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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chinese publisher The9 restructuring, cutting staff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/chinese-publisher-the9-restructuring-cutting-staff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/chinese-publisher-the9-restructuring-cutting-staff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/chinese-publisher-the9-restructuring-cutting-staff/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The9 logo
One of the Asian market's gaming behemoths is in a spot of financial trouble, according to a story published last night by Develop.

You might remember The9 as Blizzard's former publishing partner for the Chinese version of World of Warcraft. The company also invested heavily in Red 5 Studios and its upcoming Firefall shooter, and it will be publishing Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 in China when the MMOFPS sequel ships.

Develop reports that rumors of The9's cutting half of its workforce were exaggerated, but the firm is nonetheless downsizing. "We are optimizing operations programs and the relevant human-relations structures, and this optimization to increase the efficiency of the company is a necessary adjustment," the company said in a prepared statement.

MassivelyChinese publisher The9 restructuring, cutting staff originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfinancial-newsfree-to-playMiscellaneousmmo-industrythe9the9-layoffsthe9-restructuringFri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 190: GDC Wednesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/massively-speaking-episode-190-gdc-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/massively-speaking-episode-190-gdc-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/massively-speaking-episode-190-gdc-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking
Massively Speaking Episode 190 brings us another installment of the wild and wacky adventures of Massively's GDC crew. Today the entire ensemble has assembled, with Shawn, Jef, Karen, and MJ hogging the mike and sharing their impressions and experiences from the convention. Also, Karen rules from the Iron Throne, so do not mess with her or she'll send you to the Wall.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 190: GDC Wednesday

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 190: GDC Wednesday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thronesbattleshipbattleshipsbigpointbiowarebrantbrianna-royceccpccp-gamesconsoledark-legendsdustdust-514eveeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgame-of-throneshistoricalhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemmofpsmwoopinionpiranhapiranha-gamesplaneplanesplaystationplaystation-3podcastpodcastingpodcastsps3pvpsci-fishooterspacetime-studiostanktanksthe9triontrion-worldswarwargaming-netwargaming.netwarplanewarplaneswobworld-of-battleshipsworld-of-tanksworld-of-warplaneswotwowpThu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 190Massively.com Staff00:28:20podcasts<![CDATA[New PlanetSide 2 gameplay footage spotted in the wild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-planetside-2-gameplay-footage-spotted-in-the-wild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-planetside-2-gameplay-footage-spotted-in-the-wild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-planetside-2-gameplay-footage-spotted-in-the-wild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 artwork
Sony Online Entertainment is building a little buzz around PlanetSide 2 lately. The upcoming MMOFPS revealed its beta signup process just before the Christmas holiday, and now fans at PlanetSide Universe have uncovered new gameplay footage courtesy of a couple of videos produced for Chinese publishing partner The9.

The first clip serves as an intro to The9's PS2 website, and it features some quick glimpses of airborne combat, tank combat, and first-person infantry combat. The second clip is a mixture of similar gameplay footage along with some talking-head dev interview shots which you can view after the cut.

Continue reading New PlanetSide 2 gameplay footage spotted in the wild

MassivelyNew PlanetSide 2 gameplay footage spotted in the wild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpsgameplay-footagemmo-shootermmofpsplanetside-2planetside2ps2sandboxsci-fishootersoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthe9videoThu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/new-planetside-2-screenshots-show-troops-in-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/new-planetside-2-screenshots-show-troops-in-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/new-planetside-2-screenshots-show-troops-in-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In our opinion, there can't be enough news about Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming PlanetSide 2 these days, which is why we'll enthusiastically shake hands with Tony Park if we ever meet him. Park heads up The9, the Chinese publisher for PlanetSide, and he's posted a couple new screenshots of the hot title on his blog.

These PlanetSide 2 pics show armor-clad soldiers getting into position for action. It's interesting to note the distinctive colors that will surely help teammates differentiate friend from foe.

We heard a lot about this sequel to SOE's PlanetSide at Fan Faire, including the trailer, a general overview of the game, and an in-depth look with the developers. You can eyeball the new pics in the gallery below!

