Discover More Ways to Facai This Chinese New Year with These 10 Creative Traditions

As I prepare for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, I can't help but draw parallels between the rich traditions of this cultural festival and my recent experiences with gaming. The concept of "facai" – attracting wealth and prosperity – extends far beyond financial success into how we enrich our lives through meaningful experiences. This year, I've discovered that some of the most creative traditions mirror what makes gaming communities thrive, particularly in titles like Call of Duty's Zombies mode.

Just last week, I found myself completely immersed in the announcement about Black Ops 6's upcoming guided Zombies mode, scheduled to release approximately three months after the main game's launch according to Treyarch's development timeline. As someone who plays Zombies casually rather than competitively, this news felt particularly significant. The traditional Chinese practice of displaying mandarin oranges – their golden color symbolizing wealth – reminds me of how gaming communities need visible, accessible entry points for newcomers. The current Zombies experience, while incredibly deep and engaging, presents barriers that keep potential players from discovering its richness, much like how complex cultural traditions can intimidate those unfamiliar with them.

I've spent countless evenings trying to uncover the hidden aspects of Terminus and Liberty Falls with friends who aren't hardcore Zombies enthusiasts. The experience often ends in frustration, not because the content isn't brilliant, but because the learning curve resembles trying to understand intricate Chinese New Year customs without proper guidance. The tradition of giving red envelopes, or hongbao, containing money works because it's straightforward – there's immediate understanding and appreciation. Similarly, the guided mode promises to serve as that welcoming red envelope for new Zombies players, providing direction while preserving the magic of discovery.

What fascinates me most is how Black Ops 6 manages to make the simple act of fighting and surviving feel so remarkably deep. The game achieves what the best Chinese New Year traditions accomplish – taking fundamental human experiences and elevating them into something meaningful and communal. When my family gathers to make dumplings, the process transforms from mere food preparation into a bonding ritual filled with laughter and shared purpose. Zombies captures that same transformation, turning survival mechanics into compelling narratives and teamwork opportunities.

The dedication required to truly understand Zombies' intricacies reminds me of learning the proper way to display the character "fu" upside down to symbolize arriving fortune. Both require knowledge that isn't immediately obvious to newcomers. Having played only occasionally since Black Ops Cold War released four years ago – 1,460 days to be exact – I've felt the growing distance from the game's evolving mechanics. The guided mode represents what the most adaptable Chinese traditions have always done: maintaining core values while making participation more accessible.

I particularly appreciate how the development team recognizes that bringing in new players has been a persistent challenge. In my experience, about 70% of friends I've introduced to Zombies eventually drift away because the initial learning period proves too demanding. This mirrors how younger generations sometimes view traditional celebrations as complicated or outdated until they understand the meaning behind them. The solution in both cases isn't to dilute the experience but to provide better pathways to appreciation.

What makes both cultural traditions and gaming experiences endure isn't just their inherent quality but their ability to welcome participation at different commitment levels. The guided mode promises to serve as the gaming equivalent of having a knowledgeable relative explain why we clean houses before New Year's or why certain foods carry specific meanings. It preserves the depth while making the entry point more inviting.

As I look forward to both the Lunar New Year festivities and Black Ops 6's innovations, I'm reminded that the most enduring traditions – whether cultural or digital – find ways to balance preservation with accessibility. The guided Zombies mode represents progress not through simplification but through better guidance, much like how the most successful family traditions adapt to include new generations while honoring their origins. This Chinese New Year, I'll be celebrating not just traditional facai but the wealth of experiences that well-designed games and time-honored customs both provide.