Love Revo: Losing weight is hard even in video games
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We've been immensely interested in Otometeki Koi Kakumei: Love Revo ever since we caught wind of the DS game, but we hadn't seen any in-depth impressions of the dating sim until now. While it's a port of a 2006 PS2 game with very little added content, it has a unique concept: you play as a 200-lb, doltish girl looking to shed some pounds and smarten herself up to meet the standards of seven possible bachelors. Interestingly, there's also, uh, a somewhat incestual possible ending.
Gamer Tell's Jenni Lada has a few curious notes on those unattached boys from her Love Revo playthrough: Souta, a blue-haired buck in the grade below your character's, has the lowest weight-loss requirement, and he'll date you once you've worked yourself down to 165 lbs. Perhaps the developers are implying that his youth and romantic inexperience have kept his standards lower than matured gentlemen? Because of his relatively accepting nature, Jenni found herself thinking of him as "a better person than the other male bachelors." Take notes, guys!
You would expect Toru, your character's childhood friend and a similarly overweight individual, to be more understanding of your obesity, but not so! You have to slim down to 143 lbs before he gazes at you with hearts floating around his head. Toru's willing to take you under his husky wing, however, if your reading stat is only at 60; Souta must place higher importance on brains than looks, as his reading stat requirement is 65.
To lose weight and build up your stats, you have to efficiently balance your activities, food intake, work, money, and stress. Despite her best efforts, Jenni found that balance too challenging to achieve, and her game ended with a "mean, thin girl" mocking her character. Determined to win herself a man, she used an Action Replay cheat code to rake in unlimited cash. Pockets full, she had no trouble gaining kind-hearted Souta's affection.
So, is it easier to lose weight when you're rich? And is it easier to shack up with someone when you have money?
Reader Comments (11)
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 12:22PM (Unverified) said
Cripes, WTF is wrong with you, Japan.
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 12:48PM (Unverified) said
The manboobs are beautiful.
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 1:01PM (Unverified) said
I'm probably speaking from ignorance, but isn't it true that in Japan overweight individuals are treated in a sub-human manner? I mean, that's kind of the way it is everywhere, but especially in Japan I get the feeling that there's a special and intense revulsion toward the obese. I don't know if it's just some remnant of the collectivist spirit of old or just above-average superficiality, though. Either way, still pretty facepalm-inducing when you see it in action.
Oh, and yes and yes on both questions at the end of the article. You'd be surprised.
Oh, and yes and yes on both questions at the end of the article. You'd be surprised.
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 1:25PM (Unverified) said
Almost everyone is overweight where I live in Screwston, they look down on me because I'm 116 at 5'11''
Also, obesity is a disease; sure there's an addiction, but the same thing goes for cigarettes, and if you can scold people for smoking, you can scold them for eating unhealthily.
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Also, obesity is a disease; sure there's an addiction, but the same thing goes for cigarettes, and if you can scold people for smoking, you can scold them for eating unhealthily.
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 2:19PM (Unverified) said
I don't want to change the subject from the game to the issue dealt with in the game, but the "obesity is 100% invariably under the control of the individual" argument just isn't as completely valid as it used to be (don't worry, I'm not entirely contesting what you've said; you'll see momentarily). Although I'll never defend it in the instances in which it is the result of addiction, and in the majority of cases it is simply a case of an unhealthy habit, we can't ignore emerging evidence of contributing factors like genetic predisposition and western society's, especially the underclass's, dependence on cheap, harmful food due to the total detachment from the agricultural lifestyle of our forefathers. I can provide examples of both exceptions from my own family, but I realize that anecdotal evidence just doesn't make a good argument.
Nor should you be singled out for being very thin, either. I would be all for treating obesity like alcoholism, nicotine addiction, et cetera if we reached a helping hand out to the overweight like we do other addicts. The problem is that we as a society aren't at that mindset yet; health issues remain marginal when compared to childish "eew, you're fat, you fatty fatso" aesthetic displeasure. Other addictions have the luxury of not altering how the individual looks for the most part. This game looks to be mocking "ugliness" rather than addressing a problem, so this is where I fault it.
