THERE is still no release date for "Chinese Heroes," a government-backed online game.
Begun in September 2005, the patriotic Internet game showcases 100 national heroes in the hope of infusing young gamers with traditional Chinese values, such as altruism and patriotism. The heroes all have cute cartoon images.
The game aims to wean young players from the grip of the dramatic, violent games with stunning graphic interfaces that are immensely popular with young people the world over.
But can members of the Communist Party of China or ancient generals really become new game heroes and brush aside the challenge from Internet orcs?
"Five heroes have been developed, but we have not yet decided the launch date," said Zhuge Hui, a spokesman for Shanda, a major Shanghai gaming company which the government has tasked with developing the new game.
The first group of heroes includes Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662), a Qing Dynasty general who liberated Taiwan from the Dutch, and Lei Feng (1940-1962), a faithful CPC member and a national example of altruism.
Shan Hui, chief designer of the game, said the heroes gather on "Hero Square," where gamers can click their statues to learn about their experiences and carry out tasks like moving bricks and catching raindrops on a building site. Gamers will be asked about the heroes' life stories to earn scores.
"We hope the game will teach players about Chinese ethics," said Kou Xiaowei, an official with China's General Administration of Press and Publication, main sponsor of the initiative.
However, gamers treated at the Beijing Internet Addiction Treatment Center were skeptical about the games which they said sounded "too simple" and even "comical."
"The game sounds boring to me, it's a turn-off," said Wang Yuhang, a 14-year-old boy in the center. Eighty of the 100 teenagers at the center are addicted to American online game "World of Warcraft," one of the most popular in China.
According to the company's financial report, on a typical evening in China up to 630,000 gamers may be playing WoW simultaneously online in the country. While the American game reaps huge profits, "Chinese Heroes" remains stuck.
"Teenagers seek adventure and fulfillment in dramatic and skill-demanding games like WoW. If hero games do not focus on killing and domination, gamers will not play them," said Tao Ran, center director.
