Ms. Hou: Yes, absolutely. These games are not casino type games, these are multiplayer online role-playing games, analogous to a novel where people play in different roles and advance from one level to another level as the game continues. So there is a continuity in a game because it is role-play; it is also quite a community-driven game. It is not a standalone console game or games that you play in casinos. It is quite different.
TWST: Where does this stand in development in China? Is it just starting out?
Ms. Hou: Actually, this type of online game was introduced to China in 2000 by
the company Shanda Interactive Entertainment (SNDA), and since then this
industry has been growing explosively into a major Internet sector. If you look
at the three sectors of the Internet industry in China online advertising, e-
commerce and online gaming online games is the leader, not advertising, not
anything else, but online games.
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