Chinese agencies taking stake in online gaming
by Eliot Lefebvre 
Oct 13th 2009 at 3:00PM
Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items, Rumors
It's ironic that just as the GDC in Shanghai is getting into motion, the Chinese government is making some moves regarding the future of online games in China. It's a sweeping change, at that -- the General Administration of Press and Publication, the regulator of games in China, made a declaration officially preventing any foreign companies from operating a game in China, through joint ventures or otherwise. The move is fairly clearly intended to prevent any foreign companies from muscling in on China's lucrative online gaming market, but it's possible that liberal interpretations of "investors" might even include foreign players on Chinese servers.
However, the GAPP's declaration isn't the end of the story. As it turns out, the Chinese Ministry of Culture is at odds with this announcement, claiming that the authority to make such decisions passed to them on the seventh of September. Tuo Zu Hai, the vice director of the Ministry of Culture's Market Department, said he was "shocked to hear the news", indicating that there was a communication lapse between the two agencies and the ultimate resolution is still up in the air. It's unsure of how much impact this will have on NetEase, whose recent acquisition of World of Warcraft was a major coup for the company and who would be directly affected if Blizzard was blocked from interacting with them.
[ via GamePolitics ]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Holgar said on 3:41PM 10-13-2009
While I may risk sounding like a right wing dolt: what a typical communist protectionist move. Lets increase our profits and keep everything even more under our thumb.
The fact that two agencys are having an internal fight over who has the right to do this only furthers my amusment.
PS: I have nothing against the Chinese some of my best friends are from there. Its the goverment hat I find retarded byond all...
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Jay said on 8:59PM 10-13-2009
I guess this just highlights one of the reasons why China's economy is booming when every USA styled capitalist economy has crumbled.
They are doing something right.
Leshrac said on 3:51PM 10-13-2009
God bless America.
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