Characteristics of Chinese Culture in Online Games

Characteristics of Chinese utmost in Online juicysAbstractGame industry is a physical body of globalizing m fraud. This search is investigating the dealingship betwixt impale art and tillage. receivable to e very(prenominal) refinement has an jobal root which models caseicular ethnic devises. Therefore, pagan barriers dissolution a important role in the back up purport. In whatever airs, cultural barriers prevent feistys from globalization market.The inn of online mettlesomes is formed by players who find from assorted civilization back territorys. Addition all toldy, the online zippy which involves much(prenominal) than(prenominal) interactive elements is affected by refining signifi placetly. Players argon non playing with computer but forgiving beings. This brand- impudently way of enlivened play gives more freedom to players and designers. Meanwhile, online farinaceous has close connection with shade.When we talk slightly online biz industry we can non turn out the Chinese online venture industry, because chief(prenominal)land mainland China is whizz of the biggest online game industries in the cosmea. The piece of music focuses on Chinese online game industry because of its accomplishments, highest speed of emergence and considerable online game market. And how this antiquated tillage influences the new media form is crucial orbit to investigate.Firstly, brief accepted Chinese refining depart be presented for modify an archetypal nicety value. Based on Chinese online game industry, a local game named Westward Journey Online ? is examined for tar acquire valuable methods which ar how to use the archetypal cultural set into game art. From the examination on Chinese culture, value methods possible atomic number 18 getting for let out audiences all over the farmingly concern. However, in that location is limitation brisk in this paper which ignores opposite distinguishing culture strin gentings. Further research might go more lucubrate on various culture forms for this particular research atomic number 18a.1 designThe main purpose of this research is to examine the archetypal/universal semenistics that ar expressed in Chinese culture within Multiple immense Online Games in order to relieve to a western the sh bed adult male values that are expressed in a uniquely Chinese expression of archetypal hu universe values. The study examines the impact of archetypal cultural distinctives on game aesthetics that is consequential for corporations that are desirous to look business throughout worldwide. due to globalization might be a mannequin of megatrend in red-brick society as cultural forms, cultural barriers might exist to prevent the global distributions of games to some extent in the process of game reading. There was a hot argueion active a female person fount in distinct cultural styles online (Liuduanyinsu 2008). This female character named F aith who was the heroine in Mirrors Edge which was developed by D.I.C.E studio apartment in Sweden (2009). Her appearance ca enforce controversy near what mental of female character could reach the expectation from each side of culture backgrounds. When Mirrors edge came to Japan, the Japanese players were not satisfied in the design of this character. Therefore, some of Japanese players adopt the female character depending on their own expectations. We could see the top out distinguishing stimulates of disparate tastes on female beauty from figure 1 and 2. After the registration of the character, each side of players expressed their opinions. Both sides were not satiated to the opposite sides design. The discussion presented the cultural barriers on female beauty. Exploring the question that is how the features of culture influences game aesthetics could clarify the future direction of twain single Game Corporation and the whole game industry. Therefore, a high level of c ulture intellect is necessary for meeting players expectations. As a result, the cultural barriers influence game aesthetics in certain ways.The platform of the study is circumstances in China which is a long hi explanation country and has various fabricationologies which could resound traditional culture and the process of development of each culture in some way. The culture studies could give us the solid tush of understanding of the Chinese cultural root and benignant values. The newest form studies of cockscomb game art and culture open the door to explore new opportunities for fresh knowledge in this area. At the same time, the examination of Chinese culture could give a brief impression to western readers for understanding the distinct cultural form which has very variant philosophy of life, attitudes, lifestyle, political orientation and values from westerners. Meanwhile, it is aware that the myths influence game design and aesthetics significantly. more myths are w idely applied into game design and art, for example the characters in myths nonplus main adopted features into game design deal priest, Druid, Dragons etc both in western culture and eastern culture. Why is this situation natural event? Are in that location same features amidst mythology and games so that the 2 things could be concordantly combined? In the research, the Journey to the West and games that were adapted from it is employed as a no-hit case to investigate for finding the acceptable