Disabled Girl Dating Sim Katawa Shoujo Finally Available

[CarlMin]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

 

[Alterego-X]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

You criticized THE WAY it handles the issue, without knowing anything about the way it handles the issue other than the fact that it exists.

 

[CarlMin]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

You criticized THE WAY it handles the issue, without knowing anything about the way it handles the issue other than the fact that it exists.

I criticized the game for handling this delicate issue to begin with. Obviously, I wasn?t too sure that a Japanese interactive porno named ?Disability Girl?, sprung forth from the boards of 4chan, would do a good job dealing with the problems of being disabled.

If you?ve played the game and disagree with me then that?s fine though it?s hardly going to convince me to play it and even if I did, I doubt I?d think any differently of it.

 

[AlwaystheUnlucky]

Oh my goodness, my weekend is instantly lost!

 

[SuperfastJellyfish]

The best part about this sim is disabled people can't leave your dates with the ease of the fully able!


I just hope this is shown tastefully

Dude, that's just messed up.

OT: Yeah, the game is just a fetish thing.

 

[Alterego-X]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

You criticized THE WAY it handles the issue, without knowing anything about the way it handles the issue other than the fact that it exists.

I criticized the game for handling this delicate issue to begin with. Obviously, I wasn?t too sure that a Japanese interactive porno named ?Disability Girl?, sprung forth from the boards of 4chan, would do a good job dealing with the problems of being disabled.

If you?ve played the game and disagree with me then that?s fine though it?s hardly going to convince me to play it and even if I did, I doubt I?d think any differently of it.

No it's not. If you would have tried it, or even read 1-2 pages of this thread, you would know that it's neither Japanese, nor interactive, nor a porno.

It's a visual novel, a novel-like linear written story with background images. The only interactive element is that you can choose, often with a single click, which of the five character's story to read. If you say that there is something *inherently* creepy about that medium, then I can't see how novels or movies would be any different. Basically, you are saying that the very IDEA of a romance story about disabled people can't be handled tastefully.

And it has sex scenes, about one per girl, over the 400.000 word long story. (The Lord of the Rings trilogy is 470 000). That can be turned off. And that every poster here reported to be non-fetishizing, sensitively written, or even awkward.

And the point is not that *I* disagree with you, but that literally everyone who has read it. One deluded pervert can be explained, some poor guy even tried to protect Rapelay, but there were others who tried it for objectivity, and reported that yep, it's disgusting.

But in this situation, your sole uninformed "opinion" against everyone who actually knows how it handles the issue, sounds an awful lot like certain Cooper Lawrence's opinion on Mass Effect.

 

[Mafoobula]

I played this game in its act 1 beta years ago, and I was honestly impressed by it. The art is easy on the eyes, all soft colors and smooth character design, the characters themselves would be distinct by design, even if they didn't have their own distinguishing features (read: overt physical handicaps and the like).
I recall that the vast majority of possible choices made a difference in your play experience, something that is par for the course for a full-fledged dating sim, but the range of choices is still worth a nod.

Regarding the choice to make everything take place in an academy filled with people - young men and women, no less - with disabilities, I'm not sure it's all about the fetishistic side of things. I've talked endlessly on the hurt/comfort subgenre of fan-fiction, and I'm pretty sure this falls in that category just fine, to some degree. The scarred girl (all names are forgotten) is outright afraid of social interaction, with some kind of tragedy being the root cause. That kind of emotional/psychological pain tends to pluck the heartstrings like a finely-tuned violin.
In short: It's all about drawing on a deep psychological and emotional need to see people feel better.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

I would never have tried this 'game' if not for the mention. Hell, the premise seemed way too odd to me at first.

But anything time consuming and free gets an hour test run as my standard policy.

Man, I'm glad I tried it. I found it to be a very well written story with compelling characters and a surprisingly relatable main character whose inner monologue tells the story very well.
Calling it a 'Dating Sim' is really not accurate. It's a story (well, five stories) which is complemented by music and art.

I urge anyone who dismisses it to at least try the first act, it doesn't take long and introduces all of the main characters. Only then should you form some opinion on whether it's just a 'Fetish thing' or maybe some people trying to tell a slightly subversive and interesting story?

The 4chan label seems to be part of the killer, people don't understand that 4chan does not equal /b/

 

[Blankdoor]

I would never have tried this 'game' if not for the mention. Hell, the premise seemed way too odd to me at first.

But anything time consuming and free gets an hour test run as my standard policy.

Man, I'm glad I tried it. I found it to be a very well written story with compelling characters and a surprisingly relatable main character whose inner monologue tells the story very well.
Calling it a 'Dating Sim' is really not accurate. It's a story (well, five stories) which is complemented by music and art.

I urge anyone who dismisses it to at least try the first act, it doesn't take long and introduces all of the main characters. Only then should you form some opinion on whether it's just a 'Fetish thing' or maybe some people trying to tell a slightly subversive and interesting story?

