinese, the land of the CEOxY/n romance, they have perfected the recipes to manufacturing the most conventionally desirable male LIs. I couldn't get into it now in my 20 but my teenage self would have ate that game up XDD
N we know how protective ppl get about their OCTP

 

[Hyacinth004]

and then virche/tengoku struggle happened. and then grmn stuff happened. and then animate april 1st joke happened. two of four of these things got retconned precisely because girlies were loud with their criticisms, so its not bad to protect your hobbies at all!

Ooooo I just started playing virche , how was it? Heard lots of mixed reviews about ett

 

[dogiwall]

This too omfg the way they talk sometimes is like they believe gay relationships for their consumption are the pinnacle of creativity, it's actually lowkey scary. Like all heavens forbid someone wants a woman as the focus of a story and/or a beautiful (if fictional) man's attention and love lol

They keep on throwing the homophobia card while ignoring the fact that they can be argued to be misogynistic since they clearly want to badly sideline or even erase female characters whenever they demand the otome genre to cater to them lmao.

Diabolik lovers is the punching bag of otome haters ATP people looked at the franchise of sadistic vampires clearly aimed at masochistic women and decided OMG THIS IS SO PROBLEMATIC AND CRINGE HOW COULD ANYONE LIKE IT?!?! THIS SHOULDN'T EXIST BECAUSE I HATE IT PERSONALLY!!!!

A lot of people like to rag on things made for women and things that aren't 100% sqeaky clean. Combine both and even more people are gonna rag on it lol. I've seen the same happen to shoujosei manga/manwha/manhua and even western romance novels as well.

 

[satory]

and then virche/tengoku struggle happened. and then grmn stuff happened. and then animate april 1st joke happened. two of four of these things got retconned precisely because girlies were loud with their criticisms, so its not bad to protect your hobbies at all!

I still don't think that attacking anyone enjoying the same thing as you, but doing it differently, is a good course of actions. Thank you for answering nontheless! It cleared a lot of questions. I usually don't watch community dramas, so the whole thing is a little bit overwhelming