Kapital Koopas: China Cracks Down on Smuggled Game Consoles, Tencent's New Game Controller Controversy
Press F to pay respects to all the fallen goombas. It's time for a deep dive into China's gaming culture in our column, Kapital Koopas.
Guangdong customs officials bust game smuggling ring
Late last month, gamers browsing Taobao, Pinduoduo, and other e-commerce platforms in mainland China began noticing that many stores had removed popular consoles such as Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox, with a few going so far as to completely wipe their accounts. And, needless to say, it didn’t take long for netizens to speculate on the reasons behind the move. However, it wasn't until earlier this week that the mystery was solved when the General Administration of Customs P.R. China announced that Guangdong customs had carried out an anti-smuggling campaign, resulting in the arrest of 54 suspects comprising 13 smuggler rings, many of whom were trafficking illegal game consoles and cards worth more than RMB 3 billion. The confiscated consoles racked up RMB 77 million alone.
Currently, you can still purchase those consoles and games from JD, Netease Koala, and other e-commerce platforms that, simply put, operate above board. Meanwhile, many Taobao stores have restocked the products, albeit with a higher price tag. Moreover, some of them have opted to sell digital versions of games instead of physical copies to avoid taxation.
Given that the ban on imported game consoles was lifted but a few years ago, and localized consoles generally have limited access to games resulting in higher prices than the rest of the world, the black market is a lucrative one. Nevertheless, it doubtlessly has a negative impact on the community at large, meaning there has to be a reconciliation between anti-smuggling campaigns and the wider availability of legal consoles and accessories.
Nintendo CEO Iwata Satoru's biography gets translated into ten languages
We recently compiled a spring reading list to bring you closer to Beijing and Chinese culture in general through the magic of reading. However, there's one recent book release that belongs in this column specifically.
Few companies have as fascinating a story as Nintendo. Long before they produced iconic characters like Mario and Luigi, they were a humble playing card manufacturer within the Kyoto-based Hana Fuda publishing company. In fact, Nintendo has been around for more than a century now, originally founded by the Yamauchi family. However, one man, Iwata Satoru was the visionary mind who shaped the global gaming juggernaut into the much-beloved brand we knew today.
Now, fans of Nintendo and inspiring stories alike can dig more into Satoru's life and thought process thanks to Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom From Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's Legendary CEO. Originally published in Japan in 2019, the book is getting a translation in ten languages including Chinese and English throughout 2021, with the English version set for an Apr 13 release and the Simplified Chinese version coming to market in July.
From Pokemon to Super Smash Bros and Kirby to Mother, Satoru's creativity can be felt across all of Nintendo's franchises. Perhaps more importantly though, he took Nintendo from a mere competitor in the hardware sector to a truly unique developer that would revolutionize what it means to play video games, all while improving the relationship between Nintendo and third-party developers and its customers. Satoru himself summed it up best at Game Development Conference (GDC) 2005 when he said, “On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.”
Tencent game controller accused of being an uninspired rip-off
Recently, China's National Intellectual Property Administration revealed a patent for the exterior design of a game controller that Tencent applied for on Nov 17, 2020. According to the patent's description, its highlights ostensibly include the shape and look. However, netizens were quick to point out that the button arrangement seems to be a shameless copy of the Xbox Series X controller, while its touchpad resembles that of the classic PS4 controller. Moreover, the four indication lights looked like they were plucked from the Nintendo Joy-con.
According to IT Home, the controller may be designed for Tencent’s TV top box cloud game system. Still, the uninspired design and layout left netizens wondering if Tencent will ever be capable of breaking free from its copycat comfort zone.
Rayman Legends to be released on Tencent Switch with Chinese localization
Before Assassin's Creed swept gaming communities worldwide, a more innocent character called Rayman – the armless and legless hero – was the face of game developer Ubisoft, and one of the first video game characters introduced to Chinese gamers back in the 90s. Now, Rayman Legends, the fifth title in the Rayman series and sequel to 2011's Rayman Origins is getting a simplified Chinese localization that will only be available on Tencent Switch, nearly eight years after it was first released. Available on Tencent Switch, Rayman Legends hits markets on Apr 15, with preorders going on now for RMB 134, 10 percent off its original price. And if you've never had the chance to embark on a Rayman adventure, a demo version of the game is currently live in the Tencent Switch Eshop.
In other Tencent Switch news, the second round of the Mario Kart Tournament takes place this weekend, so if you forgot to sign up in March, get on it!
READ: Kapital Koopas: Mario Kart Medals Come Alive, and Mainland China Gets the PS5
Images: SCMP, 中国反走私, Nintendo, Game Rant, Microsoft, Sony Entertainment, Tencent, Ubisoft
