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[This is my first time starting a topic, so I ask for your patience. However, I have been playing 40k since some of you were young enough to be watching syndicated Boy Meets World reruns for the first time...]

After recently posting on a thread, which I did not realize was half a decade old, I was encouraged via pm to start a new thread with those same comments. The original thread had to do with discussing why a GW exec. would have had reason to sell-off so many of his shares. Too bad, because today he could have received so much more money for them. In any event, the discussion went off-topic and I will draw your attention to the quotes posted immediately prior to my own, in order that the reader might have more context (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/30/160579.page)

But if you are the type to skip the introductory cut-scenes in video games, you may just wish to read my re-post:

I know this is off-topic from the original subject, but I wanted to comment on the point raised here. I've just spent some time searching the forum for a more appropriate discussion to post in, but this place seems as good as any and it originally sparked my interest.

Does anyone know, or wish to speculate authoritatively on GW's attitude or plans about expanding into China? I'm living in a third-tier city with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people with plenty of disposable income. It is difficult to find a non-commerical car on the road that is more than seven years old. It is projected that there will be still more wealthy people in the future. Yet, the local toy shops do not carry GW, or even any table-top systems, but rather Japanese anime type figures and models. I don't imagine it's the lack of space, although living quarters can be cramped, depending upon the family size and income level. Maybe it's because the Chinese are taught to save, rather than spend there disposable income on plastic toys? Many of the kids I have seed do kill-time like Western teens, on the internet, but perhaps the cost of a computer game hobby is less spacious and easier on the bank account? Thoughts?

I will be happy to provide more anecdotal updates. But as for the economic information that would have been relevant to this five-year-old thread, well, China may be blocking some of those sites, but I'm sure Google is still working perfectly well for you all in the West. And please pardon the typos...don't tell my ESL students...ok, go ahead, they probably wouldn't understand you anyway. Cheers.

Seems like there is a GW store in Shanghai since about a year: https://www.facebook.com/GWShanghai .

Some more info here:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=249663
Same or different store?
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?358633-Games-Workshop-s-chinese-general-agent-described-wh40k-as-below

Yup we have a pretty healthy scene here in shanghai. PM me if you want more details...Apologies, on the way to work.

Were there any problems in regards to the skull iconography, Vampire Count skeletons, or Necrons?

A lot of businesses that are heavily reliant on intellectual property are very reluctant to do business in china. China doesn't have very strong copyright law, nor does it have a history of enforcing offenders. Plus, there is a general reluctance in the west for producing or selling high-value goods in china, given certain risks peculiar to that country due to its political system.

Plus, GW is a company that likes to keep an iron-fisted control over things in general. The only stuff you're probably going to find in china is stuff where GW feels that they can actually keep things under their control.

I left China in 09 so if someone currently there could take a crack at updating the store locator I think it would do a world of good.

Will take a crack at it when I get some time and confirm some addresses.

The last time I visiited, the GW in Beijing basically amounted to a few glass display cases, no staff members, a few shelves of stuff, and this was all in the corner of a book store on the third level of an even larger book store.

Not very promising in Beijing I suppose. Shanghai's is probably a lot better though.

THat's a shame, when I left in 09 there were 3 stores in Beijing with active sales and gaming.

^ That might have been just the one with lackluster sales and activity, but a quick search on google turned over no stones to find gold.

Shanghai has 3 stores of which 2 are up on the Store Finder. I tried to put up the missing (GW) one but apparently it's already there? Perhaps the mods just have to verify it's authenticity or something.

Anyone find themselves in Shanghai looking for a game just let me know. I will put the word out amongst our group and help to arrange a game with someone.

 Ailaros wrote:
A lot of businesses that are heavily reliant on intellectual property are very reluctant to do business in china. China doesn't have very strong copyright law, nor does it have a history of enforcing offenders. Plus, there is a general reluctance in the west for producing or selling high-value goods in china, given certain risks peculiar to that country due to its political system.

