The Pick-Up Simulator: Ars Amatoria

The Pick-Up Simulator: Ars Amatoria is a dark, satirical interactive fiction game that takes the form of a modified parser-based experience. Inspired by the absurdity of social media dating advice and the so-called “alpha male” influencers, the game places the player in the shoes of a young student trapped in a time loop, replaying the same moment over and over again—each time with the knowledge of previous failed attempts. What begins as an innocent attempt to approach his crush quickly spirals into something far more unsettling.

Join the conversation on Discord.

Features

• Time Loop: Every failed attempt resets the conversation, but the knowledge from each loop carries forward. Learn from your mistakes... or fall deeper into toxic behavior.
• Interactive Parser: Type commands to interact with your environment and the girl, the game providing hidden words that reveal their letters as you type, easing newcomers into the format, guiding you, but not always toward the right choice.
• Satirical Narrative: A commentary on the absurdity of pick-up artist culture, gradually subverting the player's expectations as their actions grow more disturbing.
• Multiple Endings: Your actions and choices determine different possible outcomes, ranging from reflective regret to total obsession. Check the Rewind History to see all the paths you already found.

Setting:

You begin just outside your final exam, free from the weight of textbooks and stress, and there she is—the girl you've barely spoken to all semester but can't stop thinking about. This is your chance, one more time... but what will you do with it?

  

Installation & Launch Instructions

No installation required—The Pick-Up Simulator: Ars Amatoria is a browser-based game:

1. Open the game page on itch.io
2. Click Play
3. Use your keyboard to type commands and uncover available actions

Dependencies & Libraries

The game is built in JavaScript and uses no external libraries beyond standard browser functionality. The mechanics are designed to work natively in any modern web browser.

Credits & Licensing

• Developed by: André AnJoMorto Fonseca
• Concept & Writing: André AnJoMorto Fonseca
• Graphics by: André AnJoMorto Fonseca
• Music by: Darren Curtis Music

This project was developed within the Summerschool "Transposition Ludique" under Yannick Rochat, David Javet, and Isaac Pante, and as part of the course "Développement de Jeu 2D" under Isaac Pante (SLI, Lettres, UNIL, Lausanne, CH).

AI GENERATED CONTENT DISCLOSURE

The developer is open about their AI usage:

• AI assistance was used for rewritings, text corrections, and code revision.
• The core game design, writing, and concept remain original.
• All AI-generated content has been reviewed, edited, and finalized by a human.