The multi-generational Chinese family structure plays an important role in nurturing the young and caring for the old. But maintaining this structure is becoming difficult as migration becomes common for younger family members. Online games, which are now extremely popular among the Chinese, may be able to mitigate some of the difficulties.

In a paper titled "Online Games and Family Ties: Influences of a Social Networking Game on Family Relationship" accepted by Interact 2011, Jing Wen, me, and Yunan Chen discuss an online game, QQ Farm, which is a popular game among Chinese families. There are lessons designers can learn about how the game brings distant family members closer.

Interact 2011 accepted 27% of the papers this year.