October 16, 2013  |  Subscribe  |    |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn     
Everything you need to know this week about the games market in Asia
Every week, our analysts review dozens of news sources, from multiple countries, in multiple languages. From this, we give you the stories that are most important, and the analysis to tell you why.
China's 11th International Internet Culture Exhibition

On October 11th Mr. Tuo Zuhai, the Vice Director of the Culture and Market Administration in the Ministry of Culture (the man tasked with all things online games and Internet related), addressed the 11th China International Internet Culture Exhibition. In his address he highlighted six goals of the Ministry of Culture for the Internet (more regulations!):

 

1. Self-censorship of enterprises in the Internet content space

2. Establish evaluation criteria for online games violence

3. Develop online services to deliver performances such as concerts and competitions via the Internet

4. Enhance protection measures to prevent teenagers from online games addictions

5. Improve the management of Internet cafés

6. Set a 5-year deadline to establish a supervisory platform for the national culture market (content)

 

Keep in mind that China does not have an "ESRB" type of games ratings system, and that all content is currently reviewed by government regulators or subject to review (in the case of smaller games that are deemed as benign unless found to have illegal content). 

 

 

As we have written in past newsletters and reports, many companies from outside the online games industry are trying to get a foothold within it, as it has had vast revenue growth over the past decade. The latest such example is that Wuhu Shunrong Auto Parts Company, a market leader in automobile fuel tanks, has purchased 60% of Shanghai 37wan Network and Technology Company. 37Wan is a webgame platform company with more than 120 games and declared that it holds 8% of the webgames market. 

 

 

The computer games accessories business is different in China than in the West, mostly because consoles are not mainstream in China so the accessories that go with console games are also not mainstream. Headsets are important, however, both in Internet cafés and at home, and with mobile devices. Razer is one of the leading companies of gaming accessories such as mice, headsets, and other items. In an interview picked up by Gamesindustry.biz, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan said that all of their products are sold at a loss.  

 


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Niko News is just one part of the strategy and expertise offered by Niko Partners to help our clients better understand and successfully navigate the thriving games markets of China and Southeast Asia.

Niko Partners is the leading provider of market intelligence, custom research, and consulting services focused on the games industries in China and Southeast Asia. Since 2003 we have provided critical information to the world's leading game publishers, developers, hardware makers, and game service providers as well as to government policymakers, trade associations, and institutional investors.

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