AI Lens: Decoding the game "Pho Anh Hai" that is causing a stir on social networks

The game "Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant" suddenly went viral not only in the "gaming" community but also in many social network user groups.

One of the important factors that makes this game so intriguing is that it takes on a "very Vietnamese" setting but with a creative approach. Players transform into Mr. Hai, the owner of a small pho restaurant at "number 10 Dan Phuong, Hanoi " - a fictional address but a very familiar name. The virtual pho restaurant is designed very close to real life, from plastic tables and chairs, free iced tea to old signs, "concrete drilling" flyers posted on the wall. It is the combination of the very familiar and the unreal of the simulation game that creates a feeling of both familiarity and surprise.

When players look at it, they think, "Oh, I've seen this kind of shop before," but immediately realize, "Ah, it's just a game."

One thing worth noting is that the phrases "Pho Anh Hai" and "10 Dan Phuong" suddenly entered the top search results in Vietnam in just a few days. Many people searched on the map, asked friends, posted statuses "going to eat Pho Anh Hai" and then... discovered that there was no real restaurant like that. This created a very fast viral effect on social networks.

In the context of big games dominating the market, this light, free game makes many people feel friendly. What is more attractive is the emotional element that the game creates. At first glance, players think this is a simple pho restaurant simulation game, but in reality, the game mixes many elements, activities such as: cooking pho, serving customers, looking after the dog (Mr. Gold - "Mr. Gold"), then switching to chase and horror situations. The contrast between the very everyday atmosphere (pho restaurant, the sound of knives and chopping boards, the sound of motorbikes...) with the game-like surprises creates a feeling of both relaxation and excitement.

This phenomenon is not simply a viral game title but also reflects the tastes of social network users - increasingly wanting to access products with spiritual meaning and unique features.

The phenomenon of a game suddenly becoming famous opens a bigger story of the Vietnamese gaming industry, when the game developer is said to be a student in Hanoi. Can the Vietnamese gaming industry create more "phenomena" like that? Will Vietnamese players look for domestic products with strong cultural identity, developed by young Vietnamese people?

Source: https://nld.com.vn/game-pho-anh-hai-gay-sot-mang-xa-hoi-vi-sao-196251104215812409.htm