A report released in Jan. 2006 predicted that the market value of online games in China will reach 8.03 billion yuan (about one billion US dollars) this year, with the global revenue at 5.6 billion US dollars.

 

The report was made by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to summarize the cultural industry in China. It said great changes will take place in the global entertainment sector in the next five years, in which games will take up 71 percent in market proportion. Online games will play a major role in this tide, with an annual growth rate of more than 100 percent.

 

The report indicated that online games rose as a pioneer in the Chinese internet industry over recent years with the fast growth of information and telecommunication technology.

 

By the end of June 30, 2005, Chinese internet users exceeded 100 million.

 

The surging demand for culture and entertainment constitutes a major driver of the cultural industry in China and the fast advancement of science and technology also ensures the rapid progress in the cultural sector, the report said.

 

(Source: Xinhuanet)