Mobile Gaming Market in China is Growing

NOV. 26, 2013 • The mobile gaming market in China is expected to reach 10.9 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) in 2013, of which 74% of that revenue is generated on smartphones. The estimates were provided by Baidu, Inc. senior vice president of strategy Sun Zude in an interview with China’s Internet Data Research Information Centre. Baidu is the Chinese equivalent of Google that was founded in 2000 and is the leading search service in the country. The company is.....

Tencent Adds Game Center to WeChat

NOV. 19, 2013 • Last August Tencent Holdings Limited added a game center to its WeChat Messenger service. The mobile app was launched in 2011 and is available on all major platforms and features mobile text and voice messaging. According to Tencent half of all Chinese smartphone owners use WeChat. Somewhat like the arrival of social games on Facebook, WeChat is growing in popularity within China as a social network for mobile gameplay. Games on the service requi.....

Western Video Game Consoles Allowed in China

SEPT. 30, 2013 • China’s CPC Central Committee, State Council has formalized a new and experimental free trade zone in Shanghai. As a result, Western video game consoles can now be officially marketed and sold within the zone as long as hardware and software are approved by the Ministry of Culture first. The move is the first lifting of the nationwide ban on console sales instituted in 2000. The change is a by-product of larger goals of the free trade zone.....

PlayStation 4 Japan Launch Date Set

SEPT. 9, 2013 • The PlayStation 4 Japan launch date is now set for February 22nd. When Sony Computer Ent. announced North America would receive the new console on November 15 and November 29 in Europe, no mention was made on when the home market in Japan would receive shipments. The PS4 will be marketed in two SKUs: ¥39,980 ($400) for the console with Dualshock 4 controller, and a ¥43,980 ($441) package that includes the PlayStation camera accessory. Consumers.....

NHN Spins Off Divisions

AUG. 9, 2013 • Thirteen years after it came on the scene, Next Human Network Corp. (NHN) has been in the process of spinning off its online gaming and online portal businesses since the beginning of the month. The Hangame division now operates as NHN Entertainment Co., while the.....