The future of Love Plus

[parkb5]

Now that they are on the 3rd Love Plus game, I wonder where they can go from there. How could they make a 4th game unique?

I've heard that learning English in school is greatly encouraged. I was wondering if maybe a "Love Plus: US Exchange" would be an interesting concept to Japanese players.

Maybe have the dialogue in simple English and the player would be a Japanese exchange student taking classes in the US. The girls would be more unique. Maybe a Japanese girl, an American girl and an African-American girl.

I don't know, it was just a thought to move away from the same three girls every game. Plus, then other countries could import it without translation being necessary

[heyman]

Well, an English game for Japan only does seem a bit strange, but I guess it would be possible...

The new girls idea is quite a possibility, but the developers don't seem to want to leave them just yet. I can see why, what with having all their personalities and such laid out. Frankly, I would love to see them try making a game for English-speaking players and other languages. It they used the same girls, however, getting familiar with their English voice actor would take some time...

[parkb5]

If they came out with Love Plus in English, they would have to totally re-do it. For one thing schools are different in the US and school on Saturday? Not happening LOL. Plus, there is too much diversity here. To have only white girls to choose from might be frowned upon. They might have to put in an Africian-American and Latina girl in the mix.

Besides the fact that dating sims aren't popular in the US, they would have to make a new game from the ground up. Not to mention changing all of the holidays.

P.S. English in Japanese only games isn't that strange. There are many English training games that are popular in Japan. "English of the Dead" is one that comes to mind.

[minko]

unnn, i think taking off the 'japanese feeling' of the game wouldn't be nice, like in changing her clothes and holidays and so on. This japanese school feeling is totally awesome, i don't think the game would be this great without it. Not that I hate how things are in America (i live in south america), but it's just that we see japanese school, uniforms, girls and everything japanese in anime, so playing a game that passes in an ambient like this gives the feeling that we are inside an anime. Well, that's what i think.

Besides, i dont think they would change this into an educational game...the ideia seems good, but i think LovePlus became their "most loved game" or something like this, and because of the way they are nationalists, I dont think they would want to share it with us lol. I'm not saying it in a bad way, but just that (from what i see) japanese people think like "if you want to be with us, then learn to be like us". And i think they are right thinking like this, because this is their culture, their language, they dont wanna lose it.
Also, I think dating sims are much less popular outside japan, so maybe this is not really worth for them. i dont know.

But of course, it would be great to have an english official release. It's not impossible but i dont really believe they are gonna do it, and that's sad

[parkb5]

I'm just thinking that for popular Japanese games like "Oendan" that are really Japanese in style would have to be totally changed to be released in the US, like "Elite Beat Agents" was. It played the same, but had to be a totally different game, so I'm thinking that for a game like "Love Plus" to be released in outside of Japan, it would have to be totally different from the way it is now in order for it to become popular.

I like the Japanese feel of "Love Plus" too and I am so happy for Jewelchan's translation so that I can play it. I don't think I'll ever be able to play Love Plus + or New Love Plus though since it sounds like they are impossible to play on flashcards.

[minko]

but you are from usa, arent u? isnt it easy to get games where you live?

i mean, in my country (brazil lol) it's totally impossible, but i thought usa would be okay

[parkb5]

I can get the games in the US, but I can't understand Japanese.

[minko]

awwww right.....
i want soooo much to learn japanese! =___=
already tried...actually i was in the process before my university started eating my soul

[parkb5]

I can speak a little Japanese, it's reading it that I have a problem with LOL

[minko]

aa but then you can understand what they are saying...a little at least xD
better than nothing right

by the way, 'new love plus' seems amazing...
and those love plus version of 3DS makes me wanna cry haha

[chrnos]

Bah, here in Brazil everything is over priced and hard to get.

I won't be surprised if konami manages to get actual touchable holograms sooner than any other game at this rate.

[minko]

chrnos...also from brazil? x3

[minko]

and yeah, konami is making an amazing job

[FanTon]

This game is undoubtably an innovative and impressive game since Tokimeki series by Konami, but I feel that it is one of those games that is only "tailored" for Japan. Though some people refuse the game out of the concept, I think it might also be that making this game international could give people a misguided impression of Japan, and could be as far-fetched as cultural invasion. But if, and only if so, I rather it be this game than some of the current anime. I hope no one is offended by my opinion as I do not intend to.

As for the characters, they are too iconic to be replaced, and developing new characters of different race is a rather complicated matter, especially their view of other cultures are debatable. Konami could probably make a new game with different characters, but they wouldn't make a rip-off of LP out of the right mind. The other possibility is if the voice actresses cannot voice for their respective character.

[parkb5]

Maybe they shouldn't replace the original three, but maybe they should add more character that are date-able. Not sure how they would achieve this since you only have 100 days to get a girlfriend and having too many to choose from could be a problem, but maybe if you break-up with one of the original girls, you could meet and begin to date a totally new one?

Maybe one of the other employees at Dixie's or a girl you meet at the CD shop or Anime shop? Maybe like Street Fighter, they could add more and more date-able characters with each new game.