Turning fantasy into reality

Updated: 2016-08-05 23:46

By ZHANG KUN in Shanghai(China Daily USA)

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Turning fantasy into reality

Cosplayers at the China Joy convention in Shanghai. Gao Erqiang / China Daily

Experts in the gaming industry said that ACG (animation, comic and games) has been a major “sub-culture” in China as well as other countries in North Asia. ACG fans identify themselves as “the population of the 2D world”, as opposed to real life, or the three-dimensional world.

According to the China Gaming Industry Report, there are about 530 million people in China’s young population, defined by those born between 1980 and the early 2000s, and many of them are among the 489 million gamers in the country.

This group of people are the most active Internet users and the main driving force of ACG culture which is gaining prominence. They often spend large amounts of time and money playing games, watching animations, reading comic books and participating in cosplay performances.

Zhang Yiji is one such individual. Dressed in a pink costume, the 17-year-old cosplayed as a character from a Chinese fantasy game at the China Joy Expo.

The costume she wore cost no less than 1,000 yuan ($151) to make and she “never wears the same costume twice”. She said that she participates in up to three cosplay events every month.

Although Zhang has to take her college-entrance examination next year, she nonetheless spends three days every week during the summer vacation playing games online.

“I play games from nine in the morning to midnight and eat nothing but food delivered to my door,” said Zhang.

Though her lifestyle may seem a little extreme, it is one that is shared by millions of other young people in China, according to media reports.

“Gaming is our way of existence,” a young man was quoted by Sun Shoushan, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and TV at the opening of China Joy.

Research has found that these individuals are more accustomed to using online payment methods for not only products but also virtual services, and as they enter adulthood and achieve greater spending powers, their consumption habits will likely create a big positive impact to the Chinese economy.

zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn

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