Over 4 lakh players for anti-dowry game

How many times have you watched someone ask for dowry, be it in real life or on TV, and wanted to throw something at them? Well, over 4.5 lakh players on Facebook and 14,000 gamers on ibibo.com have fulfilled this wish.

How many times have you watched someone ask for dowry, be it in real life or on TV, and wanted to throw something at them? Well, over 4.5 lakh players on Facebook and 14,000 gamers on ibibo.com have fulfilled this wish. As part of the latest online rage, Angry Brides, players can punish dowry-hungry grooms with brooms, chappals and heels.

"The game was launched originally on Facebook, but considering the connect that we have with the youth, it is now offered on our platform as well," says Rahul Razdan, president, Ibibo Games, adding that over 70% of the players are women. "The response from female gamers has been phenomenal." Interestingly, the game has been developed by matrimonial site shaadi.com.

In the game, players proceed through the levels using an array of weapons to hit three potential grooms — a doctor, an engineer, and a pilot. These to-be hubbies come with a price tag and each hit adds up towards the "anti-dowry fund." The money can be used to buy more weapons and level up.

"I liked bashing the male characters in the game. Throwing stilettos and chappals at them helps vent my angst against dowry," says Bhaarti, a gamer on ibibo. Krutika Shah, who plays the game on Facebook, says, "Maybe Indian men now will realise what we really think of them."