answers. Moreover, the closely speed of development online game industry gives the research an additional do good to unfold the examination.According to the trend of globalization, bigger game marketplace could be opened by applying different cultural contexts into game aesthetics after(prenominal) the research. Moreover, the game industry gains much more attention from modern society which includes academic field and marketplace. People desire to obtain benefits from the fresh and strip edge game industry such as entertainment and education.The study(ip)(ip) research question is how archetypal/universal characteristics are reflecting in online games base on Chinese culture? Afterwards, both further questions are what is the archetypal characteristic of Chinese culture? And what kinds of archetypal could be translated into universal for more audiences in online games?For answering these questions, multidiscipline study will be involved. There are culture studies, art, merchandising and the newest wizard- computer games study. Depends on aims and research questions, the objectives chip in been listed to a lower placeTo establish understanding of culture for game aesthetics use inventive methods in culture studiesTo explore the relation of mythology and game aesthetics crossways some(prenominal) subjectsTo explore the functions of culture in game aesthetics and taste possibility of combining two different cultures into game art for widen players.2 T he background data of Chinese online game industry2.1 position of Chinese online game industryChinese online game industry has a fastest speed of development and gives a salient influence on the globalization game marketplace. From the research of the three nations that are American, Korea and China, it could be find that the income of American online game came from games exporting, and Korea is developing the exporting outside and locally run, the income of China online game mainly came from locally operating. Therefore, a part of income in American and Korea online games came from Chinese online game marketplace (iResearch 2009). The report from iResearch (2009) evinced that the revenue of Chinese online game market occupied about 27 percentages of global game market and it is ranked the second position, American online game industry is 29 percentages to sham the lead and Korea is the third position as 21 percentages. Due to the concomitant about the data sources of game ex porting, it is aware that Chinese online games industry is localization of function because of the lower export level. The discernments might be the strategy of government, cultural barriers or limitation of development.However, the Chinese online game industry is the biggest game marketplace in the world that is gradually getting more and more important perspective in international game industry by reason that the Chinese market size is 30.4 gazillion dollars which occupies 27.1 percentages of the gross income of global online game marketing in 2008 according to the iResearch China Online Game Research Report (2009). In addition, China online game industry has the fastest developing speed. The report to a fault predicted that the line of Chinese online game market will continually plus at the speed of 5 percentages based on the research. Additionally, it is expected that the occupancy of Chinese online game market will be close to 50 percentages, and reach to 45.9 percentages (iResearch 2009). So it will become a big importing point of international online game industry.2.2 The reasons of localization of online games boom in ChinaThe localization of Chinese online game industry is possibly ca employ by sextuple reasons. Are the Chinese players easily accepting the games which are set in otherwise cultural contexts? The answer is negative. Local games with strong cultural contexts could get sympathetic attentions by players who live in the cultural environments. The cultural barriers caused game marketplace in certain ways. Based on the research about the developing areas of online games which are paid great attention in Chinese online game industry by Baidu (2009), the highest attention rate of place of online games developers is China, the 49.65 percentages, pastime the second place is Korea which is 43.82 percentages, then there are American and europium occupied 5.36 percentages and Japan is the lowest attention rate which is 1.18 percentages. S o we can see the major online games are developed by local Chinese developers and Chinese neighbour-Korea which has similar culture with China. The similar cultures shared common online game market.And online game industry meet the situation in China, it is getting more and more advanced support from government and other objective supports. Since the operating of Chinese governments strategy named reform and opening-up, the political climate became enlightened and loosened so that communitys concepts are diversity and more easily accepting new things and globalization environment is established as a result of that universal culture could gain opportunity of booming (Xiaolin 2008).Moreover, wherefore could the online games get returns in China rather than console games? One main reason is the pirate. In China, players could spend just few money to get the vile copies from peddlers. This becomes a bad habit in Chinese players. And the pirate postulates a negative influence to t he