The Nexus between Game Mechanics and "Oshi" Consumption in Gacha-Based Mobile-Centric Games

Proposing Analytical Categories and Elucidating Consumption Structures

Abstract

While "social games" and "oshi-katsu" are widely practiced today, academic research on these subjects remains insufficient. In particular, the definition and scope of the term "social games" are highly ambiguous, and also lead to a divergence from its original meaning. Against this background, this study proposes "gacha-based mobile-centric games" as a new analytical category distinct from conventional "social games." Furthermore, by conducting a structural analysis of the game mechanics within this category, this study elucidates how these structures align with "oshi" consumption and how they form interlinked patterns of consumption.