Plus, GW is a company that likes to keep an iron-fisted control over things in general. The only stuff you're probably going to find in china is stuff where GW feels that they can actually keep things under their control.

That's a good point, Ailaros. In my limited knowledge of China and it's economy, no one completely owns, or even owns a majority, of their own company. Now, I'm not sure where the divider is between the street vendors and corporations like Mc Donald's. Generally speaking, control of the company is an issue but it has not stopped companies like Coke and Mc Donalds. But of course, copying a Big Mac is more difficult than bringing a 40k codex to the local copier.

Lukus83, I wonder if you have seen many photocopied books at your club?

Minatures are another issue, though. At least from what I hear, China is no longer cheap. I've heard of GW miniatures that are as fake as my $100 velvet Dolce & Gabanna blazer. I mean, it would take considerable effort and a sizable order for bootlegging miniatures to be profitable. But that is just from my small amount of general knowledge...and so far, as I was hinting at, there does not seem to be enough of a domestic market, yet, to mass-produce "fake" miniatures.

[RayND, that's an interesting question. I just heard the other day too that the original Chinese World of Warcraft had to be changed along those lines...heh, and if there couldn't be skeletons in w.o.w., then how could you have an uncensored GW?]

Being a hobbyist, out of natural curiosity I checked the store locator before I came here and saw there was a GW, or at least an authorized retailer in Beijing. But that store was the only one...until on got as far south as Shanghai, or maybe Hong Kong. But I see now that it is more of a matter of keeping the site updated, that there may even be a retailer or club in my city? If so, I'm going to be increasingly sad that I did not bring any supplies with me...

Thank you for your input so far, everyone.

No photocopied books that I have seen but there are plenty of people who find them online and put them on their iPads.

I do know of 1 bootleg store here in shanghai. Been a couple of times but not yet purchased. However some of my friends have and the quality is outstanding.

Supposedly GW managed to lose track of a bunch of molds in China...
Not sure how true that is but it'd explain why all the Chinese knockoffs are surprisingly good quality... or maybe Chinese counterfeiters just have higher standards...

 Decio wrote:
The last time I visiited, the GW in Beijing basically amounted to a few glass display cases, no staff members, a few shelves of stuff, and this was all in the corner of a book store on the third level of an even larger book store.

Not very promising in Beijing I suppose. Shanghai's is probably a lot better though.

This is not true anymore in Beijing. I was there for the first half of the year and there's a few really awesome stores, the main one off of Jiangoumen on Line 2. I could show up Saturday or Sunday and almost be guaranteed a game. I'm going to try and add the stores, but I can't seem to find the exact location, so I'll check back with some of my friends that I used to play with.

GW in China. Oh how Mao would be rolling over in his grave....

There are at least 3 shops in BJ. One in Shenzhen. One in HK (if that counts) and as pointed out 1 official shop in Shanghai. Then there is Taobao if you wanna buy. The main problem you would have in a place like yours is that nobody knows about GW. Nobody who has capital to put up the money needed does anyway. Alot of the shops are foreigner owned fir that reason.

Btw i am BJ atm and went to the tiny bookstore shop and got a SSHIELD landing pad for less that £17!!! Also 20% off all my purchases (Chinese gf helps there)... Prices are also close to UK in most situations.

I think most companies rub their hands in glee at the prospect of China represents but actually putting it in practice with a goverment that wants a say in your business (and a share) and copyright enfringement as it is... Tough to do.

 purplefood wrote:
Supposedly GW managed to lose track of a bunch of molds in China...
Not sure how true that is but it'd explain why all the Chinese knockoffs are surprisingly good quality... or maybe Chinese counterfeiters just have higher standards...

China is well known to be the home of mass market counterfeiting. It wasn't helped by the fact that so many companies set up shop in China due to cheap labor and less employee rights than in Europe and the US giving groups in China access to equipment, materials and designs.