Chinese Online Gaming Market Is Key Area

Two new reports have just been released, citing the online arena as a key area of growth in the Chinese video games market. The first report from Niko Partners and the International Development Group claims that revenues from online games in China will amount to $96 million this year, growing to $127 million by 2006. The second report, from the Xinhua News Agency, puts the online market at $250 million this year, with a claim that over half of China’s Internet using population (over 79 million people) play online games. Both reports agree that not only is the market largely unaffected by the piracy which otherwise blights the Chinese market, but that it has also become part of the Chinese national science and technology program and enjoys tax breaks and widespread governmental support.