As posted by Brent Galietti. China is thinking of lifting the ban on consoles. If this happens what do you think will change? WIll they shift to MS, Sony or Nintendo? As we know china has some issues with Japan but will this cross over into them not wanting to buy consoles from them?

If this happens this could bring a lot of new faces into the market and also decide the "CONSOLE WAR" going on. Remember China has a lot of people, now most are poor and can't buy in but about 200,000,000 million of the 1.2 trillion people in china are middle class. That tells you how poorly paid and treated they are (Unions are illegal ,another day, another topic).

Here is the article about China

The sale of video game consoles has been banned in China since 2000, for fear of potential harm to the physical and mental development of young people. But that could change soon, as China Daily reports that Chinese authorities are reviewing the console ban and may repeal it.

"We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market," an anonymous source from the Ministry of Culture said.

Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have attempted to make in-roads in recent years, with little success. Sony currently has a research and development branch in the Guangdong province. Microsoft's Kinect has become a tool for non-gaming purposes like medical treatment and education. Nintendo has had a joint venture with Wei Yen since 2002, called iQue, which has released a select few games into the country (mostly Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS titles).

While a lift of the console ban would certainly make it easier for video games in China, it still needs approval of all seven Ministries to become official. So there are no guarantees just yet.

Source: [China Daily via GamesIndustry International]

Not sure what the gaming culture is there and if piracy has become so rampant (in part due to this ban) that may take a generation to become accustomed to how it works for the rest of us.

My guess is minor at first, but potential in next ten years to be massive simply due to sheer size as you touched on. Not unthinkable by 2023 China could surpass Japan in terms of market size for the industry.

I didn't think of all the piracy going on over there. That is going to have a major effect but that would generate into console sales I would Think, unless they just port it to their pc. Good point.

When China lifts bans the sales will of course rise. I doubt they'll do it overnight, though. My reasoning for that is that China isn't going to automatically adhere to buying big name Consoles. We also need to see what Marketing the Chinese people respond to and what type of games they like.

You have to take that all (and more) into consideration.

Nothing will happen. China loves to pirate games, so a console would get in the way of that.

But, Xbox would win there, I believe there is a china/Japan relationship problem. So, Xbox for sure.

PS2 will probably be the top selling console.

Increase in hardware, software piracy still rampant. Sony and Ninty benefit most.
(Seriously for all of you guys still thinking that China won't buy because of the Island thing....wow.)