Core Insights - The rise of "Otome" games, designed for female players, reflects a significant shift in the gaming industry, driven by emotional consumption and a growing market for female-oriented content [2][19][20] - Players are increasingly investing substantial amounts of money in these games, with some individuals spending over 160,000 RMB, indicating a trend towards high emotional investment and consumer behavior [1][3][6] - The market for Otome games is expanding rapidly, with the female gaming market in China reaching 8 billion RMB in 2024, a 124.1% increase year-on-year, highlighting the growing influence of female gamers [6][19] Group 1: Emotional Consumption - Players are willing to spend large sums on in-game purchases and related merchandise, driven by emotional connections to characters and narratives [1][3][19] - The concept of "emotional consumption" is emerging, where players seek fulfillment and identity through their virtual relationships, reflecting deeper societal trends among women [20][23] - The Otome game market is evolving from a niche to a mainstream segment, with major companies like Tencent and NetEase entering the space, indicating its commercial viability [4][19] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The total revenue for popular Otome games like "Love and Deep Space" reached approximately 5.87 billion RMB in 2024, outperforming other well-known titles [5][6] - The number of female gamers in China has surpassed 300 million, accounting for nearly half of the total gaming population, with a significant portion engaged in Otome and related genres [6][19] - The rise of "Guzai" (merchandise) consumption, where players purchase character-related products, is contributing to a robust secondary market, further enhancing the emotional connection to the games [8][9] Group 3: Emerging Services - New service industries, such as "Cosplay commissions" and "Dream manuscript" artists, are developing around the emotional needs of players, providing personalized experiences that deepen engagement [10][13] - The "Dream Girl" service industry is gaining traction, where players can hire individuals to embody their favorite characters, reflecting a unique intersection of gaming and real-world interaction [10][12] - Traditional retail spaces are adapting to this trend by creating immersive experiences centered around Otome game IPs, enhancing customer engagement and driving foot traffic [15][18] Group 4: Cultural Impact - The phenomenon of Otome games is reshaping cultural narratives around female identity and emotional expression, as these games provide a safe space for exploring relationships and self-worth [19][20][23] - The emotional investment in these games is not merely a financial transaction but a reflection of broader societal issues, including relationship anxieties and the search for identity among young women [20][23] - The industry is urged to balance commercial interests with social responsibility, ensuring that the emotional needs of players are met without fostering dependency on virtual relationships [23]

Core Insights - The new version 4.0 of "Love in Deep Space" has successfully attracted a large number of players, ranking third on the sales chart and fourth on the Xiaohongshu follower growth list, gaining over 130,000 followers in a week [1] - The success is largely attributed to the new "Oath Card" theme, commonly referred to as "Wedding Card" by players [1][5] - The introduction of wedding cards in otome games is not new, but it continues to capture attention, with many games having previously implemented similar themes [3][5] Game Mechanics and Themes - The wedding card in "Love in Deep Space" appears to follow a "fake marriage" narrative, where players assume the role of a wedding planner, leading to a wedding-themed storyline [5][6] - The wedding scenes are set in a fantastical "anomaly space," emphasizing romantic vows rather than the institution of marriage itself [5][8] - Players have expressed mixed feelings about wedding cards, with some openly sharing their fears of marriage on social media, marking a shift in player sentiment [6][7] Player Sentiment and Emotional Exploration - The current discourse among players reflects a calm expression of fear regarding marriage, contrasting with previous aggressive or narcissistic comments [7] - Players' reasons for disliking wedding cards vary, with some citing personal experiences and others feeling that marriage signifies the end of romance [6][8] - The game serves as a safe space for players to explore their feelings about relationships and marriage, allowing for emotional introspection [8] Commercial Strategy and Market Trends - Wedding cards have become a significant marketing strategy in the domestic otome game market, with successful implementations in various titles leading to increased revenue [9][10] - The core user demographic for otome games is primarily aged 18-30, a group that seeks emotional connection and companionship through gaming [10] - The introduction of wedding cards is seen as a way to fulfill emotional needs, providing a sense of belonging and security that may not be present in real-life relationships [10] Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The female-oriented gaming market remains underdeveloped, with high expectations from players leading to challenges in content creation and community engagement [11][13] - The presence of wedding cards represents a deepening of content in female-oriented games, addressing emotional needs and enhancing player engagement [13] - The industry's evolution towards more sophisticated emotional narratives and gameplay mechanics indicates significant potential for growth and innovation [13][14]

