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Games Market in China

Pearl Research
March 1, 2008
131 Pages - SKU: PRLR1714986

Abstract Table of Contents Related Reports

Countries covered: China

Pearl Research forecasts the online games market in China will exceed $3 billion in 2010. The market grew more than 60% to reach $1.66 billion in 2007. These findings are contained in Pearl Research’s exclusive 130-page “Games Market in China” study. A key trend to track in 2008 is rising average-revenue-per-user (ARPU). Certain online games are reaching $7 to $12 a month in average-revenue-per-user, significantly higher than past averages of $5 or less per month.

Game operators in China experienced strong revenue growth in 2007. The biggest gainers were game operators Shanda (up 49% to $338 million), Giant (up 274% to $209 million), The9 (up 30% to $175 million) and Perfect World (up 593% to $95 million). Game operator Giant Interactive generated the majority of its $209 million revenues from one title, “Zhengtu Online.” China’s most popular online game, Netease’s “Fantasy Westward Journey” has 1.66 million peak concurrent users, followed by Giant’s “Zhengtu Online” with 1.52 million peak concurrent users. Successful MMORPGs can be highly profitable. Game operator Giant Interactive generated the majority of its $209 million revenues from one title, “Zhengtu Online.”

The study also contains highlights from Pearl Research’s Phoenix Generation reports, consisting of more than 200 one-on-one, personalized interviews conducted with Chinese youth. Gamers cite cheating and account thefts as a top reason for abandoning a game and seek out game operators with a reliable reputation. -Pearl Research’s “Games Market in China” study provides an in-depth analysis of the Chinese games market. The report contains 2006 to 2011 forecasts; inhibitors and drivers to growth; deep marketplace analysis; profiles of key market players; and strategic conclusions.

I. Executive Summary
II. PC Hardware
III. Internet and Broadband: Speed and Price of Broadband; “The Great Firewall of China”
IV. Internet Cafes
V. Unique Characteristics of Online Games: Online Games Marketing; MMORPG; Casual Games; Casual Games Revenue Models; In-Game Advertising
VI. Drivers to Growth
VII. Inhibitors to Growth
VIII. Games Market Top Trends: Rising Development Capabilities and Licensing; Declining Popularity of Korean Titles; New Market Entrants and Emerging Companies; Improved Market Capitalization; Perfect World; KingSoft; Giant Interactive; NetDragon; Consolidations and Investments; Rising ARPU
IX. Games Market Forecasts
X. Top Game Operators
XI. Top Online Games
XII. Profiles of Select Online Games: Fantasy Westward Journey; World of Warcraft; Eudemons Online; Zhengtu Online; Tianlong Babu; Freestyle
XIII. Billing and Payment Methods
XIV. Leading Game Publishers and Operators: CDC Games; Giant Interactive Group Inc; NetEase; NetDragon; Shanda Entertainment; Sohu.com Inc.; Tencent; The9 Limited; Perfect World; 9you
XV. The Phoenix Generation: Consumer Insights into Chinese Youth: The Phoenix Generation: Youth Gaming and Culture; Hot List of Favorite Brands; Youth Gaming; Online gaming is a popular leisure activity; Cheating and Fraud in Games; PC most popular platform; handheld consoles are on the rise
XVI. Socio-Economic Overview: Economy; Development in the Western Regions; Population; Per Capita Income; Regional Differences; One-Child Policy; Gaming Centers; Unique Characteristics of Chinese Society; Guanxi; Floating of the Yuan; Transparency and Corruption
XVII. Software Piracy: Internet Download and Peer to Peer File Sharing; Physical Piracy; Pirate Servers; Lack of government enforcement; Low per capita income and consumer habits
XVIII. Government Regulations: Government Agencies Involved in Regulating Games; Fatigue System
Table of Figures: Figure 1: Matrix Comparing Casual and MMORPG Games in China; Figure 2: Chinese Games Forecasts 2006 to 2011 Data Table, $m; Figure 3: New Desktop PC Purchases Based on Income; Figure 4: Number of Broadband and Dial-Up Connections in China; Figure 5: Reasons to Use the Internet; Figure 6: Age of Internet Users; Figure 7: Location for Online Gaming (multiple-choice); Figure 8: Age of Chinese Internet Cafe Users; Figure 9: Most Installed MMORPGs at Internet Cafes; Figure 10: Main Purpose for Going to Internet Cafes; Figure 11: 9you’s Crazy Kart; Figure 12: Perfect World’s in-house developed MMORPG Perfect World; Figure 13: Online Games Market Forecast 2006-2011 Graph, $m; Figure 14: Online Games Market Forecast 2006-2011 Data Table, $m; Figure 15: Top Online Games Operators by Revenue; Figure 16: Game Operator Revenue Market Share 2007; Figure 17: Select Operator-Developer Relationships; Figure 18: Select Online Games by Peak Concurrent Users; Figure 19: Logo and Screenshot for Fantasy Westward Journey; Figure 20: Screenshot of the Burning Crusade; Figure 21: Screenshot of Eudemons Online; Figure 22: Advertisement for Zhengtu Online; Figure 23: Combat scenes from Zhengtu Online; Figure 24: A combat scene in Tianlong Babu; Figure 25: Advertising for Sohu’s Tianlong Babu in Taiwan; Figure 26: Screenshots of T2CN’s Freestyle; Figure 27: Comparison of Top Four Game Operators; Figure 28: Revenues and Net Income of Top 4 Game Operators ($m); Figure 29: Screenshot of Special Forces; Figure 30: Screenshot of Yulgang; Figure 31: Existing and Upcoming Games by CDC Games; Figure 32: CDC Games Revenues from Q2 2006 - Q3 2007; Figure 33: Screenshots of ZT Online; Figure 34: ZT Online’s User Metrics (in 000s); Figure 35: Screenshots of Giant Online; Figure 36: Popular and Upcoming Games by NetEase; Figure 37: Screenshot of Fantasy Westward Journey; Figure 38: NetEase’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues; Figure 39: Screenshot of Conquer Online; Figure 40: Screenshot of Eudemons Online; Figure 41: NetDragon’s Q3 2007 Revenue by Game; Figure 42: Top Three Games by NetDragon; Figure 43: NetDragon’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues Graph; Figure 44: NetDragon’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues ($m); Figure 45: Screenshot of Mir II; Figure 46: Top Titles by Shanda; Figure 47: Shanda’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues (in millions); Figure 48: Shanda Casual and MMORPG Q4 2007; Figure 49: Screenshots of TLBB; Figure 50: TianLong BaBu Metrics; Figure 51: Sohu Financial Performance (In $m); Figure 52: Tencent Penguin Mascot; Figure 53: Tencent’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues ($m); Figure 54: Screenshot of Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN); Figure 55: The9’s Corporate Net Income and Revenues; Figure 56: Screenshot of Perfect World; Figure 57: Screenshots of Zhu Xian; Figure 58: Perfect World Game Metrics; Figure 59: Screenshot of Audition; Figure 60: Most Mentioned Brands in Phoenix Generation Reports; Figure 61: Most Mentioned Games in Phoenix Generation Reports; Figure 62: Most Popular Leisure Activities; Figure 63: ZT Online Photos of Female Gamers; Figure 64: Netease Password Protection Card; Figure 65: Popular Gaming Platforms; Figure 66: Monthly Entertainment Spending; Figure 67: Key Country Metrics; Figure 68: China’s Population by Age Group; Figure 69: Map of China’s Provinces; Figure 70: Major Cities in China (Population in millions); Figure 71: Verycd.com screenshot

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