Columnist Sophie Kruse discusses her most recent addiction: "Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector," an app where you have a yard and put out food to attract cats.
I usually have an obsessive personality when it comes to apps. When I find a game I like, I tend to play it nonstop until I’m so sick of it I can’t bear to play it anymore. I recently found a new game to get addicted to. It might be my most embarrassing addiction yet: "Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector."
I’m not really sure what the target market for the game is, but I’m thinking it's kids in Asia (the game originally was released in Japanese). The graphics are simple animations and look like they’re right out of a children’s book.
The premise of the game is pretty simple: You have a yard and need to put out food and items in order to attract cats to come hang out. When they’re finished in your yard, they leave you a prize — either sardines or goldfish. You must have those in order to purchase more items and fancier food. Goldfish are the more in-demand currency for the game and can be used to expand your yard. Eventually, you’re able to remodel.
The goal of the game is to collect all the cats (there are 49) and collect all the mementos they leave for you. You are able to snap photos of your cats playing with their different toys and create an adorable “catbook.”
There are rare cats that require special items. For example, Lady Meow Meow needs a luxurious hammock and Guy Furry needs a stove. However, a majority of the cats don’t need anything special and will come on their own time.
I know the game sounds pretty darn ridiculous, but it’s a strange addiction that will provide you a lot of satisfaction. You have to check the app throughout the day to put out more food and collect the rewards that your kitty friends left you. You find a special bond with some of the cats (you’re even able to change their names if you want to personalize it). It will give some people a much-needed responsibility — maybe play the app if you’re thinking about adopting a pet but feeling a little under qualified for it.
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Another perk is that the game is pretty adorable, and you should play it if only for that reason. The cats are funny and uniquely different, the toys you can buy for them are ones you would want to buy for your own cats, and the mementos they bring to you are silly (like pretty stones, a bottle cap or a damaged fork).
Sophie Kruse is a senior studying journalism. Have you played Neko Atsume? Email Sophie at sk139011@ohio.edu or tweet her @kruseco.