The 4chan label seems to be part of the killer, people don't understand that 4chan does not equal /b/

I can only second this, this is actually my first visual novel, and if the rest of them have story of this quality I might start playing more! I honestly like this game; I feel it's playing off some of my own insecurities. This game has inspired me to think more about the disabled people I know (Which are a lot, epileptic, deaf people, mentally ill to name a few).

The game simply plays differently to different people. I don't think this game should be condemned; it should be embraced by more, if you play it and the subject matter is not to your liking, then, fine.

Just don't judge this game by its cover, or judge the people playing it by the same standards. This game will continue to be interpreted differently by thousands of people for years to come, and if a handful of people are better for it, then why complain. If people use it to fulfil a fetish (it?s not deranged or sick, just another fetish like the rest of them) then that?s their own prerogative.

My two cents anyway ~Blank

 

[Blankdoor]

double post my bad

 

[Boman]

I don't usually comment on anything, but I do have to say I am disappointed with this game. Mainly because it does not feel like a game.
Going into it, given that it was described as a "dating sim" in the article, I assumed that It'd play much like a role-playing game where i'd be able to make decisions and be able to create different and meaningful relationships with the characters involved. However, now having finished the game, it appears that the game doesn't wish you to do that. There were very few choices within the game, and the choices that were given felt superficial for the most of the time. You were railroaded into a relationship with one of the girls which then shut off contact with the other girls (which annoyed me. The storyline I was railroaded onto cut contact from characters that I felt were interesting and would have liked to have stayed friends with).
I do applaud it for its subject matter that challenges our outlook and relations to the disabled, and the characters don't feel like simple sex objects that are for claiming. I am just disappointed because I was hoping for more. As a video game, it's not spectacular and, in my humble opinion, doesn't offer enough interactivity to be considered as such. As a piece of art? The idea is there, but is not using the medium to its fullest, and if you're not using your medium to its fullest then why choose this medium for your work?
Given all of this, I am glad it exists. It has flaws, but it exists. And it exists to show us that there are those who we wish didn't exist. This game is the girl with no legs

 

[Arqus_Zed]

You know, if they wouldn't solely focus on the romancing, but also the casual "friend talk", this could really have potential.

Maybe add some RPG elements, instead of simply going for an "interactive novel"?

Maybe connect the RPG aspects with the social interaction?

(Does anyone get where I'm going with this?)

 

[CarlMin]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

You criticized THE WAY it handles the issue, without knowing anything about the way it handles the issue other than the fact that it exists.

I criticized the game for handling this delicate issue to begin with. Obviously, I wasn?t too sure that a Japanese interactive porno named ?Disability Girl?, sprung forth from the boards of 4chan, would do a good job dealing with the problems of being disabled.

If you?ve played the game and disagree with me then that?s fine though it?s hardly going to convince me to play it and even if I did, I doubt I?d think any differently of it.

No it's not. If you would have tried it, or even read 1-2 pages of this thread, you would know that it's neither Japanese, nor interactive, nor a porno.

It's a visual novel, a novel-like linear written story with background images. The only interactive element is that you can choose, often with a single click, which of the five character's story to read. If you say that there is something *inherently* creepy about that medium, then I can't see how novels or movies would be any different. Basically, you are saying that the very IDEA of a romance story about disabled people can't be handled tastefully.

And it has sex scenes, about one per girl, over the 400.000 word long story. (The Lord of the Rings trilogy is 470 000). That can be turned off. And that every poster here reported to be non-fetishizing, sensitively written, or even awkward.

And the point is not that *I* disagree with you, but that literally everyone who has read it. One deluded pervert can be explained, some poor guy even tried to protect Rapelay, but there were others who tried it for objectivity, and reported that yep, it's disgusting.

But in this situation, your sole uninformed "opinion" against everyone who actually knows how it handles the issue, sounds an awful lot like certain Cooper Lawrence's opinion on Mass Effect.

Oh what do you know, another reply.

Firstly: Cooper Lawrence?

Secondly, if it includes sex scenes and is distributed entertainment doesn't that make it pornographic? Or at least erotic material, if you want to be really pedantic, though it's hardly helping your argument which I'm still not quite sure what it is. It seems like you are just defending a game you happened to like.

Thirdly, if you are able to click, choose character, choose dialog, etc, it's probably interactive now isn?t it? And I think that I could be forgiven for thinking that a game with what appears to be a Japanese title is Japanese. But at this point you are just trying to point out technicalities.

And lastly, if my opinion is uniformed it?s because I, as said, haven?t played the game. Nor did I say I was informed on the subject so if you want to debate the content of this game so desperately I?d suggest you try to find someone else.

I don?t have to play the bloody game to have the right to say that I think this is an awful way of handling a delicate issue, given its genre alone. And I?m pretty much that most experts and people within the disabled community would agree. Nor do I think that they?d be particularly impressed with a few gamers claiming that it actually has a, what did you call it, a romantic storyline?

