Gamers, otaku, nerds, and general fanatics have all gathered in solidarity for the mecca of geekdom that is San Diego Comic Con, which started on Thursday and will continue in to Sunday. Among the panels, musicians, cosplayers, and other attractions that draw in so many fans each year, an interesting proposition has risen from Namco Bandai; the company, in conjunction with Andrew Hussie, will be creating a dating sim.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a dating sim refers to a type of visual novel where the goal of gameplay is typically to pursue a romantic relationship with a chosen character. Players can usually choose between multiple characters to court, and games range from a variety of scenarios and maturity ratings. These types of games are incredibly popular in Japan.
Namco Bandai, the publishers of such game franchises as the Tales of…, Tekken, and Soulcaliber series, announced on Monday in a press release shown at Comic Con that they would be creating a dating sim called “Namco High” with the help of Andrew Hussie, the mastermind behind the ingenious, incredibly popular web comic, “Homestuck.”
The game will be a mash-up of multiple Namco Bandai universes, and will take place in a “high school just for video game characters.” The dating sim will be browser-based, allowing for “cross-platform enjoyment… regardless of device.” What Pumpkin studios and ShiftyLook are also involved in the game’s process, and seem eager to be a part of its creation. George Rohac, director of business development at What Pumpkin Studios, was quoted as saying, “We are highly anticipating its release.”
Speaking on the addition of Andrew Hussie to the team, Rob Pereyda, ShiftyLook’s producer and editor-in-chief said, “There is no creator with more of a vibrant originality right now than Andrew Hussie… We are beyond excited to see where he takes these characters and the unique relationships that will literally unfold between them.” Fans of Homestuck are surely eager to see what Hussie will do with these characters, as well, especially given the creator’s track record with character deaths.
“Namco High” will be released in 2013 before the holiday season begins on ShiftyLook.com.
