Growing the otome game market : Fan labor and otome game communities online

Abstract

Otome games are a niche category of Japanese games marketed toward women. Outside its country of origin and the infrastructure of the anime media mix, its predominantly female player communities traditionally have defined these games as those that feature romance or dating simulation. In this paper, I look into how fan bloggers talk about their own work in marketing and distributing otome games beyond Japan. In the case of otome game fan blogging, the ability to shape discussions surrounding otome games also relies upon maintaining the image of players as good consumers. Although this work focuses on the practice of fan blogging, it is part of an ongoing study on otome games in English and otome game players outside Japan.