More or less icon?
In eastern game, you have more icon elements in game, they are spread on screen. So you can go through them in shallow hierarchy. Eastern game stress on convenience of control. But in western game, you put icon elements in deep hierarchy, so western game have more concise interface, player immerse on gameplay contents.
Most of eastern games are full of icon elements for quick controlling
Most of Western game have concise interface
Interface for playing multiple games at once
In eastern game, you may do multiple tasks at once. You may are playing main game, while at the same time, playing another mini games. So the interface will more convenient for switching between tasks that one task’s interface will not interrupt another tasks.
In western games, you may do one gameplay at a time, you will not have many tasks in the meantime. So you don’t need switching interface.
I also want to share you some features that are important differences between eastern and western games.
Showoff elements big sale in eastern games
Chinese games and Japanese games especially feature a variety of Customized functions through which players can show off to other person. They are one of main revenue sources. In Tencent QQ, the instant message tools also featured showoff functions
Eastern games seldom have wish list feature
Giving and asking presents is a means of enhancing relationship, so most of social games encourage giving presents to friends every day. It can be the forms of sending free gifts to friends, buy gift to friends or asking presents from friends. They are also a good way to invite new friends to join games, so almost all games give player free gifts for sending every day. Wish lists are prevails in America, what you wish can be seen by friends, so they can help you. But that are not very often seen in East Asia, because people in those area may think actively ask presents is not polite.
Greeting and leaving message and presents to friends is prevailing in Japanese game
Greeting feature are usually seen in Japanese game. It is a manifestation of culture of social custom. You can greet friends to get some bonus. Greeting each other also can fortify ties of friends. So keep them greeting, you will keep them playing.
In GeGeGe No Kitaro-Monster Alley, greeting between friends by envoys