Apart from a huge group of players, which aspects of China’s game industry contributed to attracting these giants? What are the opportunities China’s game industry will offer for the global game industry?

Through ten years’ development, China’s game industry has nurtured a basin of funds, talents and resources, which has led to not only a growing number of companies, but also improvement of development capabilities at a high speed, for under such circumstances no company could survive with merely one product. According to the 2009 reports, the trackable number of game development companies in China stayed at around 200, and the number is increasing at an annual rate of 20 percent. While the number of companies that are of the nature of a game development team or an outsourcing entity could, by conservative estimate, reach 3,000.

Apart from a growing number of traditional game companies, the game sector also began to see the involvement of traditional IT companies.

• Tang Jun, CEO and President of Newhuadu Industrial Group and former President of Shengda Games, asserted that he would re-enter the online game industry, with an initial investment of $20 million in his online game team.
• Delixi Group has invested $30 million in Shanghai Youqu Network Technology Co. Ltd.
• Condor Game has trialed online game on behalf of a Zhejiang company.
• Thunder, an established download software provider, has set up a game research institute in Nanjing and is seeking exclusive agent license for games.
• Qihoo 360, a security software provider, has engaged in SNS game development and co-operated a number of web games.
• EVOC Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., an established computer producer, has set up its own research institute, and is reported to be competing with premier domestic game operator for an overseas game agent license.
• Hunan Satellite TV, Liaoning Satellite TV, and even the lately released CNTV, have all headed for the game industry.
• Jiangxi Huaxicun Group, one China’s largest private enterprises, entered the game industry with funds amounting to $ 20 million.

According to iResearch’s China Online Game Industry Report 2009-2010, China’s online game market is valued at $ 4.76 billion, which is expected to reach $10 billion within the coming five years. Therefore, the online game industry is currently regarded as the best investment target for various investments. It is reported that a total investment of in excess of $1.6 billion will rush into China’s online game market in the near future, which will put the industry on a fast track of expansion.

In contrast to the rapid expansion of game companies during the past ten years, the technical professional reserve and talent fostering mechanisms of the companies are relatively backward. Meanwhile, students trained at game schools are not usually welcomed by game companies or outsourcing companies. For most game companies, it would be a premier choice to hire experienced technical professionals, which has led to intensifying competition for talents among the game companies. Technology becomes a bottleneck in the development of the companies, and it is where most research is focused in anticipation of a breakthrough. Based on these facts, it is predicable that China may become the world’s largest game development technology and talent importer in the coming two years.

Introduction of advanced international development technology or middleware is a shortcut solution for many game enterprises, and many game companies are introducing mature international engine technologies for development. SunHome Network has set a highly successful example. With the Bigworld engine, its 100-person team managed to develop the game “Lieguo” within one year, at which Bigworld marveled as a miracle of development. This example has demonstrated for game companies the power of game middleware in improving the efficiency of game development, and it is set to usher in a boom in the introduction of advanced international technologies.

China’s rapidly expanding market has a huge demand for new technologies, which has sent out strong signals to the related international game companies. In 2009, approximately 40 premier game hardware, software and middleware suppliers, including nVidia, Crytek, EPIC and iQue showcased their latest technologies at CGDC 2009. These companies have all confirmed their participation in CGDC 2010, with nVidia and Crytek becoming a higher-level sponsor to maximize the impact of its promotion.

World Expo 2010 held in Shanghai is the focus of world attention and it is for sure that the grand event will gather global guests. At the same time, CGBC, CGDC and CGOC will also be held with the expo from July 28 to August 1 at Shanghai International Convention Center, which must be a big center for global professionals in the gaming industry. All these will serve as catalysts for SICC’s strengthening of its function as “Business Center” of the world’s business and technical communications for ChinaJoy.

About CGDC

China Game Developers Conference (CGDC) is one of the world’s leading game development conferences. Each year, CGDC attracts over 3,000 professionals in the game development field to attend and learn. Over 70 global top-notch game designers and developers deliver speeches there and share their experience in the 3-day event.
http://en.chinagdc.com.cn/