• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

China says it will lift ban on video game consoles

J

jaask

Member
The Chinese government announced today that it will lift a longtime ban on sales of video game consoles, opening up the market to foreign companies in Shanghai's new free trade zone. China's State Council announced the decision in a statement issued Friday, saying foreign companies will be able to sell consoles across the entire country as long as they have established production and sales operations in the free trade zone. Each console will also have to be approved by China's Ministry of Culture before going on the market.

China banned consoles in 2000 over fears that video games may have a detrimental effect on the mental and physical development of children. Reports earlier this year suggested that Beijing was considering relaxing its policy, though officials later disputed such claims. Consoles have been available on the black market in China, though most gamers use PCs or mobile devices.

Today's announcement follows earlier reports that China may be relaxing its longstanding bans on Facebook and Twitter within the forthcoming free zone. The People's Daily, a state-run newspaper, later refuted the reports, saying current "internet management measures" will remain in place in Shanghai.

It is not clear when sales of video game consoles will begin, as policymakers continue to draft new rules for the free trade zone. The government released a list of key principles governing the zone on Friday, though changes will be implemented over the course of the next three years. The new zone, located in the eastern suburbs of Shanghai, is seen as a promising sign that China may be loosening restrictions for foreign investors. It also comes at a crucial time for China, which has seen its economy slow in some key sectors after decades of rapid growth.
Click to expand...

Source

This can potentially be big news if China really opens up the market. Free trade zone and government approval limitations will still make sure that the flood gates won't open in one go.
 
D

Deleted member 125677

Unconfirmed Member
Could be huge. An enormous market up for grabs!
 
S

Shanks D Zoro

Banned
I bet MS wish they took Asia a bit more serious now.

Sony should kill it.

Edit;oops I guess Sony will need to make them all in the FTZ
 
S

sohois

Member
This is only if the consoles are manufactured in Shanghai's free trade zone. The area is a tiny part of north Shanghai and unlikely to be big enough to mass produce consoles.

Not to mention the various other obstacles, like lack of a distribution chain and rampant piracy.
 
M

meppi

Member
That's a huge deal actually. Wonder how this will impact the industry as a whole, especially since so many developers have been struggling for a long time now.
Could turn out to be a very very good thing for all.
 
D

Deleted member 125677

Unconfirmed Member
My extremely shallow perception of the chinese gaming culture is that they really seem to dig RTS and MMOs. How would that translate into the console market?

I also wonder if the strained relationships with Japan could work in favour of MS?
 
C

chickdigger802

Banned
could be interesting mainly because china these days aren't into really paying for box games. And piracy has always been a huge thing there. Main reason why pretty much all games released there are f2p pc stuff.
 
C

Chairmanchuck

Member
chickdigger802 said:
could be interesting mainly because china these days aren't into really paying for box games. And piracy has always been a huge thing there. Main reason why pretty much all games released there are f2p pc stuff.
Click to expand...

But that is because they were "brought" up like that.

On streaming-plattforms and QQ-music and such things, the providers are paying money to Sony BMG, Universal and Warner-Bros, so they are kinda "used" to get such entertainment-forms for free.

Though with the right price things can sell well I think. Right now games there cost even more than I would pay here in Europe.
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
It will take a company a long time to set up the manufacturing facilities in the shanghai FTZ as well as establish logistics and supply chain. Its a good idea but the caveats are too great for this to mean anything in the short term.
 
V

Varth

Member
Phat Michael said:
It will take a company a long time to set up the manufacturing facilities in the shanghai FTZ as well as establish logistics and supply chain. Its a good idea but the caveats are too great for this to mean anything in the short term.
Click to expand...

Totally worth it for both parties, though. Very smart move from them.
 
C

Chairmanchuck

Member
Phat Michael said:
It will take a company a long time to set up the manufacturing facilities in the shanghai FTZ as well as establish logistics and supply chain. Its a good idea but the caveats are too great for this to mean anything in the short term.
Click to expand...

I guess they wanna "move" the facilities from southern China to Shanghai, since they can collect more tax there IIRC.
 
C

chickdigger802

Banned
Chairmanchuck said:
But that is because they were "brought" up like that.

On streaming-plattforms and QQ-music and such things, the providers are paying money to Sony BMG, Universal and Warner-Bros, so they are kinda "used" to get such entertainment-forms for free.

Though with the right price things can sell well I think. Right now games there cost even more than I would pay here in Europe.
Click to expand...

And even then, with no easy way to mod the new systems (i'd hope), only a really small niche of rich kids would bother picking them up.

