Chinese Gaming Research Articles

From play to power: china’s video games as instruments of soft power

This paper investigates the burgeoning role of video games as a strategic instrument of soft power, with a particular focus on China’s utilization of the gaming industry to extend its cultural and political influence on a global scale. Through a comprehensive analysis of Chinese gaming giant Tencent, the study reveals how these companies embed Chinese cultural elements and narratives within their games, effectively turning them into vehicles for cultural exchange and soft power projection. The paper categorizes video games as an emerging source of soft power by examining the strategies of Chinese video games and their impact on global gaming trends. It further explores the symbiotic relationship between these gaming strategies and China’s broader soft power objectives under the Digital Silk Road initiative, illustrating how digital entertainment mediums can contribute to the country’s international diplomacy efforts.

Investigating Marketing Strategies and Consumer Behavior of Chinese Otome Games: A Case Study of Game “Love and Deep Space”

This study investigates the marketing strategies and consumer behavior associated with Chinese otome games, using “Love and Deep Space” as a case study. Otome games, a genre predominantly targeting female players, have gained significant traction in the Chinese gaming market. This research explores how these games are marketed and how consumer behavior influences their success. Through a mixed-method approach, including market analysis, consumer surveys, the study examines promotional tactics, platform usage, and consumer preferences. Key findings highlight the effectiveness of targeted digital marketing, the role of social media influencers, and the impact of localized content on player engagement. The results provide insights into how otome games can leverage marketing strategies to enhance their appeal in the competitive Chinese market and offer recommendations for developers aiming to optimize their marketing efforts and understand consumer preferences in this niche segment.For example, the popularity of games such as Love & Producer not only shows the commercial potential of B-girl games, but also highlights the specific needs of female gamers for game content and experiences. Therefore, game developers need to have a deep understanding of these requirements and incorporate them into game design and marketing strategies in order to gain a competitive advantage in this growing market.

Cultural Heritage in Digital Entertainment: A Case Study of Black Myth: Wukong and Its Implications for the Chinese Gaming Industry

This paper uses Black Myth: Wukong as an example to explore the integration of China s gaming industry with traditional culture. The game has become a hit due to its deep exploration of traditional culture, excellent visual presentation, innovative gameplay, and highquality production, setting a benchmark for China s gaming industry. However, the Chinese gaming industry still faces challenges such as lagging production technology, insufficient innovation, and an imperfect industrial chain in the process of integrating with traditional culture. To achieve integrated development, efforts should be made to deeply explore traditional cultural resources, innovate integration forms and methods, focus on cultural connotation transmission, strengthen talent cultivation and team building, enhance international cooperation and exchange, and obtain policy support and industry guidance.

Research on Translation Strategies for Games Localization: A Case Study of League of Legends

With the rapid development of the digital technology, more and more e-sports games are accepted and recognized by the public. There are many games imported from abroad in Chinese gaming market. In addition to their super-excellent quality, what is more important is that they have achieved successful game localization after entering China. The most crucial aspect of game localization is translation of game texts, and translators often need to choose different translation strategies for different types of game texts to meet the needs of the target market and audiences. By analyzing the translation texts of the popular game League of Legends, it can be found that comprehensively applying various translation methods to different game texts of the game, its translation quality can be improved, making it much easier for the target audience to accept it.

Spiritual opium and the spiritual opium war: a cultural history of arcade games and console games in 1990s China

In the 1990s, in China, arcade and console games were called “spiritual opium.” Why were video games labeled spiritual drugs, specifically opium, as opposed to other types of drugs? How did the mainstream media gradually depict video games as spiritual opium? The term “spiritual opium” carries profound historical and political connotations and is skillfully employed by media entities to disparage video games, fostering adverse perceptions among the populace. This scholarly inquiry delves into the cultural history of arcade and console games during this era. Historical and cultural methods were used to meticulously trace the genesis and evolution of the “spiritual opium” metaphor in the 1990s, scrutinizing the process through which video games were ensnared by this pejorative label. In addition, the paper also elucidates the “spiritual opium war,” a series of government-led campaigns against arcade and console games, including investigations, crackdowns on arcades, and reminiscent of Mao-era mobilizations. By doing so, this research fills a critical gap in the historiography of Chinese gaming, thereby enriching studies of the regional game industry and contributing to a broader understanding of the global gaming landscape. This article also shows how postsocialist states such as China navigate the challenges posed by the influx of video games and their perceived political threats and provides a nuanced understanding of state–media dynamics and cultural policy in postsocialist contexts.

