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[Statistics point to China's growing significance in MMO industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been mentioning a bit about some of the regulatory issues in China affecting massively multiplayer online games, particularly as they concern some Western game companies. However, a number of gamers in the West have wondered something along the lines of, "What does this have to do with me?" Well, in terms of Western markets directly, not much. But China is significant for the MMO industry seen as a whole.

China will be the world's largest MMO market moving forward and as broadband speeds and penetration increase, the numbers of online gamers will keep rising. The current regulatory changes put forth by China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) stands to have a major impact on how online games are operated in this market, ranging from implementation of a "fatigue system" (where play time is limited each day) to censorship of game content. The country has over 55.5 million online gamers, with a total market for virtual transactions between USD 1.4 billion and 1.9 billion (RMB 10-13 billion), according to 2008 statistics released by the China Internet Network Information Center (as reported in English by JLM Pacific Epoch).

MassivelyStatistics point to China's growing significance in MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiacensorshipchinaciniccnnicculturefatiguefatigue-systemgappjlm-pacific-epochlegalmmo-industryregulationsregulatoryvirtual-goodsvirtual-transactionsFri, 20 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