Do you think there should be 'dating features' in the future games?

[Almonds]

Before you say anything - I know what you're probably thinking - this doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the Ferris Wheel event with N in BW. No shipping.



... but in B2W2, you actually get to meet a different NPC depending on your gender. You find a lost item for them, exchange calls multiple times, meet up and ride the Ferris Wheel together.

Personally, that looks like a friendly date to me - developing a mild relationship over time, and I find it cute.


There are a lot of places that could be date courses as well in Unova. The bridges, cafes, Pokewood, Nimbasa Amusement Park in general, the PC's hometown, Undella Bay...so why not have the opportunity to meet up with the NPC and spend time together? It doesn't have to be a serious love issue. Just a friendly date spending time together, strolling around, and receiving gifts ranging from PokeToys to Proteins. Maybe you could even choose who to pair up with in the Battle Subway - your date or your gender counterpart.

So how a date works? Just like the call system in HGSS. Remember that if you called gym leaders, you could battle them at the Dojo. The gym leaders also moved around at specific locations.

A date would work similarly. Your date could be at random places at certain times and you could just talk to them. Or, you could simply call for a date. When you meet up, your date will tag along and walk behind you - just like how you team up with NPCs in dungeons. You can talk to your date, or trigger events. The date will be over when you leave the dating location/finish event.



There could also be bonus events - for example, if you are on a date in Castelia City, your date buys you Casteliacones when you talk to the ice-cream stand. A painter could also ask to draw you and your date, and hang a picture in the art gallery - maybe Burgh could compliment on it.

Another example could be in Pokewood. You film a movie, and you watch it with your date - and you'd get more popularity. Or receive an item from your date as congratulations.


Even though pokemon is a kid's game, I think it would be fun if 'friendly love' is included. Personally, it's more healthy than that perverted man trying to peek into a gym full of women.


What do you think?



...guys, don't take it so far - IT'S OPTIONAL.


You can choose to do it, or NOT to do it. It's NOT A MUST. Only an added feature - nothing-like Harvest Moon.


Just something similar to Curtis and Yancy - a mini-side game.



ANY MENTIONS/COMPARISON TO HARVEST MOON OR RUNE FACTORY OR THE LIKE ARE BANNED.



Okay then, those who oppose the idea -

Do you think the Curtis/Yancy sidequest should be banned as well? By their dialogues, I'm quite sure they are fond of the PC, and some of the content hint that they have a slight crush on the PC.

 

[Elesa Ver 2.0]

The first thing that popped into my head was

SOCIAL LINK GO!!!!!

( although joking aside I think it would be kind of like... there would be a character for each type of pokemon you could become friendly with / befriend, and the more you became buddy buddy with them they could trade you rarer pokemon and/or moves to tutor your pokemon )

 

[Gengarzilla]

No... Just no.

 

[Heatmor C. Dawson]

There'll be snow in Stark Mountain before that happens. The shipping community in fanon is vicious enough; with canon shipping opportunities, the main plot could be hampered by romantic plot tumors.

 

[Faye Scarlet]

Yes, just yes! 8D; The Harvest Moon fan in me really likes such an idea. I know I wouldn't have minded dating the likes of Denzi or Daigo, or even Shirona (what). The problem is gender barrier, though. :/ I was hoping the NPC was random, but noo, apparently only boys date girls, and only girls date boys. "OTL I hope there is some gay option, I know Japan would have no problem with it (hello cross-dressing children's nurse in B2W2 Japan).

 

[Heatmor C. Dawson]

The problem is gender barrier, though. :/ I was hoping the NPC was random, but noo, apparently only boys date girls, and only girls date boys. "OTL I hope there is some gay option, I know Japan would have no problem with it (hello cross-dressing children's nurse in B2W2 Japan).

The age barrier is another factor. Pokemon's primary market--pre-pubescent or near-pubescent children--probably doesn't ship or date. The idea of homosexuality or any sort of sexuality would be dubious to them, even in Japan. While Nintendo/Game Freak might have increased sales due to greater interest from those that would like a dating option (even non-shippers) the backlash from those that don't would outweigh the support. Besides, Nintendo has been disinclined toward romantic options (save for the occasional tease) in almost every series they've had; what makes you think they would change on this one?

