Virtual Companion

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Definition

A virtual companion is a phrase used to describe an interactive program accessible through web or mobile that serves as a companion, partner or lonliness agient with a remote or virtual persona. Most commonly this relationship exists as a boyfriend or girlfriend for the user in question. A virtual boyfriend or girlfriend program often has a variety of different reactions or prompts with which they interact and support the user.

Prompts from virtual companions range from entertaining and complimenting users, asking how users are doing or providing sexual enticement. These virtual companions are quite popular in Japan, as the culture is often one that is harried and does not have the time to sustain or seek out a traditional real-life relationship. Virtual companions often provide a guaranteed positive experience with a minimal amount of potential error and no rejection for the user. "Given the sometimes rocky road to love in the real world, many users find virtual partners even more desirable than the flesh-and-blood variety".[1] Lonely individuals may often find that a virtual companion provides just the right amount of attention that they need without the drawbacks that real relationships might have such as nagging, judging, or jealousy. A virtual boyfriend, for instance, will have attention always available to his user, or a virtual girlfriend will ensure her user that he is strong, attractive, and of good character.

Gameplay

"Bandai Network's Mail de Koi Shite (or Falling in Love by Mail) is targeted towards men who are given the choice of seven virtual women, including a school teacher and a nurse". After the player chooses a companion, he enters into a "three-month email courtship" by which "the user must seduce his cyber-love by scoring as many points as possible by finding out as much as he can about his "girlfriend" - apparently not always an easy task".[2] At the end of three months, the verdict of "I like you" or "We can still be friends" is given to the user.

Virtual Boyfriend or Girlfriend Anyone Posted By: The ITM Guys On: 2010-01-27 14:53:56

Virtual Girlfriends and Boyfriends Date: 01-02-2010 By Ridam

Your Virtual Girlfriend Susannah Breslin. November 13, 2008. 11:32Am.

Internet Archive of Having A Virtual Boyfriend Is Awesome. Posted by Blissmo. 11 December 2008.

Japanese Girl Sensation: Virtual Boyfriends (Webkare). Serkan Toto on Sep 20, 2008.

βoyfriend (Escape Pod Podcast EP216) Madeline Ashby, read by Tina Connolly. September 17, 2009.

References

  1. Virtual love seduces Japan Tuesday, 13 February, 2001, 19:41 GMT.
  2. Virtual love seduces Japan Tuesday, 13 February, 2001, 19:41 GMT.