We’re excited about Coming Out On Top, a video game in which you play a gay college student jumping into the dating pool. And like real college life the game incorporates erotic content.
The author, who goes by the pseudonym Obscura, is doing her part to combat the idea of gaming as the domain of heterosexual males: “About a year ago, I played a dating [simulation] from Japan on my iPod,” she says. “Apparently dating sims are pretty big over there, and I thought, ‘Hey, this seems like a pretty simple type of game to design! I could do something like this!’
But Obscura says she couldn’t think of any hetero storylines that interested her. “My husband knows I like, um, watching entertainment involving nude men,” she says diplomatically. “And he suggested I do a dating sim about a gay guy. This, combined with the fact that I love drawing the male physique made this project a very natural outlet for me creatively.”
Mechanics-wise,Coming Out on Top is not unlike other interactive titles—a little point-and-click, a little dialogue—and a lot of shirtless hunks.
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Sort of like a Humplex title, except with a plot.
“I originally thought only female yaoi fans would be interested in something like this,” Obscura explains, “And out of that group, only a handful who’d be okay with Western-style art and a choose-your-own-adventure feel. I estimated this would be maybe seven people on this entire planet!”
From the beginning though, Obscura received emails from gay men who were interested in Coming Out on Top, and appreciative that it wasn’t populated with stereotypes and caricatures. “I think they also liked that the game was funny and entertaining,” she says. “As it turns out, it seems like men are actually the overwhelming majority of the game’s audience.”
If you want to play the game, and support Obscura’s efforts, check out to The Coming Out on Top Kickstarter page to learn more.
Obscura
Thanks for the mention! The lower link appears to be temporarily broken but it’s: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obscurasoft/coming-out-on-top-a-gay-dating-sim-video-game.
Thanks for your interest and to anyone interested, I hope you try out the demo!
viveutvivas
Ha, as if people still talked to strangers at gay bars! Doesn’t happen any more since meeting people went online, at least not here in the Northeast.
Raquel Santiago
There are soo many variables in any dating scene that a video game cannot take into consideration. While its probably going to be fun and I will just have to try it, there will probably be someone who tries this game and then applies it to real life.
boring
I want a realistic dating simulation that caters to my demographic: the unattractive and unpleasant.
It’s where we sit around at home and just watch Punisher: War Zone instead.
Ridpathos
“doing her part to combat the idea of gaming as the domain of heterosexual males”
No one has ever told me that gaming is in the domain of heterosexual males. In fact a large percentage of gamers that I meet tend to be gay even if they play the games with straight storylines, or no storylines.
boring
If you play multiplayer Call of Duty on XBox Live, you will understand without a shadow of a doubt that video games are the domain of the heterosexual male, ages 14-25.
Red Meat
@boring: The average age of an Xbox owner is 17, the average age of a PS3 owner is 28 last time I checked. There are more gaymers than you think, they just live in the cyber closet.
darkorient
It’s a game, people. Don’t overthink, it’s supposed to be fun! Quit being party poopers and support the wonderful girl who’s actually doing something with her talent. I would so support her cause if I live in the states.
Obscura
Kickstarter still lets you back the project if you’re outside the U.S. Just an FYI.
fredo777
any men of color in the game?
Obscura
@fredo777: Hi Fredo. Yes, out of the 5 total love interests, there are an African American (Phil) and Asian (Jed). Their sketches were featured on the Kickstarter page, but they’ll be updated throughout the year.
The latest version of Jed is here: http://24.media.tumblr.com/35ec4d0a9d5ace90fc96306bc832a72d/tumblr_mkyf02PlKx1rcw59no1_1280.png