Sunday, November 14, 2010

China's game industry is bursting at the seams

I was reading a few articles earlier this morning about how much smaller the Chinese game industry is compared to the West's. This is changing. Soon we'll be seeing a monster of a game industry in China the likes of which hasn't been seen since the rise of electronic entertainment itself.

Like many industry's in China, growth is at 10% per year or better and outpacing many competitor's in nearly all areas. The Chinese game industry is one of the highest growth industries right now in the country. Kingsoft, one of China's big publisher and R&D investor, grew 100% last year alone. Network development costs, as well as huge salary increases, are all signs that China's game industry is growing just about as fast as it possibly can.

The burden to China's game industry right now is not a lack of monetary resources, but a lack of robust talent and expertise. Hiring is at a run-away pace and production is up in nearly every studio. They're all crying for more quality production materials, communications access, and talented employees able to get the job done.

What's made the tremendous growth especially painful is the constant shift in the attitude of the Chinese towards a certain genre of games. The last couple of years we saw interest in Massively Multiplayer Online games, specifically Role-Playing ones like World of Warcraft and Lineage 2. Now we're seeing a rather jarring shift toward more casual, browser-based games, especially as more and more Chinese gain access to the Internet from their homes instead of stuffy basement-like Internet cafes.

Even though it may seem at times that the Chinese game industry is building upon itself, it's still largely being driven by American and European companies. The Chinese game industry is projected to continue double-digit growth for the next several years. They are going to need more than ever our expertise and experience, just as much as we need them right now for raw material goods.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Asian Games begin in Guangzhou, China

The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en), part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), will has the final rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony this evening – now two days away before the Games begin.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

Xu Ruisheng, deputy mayor of Guangzhou lauded the praise of civic and games organizers, saying that Guangzhou has “the highest standards of water and electricity supply, smooth urban traffic and air, water and living environment quality. Guangzhou is ready to extend its welcoming hands”.

Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, vice president of Olympic Council of Asia, said that the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games will be the best one in history.

"Guangzhou once hosted the most successful National Games, and I'm sure it will also present the best Asian Games this time. The Asian Games provides a rare opportunity for Guangzhou to showcase its brand-new side. The whole world will share this rare opportunity. The entire city of Guangzhou will enjoy this historic moment," said Fok, who also serves as the president of the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

The 16th Asian Games are ready to dazzle the three million spectators set to watch all of the competition and billions of TV viewers across Asia and around the globe with 53 competition venues and 17 training stadiums ready to go. Guangzhou city is locked down well in advance of Friday's opening ceremony, and the completion of test events for all 42 sports.

Games officials announced that a record number of doping tests will be carried out at the Games. “The Olympic Council of Asia plans for some 1,500 urine tests and probably more than 200 blood tests at the Asian Games which is expected to attract nearly 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions during November 12-27”, according to Zhao Jian, deputy head of China’s Anti-Doping Agency.

"The tests will be carried out according to Olympic standards," Zhao said. Testing started on Saturday in the Athletes Village and each morning a flight will carry the samples to the Beijing lab where about 5,000 tests were done during the Beijing Olympic Games.

"The negative reports return in 24 hours and for the positive ones, 48 hours," said Zhao.

The China Anti-doping Agency fielded 81 doping test officials, most of them serving the Beijing Summer Olympics, to the Asian Games as well as 11 international officials recommended by the OCA. The organizers also recruited 600 escorts and volunteers into the anti-doping force.
Games officials also announced that during The 16th Asian Games some 3,989 medals will be awarded. The medals for The 16th Asian Games take its theme from the ancient Silk Road and are a positive fusing of the Games and emblem of the OCA together with graphics depicting the Guangzhou city flower … the red kapok.

Featuring the OCA logo of the dancing dragon and soaring hawk, the medals also depicts the OCA’s shining sun visual effect through a bowstring grain design that expresses the core elements of The 16th Asian Games – the bright sun and the delicate Red Kapok flower.
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Each of the award ceremony elements have been meticulously prepared to the finest details include all of the medals, certificates, flowers, awards platform, pallets and background boards used as well as specific sizes for each national flag, timed national anthems and opening award ceremony music.

The 16th Asian Games awards bouquet will consist mainly of gladiolus, red ear crown composition, plus crystal grass, blue leaf, turtle bamboo or golden bowl anise for accent decoration.

There are 39 Asian Games ceremony work teams with 1,166 workers, 146 team workers, 380 awards etiquette staff, 250 flag-raising staff and 390 general volunteers.
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Games organizers spent one year searching across China for the young ladies that would participate in the award ceremonies. The search committee traveled to more than 110 universities and ultimately selected 380 individuals to become official Asian Games awards etiquette volunteers.

The flag raising staff come from Guangdong Armed Police Department, Guangzhou military region and Hong Kong units. When the Asian Games begin, 380 awards etiquette and 250 flag-raising staff will work together to form 23 ceremony professional volunteer teams.

Source: http://etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?nav=21&id=71521