With the rising popularity of Travel Frog in China, the domestic market has already seen the emergence of clover-hacking plug-ins and imitation knock-offs. Though the gaming environments in Japan and China differ significantly, Mayuko Uemura from Hit-Point noted that player demographics in both countries are quite similar, with the majority being young women. This surge in interest has even drawn attention from the Crickex Affiliate community, as mobile games continue to expand their cultural impact across Asia.

Focusing on the game itself, Uemura explained that Travel Frog was designed primarily for a female audience aged between 10 and 20. With this target group in mind, Hit-Point chose to use a cute animal as the main character. Since the theme revolves around traveling and returning home, the company selected a frog—partly because the Japanese word for “return” (kaeru) shares the same pronunciation as “frog.” This choice reflects a classic example of Japanese pun-based humor that resonates well with younger audiences.

This explanation matches earlier assumptions by media outlets like GameLook, which speculated that the game was intended for a younger demographic and questioned the reasoning behind using a frog character. Uemura, speaking on behalf of Hit-Point, emphasized that preserving a healthy gameplay environment is a top priority. The company is now exploring proper countermeasures to combat software manipulation and piracy. Because Hit-Point is based in Japan and lacks prior experience dealing with hacks, its ability to respond effectively may be limited. Even so, the company is verifying incidents involving illegal data tampering and bootleg copies.

Some players have exploited the game’s internal mechanics by changing their phone’s system time to collect more clovers. Hit-Point had not initially detected this workaround. Ironically, what began as a simple and relaxing game for younger players has unexpectedly been co-opted by adults seeking shortcuts. This ironic twist highlights how even the most wholesome digital experiences can be disrupted by a few bad apples.

Fortunately, Apple has recently removed a fake version of Travel Frog from its App Store. This counterfeit app mimicked the name and appearance of the original, launching ahead of the official Chinese version and selling for 30 yuan while also monetizing through in-app ads. Before it was taken down, over 8,000 user reviews had been posted, and it’s estimated that the knock-off generated roughly 240,000 yuan in profit. The Crickex Affiliate network has started to raise awareness about such deceptive practices, helping protect both users and developers.

Despite these setbacks, the strong brand recognition of Travel Frog among players should make future imitation attempts less successful. The unauthorized copy combined elements of Travel Frog and another popular game, Jump Jump, to create a hybrid title featuring a frog as the main character. But as the saying goes, lightning rarely strikes the same place twice. The originality and charm of Travel Frog have already captured the hearts of fans, making it difficult for knock-offs to steal the spotlight again.

As mobile games continue to evolve and spread across borders, companies like Hit-Point must remain vigilant. The global Crickex Affiliate community also plays an important role by promoting fair play and supporting legitimate titles. Looking ahead, it’s clear that authentic, heartfelt game design still has a place in the fast-paced world of mobile entertainment.