Playful Bytes

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.