View source for Software:Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator

{{Short description|2017 visual novel video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
| image = Dream Daddy Steam header.jpg
| developer = ''Game Grumps''
| publisher = ''Game Grumps''
| director = Tyler J. Hutchison
| producer = Arin Hanson<br/>Brent Lilley
| designer = Tyler J. Hutchinson<br/>Jory Griffis<br/>Greg Batha<br/>Eric Itomuna<br/>Alejandro Quan-Madrid (Minigames)<br/>XPTND (Minigames)
| programmer = 
| artist = 
| writer = Vernon Shaw<br/>Leighton Gray
| composer = Jesse Cale<br/>Baths <small>(theme song)</small>
| engine = [[Software:Unity (game engine)|Unity]]
| platforms = [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]], [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]], [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Software:IOS|iOS]]
| released = {{ubl|'''Microsoft Windows, macOS'''|July 20, 2017|'''Linux'''|September 22, 2017|'''PlayStation 4'''|October 30, 2018|'''Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS'''|July 2, 2019}}
| genre = Visual novel
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}
'''''Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator''''' is a visual novel video game released on July 20, 2017 for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] and [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], and on September 22, 2017 for [[Software:Linux|Linux]]. The game was developed and published by ''Game Grumps'' and written by Vernon Shaw and Leighton Gray.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/help-hot-dads-find-true-love-in-dream-daddy-1796207513|title=Help Hot Dads Find True Love In Dream Daddy|publisher=Kotaku|first=Ethan|last=Gach|date=June 18, 2017|access-date=June 19, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619000421/http://kotaku.com/help-hot-dads-find-true-love-in-dream-daddy-1796207513|archive-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref> The expanded ''Dadrector's Cut'' was released for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], along with an update for the PC version, on October 30, 2018.<ref name="dadrectorscut">{{cite web|url=https://gematsu.com/2018/10/dream-daddy-dadrectors-cut-coming-to-ps4-on-october-30|title=Dream Daddy: Dadrector's Cut coming to PS4 on October 30|publisher=Gematsu|first=Sal|last=Romano|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2018}}</ref> It was released on [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] on July 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/dream-daddy-dadrector-s-cut-coming-to-mobile-and-nintendo-switch-558517.phtml
|title=This gay dating sim lets you hook up with your perfect daddy|publisher=Gay Times|first=Daniel|last=Megarry|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=June 19, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619201719/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/76716/gay-dating-sim-lets-hook-perfect-daddy/|archive-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
''Dream Daddy'' is an [[Interactive fiction|interactive]] visual novel where the player can choose between seven different single fathers they can date. Included are mini-games to complete, multiple endings and voice acting by members of the show ''Game Grumps''. The player is able to customize the appearance of their player character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/76716/gay-dating-sim-lets-hook-perfect-daddy/|title=Dream Daddy: Dadrector's Cut coming to mobile and Nintendo Switch|publisher=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|first=Chris|last=Moyse|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619201719/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/76716/gay-dating-sim-lets-hook-perfect-daddy/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Plot==
The game follows a lonely single father who has just moved to a new house in Maple Bay with his daughter, Amanda. On the cul-de-sac where he lives, most of the fathers are single, and the player has the option of romancing them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fulfill-your-dating-dreams-with-dad-dating-simulat/1100-6451031/|title=Fulfill Your Dating Dreams With Dad Dating Simulator Dream Daddy|publisher=GameSpot|first=Aiden|last=Strawhun|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref> The available romance options are:
* Mat Sella, an easygoing musician and coffee shop owner.
* Craig Cahn, a fitness fanatic and the protagonist's former college room-mate.
* Hugo Vega, an avid bookworm and Amanda's high school English teacher.
* Brian Harding, a friendly but highly competitive man who often brags about his daughter's accomplishments.
* Damien Bloodmarch, a goth fascinated with Victorian-era fashions and aesthetics.
* Robert Small, a rugged, mysterious and hard-drinking loner.
* Joseph Christiansen, the youth minister at the local church and the only married dad.

