The 7th Chinese International Comics and Games Expo held at the China Pavilion was a smorgasbord of color and hyperkinetic noise, featuring dozens of exhibitors representing a variety of corners of respective toy, anime, and gaming universes. Children turned out in droves with parents in tow to sample the delights of their favorite fuzzy creatures in the flesh, and cosplay devotees nerded out with several thousand of their spiritual peers, with a sheepish tango involving posing and picture-snapping taking place throughout the Pavilion. more ›

In coordination with Chinese software company Giant Interactive Group, the People’s Liberation Army has developed China’s newest first person shooter; Glorious Mission. So what is the big deal? Well, Glorious Mission happens to be the first shooter to pit Chinese forces against U.S. Combatants, and - to no surprise - the United States are not happy with this premise. more ›

Inadequate sleep and physical exercise aside, go to any Internet Cafe (WangBa, 网吧) in the city and—if you can even see through the dense cloud of smoke trapped by the locked closed windows—you’ll find empty soda bottles and candy wrappers strewn about. It is no secret: gamers don’t treat their bodies well. But cigarettes and junk food are apparently not largest threat to gamers health. more ›

Finally, someone got the idea to use gaming to help students instead of shoving them into oft dangerous internet addiction camps. Zhonghua Vocational School, here in Shanghai, has begun the first ever "Online Games" class. The thought is that these kids can learn the valuable skill of working in a group, as well as boost their self confidence, if they play World of Warcraft with proper guidance and supervision. While I'm not entirely sold on the curriculum (there's got to be more educational realms than Azeroth - all it's ever taught me is how annoying Chuck Norris jokes can get), at least its nice to know someone's recognizing that banning these things outright is probably not the way to go. more ›

A site where cosplay enthusiasts can act out the online game Counterstrike, has been set up close to the ruins left by the Sichuan earthquake. According to the site's manager Dai Jun, the area's collapsed buildings make a good setting for the game. People in the area have protested against the park, but Dai Jun, quoted in Xinhua news says that the bereaved will find consolation in the reconstruction of tourist attractions, rather than in prayers alone. "How to restore the local tourist market and benefit the local villagers should be at the top of the agenda". more ›

By Hilary Faxon and Adrienne Wong more ›