Summary of the Analysis
This article is based on the firsthand experience of a veteran DM with 8 years of experience in the industry, known as “Qixi.” It provides a detailed account of how the script-based game, which originated as a niche social activity focused on reasoning and emotional engagement, has gradually transformed into a highly profitable business that offers “paid dating services and borderline flirtatious interactions.” Games that once cost just a few dozen to a hundred yuan per session have now been inflated to thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan, with reservations required months in advance. There have been extreme cases where women spent 170,000 yuan and had to sell their gold to cover debts. The entire industry—from script production to store management to DM operations—has shifted towards a focus on appearance and the degree of flirtatiousness. Those who truly love the game and are committed to creating quality content have no room to thrive, while ordinary players who simply want to enjoy the reasoning and storytelling elements have become the marginalized minority. The industry has slid further and further into a gray area of soft pornography, shattering the utopian vision that the veteran DM once had of the game.
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Detailed and Easy-to-Understand Explanation
1. The popularity of paid dating services is not due to any magical transformation of the game itself, but rather because it fills a real-life gap
The essence of these services is not about playing the game; it’s about providing a “zero-cost, fully satisfying alternative to dating.” They cater to a common desire in real life: many people are too shy to approach the people they like, or they might be rejected for trying something more “intimate.” They also want a perfect partner who would constantly attend to their needs, but such relationships take a long time to develop. Paid dating services eliminate these barriers. Under the guise of the game, holding hands, hugging, and exchanging romantic words are all acceptable. The DM spends the entire 8 hours focusing solely on the player, fulfilling any desired scenario. Even if the player is socially anxious and doesn’t want to interact with others, they can simply buy extra tickets for background characters. There’s no need to maintain relationships or deal with the complexities and risks of dating in reality. For many women under pressure at work with no time for a relationship, this seems a much more convenient and cost-effective option, which is why they are willing to spend thousands of yuan.
2. The entire industry has conspired to make quick money, pushing regular players to the fringes
In the past, creating a good script and performing well required a lot of effort: writers had to meticulously design plots and twists, and DMs had to rehearse and practice their lines for hours. Now, no one sees the need for this. Why bother with complex mysteries or touching family stories when you can make the DM and player’s romantic storyline sweet and “extravagant” enough to significantly increase ticket prices? Stores can earn ten times more by focusing on these romantic elements. The entire industry revolves around those willing to spend money. Publishers avoid creating regular games and instead package popular DMs as “romantic NPCs,” implementing rules like requiring a monthly subscription to book a preferred DM or even selling “protection cards” that allow players to kick out unsatisfactory DMs. As a result, regular players who just want to play a normal game can’t find a group; the games offered are all about dating, leaving them as the unwanted minority.
3. The truth about the flirtatious gray area: stores profit without risk, while the burden falls on the players
Many think that only foolish people with lots of money participate in these services, and that DMs just sit back and make easy money. However, both parties are exploited. Stores never lose; if a player buys a subscription but the DM is unimpressive, they can’t complain. If a DM behaves improperly, the store can deny any responsibility, blaming the employee’s personal actions. DMs are in a even more vulnerable position; if they refuse to engage in inappropriate behavior or don’t comply with the game’s requirements, they may not be assigned any games or end up with a low salary. Players who have high expectations can’t refuse without ruining the experience, so they have no choice but to find excuses.
4. The so-called “golden age of script-based games” was never truly stable
Many veterans lament that paid dating services have ruined the utopian community they once enjoyed. But this so-called ideal world was always shaky from the start. Even before these services became popular, some DMs were already engaging in multiple relationships for profit. The only thing holding things together was the thin veneer of decency. Stores that focused on quality content, whether owned by wealthy owners or DMs with financial support, couldn’t compete with the lure of quick money. Those who invested time and effort into creating genuine games couldn’t withstand the pressure from profit-driven competitors. In the end, these idealistic stores often went bankrupt within a year or two. The so-called utopia of script-based games was always just a fleeting illusion for a small group of people, unable to withstand the temptation of quick cash gains.