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[Conquer Online 9th anniversary celebrations include a free trip to China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/conquer-online-9th-anniversary-celebrations-include-a-free-trip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/conquer-online-9th-anniversary-celebrations-include-a-free-trip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/conquer-online-9th-anniversary-celebrations-include-a-free-trip/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Conquer Online image
Reaching the nine-year mark is quite an accomplishment in the MMO world, and Conquer Online plans to celebrate this milestone in style with a number of special events, bonuses, and gifts both in-game and out. From now through May 31st, players can enjoy a variety of festivities and goodies:
Oh, but that's not all!
  • The pièce de résistance: Three lucky current Conquer Online players will win a free trip to China to take in the sights of Beijing and visit the TQ headquarters.
To enter the drawing, players must credit at least one $15.99 or one $29.99 TQ Point Card during the period between May 15th and June 30th (the more you credit, the more chances you have), have at least one level 50+ character, and be at least 18 years of age. For full details, check out the contest rules.

[Source: Press release]

MassivelyConquer Online 9th anniversary celebrations include a free trip to China originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryanniversary-eventanniversary-eventsanniversary-giftsChinaconquer-onlinediscountseventsfantasyfree-to-playfree-tripmartial-artsmartial-arts-mmoNetDragonspecial-discountstqveteran-rewardsFri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: 64% of Chinese gamers spend money on online games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/report-64-of-chinese-gamers-spend-money-on-online-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/report-64-of-chinese-gamers-spend-money-on-online-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/report-64-of-chinese-gamers-spend-money-on-online-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chinese gamer
Gaming in China is serious business, especially once you consider that a strong majority of players dish out money to support their habit every month. Analyst group Niko Partners polled 500 Chinese gamers and found that 64% of them dropped money on online titles monthly, including many free-to-play and MMO games. Considering that China has 180 million players and a $5.8 billion gaming market, the country continues to be watched closely as a major economic force in the online realm.

And while MMOs still account for a good portion of the income, they've lost some ground to other types of games, according to Niko Partners Managing Partner Lisa Cosmas Hanson. "Online games revenues are now more distributed among various platforms and genres than they have been in past years, when MMORPGs compiled the vast majority of domestic revenue," she said.

Other interesting details from this report include the news that players are spending less time per week on games and that one in 10 players in the country is over 40 years of age.

MassivelyReport: 64% of Chinese gamers spend money on online games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystanalyst-groupanalystschinachinesechinese-gamerchinese-gamersf2pfree-to-playLisa-Cosmas-Hansonmoneynikoniko-partnersonline-spendingreportrevenuespendingTue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Wushu shows off a documentary from its Chinese testing tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/age-of-wushu-shows-off-a-documentary-from-its-chinese-testing-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/age-of-wushu-shows-off-a-documentary-from-its-chinese-testing-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/age-of-wushu-shows-off-a-documentary-from-its-chinese-testing-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not pictured: attacking by leaping between treetops.
If you're a potential player in America, it's Age of Wushu. If you're in Europe or China, it's Age of Wulin. Wherever you're located, it's an upcoming free-to-play game focusing on wuxia-style combat in the same style as Chinese action films. And if you can't wait to see more of the game in action, you're in luck -- Snail Games USA has released a new documentary on the game focusing on its seven-city testing tour in China last year.

The documentary mixes in developer presentations, player impressions, and some live gameplay footage from this large-scale beta event, all of which combine to paint a picture of the game as it continues development. The full documentary is 15 minutes long and embedded just after the cut, so if you can't wait to see more of the game, check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as the game approaches localization and launch.

Continue reading Age of Wushu shows off a documentary from its Chinese testing tour

MassivelyAge of Wushu shows off a documentary from its Chinese testing tour originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushubetabeta-tourbetaschinachinese-gamesdocumentariesf2pfree-to-playpreviewssnail-gamessnail-games-usaupcoming-titlesupdatesvideovideosTue, 21 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanda Games going back to private ownership]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard to find a screenshot of companies going private. Instead, enjoy a shot of goblins getting whipped.
If you've been following development on Eligium, you're probably at least passingly familiar with the name Shanda Games. You'd be more familiar with it in China, since the company also operates a variety of games from other markets, including Aion, MapleStory, and Dungeons & Dragons Online. And after having a record-breaking quarter, the company is moving in the opposite direction of what you might expect from a successful company: It's going private. The requisite stocks were purchased by a single family, so the company moving out of the public market.

All shares will be jointly purchased by a parent company headed by Shanda's CEO, Shanda's COO (the CEO's son), and the company director (the CEO's wife). A $180 million loan was taken out to ensure that the stocks could be traded, with the purchasers buying shares at a higher price to help ensure the transfer. The board of directors has already approved this move, which means that it should go through without a hitch before the first quarter of 2012.

