Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chinese MMO Revelation Online entering open beta January 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/chinese-mmo-revelation-online-entering-open-beta-january-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/chinese-mmo-revelation-online-entering-open-beta-january-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/chinese-mmo-revelation-online-entering-open-beta-january-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You might even meet this guy! Who is this guy? What's his deal?
Want to combine the free flight of Aion with action combat and an open skill progression system? That's a quick gloss of how testers report Revelation Online plays. But you don't have to take anyone else's word for it, as the game will be entering open beta on January 15th... in China. So you will have to muddle through not speaking the language of the game to test it. Alternately, you can start studying now and hope you have a natural gift for learning it in two months.

Steparu reports that setting up an account will work even for international players, although there is the possibility that the game will require a cell phone or some other region-lock method. Players who don't want to fuss with that can rest somewhat easier knowing that the development team is looking into US publishing deals as well, but if all goes well, you can still try the game out early next year.

MassivelyChinese MMO Revelation Online entering open beta January 15th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-schedulebeta-testingbetaschinachinese-mmosinternational-gamesneteasenewsnews-itemsopen-betaregion-lockrevelationrevelation-onlineMon, 24 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard wins lawsuit and shuts down Hearthstone clone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/blizzard-wins-lawsuit-and-shuts-down-hearthstone-clone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/blizzard-wins-lawsuit-and-shuts-down-hearthstone-clone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/blizzard-wins-lawsuit-and-shuts-down-hearthstone-clone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

hearthstone
Back in January we reported that Blizzard levied a lawsuit against Unico Interactive for its game, Legend of Crouching Dragon, which Blizzard claimed was a reskinned clone of Hearthstone.

It looks as though the courts agreed, awarding Blizzard and its Chinese partner NetEase $1.6 million due to copyright infringement. Legend of Crouching Dragon has been removed from app stores, and Unico said that it will be reimbursing players for money spent on it to date.

Even with the ruling, Unico remains defiant against "false stories" in the press and claims that it hasn't seen any official order to pay compensation to Blizzard.

MassivelyBlizzard wins lawsuit and shuts down Hearthstone clone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardccgccgmmohearthstonelawsuitlegallegend-of-crouching-dragonneteaserulingsuittcgtcgmmotrading-card-gameunicoTue, 11 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft increases fees in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/world-of-warcraft-increases-fees-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/world-of-warcraft-increases-fees-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/world-of-warcraft-increases-fees-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

wow
It's going to be a little more expensive to vacation in Azeroth from China in just a couple of weeks.

MMO Culture noted that Chinese publisher NetEase is jacking up World of Warcraft's fees for the first time ever in the region. As of October 16th, the fee will go up by about 45% to become 30¥ for 2700 minutes and 15¥ for 1350 minutes. Instead of paying a flat subscription per month, Chinese players purchase blocks of time to access World of Warcraft.

NetEase handles a bundle of properties in China including World of Warcraft and reported an increase in profits for the previous quarter. However, Blizzard pointed at Asia as the location for a "disproportionate" amount of the 800,000 subscribers lost earlier this year.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft increases fees in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionasiablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchinafantasyhourly-feeneteasepay-to-playsubscriptionsubscription-feewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 01 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's Chinese partner sees increase in profit and revenue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/world-of-warcrafts-chinese-partner-sees-increase-in-profit-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/world-of-warcrafts-chinese-partner-sees-increase-in-profit-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/world-of-warcrafts-chinese-partner-sees-increase-in-profit-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

wow
Earlier this month, Blizzard claimed that a "disproportionate" amount of its 800,000 lost World of Warcraft subscribers were from the east. While that may be, China is doing quite well with the studio's games.

Gamasutra reports that Blizzard's partner in the region, NetEase, posted a "modest rise" in both profit and revenue during the second quarter. The company reported revenue of $376.6M, a rise of 13% from last year. This financial summary includes NetEase's own titles along with World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Hearthstone. Hearthstone was singled out as a "strong earner" due to its recent launch in the region.