Gallery: PlanetSide 2

MassivelyNew PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gallerypicspicturesplanetsideplanetside-2psps2screenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentthe9tony-parkTue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red 5 still planning on making their MMO [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You have to give Red 5 Studios credit for tenacity, if nothing else. When they initially announced their connection with Intel via licensing the Offset Engine, the plan was to use Red 5's upcoming fantasy MMO, codenamed Project Offset, to showcase Intel's high-end Larrabee processors. However, last month, Intel decided to scrap their plans for the Offset Engine, and redirect the Larrabee processor towards more business-type uses. Meanwhile, despite Red 5 having financial difficulties requiring a layoff of staff, they're continuing on. This is all thanks, in large part, to China's The9, who have stepped in to give them a $20 million infusion of cash in exchange for a majority stake in their company.

While some startup studios might fold after a series of large setbacks like this, word is that development on Project Offset continues, according to a story on Gamasutra. Only now, it's running on a "highly modified" version of the original Intel Offset Engine, giving this graphics intensive first-person MMO life. While details are still thin as ever beyond the game being a fantasy title, we hope that this newest partnership with The9 coupled with the recent infusion of cash helps their studio get back on track.

[Update: We've received word from Red 5 that they have no relationship to the canceled Project Offset, but they are still using a highly modified Offset Engine to continue their work on their own game.]

MassivelyRed 5 still planning on making their MMO [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>intelmmommorpgoffset-enginered-5red-5-studiosthe9Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 invests in Red 5 Studios, Fire Rain [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/the9-invests-in-red-5-studios-fire-rain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/the9-invests-in-red-5-studios-fire-rain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/the9-invests-in-red-5-studios-fire-rain/#commentsFiled under: ,

They may have been burned by Blizzard when they lost World of Warcraft to their rival, NetEase, but The9 isn't out of the fight yet. Especially not when they've just recently backed the troubled Red 5 and Chinese developer Fire Rain with a substantial sum of money.

Gamasutra is reporting that The9 has invested 100 million RMB (14.67 million USD) into Fire Rain, however the number is unconfirmed and neither The9 or Fire Rain are confirming the exact terms of the investment. However, if these reports are accurate, The9 would now have a large majority stake in the company or may have bought the developer outright.

As to the US based Red 5 Studios, having The9 as a new backer may be keeping the studio alive. Last week, we reported that approximately 30 people had been laid off from the studio, and Kotaku has reported that the studio may have even been close to closing their doors.

Red 5 has since "re-evaluated" their position and may be pursuing a game aimed at the Chinese market.

Update: Red 5's community manager, Matt DeWald, has gotten in contact with us to say that Red 5 is not pursing a game aimed solely at the Chinese market. Red 5's MMO will be aimed at the worldwide market.

MassivelyThe9 invests in Red 5 Studios, Fire Rain [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingfinancial-situationfire-raininvestmentlayoffsred-5red-5-studiosthe9Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 sees enormous drop in profits after split with Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the9-sees-enormous-drop-in-profits-after-split-with-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the9-sees-enormous-drop-in-profits-after-split-with-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the9-sees-enormous-drop-in-profits-after-split-with-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a news story that we're sure will surprise precisely nobody at all, The9 -- China's previous operator for World of Warcraft -- has reported a serious decline in profits for this last quarter. Since last year when The9 still had World of Warcraft in its stable of games to now, they have seen a staggering 94% drop in revenue. Since the split became final in June of this year, there was also a 91% drop between last quarter and this one. Between The9's lawsuit against Blizzard for (among other things) software copyright infringement and selling nearly 15% of its shares to Activision Blizzard competitor, EA, The9 has pretty well ensured that there's never going to be any kissing-and-making-up over this whole mess.

Still, not everything is completely negative for The9. In the on-again-off-again World of Warcraft presence in the Chinese market altogether, owing to the squabble between The Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of the Press and Publication (GAPP), they've seen an increase in players from when they initially lost World of Warcraft. According to reports, the increase -- a modest bump from 3.2 to 3.4 million players -- is owing largely to a new update to Soul of the Ultimate Nation, as well as their other games Sword of the New World, FIFA Online, and Atlantica Online. Now, so long as more of their shareholders don't wind up suing them for making misleading statements about their connection with Blizzard, things might just start looking up for this former major player in the Chinese MMO market.