MassivelyShanda Games going back to private ownership originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschinachinese-developerchinese-marketlegalmmo-businessmmo-industryshanda-gamesTue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:00 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[Lord of the Rings Online still not available in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - skirmish dragon
When it comes to mammoth western themepark MMOs and the Chinese gaming market, apparently there can be only one. And that one isn't named Lord of the Rings Online (or Highlander Online, sadly).

CDC Corporation initially entered into an agreement to distribute Turbine's Tolkien-inspired MMORPG to Chinese gamers in 2006. Five years later, the game still has not seen the light of day, and Turbine has pulled the plug on the arrangement as a result. CDC spent approximately $10 million on "licensing, development, and other costs," but has nothing to show for the expenditures.

Don't cry too hard for Turbine, though, as the Boston-based developer pocketed the $4 million non-refundable licensing fee.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online still not available in China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscdccdc-corporationchinachinese-gaming-marketf2pfantasyfree-to-playlicensinglocalizationlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-industrytolkientranslationturbineTurbine-EntertainmentThu, 15 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-talking-with-josef-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-talking-with-josef-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-talking-with-josef-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Shadowbane creators
Don't miss the first part of this interview with the makers of Shadowbane, which we posted last week! And now for the thrilling conclusion...

The Game Archaeologist: What was the reason behind the free-to-play switch in 2006? Did this help the game's population any?

Josef Hall: Todd and I left Wolfpack shortly after it was acquired by Ubisoft, so we don't really have insight into the decision-making process behind the switch.

Todd Coleman: From what I have heard, it had a very positive impact on the size of the player population -- but yeah, I have no idea what it meant to the game monetarily.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanccgchinacrunchdarkfalldynamic-worlde3featuredfinal-fantasygame-designinterviewj-todd-colemanjosef-hallkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentscopeshadowbanesiegesiege-systemt-shirt-trebuchetthe-game-archaeologisttodd-colemantrebuchetubisoftwizard-101wolfpackwolfpack-studiosTue, 30 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China and Korea partner to form a $46M investment fund for game developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/china-and-korea-partner-to-form-a-46m-investment-fund-for-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/china-and-korea-partner-to-form-a-46m-investment-fund-for-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/china-and-korea-partner-to-form-a-46m-investment-fund-for-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Three Kingdoms Online
It may seem like a case of strange bedfellows -- China and South Korea aren't exactly buddy-buddy -- but through the magic of gaming, the two countries are growing closer than ever before. Recently, Chinese company Kunlun announced that it's partnering with the Korean government to whip up a $46 million investment fund for game developers.

Kunlun is a major player in China, claiming a respective 20% of the market in the country with over $187 million in sales last year, enough to take second place. The company owns Koramgame, an MMO publisher that's made inroads with both the Chinese and Korean markets with titles like Three Kingdoms Online and Dynasty Saga. Koramgame already has over two million subscribers worldwide.

Koramgame's Joe Zhou hopes that it'll capture a slice of the American pie, too: "We are catching more and more attention from North American gamers now."

MassivelyChina and Korea partner to form a $46M investment fund for game developers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinesedynasty-sagagame-developersinvestment-fundJoe-Zhoukoramgamekoreakoreankunlunsouth-koreasouth-korean-governmentthree-kingdoms-onlineSat, 27 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizard101 voyaging to China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wizard 101 beach
Never underestimate the power of magic or kids accessing their parents' wallets. That's what we've learned from KingsIsle over the past few years, as its Wizard101 has grown into a powerhouse slugger that knocks down barriers of all types: age, social groups, and most importantly for the accounting department, world regions.

Today we've learned that KingsIsle has struck a deal with Taomee Holdings Limited to bring Wizard101 to China, and in so doing greatly expand the game's market. Taomee specializes in online gaming that's angled for children, so this seems like a perfect match. Chinese players should see a localized version of Wizard101 sometime next year.

KingsIsle also says that Wizard101's website netted over 13 million unique visitors during the month of July, a strong indication of just how big this game has grown.

MassivelyWizard101 voyaging to China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-millionasiabarrierschinachinesechinese-playersexpandexpandingf2pfree-to-playkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlocalizationmarketorientregional-marketstaomeeTaomee-Holdings-Limitedwizard101Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese couple sell their kids to pay for online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/chinese-couple-sell-their-kids-to-pay-for-online-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/chinese-couple-sell-their-kids-to-pay-for-online-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/chinese-couple-sell-their-kids-to-pay-for-online-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's time for the omg-that's-bloody-awful story of the week (and no we're not talking about the price of Star Wars: The Old Republic's collector's edition). According to ABC News, a Chinese couple has been apprehended for selling three children to bankroll their online gaming activities.

Li Lin and Li Juan sold their baby daughter for approximately $500 as well as two sons for $4,600 each. The Sanxiang City News reported that the couple were turned over to authorities by Li Lin's mother. The newspaper also stated that the couple were unaware that they were breaking any laws, and said that "we don't want to raise them, we just want to sell them for some money."

