Chinese Heroes
Encyclopedia
Chinese Heroes is an online video game in production. The project is being sponsored by the Communist Party of China
. The game is being designed in direct competition for World of Warcraft
. Although World of Warcraft is popular, the CPC does not support violence. Chinese Heroes is meant to show values such as patriotism and altruism.
The object of the game is to gain points by answering questions related to the lives of numerous Chinese heroes. Points can also be gained by doing good deeds such as mending clothing. On release, it is expected that at least 70 heroes would be incorporated into the game. Winning of the game occurs when the player has gained enough points to receive a virtual signed copy of Mao Zedong
's "Little Red Book".
Criticism of the game does exist inside and outside of the People's Republic of China. Some consider the idea of the game overly simplistic and argue that many people would find it boring. Others contend that it would be used for propaganda purposes and to inspire xenophobia
of non Han Chinese
. Some of the heroes designed to be included were generals who defeated foreigners. The inclusion of militaristic leaders from China's history is viewed by some to be contrary to the less violent message the game hopes to send.
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
. The game is being designed in direct competition for World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
. Although World of Warcraft is popular, the CPC does not support violence. Chinese Heroes is meant to show values such as patriotism and altruism.
The object of the game is to gain points by answering questions related to the lives of numerous Chinese heroes. Points can also be gained by doing good deeds such as mending clothing. On release, it is expected that at least 70 heroes would be incorporated into the game. Winning of the game occurs when the player has gained enough points to receive a virtual signed copy of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
's "Little Red Book".
Criticism of the game does exist inside and outside of the People's Republic of China. Some consider the idea of the game overly simplistic and argue that many people would find it boring. Others contend that it would be used for propaganda purposes and to inspire xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
of non Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
. Some of the heroes designed to be included were generals who defeated foreigners. The inclusion of militaristic leaders from China's history is viewed by some to be contrary to the less violent message the game hopes to send.
Sources
- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/29/content_5021545.htm
- http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EB02C5C0-7ED1-46C1-AB68-CDE7502E1057.htm
- http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=14585
- http://indiaenews.com/2006-08/20387-chinese-heroes-infuse-altruism-patriotism.htm
- http://silkcharm.blogspot.com/2005/12/chinese-hero-registry.html
- http://www.freegamecam.com/video-game-news.php/World-of-Warcraft
- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11744941/site/newsweek/page/3/