MassivelyThe9 sees enormous drop in profits after split with Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardchinaealawsuitlegal-problemsprofitsthe9world-of-warcraftwowyear-on-yearyear-over-yearyoySun, 29 Nov 2009 12:00:00 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 releasing World of Warcraft clone or Warhammer Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the9-releasing-world-of-warcraft-clone-or-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the9-releasing-world-of-warcraft-clone-or-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the9-releasing-world-of-warcraft-clone-or-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The9's loss of publishing rights for World of Warcraft in China has been in the news quite a bit. Surrounded by rumours of bankruptcy in the wake of losing their biggest license, the company survived and it has plans. Now both the Wall Street Journal and our sister site are reporting about their newest venture: World of Fight.

At the moment all we know about this mysterious new title comes from the trailer website. For starters the teaser site uses a font familiar to anyone who plays WoW. Indeed the web address itself (www.wofchina.com) is but a letter away from the official Chinese WoW site. However that weird stargate-esque contraption is straight out of a Warhammer Online starter area and The9 is partially owned by giants Electronic Arts -- who also publish Warhammer in North America. It could easily be a cheap ploy to get gamers interested in a WoW clone or a legitimate teaser site for Warhammer with a terrible Chinglish title. We won't know for sure until the 'gates' open but when that could be has not yet been disclosed. We'll bring you more as soon as we find out.

MassivelyThe9 releasing World of Warcraft clone or Warhammer Online? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>the9wall-street-journalwarhammer-onlineworld of warcraftworld-of-fightwowwow-insiderMon, 04 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 50]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-50/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 50 returns this week with Michael Zenke taking on the esteemed co-hosting position. Michael returns just for this week to chat with Shawn about all of the week's MMO news including WAR's patch 1.21, CoH's vast player-created content, Shadowbane's closing, the Free Realms beta and more!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 50

MassivelyMassively Speaking Podcast Episode 50 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesfeaturedfree-realmsjoystiqfeaturesmassively-speakingmichael-zenkepodcastpodcastingpodcastsshadowbanesoethe9warwarhammer-onlineWed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 50Massively.com Staff42:32podcasts<![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: China's The9 may lose licensing rights to World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/rumor-chinas-the9-may-lose-licensing-rights-to-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/rumor-chinas-the9-may-lose-licensing-rights-to-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/rumor-chinas-the9-may-lose-licensing-rights-to-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The9 is the licensed operator for World of Warcraft in China, the most popular Western MMO running in Asia. However, The9 is facing new censorship and regulatory issues which have thus far prevented the Wrath of the Lich King expansion from launching in China. These restrictions imposed upon online games operating in mainland China by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) are not the only issue affecting World of Warcraft's success in the country.

To make things worse, it's now rumored that their licensing deal with Blizzard may be shaky. Our sister site WoW Insider has mentioned (unverified) reports that The9 might be on the outs with Blizzard, citing a Xinhua news agency story. The9 declined to make a comment to WoW Insider, stating only that they're still in negotiations with Blizzard Entertainment. With their current licensing agreement due to expire this summer, we suspect it won't be long before the situation is resolved, one way or the other.
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!

MassivelyRumor: China's The9 may lose licensing rights to World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusiness-modelscensorshipchinafantasygapplicenselicensingmmo-industryrightsrumorsthe9world-of-warcraftwowwow-chinawow-insiderWed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard downplays Wrath's issues in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/blizzard-downplays-wraths-issues-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/blizzard-downplays-wraths-issues-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/blizzard-downplays-wraths-issues-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As we've reported on earlier, Wrath of the Lich King isn't heading towards a speedy approval for Chinese audiences, leading to problems for The9 if they can't get Wrath approved by the government. However, unlike The9, Blizzard is downplaying the issues Wrath may be facing.

Blizzard has told GamesIndustry.biz that "World of Warcraft continues to operate as normal in mainland China, and we're continuing to work with our local partner, The9, toward the launch of Wrath of the Lich King there. An official announcement will be made once it's ready to go."

