Game Girls Go!

[HCK]

I've always felt that we should offer up a truncated version of the first episode to whet peopl's appetites.

That being said, because we've had to negotiate rights to use gaming footage and sounds, we may not be able to do it that way. When it comes to producing a show like this, in the end, game companies have you by the short hairs.

But it is something we would like to do for every episode, really.

[jay_red]

Reading through this thread I was confused by the term "idol" I had never heard of them before. I looked up the company you mention, and read their blog a bit (which is NSFW BTW) and am still a bit unclear, and forgive me if I am being blunt, but is it a porn company?

I saw the promo poster for the show you mention, and it has a naked body with a controller covering her, and that gives off the impression of some pornographic material. If the intent is to have women playing in skimpy clothes, or naked completely, then I am not sure how you intend on marketing it to the West like you seem so intent on.

I guess like most that have posted here, I am probably not the target audience you are looking for, don't get me wrong, I like retro games, and I like Japanese women, but the 2 don't seem to mix.

[Forlorn Drifter]

So, I'm trying to understand here- is this intended for Japanese markets, or western markets?

The way you describe it indicates it is intended for Japanese markets, but if that is the case, then how does that help indicate to devs that Westerners want their games? If its intended for Western audiences, then I don't understand the use of Japanese models, nor the idea that it would get a following.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Japanese pop idols are pretty similar to America's pop stars. They sing, they dance, they make you laugh. They get to wear colorful ridiculous dresses and appear on TV and try very hard to maintain an "innocent" image. As Norris mentioned, having a boyfriend is a dealbreaker for them because of their insane fans.

Happy Chicken Studio's site indicates they are a porn company or close to it. You don't need to look hard - I left the site after 15 seconds. I doubt we'll be seeing any mainstream idols (not that I care).

I'm not interested in porn, or any kind of sexual excitement coming from an LCD screen. If that's what it is I'll have to withdraw my support. Honestly, if you do it you're cutting your target audience in half again and the show will have no chance in the western market.

[brunoafh]

I looked up the company you mention, and read their blog a bit (which is NSFW BTW) and am still a bit unclear, and forgive me if I am being blunt, but is it a porn company?

Best part of the thread so far.

@HCK, the issue you are having here is that the idea of Japanese idols and the West do not mix. Most people will not even understand what an idol is. It is kind of strange that you would not realize this given how into this stuff you seem to be.

[HCK]

Reading through this thread I was confused by the term "idol" I had never heard of them before. I looked up the company you mention, and read their blog a bit (which is NSFW BTW) and am still a bit unclear, and forgive me if I am being blunt, but is it a porn company?

I saw the promo poster for the show you mention, and it has a naked body with a controller covering her, and that gives off the impression of some pornographic material. If the intent is to have women playing in skimpy clothes, or naked completely, then I am not sure how you intend on marketing it to the West like you seem so intent on.

I guess like most that have posted here, I am probably not the target audience you are looking for, don't get me wrong, I like retro games, and I like Japanese women, but the 2 don't seem to mix.

Good questions!

Happy Chicken is NOT nor WILL EVER be a porn company. We have NEVER released a phonographic title, and some of our releases have even been carried by Target, Best Buy, and Sears. Three stores that do not stock porn.

The image you're talking about on HCKBlog was an early concept that we threw together way at the beginning of the project; but through working closer with other idol studios and game companies, the idea for Game Girls changed and became more mainstream.

I am flummoxed, however, that so many people seem to have an aversion to women in skimpy outfits. They're there in popular music videos, on stage, on TV, in movies and in games, comic books, manga, anime, etc etc etc. It permeates popular culture. They're all around. Same goes for hunky, musclebound, shirtless (and sometimes less) men.

Honestly, the end product is going to be very, very mild on the "sexy girl" factor. The show is really about games. More on screen time is given to gameplay and the history of the games and the consoles they're being played on than to the actual idol.

I appreciate your questions!

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Cute girls in bikinis is not the same as porn. Come on. Nobody thinks that.

On the other hand, it's completely logical to think that this (NSFW) is the cover to a porn DVD. The file name is ero_068213.jpg. That is your company image.

Well, marketing it as a gamer's game show seems like the smartest way to go about things. HG101 with cute Japanese girls...hmm..

[HCK]

Happy Chicken Studio's site indicates they are a porn company or close to it. You don't need to look hard - I left the site after 15 seconds. I doubt we'll be seeing any mainstream idols (not that I care).

I'm not interested in porn, or any kind of sexual excitement coming from an LCD screen. If that's what it is I'll have to withdraw my support. Honestly, if you do it you're cutting your target audience in half again and the show will have no chance in the western market.

As I mentioned above, Happy Chicken IS NOT NOR WILL EVERY BE a porn company. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER.

We have produced gravure idol films. Even current musical idols produce gravure idol films in Japan.

AKB48 does it, along with their sister groups.
Morning Musume and all the Hello Project groups appear in gravure films.
Many "popular" voice actresses also appear in gravure idol films.

It's not uncommon at ALL in Japan, but in the west people tend to equate Bikini + Sexy with porn.

I'm reminded of a time when we had a misunderstanding with Best Buy. Their buyer was concerned that they were purchasing pornographic titles from us. I sent the guy a screener for the film to watch. His reply was "that's not even close to porny."

We actually get a lot of unfavorable reviews on Amazon in the US because people thing they're buying a porno or a Girls Gone Wild style video, and they get pissed when that not what they get.

My films have been called thoughtful, shocking, artistic, and even boring... but they have NEVER been called porn.

Additionally, I'd like to point out that if we were a porn company, we'd have a snowball's chance in hell of working with mainstream game companies. And we are working with them.

But I totally understand your reservations!

[emwearz]

Happy Chicken IS NOT NOR WILL EVERY BE a porn company.

Considering the censorship laws in Japan, if someone sent me a link to the blog I would think it was a news feed with shady downloads.

You might not label yourself as porn, but you are selling the shit out of sex.

I think the point you should be taking from this thread, is that people who use this forum seem to be your target audience. No one seems that interested in the premise.

[HCK]

@HCK, the issue you are having here is that the idea of Japanese idols and the West do not mix. Most people will not even understand what an idol is. It is kind of strange that you would not realize this given how into this stuff you seem to be.

Yeah, I knew that going into this. We've been slooooowly trying to gain Japanese idol acceptance in America over the last 4 years, and we've had some pretty big successes. Obviously, it's not gone anywhere close to mainstream, but we haven't given up. Because of our persistence, other Japanese companies have started to take an interest in the American market, and I see that as a good thing.