THE JOURNEY TO SELF-WORTH
The majority of players said the game hasn’t really affected how they feel about affairs of the heart. It has, however, made them more aware of their own self-worth.
“Maybe it’s because I’m slightly older and have experienced quite a bit in life, but I don’t feel that the game has significantly influenced my real-life views on love, marriage, or relationships,” said Yvonne, who recently broke up with her boyfriend. “That’s not to say it couldn’t – but for me, it hasn’t.
“That said, do I sometimes experience romantic feelings while playing the game? Yes, occasionally. After all, it’s an otome game designed for that purpose.
“But how deeply those feelings take root is another matter. At the end of the day, it’s a game I enjoy. I love the features and the experience of being the main character interacting with different male characters, but that’s where I draw the line,” she added.
Said Hazu: “Society tends to assume that if we’re too involved in online dating games, we won’t be able to accept real relationships with men. The game helps us understand our worth in a relationship and shows us how we want to be treated and respected.”
But as virtual reality and AI technology advances and games like Love and Deepspace become more realistic and convincing, psychologists caution that reality and fantasy could overlap.
“If the person and the game character have more back-and-forth ‘natural conversations’, the player feels immersed. They might believe that these relationships are real and struggle with distinguishing between reality and virtual relationships,” says Ooi from The Counselling Place.
Balance is key. “Use these games for enjoyment, self-reflection or to destress “but ensure they do not replace real-life interactions,” Pong said.