==Development==
Vernon Shaw, the co-creator and co-writer for ''Dream Daddy'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/vernonshaw?lang=en|title=Vernon Shaw (@VernonShaw) {{!}} Twitter|website=twitter.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> met the ''Game Grumps'' while he was working as a talent manager for Maker Studios.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Noclip|title=How Game Grumps Created Dream Daddy - Noclip Documentary|date=September 3, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y_D4kAmmMw|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> Maker Studios was the ''Game Grumps''{{'}} channel network from June 2013 to January 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techraptor.net/content/game-grumps-leave-polaris|title=Polaris is Not So Grump: The Game Grumps Leave Polaris|first=Shaun|last=Joy|date=January 13, 2016|website=techraptor.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=The Game Station|title=Exciting Announcement!|date=July 5, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdZ7iOZOdw|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> The idea for the game came from a joke that Vernon and co-creator Leighton Gray made about dads visiting Disneyland, and the inspiration to make a dad dating simulator came from the pigeon-dating visual novel, ''[[Software:Hatoful Boyfriend|Hatoful Boyfriend]]''. The development of Dream Daddy started after the proposal of the game by Shaw to Arin Hanson, to which Hanson immediately approved. Tyler Hutchinson, the director, and Jory Griffis, the narrative designer, were hired in fall of 2016. The original plan for the game was to have development be done in around 9 months in time for a Father's Day 2017 release, but this proved to be too difficult.<ref name=":0" /> ''Dream Daddy'' was announced on June 18, 2017, with a 45-second-long teaser trailer uploaded on the ''Game Grumps''' alternate channel, ''GrumpOut''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dream Daddy - Teaser Trailer (A Game from Game Grumps!)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W14-40omhWY|language=en|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> On July 14, 2017, it was announced that the game's release would be delayed due to the discovery of some last-minute bugs, and would miss its original release date of July 13, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/dreamdaddygame/status/885770080948244481|title=Dream Daddy on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> It was given a new date of July 19, 2017, only to be delayed again. It finally came out on July 20, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/dream-daddy-delayed-some-fans-are-salty-448950.phtml|title=Dream Daddy delayed, some fans are salty|publisher=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|first=Nic|last=Rowen|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=July 14, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715120618/https://www.destructoid.com/dream-daddy-delayed-some-fans-are-salty-448950.phtml|archive-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/14/dream-daddy-delay/|title=Dream Daddy is currently a delayed daddy|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en-US|last=Warr|first=Philippa|date=July 14, 2017}}</ref> A ''Dadrector's Cut'' of the game, featuring additional sidequests and minigames, was released on the [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]] and launched as a free update to the PC version on October 30, 2018.<ref name="dadrectorscut" />

Initially, Hutchinson and Griffis thought the game was too linear and told Vernon and Leighton to look to the 1994 game ''[[Software:Tokimeki Memorial (video game)|Tokimeki Memorial]]'' for inspiration on system-driven dating sims. After systems-based gameplay was installed, the player did not just play for the dads' affection but play to a point where they could be "cool" or "erudite" enough for the dads' affection. Narrative paths became more character-driven and logic-based as development went on. The [[Software:Word count|word count]] for the game would be around 133,000 when development was eventually over.<ref name=":0" />

A philosophy used by Vernon Shaw while developing the game was "sincerity wrapped in cynicism", meaning the player would play the game because of the intrigue about gay dads but walk away with life lessons about fatherhood and relationships. Griffis recalls the switch from the game being about dads having sex to being about relationships came towards the end of development when [[Social:Character arc|character arc]]s had been fully established. The lack of references by characters to their [[Social:Sexual orientation|sexual orientation]] came from the developers feeling that most media dealing with queer people was about societal issues and not about the relationships themselves. Instead, the game deals with issues like [[Medicine:Social anxiety|social anxiety]] and [[Social:Toxic masculinity|toxic masculinity]].<ref name=":0" />

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators -->
| MC = 72/100<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dream-daddy-a-dad-dating-simulator/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Dream Daddy: A Daddy Dating Simulator for PC on Metacritic|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=August 11, 2017}}</ref>
<!-- Reviewers -->
| GI = 7.5/10<ref name="GI">{{cite magazine|last=Favis|first=Elise|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/dream_daddy/b/pc/archive/2017/07/27/game-informer-review-dream-daddy.aspx|title=Dream Daddy|magazine=Game Informer|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref>
| GStar = 76/100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamestar.de/artikel/dream-daddy-a-dad-dating-simulator-whos-your-daddy,3317642.html|title=Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator - PC|publisher=GameStar|last=Matschijewsky|first=Daniel|date=July 28, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804034321/http://www.gamestar.de/artikel/dream-daddy-a-dad-dating-simulator-whos-your-daddy,3317642.html|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 70/100<ref name="PCGamer">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/dream-daddy-a-dad-dating-simulator-review/|title=''Dream Daddy: A Daddy Dating Simulator'' Review|work=PC Gamer|last=Dwan|first=Hannah|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805081911/http://www.pcgamer.com/dream-daddy-a-dad-dating-simulator-review/|archive-date=August 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Poly = 8/10<ref name="polygon">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/10/16092084/dream-daddy-game-review|title=''Dream Daddy'' review|publisher=Polygon|last=de Rochefort|first=Simone|date=August 10, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810232753/https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/10/16092084/dream-daddy-game-review|archive-date=August 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev1 = Bleeding Cool
| rev1Score = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/07/20/whos-daddy-review-dream-daddy-dad-dating-simulator/|title=Who's Your Daddy? We Review 'Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator'|publisher=Bleeding Cool|last=Sheehan|first=Gavin|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''Wired'' (UK)
| rev2Score = 7/10<ref name="wired">{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/dream-daddy-pc-review|title=Dream Daddy review: subverting gay clichés with great writing|publisher=Wired UK|last=Kamen|first=Matt|date=August 2, 2017|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206194322/http://www.wired.co.uk/article/dream-daddy-pc-review|archive-date=December 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