Valuation Analysis of Chinese Game Enterprises Based on Improved DEVA Model: Taking Panax Notoginseng Mutual Entertainment as an Example

With the rapid development of the Chinese gaming market, valuation analysis of gaming companies has become a focus of attention for investors and the industry. This study takes Seven Seas Interactive Entertainment as an example and conducts valuation analysis of Chinese gaming companies based on the improved DEVA model. First, the research background and objectives are introduced, emphasizing the importance and innovation of the study. Secondly, the basic principles and limitations of the DEVA model are briefly introduced, and a method for constructing the improved DEVA model is proposed. Then, an overview of the development status and characteristics of Chinese gaming companies, as well as the development overview of Seven Seas Interactive Entertainment, is outlined. Subsequently, by analyzing the financial data of Seven Seas Interactive Entertainment, the parameters of the improved DEVA model are set and valuation calculations are carried out. The results of the valuation are analyzed and compared with the traditional DEVA model through empirical testing. Finally, the main achievements of the study are summarized, and future research directions are discussed. This study expands the methods and research perspectives for valuing Chinese gaming companies, providing reference basis for investment decision-making.

Cultural Code: The Fusion of Russian Culture in Chinese Gaming Worlds

In recent years, many Chinese game manufacturers have chosen to reflect the national culture of the real world when establishing their game worldviews. Many Chinese games contain elements of Russian culture. This is because Russia is a country with great influence and strong regional characteristics. Out of a strong curiosity about the intersection between Russian culture and the Chinese video game world, we explore many Russian Video Games, and how Russian cultural elements are reflected in Chinese games. This survey studies Chinese video games that contain Russian cultural elements. Through case studies and player reception analysis, it explores how Chinese video game manufacturers selectively use Russian cultural elements to enrich their game content and how these elements are integrated with their game worldviews.

Analysis of the Impact of the System Restrictions Imposed by the Chinese Regulator on the Key Performance Indicators of the Chinese Gaming Industry

The subject of this study is to conduct a survey aimed at assessing the functioning and development of the Chinese gaming industry under the restrictions imposed by the Chinese regulator on this industry. Accordingly, the object of this study is the gaming industry of mainland China. The gaze, within the framework of this research, is directed specifically at the Chinese gaming industry, insofar as it is the Chinese market, within the Asia-Pacific region, that is the largest both in terms of "money" and in terms of the number of game users – gamers. Nevertheless, the Chinese gaming industry is the only market in the region (and in the world as a whole) that has been subject to various kinds of systemic restrictions and regulations for more than 20 years, since 2000. In fact, the Chinese gaming industry is a "testing ground", the study of which seems relevant in order to draw conclusions regarding the impact of restrictions imposed by states on creative industries, industries related to the production of content in general, and the gaming industry in particular. As part of the study, the segmentation and systematization of data related to the system restrictions imposed on the Chinese gaming industry was carried out. Also, an analysis of the dynamics of statistical data on key indicators of the functioning of the gaming industry was carried out. The scientific novelty of the work consists in an attempt to assess the potential impact of the introduction of certain restrictions imposed on the Chinese gaming industry on the key performance indicators of this industry. As part of the study, the primary conclusions concerning the possible negative impact of government restrictions imposed by the Chinese regulator on the Chinese gaming industry are presented.