 

[sonic10158]

It has no place in Pokémon

 

[Almonds]

The pokemon anime is targeted at younger kids as well yet it has featured a number of crushes and puppy love in the show. So age isn't really an issue, imo.

Like I said, the romance factor doesn't have to be there - simply just getting friendly with a certain NPC of the opposite gender will suffice. There's Charles the Heartbreaker, but do you want to showcase characters that keep failing at dates?

And just so you know, there are already Couple themed trainer classes, so age isn't really the issue

 

[KrystalDragon13]

I wouldn't mind the idea actually.

 

[Zeb]

This seems to be more suited to the Video Games section so I'm moving it there.

 

[Anser]

Totally out of place. I'm going to have to say no.

 

[Almonds]

Guys, I'd really appreciate if you provided reasons why mild dating features won't fit in the game, if you're against the idea.

Kids aren't stupid - they develop feelings in real life and they also know the concept of love. I think mild friendly dates would be okay as long as it isn't too developed. Also it would appeal nicely to the female players of all ages.

 

[Sir Turtlelot]

Eh, I'm not really feeling it either. So long as it isn't too romance heavy, I don't think it's a bad idea, but there are still a number of other things I would much rather see first, such as a return and expansion on secret bases and the underground. That's just me though.

 

[Faye Scarlet]

The age barrier is another factor. Pokemon's primary market--pre-pubescent or near-pubescent children--probably doesn't ship or date. The idea of homosexuality or any sort of sexuality would be dubious to them, even in Japan. While Nintendo/Game Freak might have increased sales due to greater interest from those that would like a dating option (even non-shippers) the backlash from those that don't would outweigh the support. Besides, Nintendo has been disinclined toward romantic options (save for the occasional tease) in almost every series they've had; what makes you think they would change on this one?

It didn't stop the Ferris Wheel dating option in BW and B2W2. :< It could be optional, and a pairing is only "canon" if you choose it to be. You do have a point though, sometimes I forget the target audience is children. "OTL

 

[harleyG]

Definitely, no.

 

[Everywhen]

Before you say anything - I know what you're probably thinking - this doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the Ferris Wheel event with N in BW. No shipping.



... but in B2W2, you actually get to meet a different NPC depending on your gender. You find a lost item for them, exchange calls multiple times, meet up and ride the Ferris Wheel together.

Personally, that looks like a friendly date to me - developing a mild relationship over time, and I find it cute.


There are a lot of places that could be date courses as well in Unova. The bridges, cafes, Pokewood, Nimbasa Amusement Park in general, the PC's hometown, Undella Bay...so why not have the opportunity to meet up with the NPC and spend time together? It doesn't have to be a serious love issue. Just a friendly date spending time together, strolling around, and receiving gifts ranging from PokeToys to Proteins. Maybe you could even choose who to pair up with in the Battle Subway - your date or your gender counterpart.

So how a date works? Just like the call system in HGSS. Remember that if you called gym leaders, you could battle them at the Dojo. The gym leaders also moved around at specific locations.

A date would work similarly. Your date could be at random places at certain times and you could just talk to them. Or, you could simply call for a date. When you meet up, your date will tag along and walk behind you - just like how you team up with NPCs in dungeons. You can talk to your date, or trigger events. The date will be over when you leave the dating location/finish event.



There could also be bonus events - for example, if you are on a date in Castelia City, your date buys you Casteliacones when you talk to the ice-cream stand. A painter could also ask to draw you and your date, and hang a picture in the art gallery - maybe Burgh could compliment on it.

Another example could be in Pokewood. You film a movie, and you watch it with your date - and you'd get more popularity. Or receive an item from your date as congratulations.


Even though pokemon is a kid's game, I think it would be fun if 'friendly love' is included. Personally, it's more healthy than that perverted man trying to peek into a gym full of women.


What do you think?

