I'm afraid I don't understand why distributers are so afraid of releasing love simulation games outside of Japan. Americans love the Sims, and the Hot Date expansion sold well, so what's keeping us from getting a Love Hina game, or something like that? (I'm not including (overtly sexually explicit) hentai games, as the PC has plenty of those for the anti-social nihon-wannabe)

DOA:XVB comes close, in that it allows you to purchase accessories for your players, and from what I understand (very little), they may like you more or less depending on what kinds of things you buy them based on their interests. This is half of what dating sims are all about! Schmoozing your way past a girl's better judgement with money and picking the correct choice from a list! Why not take the next step, Tecmo: ditch the Volley Ball facade and admit your genre choice?

Would a dating sim sell outside Japan? I think it would.