Using LDA Topic Modeling to Understand Regrowth Factors of the Chinese Gaming Industry in the COVID-19 Era: Current Situation, Future and Predicament

The gaming industry, which was among the industries least affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, exhibited positive growth trends during the COVID-19 period. This paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on the gaming industry by analyzing news texts from 2020 to 2022 using text mining and LDA (latent Dirichlet allocation) topic classification, and visualizing charts. The study focuses on three themes, namely the current situation, the future, and possible problems of China’s game industry in the post-epidemic era. The findings of this study suggest that the development of the game industry during the COVID-19 outbreak prompted the government to regulate policies and promote the transformation of game companies, which had a positive impact on the development of China’s game industry. However, this study also found that due to the effects of COVID-19, society and the government have increased their focus on the time management of underage game users, which poses a significant challenge to the games industry. This paper recommends improvements from three perspectives, namely society, policy, and enterprise, with the aim of contributing to the long-term development of China’s game industry.

Fragmented Control of Platform Game Work in China

AbstractThis article adopts a labour process theory approach to analysing distinct circuits of labour control in platform video game work in China, a novel manifestation of the platform economy rooted in the special formation of Chinese gaming infrastructure as well as in precarious labour regimes. Platform game work encompasses a broad range of online video game services such as live game streaming, paid boosting, and game companion, matching customers’ demands to workers who provide entertainment or assist play. Platform game work has drawn an estimated seven million young workers into precarious employment during the past decade. The article outlines three interwoven features defining the fragmented control of platform game work: the crucial function of extra-platform intermediaries in regulating labour processes; the deployment of relationship labour in order matching and community management; and the mutual reinforcement of platform diversity and fast-moving platform architecture. These three features co-create a decentralised yet resilient structure organised by a network of platform and non-platform, human and machine agencies. Positioning platform game work in the broad spectrum of gig work, the article illuminates new modes of labour control and workers’ embedded agency, adding to the nascent literature on diverse labour regimes and subjectivities in the platform economy.

Analysis of Chinese Gaming Investment in Africa 中國在非洲的博彩業投資分析

Analysis of Chinese Gaming Investment in Africa 中國在非洲的博彩業投資分析

Examining Crisis Communication Using Semantic Network and Sentiment Analysis: A Case Study on NetEase Games.

The mobile game “Immortal Conquest,” created by NetEase Games, caused a dramatic user dissatisfaction event after an introduction of a sudden and uninvited “pay-to-win” update. As a result, many players filed grievances against NetEase in a court. The official game website issued three apologies, with mix results, to mitigate the crisis. The goal of the present study is to understand user feedback content from the perspective of Situational Crisis Communication Theory through semantic network analysis and sentiment analysis to explore how an enterprise’s crisis communication strategy affects users’ attitudes. First, our results demonstrate that the diminishing crisis communication strategies (excuse and justification) do not change players’ negative attitudes. It was not a failure because it successfully alleviated the players’ legal complaints and refocused their attention on the game itself. Second, the rebuild (apology & compensation) strategy was effective because it significantly increased the percentage of positive emotions and regenerated expectations for the game. The litigation crisis was identified within gamer communications with respect to Chinese gaming companies for the first time. Nevertheless, this does not indicate an increase in overall legal awareness among the larger Chinese population. It may only reflect greater legal awareness among Chinese online gamers. Fourth, gamers emphasized that they and enterprises should be equally involved when communicating with each other. Finally, in-game paid items should be reasonably priced, otherwise, they will drive users to competitors.

The Mediating Role of Impulsivity and the Moderating Role of Gender Between Fear of Missing Out and Gaming Disorder Among a Sample of Chinese University Students.

The role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in addictive behaviors has recently attracted growing attention. In view of negative effects of gaming disorder (GD) among adolescents and emerging adults, research examining the relationship between FoMO and GD is needed, alongside the roles of impulsivity and gender in the relationship between FoMO and GD. This study examined whether impulsivity as a mediator and gender as a moderator impacted on the relationship between FoMO and GD among a sample of Chinese university students. A sample of 1,288 Chinese university students from three universities completed an online survey through the Wenjuanxing platform. The Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief, and the Chinese Gaming Disorder Scale were used in this study. The model results indicated that impulsivity partially mediated the relationship between FoMO and GD, and that there was a larger effect size between impulsivity and GD among males. High levels of FoMO among individuals may impact on executive functions leading to more impulsivity, and are associated with GD. Gender may moderate the relationship between impulsivity and GD. This study deepens the understanding of the relationship between FoMO and GD, and provides new perspectives for practitioners to incorporate into health prevention programs to help regulate emotion, control impulsivity, and decrease GD.

