Perfect World Co. Ltd., the China-based online games developer that gave us the hit massively multiplayer online games Perfect World, Zhu Xian (Jade Dynasty), and Pocketpet Journey West (Ether Saga), is launching Hot Dance Party II, a new casual online game, this fall.
Well, actually, Hot Dance Party II isn’t all that new. It is being touted as a sequel to Perfect World’s in-house 3D casual game Hot Dance Party. Now the question beckons, “Why launch a sequel if the original can be updated?”
The query is akin to dishing out the immortal line, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” What’s …read more

To publish or operate an online game in China, a company needs to secure a publication number from the General Administration of Press and Publication. Of course, the government has to first review and approve whatever it is an online games operator wants to publish. Without this approval, a massively multiplayer online game can’t be launched.
Patches, expansions and updates undergo a similar procedure, and it is in this that The9 is having problems, particularly in its bid to get approval for Wrath of the Lich King, an expansion for the highly successful Blizzard Entertainment franchise, World of Warcraft.

The9 has received …read more

I know—sounds cheesy, eh? I mean, what was Perfect World Co. Ltd. thinking? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Disney and Disney themes for an online game. Heck, my three-year-old daughter adores Disney and almost all its characters.
But using Disney themes for Hot Dance Party? Don’t believe me? Go check out the announcement:
Perfect World’s Hot Dance Party adds Disney content
Perfect World Co. Ltd., a leading online game developer and operator in China, has announced the signing of an agreement with Disney Interactive Media Group that allows Perfect World to integrate certain Disney themes in its 3D online casual …read more

Yes, there you have it. China cracks the whip again, this time against what it suspects as soft pornography in online games. Here’s the lowdown from online games portal 17173:
China’s administration department has launched a campaign against erotic content on the Internet. Recently, the Ministry of Culture released a notice warning players about erotic content in some online games.
The list includes Red Light Center and Rexue Sanguo. In the notice, the administration department said it would take action against games that feature erotic content or those using suggestive pictures and vulgar language to attract players.
Hey, yeah, we’re all for that. …read more

Gee, why am I not surprised? Seriously now. I’m really not surprised that massively multiplayer online role-playing games is still the preferred genre of online games fanatics despite the fact that popularity of online fighting or battle games and music and dance games is picking up.
Here’s the lowdown from China-based online games portal 17173:
According to The Eighth China Online Game Market Survey, most Chinese players rated MMORPG as their favorite game genre, no matter their ages. For players whose age fall between 19 and 25, the percentage is lower, at about 78.3 percent. They are more for online battle games.
As …read more

Whew! What a year! Indeed, it’s been one hell of a ride for me and, hopefully, for MMOtaku’s loyal followers. What started out as a mote of light in fellow b5media Technology Channel blogger Jayvee Fernandez’s brilliant mind is now a good—not yet great (that has yet to come)—source of news for massively multiplayer online games in Asia and those made in Asia.
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 …read more

Well, don’t just stand there … get in line! Yeah, that’s good news if you live in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam. Doubly good if you’re a video game player who’s into massively multiplayer online games. Why? Because Hot Dance Party is setting up shop in a computer terminal near you. Check out the announcement from the game’s developer:
Perfect World Co. Ltd., a leading online game developer and operator in China, has entered into a new licensing agreement with Cubinet Interactive(s) Pte. Ltd., a famous online game operator in Malaysia, to license Hot Dance Party in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and …read more

As the title implies, China-based online games developer and publisher 9you has finally put an end to the rumor that the dancing game Audition will be shut down on October 31, 2008.
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 …read more

Audition 2 is coming to China, with the closed beta testing set to begin soon, while online gamers in the Philippines continue to languish in earlier-edition hell. Bah, enough with the rant, onto the game!
Well, the new edition of the hit online dancing game Audition will be introduced to the Chinese market by The9, a leading online games operator and developer. Here’s what Xiaowei Chen, the big honcho at The9 Limited, has to say about the game and its impending closed beta testing:
“We recently entered a joint venture agreement with T3 Entertainment to deepen our partnership in development and publishing …read more

The guys at Perfect World Co. Ltd. are at it again. This time, though, MMORPGs are not the focus but casual games. My only question is, why another online dance game?
Hot Dance Party is Perfect World’s new star. Although at the surface it may seem just like any other online dance game out in the market today, the top honchos of the China-based online game developer promises different features unique only to Hot Dance Party
For starters, avatars can be customized, a feature the company started with its hit MMORPG, Perfect World. The other features are, however, regular fare in some …read more