Critical response to the game was "mixed or average", according to the review aggregator Metacritic.<ref name="metacritic"/> The game's writing was praised by publications, such as Wired UK and PC Gamer.<ref name="wired" /><ref name="PCGamer" /> Critics noted that the game does a good job at transitioning from comedic to serious segments, with Simone de Rochefort of Polygon saying "While it's remarkable and perhaps surprising that Dream Daddy capably handles serious plots—especially if all you've seen is the game's marketing—no one should be shocked that it's also damn funny."<ref name="polygon"/>

The representation of LGBT people in the game was met with generally positive reception. Matt Kamen of Wired UK praised that the game did not use gay stereotypes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/dream-daddy-pc-review|title=Dream Daddy review: subverting gay clichés with great writing|last=Kamen|first=Matt|date=2017-08-02|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=2019-07-11|issn=1357-0978}}</ref> Elise Favis of ''Game Informer'' said on the game not referencing the characters' identities, "Datable characters don't ever speak of sexual identities, which can feel strange at times, but it is also appropriate; since Dream Daddy is about fulfilling fantasies rather than mirroring reality, I got the sense that this world is removed from those social issues."<ref name="GI"/> Hannah Dwan of PC Gamer said the game should have included commentary on the difficulty of queer people finding relationships in society.<ref name="PCGamer" /> The game's system of determining what [[Philosophy:Gender identity|gender identity]] and sexual orientation the player character has was praised by Wired UK.<ref name="wired" />

===Accolades===
The game was nominated for "Best Visual Novel" in ''PC Gamer''{{'}}s 2017 Game of the Year Awards,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/nominees-pc-gamer-goty-2017/|title=Games of the Year 2017: The nominees|work=PC Gamer|author=PC Gamer staff|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065910/http://www.pcgamer.com/nominees-pc-gamer-goty-2017/|archive-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> and for "Best Adventure Game" in IGN's Best of 2017 Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Adventure_Game|title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best Adventure Game|publisher=IGN|date=December 20, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223120204/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Adventure_Game|archive-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> It was a runner-up each for "Best New Character" (Damien Bloodmarch), "Best Cast of Characters", and "Game of the Year" in Giant Bomb's 2017 Game of the Year Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-four-debut-new-character/1100-5707/|title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Four: Debut, New Characters, Story, and Styyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyle|work=Giant Bomb|author=Giant Bomb staff|date=December 28, 2017|access-date=January 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229161407/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-four-debut-new-character/1100-5707/|archive-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/|title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Five: Best, Worst, Cast, and Capture|work=Giant Bomb|author=Giant Bomb staff|date=December 29, 2017|access-date=January 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114718/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/|archive-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref> It won the award for "Biggest Surprise" in ''Game Informer''{{'}}s 2017 Adventure Game of the Year Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/09/the-2017-adventure-game-of-the-year-awards.aspx|title=The 2017 Adventure Game Of The Year Awards|magazine=Game Informer|first=Elise|last=Favis|date=January 9, 2018|access-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110064621/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/09/the-2017-adventure-game-of-the-year-awards.aspx|archive-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" | 2017
| rowspan="3" | Golden Joystick Awards
| Best Indie Game
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/|title=Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees|publisher=Best In Slot|last=Gaito|first=Eri|date=November 13, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110003232/https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/|archive-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| PC Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| Breakthrough Award (Game Grumps)
| {{nom}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | 2018
| National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards
| Game, Special Class
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/|title=Nominee List for 2017|publisher=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215084122/http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/|title=Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY|publisher=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|date=March 13, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180314070824/http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/|archive-date=March 14, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| SXSW Gaming Awards
| Trending Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2018/2018-sxsw-gaming-awards-finalists/|title=Here Are Your 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!|publisher=SXSW|last=McNeill|first=Andrew|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/18/sxsw-gaming-awards-2018-winners-revealed|title=2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Winners Revealed|publisher=IGN|author=IGN Studios|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>
|}
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Software:Raptor Boyfriend|Raptor Boyfriend]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Twitter|dreamdaddygame}}


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{{Sourceattribution|Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator}}