FunHi.com, a dating service, a new game, a bit over the top?
Wired News has done the honor and given www.funhi.com a small blurb http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,62826,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_4. I've gone through all of the literature, and it looks like this is just another dating service, but with a big spin. It is laid out more like a game than a dating service.
You start out by signing up for the site. You get to choose from a persona that you'd like to fill. Currently there are about 50 and they range from a cheating husband (LOL) to a Drag Queen. Funny stuff, and it seems more like a game all the time right? I'd actually say this part is a little overhelming with so many choices, so they must not have read very many game design books, but hey, it works and people are signing up left and right. After you pick your persona, you get re-directed to the really seed, I'm definitely a dating service, form o death. They want your headshot, your sexual alignment, and all that jazz. It is short and they don't care about the personality at all (guess they got that from the one click first step).
Don't be fooled, all of this seedy signup really doesn't make it a dating site. Its is more of a pseudo-fan site for undiscovered models or something. After you do get signed up you either give the luv or receive it. Luv, it turns out, costs some cash. So you have to be willing to shell out money to let people know you like their style. All too quickly this is resembling some form of social game, with the extra bonus of actually getting yourself noticed if you need that type of exposure, and a free chat service. All in all, the site isn't a bad deal for a large group of socially oriented people/gamers. Here is my review:
- The site is more a dating service than a game. They have some game-like elements, in the form of the luv gifts and the ranking systems. The usage of personalities add a kind of role-play aspect. There is a reality check (or rather a relax from reality depending on how you look at it), when you realize there are loads of casting jobs posted on the site that you can link to. Maybe we'll see the top 10 stars on this site walking across the TV someday, and maybe that is what the object of the game is? Get your star noticed?
- Gameplay appears to be purely social. The concept is that of icons and fans. As a fan, you try to give as much love as you can to other people you think might be icons. The more love someone gets the higher they move up the rating chart. Of course, icons have a job as well. They need to take hot photographs that would make you want to spend your hard earned cash.
- There is a currency. All good games define a currency I think. Currency doesn't just have to be something you can use to buy things, but instead currency can also mean items that contribute to score (example, the currency in pac man is stuff you eat that equates into score, so food is the currency). The currency in this game turns out to be fans and luv. Fans are kind of free, since anyone can proclaim to be your fan, and for the low cost of a penny, they can start to send you love. If you read the Wired article, some people are giving too much love and one guy spent nearly $1000 in one month of real life money for things like plane tickets and other virtual gifts for his favorite icons.
- This game is bridging the gap. What do I mean? Well, the Sims dating games are proving that people think social interaction as a game is interesting enough to play. Dating sites are getting some of the largest sign-up rates in history. Put these two together and make a site that pushes a dating game with real life people, modelling, and money all in the mix.
I really think there are opportunities for similar games here. Coke recently did a DJ game where you could spin tunes and get people to come and listen to your stuff. People love these types of games (PS, it might have been Pepsi, I don't follow the beverage wars anymore). The fact that this group is managing to make some coin off of the *game* is also pretty cool. This site might provide new models for other dating service type sites to get a larger portion of their user base active (the traditional issue with dating services is the initial up-front cost in order to participate as a full member).
Well, I thought this was an interesting game concept to share. I'm interested in hearing other people's comments on what they think of the idea.