Characteristics of the Chinese Gaming and Esports Market. Applications for Polish Game Manufacturers

Worldwide, information and communication technologies (ICT) are creating a new post-industrial revolution, the pace, scope and importance of which are unprecedented, without being reflected in the past. Its best manifestation is the Type 4.0 Industrial Revolution. having a huge impact today not only on the living and working conditions of billions of people, but also on the directions of specialization of production and the profits accompanying them. These changes can be described as a revolution based on information, an expression of increasing human knowledge and its application. One of the more interesting manifestations of it, relatively poorly known in Poland, is the increasingly profitable and increasingly important global gaming market and the accompanying e-sports market. The dynamic development of the computer games market in the People’s Republic of China and the development of the e-sport discipline actively supported by the state authorities of this country fit perfectly into the perceived development paradigm. This research problem requires closer analysis also from a Polish perspective, motivated not only by cognitive desire, but above all by the utilitarian dimension. For the increasingly competitive polish video game manufacturers with CD Projekt SA at the forefront, the Chinese market is a great opportunity to increase profits, an opportunity – so far – still too underuly used. On the way to increasing them, in addition to real challenges, chances and opportunities, there are several fundamental barriers and risks, undoubtedly worthy of the scientific diagnosis contained in the presented article.

Market Expansion of Domestic Gaming Firms in Shenzhen, China: Dilemma of Globalisation and Regionalisation

AbstractChina's domestic mobile gaming firms, such as Tencent, which has developed into the world's biggest gaming firm by revenues in a short span, have outweighed the leading counterparts in the Western advanced economies. Despite an increasing attention has been paid to the global investment of Chinese gaming firms, this paper argues that their market expansion has focused on the selected Southeast Asian countries. This arguement is developed through the aurthors' extensive field investigation and personal interviews with games developers and publishers in Shenzhen, where Tencent is located, during the early 2017 and late 2019. We showcase that the protective multi‐scalar institutions in which the Chinese gaming firms have dominated in the domestic market, have prevented the overseas market expansion of these firms. Although the government‐designated extra‐local inter‐firm collaboration has helped narrow the technological gaps and articulate China’s firms into the global production networks, the market gaps between the domestic and western economies have not been overcome in the expansion to overseas markets. This study sheds light on that the market expansion of Chinese gaming firms has stucked in a dilemma between globalization and regionalization. While China’s domestic gaming firms, particularly Tencent, have been evolving into lead firms in the global games production networks, their market power has been confined at domestic and regional levels.

From non-player characters to othered participants: Chinese women's gaming experience in the ‘free’ digital market

ABSTRACT Globally, mainstream digital gaming has long been marked by compulsory (hetero)sexuality and hypermasculine gender norms, making it an ideal arena for exploring gendered power relations. This article critically examines how the participation of Chinese women digital gamers has taken on a distinctive shape in the context of newly emerging local online games that serve as an extension of the market mechanism. We examine the players’ experience of two games: namely, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, King of Glory (wangzhe rongyao), and an otome love simulation game, Evol LoveR (lian yu zhizuoren). Results of 31 in-depth qualitative interviews with Chinese women gamers show that Chinese women's gaming experience has been profoundly shaped by both changes and continuities in the norms governing Chinese women's participation in play, romance and sex. We conclude that Chinese MOBA and otome games are not isolated new media products, but actually part and parcel of a broader digital media economy which provides audiences and players with information and cues that reinforce the dominant view that women and men have fundamentally different characteristics.