console and computer games. Therefore, Chinese developers cannot get deserved profits from developing videogames and console games. The intellectual belongings of game developers is not protected. The failure sales of videogames and computer games give more space to online games development in China.Finally, huge population forms the largest marketplace in China. It is reported that there are more than three hundreds millions cyber citizens in China until 17 July 2009 depending on the update database of China Internet Network Information Centre (2009). thank to the development of heavyware and cyber technology, the disseminate internet is continually growing. More and more people use internet in China, and there are more potential players on internet.Based on the investigation of Niko Partners, there are forty six million online game players who spent seventeen million dollars on online games in China (Sina 2008). This great circumstance for online games creates more and more o pportunities for online game development. Following on the fast developing speed of Chinese online game industry, the further potentials need to be explored by the industry insiders.3 The background of Chinese culture3.1 The collective and discriminative cultureIn different situation, the explanation of culture has different explanation. The research mainly discussed art and culture for the latter investigation of game art and culture. Therefore, the definition of culture related to art or aesthetics is the focal point it does not mean we ignore other important comprehension of culture studies, all the necessary study alike is considered through the whole process of investigation. For the after research, which definition of culture is properly suitable for investigating the relation of culture and game aesthetics might be sorted out.Firstly the definition of culture in dictionary must be considered. The culture in English involves several meanings as a noun. The one of major defin itions in Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese vocabulary (1990, p.284) of culture described that all the arts, beliefs, social institutions, etc characteristic of a community, race, etc. In Collins COBUILD Advanced Learners English Dictionary (2004), there are similar explanations of the term culture that are culture consists of activities such as the arts and philosophy, which are considered to be important for the development of civilization and of peoples mind, a culture is a particular society or civilization, especially considered in relation to its beliefs, way of life, or art and the culture of a particular organization or group consists of the habits of the people in it and the way they generally be discombobulate. From there definition in dictionary, the main feature of culture is collective, a certain subject of peoples common mind. The common ground includes arts, beliefs, habits, lifestyle, customs, institutions and philosophy. So sometimes, the culture means pe oples shared mind in one nation, one race even bigger in one group which has common benefits. solely speaking, culture could be unsounded as a group of people who has a similar taste on game aesthetics in this field of research. This might be the reason why cultural barriers influence selling of games which involve strong cultural features.Excepting the property of collective of culture, another(prenominal) crucial constitution of culture is discriminative. Culture is regarded as the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or kin of people from another by Geert (2001). If a culture loses its own distinguishing feature, it will vanish in the world. In other word, culture involves another important function which is identifying humans origins. Therefore, different cultures exist by their identification and dissimilitude with other cultural forms. Applying the feature of culture into this research, the different areas in game industry could be distinguished by analysing cultural characteristics.There is another English word nuance which is treated as a equivalent word of the word culture. It has similar definition with culture however this word civilisation emphasizes on the differentiation of culture. People always say antique Egyptian civilisation, American Indian civilisation and Arab civilisation etc. When we say Chinese civilisation, the name externalizes the particular cultural form. A culture is archetypal and distinguishing. Therefore, the different culture gives distinguishing art styles to various games.3.2 Chinese cultureThe Chinese culture exists for thousands of years it has great influences to the East area and other parts of the world. Due to the complex culture forms, it is hard to present a very clear and details of this particular culture. This paper is investigating the major root of Chinese culture which possibly affects modern new media the games. These surfeits of Chinese cultural root include C onfucianism, Taoism and very crucial concepts of harmoniousness in the midst of man and reputation. These foundational concepts of Chinese culture give a great influence to very aspects of modern society. Meanwhile, games reflect or being reflected these traditional cultural concepts more or less. It needs to understand the cultural root for further studies of games and culture.3.2.1 apprize introduction of ConfucianismThe Confucianism is a complexity. well-nigh people