It seems that everything is on track for Wrath's launch in China according to the company, but only time will ultimately tell when Wrath will be able to get away from the new stringent regulations holding it back.

MassivelyBlizzard downplays Wrath's issues in China originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardchinadisapprovalgamesindustry.bizregulationsskeletonsthe9world-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingzombiesSun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China to impose more restrictions on foreign online games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/china-to-impose-more-restrictions-on-foreign-online-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/china-to-impose-more-restrictions-on-foreign-online-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/china-to-impose-more-restrictions-on-foreign-online-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've mentioned some of the issues that China's licensed World of Warcraft operator The9 faces with bringing Wrath of the Lich King to market, and what this latest round of regulation could mean for the the operator. The government's newfound concern with controlling exactly what content exists in online games played in China may have an impact that goes far beyond World of Warcraft. Other foreign MMOs are presently operating in China, while others have their eyes on this growing market.

JLM Pacific Epoch cites (the Chinese-language news portal) Sohu, which reports that the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) will "tighten approval criteria for online game imports in an effort to protect the development of online game enterprises and avoid the excessive penetration of foreign culture among Chinese youth."

Continue reading China to impose more restrictions on foreign online games

MassivelyChina to impose more restrictions on foreign online games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabusiness-modelscensorshipchinaculturegappjlm-pacific-epochlegalmmo-industryoperatoroperatorsprotectionismregulationssohuthe9wow-chinaMon, 16 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese online game market operating in loss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinese-online-game-market-operating-in-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinese-online-game-market-operating-in-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinese-online-game-market-operating-in-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


When many of us think about MMOs, we think about companies who rake more money than we could dream about. Enough money to put together a scale model of Paris made out of 20 dollar bills.

Yet the truth is that many of these companies are operating in loss, as a recent article published in the Beijing Times has shown. Over 70% of Chinese online game companies are spending more than they are earning, while only a few notable names, like The9, the operators of World of Warcraft in China, stand to even make a profit.

Many games spend more in development and marketing costs than they stand to make in monthly subscriptions, leading to these problems occurring in many companies in the market. Analysts say that for every 10 online games made, only one stands to be a profitable venture.

For the full report on this, check out the article over at TradingMarkets.com.

MassivelyChinese online game market operating in loss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbeijing-timeschinadevelopmentdevelopment-costseconomygame-companieslossmarketmoneyonline-gamesprofitthe9world-of-warcraftFri, 13 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's The9 faces bankruptcy if Wrath expansion not approved by government]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We reported the other day on the issues that The9 is having with getting the Wrath of the Lich King expansion released in China. The government is unwilling to approve the World of Warcraft expansion, citing 'health' and decency concerns about the game's content. The9 is the licensed operator of World of Warcraft in China, and the company paid a significant amount in licensing fees to Blizzard Entertainment in April of 2008 to secure the rights to operate Wrath, according to Shanghai-based JLM Pacific Epoch.

Although the Chinese regulatory body, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), is chiefly concerned with removing "unhealthy" content from the game, their stance could prove disastrous for The9. If GAPP doesn't green light the Wrath of the Lich King expansion in China, The9 will not be able to recoup their losses and may face bankruptcy.
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!


MassivelyChina's The9 faces bankruptcy if Wrath expansion not approved by government originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabusiness-modelscensorshipchinaexpansionsfantasygappjlm-pacific-epochlicensed-operatormmo-industryoperatorregulationregulatory-bodyshanghaithe9world-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 13 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wrath of the Lich King rejected thus far by Chinese government]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/wrath-of-the-lich-king-rejected-thus-far-by-chinese-government/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/wrath-of-the-lich-king-rejected-thus-far-by-chinese-government/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/wrath-of-the-lich-king-rejected-thus-far-by-chinese-government/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Continuing on in that upward ascension toward MMO godhood, Blizzard's Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft has proven to be popular with the Death Knight crowd in Western markets. "Popular" is an understatement, of course. Millions of MMO gamers have bought the expansion to date. Despite its success in Western markets, Wrath of the Lich King still hasn't been released in China, where the title has a significant playerbase. Why? Regulatory issues and censorship.

