Chinese Video Game Industry

The recent and dramatic development of China's economyand internationalpolitical muscleis especiallypronouncedin the country's video game industry. Now the largest of its kind in the world by gross revenue, the Chinese video game industry impacts every player in the global game market andhas begun todirectlyinfluencethe nature of the video game medium itself. From its conceptualization of the player as a category and commodity, to its approach to the design, development, and marketing of products and services, the Chinese game industry is engaging in a complex, innovative, and fascinating reimagining of the video game as a cultural and industrial force. The purpose ofThe Chinese Video Game Industryis to help introduce and investigate this industrial and cultural powerhouse. The book's contributorsarray the industry acrossitshistory,economics, organization,politics,and cultures,documentingitsrise, exploring its operational, cultural, and aesthetic characteristics, and capturing its contextvis-à-visthe global media landscape. In so doing, thecontributorsprovide a robust resourcefor anyone interested in studying, building, or even simply appreciating games.