consider it is a cult, others view it is a form of learning (Xinzhong 2000). However, the research regards Confucianism is a form of culture. The content of Confucianism involves several disciplines such as chaste, social, political, philosophical, and quasi- sacred which reflect cultural contexts in China.Due to the Confucianism involves different explanations in different historical periods there is no specific definition for it. From different aspects, we could get different comprehensions from Confucianism. However, the central estimation still exists and has positive impacts on modern Chinese people. Generally speaking, there are three cores themes and a crucial core concept in Confucianism. Those are Li ritual in English, De virtue, Ren humanity and the doctrine of mean.It is utter that China is a state of ceremony because of the strict ritual from Confucianism. Some of the rituals were used into Chinese online games in order to give the local people familiar things in a practical(prenominal) and realistic antediluvian patriarch world. In terms of original concept, Li is an important behavioural norm in Confucianism, and it includes traditional rituals. In Confucianism, it states that grades of peoples relationship which includes the monarch and his subjects, parents and children, older sisters (brothers) and young sisters (brothers) should be clearly distinguished, and upper position of person dumbfound superior rights than lowers (Baidu 2009). For example, in antiquated Ch inese imperial family the emperor could talk several wives, and the rootage wifes child is the son and heir who have greatest prerogatives than other wives children, such as acceding to the throne as the first person selected. And in modern China, the norm involves less power, but in Chinese family there are still some shadows of the Li existing. For instance, children should respect seniorities. When a Chinese family have an important dinner together, the oldest family member takes a seat in the exceed positions around a big table. The senior people usually have a greater power in the society, others always respect them. So the Li developed the strict hierarchy system in ancient Chinese society.The virtue named De in Chinese is a tool to pace humans behaviours. Filial morality and Loyalty are two main limit in Confucianism (Kai-wing 1994, p.36). Filial piety means children should respect their parents. Simply speaking, offspring should give supports to their seniorities that c annot take care of themselves. These supports include mental supports and substantial supports. There are umpteen legends and tales talking about filial piety in China to instruct peoples behaviours. One of the famous stories about filial piety is that the person named Dongyong sold himself for money in order to overwhelm his fathers body, the city named Xiaogan which means the miracle of filial piety inspires god came from the ancient story (Wilt 2009). Ancient Chinese emperor applies De into ruling. The virtue in Confucianism requests governors using openhearted politics and self virtue to rule civilians. It presents using virtue to nurture people for peaceful and steady society.Humanity is a core content of Confucianism. It claims loving human, people should love each other, support each other and existing with each other. Therefore, the basic meaning of Ren is homage and friendship. In ancient Chinese governments always employed Ren into their ruling strategy, so it was dev eloped to a kind of political strategy called policy of benevolence which advocated using the proactive and ethical human being to rule the country. It is different with western legal strategy. However, it involves some limit from contemporary viewpoints.The doctrine of mean is another crucial concept of Confucianism. Zhangxin who is a professor researching Sinology introduced his opinion about the doctrine of mean. The liveliness of medium way is doing something using appropriate methods to keep the things in a reasonable and fair expectation for people. He also claimed culture does not need to meet the international standards and the archetypal culture is the universal. Medium way is a root of Confucianism and Chinese culture, it affects peoples behaviours at present. Peoples characteristics might be obdurate by the origin of their cultures. So the characteristics of Chinese people are introspective poise and defensive just reflect the medium way in Confucianism.3.2.2 Brief in troduction of TaoismIn the research, the characteristics of China are going to discuss from the native religion of Taoism rather than investigation on religion itself. Taoism is a native philosophical and religious of China and it focus on the moral code. It came from China and has influenced East Asia for over two millennia and the West for over two centuries (James 2003). On one hand, Taoism is one of main original inspirations for Chinese games. On the other hand, it is a core of human value in Chinese society.Taoisms concepts could be applied into computer game design. The original religion involves several worships. Those include character worship, totem worship, spirits worship and ancestor worship. Moreover, there is a complex system of Daoism, different tree branches have different leaders. These features of Daoism give great inspirations to game designers. The features have already employed into several Chinese games which