I can’t recall how I became interested in mobile otome games—I think it began with a game that was on sale on Steam. It renewed my interest in visual novels in general and eventually led me to the mobile market to further whet my palate. For those not aware, “otome gēmu” (pronounced “OH-TOE-MEH”) means “girl…
Hey Jude: Date Night With WWAC
It never seemed strange to me to have crushes on fictional people. After all, I would argue that the majority of people who fall in love are only falling in love with their idea of the other person anyway. Leaving behind my cynical views on relationships, I know that Osaki Nana and I were meant…
Playing At Love By Starlight: Date Night With WWAC
Should Chiba Mamoru (aka Tuxedo Mask) ever find himself in Toronto, I would definitely be selfless enough to take him round the city for a fun night. We’d start with Trivia Night at the Drake Hotel–the quiz would be a fun icebreaker for both of us quiet introverts. We’re also both of us voracious readers,…
Valentine Vigilante: Date Night With WWAC
Just like the prologue in Romeo and Juliet, I will state from the beginning that the relationship between myself and Batman is a doomed love. He’s a rich Gothamite and I’m a Torontonian who isn’t rich. Long distance may work in some rare cases, but given that Batman is super intense and serious about his…
A Slice of Apple Pie: Date Night With WWAC
Maybe there’s a universe somewhere, let’s call it Earth-1127, where I’m myself but somehow single. If Loki fell into that universe in his Agent of Asgard incarnation, he would be my dream Valentine’s date. He could cook me a nice dinner and then [imagine a sexy fanfic, but with good grammar and spelling]. But if…
Sequential Sartorial + Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai: Nakahara Aya’s Please Love Useless Me
If you loved Bitch Planet for reasons that seem obvious but also, more deeply, for reasons you’re not quite sure of, I have a mission for you. I want you to go to a manga scanlation site (Mangahere, Mangafox, MangaReader…) and type “josei” in the search box. Then, follow your nose to the art you like…
Shall We Date?
Once upon a time, our games editor, Al, asked if any of us would like to play and write about Japanese dating games or “otome.” Otome are story-based romance games largely targeted at a female, heterosexual audience. The player role-plays as the ambiguous main female character whose goal is to develop a relationship with one…
For All the Pixels I’ve Loved Before
Some of the video games I play allow me to create and develop characters as I face each challenge the story present. Based on the game lore and smatterings of personal information, I like to create backgrounds for my characters and play the game according to the personality I mould for them. These are role-playing…
Let’s Do the Joseon Warp Again: A KDrama Time-Travel Introspective
It was a chance encounter…a strange meeting that began by chance at a gap in time. – Queen In Hyun’s Man There is an undeniable fascination with the Joseon era in dramas, and as it was the last dynasty in Korea, it’s not surprising. Twenty-seven kings reigned during this period, with lots of court intrigue…
Flavors of Heartbreak: Shitsuren Chocolatier
You never forget your first. Manga, that is. My introduction to the art form was Sailor Moon in all its shoujo glory, and as a teen and young adult, I consumed the story and artwork with glee. Many manga readers do get their start with shoujo and shounen manga, which are aimed towards younger audiences, and…
Love Is Far, You Can Wait for It: Carmen, by em est Reviewed
My friend Melissa is a professional singer and a lover of opera. I’m not a professional singer, but I am a liker of opera. A few years ago I saw the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Carmen. It was my first time and I was transported. When I told her about my experience, Melissa sighed. Carmen,…
Reading Diaries: Hannibal Re-Imagined and Fantasy Lands
Welcome back to our reading diaries! Once a month the WWAC crew chats about their reading lives. This month we’re reading YA, romance and post-apocalyptic everything. Sarah: I can not look at my to-read pile without feeling guilty. And that doesn’t count the stuff on my Kindle, nicely tucked away so I can’t see the…
