:: Arithmetic :: The Fate of Standalone Apps ::
Remember, information in this article are based off official news release in the Japanese versions of Arithmetic's apps, plus the information found via social media AND contacting the developer themselves.
Whether you heard the bustling news a few days ago or not, we’re here to let you in on the happenings with otome developer, Arithmetic. Popular titles by this company are Seven Hotties, All My Husbands, Several Shades of Sadism, The Cinderella Contract, and Wicked Wolves; along many more memorable titles.
On May 27, 2019 the company released a statement in their Japanese apps announcing the cease of new content in all of their standalone apps. They also mentioned, should they decide to end the service of their standalone apps, users will be notified within the apps themselves. In the same statement, Arithmetic assured users they are developing a new all-in-one, library-style app which will house all their Arithmetic Love Series titles: Oriental Bride, Once Upon A Fairy Love Tale, Cinderella Contract, Seven Husbands, Several Shades of Sadism, Cinderella TV, Wicked Wolves, and First Lady Diaries (there may be a few titles we missed, but these are the better-known ones).
While news of this spread among social media, many were wondering about the fate of the English localizations of the titles. Many theories bounced around social media with hopes of finding an official answer, so Myxprint decided to reach out to the company itself concerning the issue. Aside from omitting confidential information between Myxprint and Arithmetic, here is what we can share from the correspondence:
Myxprint's Original Email:
Hello!
As a reader of the Japanese titles for many of the Arithmetic Love Series games, I came across the news about ceasing production on new content and eventually ending the service of the standalone apps. While this news saddens me, I was ecstatic to hear of the "Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection" app development. With news of the original apps ceasing production, are the other localizations of Arithmetic's games on the brink of the same fate and will there eventually be an English version for the KARÉ Collection app?
Thank you so much and I wish you all the best in health!
Myxprint
Arithmetic's Response:
Dear Myxprint,
This is Arith-Metic, Inc.
Thank you for your email.
Please be informed that at the moment there is no confirmation that there are going to be changes to the English version of our apps. We will be making news announcements if anything gets decided.
Please accept our apologies for the confusion.
We are grateful to know that our fans are happy with our apps, and we hope to introduce even more enjoyable services to everybody. Thank you for your continued use of our apps.
The Official Announcement/Notice from the Japanese version of Cinderella Contract:
[Important] Notification of New Content Suspension Thank you very much for your patronage of "The Cinderella Contract". In 2014, since the application was launched, many people have been playing "The Cinderella Contract". Unfortunately, as of May 27, 2019, we have decided to stop adding new scenarios within this app. Many customers have been playing so far, and all staff members feel grateful. As a result of repeated discussions and examinations, it is judged that it is difficult to continue to provide better services with this application alone due to changes in the market environment, etc. Addition of new scenarios within this app will be terminated with today's notice. For the future, in the summer of 2019, we are planning to port and add The Cinderella Contract within the Otome game library app called "Boyfriend Collection". ■ What is "Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection"? It is an application in which you can enjoy not only games from the "My 2D Boyfriends" series (i.e. the following Arithmetic Japanese games: Once Upon a Fairy Love Tale, Oriental Bride, Wicked Wolves, CC, 7H, SSS, and『眠りと境界のアルカナ』), but also Otome games by other companies as well (at the moment, as far as I can see from their twitter @karecolle, the only other company on this library app is honeybee's new sister company, Linairth). We are planning to add new scenarios for "The Cinderella Contract" in "Boyfriend Collection" from now on, so I hope you can look forward to it. Information on the detailed contents of "Boyfriend collection" will be published on the official site and the official Twitter (@karecolle) / official LINE (@otd8109d) as soon as the information is available. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we hope that you will continue to enjoy the delivery of services in "The Cinderella Contract" and "Boyfriend Collection". We look forward to your patronage in the future. ※ Gameplay (of the stand-alone app) will be available for the time being. ※ We will continue to accept (email) inquiries. ※ We will inform you about the end of service (i.e. total shut-down of the stand-alone apps) separately in the app.
The Official Announcement/Notice from the Japanese version of Cinderella Contract:
[Important] Notification of New Content Suspension Thank you very much for your patronage of "The Cinderella Contract". In 2014, since the application was launched, many people have been playing "The Cinderella Contract". Unfortunately, as of May 27, 2019, we have decided to stop adding new scenarios within this app. Many customers have been playing so far, and all staff members feel grateful. As a result of repeated discussions and examinations, it is judged that it is difficult to continue to provide better services with this application alone due to changes in the market environment, etc. Addition of new scenarios within this app will be terminated with today's notice. For the future, in the summer of 2019, we are planning to port and add The Cinderella Contract within the Otome game library app called "Boyfriend Collection". ■ What is "Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection"? It is an application in which you can enjoy not only games from the "My 2D Boyfriends" series (i.e. the following Arithmetic Japanese games: Once Upon a Fairy Love Tale, Oriental Bride, Wicked Wolves, CC, 7H, SSS, and『眠りと境界のアルカナ』), but also Otome games by other companies as well (at the moment, as far as I can see from their twitter @karecolle, the only other company on this library app is honeybee's new sister company, Linairth). We are planning to add new scenarios for "The Cinderella Contract" in "Boyfriend Collection" from now on, so I hope you can look forward to it. Information on the detailed contents of "Boyfriend collection" will be published on the official site and the official Twitter (@karecolle) / official LINE (@otd8109d) as soon as the information is available. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we hope that you will continue to enjoy the delivery of services in "The Cinderella Contract" and "Boyfriend Collection". We look forward to your patronage in the future. ※ Gameplay (of the stand-alone app) will be available for the time being. ※ We will continue to accept (email) inquiries. ※ We will inform you about the end of service (i.e. total shut-down of the stand-alone apps) separately in the app.
What is the "Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection" app?
Now, we’re sure you are also curious about the all-in-one/library app mentioned above.
If you are familiar with Voltage Inc / Otome Romance’s app, Love 365, or OKKO’s app, Honey Magazine, you may have a general idea of what the plan is. For those who don’t, Arithmetic is developing a new app called Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection, here they will re-release old titles such as Oriental Bride and Fairy Love Tale, along with adding new content to stories such as Cinderella Contract and Seven Hotties.
The benefits to the Boyfriend (KARÉ) Collection app means having all your favorite stories in one place; however, this also means the standalone versions of the apps will cease to exist and, more than likely, your current game progress, side stories, and avatars will not transfer over into the new system.
What should players expect following Arithmetic's announcement?
After speaking with to players, listening to their concerns and trying to pacify them, let us take the time to explain the detailed reason why Arithmetic is in the position they're in.
If you read the entirety of Arith's original announcement, one of the lines read:
"As a result of repeated discussions and examinations, it is judged that it is difficult to continue to provide better services with this application alone due to changes in the market environment."
[more information coming soon.... please be patient as Myxprint works on adding to the article in this section.]
If you still have questions, please let us know!
If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment on this post, message us on Facebook, or even send Myxprint a message on Twitter (@Myxprint). We are more than happy to reach out to the company again; however, there is only so much information they can provide to the public and, while they may share information with us, we are not always allowed to reveal everything. Thank you all for waiting patiently for this article, we wanted to make sure all the information gathered was correct and Arithmetic has time to respond to Myx’s email.
Interesting. They already released a consolidated library app in 2014 called Karepet Games, then abandoned it 2 years latter, after only ever adding 4 stories. They also abandoned Bride of the Orient after adding less than half of the bachelors introduced in the intro.
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