MassivelyChinese couple sell their kids to pay for online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionchinachinese-couple-sell-childrenculturefamilygaming-addictionkidsli-juanli-linnewssanxiangsanxiang-city-newsMon, 25 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix invites Championship Manager into the MMO club]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/square-enix-invites-championship-manager-into-the-mmo-club/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/square-enix-invites-championship-manager-into-the-mmo-club/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/square-enix-invites-championship-manager-into-the-mmo-club/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The incredibly popular football (read: soccer) video game franchise Championship Manager is about ready to take the jump into MMO-space -- and Square Enix will be there to hold its hand all the way.

The studio announced today that it will be publishing Championship Manager: World of Football, a free-to-play browser-based title for sports fanatics. Developed by Beautiful Game Studios and Shanda Games, Championship Manager will initially launch in China with a possible international release later down the road. A beta for the title is to be announced shortly.

This is a further indication of the shape of the partnership between Square Enix and Shanda Games, which we reported on last year. The Championship Manager franchise dates back to 1992, with recent versions created by Beautiful Game Studios.

MassivelySquare Enix invites Championship Manager into the MMO club originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beautiful-game-studiosbetachampionship-managerchampionship-manager-world-of-footballchinafootballpartnershipseshanda-gamessoccersportssquare-enixworld-of-footballTue, 19 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese prisoners forced to farm MMOs for cash]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/chinese-prisoners-forced-to-farm-mmos-for-cash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/chinese-prisoners-forced-to-farm-mmos-for-cash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/chinese-prisoners-forced-to-farm-mmos-for-cash/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Doing hard time in China may result in more than just back-breaking labor -- you may be called upon to join the country's growing legion of gold farmers as well.

A report at Guardian.co.uk exposed an unusual side of Chinese prisons, painting a picture of gaming inmates who had to meet farming quotas in MMOs or be beaten. One prisoner said that this practice was more lucrative for the prisons than other products of forced labor:
"Prison bosses made more money forcing inmates to play games than they do forcing people to do manual labour. There were 300 prisoners forced to play games. We worked 12-hour shifts in the camp. I heard them say they could earn 5,000-6,000rmb [£470-570] a day. We didn't see any of the money. The computers were never turned off. If I couldn't complete my work quota, they would punish me physically. They would make me stand with my hands raised in the air and after I returned to my dormitory they would beat me with plastic pipes. We kept playing until we could barely see things."
However, prison officials denied that such activities took place. One official commented, "We do not allow our prisoners to have any contact with the outside world. If they were playing these online games they could easily communicate with other people. We would never allow that."

Billions in revenue have resulted from China's virtual gold trade, which is largely unregulated. Guardian.co.uk estimates that the country holds 80% of the world's gold farming population.

MassivelyChinese prisoners forced to farm MMOs for cash originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina-hard-labor-campchinese-prisonsfarmingforced-laborgold-farminggold-sellinggold-tradingguardian.co.ukGuardian.co.uk.comprisonprisoner-abuseprisonersprisonsrmttelegraph.co.ukworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 26 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Globex Studios hires Jason Bell to oversee development of Secret Kingdoms Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/globex-studios-hires-jason-bell-to-oversee-development-of-secret/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/globex-studios-hires-jason-bell-to-oversee-development-of-secret/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/globex-studios-hires-jason-bell-to-oversee-development-of-secret/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of growing markets in the MMO field at the moment, and one of those is indisputably the Chinese free-to-play market. Globex Studios is taking aim at precisely that demographic with its upcoming game Secret Kingdoms Online, with the company operating in both Chinese and North American territories simultaneously. In hopes of bolstering its expertise on managing the development and release of the game, Globex has hired Jason Bell as the new Executive Vice President of Products.

Bell has served in the management of several MMOs, most recently at Turbine Entertainment managing Asheron's Call. The announced game certainly looks rather involved on paper, with the game focusing upon players taking the reins of fantastical mounts in a distinct and family-friendly landscape. Whether or not Secret Kingdoms Online is the game that will bridge the gap between the American and Chinese markets remains to be seen, but Globex is certainly aiming high to start.

MassivelyGlobex Studios hires Jason Bell to oversee development of Secret Kingdoms Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese-marketf2pfree-to-playglobexglobex-studiosjason-bellmmo-industrysecret-kingdoms-onlineskoTue, 17 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft increases profits, maintains revenues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a banner year over at the NCsoft household, as the company is showing a strong rise in net profits for the first quarter this year. Even though NCsoft's revenues have held relatively steady during Q1 2011, profits are up by 30% for a total of $37.5 million due to recent promotions in Lineage and Aion.

The vast majority of NCsoft's money comes from Korea, with Chinese and Western markets trailing behind. According to Gamesindustry.biz, Aion is making the most bank for the company (accounting for 44% of revenues), followed by Lineage (28%) and Lineage 2 (22%).

NCsoft's Sara Rogers sees nothing but good news in these numbers: "NCsoft consistently delivers strong figures in a way that most other games publishers can only dream of. These results prove that we have the MMO brands that people want to play and that we're able to grow and maintain customer loyalty, which is crucial in successful MMO publishing. This year, Gamescom will be very significant for us. We'll have a major presence and maybe even steal a headline or two."

