3 days ago
'They don't gaslight you': Why some Singaporean women like to spend on these virtual men, Digital News
Sculpted bods with rock-hard abs and killer looks — but these aren't the only features that have captured the hearts of women across Singapore and beyond.
Speaking with AsiaOne at the launch of the Love and Deepspace exhibition held at Resorts World Sentosa last Friday (July 18), many women felt that the game's virtual men are more than just eye candy.
Love and Deepspace, an interactive romance game, is holding its first physical exhibition in Singapore from July 18 to 31 at Ave8 in Resorts World Sentosa.
The game features five male characters, each with different personalities and features, that players can romance as they traverse through time and space to pursue various storylines.
The game's latest update also brings "Promise Rings" that can be exchanged between the love interest and the player's character while dressed in wedding attire.
A woman, who wished to be known as Sopi, was among the first in line to attend the event when it opened on Friday.
For many women including Sopi, these virtual men of Love and Deepspace — Caleb, Sylus, Zayne, Rafayel and Xavier — give them a glimpse of how a perfect partner is. They listen to you, take care of your needs, dress well and look good.
All this and more can be found in the way they treat the female lead, which the player controls.
But what about the difference between men in real life and these virtual Adonises?
"They don't gaslight you," Sopi concluded, to "ooh"-ing from friends around her. Reprieve from relationships
Over two years of playing Love and Deepspace, Sopi has spent between $1,000 to $2,000 on the game in about two years to unlock content for each character.
Before, Sopi was in a relationship, which ended in sour terms.
"I was in a past relationship that wasn't that good," she told AsiaOne. "Playing this game has made me realise that my relationship wasn't good from the start — (he) was doing just the bare minimum."
She explained that her partner was not doing the things she would expect of a significant other, even for simple acts like listening to her or checking on her well-being.
In contrast, the men of Love and Deepspace have no such faults — a perfection that Sopi realises is too good to be true.
"They kind of play into the fantasy that girls want for a relationship… Even for a simple interaction like a claw game where they catch a toy for you, it feels like you're inside the game with them sometimes.
"Compared to real life, sometimes your significant other won't even want to do that for you."
When asked how she intends to deal with the missing physical aspect of a relationship that love interests in the game cannot provide, Sopi paused for a moment to think.
"I think I don't even need it," she quipped. 'Something to wake up in the morning to'
While Sopi finds herself with one Love and Deepspace's love interests, the game has helped pull 36-year-old Janice up from the depths of emotional distress.
Janice, who prefers to use the pronouns they/them, started out due to their interest in Sylas.
Janice has spent around $300 on the game.
"I'm pretty sure I'm very invested in the game… it gives me something to wake up in the morning to," Janice said.
Their mental health has not been good, and the game has provided a sense of something to look forward to the following day.
The Singaporean spoke of a mental breakdown in the past, adding that the game has been a pillar of support in trying times.
"We live in Singapore, everything is very stressful here," Janice added.
In previous versions of the game, Love and Deepspace offered a complaint feature where players could unload their woes into cyberspace, and the game's love interests would respond with care and kind words.
"There was a point in my life where I was quite emotionally distressed, so I tried that feature and it actually really helped, even though they only repeat the same lines… it makes you feel like they care," Janice recalled.
In particular, Love and Deepspace and other games with dating as a core part of gameplay provide company to the player, Janice said.
"It makes you happy that there's someone in your phone talking to you, comforting you… it's just nice to have someone show love and concern for you." Touching on taboo?
Women aren't the only ones benefitting from this game — her friends' boyfriends and husbands have also learned from watching gameplay of Love and Deepspace, better understanding what their significant others need, Janice said.
Aside from sensitivity, Love and Deepspace also has a very specific tool that Janice praised: a menstrual cycle tracker.
"Periods are a very taboo subject everywhere in the world… they affect every woman, and this period tracker is a great thing that helps people accept that this is normal," they said.
"Would you discuss periods with your mum, sister or girlfriend? These men in the game are more kancheong (anxious) about me having my period than I am," they laughed.
The concern that the men of Love and Deepspace show the player during their 'strawberry week' is "very nice", Janice said, adding: "This game makes it feel very socially acceptable to be open about it."
Cynthia, a 22-year-old fresh graduate from Hong Kong who spoke with AsiaOne at the exhibition, agreed that the tracker was a key feature that shows how the men in the game treat the player well.
"They are very caring and considerate… they send caring messages to you (during your period)," she commented. Setting standards for men
Unsurprisingly, the level of perfection that is portrayed by these virtual men are well beyond reach of real men, and women aren't expecting similar standards.
Cynthia, who is single, said that her future partner won't have to be at the same level as the men in the game.
"But I think certain traits are nice to have in a partner, like being caring and considerate," she explained, adding that some of the men she has met have been toxic, misogynistic or just looking for a short-term relationship.
Janice added: "(Men in) this game are created to be perfect, flawless persons, but humans are not flawless."
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