Talk about adding insult to injury. After losing the license to World of Warcraft and failing to come out with another hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game, China-based online games operator The9 has been sued by its shareholders for allegedly violating the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by making inaccurate statements about its finances between November 15th, 2006 and July 15th, 2009.
Oh, and we’re not talking about some law in China but the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the law governing the secondary trading of stocks, bonds and the like in the United States of America.
High-profile law firm Coughlin Stoia …read more

After a month of speculations, Blizzard Entertainment has finally broken its silence on China’s investigation into the joint venture between the Western gaming giant and NetEase, a China-based online games operator.
According to online games portal 17173, Blizzard Entertainment co-founder and president Mike Morhaime clarified that the joint venture between Blizzard and NetEase would focus on providing technical support to World of Warcraft and wouldn’t be involved in other aspects of operation.
An article on 17173 also tagged The9, former operator of World of Warcraft in China, as the culprit behind the dissemination of rumors that the joint venture was established to …read more

Almost everybody in this part of the world is talking about it, the brewing war between China-based online games operator The9’s former game, World of Warcraft, and its new project, World of Fight.
All this talk, however, is premature. For one, World of Fight isn’t even a reality yet—at least, based on whatever is coming out of the rumor mill.
The speculation is built on top of two facts: that The9 lost the license to Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft to another Chinese online games operator, NetEase; and that The9 has launched a new website that says, among other things, World of …read more

Nothing seems out of the ordinary, just an online games operator launching a new server for one of its most successful massively multiplayer online role-playing games—that is, if not for the fact that The9 has already lost control of World of Warcraft in China.
About a week ago, MMOtaku reported a rumor that The9 had lost the license to the popular Western MMORPG franchise, which developer Blizzard Entertainment awarded to NetEase, another China-based online games operator. This supposedly tall tale was later confirmed by all three companies—Blizzard, NetEase and, surprisingly, The9.
Now comes news that The9 has opened a new server for …read more

There’s really no mincing words when it comes to big announcements like closed and open beta tests, and patches and updates, so let me just get to the point with the help of an announcement story straight from the source, The9.
Open Beta Test for EA Sports FIFA Online 2 to Begin on April 22, 2009, in China
SHANGHAI—The9 Limited, a leading online game operator in China, and Electronic Arts Inc., a leading global interactive entertainment software company, has announced in a press conference held at Shanghai Pu Dong Expo Center that the highly anticipated game EA Sports FIFA Online 2 will …read more

NetEase isn’t wasting any time. A week after news that it has secured the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, wresting it from the clutches of online games operator The9, NetEase is starting recruitment for technical and managerial personnel to handle the world-renowned massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Blizzard Entertainment of the United States.
Here’s the nitty-gritty from China-based online games portal 17173:

Source: China Daily
The official website of NetEase has recently posted a recruitment ad for customer service of World of Warcraft in China.
NetEase is mainly looking for game master, customer service specialist, trainer, GM leader, customer …read more

If the latest online games industry news from China is to be believed, then all I can say is, “What in the Nine Hells happened?”
Check out the headline on China-based online games portal 17173:
The9 May Have Lost Control of World of Warcraft in China
Late yesterday, multiple sources reported that The9, the operator of World of Warcraft in China, had broken up with Blizzard Entertainment. NetEase, another Chinese game operator, is more likely to get the license instead, which will take over the operation of World of Warcraft in China this June.

The site goes on to say that it got it …read more

I’m not overly excited about the launch of Atlantica Online in China. Yes, it’s closer to home, but the language barrier is greater. I remember trying a few China-based online games a few years back, and it was a nightmare—at least for someone who loves learning about new games but can’t speak the vernacular.
Going back to the topic, yes, Atlantica Online is set to conquer China, with The9, the company that brought in popular Western massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, at the helm.
Here’s the announcement story, courtesy of China-based online games portal 17173:
The9, a leading Chinese online …read more

Old news, I know. I wrote about the upcoming open beta of FIFA Online 2 in China on March 5, 2009, and this is confirmation of The9’s commitment to establishing a niche for the game in its country.
Let’s take a closer look at the announcement courtesy of China-based online games portal 17173:
The9 Gets FIFA Online 2 Beta Version to China
The development of open beta version of FIFA Online 2 is almost finished. On March 13, 2009, a group of executives from The9 flew to Korea to confirm the final copy of the game, which they plan to bring back to …read more

After a successful open beta for FIFA Online 2 in Southeast Asia, it’s now China’s turn to feel the rush. There’s not much to go on now in terms of news, so I’ll just give you the announcement:
Electronic Arts and The9 have recently jointly announced that the Chinese open beta of EA Sports’ FIFA Online 2 will start this April.
FIFA Online 2 is the latest version of the FIFA series. The game has the official authorization of FIFA, introducing over 30 leagues, over 10,000 famous, real-life football stars, and 35 stadiums and club jerseys.
As a casual sports game newly introduced …read more