He added: “The co-operation with Italy and the Czech Republic will be faster than with other countries. If everything goes smoothly, 70 to 80 percent of our revenue will come from profit split rather than selling machines.”

As for the company’s investment in Taiwan, its application for constructing Kinmen Industrial and Business Park is under assessment by the government. It generally takes half a year to complete all the procedures required for such a construction project, including an urban-planning assessment and a registration of change of category of land. The firm is waiting for the completion of the assessment, which is expected to be finished this year.

Astro has invested NT$1.2bn (€28m) in the development project, which will occupy 165,000 square meters including a shopping mall spanning 35,000 square meters and will have the biggest hotel in Taiwan, with 1300 rooms. It is estimated that the first stage of construction will be finished within two years.

Ministry reports on online gaming

The 2010 Market Report of Chinese Online Games issued by the Ministry of Culture reviewed the rapid growth of the online game market in 2010, predicted the development of this prosperous industry and listed some basic administrative guidelines for the government.

Mobile, TV-based and Internet games were thoroughly researched and analysed together for the first time.

The industry’s growth and structural adjustment has been a focus of the Chinese government. In 2010, revenue from Internet and mobile games was up 26.2 percent, with mobile growing particularly quickly although it is still a much smaller business than online.

Third time lucky

China has the most impressive and dynamic economic growth in the global market. In 2006, the Ministry of Culture announced that Shanghai, Zhongshan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Nanning, Jinan, Zhuhai, and Changchun would be opened to allow operational test locations for amusement and electronic game venues.

Other cities and provinces gradually followed this measure and some even enacted specific rules in 2009, such as Gansu province and Xicheng District in Beijing. Panyu District in Guangzhou city has even transformed into a commercial centre for operators, developers and manufacturers.

In light of the market potential of China, GTI Asia China Expo made its debut in Guangzhou in 2009, creating an organised, professional and international exhibition platform for the amusement and electronic game industry in the country. The first edition successfully established the event, with many trade buyers and 110-plus exhibitors on the show floor.

In the second edition, the exhibition venue was switched to a site with larger space – the Poly World Trade Center, also in Guangzhou – and the number of visitors doubled to nearly 24,000.

The third edition of GTI Asia China Expo will take place 25-27 August, again at the Poly World Trade Center; registration for the show was launched recently. For more information, email gametime@taiwanslot.com.tw or visit www.gtiexpo.com.tw.

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