Lonely hearts seek virtual girlfriends at HK fair
Marvel superheroes coming to new mobile game
HONG KONG, July 29, (Agencies): 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.
Student Wong Wing-yeung, 14, said he enjoyed trying out the app at the fair Friday as it could be hard to interact with the opposite sex in real life.
“Maybe it can help those who are shy with girls,” he said. ultra-realistic models of Wonder Woman, Thor and the Hulk at the stall for Hot Toys, a local firm famous for its figurines.
Others posed for selfies with people dressed as Star Wars stormtroopers.
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Marvel Entertainment characters will be featured in an all-new multiplayer mobile game being developed by FoxNext Games’ recently acquired Aftershock studio.
The companies are staying mum on many details of the forthcoming game -- including its title, release date and storyline. For now, here’s what Marvel and Fox are saying: It’s going to be an action/role-playing game chock-full of fan-favorite Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains, which will let players from around the world fight each other in a “unique gameplay experience.”
The game is being developed at Aftershock’s Los Angeles studio, headed by GM Amir Rahimi. That’s the same studio that is creating a multiplayer mobile strategy game for James Cameron’s “Avatar” franchise in partnership with Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox.
Aftershock was previously part of Kabam. It formed as a spinoff following Netmarble Games’ acquisition of Kabam’s Vancouver studio and other assets in late 2016, after which 21st Century Fox’s FoxNext snapped it up.
“Aftershock is creating something special, and we are thrilled to finally announce this news,” said Jay Ong, Marvel’s senior VP of games and innovation. “The game will be the full package: an exciting storyline, epic moments with Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains, and incredible visuals that truly bring our characters to life.”