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posted by martyb on Saturday July 29 2017, @12:26PM   Printer-friendly
from the 'fair'-choice? dept.

Virtual reality games usually promise shoot 'em up adventures but in Hong Kong Friday lovelorn tech fans donned headsets to go on imaginary dates.

The city's annual Ani-Com and Games fair sees thousands queue to try out the latest consoles or buy up comic book collectibles, often dressed up as their favourite characters.

But for those who had spent too long alone in their rooms, a new VR smartphone app offered some romantic solace.

Users can choose between four female models and spend a vacation with them in either Japan or Thailand, joining them on trips to cafes, hot springs and karaoke.

They slot their phones into a plastic headset and are then immersed on a date, during which they can choose options for activities.

Promoters of the Hong Kong-made app, which is known by its Cantonese name "leoi yau" or "VR travel friend", said it was to help what they called "Otakus" to practise their dating skills.

The name is a Japanese term for obsessive manga or anime fans.

"We want to allow more people to try out what it's like to date a girl because there are a lot of Otakus who don't know how to communicate with girls," Margaret Ming, the app's communication officer, told AFP.

"This game can teach them how to get to know girls," Ming said, adding that there is some flirting involved in the story arcs with the models.

Helpful, or sad?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 29 2017, @08:22PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 29 2017, @08:22PM (#546410)

    You expect me to read the article? You know most of us came from the Green Site and brought our habits with us. :-)
    I still stand by my advice in general because I could imagine older teens and men in their early 20s turning to this technology.