Core Insights - The rise of emotional consumption, particularly through services like Cosplay commissions, reflects a growing trend among young consumers seeking emotional and social fulfillment [1][2][20] - The domestic otome game industry has seen significant growth, with over 300 million female gamers in China, creating a core user base for Cosplay commission services [1][12] Group 1: Emotional Consumption Trends - Emotional consumption is becoming a new growth driver in the economy, with services like Cosplay commissions transforming virtual emotions into real-life experiences [1][2] - The phenomenon of "compensatory psychological satisfaction" drives demand for these services, allowing consumers to pay for idealized companionship [2][20] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The Chinese two-dimensional industry has experienced explosive growth, expanding from 18.9 billion yuan in 2016 to 221.9 billion yuan in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of 42% [10] - The surrounding derivative industries, including Cosplay commissions, are expected to continue growing, with projections indicating the two-dimensional content market could reach 110.58 billion yuan by 2026 [10][12] Group 3: User Experience and Challenges - Users report mixed experiences with Cosplay commissions, with about one-third of experiences being unsatisfactory due to issues like lack of professionalism and quality [4][5] - The industry faces challenges such as the "killing familiarity" phenomenon, where service quality declines after initial positive experiences [4][5] Group 4: Safety and Regulation Concerns - The lack of industry standards and regulations raises safety concerns for consumers engaging in these services, particularly regarding personal safety and emotional well-being [20][22] - Experts emphasize the need for early legislative and regulatory attention to establish service standards and protect consumer rights [22][23] Group 5: Industry Perspectives - Service providers express concerns about the commercialization of Cosplay commissions, fearing it may lead to a decline in service quality and emotional value [19][21] - The industry is characterized by a significant disparity in service quality and pricing, with some providers charging excessively high fees without corresponding service quality [7][9]

Core Viewpoint - The controversy surrounding the female protagonist in otome games, particularly in "Undecided Incident," highlights a broader trend where players prefer to see the female character as a mere vessel for their own identity rather than as an independent character [1][3][17] Group 1: Player Reactions and Trends - Players expressed dissatisfaction with the female protagonist's visibility in the new event of "Undecided Incident," indicating a strong preference for anonymity in the character's portrayal [1][4] - The phenomenon of "anti-female protagonist" sentiment is prevalent in the otome game community, where players often reject the notion of the female character having a distinct identity [3][6] - Similar backlash occurred in "Love and Deep Space," where the female character's appearance in promotional materials led to player outrage and even some quitting the game [4][6] Group 2: Character Development and Market Evolution - The evolution of female protagonists in otome games has shifted from having defined identities to being more customizable, reflecting the changing preferences of the player base [8][10] - Early otome games allowed for more character individuality, but as the genre evolved, the focus shifted towards enhancing player immersion by minimizing the female character's distinctiveness [10][12] - Recent titles like "Love and Deep Space" and "World Beyond" have taken this to an extreme, allowing players to create their own characters, thus reinforcing the idea that the female protagonist is essentially the player themselves [12][13] Group 3: Industry Challenges - The otome game industry faces a dilemma between enhancing player immersion and maintaining narrative depth, as reducing the female protagonist's presence can lead to weaker storylines [14][16] - The current market trend prioritizes player engagement and emotional connection with male characters, often at the expense of character development and plot richness [14][16] - This ongoing challenge suggests that the otome game industry may struggle to balance player expectations with the need for compelling storytelling in the future [16][17]