Both Blizzard and NetEase are working to bring Diablo III and Heroes of the Storm to the country in the future.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's Chinese partner sees increase in profit and revenue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchinadiablo-iiiearnings-reportfantasyfinancial-reportfinancialshearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormneteasestarcraft-iiwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 18 Aug 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III is going to China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/diablo-iii-is-going-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/diablo-iii-is-going-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/diablo-iii-is-going-to-china/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

They're really giving players hell.
If you're a Diablo III fan in the US, you've been able to play the game for quite some time, delving into seas of monsters and beating your way through fields of enemies. If you're a Diablo III fan in China, you're anxiously awaiting the game to actually be released locally. So it's good news to hear that Blizzard is working with NetEase to bring the game over to China's shores.

No official release dates or prices have been announced at this time, nor has any information about whether or not this release will include the Reaper of Souls expansion for the game. It seems likely that the release will include all of the upgrades the game has experienced since its 2012 launch, but even that's just speculation. NetEase is the company that has already brought World of Warcraft and StarCraft II to the nation's gaming audience, so it's likely that players can expect the game without too many delays.

MassivelyDiablo III is going to China originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchinachinese-gamingd3diablo-3diablo-iiidiiigame-industrygaming-industrylocalizationneteasenewsnews-itemsreaper-of-soulsrougelikeMon, 14 Jul 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard sues Hearthstone copycat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/blizzard-sues-hearthstone-copycat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/blizzard-sues-hearthstone-copycat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/blizzard-sues-hearthstone-copycat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Legend of Crouching Dragon
Blizzard isn't taking kindly to a Chinese ripoff of its Hearthstone and is suing to protect its upcoming online card game.

Blizzard and its Chinese partner NetEase filed a suit against mobile game Legend of Crouching Dragon and its developer Unico to the tune of $1.65 million and possible closure of the game for an infringement of intellectual rights.

Legend of Crouching Dragon uses characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms and bears a striking similarity to the design and function of Hearthstone. The mobile game has been in beta for both Android and iOS platforms.

MassivelyBlizzard sues Hearthstone copycat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardccgccgmmocourtcourt-casehearthstonelawsuitlegallegend-of-crouching-dragonneteasesuittcgtcgmmothree-kingdomstrading-card-gameunicoTue, 21 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon Sword trailer focuses on action combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/dragon-sword-trailer-focuses-on-action-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/dragon-sword-trailer-focuses-on-action-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/dragon-sword-trailer-focuses-on-action-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dragon Sword trailer focuses on action combat
Dragon Sword, a new title by the Chinese company NetEase, has put out a new trailer highlighting its action combat technology. Slated for release some time this year, the game is built around an in-house engine, Next-B, that's being touted as one of the most advanced 3-D engines yet. The game features non-target combat action, open PvP, castle sieges, and large-scale fights against huge boss monsters.

Skip below the cut to check out the combat technology video.

Continue reading Dragon Sword trailer focuses on action combat

MassivelyDragon Sword trailer focuses on action combat originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d-engineaction-combatcastle-siegedragon-sworddsneteasenext-bnon-target-combatopen-pvppvptrue-action-combatvideovideosSat, 05 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Pandaren monk
World of Warcraft may be bleeding subs in America thanks to newer competition, but don't tell that to Chinese publisher NetEase. The firm just renewed its licensing deal with Blizzard, which will cover localization and operation considers through 2015.

NetEase operates WoW in mainland China (and has since 2009); it also handles Warcraft III, Starcraft II, and Battle.net distribution duties. GamesIndustry.biz notes that the deal was consumated "just ahead of the launch of the fourth WoW expansion, Mists of Pandaria, which is widely regarded as being designed with the Chinese market in mind."

MassivelyBlizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchina-wowchinese-marketfantasymists-of-pandarianeteasenetease-dealpublishingwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaWed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW
Earlier this month we heard the news that World of Warcraft's subscriber base took yet another substantial hit, although Blizzard was quick to say that most of these losses were coming from eastern countries like China. It's odd then that we've just received word that World of Warcraft is on the rise in China following an extremely profitable third quarter.