Yes. And no.
While from a guy perspective, the ferris wheel characters in BW did seem to like the character in a romantic way, and I would find it rather amusing to watch the awkwardness of Gamefreak trying to write a relationship into the storyline, I think it's probably a little inappropriate for the Age group of many pokemon players.

 

[Everywhen]

Eh, I'm not really feeling it either. So long as it isn't too romance heavy, I don't think it's a bad idea, but there are still a number of other things I would much rather see first, such as a return and expansion on secret bases and the underground. That's just me though.

Oh. And This = <3

 

[Almonds]

While from a guy perspective, the ferris wheel characters in BW did seem to like the character in a romantic way, and I would find it rather amusing to watch the awkwardness of Gamefreak trying to write a relationship into the storyline, I think it's probably a little inappropriate for the Age group of many pokemon players.

Kids aren't like Ash in the anime. They're aware of love. A lot of bedtime stories have prince and princess love & marry story - so I don't think mild dating features would be age inappropriate at all. The examples I mentioned in my first post are common things - watching a movie together, buying ice-cream, and getting gifts.

Like I mentioned before, the man in Celadon City trying to peek into the women's-only gym was more inappropriate for children. While it may just be a joke factor, it's not a really nice thing to do. Mild dates, on the other hand, could be more or less a friendly tag-along with feelings and it could show how everyone can get along just fine.

 

[Xenidal]

I say no, mostly because:
1. The demographic... it's mostly pre-teens / young teens. If the demographic were fangirls then maybe it would work, but it won't work with the current demographic. Young teens may be capable of dating and possibly understanding love to some extent, but many of them have no interest in dating yet, and out of the ones who do then most probaby don't find it super-important. I for one remember playing Pokémon Red back when I was about 11 or 12 and seeing the girl say, "I want my boyfriend to buy me a Pikachu" and I really thought nothing of it.
(On the other hand, the guy who said "Do you want to join Team Rocket?"... I really did want to choose yes and that would be a great feature to add, lol)
2. I don't even really see how it'd fit into the gameplay. A friendship system like the one in Animal Crossing would work better. What would be the point of it? Maybe the friend could give you some items or challenge you to some battles, but overall it would be pretty pointless and has no real place in a Pokémon game. And adding in the fact that much of the target demographic is too young to even relate to it, adding such "life simulation" features to a non-simulation game would be even more pointless.
3. This is probably just me, but I really don't like the concept of dating in video games in general. Dating is supposed to be about love, building a relationship, and ultimately about marriage. I could really care less about talking to or "complementing" an NPC several times until she complies with her programming by responding with an "I love you" statement.

And as an added negative, adding dating features will certainly lead to more shipping, and some of that shipping is sexual and not the sort of stuff that the company wants associated with Pokémon. Some of the shippings are bad enough as it is... they don't want to contribute to the problem.

 

[Heatmor C. Dawson]

I've given it a bit more thought, but I'm still not into the idea. Another problem I failed to mention before is defining the nature of the relationship. The border between friendly relationships and romantic relationships can be a bit blurry at times. How far should it go? "No Hugging, No Kissing" has been the Nintendo rule for years, with the exclusion of Harvest Moon (although I'm not sure if that's actually a Nintendo franchise or not). Like I said before, why change it now? Even in Harvest Moon, the relationships are exclusively heterosexual, right? So what would happen should a player want an, *ahem*, "slash" relationship? I won't mention any stereotypical demographics, but people that are interested in that sort of thing would be sorely disappointed should there only be heterosexual options. On the other hand, adding homosexual options is bound to generate controversy, and it's unlikely Game Freak would take a risk like that. Even the overall idea of dating in-game could cause problems.

And what about the in-game mechanics? While the idea of giving some sort of in-game reward such as trades or items makes sense, there should be a way to get them outside of the dating sim. Even if it's in the game, it should be completely optional and have no bearing on the main plot. Otherwise, people that want those goodies but not the dating options--like me--would end up missing part of the story. And how many partners should there be? How early would you get them: either at the very beginning, about halfway through, or after the Elite Four? In the end, Pokemon is more about fire-forged friendships with your Pokemon, not romantic relationships with humans.