MassivelyNCsoft increases profits, maintains revenues originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchinagamescomgamesindustry.bizgrowthkorealineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftnet-profitprofitprofitspromotionsrevenuesSara-RogersTue, 17 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You are the navigator: China developing motion-sensing MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/you-are-the-navigator-china-developing-motion-sensing-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/you-are-the-navigator-china-developing-motion-sensing-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/you-are-the-navigator-china-developing-motion-sensing-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO players are always looking for games that provide deeper, more immersive experiences to draw us into the game world and keep us there. China, one of the world's largest MMORPG markets, is attempting to forge ahead with the next evolution of immersive gameplay by combining online games with motion-sensing controls.

Jin Gang Network is developing Land of Lords Online, an MMO that promises to allow players to explore the world and control their characters via a Kinect-like device. Without touching a physical controller or keyboard, a person can instruct his avatar to move, kill and cast spells in the game. Although details on the project are scant at this point, the company says that it will be releasing a video next month to show how the game's technology works.

Whether motion-sensing controls are the next true gaming interface or just an odd fad, China isn't the only place where a marriage between MMOs and such devices is being explored. Students from the University of Southern California hacked a Kinect to interface with World of Warcraft while South Korea's GamePrix is bringing the Kinect-compatible Divine Souls to Xbox.

MassivelyYou are the navigator: China developing motion-sensing MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinadivine-soulsgameprixhackhackedJin-Gang-Networkkinectland-of-lords-onlinemotion-sensing-controllermotion-sensing-controlsmotion-sensormotion-sensor-controlssouth-koreauniversity-of-southern-californiaworld-of-warcraftwowxboxTue, 22 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[War of Legends celebrates Chinese new year with prizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Game developer Jagex is perhaps best known for its popular browser MMO RuneScape, which is still going strong after over 10 years of development. Just over a year ago, the company made a move into the MMORTS market with its free-to-play browser game War of Legends. Last month, the game celebrated its first anniversary by giving players a free birthday cake filled with items to speed up construction, resource gathering and other parts of the game. With that celebration barely over, War of Legends has launched head-first into yet another event with the Chinese New Year.

As War of Legends is based heavily on ancient Chinese mythology, the Chinese New Year is a big time of year for the game. In keeping with a traditional Chinese theme, Jagex will be giving away red envelopes containing prizes to players every day for the next two weeks. Each envelope contains in-game items valued by the company at up to $20 US, and players have the opportunity to find more prizes by invading the Wildlands during the two-week celebration period. For those players who want something simpler, Jagex will also be running some limited-time daily tasks during the Chinese New Year with a variety of helpful rewards.

MassivelyWar of Legends celebrates Chinese new year with prizes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinesechinese-new-yeareventjagexjagex-game-studiosnew-yearwar-of-legendsThu, 03 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dynasty Warriors Online launches, thousands of NPCs die]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/dynasty-warriors-online-launches-thousands-of-npcs-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/dynasty-warriors-online-launches-thousands-of-npcs-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/dynasty-warriors-online-launches-thousands-of-npcs-die/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Do you enjoy mowing down hordes of angry enemies? Perhaps you like to spend your afternoons destroying the hopes and dreams of scores of minions? If so, you might be excited to hear that Dynasty Warriors Online has launched! Join up with the Wu, Wei or Shu factions to battle it out during China's famous "Three Kingdoms" period. This "action-oriented tactical combat" MMO will also pit you against your best friend from high school, if you happen to play MMORPGs with your best friend from high school. He was always a smart alec, anyway -- so chop him up!

An arsenal of new features has been added to the game like twin battle fans, scimitars, pirate swords and other chopping utensils. Visit new maps and locations, and take advantage of the seven new upgrade systems for weapons, items and gear. Once you make up with your best friend from high school, you can even form a guild with him or her and participate in guild mock battles and melee! No hard feelings?

Join up with the Aeria Games community site and log in. Those NPCs won't chop themselves!

MassivelyDynasty Warriors Online launches, thousands of NPCs die originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamesbeau-hindmanchinadynasty-warriors-onlinef2pfree-to-playftplaunchpvpWed, 10 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a rocky couple months for Final Fantasy XIV. Due to extensive feedback from the playerbase and mixed reviews, Square-Enix extended the free trial period for new players to a full two months -- a rarity in the industry -- as the company worked to shore up FFXIV's weaker points.

Due to all this, Square-Enix has been watched closely by investors and players regarding the future course of the game. President Yoichi Wada recently stated during a money report that the company is doing all it can to improve the situation: "We're quickly working on reforms... We'd like to put our full power into regaining trust."

Eurogamer reports that FFXIV has sold 630,000 units worldwide as of September 30th, including 230K in Europe and 210K in North America. According to IGN, FFXIV was the third-best selling title from the company in the past six-month period. Square-Enix points to a couple bright spots in the near future -- a partnership with China's Shanda Games and the upcoming spring 2011 release of Final Fantasy XIV on the PS3 -- that should help boost sales.

