Comments on: Shanda Games Buys Mochi Media; Are US Game Companies Ready For The Chinese?

By: ChinaJoy: The Show Goes On, Despite Concerns that Hardcore Game Growth is Slowing « China Social Games

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:07:35 +0000

[...] the same time, severe regulatory issues cripple foreign firms attempting to enter China. Bill Bishop writes, “From a US policy perspective, assuming the U.S. game industry lobby cares about this issue, it [...]

By: Parking Games

Parking Games — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:52:08 +0000

It is really no point to worry about.

By: Car Games

Car Games — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:28:37 +0000

so does your logic then lead to the conclusion that the US should also declare the game industry like TV, since it is media, and block Chinese participation?

By: click down

click down — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:25:17 +0000

Wow! What useful resources you have shared with us!your every blog is awakening and thought provoking,
online games

By: nli

nli — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:48:17 +0000

Here are the 2 keyphrases that are always thrown around, and you happened to say both:

- "look at the growth rates in terms of both revenue and users" : yes. any successful new business model will obviously have an amazing growth rate; it's NEW. Do I really need to add more to this?

- "And look at where developers are going--15-30m budget console
games are out of reach for all but a handful of developers." : yes, and that seems to be a major source of frustration for the other developers. There's constant undertones of jealousy in many "social game" developers' argumentation, but of course no one will ever admit that (even to themselves).

- What company do you run, are you at liberty to say ? As for my background, I happen to do both console, and social, in equal parts so far (you'd be surprised what social games I've worked on!). The main difference is whether you see the game industry as purely another industry in which to invest in and make money, or whether you recognize and appreciate it's creative and cultural value as well. If it's the latter, it's hard to take social too seriously so far, beyond the money, and even more so in China. Just like movie or music producers are rarely in it JUST for the money.

By: Facebook Entering China, Tencent Looked at CrowdStar, Shanda at RockYou? | DigiCha

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:38:22 +0000

[...] I wrote here when Shanda acquired Mochi Media, Chinese game firms have started buying in the US, and that trend [...]

By: bbishop

bbishop — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:14:13 +0000

Thanks for the comment. $4b growing to $5B in revenue for online games in
China is substantial, and the US developers and operators all know this.

As for the US market, you are correct that console sectors still dwarfs
other types of gaming. But look at the growth rates in terms of both revenue
and users. And look at where developers are going--15-30m budget console
games are out of reach for all but a handful of developers.

Thanks for calling me a "net pundit". I wish I could make a living as one of
"those". I have run a game company in China and invested in several others.
I would not want to be building or selling console games right now, even
with other people's money.

Are you in the console games business?

By: nli

nli — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:53:57 +0000

If you wanna talk about underestimating, I'll say your calling consoles and retail a “legacy” system is probably the biggest underestimation in this entire post, with all due respect. Internet is one thing, games is another, if you wanna comment on flash games and social games, fine, but that is but the tip of the iceberg (and usually the only one you “net pundits” see).

By: Free Games

Free Games — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:02:06 +0000

Yes I agree with you I think it would be fairly risk-free, and would defuse what from a monetary perspective should be a much larger point of friction in US-China trade relations than steel grating or piping. Anyway nice insight.

www.addicting-games.cc

By: DigiCha » Update On Netease and World of Warcraft in China

DigiCha » Update On Netease and World of Warcraft in China — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:39:11 +0000

[...] is upfront that they are practicing real mercantilism when it comes to virtual worlds. As I wrote earlier, this protectionism may very well became a source of friction between the US and China in 2010. [...]