Why I'm Avoiding One of the Main Features of Valhalla Knights 3
After over ninety hours, I'm still uncomfortable with Valhalla Knights 3.
This Girl's RPG Is No Cinderella Story
Girl's RPG Cinderellife is the newest 3DS title from Professor Layton creator Level-5. Marketed as a "girl's RPG," Cinderellife is the story of a plain girl coming to live in the big city for the first time. Before long, she is working in a Japanese hostess club and dreaming of finding true love amongst her clients.…
Please Don’t Aim Games about Hostess Clubs at Kids!
Earlier this week, I wrote about my first hour playing Girls RPG: Cinderellife. For a laugh, I poked and prodded the game, pointing out its less-than-inspiring portrayal of women—though this is nothing new when it comes to games or any other popular media really.
Confessions of an American Hostess: Getting Paid to Drink with Men
"You have to pet their egos," said Elizabeth. "That's what a hostess does." Now, in her early 30's and married, Elizabeth is living a very different life but was still eager to share her experiences. But only a few years ago, she spent six months working at a hostess club here in Japan.
Twelve Sexy Anime Characters Want to Date You
Originally, Girl's RPG Cinderellife was going to be a 3DS version of the popular cell phone title Kyabajoppi. In Kyabajoppi you manage a host club that is frequented by many famous anime characters. And while, Cinderellife now has you living the life of a single hostess instead of managing the club, the anime…
This Japanese Video Game Sets Feminism Back, Oh, a Good Hundred Years
Girl's RPG: Cinderellife is the newest game by Level-5. Far from the puzzle solving of Professor Layton or the giant armored suits of White Knight Chronicles, this title is directed toward the female gamer demographic—just as the name suggests. But what exactly is a "Girls RPG," I wondered. Is it about a strong female…
Hostess Clubs Are Invading Video Games (Host Clubs Too!)
Last year at the Tokyo Game Show, Level-5 announced they were making an RPG on the 3DS specifically targeted toward girls. I was interested by the idea. What exactly is a "girl's RPG." Would it present girls with a strong female role model or would it just be a traditional princessy love story? But whatever I…
In This Role-Playing Game, You Eat, Shop, And Seduce Men
Girl's RPG: Cinderellife on the Nintendo 3DS purports to be—as the name suggests—an RPG for girls. But what exactly does that entail? Mostly running around a city, buying clothes, talking with men, and finding true love—all in a hostess club setting.