NetEase, which operates World of Warcraft in the region, announced that its Q3 earnings were actually up over the same time last year. Both revenues and profits for WoW in China are on the upswing, marking a 39.8% increase year-over-year. NetEase said that it pulled in $308.3 million in revenues, out of which $128.2 million is pure profit.

Subscriber hit or no, WoW continues to be a major force in the Asian market, and with numbers like these it's hard to imagine it going away any time soon.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardchinafinancial-reportlossesneteaseprofitq3revenuesubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's time for World of Warcraft players in mainland China to break out the party hats and streamers, because things are finally... well, they're not entirely back on track, but they're at least a blessed sight closer to being back on track. Digital East Asia is reporting that NetEase has finally obtained the license to operate World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade in China after a struggle spanning an insane amount of time.

On the down side, yes, that does appear to be the last expansion, rather than the present one. On the up side, it means that the seemingly interminable bickering between government agencies has finally been sorted out, and players can finally get back to the business of enjoying the game. No word, however, on what this may or may not mean for Wrath of the Lich King, which has allegedly run afoul of Chinese censors.

The entire fiasco may be clearing, but it may have far-reaching consequences even beyond the MMO arena. A recent Chinese fan video has been making the rounds and getting mentions in the Wall Street Journal for its summary and satire of the entire mess, with some rather sharp critiques of censorship and the government's actions in the affair. This post contains background and links to subtitled versions of the video on YouTube, which might prove interesting to those who've been following the madness since the beginning.

MassivelyNetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcensorscensorshipchinachinese-censorsgappneteasetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingyoutubeThu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In much of the world, current complaints about World of Warcraft center around the resolution of the storyline of the latest expansion and whether or not it's had a negative effect on MMOs as a whole. In China, current complaints about World of Warcraft are more focused on the fact that the game is still mired knee-deep in government infighting to try and make it playable again. After the last salvo, it seemed as if an end was close in sight... but as it turns out, NetEase has been forced to suspend any new player registrations for a week.

The studio is re-applying for a license to host World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, with no mention being made of Wrath of the Lich King, which doesn't bode very well for the hopes of that expansion ever seeing release in China. Having been stuck in the middle of two squabbling agencies for quite some time, and with no clear resolution in sight, it seems like a stretch to assume that the expansion will be released in China before the next one is due to arrive stateside. Our condolences to Chinese players affected by the latest round of bickering, and we can only hope that this long struggle will soon come to a conclusion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagapplegal-issuesneteaserelease-issuestbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-chinawotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's decision on World of Warcraft imminent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/chinas-decision-on-world-of-warcraft-imminent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/chinas-decision-on-world-of-warcraft-imminent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/chinas-decision-on-world-of-warcraft-imminent/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2009 wasn't exactly a bad year for World of Warcraft players -- they had an expansion with plenty of content to play around in, one that was outselling, well, pretty much everything else on the planet. Of course, if you were a Chinese World of Warcraft player, the picture looks a little different, with the expansion being delayed, then stalled as the companies in charge changed hands, then banned again shortly after it was finally released. So while it's nice to hear that there should be a decision on the game's status in the near future, most gamers probably aren't holding out a lot of hope.

It gets worse -- the brief news item announces that the two squabbling agencies, the GAPP (General Administration of Press and Publications) and the Ministry of Culture, have reached a consensus and will announce the punishment in mid-January. "Punishment" obviously doesn't bring to mind a heartfelt apology and a pat on the back for NetEase, who at best might find themselves even further negatively impacted by the whole debacle. At worst, they might wind up being forced to stop operations altogether, which would be bad news for the popular MMO. Nothing's certain, but it looks like there are still a few downturns ahead.

