Latest news with #FatCat
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
China's Revenge On Gold Diggers video game fuels sexism debate
Revenge On Gold Diggers, a full-motion video interactive game, is now among the country's top 10 best-selling titles on Steam. PHOTO: REUTERS BEIJING – One of China's best-selling new games has renewed a debate around sensitive gender issues in a country grappling with plunging marriage rates. Revenge On Gold Diggers, a full-motion video interactive game, soared to the top of Steam's revenue charts in China since its launch a week ago. Selling at US$6 (S$7.65) apiece, it is now among the country's top 10 best-selling titles on the PC platform, surpassing enduring hits like Black Myth: Wukong and Baldur's Gate 3. Developed by a little-known indie studio, the game unfolds as a series of choose-your-own-adventure episodes, where the player acts as a male protagonist interacting with five women. The female characters range from a live-streamer to a coffee shop barista, each of them exploiting their male counterparts for money. One of the women in the game boasts about her manipulation by saying, 'He's more obedient than a dog.' These storylines have stirred controversy on China's social networks, with critics slamming the game as a sexist fantasy. The developer responded by renaming the title to the more palatable Emotional Fraud Simulator while keeping all content intact. Opinions have been split. A state newspaper in Beijing opined this week that the game helps 'creatively strengthen young people's awareness of safety in romantic relationships', with other official outlets reposting the sentiment. Marriage numbers in China have been falling for most of the past decade and plunged to a record low last year – compounding a demographic crisis that's proliferating across the world's second-largest economy. Facing job insecurity and uncertain futures, young people are finding solace in things like video games, pet ownership and trendy collectibles like Labubu. Revenge On Gold Diggers has also been compared by Chinese social-media users and local media such as Sixth Tone with a recent real-life tragedy. In 2024 , a young gaming influencer nicknamed 'Fat Cat' killed himself and the internet attacked his girlfriend. A legion of Chinese indie games studios are trying to make it on Steam in the romance simulation genre, after 2024's surprise hit Love Is All Around. Featuring live-action footage, these games typically portray a male protagonist romantically pursuing multiple women and offer varying endings based on a player's dialogue choices. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
China's 'Revenge on Gold Diggers' video game fuels sexism debate
As marriage numbers in China plunged to a record low last year, a game that paints its female characters as gold diggers exploiting their male counterparts for money has stirred controversy online. — Photo by Gigi on Unsplash One of China's best-selling new games has renewed a debate around sensitive gender issues in a country grappling with plunging marriage rates. Revenge On Gold Diggers , a full-motion video interactive game, soared to the top of Steam's revenue charts in China since its launch a week ago. Selling at US$6 (RM25) apiece, it's now among the country's top 10 best-selling titles on the PC platform, surpassing enduring hits like Black Myth: Wukong and Baldur's Gate 3 . Developed by a little-known indie studio, the game unfolds as a series of choose-your-own-adventure episodes, where the player acts as a male protagonist interacting with five women. The female characters range from a live-streamer to a coffee shop barista, each of them exploiting their male counterparts for money. One of the women in the game boasts about her manipulation by saying, "He's more obedient than a dog.' These storylines have stirred controversy on China's social networks, with critics slamming the game as a sexist fantasy. The developer responded by renaming the title to the more palatable Emotional Fraud Simulator while keeping all content intact. Opinions have been split. A state newspaper in Beijing opined this week that the game helps "creatively strengthen young people's awareness of safety in romantic relationships', with other official outlets reposting the sentiment. Marriage numbers in China have been falling for most of the past decade and plunged to a record low last year – compounding a demographic crisis that's proliferating across the world's second-largest economy. Facing job insecurity and uncertain futures, young people are finding solace in things like video games, pet ownership and trendy collectibles like Labubu. Revenge On Gold Diggers has also been compared by Chinese social-media users and local media such as Sixth Tone with a recent real-life tragedy. Last year, a young gaming influencer nicknamed "Fat Cat' killed himself and the Internet attacked his girlfriend. A legion of Chinese indie games studios are trying to make it on Steam in the romance simulation genre, after 2024's surprise hit Love Is All Around . Featuring live-action footage, these games typically portray a male protagonist romantically pursuing multiple women and offer varying endings based on a player's dialogue choices. – Bloomberg
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Fat Cat hits the South West to raise money for Telethon at grand opening of the Bunbury Spudshed
The grocery store aisles were packed this week as Fat Cat and the Spud King walked through Bunbury's newest supermarket. Fat Cat hit the South West last week to raise money for Telethon alongside Tony Galati at the grand opening of the Bunbury Spudshed. Opening it's doors on May 29, the new store saw hundreds of shopping make their way down the aisles to browse the selections while the crowds outside enjoyed sausage sizzles and selfies drumming up donations for Telethon. The new store is set to deliver farm-fresh produce straight from Galati family farms to Bunbury, open 24/7. Founder of Spudshed and potato monarch Tony Galati said the opening went 'really well' and likely raised thousands for Telethon, with past store openings often raising more than $40,000. 'We always try our best,' Mr Galati said. 'We support telethon every year, and what we have done here is provided a bag of potatoes — four kilos for a dollar — and all the proceeds go to telethon.' Mr Galati said he was happy to be part of Bunbury and proud of the staff who have set up the colossal new store. 'The people at the out here are great,' he said. 'I'd like to thank all the people from Bunbury that have come down to support us, and we'll be open 24 hours from now on and have these great specials to make food affordable.'