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Nor should you be singled out for being very thin, either. I would be all for treating obesity like alcoholism, nicotine addiction, et cetera if we reached a helping hand out to the overweight like we do other addicts. The problem is that we as a society aren't at that mindset yet; health issues remain marginal when compared to childish "eew, you're fat, you fatty fatso" aesthetic displeasure. Other addictions have the luxury of not altering how the individual looks for the most part. This game looks to be mocking "ugliness" rather than addressing a problem, so this is where I fault it.
Posted: Apr 12th 2008 3:27PM (Unverified) said
despite societal prejudice towards fat people and what not, i don't really find fault with this game. it's obviously based on real issues people deal with in real life: wanting to become attractive, but distilled down to a game form. perhaps it could even generate a greater feeling of compassion for unattractive and or fat people, by letting players take on the struggle of losing weight and finding a mate.
Posted: Apr 13th 2008 7:47AM (Unverified) said
Obesity is not a disease. A disease is something you can catch. A person just can't gain 100 pounds magically from someone. The only real reason a person gets fat is either genetics, or the of food they eat. Like for instance in America MSG and Aspartame are distributed in many of the foods. MSG makes the food very addictive, that way the
consumer will keep buying more and more which leads to them eating so much of the stuff. MSG and Aspartame are culprits to the vast obesity problems. I know the side effects differ from person to person. But trying to avoid MSG and Aspartame really helps lose the pounds. I
lost a few pounds(I'm not overweight I weigh 100 and I'm 5'2". And I'm not anorexic either, I'm skinny-average build. Both of my parents
are skinny. But they aren't anymore. Gee, I wonder why.) and my rashes disappeared. And this was within a year! I felt a whole lot better. Just eat small healthy meals and drink lots of fluids. It also helps to work out.
I hope I didn't offend anyone. This was just my honest opinion and my experience.
And to answer the questions. Yes, and yes.
consumer will keep buying more and more which leads to them eating so much of the stuff. MSG and Aspartame are culprits to the vast obesity problems. I know the side effects differ from person to person. But trying to avoid MSG and Aspartame really helps lose the pounds. I
lost a few pounds(I'm not overweight I weigh 100 and I'm 5'2". And I'm not anorexic either, I'm skinny-average build. Both of my parents
are skinny. But they aren't anymore. Gee, I wonder why.) and my rashes disappeared. And this was within a year! I felt a whole lot better. Just eat small healthy meals and drink lots of fluids. It also helps to work out.
I hope I didn't offend anyone. This was just my honest opinion and my experience.
And to answer the questions. Yes, and yes.
Posted: Apr 13th 2008 10:51AM (Unverified) said
my only addition to the ongoing debate about the nature of obesity is this: while it is technically possible to scold someone for their unhealthy habits (smoking, eating unhealthy food, etc) it's exceedingly rude, crude, and socially unacceptable to do so unless you are the person's doctor.
on the questions asked in the post:
Yes, it is easier to be healthy when you're rich. Healthier foods cost more and take more time to prepare, so lower-income individuals often rely on cheaper, unhealthier quick-fix foods. extra money can also mean gym memberships, hiring a nutritionist, and other services that can facilitate a healthier lifestyle that someone struggling to make ends meet doesn't have the time and money to access.
As for being easier to shack up with someone when you have money, yes. If by "Shack up" you mean the conventional definition of "Live with." You can afford a decent place with enough space for everyone to have privacy and comfort. in terms of getting dates (since this is in regards to a dating-sim game) yes. Money can buy nicer clothes, expensive hair/skin/whatever products, and other items to make a person appear friendlier, more approachable, and more desirable.
on the questions asked in the post:
Yes, it is easier to be healthy when you're rich. Healthier foods cost more and take more time to prepare, so lower-income individuals often rely on cheaper, unhealthier quick-fix foods. extra money can also mean gym memberships, hiring a nutritionist, and other services that can facilitate a healthier lifestyle that someone struggling to make ends meet doesn't have the time and money to access.
As for being easier to shack up with someone when you have money, yes. If by "Shack up" you mean the conventional definition of "Live with." You can afford a decent place with enough space for everyone to have privacy and comfort. in terms of getting dates (since this is in regards to a dating-sim game) yes. Money can buy nicer clothes, expensive hair/skin/whatever products, and other items to make a person appear friendlier, more approachable, and more desirable.
Posted: Apr 13th 2008 11:32PM (Unverified) said
I feel like I would really enjoy this game. Too bad it's probably in Japanese.
The fatties need to lose weight! ;)
The fatties need to lose weight! ;)
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