MassivelySquare-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaeurogamerff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivignps3salesshanda-gamessquare-enixtrial-periodyoichi-wadaFri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Burnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is there a point at which oversaturation, cultural prominence and old habits collapse under their own weight? According to a recent survey by Chinese market analyst Niko Partners, trends are shifting away in China from hardcore MMO gaming to more casual fare like social networking games.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that self-defined "hardcore" gamers in one of the largest MMORPG markets in the world have grown tired of the thousands of carbon-copy MMOs out there and have rebelled against the monotony by taking their business elsewhere.

Niko Partners' Lisa Cosmas Hanson sees a pattern to this trend: "We believe that the Chinese market has taken up SNS (social networking site) gaming in earnest, and that the hardcore gamers have shifted their preferences to include these games alongside the casual gamers who naturally appreciate them. The hardcore gamers are growing weary of the monotony of themes in the Chinese MMORPGs, and they want to extend their social interactions to games that attract a more diverse user base."

By 2014, the analyst says that there will be 141 million online gamers in China, and the casual games market will grow from 23% to encompass 30% of all online revenues -- approximately $3 billion US.

MassivelyBurnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutcasualcasual-gameschinachinesechinese-marketfacebookGamesindustry.bizhardcoreniko-partnersover-saturationsnssocial-networkingwhat-me-worryWed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV, like Nixon, can in fact go to China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/final-fantasy-xiv-like-nixon-can-in-fact-go-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/final-fantasy-xiv-like-nixon-can-in-fact-go-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/final-fantasy-xiv-like-nixon-can-in-fact-go-to-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Chinese market for MMOs is immense, but it's also a market that's proven remarkably resistant to foreign intrusion. (We don't need to recount the whole saga of World of Warcraft over there.) But in addition to launching nearly everywhere else, it looks as if Final Fantasy XIV will also be going into the Chinese market in a partnership with Shanda Games Limited. This comes after Square-Enix CEO Yoichi Wada had mentioned a year ago that the company wished to pursue business partnerships with companies inside mainland China.

Shanda Games Limited will most likely be operating the servers for the game, which will remain separate from the "normal" servers -- the only region-locked servers that the game is currently set to have, as a point of fact. There's no word on when the game will launch, either, simply that it is in the pipeline for release thanks to the new partnership. The rest of the world, of course, will get to start enjoying Final Fantasy XIV on the 30th (or the 22nd with the collector's edition).

[Thanks to FusionX for the tip!]

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV, like Nixon, can in fact go to China originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese-gamingchinese-marketffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmmo-industryshanda-gamesshanda-games-limitedsquaresquare-enixyoichi-wadaFri, 17 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dynasty Warriors Online set for American release by Aeria Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/dynasty-warriors-online-set-for-american-release-by-aeria-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/dynasty-warriors-online-set-for-american-release-by-aeria-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/dynasty-warriors-online-set-for-american-release-by-aeria-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history is one of those settings that people just can't seem to get enough of, with other free-to-play games mining the territory with vigor. The Dynasty Warriors franchise, however, has quite a bit of pedigree, with a long tradition of character-based storytelling and impossibly large battles. American fans of the franchise can take heart, as it has just been announced that Aeria Games will be publishing Dynasty Warriors Online in North America, with the game currently accepting beta applicants.

Fans of the series will be happy to know that the game hasn't lost sight of its roots, with the engine focusing on allowing player-created characters to face off against huge hordes of NPC opponents. The game will also allow players to have a direct influence on the historical setting, with the outcome of battles affecting the delicate balance between Wei, Shu, and Wu. Naturally, there will also be the same psuedo-historical personalities made famous in the series and in the source novel. Dynasty Warriors Online is set for an official launch later this year, and if you're on the fence, take a look at the gallery below to get a feel for the game's appearance.

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Online gallery

MassivelyDynasty Warriors Online set for American release by Aeria Games originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gameschinachinese-historydwodynasty-warriorsdynasty-warriors-onlinef2pfree-to-playmassed-battlesromance-of-the-three-kingdomsshuthree-kingdomsweiwuSat, 14 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP responds to rumour of server merger with EVE China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/ccp-responds-to-rumour-of-server-merger-with-eve-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/ccp-responds-to-rumour-of-server-merger-with-eve-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/ccp-responds-to-rumour-of-server-merger-with-eve-china/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in 2006, CCP Games decided to move EVE Online into the Chinese MMO market. To comply with China's strict laws regarding online gaming, a second server named Serenity was created. Although the game itself is the same, Serenity doesn't really interact with EVE's main game server. The people over at mmosite today reported that CCP Games had announced plans to merge the two servers. They pointed to a talk given by CCP's CEO Hilmar Petursson at the recent Chinese Game Developers Conference, asserting that Hilmar discussed the company's plans to "connect the Chinese server of EVE Online with its world server."

