A primer on
Chinese computer games
Despite
the many reports of Internet addiction and carpal tunnel syndrome
resulting from too much control pad crunching, computer games can be
– dare we say – educational, especially if you’re trying to
bone up on your Chinese. We shopped around and picked out some
homegrown Chinese video games for different age groups: some
cultural, some historical, and some just plain fun. Most require at
least some level of Chinese literacy (or at least a Chinese-English
dictionary on hand), but these alluring games may be just the impetus
you’ve been looking for to start working on those Chinese
characters. Vivian Chow
For ages 8
and up
五子棋
(Wuziqi)
Five Secret Stones
Game type:
Strategy
Level
of Chinese difficulty: 1
The
object of this two-player Chinese board game (known as Gomoku in
Japanese and Five-in-a-Row in English) is to align five of your
pieces in either a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on a 15-by-15
grid before your opponent accomplishes the same goal. Similar to
tic-tac-toe and Milton Bradley’s Connect Four, this deceptively
simple game requires complex strategies and thinking ahead to
outguess your opponent. Practice your skills at
www.bangmang.cn/flash/game/wuziqi.html, where users can play for free
against a computer. The Flash page loads very quickly and requires no
additional downloads, so anyone with a few minutes can get online and
start playing right away. No Chinese language skills are necessary
for this game.
春秋Q传
(Chunqiu
Q Zhuan) Spring
Autumn Analects Q
Game type:
Massive multiplayer online role-playing game
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 4
While
many games are vaguely set in "ancient China," the main
attraction of this game is its emphasis on recreating a very specific
time: The Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC), when Confucius first
started teaching the roles of society and the individual, ideas which
play an important part in the game. Like the extremely popular World
of Warcraft, Spring Autumn Analects Q is a massive multiplayer online
role-playing game, in which players have to interact with thousands
of other avatars in an online virtual world. It is also purported to
be simple enough for the novice, yet still entertaining for expert
gamers. Spring Autumn Analects Q is available for free download at
cq.xoyo.com.
大富翁VII:
游宝岛
(Dafuweng
VII: Youbaodao) Rich Man VII:
Touring Treasure Island
Game type:
Simulation
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 3
As
the title suggests, the object of this game is to become a "rich
man" (or woman) through various real estate deals and other
business ventures. Set in Taiwan (whose other moniker in Chinese is
literally "Treasure Island") this game is also a great way for
players to learn about the geography of Taiwan, as maps are based on
the actual topography of the island and its cities. The game features
16 characters of various backgrounds, including a Saudi Arabian
tribal chief, a soccer player named "Beck" (贝哥,
Bei Ge – who suspiciously resembles a certain famous English
player), and some other appropriately named characters like Jin
Beibei (贝贝,
"Gold Baby") and Qian Furen (钱夫人,
"Madame Money"). Traditional Chinese lunar holidays are
celebrated within the game, and they can affect your bank account.
For example, characters receive red envelopes from Cai Shen (财神,
"the God of Wealth") during Spring Festival.
Ages 12 and up
幻想三国志
(Huanxiang
Sanguo Zhi) Three
Kingdoms Fantasy
Game type:
Role-playing game
Level
of Chinese difficulty: 4
Luo
Guanzhong’s The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义,
Sanguo Yanyi) has provided fodder for dozens of video games and
mostly of the action variety. Primarily a role-playing rather than an
action game, Fantasia Sanguo requires players to solve puzzles,
complete missions, and interact with other characters (and yes, some
romance is involved) rather than just conquer and destroy. For those
who still enjoy a good fight, Fantasia Sanguo offers interactive
battling that has been praised by online reviewers for its realistic
feel (i.e. fights taking place in a bamboo forest that first require
cutting through the trees) while still keeping blood and gore to a
minimum. Overall this game is an excellent way to stimulate interest
in another one of China’s "four great classical novels."
梦幻西游
(Menghuan
Xi You) Journey to
the West Fantasy
Game type:
MMORPG
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 4
Fantasy
Westward Journey is set in the Tang dynasty and based on the most
kid-friendly of the four great classical novels, Journey to the West.
The intro to the game details some of the mythological creation
stories that are universally known in China. Additionally, players
can choose from one of 12 sidekicks – each representing a different
animal of the Chinese zodiac – to assist them in their missions.