But with ps4 getting quite into the f2p business... there could be potential there.
 
T

TheRealTalker

Banned
Nintendo is the one that could benefit the most with this.... maybe Sony too if they re-release the PS2

MS is making a new console for the region too so currently I can't tell how that will play out
 
C

Chairmanchuck

Member
chickdigger802 said:
And even then, with no easy way to mod the new systems (i'd hope), only a really small niche of rich kids would bother picking them up.

But with ps4 getting quite into the f2p business... there could be potential there.
Click to expand...

Its not really about rich kids. If they make good prices like 15-20$ for a Game, it could mean something.

I mean they bought the PSP when it was like 2000RMB, they buy iPhone for 5500 RMB, people save for Prada-bags and buy anime-figurines for japanese prices.

Besides that "everyone" there owns a B.Net Account for DOTA. If they are smart enough they will find a way to sell these to the kids.
 
N

nrvalleytime

Member
Tecmo-Koei, time to make a new series.

Boxer Rebellion Warriors
Rebellion of the Boxers Dynasty
Wall Dynasty Warriors

My personal favorite - Genghis Khan Dynasty.

Possibilities are really endless.
 
K

Kai Dracon

Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
Nintendo announces Pokemon MMO for Wii U to launch with console in absolutely enormous new market! It's super effective!
 
C

Chairmanchuck

Member
tkalamba said:
It may not do well. The Chinese have been very Anti-Japanese as of late.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Japanese_sentiment_in_China

They'd rather buy American than Japanese, part of the reason why Buick sell rather well there.
Click to expand...

You havent lived in China for some time, right?

The Diaoyu-Island thing rubbed a few people wrong and then you see some demonstrations about it, but the general opinion of japanese in my generation is, that they rather look up to them.
They rather buy Sharp-mobilephones, fly to japan for designerbrands and love korean and japanese body-products.
 
A

Atraveller

Banned
Chairmanchuck said:
You havent lived in China for some time, right?

The Diaoyu-Island thing rubbed a few people wrong and then you see some demonstrations about it, but the general opinion of japanese in my generation is, that they rather look up to them.
They rather buy Sharp-mobilephones, fly to japan for designerbrands and love korean and japanese body-products.
Click to expand...
People buy Sharp phones?
 
C

chickdigger802

Banned
Chairmanchuck said:
Its not really about rich kids. If they make good prices like 15-20$ for a Game, it could mean something.

I mean they bought the PSP when it was like 2000RMB, they buy iPhone for 5500 RMB, people save for Prada-bags and buy anime-figurines for japanese prices.

Besides that "everyone" there owns a B.Net Account for DOTA. If they are smart enough they will find a way to sell these to the kids.
Click to expand...

I don't think kids buy iphones. People bought psp and ds because they were easy to pirate on. China isn't really one to buy software.
 
A

AyaisMUsikWhore

Member
Why do people keep bringing up that Microsoft Chinese deal? Its not even for a complete console but a mini console. It will mostly stream content that Chinese government find okay. It's still restricted. Sony been had China's approval for the PS3 there and they also have a Chinese division in there.. What is this Microsoft in the lead stuff?

Sooooooooo it's equal playing field. Companies already had their foot in the doors. Regulation is what's stopping everyone.

Edit: The PS4 is launching in Hong Kong... Sooooooooo
 
C

Chairmanchuck

Member
Atraveller said:
People buy Sharp phones?
Click to expand...

Seems so ;)

chickdigger802 said:
I don't think kids buy iphones. People bought psp and ds because they were easy to pirate on. China isn't really one to buy software.
Click to expand...

They surely do. I heard the nephew of my gf wanting an iPhone, since half of his class has. He is 11 and he isnt at such a good school.
Besides that, people bought WC3+TFT to get a b.net account and play DOTA. They also sell this chinese "Jrpg" series quite well.

One thing I really wonder though is why Valve didnt make DOTA2 steam-exclusive in China too. I guess it would push the service there a lot. I have access to more Games to buy on Steam in China than I have in Germany.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

[Reuters] China removes official after video games rules spark turmoil
News Business
8
2K
Kurotri replied
Gaming PCs and components look set to jump by as much as 25% in price in the US as import tariff exclusions come to an end
News Hardware
46
3K
TheKratos replied
China bans Intel and AMD processors, Microsoft Windows from government computers
Business
37
3K
Nankatsu replied
China quietly pulls draft gaming rules from website
News
31
3K
Raonak replied
TikTok censored US user's content under direction from China
2
51
3K
SlimySnake replied
Top Bottom