MassivelyChina's decision on World of Warcraft imminent originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbanblizzard-entertainmentchinachina-bangappministry-of-cultureneteasewarcraft-chinaworld-of-warcraftwowwow-banwow-chinaMon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal: China on track to claim half of online gaming market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/wall-street-journal-china-on-track-to-claim-half-of-online-gami/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/wall-street-journal-china-on-track-to-claim-half-of-online-gami/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/wall-street-journal-china-on-track-to-claim-half-of-online-gami/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's no surprise to us (or you, probably) that MMOs are big business in China. The Wall Street Journal reports that a new study from Beijing data-analysis firm Cnzz.com predicts that China will hold more than half of the global market for online gaming by 2012. Given the current 20% growth rate, the online gaming market is predicted to reach 41 billion yuan ($6 billion USD). They currently report 338 million web users among their population, with two-thirds of those users defining themselves as online game players.

Of course, the main branch of online games in this case are MMOs. In October, six of the ten most popular games in China were MMOs, with four of those being subscription based models. World of Warcraft holds the top spot in that list with "the most registered players and peak simultaneous online users." (The recent bickering between WoW and NetEase may make that a temporary position, however.)

The full story from WSJ blogs contains more details, and is a good overall read.

MassivelyWall Street Journal: China on track to claim half of online gaming market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaneteaseOnline-Gamingwall-street-journalworld-of-warcraftwowwsj-blogsFri, 27 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: Chinese government rejects World of Warcraft, again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/breaking-chinese-government-rejects-world-of-warcraft-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/breaking-chinese-government-rejects-world-of-warcraft-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/breaking-chinese-government-rejects-world-of-warcraft-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


In a crackdown against online gaming, China has put World of Warcraft under review again today, asking Chinese operator NetEase to stop collecting fees and suspend new account registration as the game is in violation of regulation agreements.

A regulator from the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) said today in an online statement that the game was in "gross violation" of Chinese regulations and they have returned the company's application to operate "The Burning Crusade" (Yep, that's right, they said The Burning Crusade and not Wrath of the Lich King) in China. NetEase has responded that they have not received official word from the governing body of their intent. As of this posting, Battle.net China is still accepting registrations for World of Warcraft.

Continue reading Breaking: Chinese government rejects World of Warcraft, again

MassivelyBreaking: Chinese government rejects World of Warcraft, again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's ironic that just as the GDC in Shanghai is getting into motion, the Chinese government is making some moves regarding the future of online games in China. It's a sweeping change, at that -- the General Administration of Press and Publication, the regulator of games in China, made a declaration officially preventing any foreign companies from operating a game in China, through joint ventures or otherwise. The move is fairly clearly intended to prevent any foreign companies from muscling in on China's lucrative online gaming market, but it's possible that liberal interpretations of "investors" might even include foreign players on Chinese servers.

However, the GAPP's declaration isn't the end of the story. As it turns out, the Chinese Ministry of Culture is at odds with this announcement, claiming that the authority to make such decisions passed to them on the seventh of September. Tuo Zu Hai, the vice director of the Ministry of Culture's Market Department, said he was "shocked to hear the news", indicating that there was a communication lapse between the two agencies and the ultimate resolution is still up in the air. It's unsure of how much impact this will have on NetEase, whose recent acquisition of World of Warcraft was a major coup for the company and who would be directly affected if Blizzard was blocked from interacting with them.

[ via GamePolitics ]

MassivelyChinese agencies taking stake in online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardchinese-gaminggdcgdc-china-2009mmo-industryneteaseworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC China 09: Netease speaks on combating botters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/gdc-china-09-netease-speaks-on-combating-botters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/gdc-china-09-netease-speaks-on-combating-botters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/gdc-china-09-netease-speaks-on-combating-botters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


GDC China 2009 is currently in high gear until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about some of the panels today! One of the highlights for the MMO industry was certainly the talk given by Yunfeng Lin, the design director at NetEase, on keeping up with botters and bot programs.