China-based JLM Pacific Epoch reports: "The government has rejected two applications by the second expansion for The9's (Nasdaq: NCTY) licensed MMORPG World of Warcraft, "Wrath of the Lich King," [...] The applications were rejected due to content that didn't meet requirements, including a city raid and skeleton characters; the submitted version did not contain WLK's Death Knight first hero class..."

Continue reading Wrath of the Lich King rejected thus far by Chinese government

MassivelyWrath of the Lich King rejected thus far by Chinese government originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiacensorshipchinadeath-knightdeath-knightsexpansionsfantasygovernmentjlm-pacific-epochlegalmmo-industryregulatoryskeletonskeletonsthe9world-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shall we play a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you think of a rapidly developing Asian nation, fast becoming a global superpower and now harnessing the potential of supercomputing, what's the first purpose for this supercomputer that comes to mind? Hint: think video games, not war games. Regardless of your first thought, we're betting you wouldn't have guessed "World of Warcraft"... but it's true.

China's World of Warcraft servers are run by The9, who own Blizzard's distribution rights in the country. "Earlier this year, The9 boasted of hosting more than one million World of Warcraft players online at the same time.To support the complex calculations required to create the game's graphics, The9 owns more than 10 supercomputer systems," Ashlee Vance reports for The New York Times.

Continue reading Shall we play a game?

MassivelyShall we play a game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablizzardchinafantasymmo-industrynew-york-timessupercomputersupercomputingthe-new-york-timesthe9war-gameswargamesworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderTue, 18 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese gamer sued for using WoW add-on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/chinese-gamer-sued-for-using-wow-add-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/chinese-gamer-sued-for-using-wow-add-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/chinese-gamer-sued-for-using-wow-add-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


What if World of Warcraft had no add-ons, would you still play? Worse yet, what if they had the add-ons, and you were aware of them, but it was actually illegal to use them? That's the state of the game in China right now, thanks to the country's licensed WoW distributor, The9.

As part of The9's ongoing war against add-ons, they introduced anti-plugin software in 2004, and have threatened to close down any accounts that circumvented that software. In fact, the company just recently won a lawsuit that stemmed from a player who got their account closed when they were shown to use an add-on. In an article discussing this subject over at Virtually Blind, they suggest a server made just for add-ons, for anyone who wishes to participate. Taking into consideration the fact that China would probably never allow this, what are your thoughts?

EDIT: It seems there was some confusion in the original article's translation, attributing legal add-ons to illegal plug-ins or hacking software. Our apologies for the misunderstanding in quoting the Virtually Blind article, and thank you to all who pointed this out.

MassivelyChinese gamer sued for using WoW add-on originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onschinalawsuitpluginthe9virtually-blindworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 11 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft and The9 make China's top ranked supercomputers list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/world-of-warcraft-and-the9-make-china-s-top-ranked-super-compute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/world-of-warcraft-and-the9-make-china-s-top-ranked-super-compute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/world-of-warcraft-and-the9-make-china-s-top-ranked-super-compute/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Real-life scientists recently overran World of Warcraft and wrapped their brains around trogs and intracellular signaling. One mind trip from the mad scientist James Wallis intrigued us with his experimental astronomical calculations in Azeroth. However, there is another real science underneath the brilliant theory-crafting bringing these worlds to life and players across the Globe and that is the computer infrastructure.

One entity responsible for this science is the The9, a leading MMORPG operator and developer in the Chinese market, and with over 5.5 million World of Warcraft subscribers that's going to take a lot of computer power to feed the PC baang frenzy. According to the UK edition of The Register, The9 ranked on China's Top 100 supercomputer list taking half the top ten spots with 12 machines overall in the top 100. The 1950-core clusters taking the top spots were built by HP, and when taking all 12 machines into account The9 has a least 18,032 cores of processing power dedicated to keeping MMOG players all across China fixated on: World of Warcraft, Soul Ultimate Nation, Granado Espada, and Joyful Journey West.