used traditional themes and backgrounds. The Jianx ia3 online employed some(prenominal) Daoisms elements into the game play (Kingsoft 2009). Players could choose Chunyang branch which is a real branch of Daoism as their clans. There are many rooms of Daoism could be employed into game design such as celestial beings, making pills of immortality and Fengshui theory in Daoism.Taoism affects human beings behaviours and thought processs from this point the conducts in Taoism could reveal the core human value in China. The noun Taoism involves different elements with Daoism, at the first place we should distinguishing the two nouns for latter discussion. Taoism is a type of thought or doctrine it was developed by Lao Tzu who is a judgment and ideologist in ancient China. The book named Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text which is considered as a basic origin in Taoism like Bible in Christianity. However, the first official classic of Daoism is named Taiping Ching. Tao Te Ching and Taiping Ching plus Zhouyicantongqi are considered a s the origin of Daoisms religion and theory by current academic area. Simply speaking, Taoism is a kind of theory and Daoism is a religion.There are the jewels of the Tao compassion, moderation and humility (Ray 1989, p.133). These conducts reflect to Taoist become a crucial belief named Wu wei which is action without bureaucratic, competitive, aggressive, or self-serving effort. Wu wei is a way of being that comes from an internal sensitivity to the natural rhythms of the universe, similar to urine flowing over or around rocks, logs, or islands in a stream, (R. Paul 2002, p.152). Wu wei is a basic cognition of Taoism to the development of nature and human society. The general meaning of Wu wei action through inaction does not mean doing nothing but revealing things with soft and invisible power (Richard 2004). In Taoism, it is considered humans behaviours and the way of act should obey the law of nature. The all things in the world develop by themselves, human beings cannot interv ene the development of nature and all other things. This thought forces Chinese people like to foil to old ways and make Chinese characteristic becoming mediocrity. This is reflected in the characteristics is defensive and moderate temperament.3.2.3 The relationship between man and nature in Chinese cultureThis concept of relationship between man and nature reflects into game design is that the characters in games usually involve appearances of natural things like animal monsters. The situation is very different from western games which seldom apply monsters came from nature. This might be caused by Chinese original root which is called musical harmony between man and nature which is widely considered as the main pass part of Chinese traditional culture. In the traditional Chinese culture, the world is separated into three parts that are heaven, manpower and earth. For each part there are specific classic texts for guiding peoples behaviours. I Ching is used to guide for explaini ng relation between heaven and manpower. It presents how to obey law of nature to make human ideal and healthy. The analects of Confucius expound relation between manpower and heaven for instructing people making right choices. And the Sunzi Art of state of war is a book to be used in war it presents relations of human beings themselves. The Dao Te Ching which was mentioned in previous paragraph is employed to align human and earth making the harmony between man and nature. The last one named Huang di nei Ching interprets earth and human beings for guide people to get the benefits from earth. The ancient classic traditional Chinese philosophy teaches Chinese people the major behaviours. It affects peoples choices more or less in modern society. Understanding Chinese culture, these principles have to be clarified, because when the character involves archetypal characteristics it must follows some elements from these concepts from ancient China.3.3 The original mythology in Chinese cultureMythology should not to be overlook because it reflects culture in some ways. William considers myth is culturally important, and myths are this kind of story which are created by individuals interpretations in discriminating special societies (William 2000). Myths argue certain culture contents such as religious, rituals, customs, and peoples behaviours. Therefore, it might bring us to an articulate culture form by examining the particular mythology.In terms of game design, there are many games applying mythic elements into character designs, background stories, environment designs and requests designs. There might have common senses between games and myths. Why could the mythic contents be widely employed into games? This chapter will discuss myth and find out the bonding point between myths and games.3.3.1 The definition of mythologyAt the first place, it needs to clarify that what are mythology and what kind of characteristics is involved in mythology. Williams suggeste d that myths are fictional but not ineffectual and non-empirical, however they are not incomprehensible and formed by values of fundamental mythical orientations of cultures (Williams 2000). And a common contestation of mythology is that myths are stories about gods or remote ancestors, myths are sacred stories, myths are stories that explain how the world and humans came to be in their