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September 7, 2024 53 mins

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China's first AAA game Black Myth: Wukong certainly caught the world's attention for its production value, commercial success, and controversies. How did the creative team pull that off, and why was this game considered the "perfect package"?

Featuring
- Daniel Ahmad: Niko Partners - Director of Research & Insights
- Lundy Lan: Video Game Technical Artist
- Jesse Young: Independent Researcher  

To go further
- Middle Earth trilogy about Chinese video games industry :
#67 Creating Games for the West
#70 China’s Indie Games
#73 Chinese E-sports
- Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China
- Middle Earth episode #79 Exploring Wuxia (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon")
- TWOC's article Monkeying Around: Chinese Gamers on the ‘Black Myth’ Phenomenon by Jesse Young & Yang Tingting
- Chinese Video games mentioned : The Perceiver, Lost Soul Aside, Phantom Blade Zero, Phantom Blade: Executioners, The Grass of Genesis, Code: To Jin Yong,Where Winds Meet, Zenless Zone Zero & Honor of Kings: World

Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! 

Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影

With thanks Li Muyuan for research, and Sean Calvo for music support.

The World of Chinese Magazine
A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

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