This news came as a bit of a shock, as the Chinese gaming laws which necessitated a separate game server are still in place. We contacted CCP for more information, who promptly informed us that they are not planning to merge the two servers, and that the writer at mmosite had likely misunderstood what Hilmar said during his talk. Hilmar issued us with the following statement:

"Ever since the Chinese version of EVE Online was announced at EVE Fanfest 2005 then CCP has consistently stated that according to CCP's design philosophy and single shard one world strategy then it would make sense to merge the two servers at some point in the future. Currently this is not possible, for various reasons and we have no current plans to do this merger as a results of those reasons. We will continue to communicate our vision and aspirations regardless."

MassivelyCCP responds to rumour of server merger with EVE China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameschinachineseeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinemergemergesserenityserverserver-mergeserver-mergesserversThu, 05 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Kate Paiz praises community, addresses F2P switch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Over at Mordor or Bust, Lord of the Rings Online's new executive producer Kate Paiz sat down to talk about what's on every hobbit's mind: the transition to LotRO's free-to-play version this fall. Paiz took the reins of LotRO just as the F2P change was announced and is bringing her experience from DDO Unlimited's transition over to LotRO's team.

In the interview, Paiz spends a considerable amount of time both praising the community and reassuring it that these changes will benefit the game as a whole. One of the issues she addressed was the lack of Player versus Monster Player (PvMP) combat for non-subscribers, saying that it was necessary for now, but that may change in the future: "While we plan to introduce [PvMP] at some point in the future to the rest of the playerbase, we wanted to first focus on delivering the quality PvE game that we have to players in a way that continued to drive great interest and fun in the game."

While she declined to comment on whether Turbine would be giving refunds for lifetime subscribers who purchased that option shortly before the announcement of the F2P change, Paiz did say they'd like to offer lifetime VIP subscriptions again at some point. Paiz also said Turbine has "a lot of ideas" for additional classes, and it is working with the CDC to get LotRO launched in China.

You can read the full interview over at Mordor or Bust!

MassivelyLotRO's Kate Paiz praises community, addresses F2P switch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdcchinaclassesddoddo-unlimiteddungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromordor-or-bustplayer-vs-player-monsterpvmpturbineMon, 12 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[China's Ministry of Culture to introduce stricter gaming regulations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/chinas-ministry-of-culture-to-introduce-stricter-gaming-regulat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/chinas-ministry-of-culture-to-introduce-stricter-gaming-regulat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/chinas-ministry-of-culture-to-introduce-stricter-gaming-regulat/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Chinese Ministry of Culture is tightening gaming restrictions in what they say is an effort to protect minors from undesirable content in gaming. "Unwholesome" and "inappropriate" were the words used, and games targeting minors will be required to avoid such content beginning August 1st.

Pornography, cults, superstitions, gambling and violence were some of the themes specifically forbidden. In addition, these game companies will be required to "develop techniques that would limit the gaming time of minors in order to prevent addiction." No specifics on what types of techniques will be required were given. Finally, minors will be restricted with regards to online transactions using virtual currency.

Check out the full story at Xinhua Net.

MassivelyChina's Ministry of Culture to introduce stricter gaming regulations originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese-gaming-regulationschinese-governmentchinese-ministry-of-cultureThu, 24 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Swordsman Online looks to bring Louis Cha's famous novels to life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/swordsman-online-looks-to-bring-louis-chas-famous-novels-to-lif/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/swordsman-online-looks-to-bring-louis-chas-famous-novels-to-lif/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/swordsman-online-looks-to-bring-louis-chas-famous-novels-to-lif/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At E3, we learned that Perfect World Entertainment (Battle of the Immortals, Perfect World) is working on a new MMO tentatively titled Swordsman Online. Based on the book series by Louis Cha, Swordsman Online will take players back to ancient China, where martial arts and bravery were needed to win the day. As with Perfect World Entertainment's other MMOs, Swordsman Online will adapt a free-to-play model.

Louis Cha, who also goes under the pen name of Jin Yong, may not be a household name in your neck of the woods, but trust us, he's incredibly popular in China where he's written well over a dozen best-selling historical martial arts novels. His Swordsman books, in particular, are well-loved and were made into a hit movie franchise starring Jet Li.

Massively will be sitting down with Perfect World Entertainment tomorrow at the convention to talk about Swordsman Online as well as their other titles. We'll hopefully get our first look at the game, and bring to you our findings as well as the debut trailer. If you have any questions you'd like us to ask them, please throw them into the comments section!

MassivelySwordsman Online looks to bring Louis Cha's famous novels to life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-the-immortalschinae3e3-2010jet-lijin-younglouis-chaperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentswordsmanswordsman-onlineTue, 15 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China declares day of mourning, closes all entertainment venues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/china-declares-day-of-mourning-closes-all-entertainment-venues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/china-declares-day-of-mourning-closes-all-entertainment-venues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/china-declares-day-of-mourning-closes-all-entertainment-venues/#commentsFiled under: , ,

News of the earthquake that hit China last week was devastating enough to gain worldwide attention immediately, even more so as the numbers of killed, injured, and missing rose with every new report.