Some tasks require additional teamwork, requiring players to
collaborate with others online. Though the cartoon graphics are
certainly suitable for kids, fans of all ages have helped to make it
one of the most popular online games in China.
象棋水浒战2
(Xiangqi Shuihuzhan Er) Chinese Chess
Legendary II
Game type:
Strategy
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 2
Before
taking on old timers in parks or on the street corners of Beijing,
practice your Chinese chess skills with Chinese Chess Legendary II
(yes, that’s what it’s called). The game is based on Outlaws of
the Marsh (水浒传,
Shui Hu Zhuan), another of China’s great classical novels, this one
set in the Song dynasty. Players can choose from among 25 different
characters, each with a unique personal background and set of chess
playing tips. The software also keeps records of all games and even
moves. Instructions are available in both Chinese and English. A
similar online version is available at www.airgo.com.tw.
明星3缺1
(Mingxing San Que Yi)
3 Stars Minus 1
Game type:
Strategy
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 2
Mahjong
is one of China’s most traditional Chinese pastimes, and 3 Stars
Minus 1 is one of the premier electronic mahjong games on the market.
Online and interactive, Star 31 allows players to assume the role of
and compete against caricatured versions of pop stars from the
Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as Japan. In total,
there are 14 pop stars, each with unique personalities. Dubbing is
reportedly done by the actual stars, and players can even choose
their facial expressions, bringing a whole new meaning to the term
"poker face." Those up for a challenge can accumulate points and
eventually ascend to higher-level rankings, even collect actual
prizes. Visit www3.gametower.com.tw/games/star31 for more information
about playing online.
Ages 16 and up
仙剑奇侠传
(Xian
Jian Qi Xia Zhuan) The Legend of
Sword and Fairy
Game type:
RPG
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 5
The
Legend of Sword and Fairy is set in ancient China and fuses romance
with wuxia, a subgenre of Chinese martial arts. The main protagonist
is Li Xiaoyao, a callow youth from a small fishing village who sets
off on an adventure to become a martial arts hero. Along the way, he
befriends a sorceress, Zhao Ling’er, and an heiress, Lin Yueru,
thus setting the stage for the ensuing love triangle. Though the
characters are fictional, the archetypes of the honor-bound hero,
supernatural being and aristocratic denizen are authentic, as are the
landscapes they traverse (including parts of modern-day Sichuan,
Yunnan and Suzhou). Players even have interactions with the Bai and
Miao minorities in Dali during certain levels of the game. The
much-anticipated fourth version was just released in August, but it
may be a good idea to find the first version of this game and start
at the beginning of the plot.
中华英雄谱
(Zhonghua
Yingxiong Pu) Chinese
Heroes’ Manual
Game type:
RPG
Level of
Chinese difficulty: 4
Sponsored
by the State Youth League Committee, this game was actually designed
with the intention of "cultivating education, patriotism and
integrity in Chinese youth." It provides an overview of aspects of
Chinese history and culture, featuring characters like Song dynasty
General Yue Fei (岳飞),
Ming dynasty naval leader Zheng He (郑和),
11th century judge and statesman Bao Zheng (包拯),
and PLA and CCP paragon of the 1960s Lei Feng (雷锋)
– all historical heroes and household names in China. The game is
strewn with tidbits about Chinese history, famous Chinese poems,
herbal medicines, traditional customs and etiquette, and even some
classical Chinese books and art. First released in 2005, this game is
now available both online and for the PC.
Where to find
games
Most
of these games are available at the big technology bazaars like
Bainaohui (10 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District) or
Zhongguancun in Haidian District. Shop owners at these markets are
also very willing to order any games that they may not have in stock.
For those who want to avoid the crowds and price haggling, big
bookstores also carry an impressive selection of software at set
prices. Some good bets are the Xidan Beijing Book Building (Xidan
Tushu Dasha, C17, Xi Chang’an Dajie, Xicheng District) or the
Wangfujing branch of the Xinhua Bookstore (218 Wangfujing Dajie,
Dongcheng District). Online shoppers can visit
www.chinesesoftware.com/d_games.html for an English language site
that also ships overseas, or joyo.com.cn (www.amazon.cn),
amazon.com’s Chinese counterpart.