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Gaming Disorder among Chinese University Students: Impulsivity and Game Time as Mediators

Background and aims Research into the fear of missing out (FoMO) has greatly increased in recent years. Given the negative consequences of gaming disorder (GD) among a small minority of individuals, there is an increasing need for research examining the impact of FoMO on GD. However, little is known about the roles of impulsivity and gaming time as mediators in the relationship between FoMO and GD. The present study examined whether impulsivity and gaming time mediated the relationship between FoMO (trait-FoMO and state-FoMO) and GD among Chinese university students, as well as the prevalence of GD. Methods A total of 1127 university students completed an online survey including the Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale (T-SFoMOS-C), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief (BIS-Brief), gaming time survey, and the Chinese Gaming Disorder Scale (CGDS). Results The prevalence of GD was 6.4% among Chinese university students. Trait-FoMO was found to indirectly impact GD via impulsivity and gamine time, whereas the direct effect of trait-FoMO on GD and the mediation effects of gaming time were not confirmed. State-FoMO impacted on GD both directly, and indirectly via the mediation effects of impulsivity as well as impulsivity and gaming time. Conclusion Trait-FoMO on GD was fully mediated via impulsivity and gaming time, whereas state-FoMO on GD was partly mediated via impulsivity and gaming time. Individuals with high levels of FoMO were more likely to show impulsivity and spend a longer time gaming, and these factors were associated with GD. These findings provide insights to incorporate into health prevention programs to help regulate emotion, control impulsivity, and decrease GD.

A Comparative Study on Korean and Chinese Gaming Terminology

Korea and China share cultural commonalities, but at the same time they also have many differences in language use. Within the context of gaming culture, the two countries’ shared characteristics encompass an enjoyment of participation in the gaming community, while using different and distinct gaming terminology. This research first examines the terminology used in the gaming cultures of Korea and China, as well as the criteria for language creation and characteristics of terminology generation in the two countries. Finally, it analyzes the similarities and differences in Korean and Chinese gamers’ attitudes toward the common culture between the two countries.

Motives for online gaming questionnaire: Its psychometric properties and correlation with Internet gaming disorder symptoms among Chinese people.

Background and aimsInternet gaming disorder (IGD) imposes a potential public health threat worldwide. Gaming motives are potentially salient factors of IGD, but research on Chinese gaming motives is scarce. This study empirically evaluated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire (C-MOGQ), the first inventory that measures seven different gaming motives applicable to all type of online games. We also investigated the associations between various gaming motives and IGD symptoms among Chinese gamers.MethodsThree hundred and eighty-three Chinese adult online gamers (Mean age = 23.7 years) voluntarily completed our online, anonymous survey in December 2015.ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis results supported a bi-factor model with a general factor subsuming all C-MOGQ items (General Motivation) and seven uncorrelated domain-specific factors (Escape, Coping, Fantasy, Skill Development, Recreation, Competition, and Social). High internal consistencies of the overall scale and subscales were observed. The criterion-related validity of this Chinese version was also supported by the positive correlations of C-MOGQ scale scores with psychological need satisfaction and time spent gaming. Furthermore, we found that high General Motivation (coupled with high Escape motive and low Skill Development motive) was associated with more IGD symptoms reported by our Chinese participants.Discussion and conclusionsOur findings demonstrated the utility of C-MOGQ in measuring gaming motives of Chinese online gamers, and we recommend the consideration of both its total score and subscale scores in future studies.

Sinological-orientalism in Western News Media

From gold farmers and ‘100 million brain-damaged online gamers’ to the world’s biggest game company and more players than US citizens, China seems like the cabinet of curiosities for the whole world of digital gaming. This article focuses on news coverage around Chinese gaming and presents three phases of such journalism. China’s emerging games market was most prominently featured between 1999 and 2005, while 2006-2011 focused on extreme play behavior in China. Most recently, a discourse of vast business opportunities and stabilizing markets has been presented by Western news media. In total more than 853 news articles are explored in parallel to the theoretical concept of Sinological-orientalism. This article suggests significant historical changes in the ways in which knowledge of Chinese gaming has been produced in English language news media.