Continue reading World of Warcraft and The9 make China's top ranked supercomputers list

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft and The9 make China's top ranked supercomputers list originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's been a recent personnel change to China's leading distributor of online gaming. The9 Limited has recently appointed Mr. George Lai as Chief Financial Officer after the resignation of Mr. Tony Tse, due to personal and family reasons. Mr. Lai brings several years of experience to the table, having worked previously at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu since 2000.

The9 Limited operates licensed MMORPGs for Chinese players, including World of Warcraft, Hellgate: London, Ragnarok Online 2, Huxley and many more. The9 Limited is also developing various proprietary games of their own including Warriors of Fate Online and Fantastic Melody Online.

MassivelyChinese MMO distributor gains new Chief Financial Officer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cfochinachinesedistributiondistributorthe9world-of-warcraftwowMon, 09 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese decree on mourning curtails MMO play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/chinese-decree-on-mourning-curtails-mmo-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/chinese-decree-on-mourning-curtails-mmo-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/chinese-decree-on-mourning-curtails-mmo-play/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Out of respect for the over 32,000 lives lost in the recent Sichuan earthquake, China has officially decreed a 3-day period of mourning, during which no entertainment media may be offered. This directly affects players of World of Warcraft, to name one game, as the Chinese distributor for WoW, The9, is complying fully with this edict.

Massively extends its condolences to the surviving families of this tragedy.

MassivelyChinese decree on mourning curtails MMO play originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaearthquakemourningsichuanthe9world-of-warcraftMon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA executive says they have no influence over The9's WoW contract]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/ea-executive-says-theyll-have-no-influence-over-the9s-wow-cont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/ea-executive-says-theyll-have-no-influence-over-the9s-wow-cont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/ea-executive-says-theyll-have-no-influence-over-the9s-wow-cont/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

N'Gai Croal, of the Newsweek games blog Level Up, recently sent a few questions in the direction of Electronic Arts. He was following up on the war of words that has been developing between the enormous software publisher and up-and-coming heavyweight Activision/Blizzard. Numerous comments have been dropped by ActiBlizz's Bobby Kotick, slamming everything from EA's interest in Take-Two to their habit of 'stripping the soul' from purchases.

Jeff Brown, EA's vice president of corporate communications, responded to N'Gai's questions and touched twice on Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Croal very directly asked about EA's investment in The9, World of Warcraft's Chinese publisher, and how that relationship would be affected by company friction. Said Brown, "We've got a small equity state in The9 and no real influence over their management. Their plans for non-EA titles don't involve us and we don't have any insight on what they plan to do." He was more direct (and snarky) when asked how he feels Activision/Blizzard is handling their studio as a whole: "No strong opinion. They've got three great franchises [presumably referring to World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero and Call of Duty 4--Ed.]--it's great that one of them was actually developed at Activision."

MassivelyEA executive says they have no influence over The9's WoW contract originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardchinaeaelectronic-artsthe9world-of-warcraftwowMon, 05 May 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Is Asia the Hollywood of MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-is-asia-the-hollywood-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-is-asia-the-hollywood-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-is-asia-the-hollywood-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

When you talk about gaming in North America, it's almost presumed you're talking about console or single-player PC games -- but in Asia it's the other way around. With the vast success of massively multiplayer games in the Asian market, it's no surprise to see American companies attempting to emulate similar models -- both in North America and overseas. But that level of success has proven difficult to emulate. Yesterday afternoon at the Worlds in Motion Summit, Susan Choe, David Wallerstein, Daniel James, and Bryan Pelz got together to chat about the future of the Asian market.

Continue reading GDC08: Is Asia the Hollywood of MMOs?

MassivelyGDC08: Is Asia the Hollywood of MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabryan-pelzchinadaniel-jamesdavid-wallersteinfeaturedgdcgdc08gdc08fanboysusan-choethe9worlds-in-motionTue, 19 Feb 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft hits 10 million players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/world-of-warcraft-hits-10-million-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/world-of-warcraft-hits-10-million-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/world-of-warcraft-hits-10-million-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Blizzard has announced that the little game that could has hit another big, round number: they are now claiming 10 million World of Warcraft players globally. Gamasutra is reporting that WoW has about 2 million subscribers in Europe, about 2.5 million in North America, and approximately 5.5 million in Asia.

