Of course, what’s a conference without awarding recognition to the best in the industry. Here’s a list of some of the winners and their company profiles:

Shanda Entertainment
Shanda is a leading interactive entertainment media company in China and offers a variety of Internet-based entertainment services, such as massively multiplayer online role-playing games, casual games, chess and board games, network PC games, cartoons, literature, and music. Shanda offers popular products and services for its users, and allows them to remotely interact with one another over its community platform. The company offers an easy-to-use payment system, 24/7 customer service, and technical support. Shanda’s interactive entertainment platform attracts a large and loyal user base. As of June 30, 2008, Shanda has over 700 million registered accounts for all its content.

9you
Nineyou, or the Shanghai Everstar Online Entertainment Co. Ltd., is one of the world’s biggest music online game operator, China’s biggest casual game operator, one of the biggest interactive entertainment portal sites in China, which is the first to integrate online game services (MMORPG, massive and medium size casual games, mobile games, etc.), fashion digital entertainment content, a variety of chatting and community services equipped with avatar system, wireless value-added services and other premiere service to the Chinese language Internet users all over the world. With its wide coverage for all major types of user needs related with digital entertainment service, 9you represents the latest services style and newest trend for the digital entertainment provider business in China.

Perfect World
Perfect World Co. Ltd. is a leading online game developer and operator in China. It primarily develops three-dimensional online games based on its proprietary Angelica 3D game engine and game development platform. Perfect World’s strong technology and creative game design capabilities, combined with its extensive local knowledge and experience, enable it to frequently and rapidly introduce popular games designed to cater to changing customer preferences and market trends in China.

Speaking of Perfect World, the developer of popular MMORPGs like Perfect World, Zhu Xian and Chibi also bagged an award as one of the best product developers aside from game company of the year.

Post from: MMOtaku

Here’s the lowdown from (drum roll, please) online games portal 17173:

Chinese online games developer 9you announced in Shanghai on December 12 that Chinese Paladin Online will enter closed beta test. The data of player accounts during the test will be preserved.

9you will give out 20,000 beta keys to applicants before the test. Since the game is planned to be free to play, profit from CD key selling, the giving out of beta keys will benefit the testers.

There’s not much to go on, so we have to content ourselves, at least for the meantime, with watching previews of Chinese Paladin Online like this:

Post from: MMOtaku

Here’s the announcement story from China-based online games portal 17173:

Chinese online games developer and operator 9you has announced that world-renowned cartoon artist Masago Kimiya has joined the company. Kimiya will be the lead artist and art director for 9you’s two new massively multiplayer online games.

As a famous Japanese illustration artist, Masago Kimiya has presented the world with many artworks. He is also well known for his rich knowledge of Chinese culture. In the video games industry, Masago Kimiya’s art has been adopted by Koei, a Japanese game developer, in its famous Three Kingdoms series.

What the story failed to include in its personality profile of Masago Kimiya is the fact that the artist designed the costumes for the 2005 hit Chinese film Wu Ji, or The Promise.

Post from: MMOtaku

I don’t have the complete details yet. So sit tight while I get the lowdown on this new massively multiplayer online first-person shooter.

Meantime, take a gander at this SD Gundam Online video I found:

Post from: MMOtaku

First off, I’d like to thank MMOtaku’s avid readers, those who visit the blog every day, those who come and go for a dose of MMORPG news, reviews and what-have-yous, and those who have dropped in just to take a gander at what we have to offer. Without your constant support, MMOtaku would have floundered a long time ago.

Second, I’d like the acknowledge the inputs and help of several key people in the life of MMOtaku. To Mike Leaño, former b5media Video Games Channel editor, for putting trust in my abilities to bring the blog to life; to PJ Punla, pioneer blogger and player of Granado Espada Southeast Asia, for showing me that love for video games extends beyond playing them; to Siege Malvar and Alcarcalimo, for keeping me on my toes, a constant reminder that MMOtaku does have readers who crave insights on MMOs available in the market today; and to Joyce, my wife, for being the rigid wall off of which I throw my ideas to see if they stick.

Third and last, I salute the growing online games industry in Asia for giving us topnotch games (yes, despite Mike Leaño’s opinion that MMOGs developed in Asia are, ehem, excrement. These games are getting better, and they’re grabbing the attention of MMOG players in different parts of the globe.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I give you the best of MMOtaku:

November 2008
Granado Espada SEA pioneer pooh-poohs IP e-Games’ ‘mishandling’ of game
Zhu Xian: I came, I saw, I … got disappointed
Endless fun with Perfect World character customization

October 2008
Beach Volleyball Online: The latest craze
Florensia: Kill-stealers and other dregs of society are moving in
RF Online to go offline in November

September 2008
E-Games clamps down on Cabal botters
Perfect World: Bots popping out of the woodwork
NBA Street Online: Soon, real soon
Requiem Bloodymare: New race, yes, but what’s there to like?

