ChinaJoy 2017
Chinajoy 2017; Gaming in the Middle Kingdom
Every year since 2003, Shanghai hosts what is considered the largest gaming and digital entertainment exhibition in China and Asia.Ā
It's a unique occasion for professionals from the gaming industry, and gamers, to see what is going to happen during the current and coming years in the Middle Kingdom and around.Ā RetroPixlĀ was there.Ā
What is ChinaJoy?
ChinaJoy is the yearly Chinese gaming and digital entertainment exhibition. This event takes place in Shanghai, and gathers gamers, cosplayers, and toy collectors.This event lasts 3 to 4 days, and mostly focuses on online gaming and RPGs.Ā
The gaming industry in China has been booming in the past few years, to the point where the country officially became in early summer 2017, the 1st video game market in the world, taking the lead from the US!Ā It has now become obvious for more and more Japanese or Western developers that China is a place to be and to be seen among the gaming community.
The Gaming market in China.
The subject being pretty vast,Ā RetroPixlĀ will post specifically about that later on, but as an introduction we can say that after years of ban, video games are finally considered legal in China.Ā
And like everything in China, they are catching up pretty quickly. More and more companies now develop games in China, and some of the biggest studios such as Ubisoft, Bandai-Namco or Blizzard have offices there now.Ā Like in other Asian countries, gamers are fond of mobile gaming, but albeit the trend getting stronger by the day, online is still king.Ā The usual suspects are WOW, DOTA etc...
ChinaJoy did reflect the way video games are played in China in 2017, Online and mobile gaming are kings.
Last year, the organizers reported that close to 200,000 visitors attended the event. This years will probably see a sizable raise in that number, considering the growing interest for games, toys and cosplay.Ā These 3 categories of entertainment were the main attractions of the event.Ā
Cosplay
The first editions of ChinaJoy prominently featured costumed booth attendants, sometimes with very little connection to the company's products (and even less clothing).Ā
But this year's event sawĀ a lot more people were willing to dress-up and show off their costume-making skills. While there's nowhere near the number of costumed attendees that you'll find at a convention like Comic-Con, creations at ChinaJoy were Ā a lot of fun. You can see a sampling of some of the professional and personal cosplay in the gallery below.Ā
Guns Out.
Mascot.
The Witcher 3.
Dancing and Cosplay contest.
The famous Kame House from Dragon Ball.
Saint Seiya.
Ronin.
Gaming
The gaming section of the event was huge, and spread over 7 halls out of 10.Ā The main games genre presented were either mobile games, online, or MMORPGs.Ā
Apart from the obscure local games, a fairly big section was dedicated to Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. There was even a small, but real retrogaming section where players could enjoy playing with a Sega Saturn, a Nintendo Famicom or a SNK NeoGeo. The interest for retrogaming is real here and the recent released consoles such as the Nintendo NES mini and SNES Mini will probably a big success there too.
A team contest was organized on DOTA & WOW.
Serious dancing happening at the Xbox booth.
The Playstation booth was one of the biggest.
A big part of it was dedicated toĀ VR, which isĀ very popular in China.
Retrogamers on the world's biggest Pacman arcade screen.
Pacman.
A Sega Saturn and Sonic Jam.
A Nintendo Famicom with Mario Bros.
Toys
Toys are often a big part of gaming events. A lot of gaming and anime licenses are the source of toy manufacturing in Asia.Ā
The usual big names were present, with some new releases. Bandai, Herocross, Tamashii, or even gaming developers had their dedicated booth with goodies and toys. Some smaller local companies also came up with really cool displays or dioramas.
Tamashii presented several One Piece Toys.
The SH Figuarts series is a pretty popular in Asia, especially the Dragon Ball one.
SD Gundams.
Not a toy, but a pretty nice prize car for a driving contest.
MG Mechas.
RG Mechas.
Ubisoft was displaying new toys for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Origin to be released later this year.
Black Flag's Edward Kenway.
Star Wars Toys at HeroCross.
Display of Transformers toys.
With the increasing interest for toy collecting, and the amount of companies on the market, cool ideas emerge here and there when it comes to toys, but also displays.
Some companies like Sh Figuarts had already offered diorama pieces for people to enjoy their collection, but now we see companies in Asia who come up with interactive displays with LED and really cool effects. Here are 2 examples with pretty cool toys.
Superman Vs Wonderwoman & Batman
This cool interactive display uses LEDs and reflection to create effects between toys.Ā
This technology opens a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to displays.Ā Marvel, Dragon Ball, One Piece or Transformers would be a perfect fit for example.
Alien Versus Predator
This other awesome interactive display has Alien and the Predator setting scores. After talking with the people on the booth, it seems that severalĀ versions of these displays will be available to buy, ranging from roughly 150 to 250 USD depending on the sizes mostly.
RetroPixlĀ got some toys from the fair. Come and visit us exclusive Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.Ā
Products
PredatorĀ
Limited Edition
The Wolf Predatorās body has 20 points of articulation which provides great mobility and allows collectors to display Wolf with famous poses from the movie.Ā The Wolf Predator's mask can be removed to reveal its organic face beneath. And its body, arms and legs are made with alloy with PVC outfits to display details of Wolfās armor and body. It Ā comes with accessories.
R2D2&C3POĀ
Limited Edition
Sideshow and Herocross are pleased to present the C-3PO and R2-D2 Collectible Figures from the Hybrid Metal Figuration Series.Ā R2-D2 and C-3PO are the most iconic droids in the Star Wars movie universe.
Floating DeLoreanĀ
Limited Edition
This amazing DeLorean is arriving on Pre-Sale on RetroPixl. The iconic car is a reproduction of the iconic vehicle from Back to the future, and to make it really special, KL made it float!
It is part of a series that also saw a pack with the famous overboards.Ā
It is now available for Pre-orders on very limited quantities on RetroPixl.
RetroPixlĀ is Ā your #1 source of retrogaming, Limited editions & Collectors video game consoles, and related toys and goodies.
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Alex K.
Originally from Paris - France, Alex is the founder of RetroPixl. He has called Asia home since 2006. He isĀ
passionate about video games in general, retrogaming and collectible toys in particular.Ā
Great report on this event! Looks like such an impressive collection of toys, wish I could have gone.