#GamingBytes: This Chinese video-game lets you be a Tiger Mom
Parenting can be a hard task and while many children might feel resentful towards their parents for forcing their dreams and ambitions on their kids, it is always good to walk a mile in their shoes. To this end, Chinese Parents, a video-game has gained immense popularity in China. It allows players to decide what kind of parents they want to be. Here's more.
Details about the game, 'Chinese Parents'
Chinese Parents can be credited to Yang Ge Yilang, the founder of Moyuwan Games, the independent studio that developed the game. It is available on Steam, an online store run by Valve Corporation, and costs $9.99, which comes to around Rs. 706.
How does the game 'Chinese Parents' play out?
Chinese Parents plays out over 48 round where gamers arrange courses and activities for their children. These include piano lessons, coding, swimming classes, creative writing. You can also buy gifts for your kids. You have to raise them till the competitive college entrance exam, Gaokao. Depending on how you raise them, determines their performance in the exam and subsequent career choices and futures.
You have to balance psychological pressure and parental satisfaction in-game
As a parent, your choices will determine the development of the following qualities in your children- emotional intelligence, intelligence, charm, physical fitness, memory, and imagination. You have to balance putting psychological pressure on the child with maintaining your parental satisfaction, displayed on bars in the game. Another aspect you have to consider is that your child does not lose face in the school.
Bringing up a boy or girl has specific consequences
The Chinese society and some of its prejudices are accurately reflected in the game depending on whether players choose to raise a son or a daughter. Upon choosing to raise a daughter, the virtual grandmother urges that girls don't need to perform as well as boys in school. The mother tells the daughter that her aim should be to marry a good man.
Future plans for the popular and realistic game
As the popularity of Chinese Parents continues to grow, Yang has plans to release an English version this year, which is bound to appeal to a more global audience. He also has plans to release a smartphone version to compare your child's progress with friends.
Game has received positive reviews from players
The game has gained popularity with players saying that experiencing childhood from the parents' perspective drove them to tears. Kang Shenghao, a professional blogger who tried the game, said, "when I play the game and try to boost up figures for my son so he can unlock more achievements and marry the prettiest girl in school, I start to understand my parents more".
