I was forum crawling, as I am wont to do, when I came across a link to “Hello Kitty Online,” an online game that’s either newly released or still in development (I couldn’t really tell).  I clicked through the site a little and became quickly intrigued with the game’s premise, which seems to involve striving for the highest possible level of cuteness.  It’s worthy of a licensed school lunch box.

Along with the link to the HKO site, the forum post went so far as to suggest that this game will probably have the best MMO economy ever… and no one will ever know it.  I presume this comment alludes to the fact that no one will play it because of its cuteness, which also intrigued me.  I might have noted that I was feeling particularly philosophical at the time and left well enough alone, but of course I didn’t.

This game seems, at least from my first impression, to have the same kind of appeal as Ragnarok Online, a disturbingly adorable MMO out of Asia.  I’ve been resisting the urge to pick it up for years, but only because I’ve sworn off MMO games in general.  It’s really just the principal of the thing.  I have too many other games to be playing to add an MMO timesink as well.

But, in spite of the fact that I won’t be playing this or any other MMO, no matter how they bat their giant eyes at me, I’m sad that there’s a stigma already attached to it.  so many gamers seem to think they can’t like “cute” games and still be gamers.  Friends whisper shadowed confessions in my ear, unburdening their souls as they admit to enjoying Animal Crossing as if it were the greatest heresy.  Such confessions are followed by sheepish grins and the mental preparation for my laugh of scorn.  I don’t laugh, of course.  I’ve enjoyed Animal Crossing as well, even dedicating an entire memory card to the game’s voracious appetite.

Frankly, a portable version is right up there with Wario Ware for reasons to purchase a DS—a feat I have not yet accomplished, but which I fully intend to do when I have adequate funds.

I hope that, at some point in the future, gamers can freely admit to liking cutesy games.  I’m happy enough to admit that a huge portion of my games consist of just that genre.  Bring on the kittens and rainbows.  I’m hardcore enough to handle it.

- Jinx

do you think you can handle this