Posts Tagged ‘Chinese’

Q2 sees China’s Online Game Revenue jump 40 percent to $906 million

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Perhaps it’s just simply a matter of timing, but recent figures from research firm Analysys International arrive hot on the heels of the Chinese Government’s announcement that they’re banning foreign investment, or ‘influence’ in the domestic online gaming market. Their recent report indicates that the Chinese online gaming market grew 39.5 percent year over year in Q2 2009 to a massive 6.18 billion yuan, or approximately $906 million.

W020090123324470898658Coming out on top was popular online messaging platform Tencent Holdings. While the company’s QQ messenger is still the primary driver for Tencent, they also operate a number of free-to-play games in the Chinese domestic market. In this Q2 report, Tencent managed to carve out 20.2 percent of market revenues totaling 1.24 billion yuan (~$182 million).

Taking the number 2 Q2 spot was Shanda Games, the recent spinoff from Shanda Interactive Entertainment, which pulled down 20 percent of market revenues with a revenue total of 1.23 billion yuan (~$180 million).

Rounding out the top three, NetEase.com, the recent winners of the highly lucrative Blizzard/Activision World of Warcraft operators license in China managed a healthy 12.7 percent of Chinese domestic market share. While only culling 780 million yuan (~$114 million), in Q2, it’s important to remember that NetEase.com has been through the ringer with Chinese regulators regarding the support levels that Blizzard would fill in the contract.

If these Q2 numbers are any indication, it seems like Niko Partners, who made projections and put some numbers to the page back in May of this year, are right on track. Their report indicates that by 2013, the Chinese online gaming market should reach an annual revenue number value of $8.9 billion. While the market shows no signs of slowing, in fact these numbers clearly indicate a continued growth, it will be interesting to see how the governments’ recent decision to pull the plug on foreign investments in the domestic gaming will effect this growth, and associated revenue streams, if at all.

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Free to Play World of Kung Fu partners with MMOsite for Giveaways

Monday, November 17th, 2008

VestGame Entertainment, publisher of free-to-play martial arts MMORPG ‘World of Kung Fu’, has recently announced a partnership with MMOsite to host a giveaway of valuable items from the WoKF item mall.

Coincidentally riding on the heels of Nexon’s 7-Eleven announcement (bad timing?), VestGame Entertaintainment is partnering up with popular gaming portal MMOsite.com and will be giving away a ton of new in-game items (read: WotLK just came out – where did everyone go?).

World of Kung Fu has approximately 250,000 registered users that adventure and explore the 3D virtual world of ancient China.  The game takes place in a fantasy land steeped in ancient Kung Fu morals of justice and heroism.  Both hard core and casual gamers are enveloped in Chinese Kung Fu philosophy, grasshopper, with graphics inspired by landscapes and open countryside settings portrayed in traditional Chinese artwork.

Players visiting MMOsite.com can take advantage of these free, in-game promos by visiting the contest section of MMOsite.  Items to be given away include:

  1. Gallant Steed – Fast moving white horse. Lasts 7 days.
  2. Novice Tai Yi Pill – Ancient medicine that restores 50,000 Hit Points.
  3. Wooden Waist Pendant – Nice accoutrement. HP +20.
  4. Small Experience Charm (5) – Gain 120% experience for 1 hour.
  5. Deepfried Steamed Bun (5) – Restores 150 HP over 15 seconds.
  6. Novice Lion Toy (5) – Enables player to revive at current location.

“We are happy to see so many new players in World of Kung Fu, and would like to take this opportunity to show our appreciation for their support”, says Zhenghua Zhuang, Head of North American Operations at VestGame.

“MMOsite was chosen to host this event because of their long standing support of World of Kung Fu as well as for their credibility in the MMORPG community”, he added.

I gave World of Kung Fu a whirl over the weekend, and while my comments above regarding Lich King is out – where did everyone go? are meant as a slight jab to the MMO community in general for all of a sudden grinding back to life, I found WoKF quite enjoyable.  Granted, there wasn’t the massive server population as experienced in WoW, which actually made the game quiet nice.  The scenery and graphics are well executed, and the storyline is pretty interesting.  Would I make this my main go-to M-F?  Probably not – but at a free-to-play price, and now including free goodie bags, it might be enough to get me started on an alternate project while I’m waiting 45+ minutes to log onto a WoW server just to see what all the excitement is about.

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