Today’s Killer Startup: Neko Atsume
Elevator Pitch:
Neko Atsume is a game for cat lovers.
Why It’s A Killer Startup:
So, I’m not usually into games. I never got into video games as a kid and my phone is mostly packed with work-related stuff, with the exception of Dots (because it’s so addictive). But when my boyfriend told me about Neko Atsume, I downloaded it right away. It’s a game, but it’s like… the most random game that will absolutely not appeal to so many people but will really, really appeal to people like me.
And by “people like me,” I mean people who love cats. To be more specific, I mean people who love cats and can’t actually have them for whatever reason. For me it’s because I move every three to nine months, but some people are allergic or have partners who are allergic or whatever.
So, in Neko Atsume, you “buy” toys and food and then set them out in your virtual yard and wait for the cats to show up. If you check in too frequently, they seem to not come, which cracks me up. The cats come to the yard, play with the toys, eat the food, and then reward you with either gold or silver fish that can then be redeemed to buy them more toys. Basically, they come and take what they want and then leave. Just like real cats!
When you happen to actually catch a cat in your yard, you can take pictures and then save them in your “catbook.” That’s basically all the interaction you get with the cats, other than watching them enjoy your toys. I seem to be compulsively taking these pictures, although I have no idea why I’m taking them. I don’t look at the catbooks and I’m definitely not sharing them on social media (because that would be even weirder than this whole thing makes me feel) so… I guess the designers of this game are just geniuses. Let’s leave it at that.
Tweetable:
Crazy cat lovers!! You’re going to DIE for @TeamNekoAtsume