NetEase, the operator of the three Westward Journey games, Flyff (and here's the American version of Flyff), and the 100 pound gorilla that is World of Warcraft, is in a very unique position to speak on the troubles botters present to online communities. Westward Journey and World of Warcraft both draw huge numbers of people in China, but that also means they draw a huge number of botters.

Continue reading GDC China 09: Netease speaks on combating botters

MassivelyGDC China 09: Netease speaks on combating botters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbotsbottersgdc-chinagdc-china-2009gold-farmersneteaseonline-communityworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 12 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft allowed a "partial relaunch" in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/world-of-warcraft-allowed-a-partial-relaunch-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/world-of-warcraft-allowed-a-partial-relaunch-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/world-of-warcraft-allowed-a-partial-relaunch-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


While World of Warcraft China remains in turmoil, the government has loosened their grip on the game slightly, allowing former account holders to jump back into Azeroth once more.

The Chinese government has given NetEase, the new operator of World of Warcraft, the ok to re-open the servers on July 30th. This relaunch is being labeled as a "testing phase," however, as no new accounts will be allowed until the government completes their review of the game. NetEase is also barred from changing the cost of the subscriptions during this phase to ensure a smooth transition from the former operator, The9.

Continue reading World of Warcraft allowed a "partial relaunch" in China

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft allowed a "partial relaunch" in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>163.combreakingchinagappgovernmentneteaserelaunchreviewtestingthe9warcraft-chinaworld-of-warcraftwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China investigating potential World of Warcraft upset, may ban game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/china-investigating-potential-world-of-warcraft-upset-may-ban-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/china-investigating-potential-world-of-warcraft-upset-may-ban-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/china-investigating-potential-world-of-warcraft-upset-may-ban-g/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Blizzard and World of Warcraft have been having some trouble as of late in China, but this piece of news seems much more foreboding that anything that came before it. Apparently, an anonymous insider says China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) has assigned Shanghai's News and Press Bureau to investigate a joint venture established by NetEase and Blizzard. Not too long ago, NetEase became the new benefactor of licensing rights for World of Warcraft, but GAPP thinks the deal aims to break Chinese law.

China is very clear when it comes to foreign companies operating online games domestically through a joint venture or sole investment -- they do not tolerate it. Without argument, GAPP approval is required for any foreign online games. If they find that the NetEase and Blizzard deal aimed to operate as a joint venture, thus allowing Blizzard more control of their MMO in China, things could become bad for the two companies.

Without GAPP approval, World of Warcraft cannot be displayed publicly, traded or promoted. If a company were to attempt such a thing without approval, GAPP has said they will shoulder legal responsiblities. Assuming that were to happen, it could become very difficult for Blizzard to find a Chinese distributor for World of Warcraft. Considering the massive amounts of players who live in China, 11 million subscribers could be easily halved in the worst case scenario.

[Thanks, ScytheNoire!]

MassivelyChina investigating potential World of Warcraft upset, may ban game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbanblizzardbreakingchinachineseneteaserightsthe9world-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think of the WoW downtime in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For the citizens of China, Azeroth is silent. During the transition from The9 to NetEase, the servers have been taken offline leaving millions of people with nothing to do. There are other MMOs, plenty in fact. Some from the west and loads with that distinctly eastern vibe. Yet I'm sure WoW has the vast majority of the Chinese MMO player base suffering major withdrawal and pining for Azeroth. Of course, many will have transferred to Taiwanese servers where Wrath is already live, up to date and there is no downtime but the vast majority will be left waiting.