August 2008
MMO Etiquette: Stop poking me!
Granado Espada fails to please Chinese market

July 2008
9you crushes Audition shutdown rumor
China’s online games market: 147 million players!
Dragon Nest: The King of MMORPGs

June 2008
Perfect World inks deal with IP e-Games
Requiem Bloodymare launched
Perfect World: Jump hack? Stop crying wolf

May 2008
MMO Etiquette: Pay it forward
Fly For Fun Penya Hack!
Khan Online Philippines bows out

April 2008
Philippines to host Ragnarok World Championships
In this part of the world, MMORPGs and cosplay go hand in hand
Pandora Saga to grace Philippine shores

March 2008
Fantasy Westward Journey online posts 166 million concurrent users
They’re cute and cuddly, and they’re coming to your PC
Not so supa anymore

February 2008
RF Online Crimson Dawn is now online
Blog post on Perfect World clan too hot to handle?
Third job classes coming to Ragnarok Online
Blog post on Perfect World clan’s struggle stirs hornets’ nest

January 2008
GigaMedia bags license to operate Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Reign of Revolution: No rules, just power
Counter-Strike Online to give other online shooters a run for their money
Top Ten Thursdays: Best MMORPGs in the Philippines

December 2007
China’s Perfect World claims strong presence in Asian MMORPG capital Korea
What’s in a(n MMOPRPG) name?
The Vista Trap: How to make your Asian MMOs work on Microsoft’s latest baby
FlyFF Philippines launches Volcane Legends
MMO war: Korea versus China

November 2007
Craving for a slice of Zhu Xian
Asian MMO, meet world

Screenshot taken by Joel from the online game Perfect World, developed by Beijing-based Perfect World Co. Ltd. and published in the Philippines by Level Up! Games.

Post from: MMOtaku

First there was Drift City, a Korean-developed game published in North America by NHN Corporation that I found quite amusing as I experienced the fusion of two favorite video game genres—MMORPG and Racing. Yes, I called it a ripoff, but I also said I wasn’t one to complain about it.

And then there were Run Online, an online 3D racing game from Moliyo which features running bipeds instead of cars, and Ray City, which, to my knowledge, is enjoying its romp in Hong Kong.

Of course, who would forget Crazy Kart, a casual online racing game from Shanda of China and operated in the Philippines by Level Up! Games.

Now, it’s Crazy Speed’s time to hog the spotlight. The game’s developer, 9you, is no less luminous.

Let’s take a look at Crazy Speed’s official open beta announcement courtesy of China-based online games portal 17173:

The closed beta of Crazy Speed Online is widely popular among players. After three days of testing, its developer, 9you, is now fixing the game clients and bugs based on feedback from players. The Crazy Speed client can be downloaded starting November 7. Open beta testing will commence on November 11.

Crazy Speed is a self-developed online car-racing game from 9you. The new edition will include a variety of new vehicles, new locations, and driving license system.

Image taken from Crazy Speed Online, a new online racing game from 9you of China.

Post from: MMOtaku

Li Xinli, deputy director general of the Shanghai news and publications office, told the press that Shanghai had over 50 online game companies, including some famous ones like Shanda and 9you. There were over 70 online games currently in development or operation, many of which had made their way to America, Vietnam and Indonesia. According to statistics, the Shanghai online games industry took in 6.37 billion yuan in sales revenue, a year-on-year increase of 63 percent.

Li also revealed that although the industry saw fast development, it still had to address some problems. For example, some online games contain violence, and some young people indulge in online games, etc. To promote the healthy development of the online games industry in Shanghai, authorities have strengthened the content control of online games, at the same time, adjust the product structure of online games to encourage the development of musical, dancing and sports games.

A step in the right direction or a disaster waiting to happen? Let the figures tell the tale.

Post from: MMOtaku

Here’s the gist of 9you’s announcement courtesy of our friends at online games portal 17173:

Recently, there have been rumors saying that Audition would suspend operation on October 31, 2008. Concerning the situation, 9you, the operator of Audition, published an announcement claiming that it will never suspend the operation of Audition earlier than the date specified in its license from Yedang Online and T3Entertainment.

It also warned players against believing any unofficial news or information. The official announcement will only be released by official website.

9you stated that it would take legal action against anyone caught spreading rumors about Audition and its other online games.

Post from: MMOtaku

What’s Chinese Paladin Online? Here’s a video, check it out:

There’s more good news from 9you. In a very brief interview with China-based video games portal 17173, 9you vice president Tao Ying revealed that they are developing five new MMOs: SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, Crazy Speed, 9you GT, Street Live, and Concerto Gate II.

Post from: MMOtaku

For the benefit of those in the dark about Ray City, it’s touted as the first ever 3D MMO Driving Game in the world. Don’t ask me about the difference between an MMO Driving Game and an MMO Racing Game. I’m still trying to find out. Developed by J2M, Ray City features two play modes: mission and racing.

What differentiates Ray City from other online racing games is the setting. The game uses full 3D maps of real-world cities like Seoul, Tokyo and, yes, Hong Kong.

Here’s the teaser trailer for your viewing pleasure:

Post from: MMOtaku