China is the largest online gaming market in the world but has always been a hard market to crack for international gaming companies. The regulations are getting more strict and recently, over 2,500 games were just removed from Apple’s App Store. Those that want to play in China have to face a lengthy approval process to get a license. In the meanwhile, Chinese game companies like Tencent, the largest gaming company in the world, are proactively exporting their games to Southeast Asia, India, US, and Europe. Although difficult, it is still possible for foreign companies to benefit from the Chinese market, but how do game regulations work? What should foreign game publishers consider before bringing their games to China? What’s the expansion playbook? Today, we have the perfect guest to answer those questions, Greg Pilarowski, Founder of Pillar Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Shanghai and San Francisco that provides legal support for technology and entertainment companies with an interest in China and the US. Before founding Pillar Legal, Greg was General Counsel at Shanda Interactive Entertainment, at that time China’s leading interactive entertainment company. He witnessed the evolution of the gaming industry in China and legal affairs that have impacted the business, which today he can use to advise gaming companies.
Today, we have Greg Pilarowski, Founder of Pillar Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Shanghai and San Francisco that provides legal support for technology and entertainment companies with an interest in China and the US. Before founding Pillar Legal, Greg was General Counsel at Shanda Interactive Entertainment, at that time China’s leading interactive entertainment company.
Show Notes:
02:20 Introduction to Greg Pilarowski
04:40 Working in Shanda Interactive Entertainment
07:20 The birth of the free-to-play model
10:10 Gaming regulations in China
12:22 Two key regulations that you must know
14:46 Criterium for selecting games
20:24 The regulations on gamification
21:55 Resources to secure your games approval
24:35 Do new game updates need constant approval?
25:40 How can foreign game companies enter China?
29:48 Chinese companies taking games outside of China
31:34 The acquisitions strategy of Chinese game companies
32:50 Contact Pillar Legal
Many thanks to our guest Greg Pilarowski; host Oscar Ramos; producers Eva Shi and Sagar Chaudhary; editor David; organizer Chinaccelerator; and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com
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