Mobile games give females more choices

Travel Frog Sun Jiashan, an expert at the Chinese National Academy of Arts

Female-oriented online games are becoming increasingly popular in China, as reflected in the mass appeal of games such as

and games that can attract females. However, Travel Frog, which originated in Japan, has not only caught the attention of female players but also inspired many to care more about people’s psychological needs.

The market for female-oriented games in China has been lagging behind those of developed countries such as Japan and the United States, where women comprise a major part of the players. Maybe China’s patriarchal culture, which used to be indifferent to women’s recreational needs, is to blame for that.

However, with China’s fastpaced economic and social development, and Chinese people’s increasing awareness about gender equality, society is attaching greater importance to women’s rights and consumer power. Besides, thanks to technological innovation, mobile terminals are breaking social and gender barriers, by allowing everyone to download and play online games.

Travel Frog has become popular also because a player needs just mild interaction with other gamers and does not have to spend much time on taking care of the frog. It meets the expectation of modern interpersonal relationships of today’s young people, who despite desiring a close relationship want to remain independent.

The young players are taking quite a rational decision by raising a digital pet as an “emotional companion” in these times of intense competition, because they do not need a lot of money or space to take care of the pet. Zhou Kui, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University

CAI MENG/ CHINA DAILY