Popularity Crashed Servers... Chinese AI Nagging Game

Chinese Game 'Eomcheongnan Gyeoljeon: Saehae Moim'
3 Million Downloads Within a Week of Release

Amid the distress many young people feel from the barrage of questions that arise every holiday when families gather, an AI chatbot game responding to relatives' questions is gaining popularity in China.

According to AFP on the 9th, the game "Epic Showdown: New Year Reunion," launched in China at the end of last month, was downloaded by over 3 million people within a week, causing the servers to crash.

Passengers on a Chinese train on the 6th. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Developed by students within 24 hours, the game involves progressively conversing with eight relatives of various personalities, and upon passing each stage, players can finally talk to their parents at the "final level."

Gamers must provide appropriate answers to the relatives' questions at each level to advance to the next.

One of the developers, Wang Ziwei (21), said, "At first, everyone thought it was a game meant to insult relatives. But later, we realized it could be used to find ways to communicate with loved ones and make them happy."

He expressed hope that the game would enable intergenerational dialogue, explaining, "We wanted to help young people during the Spring Festival understand the love and concern of their relatives."

The relatives in the game react with comments like "You are selfish," "You are unfilial," or "You have disappointed the family" if the player's marriage or employment is deemed unsatisfactory or if the answers are rude.

However, some relatives also express concern and care, saying things like "Be careful when driving" or "Dress warmly."

AFP noted, "The questions are predictable difficulties young people might face during family gatherings at holidays," adding that young people returning to their hometowns ahead of the Spring Festival downloaded the game to help cope with the talkative relatives' questions at the dinner table.

It also reported that "some people experience catharsis by venting honest words they cannot say at actual family gatherings through the game," and that after expressing suppressed frustrations via the game, some find it easier to communicate with their families at home.

Additionally, some gamers became emotional during virtual conversations, recalling their deceased parents with whom they can no longer speak.