The most contact we have with Chinese players is usually through whispers asking if you want to buy gold, gnome corpses in Ironforge linking to websites, phishing scams and bots. I admit, I've noticed a marked decrease on my own server and the corpses have moved to Stormwind instead. Gold farmers aren't exactly the most positive form of contact and most Chinese players seem to be branded gold farmers regardless (guilty until proven innocent) and treated with disdain. So readers, how have you found the last couple of weeks in Azeroth? What do you think of the forced downtime? How do you think this will effect Chinese players (and I mean players, not farmers or bots)? Do you play on a Chinese realm? Have you migrated and rerolled or are you playing the waiting game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think of the WoW downtime in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botschinadowntimegold-farmersneteasethe-daily-grindthe9world-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 sues Blizzard in WoW China operation fallout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/the9-sues-blizzard-in-wow-china-operation-fallout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/the9-sues-blizzard-in-wow-china-operation-fallout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/the9-sues-blizzard-in-wow-china-operation-fallout/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Foreign game companies operating in China face a business, regulatory, and legal climate that can be confusing or even turbulent at times. These are the chances a game company takes when trying to succeed in the China market; there are risks, certainly, but there's also a great deal of profit potential. Blizzard Entertainment partnered with games operator The9 to bring World of Warcraft to millions of gamers in China in an arrangement that's worked for four years. Things must have soured in this last year of operation, however, as Blizzard has dropped The9 and partnered with NetEase to operate World of Warcraft in China as of this month.

Clearly, this does not sit well with The9. The latest report we've seen on the fallout from the Blizzard/The9 split shows it's getting ugly. The9 is taking action against Blizzard in the Chinese legal system, with lawsuits over software copyright infringement, assets damage, and commercial defamation. All three suits are being heard in Shanghai courts.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyThe9 sues Blizzard in WoW China operation fallout originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchinalawsuitslegalmmo-industryneteaseshanghaithe9world-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaTue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft in China to go offline for weeks in operator handover]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/world-of-warcraft-in-china-to-go-offline-for-weeks-in-operator-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/world-of-warcraft-in-china-to-go-offline-for-weeks-in-operator-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/world-of-warcraft-in-china-to-go-offline-for-weeks-in-operator-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


World of Warcraft is perhaps the only Western MMO to enjoy tremendous success thus far in China, the world's fastest growing market for online games. It's been a difficult road to the top though, if recent news reports are any indication. In addition to government regulations preventing Wrath of the Lich King from releasing for the Mainland, we've reported that The9 has lost the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China to competitor NetEase. Now we learn that the transition of operations from The9 to NetEase will mean World of Warcraft goes dark in China for a matter of weeks.

JLM Pacific Epoch in Shanghai has been following the story and reports that The9 will cease mainland operation of WoW at midnight on June 7th, after four years of continual service. World of Warcraft will return to China in "late June" under the banner of NetEase. It's expected that character data will be preserved with the handover.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

Continue reading World of Warcraft in China to go offline for weeks in operator handover

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft in China to go offline for weeks in operator handover originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusiness-modelschinafantasymmo-industryneteasepublishersthe9world-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaMon, 01 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yesterday, we reported the rumor that it looked like Chinese World of Warcraft operator The9 might be losing the licensing rights to a competitor, and today we can confirm that rumor to be 100% true. Rival company NetEase has purchased the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, starting once The9's current contract is up with Blizzard on June 8th.

NetEase is already the operator of Battle.net in China, supporting Warcraft III and the to-be-released Starcraft II. They have been operating with Blizzard since last August, when they acquired all of the rights to the other Blizzard games. This acquisition only brings NetEase and Blizzard closer together in their business arrangement.

What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of Wrath of the Lich King. DoNews, a Chinese news site, has reported that Wrath has been licensed by NetEase, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch]

MassivelyThe9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardlegallicensingneteasepatch-3.0rightsstarcraft-2starcraft-iithe9transitionwarcraft-3warcraft-iiiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese online games market saw 63% growth in 2008]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/chinese-online-games-market-saw-63-growth-in-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/chinese-online-games-market-saw-63-growth-in-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/chinese-online-games-market-saw-63-growth-in-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,

Business is booming for online game operators in China. The market grew by 63% in 2008 according to analyst group Pearl Research. They also predict that online gaming in China will be a $5.5 billion market by 2012, as reported by Gamasutra's David Jenkins.

