Max_torq is embarking on an interesting project, and if you're interested in taking part, give him a yell! I'll post his forum message below...
Hi Sumeans,
I have been developing game ideas for few years now, including presenting an unsigned game at AGDC a few years back. Recently I have been starting a new and not unrelated venture, the importation classification and retailing of anime dating sims.
You are I am sure familiar with the restrictions on games imported in Australia, so you can be sure these are not the hentai games of which you may be aware. Dating Sims are an enormously popular genre in Japan and Korea, and the sophistication of the games, their graphics, their plots, and their internal mechanisms continue to evolve. These games are fun, and challenging, and recent releases have garnered critical acclaim for their story-writing.
The idea of playing plot-driven romance/adventure games is a bit alien to Australia, nonetheless, I am finding an enthusiatic and growing audience. My hope would be to establish a useful market, and then look to develop a similar local product. To this end I would be interested to hear from any persons who might like to contribute to a dating sim style game. The emphasis in these games is on high quality evocative 2D graphics, however increasingly action is being depicted with 3D CGI sequences. Script-writing is an important skill, as well there would be requirements for programmers, voice actors, sound track engineers and composers.
Anyway, just in case you might be interested in having a look at these games, check out my website at:
http://www.transreality.com.au
cheers,
Andrew Kelman
Transreality Simulations
Canberra, Australia