Meet Virtual Girlfriend … A New Era in Dating?

Q&A with the chairman and CEO of Hong Kong's Artificial Life, Inc.

By CAROLINE AOYAGI, Pacific Citizen

Feeling a bit lonely these days? Tired of all the stress and uncertainty involved with today’s dating labyrinth? Well then maybe “Virtual Girlfriend” is the answer for you.

A creation of Hong Kong based Artificial Life, Inc., “Virtual Girlfriend” is a 3G mobile game that allows you to use your cell phone to meet, woo, date, and develop a relationship with a “20-year-old sexy young girl,” if only in the virtual dating world.

“We are very proud of this new product line,” said Eberhard Schoneburg, chairman and CEO of Artificial Life, Inc. “The Virtual Girlfriend is a lot of fun to play and the game sets new and high standards for future 3G mobile games.”

Often compared to the ever popular Tamagotchi game, players of “Virtual Girlfriend” must constantly pay attention to their animated 3-D girl by sending a regular stream of flowers, cards, and anything else that might help you win the heart of your virtual paramour. And if you don’t shower her with gifts, prepare to suffer the consequences of the cold shoulder and the pain of being ignored in a mobile world.

The 3-D characters perform various activities such as shopping, eating at a restaurant, or taking a shower. And they follow a daily and weekly schedule that constantly changes and progresses as the game is played. Users can contact the characters at any time through their mobile phone.

“Virtual Girlfriend” is already creating a stir in the gaming world with an onslaught of media coverage, including pieces on CNN, ABC, and in USA Today. Set to launch on Nov. 15, the game will be available in a variety of languages including English, German, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

And for the women out there wondering what’s in it for them, “Virtual Boyfriend” is set to make its debut on Feb. 1, 2005.

Pacific Citizen recently had a chance to chat with Schonenburg about “Virtual Girlfriend” and what’s behind the creation of this innovative yet humorous game.

Pacific Citizen: Most people I’ve talked to about “Virtual Girlfriend” react with a chuckle and a look of disbelief. Was this the reaction you were hoping for?

Eberhard Schoneburg: Hmmm … we get very different reactions. All the people we show it to say: cool, where can I get this!? No chuckling. We’ve received strong interest from all around the globe, especially in Asia and South America. We were featured last week alone on CNN, CNBC, TVB, and TVE.

PC: Many of my single friends complain about the complexities of today’s dating scene. Did you see a need for this type of innovation in our society today?

ES: Dating is just one aspect of the game. It is something that most people are interested in. Whether they admit it or not, everybody likes to flirt, right?! No matter how much technology evolves or society changes, we all need love and care as much as we need to eat or need to sleep. Flirting and building up relationships with people of the same or opposite sex is a key part of our social life. That’s why so many people are interested in our game — it’s an extension of life.

PC: Is “Virtual Girlfriend” the next step in internet dating?

ES: Our “Virtual Girlfriend” is first and foremost MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT. It is funny and cool to chat or play with. The social components are very innovative, the interaction with the girls are non-linear. However, that means you cannot predict how they will behave as a result of your interaction. That makes it more like real life and not so much like other simple games. You have to learn what the girl is all about, what her goals are, her intentions, her character, her plans. She has secrets that you need to find out to get closer to her and she has moods, changes her routine and mind once in a while. It’s the next level of intelligence for games.

PC: In the photos of virtual girlfriend she appears to be Asian. Will you be developing different ethnic virtual girlfriends as you market the game in different countries?

ES: Asia is our first market and Europe. We will have different types of women, Asian, Caucasian, South American, Indian, depending on popularity and demand.

PC: I understand that the more attention males give to their virtual girlfriends, the higher the levels they can reach in the game. Is an engagement or possible marriage in the future for virtual girlfriend? Can she have kids?

ES: Anything is possible. The appealing thing with this mobile game is that you don’t know what will happen. Things are constantly changing, like in real life. She can get fired from her job, she may move her home, she may get sick, or even pregnant — or she may even cheat on you — who knows?

PC: In terms of intimacy, can virtual girlfriends kiss and have sex with their male pursuers?

ES: How could they? This is a mobile game. No sex possible nor intended. It’s fun and entertaining, teasing at times, but no sex.

PC: Can virtual girlfriend make moral decisions such as not kissing before a certain number of dates, etc.?

ES: Absolutely. This will happen all the time during the play. Remember, we do Artificial LIFE, and that is what life is all about: making decisions that change the rest of your life. But it’s not about kissing. She will behave as much like a normal person as possible. She will not tell you anything intimate on the first visit. She will only introduce other friends of hers when she knows the user well, etc.

PC: In order to advance in the game, males will have to shower their virtual girlfriend with gifts. Have there been any complaints that this may enforce sexist concepts of women?

ES: Why is it sexist to try to win a woman’s heart by giving her virtual flowers? Why always trying to find something negative? The whole idea of virtual gifts is just another way of getting to the next game level! But as I said before, the game is non-linear. Buying a gift, even an expensive one, will not necessarily get you any closer to her. It depends what you also do and how you behave in general. An inappropriate gift may even offend her!

PC: I understand that Artificial Life, Inc. has plans to unveil “Virtual Boyfriend” next year. Can you tell us a little bit more about this?

ES: Yes, in Feb 2005; pretty much the same game just with virtual men.

PC: How successful do you think “Virtual Girlfriend” will be in countries like Japan, Korea, and China? Do you think it will do as well in the United States and Europe?

ES: We think the game will be very successful in Asia, Central and Southern Europe and South America just by the huge positive response we got from these areas after our initial announcement

PC: Do you think “Virtual Girlfriend” will be so time consuming that some males will no longer spend time dating real women?

ES: I hope that the people will like our game and find it fascinating. But I think our users are intelligent enough to see the advantages of real life dates.