In a country where broadband speeds are continually improving coupled with the widespread adoption of the web, China's netizens have embraced the relatively low-cost entertainment that online gaming offers. This is good news for gaming companies, particularly in these lean economic times. Jenkins writes, "Online operators in China have apparently seen little downturn in their business during the world economic crisis, with six companies now making revenues greater than $200 million (Tencent, Changyou, The9, Netease, Shanda and Giant)." You can see the full story on China's online games growth over at Gamasutra.

MassivelyChinese online games market saw 63% growth in 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiachangyouchinadavid-jenkinseconomygamasutragiantgiant-interactivemmo-industryneteasepearl-researchshandatencentthe9Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: New Blizzard MMO to be Starcraft Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/rumor-new-blizzard-mmo-to-be-starcraft-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/rumor-new-blizzard-mmo-to-be-starcraft-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/rumor-new-blizzard-mmo-to-be-starcraft-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


This is a bit of a long-shot, given the source, but we felt it was worth passing along anyway. A report out of Beijing has surfaced indicating that Blizzard's next foray into the MMO space will indeed be the oft-rumored Starcraft Online. Citing an anonymous industry insider, it was reported in Caijing magazine that Chinese game operator Netease will be the Chinese partner responsible for the distribution of Starcraft Online on the mainland. Netease CEO Ding Lei refused to confirm the rumor, but didn't deny it either. It's nothing official, but it's certainly plausible that the existence of the Blizzard new game would be leaked via a back-door channel like this.

Blizzard's unnamed "next-gen" MMO has been known to be in existence for some time now. Originally discovered visa vie the wording in a few job listings on Blizzard's careers page, the project was later confirmed by a mod on the World of Warcraft forums. It's been the fodder for many a discussion between the Massively staff, including a prominent appearance in Ask Massively. For my part, I speculated that the new Blizzard property would be an expansion of the Diablo series in part 2 of the Top 10 MIA MMOs of 2007. And just last week, our own Akela Talamasca speculated about how exactly an MMO set in the Starcraft universe would work, if at all.

Is this source completely reliable? Maybe. Is it right? Maybe. Are we going to stop until we've found the answer? Hells no!

[Via Gamesindustry.biz]

MassivelyRumor: New Blizzard MMO to be Starcraft Online? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asianblizzardbreakingneteaserumorsstarcraftThu, 31 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[China puts in policy to discourage foreign MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/china-puts-in-policy-to-discourage-foreign-MMOs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/china-puts-in-policy-to-discourage-foreign-MMOs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/china-puts-in-policy-to-discourage-foreign-MMOs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

China has always been a market that businesses have stumbled over each other to secure. Students of history might remember how Coca-Cola was one of the first companies to recognize the fact that a country with a billion people is a country with a billion potential customers, and was literally right on the heels of President Carter when negotiations relaxed the restriction of foreign goods in 1979. So too are MMO makers starting to realize the enormous potential of an increasingly connected Chinese mainland. Sure, World of Warcraft's 10 million subscribers seems good now, but what happens when a game comes along that captures the attention of the Chinese market, estimated to grow to 59 million in 2008?

Unfortunately for developers in the U.S., Korea, and elsewhere looking to cash in on this burgeoning market, recent regulations imposed by the Chinese government will allow domestic Chinese gaming companies to effectively postpone the release of foreign-developed games indefinitely by submitting a complaint to GAPP, China's censorship agency. Curious that they'd run a protectionist racket on an industry that they recently likened to "spiritual opium," but the Communist government didn't take power in order to be a bedrock of consistency.

The political science major in me is actually excited by this prospect, because it means that MMOs are likely about to enter into the field of political discourse. Just as they do with farm goods and automobiles, it might not be too much of a stretch to imagine U.S. politicians publicly wrangling with Chinese officials to allow American MMOs unrestricted access to the Chinese population. In the next few years, it's possible your Congressman will talk, at length about World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online in front of one of the chambers of Congress. And this time they'll actually be speaking in favor of the game industry. What a thought!

MassivelyChina puts in policy to discourage foreign MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelschinachinesedungeon-runnersfreefree-to-playGiantneteaseshandaWoWThu, 24 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST