October 24, 2007 by Nobody Fugazi
Posted in
Virtual Worlds in Modern China is an interesting post for those curious about the Chinese endeavors in the area of [w:virtual world]s. The author gives an interesting review of both Hipihi and Novoking, as well as a comparison of the two and a comparison of them with other virtual world endeavors.
The political climate, as well, is worth considering:
...I would like to finish with discussing the real world’s political environment that the virtual worlds were born in. Both worlds will face a complicated job considering the current governmental situation. As Xu from Hipihi has already stated: “we can make sure that pornography, gambling, violence or politically sensitive material will be strictly forbidden.” The people at Novoking have expressed something similar: “in accordance with Chinese regulations, our world’s economy will necessarily be a closed one.” Nobody knows exactly how virtual worlds will develop in China, but as a Web 2.0 enthusiast I think it is worth to keep an eye on!
Actually, I don't know exactly how virtual worlds will develop in China - and I wish people would keep using my name like that. :-)
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Nobody knows
I have always assumed that nobody knows, but that has made an a** out of me many times, Nobody might not know, but he often has a good idea.
I was reading the slex blogs and one poster a while back commented that he had gone to HIPIHI used the "T"-word (not Tianamen but Tibet) and found himself bounced. I suppose with a population the size of China's they don't need anyone who might rock the boat, but just the fact that they have virtual world's I think bodes well for the rl planet.
There was a considerable body of opinion that felt circulating videotaped copies of US network news shows helped bring down the old Soviet Union. The net and the metaverse might an analogous with that. Rather than beating the Chinese into democracy with a stick it might be better to slip a knife between the ribs.
Actually...
The demise of the Soviet Union was economic. China, on the other hand, supplies the consumer market in the United States. If the Soviet Union had been a preferred trading partner of the United States, they would probably still be around.
Beating the Chinese with a stick about democracy would require the purchase of the stick from the Chinese. Besides, you democracy requires people to want it, something a few key people seem to have not understood recently.
Food for thought. :-)
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