The China Stock Blog quotes from an IDC report:
* Government figures show that China’s online gaming market generated revenue of $298.7 million in 2004, up 34.7% over the previous year.
* Telecom operators, who provide Internet access services to game players, booked revenue of $1.8 billion from the online gaming business.
* Shanda Interactive (ticker: SNDA) claimed the #1 and #3 spots. Netease.com (ticker: NTES) saw three of its games in the top 10. Sina.com (ticker: SINA) also placed in the top 10.
* Cyber-products, goods only existing in online games such as armor and weapons, are becoming a new source of revenue. Approximately 20% of game players spent an average of $85 per capita last year buying cyber-products.
