An American market research firm, DFC Intelligence, has just published a report in which the analysts predict strong growth for games in China. Following the trend of South Korea, online gaming is already one of China's favourite pastimes, but it is expected to be worth a great deal more by 2010: 1.7 billion USD we're told. That's up from a 2005 value of about 560 million USD. The report also spoke of the market conditions in the People's Republic, citing continuing problems as challenges for developers to overcome. "Because of piracy concerns, has been forced to pioneer new models for games. The game market in China is all about online play and charging by usage. There is even a growing market for the items used in games like weapons and characters," states Alexis Madrigal, one of the experts behind the new report.

Burgeoning of title recently lifted that game to the top of its genre, picking up over one-million subscribers in China, and becoming one of the first western-developed titles to garner such success. The report continues, noting how other games have struggled to get a foothold in a market dominated by home-grown or Korean developed games. The 350-page MMOG extravaganza also speaks of the difficulties being caused by new government measures to limit the playing time and age of players, but concluded that China is most assuredly the MMO home of the future.

Madrigal also notes in the report that top-selling online games in China can garner up to 100 million USD a year - demonstrating the increasing power of the nation as a major gaming market.

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. bunnylove Unregistered 5 months ago

    i love bunnys :))