Online gaming brought direct business income of 47.84 billion yuan to telecom and IT industries, according to Sun Shoushan, vice director of General Administration of Press and Publication.

Sun said the sales volume of the online gaming industry is far more than that of combined revenues generated by films, TV entertainment programs and publication of audio-visual products.

In 2008, a total of 33 online games, developed by 15 Chinese companies, were exported to 40 countries and regions, realizing an income of $70.74 million, a 30 percent increase year-on-year, Sun said.

Sun estimated that the export volume of China’s original online gaming programs is likely to exceed $100 million in 2009.

On the other hand, the popular MMO, World of Warcraft has encountered a stumbling block in China over the release of its second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King – with the Chinese government preventing its release due to some objectionable content.

According to a media report, the government has twice rejected applications by The9, the Chinese company responsible for licensing and distributing the game.

WoW game developer Blizzard Entertainment has deleted a link on the game’s North American site to the site’s simplified Chinese version, said the report.

World of Warcraft has undergone changes specific to the Chinese market in the past, namely removing skeletons altogether in order to receive approval to operate the game in mainland China.

Source : Konaxis