They've also taken the step of qualifying what they mean when they say 'subscriber', something critics have used as a knock against their impressive subscriber numbers in the past due to the way that accounts are used in Korea and China. A subscriber, according to Blizzard, is someone who has "paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access."

That number notably doesn't count promo subscriptions, expired accounts, canceled subscriptions, or unused prepaid cards. They are counting 'PC Bang' players by considering an account active if it has been used within the last 30 days. Subscribers that connect to the game under licensees like The9 are counted under the same guidelines.

It's a little staggering to consider the sheer number of people playing this game now. When I started playing these games 50,000 people in one world was a big deal; Lineage, EQ, and FFXI were big-time by being at or over 500,000 people. Now with titles like WoW, Gaia Online, MapleStory, and even Habbo Hotel demolishing the old concept of a Massive world, it's ... more than a little bit exciting.

I also think it's time that people just stop comparing WoW to other US-developed MMOs. People keep talking about a "WoW Killer", but ... 10 MILLION people, people. World of Warcraft isn't a game, it's a city. It makes as much sense to compare WoW to Dungeons and Dragons Online as it does to compare Scrabble with Chicago. That's just my opinion ... what do you think? Will there be a "WoW Killer" someday?

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft hits 10 million players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-millionbreakingeqsubscriberssubscriptionsthe9world-of-warcraftwowTue, 22 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 buys shares in ... itself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/the9-buys-shares-in-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/the9-buys-shares-in-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/the9-buys-shares-in-itself/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Escapist reports that following disappointing profits despite record sales, Chinese gaming company The9 (the Chinese carrier of World of Warcraft) saw its stock values plummet by 32% recently. The company then took the opportunity to purchase back $50 million worth of shares in itself.

CEO and Chairman Jun Zhu was quoted by The Escapist saying, "We think that the current shares price level do not reflect the company's value and potential. Mirroring this confidence, our board of directors has authorized the company to repurchase up to $50 million of its own stock."

This curiously comes after a great deal of growth of the Chinese World of Warcraft player-base in Q3 and the recent launch of Sword of the New World: Granado Espada.

MassivelyThe9 buys shares in ... itself originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusinesschinafinancialgrenada-espadaindustrystockssword-of-the-new-worldthe-escapistthe9world-of-warcraftFri, 23 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamasutra's "China Angle" reports on The9, Giant Interactive, NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamasutras-china-angle-reports-on-the9-giant-interactive-nc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamasutras-china-angle-reports-on-the9-giant-interactive-nc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamasutras-china-angle-reports-on-the9-giant-interactive-nc/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

To North American and European MMO players, China is more than just a different country; it's a different universe. But it's important to keep an at least one eye on the Chinese market. Gamasutra ran its latest "China Angle" column today. Here's what we learned this time.

The9, the Chinese publisher of World of Warcraft, will be responsible for the Chinese version of EA's FIFA Online 2. The9 already operates the original FIFA Online in the PRC, and EA owns a 15% share in the company, so that's no surprise.

Newer company Giant Interactive -- who are behind the highly profitable Zhengtu Online -- saw a $38.7 million profit in Q3 2007, and all 800 employees of the company were given actual, real-life gold coins in celebration. The company is also actually awarding stocks to some of its customers.

Finally, Korean MMO supercompany NCsoft has selected a new partner company called Shandra to distribute their new title AION. NCsoft opted not to work with their old partner Sina this time. The decision to change may have been influenced by disappointing Chinese numbers for Lineage and Lineage II, two NCsoft titles which were brought to the Chinese market by Sina.

MassivelyGamasutra's "China Angle" reports on The9, Giant Interactive, NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbusinesschinachina-angleeafifafifa-onlinefifa-online-2financialgamasutragiant-interactiveindustrykorealineagelineage-iincsoftprcshandrasinathe9world-of-warcraftzhengtu-onlineWed, 21 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST