s a sandwich straight guy over 30, I previously gave no thought to ever playing Love and Producer, the most popular mobile game spreading among young Chinese ladies. But following all the ceaseless postings on my WeChat Moments about the four leading "husbands" of this new game, I couldn't help try it out.

"Wouldn't it be weird?" I wondered to myself as it installed on my phone. Definitely. When I first opened the game, I saw the slender Japanese ACG (animation, comic and game)-style characters and deep male voices of an overbearing CEO, a warm policeman, a genius scientist and a pop superstar. It made me feel not only weird, but a little "gay."

RPG, MOBA, tower defense, strategy ... Most mobile phone games revolve around the male perspective. Even Master of Yin and Yang, a game famous for its abundant female players, also keeps this tradition. Making a phone game completely for female game players is unusual, and when I opened Love and Producer, all the elements from the male perspective closed. The female game player becomes the priority, which fills the gaps in the market. No wonder it has become the first hugely popular phone game of 2018.

Paying for virtual idols in the ACG market, where men are the main consumers, has a long history. In this market, a huge variety of items like figures/dolls, accessories and virtual goods are available to consumers. Even in the traditional ACG market, there are completely female-oriented products, such as Sailor Moon joint-type glasses. The boom of Love and Producer can be considered as an extension of female-oriented commodities in China's mobile game market. Needs of the female consumer are finally being treated seriously. The topic, "Let the half-sky in the game," has been put on the desk of the producer. I believe this can also be called an alternative "female right."

When I spoke with girls about this game, many said they were addicted to it, and many had spent tens of thousands of yuan for a SSR (superior super rare) high grade card. No surprise at all, and I even want to giggle. As a means of operation, recharging games is one of the most important aspects in the mobile game design. Compared with other types of entertainment, a sense of immersion and interaction is stronger than other sorts of entertainment, which leads to better effect. When hundreds of people spend a few years working hard just to make you happy, it is hard to refuse spending some money on them.

Because "pay-to-win (PTW)" is one instinct of mobile games, it is unavoidable to be treated as "electronic heroin." So how can we prevent addiction? How can we switch between virtual and reality? Can we encounter a mate selection barrier? There is no need to worry about all this. As adults with independent abilities, we all have "free will" and are responsible for our actions. We not only entertain ourselves when playing games, but also learn about how to deal with the problem of virtual and reality unconsciously. With these experiences in the virtual world, we have a deeper understanding of the world to let us live more firmly.

In the old days, we played operas together; then came the TV generation, so we followed the soap opera at home. But when we started to have smartphones, we began playing mobile games whenever and wherever possible. Entertainment is now a part of everyday life. Singing, chasing drama and mobile games are the ways to entertain ourselves. Thanks to society giving us prosperity and stability, we now have time and money to escape the stressful life and amuse ourselves. As for indulgence or falling in love with a virtual idol? That's not important. A few months later, new "husbands" will come up again.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Times.

Original Link: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1085293.shtml