present forms, and myths encapsulate important information about human thought, feeling, history, and social life (Yang, Deming and Jessica 2005). However, particular myths could be understood by people who live in the particular culture environment, it is hard to be comprehended by other person who has different culture background if he has not established understanding of the particular culture. Because each culturally mythology has distinguishing features. But myths still have universal features like the statement was presented by Stith Thompson in 1955 that myths are connecting with gods and th eir behaviours, creation, and the general nature of the universe and of the earth (Yang, Deming and Jessica 2005). Therefore, myths are universal and archetypal in every cultural form by using dialectic method of analysis.Games as a originative industry need creation and imagination, however the design of games should not be unimagined. The attributes of games are very similar with mythologys which discussed above. This is not a coincidence this is why there are so many designers employed mythological elements into the game design. There are two reasons that games should be grotesque and believable. The first one is the purpose of playing for imaginative feature of games. Players are anxious for getting entrainment from games they usually want to get different experiences from playing games. If the environment and characters in games are same with real life, the game will be boring. fifty-fifty a simulating game like series of Sims also involves other virtual elements for giving different experiences to players. Another reason is for believable a game should be attractive to players, when players play the game they are immersing into the games. Unreal and incredible characters and environment cannot be acceptable by players. So most of successful games were adopted from real stories, the Non-players character, the monsters and the avatars for players were altered from fictional characters in mythology. Generally speaking, games and mythology have same attributes. That the reason mythologies are widely used into game design both in environment setting, background stories and character designs.3.3.2 The origin of mythologyThe origin of mythology is various. Some myths are adopted from the narratives of scripture by adding several imaginative elements and altered contents of the original scripture. And historical events are another source of mythology the real historical case was rewritten by later people using the forms of legends and fabulous traditions whi ch are widely disseminated. Additionally, there are other two features could describe myths which are allegorical and physical, nearly all the ancient myths are symbolical and involved some educational contents in aspects of moral, religious or philosophical truth etc (Thomas 2004).In terms of the origin of Chinese mythology, it is generally believed that the Chinese mythology originated from the totemism of remote Chinese ancestors and legends of ancient tribes. Some Chinese myths are another form of historical records, for instance it is confirmed that the myth of Nwa is partly true after discovering the historical mud belongs to the period of maternal tribes in China (need evidences). Moreover, the Chinese myths mirrored contents of religions the concept of three worlds that are heaven, earth and human being in Chinese mythology is coming from Buddha. Many online games which were set in ancient Chinese environment were applied the concept of three worlds into game design. The ch aracters in these games are generally separated into three groups which are celestial beings, devils and human beings.The Chinese cultural concept of the harmony between human and heaven is also reflecting in the local mythology. The Chinese myths usually concentrate on explain rationalize, embellish, humanize, or historicize the mythical beings (Williams 2000 1993 387). The Chinese myths usually involve the characters who came from nature, like various devils are transformed from animals or plants of the nature. And they involve historical events such as Yan Di who is a mythic figure that invented agriculture in Chinese history, and many devils in mythology are transformed from animals and plants so that their appearances embody the shape of original animals or plants. This phenomenon might be a kind of culture barriers existing in the form of mythology.From the statement above, we could see the origin of mythology causes a kind of culture barrier. Mythologies of one culture are fo rmed with local nuances. For example, the Chinese mythologies are influenced by local religions which are Buddha, Taoism and cultural ideology which is the harmony between human and nature. The local culture might determine major contents of mythologies. And mythologies were spreading by people in the different periods, during the different historical periods peoples thoughts are different and in some way reflect the certain society cognition. Therefore, the mythology is a mixture of local culture and peoples ideology of that time. Depends on distinguishing history of every culture, the local mythology is hardly understanding by other people who came from different cultural background.3.3.3 The Chinese mythology in online gamesDue to the similar points between mythology and games, they naturally combine together. Moreover, the