As China begins recovering this week, officials declared a day of mourning for today. Flags flew at half mast, citizens wore white paper flowers, and even rescue workers paused for three minutes to remember the victims. So what does this have to do with MMOs?

Matt Mihaly, the CEO of Sparkplay Media, is in Shanghai this week and dropped us a line to let us know that those aren't the only things being done for today's day of mourning: "...all entertainment options in China have been shut down today (4/21). That includes everything from karaoke bars to entertainment tv channels (non-news channels are blacked out here today) to online games." That's right, no MMOs in China today. And while we at Massively love our games, we can't help but approve of this measure of respect for those affected.

[Thanks to Matt for the tip!]

MassivelyChina declares day of mourning, closes all entertainment venues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina-day-of-mourningearthquakematt-mihalysparkplay-mediaWed, 21 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Neverland Online introduces guild hall system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/neverland-online-introduces-guild-hall-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/neverland-online-introduces-guild-hall-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/neverland-online-introduces-guild-hall-system/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Second icon to the right, and straight on till morning, or so the log-in instructions for Neverland Online go. For fans of the MMO, OPI Games is pleased to announce a new guild hall system that not only offers housing, but a communal focus for building the structure. Guilds will need to work together to complete three different types of quests to contribute to their guild activity, which may then be used to increase the size and function of the guild hall.

Ordinary quests are free to pick up, and require the standard "kill 10 rats" objectives that MMO players are used to doing. If guildies want to increase their activity levels, they can fork over silver and gold for Important and Mystery quests, respectively, for a bigger bump in contributions. Once the guild hall is upgraded enough, Neverland Online players can purchase gear from the guild mall that they can't find anywhere else.

The guild hall system comes on the heels of a whole slew of game updates that landed last month.

MassivelyNeverland Online introduces guild hall system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaguild-hallguild-housingguild-mallneverlandneverland-onlineopi-gamesThu, 15 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Virtual Whirl: Questions from the virtual mailbag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/06/the-virtual-whirl-questions-from-the-virtual-mailbag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/06/the-virtual-whirl-questions-from-the-virtual-mailbag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/06/the-virtual-whirl-questions-from-the-virtual-mailbag/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

This week, in The Virtual Whirl, we're going to take a selection of reader questions that we've received in comments and in the virtual mailbag and do our best to offer up some useful answers. Join us as we whirl through the mail. Not surprisingly, the two most frequently asked questions involve the demise of virtual environment, There.com.

Continue reading The Virtual Whirl: Questions from the virtual mailbag

MassivelyThe Virtual Whirl: Questions from the virtual mailbag originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue-marsbusiness-modelschinaeconomyentropia-universefeaturedfrenzoohipihilinden-dollarslinden-lablindexmichael-wilsonmmo-industryopinionredlightcentersecond-lifethe-virtual-whirltherethere.comutherversevirtual-worldsSat, 06 Mar 2010 18:00:00 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[A bird's-eye view of China's MMO market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,


To a western MMO developer, China's market is alluring in much the same way that winning the lottery is alluring to everyone else. There's a huge market right there, even disregarding the almost stereotypical amount of gold farming associated with the country, but thus far western games have yet to make much of a dent. The only one that's been largely successful is World of Warcraft, and even that has a bit of a tortured history. Scott Jennings has taken the opportunity to expound a bit on what makes China so appealing as an MMO market and why it's been so difficult to get a solid footing in.

One of the points he makes is that, by and large, China hasn't attracted a good portion of the western market either -- Perfect World International comes the closest to making a splash, and it's nowhere near the popularity of, say, Runes of Magic. He also discusses several of the difficulties in negotiations between western businesses and the Chinese counterparts, as well as the government's vested interest in ensuring the market stays solidly in China. The full article also offers as comprehensive a breakdown of the entire World of Warcraft controversy as you're likely to find in one place, making it an excellent reference point for anyone interested in the vagaries of the worldwide market.

MassivelyA bird's-eye view of China's MMO market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina-mmo-marketchinese-mmoslum-the-madperfect-worldperfect-world-internationalpwiromrunes-of-magicscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 15 Jan 2010 19:00:00 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[CCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Asia branch of CCP Games had modest beginnings -- the company's Shanghai office was simply formed to administer EVE Online in China, although there was always the hope that the team would eventually be able to develop new games as well. Now CCP's Shanghai office is growing into a full-fledged game development studio with their work on DUST 514, a ground-based console MMOFPS that ties in with the galactic struggle for control between players in EVE Online.

A recent interview with Gamasutra's Christian Nutt discusses CCP Asia and their work on DUST 514 from both a western and eastern perspective. Environment Director Larry Herring and Lead Level Designer Jing Yu Zhu give us a better idea of the challenges (and red tape) involved with developing games for Western markets in China, and a look at the console game development scene in Shanghai.