 

[Booze Zombie]

I like the Japanese approach to equality. "Anyone can have lots and lots of sex in a school uniform!"

 

[Durgiun]

I played this game. It's actually pretty damn good for a dating sim.

 

[CarlMin]

This is probably, regardless of the motivation, the worst, most clusmy and insensitive way to handle this issue imaginable.

Let me guess. You didn't actually check out HOW it is handled in the plot.

Jesus Christ, I read the article and it's a disabled girl dating game. What more do I need to know?

For example the fact that out of the dozens of people in this thread who tried to start reading it, even for a single hour, EVERY SINGLE ONE reported that it's a very well-written, sensitive, serious romantic story.

(Or at least the ones who told something about it's quality, other than "this and that route was my favourite", and similar comments)

I think you need to check out my first comment and find out what exactly I was criticizing this idea for, because it wasn't the lack of a "well-written" romantic storyline.

You criticized THE WAY it handles the issue, without knowing anything about the way it handles the issue other than the fact that it exists.

I criticized the game for handling this delicate issue to begin with. Obviously, I wasn?t too sure that a Japanese interactive porno named ?Disability Girl?, sprung forth from the boards of 4chan, would do a good job dealing with the problems of being disabled.

If you?ve played the game and disagree with me then that?s fine though it?s hardly going to convince me to play it and even if I did, I doubt I?d think any differently of it.

No it's not. If you would have tried it, or even read 1-2 pages of this thread, you would know that it's neither Japanese, nor interactive, nor a porno.

It's a visual novel, a novel-like linear written story with background images. The only interactive element is that you can choose, often with a single click, which of the five character's story to read. If you say that there is something *inherently* creepy about that medium, then I can't see how novels or movies would be any different. Basically, you are saying that the very IDEA of a romance story about disabled people can't be handled tastefully.

And it has sex scenes, about one per girl, over the 400.000 word long story. (The Lord of the Rings trilogy is 470 000). That can be turned off. And that every poster here reported to be non-fetishizing, sensitively written, or even awkward.

And the point is not that *I* disagree with you, but that literally everyone who has read it. One deluded pervert can be explained, some poor guy even tried to protect Rapelay, but there were others who tried it for objectivity, and reported that yep, it's disgusting.

But in this situation, your sole uninformed "opinion" against everyone who actually knows how it handles the issue, sounds an awful lot like certain Cooper Lawrence's opinion on Mass Effect.

I wouldn't waste any more time with a guy like that. Haters gonna hate. If he wants to be close minded and critisize something he knows absolutely nothing about, it's his prerrogative and he's all the more ignorant for labelling everything he comes up against without caring what it really is.

And on the subject of labelling. For all you people who lightly say that stories about the disabled are superfluous because we all know how much it sucks and we all know they are the same as us and we are all super-understanding and empathetic with them and treat them with kindess and patience, for all of you, save it, please. Denial isn't a river in Egipt.

That "denial isn't a river in Egipt." as you so eloquently put it, is true. But really now.
What, am I ignorant because I don't see a dating simulator featuring the choice to date and fuck disabled characters rather than just "normal" kids as a statement of equality?

And even if it was then fuck, what a sound world don't we live in?

But you're right about him wasting time on me. My original comment, that I think this whole thing is a darn bad idea, is not some kind of political statement or argument, or an invention to a debate for that matter. It's a personal opinion and one that has yet to change. And I have my reason for thinking what I think.

And since you push me, I will reveal them and the truth is that I find all these dating simulator games pretty gross to begin with. There's something off-putting about the very idea, and I?m not gonna feel any better about disabled people being included in this vulgar genre just because this game happened to feature a longer gestation period than normal.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I don't usually comment on anything, but I do have to say I am disappointed with this game. Mainly because it does not feel like a game.
Going into it, given that it was described as a "dating sim" in the article, I assumed that It'd play much like a role-playing game where i'd be able to make decisions and be able to create different and meaningful relationships with the characters involved. However, now having finished the game, it appears that the game doesn't wish you to do that.

That's because people tend to use "dating sim" and "visual novel" interchangably, even when it's a laughably inaccurate mistake.

That's part of why you'll see the tons of comments in this thread correcting the article and other people on it.

 

[Weaver]

I don't usually comment on anything, but I do have to say I am disappointed with this game. Mainly because it does not feel like a game.
Going into it, given that it was described as a "dating sim" in the article, I assumed that It'd play much like a role-playing game where i'd be able to make decisions and be able to create different and meaningful relationships with the characters involved. However, now having finished the game, it appears that the game doesn't wish you to do that.

That's because people tend to use "dating sim" and "visual novel" interchangably, even when it's a laughably inaccurate mistake.

That's part of why you'll see the tons of comments in this thread correcting the article and other people on it.

Do you plan on doing a user review of Katawa Shoujo too?
I've never completed a visual novel before (though I read a lot of non-visual novels ) so I'd be interesting in seeing what someone with a ton of experience in the genre thinks about it, as I'm really liking it.