Continue reading CCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514

MassivelyCCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaccpccp-asiaccp-gameschinachristian-nuttconsolesdust-514environment-directoreveeve-onlinegamasutrainterviewsjing-yu-zhularry-herringlead-level-designermmo-industrysci-fishanghaiMon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Asia on innovation and risk with DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/ccp-asia-on-innovation-and-risk-with-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/ccp-asia-on-innovation-and-risk-with-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/ccp-asia-on-innovation-and-risk-with-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This past August's announcement from CCP Games of a new title -- DUST 514, a console MMOFPS set in EVE Online's New Eden galaxy -- drew both great interest and intense criticism from gamers. If successful, CCP Games will be the first game company to tie a console FPS in with a separate MMO. (Not entirely separate, however. DUST 514 mercenaries will fight it out on the surface of the same planets seen from space in EVE Online. Their successes and failures will ultimately play a role in the balance of power in EVE.)

Since that first flurry of info about DUST 514, it's been rather quiet on the news front. However, a two-part article published at Edge Online this week focuses on CCP's new game. Edge Online's "Enter Planet Dust" is something of a primer on the core concepts behind the title but is also one of the most comprehensive pieces written about DUST 514 to date. Edge also interviewed some of the key CCP Games staff working on the game in Shanghai -- Kjartan Pierre Emilsson, Managing Director of CCP Asia and Atli Már Sveinsson, Creative Director on DUST 514.

Continue reading CCP Asia on innovation and risk with DUST 514

MassivelyCCP Asia on innovation and risk with DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaatli-mar-sveinssonccpccp-asiaccp-gameschinaconsolesdustdust-514edgeedge-onlineeveeve-onlinekjartan-pierre-emilssonmercenariesmercsmmofpsnew-titlesrtssci-fishanghaiwilliam-chenThu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:00 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[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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You can frequently get asked to prove an awful lot in MMOs -- that you actually know how to beat this boss, that you really have insider access to the game developers, or perhaps most commonly that you are who you say you are. Aurora Technology over in China has apparently decided to cut out the middleman in the equation -- they're banning any male players who play female characters, requiring players to confirm their gender via webcam in order to enforce the ruling.

The ruling currently only affects the Aurora-developed game King of the World, but there's always the possibility that this action could have further-reaching consequences. After all, Aurora is a subsidiary of Shanda, a company responsible for publishing Aion and Dungeons and Dragons Online in the region, which are names slightly more familiar to players on this side of the pond. China is a fair bit more litigious than the US when it comes to its online games, and the country as a whole has taken some surprising moves already. While this ordeal has been going on for over two years now, we can't help but wonder if this will herald the start of some rather restrictive policies. We're assuming that you'll need to provide pictures or it didn't happen.

MassivelyChinese company bans gender-bending originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaurora-technologychinachina-gamingchinese-gamingcultureddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinegenderlegalmmo-industryshandaTue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Online gaming revenues soar in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/online-gaming-revenues-soar-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/online-gaming-revenues-soar-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/online-gaming-revenues-soar-in-china/#commentsFiled under: ,

Online gaming revenues soared in China to 6.18 billion RMB (USD 906 million) in the second quarter of 2009, according to Reuters. They cite data from Analysys International, a research firm which states China's online game revenues for Q2 2009 were up 39.5 percent over last year. Among the top three earners (trailing behind Tencent Holdings and Shanda Games) was NetEase, the company which is presently the licensed operator of World of Warcraft in China. Reuters states that NetEase saw revenues of 780 million RMB (USD 114 million) in the second quarter of this year.

This continual growth of online gaming in China has been a key issue with legislators in recent years. The Chinese media's coverage of internet and gaming addiction has intensified, and there is now increased government scrutiny of the virtual currencies and economies these games have given rise to. It's not just a China issue, as foreign companies are either operating online games in the country or have been eyeing this lucrative market. As we mentioned on Monday, the issue of regulating foreign game operation in China may be coming to a head with the current struggle between the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) and the Ministry of Culture. Whatever agreement is reached between these government agencies will determine the future of foreign online game operations in the country.

[Via GamePolitics]

MassivelyOnline gaming revenues soar in China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagamepoliticsgappgovernmentlegallegislationmmo-industrypoliticsreutersworld-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaThu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Age of Conan came to PAX pretty much directly off their announcement of the Rise of the Godslayer expansion. So when we arrived at our appointment to check the game out and speak with Executive Producer Craig Morrison, you can imagine our curiosity levels were quite high.

This expansion is taking players far into the eastern lands of Khitai, which is essentially a retelling of our own ancient eastern worlds. Something we were told right away is that Funcom wanted to avoid Japanese influences, as they're fairly over-saturated in videogames. Instead, they're going for a heavy focus on Korean and Chinese culture for the lands of Khitai.

Gallery: Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer

Continue reading PAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer

MassivelyPAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocchinaconancraig-morrisonexpansionfeaturedfuncomkhitaikoreapaxpax-2009rise-of-the-godslayerrobert-e-howardrotgWed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST